Beretta 21A or Ruger LCP II?

[jstert]

i had and happily dumped both the beretta 21 and ruger lcp22. both weren’t 100% reliable. the beretta was a jam-o-matic despite cci ammo, factory mags and two attempts at gunsmithing. the ruger was uncomfortable, both loading mags and operating its safety. it was also finicky even with cci ammo.

i have convinced myself that rimfire handguns are best found in single action revolvers and larger semiautomatic pistols. if i didn’t love my ruger sr22 so much i would look at a s&w m&p compact 22 or a keltec p17. my deep carry 22lr handgun is a naa bugout1 with cv revision grips.

 

[Speedo66]

If an all metal gun such as the Beretta is okay, have you considered the Walther TPH?

 

[white smoke]

I have both the Ruger and the beretta and much prefer the beretta. The 21a has a much better trigger. It’s surprisingly accurate. It can be picky about ammo but it shoots CCI mini mags without a problem. Your mileage may vary.

 

[TTv2]

If an all metal gun such as the Beretta is okay, have you considered the Walther TPH?

Not worth it, IMO.

 

[TTv2]

It's been almost two years to the day since I made this topic and since nothing else on my list is available at the price I'm willing to pay, I decided that it was time to give the .22 LCP a go and ordered it. The Beretta was available on big rebate late last year and I didn't pull the trigger on it as I just got the sense that I was going to have trouble with the poor sights it has and at them being so wide, yet only holding 7 rds vs the slimmer Ruger holding 10 that's significant.

If it turns out the Ruger runs better with 8 or 9 rds in the mag instead of 10, it's still an improvement.

 

[Pistolay]

It's been almost two years to the day since I made this topic and since nothing else on my list is available at the price I'm willing to pay, I decided that it was time to give the .22 LCP a go and ordered it. The Beretta was available on big rebate late last year and I didn't pull the trigger on it as I just got the sense that I was going to have trouble with the poor sights it has and at them being so wide, yet only holding 7 rds vs the slimmer Ruger holding 10 that's significant.

If it turns out the Ruger runs better with 8 or 9 rds in the mag instead of 10, it's still an improvement.

I hope you have better luck with it than I've had with mine.

 

[TTv2]

I hope you have better luck with it than I've had with mine.

If I don't it won't be too difficult to sell and I'll stick with the Phoenix Arms after that. Actually might get the HP25 to carry and use the HP22 as the trainer.

 

[PRM]

I decided it was time to move on from a finicky old model (Aluminum frame) Taurus PT22. The Taurus had the tip up barrel and a DAO trigger that appealed to me for some reason, but lately I've been on more of a DA/SA kick and I can't think of too many small .22's that have that. I've been of the opinion that a DA trigger or an exposed hammer for a second strike is almost a necessity on rimfire pistols.

That said, I can't disregard the LCP II in .22 because I have the .380 LCP and could see the value in a trainer version.

I'm not looking to get either, just looking to get feedback from others if either are worth considering or if one is better than another.

I've had a Beretta 21A for about 27 years. It was my father's and I really don't shoot it that much. Very finicky with ammo, does pretty good with CCI. You've also got to keep it clean of you want it to be reliable.

There are a lot more reliable options today. My daughter has the LCP II in 22 and loves it. I went with the NAA Black Widow revolver for a small 22. I've got the combination model that will take regular 22LR and came with a 22 Magnum cylinder. The two inch barrel and oversized grips made this the optimum choice for me.

 

[Pistolay]

I went with the NAA Black Widow revolver for a small 22. I've got the combination model that will take regular 22LR and came with a 22 Magnum cylinder. The two inch barrel and oversized grips made this the optimum choice for me.

I had one of the convertibles for a while, and the only reason I got rid of it is because the end of the day, I'm just not a wheelgun guy. Having real sights makes the BW phenomenally accurate for such a small gun. I will say though, that if I was ever going to carry one, I'd carry two. I don't think there's any way the average Joe is going to reload it in the heat of a gunfight.

I'm no more than an average shooter, and the very first time I ever shot mine, I did this at 25 feet with a box of Hornady Critical Defense:

 

[halfmoonclip]

Anytime there is a small auto offered in 25acp and 22lr I typically buy both. Use the 25acp for pocket carry and use the 22lr for practice. If Ruger would get off their rear and offer this in 25acp along with the 22lr version I would be all over them.

This was my deal when I had a 950 Beretta in .22 short and .25 ACP. The centerfire was super reliable, the .22 mostly. It was great fun to shoot.
I wish Ruger would get off their rear, and improve the LCP line, instead of copying the KelTec original, right to the cheap, plastic feel. My LCPs have always worked, but weren't especially assuring to carry. The II versions give me trigger pinch/slap.
Moon

 

[GRIZ22]

I've no experience with the Ruger.

I have a 21A that I sometimes carry in a low threat environment. I carry it hammer down safety off.

Reliability? I use CCI Mini Mag solids. You are going to need penetration with a small caliber gun. I take it to the range once a year and fire Mini Mags until I get a malfunction. That's always over 100 rounds and I attribute that to the gun getting dirty. I keep it clean and am.very confident with it.

One issue with tip up barrels. If you get a malfunction the normal immediate action drill is to rack the slide. If you do this with a Beretta tip up barrel you stand a good chance of pulling the slide off the gun. Training issue.

