Beretta 21

[Kentucky Rifle]

Yesterday I drove out to my regular gun shop. For some reason I started looking at a matte black Beretta 21 in the case. The owner offered it to me at a good price. Looks like a fun little shooter but I don't need a jammer and being a .22 auotomatic, I wasn't sure about the little pistol. How reliable are these little guns?

KR

 

[4v50 Gary]

I carried one for a couple of years.

 

[sm]

Mine have all been reliable, and scary accurate.
Find the ammo it likes of course and you will be fine. Mine always liked the Win. X22lr and the Win PowerPoints.

I just pipe cleaned the chamber and breech face, minimal lube, and do check under the grips from time to time...them nelphs reproduce it seems.

 

[wally]

I've one. Fun and cheap to shoot being 22LR. Too many failures to fire to consider it as a SD gun, fortunately its double action, always seems to fire on the second strike so I've no reason to blame the ammo. Does it with all the ammo brands I've tried.

Supposedly even the greatest of the great John Moses Browning couldn't make the 22LR reliable in a small pocket auto so he invented the 25ACP to solve the problem. The Beretta 21 is on the large side for a 25ACP pocket gun.

If you are looking for a plinker that's easy to carry go for it. For a SD backup gun I'd say forget about it. Get a Kel-Tec or NAA 32 or 380 instead -- smaller, more powerful and more reliable.

--wally.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I have plenty of .32's and .380's. I just thought the .22 cal 21 looked like a fun gun for not much money. However, like I said, I don't need a jammer. I've probably been kinda spoiled by my Jetfire. It's never had a malfunction. (Other than two sets of broken plastic grips. I've replaced the plastic grips with silver wood...Like Marko has on his Jetfire.)

KR

 

[sm]

wally ,

Though I have a Keltec P-11...I never warmed up to smaller Keltecs.

KR may be using this as fun gun, he didn't say, but from what I gather from previous posts - KR will give a thorough checkout for reliability.

Personally I prefer the little Beretta's for a couple of reasons, the Jetfire have better triggers (SA). The Bobcats are next in line with the DA/SA.

Tip up feature is very safe and useful. I have a handicapped friend that cannot rack a slide...no need with a tip up. Little Beretta trigger is better for her, little Keltec does not work for her, trigger and racking slide.

Shot placement is key..she can with a Beretta even tho' a smaller rd.

KR you will be fine...just use better ammo, even tho mine like the Fed bulk pak ( surprised me too). I use the above mentioned Win. most often.

Snicker and grins...get some shotshells. Heck I have had mine even cycle the Win and Fed all brass with crimped ends ( I prefer this shot shell anyway).

 

[4v50 Gary]

A jammer? I tested mine with several brands of ammo for reliability and then accuracy. Then I loaded it with what I thought was the best for the gun (and me).

 

[wally]

KR asked about reliablity. Mine's not reliable enough to carry, but I've not scoured the earth for the "right" ammo.

Ammo sensitivity is the fastest route to safe queen status for my guns. Mine's never had a feeding or ejection problem but sometimes it goes click instead of bang! Not a big deal in a fun gun so I've not tried to get it fixed.

Mine was bought new from one of the largest dealers in town before I discovered how much cheaper guns could generally be had at gun shows.

Every maker lets "bad" guns get out. I wouldn't call mine bad, just not reliable enough to use as a SD gun out of the box.

KR, go ahead and get it, its definitely not a jammer. The 25 Jetfire I had was great, traded it to my borther-in-law for some camera gear, since I had found smaller 25s at the time and no 32 or 380 were as small and light way back then.

--wally.

 

[wella]

It's pretty simple to add a speed lever

and then carry the M21 cocked and locked. Misfires are nearly always on DA mode. If you still have problems, I'd send it back to Beretta, or I'd fit a small shim of tubing, so as to compress the mainspring about like 1-2 more coils of said spring would do.

 

[KMKeller]

Will - Hey bud, howzit? I can't speak for the .22, but I have the .25ACP version and it's been 100% reliable. Great little gun for a great little price.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

Hi Kirk!

Things are pretty fair. Thanks for asking. I think I'll pass on the Beretta and purchase another Kahr PM9. If the PM9 is as good as my first one, I'll be well satisfied.

KR

 

[KMKeller]

And with the PM9, you'll likely not be disappointed.