Beretta Mouse Guns, .22lr-.25acp

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Confederate

Confederate

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Okay, I have to admit it. I like these tiny little guns. Maybe it's because they look like toys. Or perhaps it's because they work so flawlessly for being so small. People who love guns often sneer at them or make jokes involving Vaseline and places the guns might fit if they're used in a fight; however, I keep seeing articles involving people who are killed, often in defensive situations, with just one or two shots. And I don't recall seeing many, if any, articles about people who unsuccessfully used one, though I'm sure they're out there.

Is Beretta still making its 950, 20, 21A and other mouse guns? Are they in high demand? Years ago, I had a few Ravens and, sadly, sold them. They were great little pistols and bring back many fond memories. They worked, despite the fact that they were cheaply made. Oh, and they didn't rust because they were zinc. I also have a Jennings J-22 that works like a charm. It fires three magazines of .22lr ammo, flawlessly, and then begins jamming. Cleaning it restores its perfect functionality. I wish I had bought ten of each. I had two small Sterling stainless pistols, one in .22lr, the other in .25acp. Neither worked and they reliably jammed each time someone tried to shoot them.

Thanks to the gods that I still have my little Berettas. I have a stainless 950, a stainless 20 and a blued 21. I'm very protective of them and don't shoot them, preferring to just treat them as toys...for grown-up kids like me.

But how about you?? How do YOU feel about these small guns? And what are your experiences, if any, with them?

Beretta21A_950_Small_2.gif

Beretta70S_2.gif

This Beretta 70S in .22lr was hard chromed and is not only
accurate, it's totally reliable. The smaller .22lr Model 20 also is
reliable, but only with CCI ammo.

Jennings.gif

This Jennings J-22 is very reliable, but only for
three magazines full. Then it needs cleaning.
 
I have had a 21A for about 10 years now and I do shoot it often. Actually it is my only hand gun my wife likes to shoot so far.

As far as I know it is the only one you list that is still being made so I wouldn't worry too much about shooting yours.
 
I have an Inox 21a in 22, and a Taurus Poly PT-22 stainless. Both are excellent shooters. I dont know who told you the Jennings was reliable. Mine sure wasnt.
 
I have a 950 BS in 25acp and it's a neat little poodle shooter. Finely made little sidearm, but a very anemic caliber. I don't carry it but I do enjoy plinking with it on occasion. My sister in law carries a 21A in 22LR in her purse. I've shot it a few times and although I prefer the SA on the 950, her 21A is a nice piece, too.
 
Is Beretta still making its 950, 20, 21A and other mouse guns?
Click to expand...
The Beretta PICO is the most current Beretta pocket pistol. It's more along the lines of the K-T P3AT or the Ruger LCP though.
Beretta currently produces two types of tip-up pocket pistols like you mentioned:
... 21A Bobcat in many variations, chambered for either 25acp or .22LR.
... 3032 Tomcat in many variations, chambered for .32acp.

The 950 types were produced from around 1952 through 2003 in .25acp and .22 Short. There are tons of them around. My favorite Beretta.
The Model 20 was a transitional pistol bridging the 950 and 21A designs.

I have a 1956 Brazilian-made Beretta 950B (25acp), a 90's era Model 21A (22LR) and a current production 3032 'Wide Slide'.
Note: Taurus basically cloned the 21A (except it is a true DAO). They offer it in both .22LR and .25acp. Available in alloy frame as the PT22 and PT25...also a poly frame as the 22PLY and 25PLY. My own Taurus PT22 is a decent shooter, not quite as nice as my Berettas though.

Note: I also own 3 Jennings J-22 pistols (1 early sliding safety type and 2 later vertical safety types), all are quite reliable...with many many many rounds through them. Of the three, only one needed tweaking, after its previous owner had dry-fired it a whole lot and peened the chamber.
.
 
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Never owned a Beretta, but I've also had some fun with the Jennings I got in 1987, and my other two rimfire mousers, a Phoenix HP22A and a Taurus PT-22. I don't carry them since I have other choices available (including a .32 that is smaller than the Taurus.)

But,t hey do have their place, don't they? :D
 
That's a beautiful 70s. I generally don't much go for refinished classics, but that one is very attractive.

My favorite mouse guns are in the form of two Walthers, one a .22lr and the other a .25acp TPH. I've often looked at the tiny Berettas as a pistol I should add to my collection.
 
I have a Bobcat in .25 I use for corner store walks. Nine FMJ's to someones chest would probably discourage anyone wanting to do me harm. It's deathly accurate at 20 feet.
 
I had a Beretta Minx in the '60's, .22 short. Ran pretty well. IIRC, it didn't have an extractor, strictly blow back ejection. Typical tip up barrel, made so ladies could drop a round in and not have to pull the slide back to chamber the first round, or so they said.

Fun, cheap to shoot, but I was afraid if I shot someone, they'd just get angry. :rolleyes:

I paid $39 new in 1966.
 
I have a 21a that's a fun little plinker. I enjoy shooting both it and an old Browning vest pocket in .25 acp.

The smallest caliber that I carry for self defence is .380.

But Confederate , I admire your enthusiasm.
 
I have a black 21A 'Bobcat' in 22lr, and I love it. It's really reliable with Blazers, or Remington Yellow Jackets.
I never carry it, but it's a fun little plinker at the range, and of course, it's darn cute.
 
weblance said:
I don't know who told you the Jennings was reliable. Mine sure wasn't.
Click to expand...
I had several J-22s and they all were reliable. Again, they only were reliable for 3-4 magazines, then they had to be cleaned with a toothbrush to go another 3-4; but for carrying, who has to use more than that? And my Ravens worked all the time.

Why doesn't Beretta still make their fine assortment of .25 SAs?
 
usp9 said:
That's a beautiful 70s. I generally don't much go for refinished classics, but that one is very attractive.

My favorite mouse guns are in the form of two Walthers, one a .22lr and the other a .25acp TPH. I've often looked at the tiny Berettas as a pistol I should add to my collection.
Click to expand...
Thanks. It hasn't been shot hardly at all, but it developed a small spot on the side that began discoloring with surface rust, but no pitting. I finally got it hard chromed and found out that the "spot" was a problem on a number of 70S .22s. The fellow from Mahovsky's called me shortly after it was plated to tell me what a nice pistol he thought I had. He even polished it a bit for free.
 
The 22LR and 25acp are ~~ the same power with factory ammo, but....

The 25 acp with triple powder charges makes a lot of noise and painful recoil.

I have done that with the Colt 1908 25acp

Because I could see how the Beretta 950 acp is built, I started at double loads and worked up.

The Beretta has the exact same limit, the primer pocket expands and failure to extract.

But no one is going to tolerate the recoil at that threshold.
 

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I have 2 950's 1 with safety 1 with out 1 model 20 and 2 model 21 in 22lr These are the only Beretta I have ever liked . I have owned couple other models and traded them. But these I keep
 
I like the little Berettas a lot...I have owned the 950 and the 21, and just got a Model 71.
Calling them "toys" is about as wrong as one can be.
 
I've had several 950's over the years. Four in 22 Short, including a Camper and two in 25. One 20 (wish I'd kept that one) and three 21's in LR.

While the 950's are really accurate little guns in my hands, not one of the 21's I had would shoot to the sights for me. Never have figured that out.
 
I have a 22lr Model 21, and have owned another 22lr and a 25acp Model 21...All three can bounce a pop can at 25yds.
My range has a metal bowling pin silhouette rack at about 12ft...I can hit the small top of the "pins", which really smacks them down.
 
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