CCW Question - Beretta Bobcat 21A .22LR

[Ermac]

Hey all,

I've been lurking for almost a couple of months and have a question regarding the beretta 21a. I generally carry a Glock 27, but my job were I go and the clothes that I wear, its impossible to carry it. I recently purchased the little bobcat as a deep concealment piece. I took it to the range, tested a different variety of ammo and it seems to like CCI Stingers the best. What holster is good to use that would conceal the visibility of a gun and is there any other pistols that you would recommend. I had a Kel-Tec P32, had major problems and sold it. I heard some pretty negative things about the bobcat, but its a dam good looking pistol.

Thanks

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I have a Desanti Nemisis (think that's the right name) pocket holster for my Bobcat. Seems to work pretty well, holster stays in place as does the pistol. Only issue is that I have found the mag release gets activated sometimes when I sit on it just right. Might not be an issue for you though due to body type and clothes plus it's worth a try since they run about $15 and if nothing else you can decide if you like that style of carry or not.

In the front pocket it's no issue and breaks up the outline pretty well.

 

[Jeff White]

I carried mine in a Milt Sparks pocket holster for years. I was very happy with that combination.

Jeff

 

[ranger7]

The 21A has no exctractor, so it's finicky at times, at least with some ammo. One person I know who carrys a 21A also carrys a short length of rod on his key chain so he can push it down the bore if he has a failure to extract. I've owned a 21A and experienced the extraction failures.

I'm no fan of Kel Tecs either but I do currently have a P-32 that's reliable.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Keep loaded with CCI ammo.Keep super clean and carry in front pocket brcause of mag release . Better than a pencil.

 

[duncan]

Having a gun is better than none.

But I fear that 22 is not sufficient - if you are going to carry.

.22lr is not even really enough for a cottontail. I've hit them and they keep on runnig. But then again, they then meet Mr. 870 and the 12 gauge drops them every time

Thinnk about it, you carry to defend yourself or your family. Is .22lr enough to slow a target down to a stop within a ocuple steps? I don't think so. I've heard of too many sitauations where people didn't even know they were shot with a .22lr. You need massive tissue trauma to adequately defend yourself.

.32 acp is too minimal for me. But those P-32s fit well in front and back pockets. Kel Tec's quality has improved over the years. I know, I've had two KT guns - a Sub-9 9mm carbine and a P-32.

I had a factory hard chromed slide swapped and Accurate Plating put the HC on too thick and KT's QC did not catch it.

I sent it in and with a week and a half had my P-32 ready to roll.

Look, the KT's are only $250 new and you should fluff and buff and run 300 rounds plus through before carrying. But you'd be more likely to stop or slow a threat with at least .32 acp in your pocket.

KT now makes a .380 acp with is basically 9mm short.

You might want to reconsider that one.

And besides, the Bobcat is a tad thick and also has had some known jamming problems. Now a Beretta 92 is a fine sidearm and I want one for my collection but dump that Bobcat if you are serious about CCW.

Remember, the gun sages have always said:

Carry the biggest caliber you can shoot well.

BTW - you can carry a 9mm like a Kahr PM9 in a pocket holster in all kinds of "restricted" areas or even one of the new Rohrbaugh 9mm's. My rig:

 

[axmurderer]

I've owned the Bobcat, and if I had it to do over again, I'd get the Tomcat in .32 instead. I think any center-fire pistol is going to be more reliable than a rim-fire. I say this not from statistics but just from my own experience over the last 30 years. True, a .32 isn't a "real man-stopper" or anything, but much better than nothing, as long as it is reliable.

I have a Keltec P3AT that has been a very reliable and quite accurate little .380 pistol. If your bad experience with the P32 isn't holding you back, you may want to give it a try.

 

[duncan]

You might also want to avoid the Tomcat as it was a none problem gun too.

And it prints in your front pocket - seen a couple of people wearing them

 

[Ermac]

thanks all for the input
i may again take a look at the Kel-Tec's
over here in PA, a local gunshop sells the .380 version for around $240
I may consider that with the next paycheck

 

[dogngun]

Ermac ; I like the Beretta's design, and it does look cool. I have owned three different ones over several years trying to find one that worked consistantly. I haven't found one yet. I have had failures to extract a fired case, leaving a useless gun in my hand. I have had failures to feed ,very often after one or two shots. I have had failures of the mag to feed at all if left loaded too long, and I have had a slide come off when fired on the range.
I wanted the gun to work right, it just wouldn't.
I use a Keltec P32 for this purpose now, without any problems at all for a year. It used as a back up or when I absolutely can't carry anything larger.

BTW, I once shot a groundhog with a Beretta .22, and had to empty the mag into him from about 3 feet to kill him. Don't carry a .22 for protection - you might just get somebody real mad.

Mark

 

[cookekdjr]

consider an airweight/airlite/scandium/titanium/anykindoflightweight S&W revolver. The 317 in .22LR weighs about 10 oz. The 351PD in .22 wmr is about 10.5 oz. The .32 H&R is 13.5 oz. Just a couple examples.
-David

 

[senior]

NAA.32

iF not able to carry a bigger cal. u might want to try that NAA.32 guardian, I got one, sent it back to have some light playing with it, they installed a new trigger, new hammer, springs and mag release, then added finger extentions to two brand new ss mags, ALL FOR FREE, Little bugger fits well in galco belt hook IWB holster and reliable and very accurate for a mouse gun, sure trust center fire more than rim

 

[grimjaw]

Since this thread is now one year old, I'd be interested to see what Ermac's final choice was.

jm

 

[flathead01]

.22 bobcat

I have read a lot of people are having problems with the bobcat not extracting the fired round. I have had the same problem, but then I switched to the cci ammo. I have fired over 1000 rounds of the cci stingers and mini mags and not had 1 problem. It is just a matter of using quality ammo, not the gun!

 

[PRM]

Got a Model 21A and love it - when I get to use it (wife took dibs on it). Ditto the stingers - it likes em hot. Great little plinker and woods gun, cheap and fun to shoot. I carried mine in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster before it became hers.

I also have an NAA Guardian in .32 - about the same size, 100% reliable. It also fills a unique place in my collection.

Not much larger is the Walther PP.

When discrete carry is necessary - there are some good choices available.

 

[trackaddict88]

Holy Dead Thread Batman!

Welcome Flathead! Centerfire can be had in a small package. Check out the sticky at the top of the page-Bobo's Pocket Autos. It's hard to argue with more horsepower and better reliability...Check it out...TA

 

[Mad Magyar]

I hope someone else is getting better use/reliability with my 21A.

 

[hubbycap]

bobcat/tomcap

I have both the bobcat and tomcat. While they may not be the best line of defense, they certainly are handy to carry. I had some problems with ejections, stove piping, etc. I no longer have any problem with either guns. Sent the bobcat to beretta after having problems (it was new.) They cleaned and polished the barrel and did some routine maintenance and that seemed to do the trick. In addition, these are sensitive guns. I no longer have the problem and here's what I do every time.

Bobcat: Use stingers and ONLY Beretta Magazines. Needs routine cleaning.

Tomcat: Only use full metal jackets, Beretta Magazines and give it routine cleaning.

I haven't had a single problem since doing the above. Hope it works. Also, anyone know where I can find a black leather pocket holster for the bobcat?

 

[Mad Magyar]

Sent the bobcat to beretta after having problems (it was new.)

I did too, TWICE....To be honest, the sheet that came back with it never had any check-marks or an explanation of what they did...Since it behaved like before, I'll assume they did NOTHING!! Anyway, good riddance.