Does Anyone Have a Beretta 21A that Works?
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AR-Trvlr
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Even if it did, the firing pin / primer wouldn't line up.... One is rimfire, the other centerfire.
OP
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Confederate
Member
Nice looking gun. If I didn't live in Maryland, I'd make you an offer. Buying guns in this state is more trouble than it's worth, which is why gun dealers are going out of business by the boatload. Last gun I bought was my Beretta stainless 21 and it took an hour and a half to do the paperwork. Then the SOB who sold it to me escorted me to the front of the store (it was a chain). First they sell it to you, then they try to make you feel like you're a criminal or a perv. But then, that's the idea. And it's what they want to teach your children and your grandchildren.
I do digress. To others who are surprised by my problems with my particular 21, I'm sure using a cheap, dirty brand (Thunderbolt) had something to do with it. I hope Mini-Mags and better ammo will work better.
To CZF I say, don't sell it. Guns only go up in value and I generally try to dissuade anyone from selling guns. Almost a hundred percent of the time you'll regret it, and it's just not worth it. You'll never miss the money but you'll aways miss the gun.
I do digress. To others who are surprised by my problems with my particular 21, I'm sure using a cheap, dirty brand (Thunderbolt) had something to do with it. I hope Mini-Mags and better ammo will work better.
To CZF I say, don't sell it. Guns only go up in value and I generally try to dissuade anyone from selling guns. Almost a hundred percent of the time you'll regret it, and it's just not worth it. You'll never miss the money but you'll aways miss the gun.
I had one about 20 years ago and it was a jamamatic. Stovepipes, failures to feed, failures to extract - it jammed every which way it could. Wouldn't get through a magazine without jamming. Bought an aftermarket magazine and tried half a dozen brands of ammo including Stingers and 42gr silhouette ammo. Took it back to the gunshop and the gunsmith polished the feed ramp which did nothing.
I really liked the gun, it's a nice gun, it would always fire a chambered round, and the tip up barrel is great, but I ended up selling it. My advice is to buy one new and plan on sending it back to Beretta until it works. I suspect that the slide was up against a too heavy mainspring, and sometimes wasn't fully retracting on firing.
I really liked the gun, it's a nice gun, it would always fire a chambered round, and the tip up barrel is great, but I ended up selling it. My advice is to buy one new and plan on sending it back to Beretta until it works. I suspect that the slide was up against a too heavy mainspring, and sometimes wasn't fully retracting on firing.
ulflyer
Member
21 that works...
I've had one for several years. When I got it, didn't know it was supposed to jam. It never did. Must be power of
positive thinking?
I've found the less expensive Aquila? (Mexican made) works fine. Obviously, so does mini-mags.
I've had one for several years. When I got it, didn't know it was supposed to jam. It never did. Must be power of
positive thinking?
I've found the less expensive Aquila? (Mexican made) works fine. Obviously, so does mini-mags.
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OP
OP
Confederate
Member
When producing a gun this small, being off just a tiny bit in the specs can make all the difference between a shooter and a jammer. People with jammers can rarely get their guns to function regardless of ammo. If the problem's in the magazine, that's easy to fix, albeit expensive.
Beretta not including two magazines for these guns is inexcusable. Charging forty dollars for a spare is even worse. And not making them in stainless is just worse than cheap.
When the 92 "won" the military trials, I watched those guns go from a couple of hundred bucks (dealer price) to almost six hundred almost overnight.
So I don't care much for the company. Beretta denied there was a problem with the 92s and today its Tomcats are suffering from cracked frames right and left and the company won't acknowledge there's a problem. My view is that a defensive weapon shouldn't go *clunk* when it should go *bang!* Instead of recalling the Tomcats, they wait for problems to develop and then quietly replace them. If someone gets killed in the meantime, well, that's too bad.
If a gun has a propensity towards cracking frames, I won't own one. I guess it's possible that these 21s can have cracked frames as well. That would certainly account for persistent jamming. Strange that the little .25s don't seem to have a problem; that's why I just don't know about the 21.
Beretta not including two magazines for these guns is inexcusable. Charging forty dollars for a spare is even worse. And not making them in stainless is just worse than cheap.
When the 92 "won" the military trials, I watched those guns go from a couple of hundred bucks (dealer price) to almost six hundred almost overnight.
So I don't care much for the company. Beretta denied there was a problem with the 92s and today its Tomcats are suffering from cracked frames right and left and the company won't acknowledge there's a problem. My view is that a defensive weapon shouldn't go *clunk* when it should go *bang!* Instead of recalling the Tomcats, they wait for problems to develop and then quietly replace them. If someone gets killed in the meantime, well, that's too bad.
If a gun has a propensity towards cracking frames, I won't own one. I guess it's possible that these 21s can have cracked frames as well. That would certainly account for persistent jamming. Strange that the little .25s don't seem to have a problem; that's why I just don't know about the 21.
Any idea how much a MINTY 21a with wood grips would sell for?
12 rounds thru mine with on dud of an unknown brand the other
.22 ammo shot perfectly. Purchased it last year on my Bday.Has been sitting in the factory box for a year now. i got $140 for the one i sold it had the boxes a pappers u may get $170 for it since it like new
12 rounds thru mine with on dud of an unknown brand the other
.22 ammo shot perfectly. Purchased it last year on my Bday.Has been sitting in the factory box for a year now. i got $140 for the one i sold it had the boxes a pappers u may get $170 for it since it like new
OP
OP
Confederate
Member
Bhp9mm: This is a classic symptom of frame cracking. It works fine for so many rounds then starts mysteriously jamming. Examine it closely with a magnifier and a strong light. There could very well be a small fracture somewhere. Even if you don't see it, it could exist. After examining it, send it back to Beretta. If you found a crack, point that out to them.
