Beretta 950 .25

[Lone Star]

If you own a Beretta M-950 .25. can you post pics and tell us about the gun and how it shoots and whether you like it?

Please describe accuracy as the longest range that you can reliably hit an apple or similar-sized object.

Thanks,

Lone Star

 

[ScottieG59]

A Google search will show you tons of pictures. I have one, though I would not carry it. My Kahr P380 is almost the same size and easier to carry. I inherited the Beretta from my father and it has sentimental value.

The 950 is reasonable accurate given the bad sights. I can keep rounds within the 10" target at 25 yards firing freehand. I am not a great shot. I bet a good shot could kill an apple at 25 yards.

25 ACP is a bit weak and also expensive. It can be very lethal, but you cannot count on a quickly stopping an attack. The recoil is not bad, but there is some since it is a small blowback handgun.

If you cannot rack a slide or can use only one hand, the tip-up barrel makes things easier. The 950 is a very simple design and the extractor cannot break since it does not have one.

I actually like the little 950, but it would be unwise to trust your life with it. It may do the job, but there are many many better options. If small and concealable is the objective, the new 380 ACPs from Kel-Tec, Ruger and Kahr is far better. The small micro-9 mms are even better.

 

[MikeJackmin]

Any .25 pistol is marginal for SD, but if you need a .25, the 950 is an excellent choice. I think they are underrated.

My one bit of advice would be to get a spare button for the magazine release (this is an inexpensive part) and file it down so that your finger does not inadvertently cause the mag to drop out when firing. This is an easy modification, and it resolves the only real problem with this design.

I do agree that a good, modern .380 (like the kel-tec P3AT, or the Ruger copy) is almost as small as a 950, and is far superior as a defensive gun. But if you do need a .25, I know of no better than the 950.

 

[Starter52]

Another vote for the 950. If you want a small, light .25 ACP pistol for pocket or purse then the Beretta 950 is as good as anything else on the market.

 

[benderx4]

I used to have 5 of these little guns, but now I'm down to 2. I LOVE this gun! Great single action trigger and almost no recoil. I can hit a heart sized target at 10 yards with no problem. I don't carry this gun but do have one hidden behind a picture frame in the house. Good luck and happy shooting!

 

[Jed Carter]

My wife has the 950 Jetfire .25ACP, it is a SA only pistol with a great trigger, very accurate at 10 yards, OK accuracy at 15. She keeps it in the glove box cocked and locked in a pocket holster, it is what I carry, when I am not carrying a gun.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I have 2 of them best little 25 auto ever made. To bad Beretta went to the model 20 DA/SA then to the model 21 .Their bigger and not near as nice. I have one in my computer desk drawer at present . Other still in box never shot it was made in Italy.
I also have the kelTec's in 32 and 380 but the 950's hold a special place in my collection.

 

[Smaug]

I was always tempted by these, more the 22LR version for me. If there's a chance of it being inadequate, I'd rather have one that's cheap to shoot, hehehe.

They make a similar gun in 32 ACP, which would be a better bet, and the ammo costs the same.

Going up to an 84 or 85 in 380 would be better yet, but they're bigger guns, no question about it. Also pretty damned expensive. There was one for sale last week in the handguns sales forum for I think $575. I think they go for $685 new. Might be worth checking out, if you have the budget.

 

[Lone Star]

Thanks, everyone. I well know the limitations of a .25 auto, and would use it within those parameters.

If it has to be used, I plan to fire at an attacker's eyes at close range, hoping to blind him and get a brain hit.

The .22LR ammo doesn't feed as well as .25,a critical issue in a defense gun. And the .32 Tomcat has a reputation for cracking frames. I don't think the metallurgy is adequate for the firing stresses placed on it.

Besides, the 950 is a movie star! (Yes, this is tongue-in-cheek.) It's been seen in several Bond films and in such TV productions as, "Silk Stalkings."

I appreciate the photo. Many on the Net are small and/or fuzzy.

Lone Star

 

[benderx4]

I totally agree with you, for a few pennies more, I much prefer the greater reliability of centerfire .25, than rimfire .22. Good luck and happy shooting!

 

[Lone Star]

BenderX4-

Thanks so much for the photos!

I've seen a couple of 950's with blued slides that had changed to a plum color. Is that common?

Was there a stainless version?

When did Beretta cease production of the M-950, and does anyone know why they quit making it? The DA successor doesn't do much for me.

Lone Star

 

[amd6547]

I have owned both the 950 and the DA model 21a...I much prefer the 21a.

 

[VA27]

I've had several 950's in 22 Short. Excellent little camp gun and training aid for the 'bigger' 25ACP. I've also had a Model 20 (the DA version of the 950 in 25 only) and I sold it in a fit of madness. The Short models and the Model 20 were all very accurate, fun guns.

The 22LR Model 21, not so much. I've had three of them and while they were reliable, none would shoot to point of aim with any ammo I tried.

I think the 950 is the best of the 25's and if it was all I had, I'd make it work. Buy as much ammo as you can afford and a coupla extra magazines and practice.

Dang! Now you've got me Jonesin'! I'll have to buy the next 950 I see!

 

[Loosedhorse]

longest range that you can reliably hit an apple or similar-sized object.

You mean Ransom rest, sand-bagged at the bench, or Olympic slow-fire?



I can hit the center of an IPSC target at about 10 feet. If I need something more, I need another gun. Heck, I probably need another gun no matter what.

But I do like my Jetfire!

I plan to fire at an attacker's eyes at close range, hoping to blind him and get a brain hit.

TMI. Yecch!

 

[MICHAEL T]

They stopped them in the mid 80's if I remember correct. You can still find good used ones in lower $200 range. in my area .

I love my made in Italy model . No thumb safety manual says safe to carry hammer down loaded . None of todays 50 page lawyer junk in manual.

 

[Clark]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
I had done other experiments on other 25acps before I tested the 950 BS Beretta. I could see the firing pin fit was good, so the primer would not pierce. I could see the chamber walls were .090" thick, and I was looking for at least .042" thick for the chamber to be stronger than the brass. The slide mass and chamber support looked good.

The Alliant max load is 1.3 gr Bullseye 50 gr gr FMJ.

The first shot I ever made with my 950 BS Beretta was 3.2 gr Bullseye 50 gr FMJ and then worked up from there to 4.3 gr when case failed. I switched to Power Pistol and got up to 6.0 gr and again case failure, but much more power than with Bullseye.

My brother, who weighs 230 pounds, cannot tolerate more than 4 gr Power Pistol in his 25acps, because it kicks too hard.

 

[benderx4]

Was there a stainless version?

Yes, there was a nickel finish and a INOX finish. Both currently sell for a bit more than the blued versions. (My experience has been that they are also much harder to find.)