Beretta 21 VS Taurus PT-22

[TerriLi]

I am stuck with a debate, the next handgun Im going to get is going to be a .22lr. I want a pocket pistol to round out my collection, so Im stuck with either a Beretta 21 or a Taurus PT-22.
So here is my main sticking point, do I go with the Beretta 21 I little more price wise, or the Taurus PT-22.
Anyone thats owned both please tell me which you think is the better, or what.
Also any problems you know of either.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Rob72]

Same gun, with only a couple of differences:
1) the 21A has a heel-placed mag release; the PT is "US" thumb located.
2) The PT has a ramp front sight; the 21A is an abysmal "hump"
3) The 21A may be carried DA or cocked-n-locked; the PT is DAO
4) The trigger guard on the PT is integral, and makes a better fistload than the 21A.

Here's an excellent thread from TPI

Suggestions:
1) Polish the chamber (either gun). Both are strictly blowback, and a light buff will ensure reliable ejection with a wider range of ammo.
2) Buy & try as many different brands of ammo as you can, to know what works & what doesn't.

People have loved and hated both. I would suspect that reliability issues may generally be traced to rough/peened chambers, "off" breech faces or occasionally badly fited barrels.

I had a 21A. I now have a Taurus. I like both equally. I prefer the PT's mag catch placement and front sight, as well as the heavier trigger guard, but none of these are critical issues. In all honesty, I would buy whichever you can find, and find the cheapest

[ASSA9]

I am stuck with a debate, the next handgun Im going to get is going to be a .22lr. I want a pocket pistol to round out my collection, so Im stuck with either a Beretta 21 or a Taurus PT-22.
So here is my main sticking point, do I go with the Beretta 21 I little more price wise, or the Taurus PT-22.
Anyone thats owned both please tell me which you think is the better, or what.
Also any problems you know of either.

I have a PT-22 and a 85 and both are broken and sitting in my safe
to remind me not buy another Taurus

[TerriLi]

How exactly did the PT-22 break?

[NDN-MAN]

I have a PT-22 and have been happy with it.
When I first got it, it had several fail to feed problems. When I looked at the mag. I saw that the mag lips did not line up correctly. They sat off center. ( To the right if I rember right) So I sat down and custom worked ( used a small pair of oliers to bend the lips to the right angle and the right width for the 22 round) the mag lips.
After that I have had zero problems with mine. After all most feed problems are mag related. No matter what company, or what pistol or rifle.
GOOD LUCK & STAY SAFE

[Rob72]

I have a PT-22 and a 85 and both are broken and sitting in my safe
to remind me not buy another Taurus

Trigger transfer bar...?

[ASSA9]

How exactly did the PT-22 break?

The slide has a U shaped piece that cradles the barrel and it slide back and forth under the barrel. Its made into the slide and
has a small weld that broke on mine.
I think this happened because I shot hi powered .22 round in it and thats just a weak point on the gun.
I do not carry it anyway because I conographed a .22 being fired out of it and the short barrel causes it to lose about 30%-35% of the velocity thats stated on the ammo box.
It seem that the .22lr is made to shoot out of a
16 inch barrel and the powder does not burn fast enough to shoot in a short barrel and still get those numbers out of it.
That and the fact that the .22 is a weak SD round to start with made me stop carrying it.
You can buy those type guns in .25/.32/380 so why settle for .22 right ?
Don,t get me wrong, I'm not downing your choice of guns , I own a few .22s to shoot just for the fun of shooting them and if thats what your buying it for , that cool!
But you should know, that gun has a long trigger pull and is not that fun to shoot anyway.

[Rob72]

Common problem.

I picked it up as my "OMG"- Old Man Gun (as referenced in the TPI thread), and it is less "volatile" than a Seecamp. Admittedly, the DAO is heavier than the SA with the 21A, but I've smoothed mine up considerably.

[TerriLi]

Well thanks for the info people. After doing a local seach, and finding a great deal cheaper then anywhere else. I purchased a PT-22. Unfortunatly it arrives Wed. so gonna be a few days. Thursday is range and ammo testing day. I'll post my findings in a new thread.

[Superhouse 15]

Best of luck with the Taurus. At the shop where I work, we currently have 5 PT-22s and -25s back at the factory for repair. I think 3 .25s and 2 .22s. Also, avoid the palstic "pearl" grips at all costs. They will crack apart.