Beretta Model 21A Bobcat Range Report

[druryj]

Took my new Beretta Bobcat Inox .22lr pistol to the range today; what a neat little pistol! Fired 100 rds CCI min-mags, 100 rds Remington Golden Bullets, and 100 rds Federal Bulk Pack from Wally. Each load had two light strikes/FTF but each cycled the gun pretty much the same. I really was just breaking it in today after a good cleaning and lube. But; I was amazed at the dead-on accuracy of this tiny pistol. Consistently had 4 inch groups in rapid fire from 7 yds. Pretty much a point and shoot deal since my eyes are "old" and I couldn't hardly pick up the tiny front sight! I would just wipe the crud off the face of the chamber, the face, and the ramp after each 50 rds or so and keep firing away. Had a blast. I may even carry it as a BUG to my BUG on occasion but it sure is a fun plinker.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Broken]

Is that a break barrel type .22?

[GM]

Glad you enjoy it

[supv26]

Is that a break barrel type .22?

They have the "tip up" barrel. Makes it real easy to load/unload too.

[GlockJS]

I am still looking to get one of those when money opens up for it. Glad you are enjoying yours.

[frankmako]

great small gun. mine will shoot just about any 22lr ammo that i feed it. fun gun to shoot, 22 lr ammo is cheap.

[10thmtn]

Took my new Beretta Bobcat Inox .22lr pistol to the range today; what a neat little pistol! Fired 100 rds CCI min-mags, 100 rds Remington Golden Bullets, and 100 rds Federal Bulk Pack from Wally. Each load had two light strikes/FTF but each cycled the gun pretty much the same.

This is exactly why I recommend revolvers for .22 handguns, not pistols. If you get a dud (and you will) just pull the trigger again. This is especially so if you plan on using it as a carry gun - even as a BUG.

Your choice, but I just do not trust the ignition of .22 ammo for defensive purposes. ALL the duds I have personally experienced have been with .22 ammo.

Enjoy as a plinker, but no way I would trust my life to one. The loudest sound in the world is "click" when you really need a "bang."

[tkruf]

I had one of these that would jam more than once, every magazine. Tried a few different ammo types. Couldn't even enjoy using it as a plinker because of it.
Never again.

[Arko]

This is exactly why I recommend revolvers for .22 handguns, not pistols. If you get a dud (and you will) just pull the trigger again. This is especially so if you plan on using it as a carry gun - even as a BUG.

Your choice, but I just do not trust the ignition of .22 ammo for defensive purposes. ALL the duds I have personally experienced have been with .22 ammo.

Enjoy as a plinker, but no way I would trust my life to one. The loudest sound in the world is "click" when you really need a "bang."

Yup. agree.
I have a Bobcat, and my failure rate is about 10%. Too high for defensive weapon. fun to shoot at the range though.

[druryj]

It has a tip-up barrel; I think the accuracy and reliability is about as good as can be hoped for in a small .22 like this. And I understand and agree on the issue about the reliability of rimfire ammo...and how a wheel gun is better if you're gonna CCW a .22LR...cause you can just pull the trigger again and rotate the cylinder...ad infinitum. That's why I said maybe as a BUG to my BUG. It's just a fun little plinker and that's what I intend to do with it. Usually. Maybe. Most of the time. It might sneak into my pocket every so often though. We'll see. (I sometimes carry a PPK/S in (gasp) .380 ACP as a primary). Anyway, I like this little pistol and if anybody is contemplating one, I think you'd like it too; for whatever purpose you decide to use it for.

Happy, safe shooting.

[10thmtn]

No worries...I sometimes (gasp) carry my .380 LCP as my primary (and only) pistol. The only time I carry a BUG is when I'm on duty.

Most of the time, however, I try and Smartcarry my Glock 26.

[Reaver]

Picked up a new Beretta 21A in 22lr yesterday. After taking it all the way apart, lubricating it and cycling the slide about 500 times, I went to the range and shot it. Engagement range was 7 meters on an IPSC silhouette. Pisolt was cleaned between each ammo type fired.

Remington Viper HV Truncated HP: Multiple FTF, good accuracy out of 50 rounds fired. In the FTFs the rounds would try to feed off the mag but the nose would go a tad high and become sandwiched between the breech face and the top edge of the chamber mouth.

Federal Game Shok HV 40gr Plated Round Nose: No FTF no FTE, no ignition issues from 70 rounds fired. The only time I could get these to not work 100% was when I had a full 7 rounds in the mag and on in the chamber. The first round off the mag would fail to feed. I understand that this is common with this model pistol. With a round in the chamber and 6 in the mag this ammo worked great.

Remington Yellow Jacket HV Truncated HP: Same performance as the Federal Game Shok (including the 6 vs. 7 rounds in the mag issue), but with slightly more recoil and flash. Very accurate, fired 50 rounds.

CCI MiniMag HV 40gr Plated Round Nose: Multiple FTF even in the middle of the mag. No ignition issues, but MiniMag is not for my pistol. Fired 50 rounds.

Aguila Interceptor HV 40gr Plated Round Nose: Same as MiniMags, slightly worse if that. Will not use for this pistol. Fired 50 rounds.

CCI Stinger HV 31gr Plated HP: Best performance. No ignition, feeding or ejection issues. This was the only ammo that would feed and cycle with one round in the chamber and 7 in the mag.

I am going to try out Velocitor, Winchester Super X, 333 and Federal Champion next.

[TedBeau]

I had one of these that would jam more than once, every magazine. Tried a few different ammo types. Couldn't even enjoy using it as a plinker because of it.
Never again.

I'm with tkruf on this one, my mother had one and we hardly ever got it to shoot a full mag with no fail to ejects or jams.

She traded it after about 500 rounds thru it for a single action revolver.

[High Altitude]

I have a 9 shot taurus 94 revolver that I have owned for probably about 15 years.

Pure .22lr plinking fun. Everyone that shoots it can't put it down.

[phantom1984]

I have one and it is a very accuratate piece. But I am glad im not the only one having problems with the jams. I have found if you take you fingers and squeeze the top of the mag a bit the jams stop. at least for a few mags to be fired through it. I do believe the mags are the main problem. They are very cheeply made.