Beretta 950 Jetfires

[NE450No2]

A few years ago I was in a remote "village" in Idaho, staying at a buddies cabin.

One of the people I knew there came by one day and asked me if I would teach his mother how to shoot one of the Jetfire 22LR seniautos. He had bought it for her.

So I did. She had all sorts of trouble with it.

I then let her shoot my S&W Bodyguard. She really liked it, as did my buddies dad.

So My buddy came by and looked at the S&W, wrote down the info about it, and the next time I was up there, I was training his mom, and his dad, with their Bodyguards.

I pity the fool, that breaks in on them...

 

[Texas Star]

With a good trigger job and some practice, maybe she could.

If not, I would she if she could shoot the Beretta in 380 that has the same tip up barrel design. They are much more reliable than the 25ACP semiautos, more powerful too.

Picking a handgun for some one of limited strength, or severe "arther ites" can be difficult.

The bottom line is she needs to shoot what ever gun she can work a fair amount, untill it becomes second nature for her.

Same for anybody else.

Just because you have a gun, it does not make you any safer, if you are not trained in its use, maybe even less safe.

I think every law Abiding Citizen should have guns, but they should take the time and money to know how to use them.

Well, I can't argue with that, but he did say that he will work with her on the issue. I do share your concern. Using a gun and being safe with it requires a certain mindset, which not everyone has. I have a brother who is pretty naive and who probably lacks the killer instinct. He probably shouldn't have guns. Another brother and I wouldn't be without them. Our mother hated them, and wouldn't ever own one, let alone have the mindset to use it effectively and safely.

I have been very favorably impressed by the reliability reports re the 950's owned by those posting. But just because I want one doesn't mean that it'll be carried when I can lug a more powerful gun.

Long ago, I was in a gun shop looking at a Browning Baby .25. After comparing it to a S&W M-36, I paid the difference for the .38. It was larger, but built better, more powerful, and more reliable. But I still want a Beretta M-950, and not just because I liked the opening credits of, "Silk Stalkings", where the babe stuck one in her stocking. I liked the larger (9mm) Berettas on the show, too. Not that I choose guns based on a glamor image, but it doesn't hurt, if the gun is also actually the best in its class.

 

[therevjay]

Why fool around with a Beretta or any other semi-auto if your not willing to spend a bit of time (quite a bit actualy) on maintainance and operation training?

Tilt up Bbl. because of arthritis or lack of hand strengh a issue? There is no reason a DA revolver can't be fired SA.

 

[4506517]

Love mine.

 

[Practical]

With a good trigger job and some practice, maybe she could.

If not, I would she if she could shoot the Beretta in 380 that has the same tip up barrel design. They are much more reliable than the 25ACP semiautos, more powerful too.

Picking a handgun for some one of limited strength, or severe "arther ites" can be difficult.

The bottom line is she needs to shoot what ever gun she can work a fair amount, untill it becomes second nature for her.

Same for anybody else.

Just because you have a gun, it does not make you any safer, if you are not trained in its use, maybe even less safe.

I think every law Abiding Citizen should have guns, but they should take the time and money to know how to use them.

The old jeff cooper non-sense that having a gun doesn't make you armed is rediculous.

If you have a weapon you are armed. Having a camera makes you a photographer if you have the simple ability to point and shoot.

A gun is not much different. yes you can take bad photos and make bad shots.

BUT YOU CAN DO NEITHER WITHOUT A GUN OR CAMERA.

 

[NE450No2]

The problem with having a gun, and being non trained/prepared to use it is that it can be taken away and used against you.

I have been asked to "train" several of my friends and coworkers family members over the years. Some were totally against any type of firearm.

So I went about their "protection" in a different manner.
First Target Hardening, then Alarms, then pepperspray, stun guns, etc.
Having a cell phone, kept next to the bed, in addition to a land line.
Having a "secure" door to the bed room...

Awareness of your surroundings, and dangerous area avoidness...

Now all of the above, AND GUNS, is the best way to go, IMHO, but some people will not include guns in the equation. They can still do "things" to increase their safety.

 

[NE450No2]

The old jeff cooper non-sense that having a gun doesn't make you armed is rediculous.

If you have a weapon you are armed. Having a camera makes you a photographer if you have the simple ability to point and shoot.

A gun is not much different. yes you can take bad photos and make bad shots.

BUT YOU CAN DO NEITHER WITHOUT A GUN OR CAMERA.

I disagree, having a gun with no training... Is like...

Buying a plane does not make you a pilot.
Buying a boat does not make you a sailor.
Buying some knives and a saw does not make you a Butcher.

IF you want to be able to truely protect yourself, you must get some training.
The problem is, most schools are not geared for the average individual. If you do not have a 1911, or some sort of semiauto you will not do well.

Many times I have trained people["civilian citizens"] with 5 shot S&W's, or small semiautos, for their real world survival. Much different from law Enforcement/Military "stuff".

 

[JoseyWales2]

Thanks. Cocking the hammer is no problem at all for her. She just really seems to like the feel and size of those little tip up autos. I have a Taurus PT-22 that she likes but it jams so much I refuse to trust it (or any rimifire semi-auto) with her. Was leaning towards the Tomcat .32 but they too are unreliable. That leaves with the .25 Bobcat and Jetfire. I feel kind of bad about giving her such a small caliber, but she really seems to be more comfortable with it.

