Beretta Model 21A 22LR

[Yukonstorm]

I bought this gun a few months ago, and was reluctant to carry it as a CCW. I live in a tropical climate, very little crime. I put 400 rounds through the gun today without cleaning it. Stingers, regardless of how dirty the gun was, made the tiny Beretta run like a swiss watch, absolutly perfectly. An assortment of other HV rounds would give an occasional FTF. I heard mixed reviews about the 21A's but Im delighted with mine.
PS, over 200 rounds of stingers, appx 200 of mixed HV
I know no 22 is a good CCW, but it beats no gun.
Thanks for listening

 

[albanian]

My Beretta 21A .22lr is as reliable as a .22 auto can be. That is to say that it is as reliable as the ammo. I have never had a problem with it that wasn't directly related to the ammo. I have never had a jam with CCI Stingers and I think they are reliable enough to trust. Every once in a while I will carry my 21A as a CCW when I don't want to carry something larger.

I had a Kel-Tec P-32 that was smaller and thinner than the 21A but it was never reliable. I think 7 shots .22lr beat 0 or maybe one shot of .32acp. I had zero faith that the Kel-Crap would function so I didn't even want to carry it.

 

[10-Ring]

I had one once. Sold it because I just couldn't find the right ammo to get it to function properly...congrats on keeping yours functioning!

 

[Onmilo]

I have owned Beretta 21, and 950 single actions in both .22 short and .25acp.
I now own a Kel-Tec P-32 which has shown itself to be completely reliable and caused me to sell the Berettas.
They too were just as reliable as the Kel-tec and a bit more accurate on target.
Cheaper to shoot too. At least the .22s were.

I now wish I had kept one of my Berettas. I miss them, they were very decent little guns.

 

[jwr_747]

I have carried one on and off for a bunch of years,can't recall it never going bang when I pull the trigger.when the 1911 only folks ask " what you gonna do with that thing" reply is,"stick it in someones face and pull the trigger till it goes click".I figure 6 rounds of 22 in the eye,nose,forehead area will slow down the "baddest crack head" jwr

 

[grimjaw]

Mine was always reliable with Stingers. Seemed to like the higher velocity stuff.

jm

 

[Mad Magyar]

I'm glad to know someone had good luck with their Beretta 21A....I had jams constantly....Sent out twice to Beretta in MD, always the same....It would be fairly good with the hypervelocity loads, perhaps 90%, but certainly not good for anything but plinking....
Mine went out on consignment and was sold immediately...

 

[..]

There are defenitely much better choices than a .22 for carry.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I've had the 21A for 10+ years. It's not 100% with low power ammo. Stingers are reliable.

I recently bought Crimson Trace Laser Grips for it for inexpensive laser practice.

 

[exidfsniper]

i just purchased the 21a (stainless) as my backup for my baby eagle 9mm (Jericho). where can i find accessories for it? does Beretta make an HC mag, or is 7+1 the best i can do aside from having an extra mag or two in the back pocket. and mine seems to really like the CCI stingers as well.



_____________
the evil should never run, for its be a pity to die tired

 

[Elvishead]

I love my new jam-o-matic. And it's new! I love to shoot it, as it's a great warm up gun that has saved me lots of money on 38-9-45-357 bla-bla-bla.


TBS, you won't see me carrying that jam-o-matic. And trust me I've tried a lot of different 22lr ammo brands in this gun.

I still like the thing, I guess it a disfunctional relationship.

 

[AK103K]

I've owned two at different times. Both worked OK when clean and using hotter ammo, like the Stingers, but usually got grumpy pretty quick as they got dirty.

Compared to other things available, they are big and still a .22. My Seecamps are smaller and carry just as many rounds, but in .32.

 

[MJ2008]

Beretta 21

Up to over 1000 rounds in mine. Except the first time out with Remington its been 100%. It is rock solid with Stingers(or Mini Mags). I prefer Stingers.

 

[jackstinson]

I have thousands of rounds through my .22LR Beretta 21A without a glitch. CCI Mini-Mags function flawlessly. It usually goes to the range with me every week just because it's fun to shoot.
I also have thousands of rounds through my ancient Beretta 950B .25acp Jetfire. It's cycled every brand of ammo I've put into the magazine.

 

[Confederate]

I was frustrated by my 21 stainless jamming the first time I took it to the range. My Ruger Mark II ate everything I gave it, but every magazine or two in my Beretta 21, the cheap Remington Thunderbolts would just crap out. Thus it happened, that I asked here and was told to try Stingers or CCI MiniMags. Well, I have millions of MiniMags, so I broke open some and tried them.

