Beretta 21 or 950 Jetfire
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bannockburn
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I have had both and while I don't have either model now, if given a choice between the two I would go with the smaller Jetfire. The Model 21 just seemed to be a little too big for a .25.
mdauben
Member
This is the key deciding factor for me. If you are looking for a collector's piece the Jetfire is fine, for a "working" gun that I would want to put a reasonable amount of ammo through in the course of practice, I would much prefer something like the Beretta that is still in production and serviceable if needed.
My wife and I have matching 950 Jetfires (well, almost, mine is blue, hers is stainless). Great little pistols, I carry mine pretty often. My only complaint is that is is difficult to find parts. I lost a little screw that holds on the grip pannel and it took some serious searching to find a replacment. Ended up getting one eventually, but it had a hex-head screw instead of the correct flat head screw...
Anyway, my Jetfire has been accurate, reliable, and fun. It feeds FMJ or JHP just fine. Only ammo I've ever had issue with was the Fiocchi stuff that uses nickel cases and the XTP 35gr bullets. When shooting Hornady brand XTP ammo (with brass cases) it's fine (I often carry with this ammo).
I have no experiance with the Bobcat. It looks bigger. I don't need double action since the Jetfire has the tip-up barrel, it's really easy to chamber a round without cocking. I just carry with hammer down on loaded chamber.
Not sure if any of this helps you or not. I can say that I find these little berettas to be much easier to shoot accruately than some of the little .32 or .380 pistols. I can't hit the broad side of a barn with a Kel-Tec but do just fine with the Beretta...
Anyway, my Jetfire has been accurate, reliable, and fun. It feeds FMJ or JHP just fine. Only ammo I've ever had issue with was the Fiocchi stuff that uses nickel cases and the XTP 35gr bullets. When shooting Hornady brand XTP ammo (with brass cases) it's fine (I often carry with this ammo).
I have no experiance with the Bobcat. It looks bigger. I don't need double action since the Jetfire has the tip-up barrel, it's really easy to chamber a round without cocking. I just carry with hammer down on loaded chamber.
Not sure if any of this helps you or not. I can say that I find these little berettas to be much easier to shoot accruately than some of the little .32 or .380 pistols. I can't hit the broad side of a barn with a Kel-Tec but do just fine with the Beretta...
VA27
Member
I've never had a Bobcat in 25, but I've had 3 in 22. None of the three shot to point of aim. I've had several Jetfires and Minx's (the 22 version) and all were extremely accurate and reliable. The ONLY broken part I've ever seen on one was a broken recoil spring on an early 50's Minx, and it still shot fine. I vote Jetfire!
MICHAEL T
Member
I have 2 of the Jet fire a model 20 and 21 I perfer my Jet fire or the model 20 over the 21 21 is little larger and thicker
Gordon
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The Model 20 is not much larger and safely carries chamber loaded and ready to go which is important to me.
JR47
Member
The Jetfire could have been either a Model 950, or a Model 950BS. The latter had a manual safety.
They were made from 1952 until 2003. There were no major weak points, and, if your gun is down, who really cares if the replacement part is used? Beretta still has magazines for it.
They also made a Model 950/950BS in .22 Short. I have a pair of them, one in each caliber, that are over 30 years old, and still humming along.
They were made from 1952 until 2003. There were no major weak points, and, if your gun is down, who really cares if the replacement part is used? Beretta still has magazines for it.
They also made a Model 950/950BS in .22 Short. I have a pair of them, one in each caliber, that are over 30 years old, and still humming along.
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guyfromohio
Member
I had a bobcat. It was a surprisingly accurate, 100% reliable little gun. I think I might go get another now that I'm thinking of it.
My point is that a used part from Numrich may or may not work in your gun.
Not all parts are drop-in, and if you get one that was fitted to another pistol it may not function correctly in yours.
Therefor- I CARE.
Denis
I understand where you are coming from, but every gun you buy new runs the risk of being discontinued by the company at some point in the future. I bought a new CZ 83 early this year, and found out last week that CZ will not produce the gun after this year. I am not going to sell it just because if this, but I am aware that it is only a matter of time before CZ's factory supply dries up.
The Jetfire could have been either a Model 950, or a Model 950BS. The latter had a manual safety.
They were made from 1952 until 2003. There were no major weak points, and, if you gun is down, who really cares if the replacement part is used? Beretta still has magazines for it.
They also made a Model 950/950BS in .22 Short. I have a pair of them, one in each caliber, that are over 30 years old, and still humming along.
I recently purchased a 950BS in 25 ACP and bought two new spare magazines from Beretta.
The 22 Short version, the Minx, is a nice pistol. I bought a long barrel version new around 1980. For a small pistol with fixed sights, it is remarkably easy to hit small targets.
il.bill
Member
I cannot speak to the 21 Bobcat, but the Beretta 950 Jetfire is a sweet little pistol. We were just shooting a friend's Model 950B (pre '68 with no safety) .25 ACP yesterday and I was impressed. It seemed like it would be a great pocket pistol for someone with arthritis or weak hands, since you can load a round in the tip up barrel chamber, install a loaded magazine, and start shooting by just cocking the hammer, never having to work the slide. The lack of a safety on the 950B, and carrying a loaded round in a little pistol with no firing pin block could of course be problematic at times.
I have been looking for a .25 ACP semi-automatic just for fun, and the Beretta 950 has jumped ahead of the Baby Browning and the Junior Colt in my personal search list.
I have been looking for a .25 ACP semi-automatic just for fun, and the Beretta 950 has jumped ahead of the Baby Browning and the Junior Colt in my personal search list.
The-Reaver
Member
21A
MICHAEL T
Member
I have to go look but the owner manual for my no safety jetfire . says can carry hammer down loaded. Seem be useless as a SD pistol to try to rack that little slide or play Barney with a round in pocket and tipping barrel .
Were getting so hung up on these hammer down older guns. How many carry a older 30/30 hammer down in the woods or a Model 39 marlin 22. or any of the older rifles or pistols . Not every one carried a 1911 condition 1 till Cooper started preaching it. Many carried loaded hammer down on older Govt models I carried a PPK/S for years hammer down safety off . That safety near impossible to use in a SD draw and Iam sure not wasting a bullet for a empty chamber .
Were getting so hung up on these hammer down older guns. How many carry a older 30/30 hammer down in the woods or a Model 39 marlin 22. or any of the older rifles or pistols . Not every one carried a 1911 condition 1 till Cooper started preaching it. Many carried loaded hammer down on older Govt models I carried a PPK/S for years hammer down safety off . That safety near impossible to use in a SD draw and Iam sure not wasting a bullet for a empty chamber .
Gordon
Member
Like I said the safety on the 20 or slightly chubbier 21 is not necessary as one can carry loaded and just pull the long DA trigger. For me that puts it FAR ahead of the 950. BTW the 950 back in 65 in Macon Georgia was my first semi auto, I carried it in college at Mercer when I went "downtown" and down to the bayou, on half cock.
If I remember correctly, the 950 series has a spring loaded floating firing pin. With the hammer down, even if struck, the hammer will not set the primer off.
i assume they figure you would thumb cock the hammer--which has its own issues.
You would not rack the slide with a round in the chamber. No extractor and you would just jam up the pistol.
Hammer down, safety off, on the PPK/S should be an acceptable option as it is double action on the first round. That is how I carry my PPK.
benderx4
Member
I've got two of the Jetfires and love them! Very small, good accuracy, nice single action trigger, great build quality. They are still all over the place and sell fairly cheaply so I don't see parts being an issue. Good luck!
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