You might want to take a look at the Beretta 86 if it's the tip-up feature that she likes to operate. This upgrades you to the 9mm short (.380 Cal), instead of the 25 acp. Recoil is still very mild.

The Beretta 86 is a little bigger than the 950, although not much, so if this is for CCW purposes maybe this is not an option for her (I didn't see in any posts if this was to be a CCW pistol or for one around the house).

These are not cheap guns, but they are very reliable. I've seen them sell on Gunbroker for as low as $475, although they usually go for more like $600.

Anyway, it's an option to consider if you're concerned about the small caliber of the 950.
BTW, it can also be carried cocked & locked.

 

[CCantu357]

Yeah I am always on the look out for the Beretta 86. In my opinion, they need to make more tip-ups in .32 and .380. I love the idea of the Tomcat but I will not tolerate an unreliable semi-auto, or one that cracks.

The .22 Magnum snubbie revolver sounds like another plan but I have little experience with those other than long barreled single actions. How is noise and muzzle flash compared to a .38+P snub nose?

 

[therevjay]

Yeah I am always on the look out for the Beretta 86. In my opinion, they need to make more tip-ups in .32 and .380. I love the idea of the Tomcat but I will not tolerate an unreliable semi-auto, or one that cracks.

The .22 Magnum snubbie revolver sounds like another plan but I have little experience with those other than long barreled single actions. How is noise and muzzle flash compared to a .38+P snub nose?

Quite a bit of muzzle flash, but not much recoil. Very little if a steel frame gun.

 

[Practical]

I disagree, having a gun with no training... Is like...

Buying a plane does not make you a pilot.
Buying a boat does not make you a sailor.
Buying some knives and a saw does not make you a Butcher.

IF you want to be able to truely protect yourself, you must get some training.
The problem is, most schools are not geared for the average individual. If you do not have a 1911, or some sort of semiauto you will not do well.

Many times I have trained people["civilian citizens"] with 5 shot S&W's, or small semiautos, for their real world survival. Much different from law Enforcement/Military "stuff".

I didn't say you would be extremely proficient, but I am saying you are ARMED.

If you possess a weapon and the will to use it you are armed. Heck, if you possess the will to defend youself and you don't have a weapon but you are willing to turn anything around you to your advantage you are the weapon.

I have taken many classes both NRA and other, I even was a NRA certified instructor for a few years. I found many instructors take Jeff Cooper's statement to justify their brand of instruction.

I know a LOT of good shooters who are self-taught, some who learned through competition, scouts or hunting. I also know a lot of good shooters whose only training is military service.

I know a couple of old grandmas who are armed. Training is nothing more than going to the range a few times. I don't doubt at least one of these ladies will use the gun if need be.

No owning a boat does not make me a sailor, but if I am willing to learn I can sail that boat, and I don't need anything more than my state class to know the rules.

I don't need a Shaman to tell me I am worthy.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I've owned a 950 for years. It's accurate, reliable, and easy to use. I've shot mostly FMJ loads in it, and while the recoil gets your attention, it's not really all that bad.

 

[jimmyj]

This is not a man stopper round, and I always trained to shoot for the neck. There is nothing but soft tissue there and the central nervous system.

The other alternative is to shoot in the shoulder as the pain would disable the use of the arm.

In the winter, torso shots would be problematic due to the heavy clothing.

Head shots are too, due to the heavy bone in the skull.

We used to "stitch up" starting with a shot to the sternum, and progressing up to the neck.

I still think that neck shots are the best bet, and since this is an easy gun to shoot precisely, I think it is the best way to train too.

There are new .22 magnums that are designed for short barrels. Muzzle flash should be reduced.

I carried the 950 in my hip pocket for so many years that when I traded it in there was no bluing left on the slide and half of the black annodizing was gone too. Still worked fine. But watch to make sure that the ammo remains fresh in the gun. The only misfires I ever had was from ammo that had been in my pocket for so long that the primers had corroded.

The 950 is certainly a good choice for someone who lacks the strength to rack back a slide. Easy to clean too.

I remember the "Stitching" method of shooting. I could not recall the name of the method. I wonder if the method is still taught?
Jimmy

 

[Packard]

I remember the "Stitching" method of shooting. I could not recall the name of the method. I wonder if the method is still taught?
Jimmy

I guess I'm an "old timer"; I was taught this in 1978 - 1979 when I first started shooting. I don't know if it is still taught. But it was a logical way to shoot a small caliber gun. Your first shot would be to the center of mass (a large target area) and then you needed just to incrementally raise the point of aim. You can make small left/right adjustments as you go up.

We were taught to stitch up from the sternum to the forehead. But I read once that a .25 failed to penetrate the skull of a victim, so I would practice ending with 3 shots to the neck. The neck seems to me the most vulnerable of the larger target areas (a shot to the eye would work, but it is a much tougher shot to make).

 

[Gebe]

I have a 950 "Minx" in .22 short that I purchased new in the early '80's. It's one of the funnest guns I own. Very accurate for such a tiny gun and it's never had a FTF even once in hundreds of rounds and will shoot ANY shorts I load it with.

It's one of the few guns I own that I would never sell. Just a fun little gun!