That did it. Every round fired as quick as I could pull the trigger and it would do so magazine after magazine. Well, so much for that. I did find it interesting, however, that the el cheapo Remingtons worked in my Jennings J-22 without nary a bauble.

I'm saddened that tiny pistols are no longer made. Even if they didn't have wondrous stopping power, they are fascinating little works, especially when they're made by reputable companies. The Beretta 20, 21, and 950 are proven. The thing that really is sad about Beretta is that the company itself refuses to stand behind its products, whether it was the military 92 or the horrible little Tomcat. Beretta's prices ain't cheap and to just be left holding the bag is inexcusable. Still, every Beretta I have is a gem, whether it's a 950, 21 or a 70S (.22LR).

 

[MJ2008]

Model 21

Well for the heck of it I thought Id try some Aguila hyper velocity ammo in my 21. N.G. Jams, jams, jams. I should have stuck to the tried and true, Stingers and Mini Mags. Oh well, live and learn. Next range date its back to the CCI. They work!

 

[PRM]

I have had mine for several years. Not an everyday carry gun, but it does get used. Going on a short trip this weekend and it is what I am taking. Mine has been a great little gun. First 300 or so rounds I would get a hiccup now and then. Now it is as dependable as any other gun in my collection. I don't even think about malfunctions with it anymore. Once it was broke in, mine has handled everything I put through it. I was a Walmart the other day and picked up a bulk pack of Federal 22LR. Took it to the range yesterday and zipped 100 rounds through it. Its a great little gun that won't break the bank. Also, fills a need when concealment is the first order of business.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Mine functions flawlessly with every .22 ammo I've tried, but is most accurate with Winchester Wildcat.

 

[VA Patriot]

Picked up a new Beretta 21A in 22lr yesterday. After taking it all the way apart, lubricating it and cycling the slide about 500 times, I went to the range and shot it. Engagement range was 7 meters on an IPSC silhouette. Pistol was cleaned between each ammo type fired.

Remington Viper HV Truncated HP: Multiple FTF, good accuracy out of 50 rounds fired. In the FTFs the rounds would try to feed off the mag but the nose would go a tad high and become sandwiched between the breech face and the top edge of the chamber mouth.

Federal Game Shok HV 40gr Plated Round Nose: No FTF no FTE, no ignition issues from 70 rounds fired.

Remington Yellow Jacket HV Truncated HP: Same performance as the Federal Game Shok but with slightly more recoil and flash. Very accurate, fired 50 rounds.

CCI MiniMag HV 40gr Plated Round Nose: Multiple FTF even in the middle of the mag. No ignition issues, but MiniMag is not for my pistol. Fired 50 rounds.

Aguila Interceptor HV 40gr Plated Round Nose: Same as MiniMags, slightly worse if that. Will not use for this pistol. Fired 50 rounds.

CCI Stinger HV 31gr Plated HP: Best performance. No ignition, feeding or ejection issues. This was the only ammo that would feed and cycle with one round in the chamber and 7 in the mag.

I could consistently intorduce a FTF when firing first round DA with 7 rounds in the mag. The first round off the mag would fail to feed. I understand that this is common with this model pistol. With a round in the chamber and 6 in the mag this gun works great with CCI Stinger, Remington Yellow Jacket and Federal Game Shok.

I will use Stinger for defensive purposes and Game Shok for the range. Yellow Jackets as a backup range ammo.

The next ammo to be tried out Velocitor, Winchester Super X, 333 and Federal Champion next. I anticipate success with the Federal Champion and Super X based on other posts I have read.

 

[Flash!]

I bought my 21A about 20 years ago.... it has been a very reliable gun till recently.... it still fires reliably without jamming..... but the pin that holds the barrel on vibrates out after several mags of ammo have been fired without stopping.... but I still like the gun so much I bought new wood grips because the old ones were showing the abuse of being carried around.....

 

[MICHAEL T]

I have model 20 and 950 both in 25 I keep looking at the 21 My 22short Astra cub shoots great with CCI ammo. Do I really need another 22 pocket auto. I guess that question These Berettas are not cheap today.

 

[PRM]

Do I really need another 22 pocket auto. - Michael T

Guess you have to answer that - I have had the Beretta Minx and an Astra in 22 Short. Both were good guns and the only thing I ever had against them was that they weren't .22 LR. I really like the Beretta 21. To me, the .22LR chambering gives the gun a better range of uses. I am more inclined to carry it on trips to the woods... If I have my .22 rifle, I only have to carry 1 caliber ammo.