I'd like to know, so please keep us informed.
BTW, are you talking about two guns here?
I'd like to know, so please keep us informed.
BTW, are you talking about two guns here?
wristtwister
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What problems?
My little Bobcat is as reliable as they come. I feed it cheap, bulk ammo, and unless the rimfire doesn't work, it goes bang every time... and I take "once struck" misfires and run them through again in a different gun just to make sure I'm not having firing pin problems... but if the bullets are good, it goes bang.
When I carry it for protection, I carry Stingers in it, and it rocks the house for a .22. One of the shooters at the range where I shoot has told me on several occasions that he "didn't want me hunting him with that little pop-gun". For a pocket pistol, it's very accurate... and unless you got one made on a monday or late friday, they're very reliable.
I usually carry full sized guns, but if I'm carrying where a full size is too much, I keep the Bobcat in my pocket to fight my way to my big guns.
WT
My little Bobcat is as reliable as they come. I feed it cheap, bulk ammo, and unless the rimfire doesn't work, it goes bang every time... and I take "once struck" misfires and run them through again in a different gun just to make sure I'm not having firing pin problems... but if the bullets are good, it goes bang.
When I carry it for protection, I carry Stingers in it, and it rocks the house for a .22. One of the shooters at the range where I shoot has told me on several occasions that he "didn't want me hunting him with that little pop-gun". For a pocket pistol, it's very accurate... and unless you got one made on a monday or late friday, they're very reliable.
I usually carry full sized guns, but if I'm carrying where a full size is too much, I keep the Bobcat in my pocket to fight my way to my big guns.
WT
OP
OP
Confederate
Member
Mine really crapped out with Thunderbolts. But then, that's very dirty ammunition.
Vibe
Member
That's exactly the purpose of the question. Right now my little 22 Epperson Cricket (25acp necked to 22) is a rifle only round. It's a lot like the 5.45x18 Russian PSM round, just a tad shorter. But the least expensive way to get into a handgun is to find two similar frames in whaich the parts will interchange. Looking to mount the rechambered 22 cal barrel on the 25ACP frame. The round should be close to working from the 25acp mag as it is.AR_Trvlr said:
LightningMan
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I bought a .25 acp and it works great, no problems, and still have it. A friend of mine had bought a .22 lr and ended up dumping it, as it had problems feeding reliably. LM
krs
Member
I have a high gloss blued shiny wood grip .25 version. I doubt I've fired it more than 50 rounds in all the twenty five years I've had it, but it never failed in any of the odd moments that possess me to shoot the silly pretty little thing.
Lookn4Brass
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Well, I tried and tried to like mine. Couldn't hit with it , and yes, it jammed a bunch too. Shot it a bunch of times. Traded it for...I forget what.
I think they should have stuck with the Minx or Jetfire single-action designs. They were alot better.
I hear the tip-up barrel .380 that Beretta makes is wonderful.
I think they should have stuck with the Minx or Jetfire single-action designs. They were alot better.
I hear the tip-up barrel .380 that Beretta makes is wonderful.
ThrottleJockey
member
.22 vs. .25
I have a S&W Escort .22, POS enough said. Every small framed .22 I have ever touched is a POS. With my Beretta, I opted for the centerfire .25 caliber, have fired thousands of rounds through it, and never a single jam or misfire. The only drawback is the cost of centerfire ammo. It costs more to shoot my .25 than any of my other pistols, .357, .40, .45, .38.......wait, my .380 is about the same. I guess when all is said and done the end result is yes, mine works(but it is .25) and it is not a very good target pistol due to the cost of ammo. However, as far as a BUG is concerned, it is PERFECT.
I have a S&W Escort .22, POS enough said. Every small framed .22 I have ever touched is a POS. With my Beretta, I opted for the centerfire .25 caliber, have fired thousands of rounds through it, and never a single jam or misfire. The only drawback is the cost of centerfire ammo. It costs more to shoot my .25 than any of my other pistols, .357, .40, .45, .38.......wait, my .380 is about the same. I guess when all is said and done the end result is yes, mine works(but it is .25) and it is not a very good target pistol due to the cost of ammo. However, as far as a BUG is concerned, it is PERFECT.
I had a Beretta 21A Bobcat in .22, it was incredibly reliable and quite accurate for its intended ranges, I think I had ONE stove piped casing and that was after firing about 800 rounds through it, it never jammed or anything and was an excellent CCW and plinker.
lonewolf5347
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- Jul 13, 2005
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- 495
I have a Beretta 21A Bobcat in .22 (blue)now for about 20 years since I retired from the job.I like the little gun I did find over the years if I clean it ,it will jam sometimes .
I did find if I leave it dirty and not clean it it will shoot anything I load in it from Monday to Sunday.
I must have a few thousands round threw it I love the gun safe to carry in my back pocket
I did find if I leave it dirty and not clean it it will shoot anything I load in it from Monday to Sunday.
I must have a few thousands round threw it I love the gun safe to carry in my back pocket
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