Beretta double action .22 pocket pistol?

I had a 21A and still have the single action 950 in .22 short (one of the rarer ones with an extended barrel). My particular 21A was in .22LR and I would not suggest one as a carry gun. It was not reliable enough with any ammunition that I tried to truly trust, though was a fun little gun to shoot. Mine worked with bulk pack cheap ammo as well as anything. I shot mine extensively.

The gun as no ejector, it relies only on blowback to clear empties. Thus the standard clearance drills for getting rid of a jam are useless. It is also a problem when you get a split casing or dud which often happens with .22 ammo. I'd rather have one .25 if I had to have one, since the .25 ACP goes bang more reliably (I don't like my life hanging in the balance on the vagaries of rimfire ammunition ignition). If for some reason I had to have a small .22LR handgun, I'd find a 317 of early (prelock) vintage and enjoy the 8 more or less for sure rounds of .22 on board it.

My wife actually carries a Lorcin .25 in a Hello Kitty thing meant to carry a Nintendo DS. It is no more troublesome than my old Beretta .22.
 
I have a taurus pt 22 that is similar I got back years ago. It also worked for me. Others not so much I hear. I have killed ground squirrels at 3o yards witnessed although that was many years back with more practice and better eyes :) 10 shots is a good amount.

I use it mostly for training when a woman or older person can not rack a slide on a semi but wants to try one. Being able to insert a round in the chamber as easy as it is on these guns is a help to some.

While not my first choice I also would not feel unarmed if I had only my pt22 or a berretta 21 for that matter.
 
I have one, and as others have stated they are ammo sensitive. Mine seems to require HV, but not Hyper velocity. Every year when our winter bullseye is finished several of us have a "Jennings" match. We called it that as most of us were shooting the little Jennings pocket .22's. We shoot a 50' B3 T&R target, 30 shots, any way you want (supported, leaning against the wall , 2 hands, etc.) I traded my Jennings off a few years ago on the Beretta 21A, and it shoots just about as well as the Jennings did. We all can usually hold all shots on the B3 target at 50', and the best I have shot was 237 out of 300 possible. It's hardly a target gun, but is accurate enough for what it's designed for.
 
Nice design with the exception of crumby sights. The pop-up barrel and safety design makes it a better pocket pistol than many. That said, I've had two and neither fed reliably. Tried everything and every ammo I could find and still couldn't get acceptable reliability. When I researched, I found that my issue was not uncommon and that the matte finished guns seemed more susceptible to these problems. I preffer and carry a 2-3" .22 revolver now.
 
You don't need to conjure up a bunch of justifications with this crew, just purchase the thing already and post some pictures.:D
 
Dog-gone-it!!!
Now you guys have me hankerin' for a 3", 950 Minx! :mad:or:D
I'm not sure!?!?
 
I will blame this thread for my recent purchase of a 3" M950 in .22 short. Now, even though these are tiny little pocket pistols, I'd like to find a nice tiny little holster to put it in. Anyone out there with suggestions on a good little leather holster for a 3" M950 Minx? Thanks!
 
I am surprised no one has mentioned S&W 61s - I know they're not the tip-up barrel type however it is are small pocket pistol of the PT22 Bobcat type.
 
Erich said:
I never found the American .22 TPHs to be all that reliable . . . but I've only shot maybe three total.
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My Interarms stainless TPh .22 does not fail with Remington Golden bullet .22s, and shoots them into a group about half the size of any other cartridge. It's the only one I have ever fired, so couldn't say more than that.

As to the 21A, I have one but do not put it in the same class with the TPh. Of course, it doesn't cost what a TPh does, either. But, still, it is a nicely made little gun, compared to a PT22.

Erich, your switchblade is very similar to one my 15-y/o son purchased a few months ago while attending a gun show with me. He has been showing it around to various people (those who he believes will not over-react :D ). The best line to date came from a one of my friends who told him he should have bought three of them - "...one for the teacher, one for principal, and one to keep at home."

Fortunately for me, he's a good lad and I think the risk is small that he will go astray. Hopefully he will still have the thing when he's your age. :o

I'll show him your picture and lament about another (ex-) Hoosier boy gone bad. :)
 
"It seems strange that you see some of the little Berettas in .22 short with the extended barrel, but you don't see that in the .22 LR guns. "

I've got both the standard & long barrel 950's in .22 short. Was disappointed to find out they never made a long barrel version of the .25 acp either.

I'd like to have collected long and short barrel versions in all three calibers.

My little 950's have been surprisingly dependable with a wide range of .22 short ammo. Amazing for such a short, stubby rimmed cartidge and no extractor. If you take your time, they are pretty accurate even with the vestigal sights.
 
