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Saturday, June 6, 2009

Beretta 950 BS Jetfire .25 ACP



The .25 ACP single action semi-automatic Beretta 950, once commonly called the Jetfire, was made between 1952 and 2003; it has been replaced by Beretta’s DA/SA model 21 Bobcat. On an old 950 B there is no safety like on the 950 BS (I believe this was a 1968 improvement). Some folks think that the 950 BS is okay to carry cocked-and-locked, something I do not feel comfortable doing with this gun. No, I am not an expert and I cannot cite any specific cases of negligent discharge; I humbly just don’t feel it is a very hygienic practice with this firearm. A pin through the alloy frame keeps the safety intact; I have found that this pin can “drift” on some guns, making the safety overly loose or even non-functional. That aside, I have never been crazy about cocked-and-locked on any pistol other than quality 1911 models.

Although not a firearms instructor, on occasion I do make my guns, my ammo, and myself available to new shooters once they convince me they can understand the safety rules. Usually I will bring five or six handguns to the range, a mix of revolvers and semi-autos in calibers from .22 through .45. At first look and feel, some newbies think the cute Beretta 950 is what they want as an “only gun,” but after firing all of the offerings, most new shooters rank the Jetfire as their least favorite. As an aside, I find most new shooters also don’t like the .45 ACP government model but, strangely, most are usually more accurate with it than with the other centerfire handguns in the mix. Never one to advocate a particular handgun, I do suggest that people are best served by shooting a wide selection of handguns over time so they can make their own decisions; one range session where a half-dozen handguns are sampled is probably not enough. Another humble suggestion is, whenever possible, people should seek training from a professional. Caveat emptor, your local gun store clerk is usually no more of a pro than I am; ask to see credentials.

Risking the wrath of some folks, I will offer that the 950 is not as easy to shoot as it looks to be. Its unconventional design takes a bit of study before it becomes familiar. My guess is that many professional firearm instructors cringe when a student shows up for class carrying a Jetfire. If a round in the chamber misfires, a
tap-rack-bang maneuver will only result in a double-feed jam because there is no claw extractor to yank an unfired case from the chamber when racking the slide. To remove an unfired round from the chamber, slide the barrel release lever forward and the barrel will flip up. You can pick the cartridge out with your fingernails if it does not fall free by inverting the gun. Having relatively low recoil and a low level of noise, the 950 usually is not intimidating to most new shooters; they are more likely to develop a flinch from anticipating hammer-bite or the slide-cuts caused from having too high a grip (or from having meaty hands). The sights on the Jetfire are not very good so the instructor may have a challenge getting the student to shoot a qualifying score.

These pistols are available used, in good condition, often for less than $200. The shelves at your local gun store usually will have at least a couple lying around. My guess is that many people bought them new and found that they did not fit the niche they believed they would so they traded them in on something else. Mine has less than 300 rounds put through it over the many years I have owned it. It only comes out of the safe for light range time (empty the two mags, clean and lube the gun, reload), for use as an alternate kit gun, or for self-defense carry around the house when the arthritic pain in my hands has me doubting that I could handle the recoil of anything more substantial.

While searching the different blogs I found nobody spoke in favor of the .25 ACP as a defense load. Of all commercially available centerfire cartridges, the .25 ACP scores the lowest in stopping power. Nothing has yet convinced me that hollowpoints or the hot frangible loads offer much improvement over ball ammo; IMHO, the .25 ACP is just rock bottom no matter how much it is tweaked.

I will speculate than many knowledgeable people will concede that, with eight rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, having a Jetfire .25 is better than having nothing at all.


Click here to download a Beretta 950 owner’s manual.

EDIT: CLICK HERE TO DATE YOUR ITALIAN MADE BERETTA






500-rounds of ammunition does not take up much space.
.


102 comments:

  1. Cool pistol. This related to the Beretta Minx? I seem to remember that from the 1960s.

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  2. Hey Borepatch.

    You have a good memory. Chambered in .22 short; have 2 of them, 1 circa 1964 made in Italy with the 4'' barrel, and another of later vintage, made in USA with the 2'' barrel. Fun and cheap to shoot.

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  3. A good choice for those that are not strong enough to pull the slide back and load the first round. However, as pointed out the 25acp is not a good choice if you have the ability to handle the recoil of something a little more potent.

    I have had the Keltec P3AT 380 for the last three years (traded in my AMT Backup 380 DA, as it was to heavy). Love the gun due to it's small size and weight.

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  4. Good advice Jim. I have heard good things about the Keltec .380. Never got a chance to try one out.

    Take care man.

    Zack

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  5. I own the Beretta .25 ACP Jetfire and in my opinon I feel it is the best .25 automatic that a person can buy ! A great little gun for senior citizens especially elderly women who would have a difficult time pulling back the slide of an automatic pistol ! And a great little gun to carry in one's pocket behind a wallet when a person takes a walk in the evening especially in one of our large cities ! The .25 ACP many not be a magnum powerhouse but they do kill , and a criminal just seeing a gun will scare most of them away , who in their right mind would want to get shot with even a .25 ACP ?

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    Replies
    1. Totally correct. You hit the nail on the head.

