Beretta Model 21-A

[jondar]

I bought one of these yesterday at the Gun Show NIB. I had planned to let my daughter use it. She is having trouble with the double action pull. Although the factory specs say it is a 9 pound pull, it feels to me more like 13-14 pounds. My question is, is there anything I can do to lighten this a few pounds? Or is this a job for a gunsmith?

 

[DnPRK]

I'd shoot several hundred rounds to make sure it cycles reliably before spending money to improve trigger pull. I've got two 21As that don't do well. I would be very reluctant to bet my daughter's life on it.

 

[skynyrd1911]

I have owned two in the past and had problems with both.....too bad as I thought it would make a nice pocket mouse gun. I would not buy another .

 

[roo_ster]

The 21A is awfully complex & I bet you'll have a devil of a time finding a smith who has done anything other than polish bearing surfaces.

Oh, have you flung a .22LR across the room using the tip up barrel, yet?

Which reminds me, take extra care when clearing the 21A, as it has no extractor. Working the slide will NOT remove a cartridge from the chamber.

The 21A was my mouse gun of choice until I bought a Kel-Tec P32.

The P32 has a MUCH better DA trigger pull & recoil is negligible. My 21A has an ugly DA trigger pull, even after hundreds of rounds downrange. I was hesitant to dry fire it several thousand times, as I do most handguns, due to it being a rimfire.

I haven't shot the 21A in years...and I have since bought another P32 for my wife, who likes it a lot.

Good luck

 

[Henry Bowman]

The Beretta 21A is also chambered in .25ACP. Which is yours? I don't know if the caliber will have an effect on the trigger pull on that model. Mine is in .25, the much maligned "underpowed" round. But I have had no problems with it.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

jondar,

Everyone has trouble with the DA pull on the 21, at least I do and everyone I have let shoot mine. SA mode seems to work nice, but I don't know if that mode of carry is 'safe'.

FWIW, I have tested several rounds from this gun in ballistic gelatin (the .25ACP version), the results are at www.brassfetcher.com . Don't believe the hype about the .25ACP being underpowered - it's not, it's just not the same as a 9x19mm or .44mag or or or...

JE223

 

[jondar]

Thanks for the personal experiences with the 21-A. Mine's in .22 LR and I've run a box of Thunderbolts thru it with no FTF's. I've about come to the conclusion that the way to carry this (which my daughter will not be carrying on her person) is cocked with safety on. I normally wouldn't do this with a striker fired pistol but if it works for a 1911 , ,? The weapon she keeps in her apartment is a Model 36 S&W and I don't feel nervous with her having this . I agree with the statements about the .25 ACP, I certainly wouldn't want to imbibe one. I have a query in at this time to Brownells to see if softer springing is available to reduce the weight of that double action pull. Am not too optimistic.

 

[jondar]

As I figured, Brownells doesn't have any aftermarket springs for the Beretta 21-A, and if they don't have them they probably aren't made. Like some of you mentioned I don't recommend this pistol re: the double action feature. Besides being hard to pull, it can pinch your finger between the trigger and frame. So, bottom line, if you have to use it like a single action then you may as well buy a single action. I have also a Beretta Model 418 which is hammerless which has been satisfactory. The 21-A is simply not up to the standards I have come to expect from Beretta. Rant over.