I collect the little Berettas and have over 40 currently. I carry a model 21A in 25 ACP in my vehicle and it doubles as my CCW pistol. Easy to use, easy to unload (I have 2 grade school kids) and a 25 ACP hollow point will do a lot of damage at CCW defense distances.
 
I carried a Beretta 21 for several years while working as a Security Guard. It was completely reliable for years, until one cold winter day when it just quit working properly. I sold it to a friend who had it up and running quickly...but only with 31 grain Federal hp's..!?!
I have a Smith 2213 .22lr that is spot on accurate, reliable and only a bit larger than the 21a. Find ya one of those! You won't be sorry!
dakasat
 
Is i possible to get an ambidextrous safety on the Beretta 21?

I am a lefty and getting more and more P.O.ed at manufacturers ignoring 15% of the market.

Some time ago I started getting rid of most guns that were not ambidextrous. Right now I have a S&W M&P which I love, A Sig P250 which I like and a Ruger LCP

I still have a Springfield XDM and a Ruger Mrk III both of which I use for competition but neither are ambidextrous..

Now, here is my problem. Actually several of them so bear with me till I get to the biggie!

1. I am an old Pharte.

2. I took up active shooting just 4 years ago.
3. I am very interested in Concealed carry and even help teach classes.
4. I am not a particularly good competitive shooter. In some 200 events I placed first once and I'm the first to admit that was luck.
5. I wear hearing aids.
6.. I do much better both in accuracy and speed shooting with a .22 placing in the top 3 on occasion.

I tuned stupid about a month a go and went to the firing range withou my hearing protectors. Dumb! Dumb! Dumb!

I didn't even notice it until I had fired 7 or 8 rounds of 9 mm. Totally screwed up my hearing. The doctor says I might get some recovery within 3 months. I see some improvement in the month since.

Of course I will never forget my hearing protectors again on the range, BUT, I have no doubt that if I had to use a center fire in a life or death situation it would leave me all but deaf, and maybe totally deaf.

So I am thinking about a .22 for concealed carry, at least until I see how much my hearing improves, if any.

I've kind of narrowed it down to a Beretta A 21 or a Walther P .22, maybe both. Acctuaally I have owned both in the past. The Beretta 21 before I ever got active and the Walther the first year I got active. At that ime my carry pistol was a Kahr PM 9. I hadd to send it in to have some work done and actually the Walther fit in the same holster and I did carry it for a couple of weeks.

I like the Beretta, but with the left side safety it's no good for SD. The Walther is a real possibility, but it is not really a pocket pistol.

I don't want another debate on caliber, I know bigger is better but I think I can place .22s in a playing card sizes at 21 feet quicker and more accurately than with my 9's.

My questions:

Can I get an ambidextrous safety for the Beretta?

Is there some .22 ambidextrous gun you can recommend?

Thanks you!
 
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Is i possible to get an ambidextrous safety on the Beretta 21?
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No. I'm a southpaw, and I had mine apart many a time.

Is there some .22 ambidextrous gun you can recommend?
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You bet. The Beretta 87. :)

BerettaandRadom005.jpg
 
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Don't know about the Barolo, but in my refrigerator (in Texas),I've got a lot of St Clair Chardonnay, wonderful stuff. In fact, after writing this, I may just have to break out a bottle.

At the St Clair Bistro in Albuquerque, the lady said if you visit the winery, (in Deming, I believe), they will fill whatever container you bring with you. I flashed on driving in with a truck pulling one of those 350 gallon GI water trailers; walking into the office and saying "Fill 'er up".
 
Erich said:
T-star, I can't remember what sort of Barolo it was - here's a better pic. Haven't chrono'd .25s out of a 21a and haven't chrono'd them out of a 950 BS since '89, IIRC.

JcMack, there are usually factory black plastic 21a stocks available on GB - the wood ones that you have are more desirable for most folks. There are also aftermarket black plastic stocks you can find by Pearce.

Sip, as a fellow ginzo, you ought to be able to identify what else is on the cutting board:

BerettaandRadom004.jpg
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Erich-

Well, the brand (bottler) is on the label, but if it's a Barolo, that's mainly what I wanted to know. Thanks.

T-Star
 
R Cubed said:
I am surprised no one has mentioned S&W 61s - I know they're not the tip-up barrel type however it is are small pocket pistol of the PT22 Bobcat type.
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They weren't made for long, felt bad in my hand, and had a terrible reputation. I think the design owed a lot to the Belgian Bayard or Clement.
 
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