[bullfrog99]

can anyone give me a little more information on the beretta 21 in 22lr. I've heard it named specifically before as a backup cary gun and was wondering how well they work.

[9x19]

Mine functions fine, but its lack of extractor, and rimfire chambering take it out of contention as a carry piece, even as a back-up.

There are better choices for that role, IMO, and they are all centerfires.

Kel-Tec, North American Arms, and Autauga are three that come immediately to mind.

[Bren]

I had one for plinking and it liked eithe round or pointed ammo. (can't remember). Now days it's HUGE for the cal. :p I agree with 9x19. Bren

[Kamicosmos]

I like mine, but only carried it for snake protection when working out in the country. I probably wouldn't use it as a primary carry piece, but would use it at times simply because it does ride in a pocket real easy.

Mine is accurate, and hasn't jammed much. I put Winchester Super X through it.

[bullfrog99]

that was simple enough thanks guys.

[gau5]

I know someone whose 21 jammed after the first round was shot contact distance, into an attackers heart. Mag was overloaded. Attacker was DOA
I've had one that was 100% reliable and another that jammed often.
I now have a Mini revolver and a S&W 317

[KMKeller]

I have a 21 chambered in .25 that I use as a backup. It's been dead reliable and has never suffered one failure.

[Drifting Fate]

The ones I've seen were reliable if kept clean and feed high quality, high velocity ammo.

I don't favor the .22 for defense, but it's better than carrying nothing at all.

[4v50 Gary]

Use to carry one myself. CCI Stingers worked best and had the best grouping. I tested other brands of course before settling on Stingers. It's an accurate little gun but for me, it was strictly point and shoot.

[firestar]

I recently got a Beretta 21A in .22lr to replace my Kel-Tec P-32. The P-32 was flatter, lighter and easier to carry but it wasn't made well and had many problems. The way I look at it, it is better to have a .22lr that will fire all 7-8 shots of the less powerful ammo than to have a .32acp that you are never really confident that will fire at all.

I have put 500-600 rounds of various .22lr ammo through my gun and it has been great. I have shot over 200 rounds in one outing without cleaning it to see when it would jam but it never did. My plan was to shoot it until it jammed but I got tired and my finger nail was wearing down from loading the mag so many times so I gave up.

The only ammo I have tried that doesn't work is Winchester X-Pert. This ammo won't feed in my Ruger MK-II or my Ruger 22/45 either. I tried one mag in the Beretta and it just doesn't want to work. With any other ammo, it has been 100%.

They are fat and heavy for the cal and I think a light weight .38 snubbie is almost as easy to carry but you can shoot the Beretta enough to really get good with it and that might make up for some of the draw backs. I can recomend the 21A because it has been reliable and that is the most important thing to consider in a CCW. A .22lr that shoots is better than a .45acp that jams.

[JBP]

Picked up one for my wife. Never have any problems with CCI Mini Mags. Anything else, including CCI Stingers, it has ejection and feeding problems.