New purchase: a Beretta 71

[5-SHOTS]

Last week I was at my LGS and the armourer showed me this .22L.R. Beretta 71 with the short barrel. It appeared to be in pretty good conditions, some little rust spots here and there (nothing a good gun oil could not cure), but it was basically unfired with no signs of internal wear whatsoever. The barrel showed no play at all with the frame which is pretty uncommon with those little guns. The price was very fair so I decided to gave it a chance and I have to say after the first range trip I'm happy as a puppy.
I shot 200 CCI Mini-Mag, 100 36gr and 100 40gr and it was flawless and very accurate with both (I slightly preferred the 40gr ones). The sights are spot on. Like most Berettas you have to cover the little target you want to hit with the sights but that's all. It's a tack driver. I highly recommend the Beretta 71 if you can find one in good conditions. It can be very fun if you are a beginner and extremely fun if you are an experienced shooter.
I have a question. what pocket holster would you recommend me for this gun? Uncle Mike's, which size? Others?
Thanks in advance.

 

[aarondhgraham]

That's a slick little shooter my friend.

I've been tempted to get one of them from Buds,,,
But the guns from Buds have that fake silencer installed.

Nice catch my friend,,,

Aarond

.

 

[5-SHOTS]

That's a slick little shooter my friend.

I've been tempted to get one of them from Buds,,,
But the guns from Buds have that fake silencer installed.

Nice catch my friend,,,

Aarond

.

Thanks Aarond.
A fake silencer, oh my god. Is it to mimic the Mossad ones, right? For that kind of dimensions I'd rather have a long barrelled 71 instead.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Thanks Aarond.
A fake silencer, oh my god. Is it to mimic the Mossad ones, right? For that kind of dimensions I'd rather have a long barrelled 71 instead.

I believe that it had something to do with importing them,,,
The fake silencers had to be "permanently" installed to lengthen the barrel enough for import.

Aarond

.

 

[Rock185]

Enjoy, I had a very similar little Beretta .22, purchased new back when they were still in production many years go. It was reliable little gun, and fit my hand well, so naturally I sold or traded it on something else Mistake! They are fine little pistols.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I believe that it had something to do with importing them,,,
The fake silencers had to be "permanently" installed to lengthen the barrel enough for import.

Aarond

.

Ok, that's make alot more sense.

Here is me shooting the little Beretta; I think these are some interesting pics of the gun just after a shot being fired (thanks to my good friend Luca for the pics). Unfortunately I can't upload the full video because is a little too big.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Enjoy, I had a very similar little Beretta .22, purchased new back when they were still in production many years go. It was reliable little gun, and fit my hand well, so naturally I sold or traded it on something else Mistake! They are fine little pistols.

Thanks Rock185. Yes they are little guns but they fit many different size hands very well. Apparently the Beretta designers knew what they were doing... And the gun is also very elegant. It comes from the good old days for sure.

 

[Monac]

Nice gun, 6-SHOTS. I've had the adjustable sight version (the 70S?) for about 30 years. It's my favorite 22 pistol. You can find factory magazines for them on Ebay sometimes.

 

[Franky50]

What a nice pistol! I did not know about it. Thank you for showing it to us!

 

[jonnyc]

They are wonderful pistols; I have 5 variations and use one (that had a fake can) for my real .22 suppressor.
And they come with 8 and 10 round mags, not 6.

 

[browningguy]

Very nice, I have a model 71 in .22 also, and an 81FS in .32, the little Berettas are a lot of fun.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Thanks to all. Yeah Monac, the short barrelled version with adjustable sights is the 70S. Nice version.
I have some more pics of the Beretta while firing:

 

[MedWheeler]

Nice guns. Haven't come across any around here. I did get my first Beretta today, though, and in the same caliber. A neat little 21A.