 

[Great Scot]

One suggestion for the LCP in .22. If you start to get light strike issues, install an aftermarket spring package. They’re pretty cheap and the help with light strikes (and extraction).

 

[TTv2]

One suggestion for the LCP in .22. If you start to get light strike issues, install an aftermarket spring package. They’re pretty cheap and the help with light strikes (and extraction).

Recoil or striker spring?

 

[Great Scot]

I would replace both.

 

[jar]

My LCPII Lite Rack got the lighter firing spring and heavier extractor spring from Galloway. I did not install the heavier hammer spring since the former two solved all my light strike and ejection issues. It's here should I need it though.



My Bobcat with its fatter grip is slight easier to control.

 

[tubeshooter]

As a Beretta 21A owner, the only mechanical gain it has over the Taurus is the longer hammer throw from the single action cocked position. Which in my experience has less "light strike" failures than when the hammer is pulled through in double action with its shorter hammer throw. Maybe the Taurus overcomes some of that with a heavier hammer spring? But I have no idea if that's true.

I gotta admit that if I had an LCP in .380, I'd probably find an excuse to own the LCP in .22LR.

Since you mentioned DA/SA .22 LR, going up a notch in size to something in the Bersa Thunder class may be worthy of consideration. I bought a Bersa .22 years ago and it is on another level of reliability and shootability than my Beretta 21A.

I have nearly bought an LCP in .22LR as described above, but the spotty reports of reliability have held me off. Also the Beretta 21A just feels classier to me, where the LCP comes across as utilitarian and cold.

My 21A is reasonably reliable so I have taken the opportunity to "quit while I am ahead".


Another nod to the Bersa; I got a Firestorm and it's a fun little gun for what it is. Maybe not the gun to bet your life on, but I don't consider either of the other two as such either. All range toys/fun guns. And they all cost about the same, more or less.

 

[TTv2]

I don't want to sound like a hypocrite, but I've said before I don't like the SP101 as the SP101 and all the work those require to have a decent trigger pull is a bit much. Why spend $750 on an SP101 and upgrades when a Taurus is half the price and works fine out of the box with no replacement parts?

As long as aftermarket parts can make the LCP .22 reliable, I can accept that. I'm normally not one who likes being forced to pay for replacement parts to make a gun work the way it should, but I'm willing to look past it if there aren't any other options and AFAIK there are no pistols the size of the LCP that hold 10 rds of .22 or have decent sights or an extractor.

 

[Great Scot]

I don't want to sound like a hypocrite, but I've said before I don't like the SP101 as the SP101 and all the work those require to have a decent trigger pull is a bit much. Why spend $750 on an SP101 and upgrades when a Taurus is half the price and works fine out of the box with no replacement parts?

As long as aftermarket parts can make the LCP .22 reliable, I can accept that. I'm normally not one who likes being forced to pay for replacement parts to make a gun work the way it should, but I'm willing to look past it if there aren't any other options and AFAIK there are no pistols the size of the LCP that hold 10 rds of .22 or have decent sights or an extractor.

I would like Ruger to acknowledge that the LCP in .22 needs different springs, and make the fix! However, until then, we’re stuck with aftermarket unfortunately!

 

[Sarge7402]

Having owned both to me it all boils down to what you want. First just for the record the lcp II 22 is a single action only with a concealed hammer. It is not a sa)da pistol. As such it really requires a safety that blocks the hammer fall for it to be safe for pocket carry. And that's why the safety moves back and forth not up and down. Both pistols address the lack of strength for older people. With the tip up barrel on the Beretta and the lite slide on the Ruger. Both can easily in a back pocket carry holster and both are minute of squirrel) rabbit at 15 yards.

Personally I like the Ruger more than the Beretta and when I got mine they had lots at my lgs. Beretta was a special order. My favorite small.22 is an interarms Walther TPh. Good luck finding one you can afford

 

[halfmoonclip]

If an all metal gun such as the Beretta is okay, have you considered the Walther TPH?

The Ranger, domestically made, stainless TPHs are neat little guns, the alloy framed imports even more so. Even Walther aficionados admit they are less than perfect. The alloy guns are subject to drop damage on the mainspring seat, and the .22s are not always reliable feeders. Over the years, I've had five Rangers, two worked, three didn't. I'd be all over a .25 ACP version, but they are unobtanium on a good day.
Anyway, it is a shame Walther didn't follow up/refine the design. It is a great concept, amazingly flat, and decent sights. Unhappily, a TPH isn't a real solution to the OPs question.
Moon

 

[Sarge7402]

True, but it's nice to have one especially when the movie channel runs an All day James Bond special

 

[TTv2]

Shot the LCP II yesterday and had more than enough light strikes to determine it needs the aftermarket springs, so I'll be making the order at Galloway Precision soon.

 

[Cornhusker77]

I've got the LCP II, and while I haven't shot a lot, maybe a couple hundred rounds, it's been good.
No jams or light strikes yet.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Misfires with an LCR II are easily cleared by tap/rack, because it has an extractor.

Whereas a misfire with a Beretta 21A cannot be cleared as quickly or as easily. It doesn't have an extractor, and the rim of the misfired cartridge is effectively swaged to the breech by the firing pin. It requires a tool to pry the misfired cartridge out of the chamber after tipping up the barrel.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have only ever shot a couple of 21As; neither was at all reliable.
My S&W Plastic M&P Compact is quite reliable but is out of the vest pocket category.