tip-up barrel?

[andrewdl007]

I really like the Beretta Cheetah and In was looking at the different versions. I saw that the 86 has a tip-up barrel. I understand that this is to put a round in the chamber without working the slide but is it really that useful? To me it makes the gun less desirable. Doe anyone have experience with a tip-up barrel? Do you like it, dislike it, or feel neutral about it. Thanks.

 

[searcher451]

Lots of women seem to like the idea, especially if they have trouble racking the slide on a conventional semi-automatic. I've got a Beretta Jetfire that makes for a nice BUG, and it works just fine; the tip-up barrel is not an issue or an impediment. It is, however, an issue in both the Bobcat and Tomcat that I've owned, neither one of which worked reliably, regardless of the time spent or the ammo used. But my wife likes the Jetfire because she has a hard time with the slide on a PPK/S.

 

[oneounceload]

I have the 22 version of the small Beretta (21??), and my wife liked the fact she could load one like that since she did not have the physical strength to work the slide (muscle degeneration)

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

The Beretta 86 is a great idea for people with weakness in their hands for various reasons (arthritis, injury, etc), but the Beretta 86 always seemed to be a little more harsh on recoil than, say, a Colt Govt/Mustang .380. Not sure why.... Very few other guns made make it easy to chamber the first round, except revolvers.

 

[ronto]

I made the mistake of buying a Taurus PT-22. It does make a good paperweight however. The tip-up feature is OK if you do not have to clear a FTF or FTE in a hurry and malfunctions happen a lot with the PT-22.

For anyone having trouble racking the slide in a semi-auto...GET A REVOLVER FOR PETE'S SAKE!

 

[benderx4]

I have two Beretta Cheetah 86s and my wife and daughter LOVE them! They are quality engineered, excellent products from Beretta.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I had a Model 86 for a few years as a "fun" gun because I liked its quality (absolutely beautiful fit and finish), accuracy and unusual design. Is the tipup barrel a big advantage? Not for most of us, but people with compromised hand strength or dexterity can find it very useful. Not only does the slide not need to be racked for loading and unloading, but its safety design allows it to be carried "cocked and locked" for a light and short reach trigger pull. It can also be carried as a double action first shot with the safety on or off if desired.

 

[rmfnla]

I have a Jetfire and I think the tip-up barrel is cool. Makes it real easy to check for a loaded chamber.

I believe one of the benefits of this system is it allows a stronger recoil spring which in turn permits a lighter slide which results in a gun that is easier to carry.

 

[M2 Carbine]

To me it makes the gun less desirable. Doe anyone have experience with a tip-up barrel? Do you like it, dislike it, or feel neutral about it. Thanks.

I have the Beretta M21A and 22 short MINX.
I've found the guns are handy for teaching young kids to shoot. When they are too young to be able to pull the slide to chamber a round they can still load and fire the gun by using the tip up barrel.
Three of my friend's boys could pass the Texas concealed carry shooting qualification before they could pull the gun's slide.


A friend's wife was missing a finger and could not pull a semi slide but she could load her Cheetah using the TU barrel.

 

[GRIZ22]

Without an extractor the tip up barrel is the only way to get a round out of the chamber. Requires a different malfunction drill than tap, rack and bang.

 

[rmfnla]

Good point; I'd forgotten about that!

No extractor means one less part to break, too.

 

[bikerbill]

had a Taurus .25 for a while; nice little gun and it was nice not to have to give myself a hernia trying to rack the slide; the springs on those things are wicked ... not much bang for the buck, to coin a phrase; a .25 will just p*** the target off if it doesn't hit a really important spot ...

 

[IdahoSkies]

I carry a tip up barrel tomcat daily. Not have an extractor was plus, (wont break) in my book. It also lends to easy inspection of a loaded chamber. It feels like the marriage of a revolver (cylinder) and an auto pistol.

It does require a different method to clear a jam. I have not had a problem with jamming in mine, (except when I jam it on purpose with snap caps to practice).