 

[bannockburn]

5-SHOTS

Fine looking Beretta Model 71 you've got there! Very much like my Model 70S except with a fixed rear sight instead of the adjustable version. An outstanding single action design on a medium size frame along with being extremely reliable, accurate, and perfectly sized. I think I have an older Uncle Mike's Sidekick Holster No.1 for it and goes great for taking it with me on backwoods hikes. Only thing I did to it was having it hard chrome plated by Ron Mahovsky of Metalife and adding a set of flat paneled grips like the ones on your pistol. i couldn't find any spare magazines but I did come across a slightly longer factory magazine from a Model 100 and added a spacer to it so it looked a little more properly fitted with the gun.

 

[bannockburn]

5-SHOTS

Forgot to add that I would try using some Flitz Polish on those rust spots. I have used it with great success on removing rust on blued guns without harming or removing the finish.

 

[Panzerschwein]

An Israelite used one of these to kill several terrorists on a plane one time.

Do NOT underestimate them. They are effective.

 

[Mark 40]

5- thats a real beauty you've got there. Outstanding shape and elegant. Hope I can manage to stumble across one someday.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Nice guns. Haven't come across any around here. I did get my first Beretta today, though, and in the same caliber. A neat little 21A.

Congratulations on your new pistol, nice little one. Before the 71 I also came accross a Beretta 950, the version with the "long" barrel, at the same LGS. It was so nice I was very tempted but it was chambered for the .22 Short and I decided to pass on it.

Thanks bannockburn. You have a nice nice 70S. Good job on the 10 round magazine. The hard chrome finish is beautifully and professionally done.
I don't know if I can find or order the Flitz Polish here in Italy. Anyhow thanks for the suggestion. I used some german Sonax MoS2Oil, spraying it on the spots and then gently brushed them with a 9mm bronze brush wet with the same oil: it worked great without affecting the finish.
A little problem is that in order to selling the pistol some "champion" used a sand paper to remove two rusty spots on the upper surface of the slide (see the red circle) removing the blueing. So I probably will have it retouched by a gunsmith friend of mine.


My Beretta came with only one magazine, maybe in the future I'll try to find onother one or two.


Yes Cooldill, the Mossad used those little Berettas for special purposes and they worked great!

Mark 40, thanks. I also think it's worth to have one of those little Berettas.

 

[PeteH]

I think my father brought this 70 over in this holster. It's a Hunter 1100P 19. Seems to fit nicely but IDK if they are still available!

Very fun to shoot this one, even the GF loves it.

Congrats on the 71!

 

[bannockburn]

PeteH

I have started many a shooter, young and old, out with my Model 70S. Recoil is virtually non-existent, the ergonomics are great, the trigger pull is light and clean, reliability with just about any .22LR ammo is amazing, and the accuracy is excellent!

 

[bannockburn]

5-SHOTS

According to Flitz's website their products (and there are many), are available from Mansueto Marine SRL in San Remo, Italy. I have found it to be great in polishing nickel, chrome, brass, and stainless steel, cleaning built-up dirt, oil, and residue, and for removing rust from blued finishes.

 

[Tallball]

Great find! I have the long-barreled 32acp version. They are excellent little pistols.

 

[bannockburn]

PeteH

I had an old Hunter Holster for a Ruger Single Six that looked just like the one your Dad had for his Beretta Model 70. Don't remember the model number but I checked Hunter Holsters website and they still make the 1100 Size 19 for 3" to 4" barrel medium frame autos. One thing I don't remember is their holsters being so pricey ($75), but I guess it's been awhile since I looked for one.

 

[If1HitU]

If you are happy that's all that matter,congratulation!

 

[5-SHOTS]

5-SHOTS

According to Flitz's website their products (and there are many), are available from Mansueto Marine SRL in San Remo, Italy. I have found it to be great in polishing nickel, chrome, brass, and stainless steel, cleaning built-up dirt, oil, and residue, and for removing rust from blued finishes.

Thanks, I think I've already solved the problem with Sonax oil. I've only to re-blue the little area in the red circle (see previous pic) and re-paint the red safety dot which is gone after my deep cleaning. All of these things after a couple others range trips, of course .