What condition for a Beretta Jetfire950?

[pinetree64]

I'm looking to by a Tomcat or a Jetfire. The Jetfire's small size, reliability, SA trigger and cost make me lean towards one of these neat little guns for pocket carry. The picture of the Inox with the ironwood grips sold me too.

What condition do you carry your Jetfire? The safety seems useless. I'd imagine you'd use the tip-up barrel to chamber a round and carry the gun hammer down. cocking the hammer seems like it would be just as easy as engaging a safety.

Thanks,
tjg

 

[10-Ring]

I carry mine w/ hammer at 1/2 cock, safety on, in a Desantis Pocket Pal in a dedicated pocket, nothing else in it When i 1st tried it, I carried like this unloaded all day and was fine. I've carried it this way for over a year now and all's good
Great gun, you won't be sorry

 

[bad_dad_brad]

When I carried one, I carried her with a fully cocked hammer, chambered, with safety on. Like a M1911. Pocket holstered of course. I always felt comfy.

The 1/2 cocked hammer, well, just don't drop it.

 

[Nick96]

I have one that's probably 15 years old now. I can't say for sure, but I don't believe there have been any changes made in that time (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

On mine, the safety is nothing more than a trigger locking device. It does not lock the firing pin, sear or hammer in any way. Therefore, if the sear or hammer groove is worn - or there is play in the sear or hammer - the safety is usless. And an engaged safety will have nothing to do with the possibility of a discharge if the gun is dropped on the hammer.

Another feature is the inertial (or floating) firing pin. When the hammer is down, the firing pin is flush with the slide face (or whatever that part is called). When the hammer is cocked, a small spring causes the firing pin to protrude to the rear. When the hammer drops, the force propells the firing pin into the cartrage primer. The principle is like those 3 steel balls on strings. Pull one back and release - hits the middle one that stays stationary - but the transfer of energy forces the outside ball to swing (and vis versa). The point of all this is if dropped (on the muzzel or hammer) the weight of the firing pin alone is not sufficient enough to break a primer.

So, with all that said, the safest way to carry the gun is empty chamber. The second safest way is loaded chamber with the hammer all the way down. The only use for the safety (in my opinion) is if you want to unload the chamber while the hammer is back (using the tip barrel feature).

The original Jetfires (back to the 1950's) had no safeties at all. The safeties came along as a result of the Gun Control Act of 1968. Similar to the politics that has resulted in built in locks on some new guns. And the name was changed around then to the Model 950. The Jetfire name has now come back along with the other names Beretta now uses for previously model numbered guns.

So the long and short of it is, the Jetfire is basically a 40+ year old design that has not changed in terms of basic form or function. Just trim and gadgets for political expediancy. In a way, it's a more dangerous gun than the original since some people will place false confidence in a safety system that is marginal at best.

 

[Tamara]

I carry mine with the hammer in the "half-cock" or "safety" or whatever-it's-called notch. Safety off. Round in chamber.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Now you all have got me curious. So I pulled the little manual that comes with the little gun. Of course, for legal reasons, Beretta says never carry the Jetfire with a round in the chamber, and even suggest leaving the magazine out as well. Okay, now that the lawyers are satisfied, here is what the manual infers:

You can:

On an empty chamber, fully cock the hammer, turn the safety on, tip up the barrel, load a round, and depress the barrel into position. To fire, turn the safety off and pull the trigger.

Or:

On an empty chamber, half cock the hammer, turn the safety on, tip up the barrel, load a round, and depress the barrel into position. To fire, turn the safety off, fully cock the hammer, and pull the trigger.

Never carry the Jetfire with the hammer down on a loaded chamber. Even though the firing pin is of the inertial type, there is the danger when dropped of an AD.

Always tip the barrel up and unload before dropping the hammer (DUH!).

On newer Jetfires, the safety locks the sear, prevents trigger pull, restricts fully cocking the hammer, and locks the slide.

I feel pretty safe carrying the Jetfire cocked and locked.

Dang! Now I have to get up out of my chair, and fondle my Jetfire! She is so pretty.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I've always felt safe carrying my Jetfire "hammer down" and a round in the chamber. Mine's a pretty new Jetfire INOX. I've had it about 2+ years.
#DAA256xxx. It's done nothing but feel better every time I've fired it. I really would like to have a 21 in .22LR, but some people say they've had no problems and some people say they get jams. Considering MY luck (NOW, I've RE-broken my #### foot!!), I'd get a jammer. ****, I couldn't even walk through a building without getting ran down from the rear by a laundry truck! I reckon, at some time, I used up all my "good luck".

By the way, I like the Hornady XTP's in my Jetfire rather than FMJ's. Anyone else depend on hollow points in their Jetfire? (Just curious.)

KR
P.S. Hey, Brad--You're right! I just removed the ammo from my Jetfire and tried it. With the safety "ON", the slide, trigger, and hammer won't move.

 

[pinetree64]

Just got back from the gun show. Found one Jetfire blue for $219. I also looked at the Tomcats too close to my snubby in size. The Jetfire is the ticket for pocket ccw.

No Inox or I'd have one now. Mayber I'll have one ordered.

tjg

 

[ruger357]

Also keep my Jetfire at 1/2 cock. Great little gun.

 

[Kahr carrier]

Chambered and half cocked.