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    2. Mine was useful to scare with report or the hit (cause if your close enough to make a significant hit with a .25acp, then it's leaving a wound to scare the hell outta anyone!) So I think it's great. If you wanted to know what a .45 stats were, you'd have googled "1911".

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  6. Today I went out and tryed out a magazine for my Beretta Jetfire this was a newly made magazine not made by Beretta , well the magazine worked perfectly , I fired 6 rounds at a card board target measured one foot by one foot which was 30 paces away , all 6 rounds ended up within the target ! As a pocket defence weapon that an individual would carry on the street this in my opinon is more that adequate !Remember the little Beretta is not a target pistol nor a weapon for hunting ! It's purpose is a close range self-defence weapon a weapon you carry behind your wallet or in your back pocket !

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  7. I know that my Beretta Mod 20 (yes, Mod 20) .25ACP is not the most lethal gun in the world.

    But it's incredibly light in a good Galco pocket holster, hides well in Florida heat, and dammit, it just LOOKS good.

    Rather than swapping guns all the time, and possibly hesitating in a crisis, I'd rather have a reliable gun, in the same location, all the time. My Mod 20 is that kind of gun.

    With my back problem I usually can't wear a belt so that complicates things also.

    Given the alternatives, like ANYTHING Kel-Tec makes, the Ruger LCP which has too much Kel-Tec DNA in it for me, or the large and heavy Tomcat, I'm more comfortable with the portability and reliability of the Mod. 20.

    (Can't argue with 9 rounds on tap, either.)

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  8. I've had a Jetfire (950 BS) for almost 30 years now. The only problem I ever had was once when I tried to disassemble it more than the manufacturer recommends, and while cleaning I bent an interior part necessitating a visit to the gunsmith.

    Overall it's been a fun little gun, and it turned into my main pocket rocket after getting my CCW a few years back. The only thing I'd change is to get the .22 version that was available back then, as I'd be willing to trade the slightly lower power for cheaper ammo to practice with.

    The safety does work in both half-cocked and fully cocked positions, but to be truthful having a chambered round while it's in my pocket does not give me a worry free self defense option. Given it's unique design that rotates the barrel and chamber out of line with the firing pin with the flick of a switch, I've often wondered why no manufacturer has come up with a pocket holster similar to the Uncle Mike's Sidekick that is designed so that you could carry it with the barrel flipped open but with a round in the chamber. When it became necessary to use it, you could grab the pistol and snap the chamber/barrel shut, withdraw it, then cock it all in one fluid motion.

    Such a holster would definitely make me feel better when carrying.

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  9. I own 2 Beretta 950s . One in 22 sshort one in 25
    .They are both made in USA . They have manual saftys . I have had them for about 35 years . The
    25 is ingraved with some gold plating . Both have what seams to be Rosewood grips with Beretta emblems inlaid .The 22 short has had 1000s of rounds put through it with no malfunctions .The 25 has not been shot much .Just too pretty .The 22 short has a little holster wear on the sharp endges of the frame .Because of alloy frame i have not been able to hide the wear until lately .A black sharpy .Both guns will shot 4 inches at 20 feet with pratice .My wife carried the 22 shot for 30 years .I lost here about 6 months ago so neather gun is for sale at any price . I carry the 22 short daily but someday will find a plain 950 in very good condition when i have the money .SS doesnt pay so well.
    thank you for reading my rambling
    Don B
    Las Vgas NV

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  10. Hi Don. I'm very sorry. The loss of a loved one is always so hard.

    Thanks for stopping in and for your insightful comments. You are welcome here anytime.

    Best,

    Zack

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  11. Sorry Don for your loss & my heart goes out to you!! I own a 950 BS & carried it daily up to a few years ago.Its a great concealed pocket gun. I carried it with a round in the chamber-HAMMER DOWN (safety off).The manual states DO NOT carry it half cock!!!! even with safety on!!Carry ONLY Fully cocked & locked (safety on)- or hammer down safety off-is O.K.(inertia firing pin) P.S. I now carry a .32 KEL TEC GLEN...

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  12. As a 32 year police officer, I have carried the jetfire more times than I can remember when the only other option is no gun at all. Yes the ruger lcp .380 (refined Kel-tec) is now an option, but never forget the name of this little gem,JETFIRE. The ability to fire 9 rounds in a couple of seconds with a short trigger pull makes this litle gun alot better than nothing and far more reliable than the Kel-Tec. In plain language, IT WORKS all the time! Carry full roundnose for perfect reliability and practice for FACE SHOTS at close range. I have never seen/heard any low-life having the ability to continue their evil ways with a shot or two in their face. Think about the consequences of being shot in the face...totally disorienting to say the least. The gun you have is better than the one you don't have. In small pocket pistols, RELIABILITY takes precedent over calibre and some of the pistols out there are not real pocket pistols(gaurdian,bobcat).

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  13. I am with you!!! small guns to be used for face shots very effective...Body shots for larger calibers-Head shots for .22-.25-.32....The key to the Keltec is to go to the range & if you have problems after a couple hundred rounds..ship it back to Keltec & they will fix the problem 4-free..even with shipping cost the gun is very inexpensive to buy..my .32 now runs like a clock..no malfuntions I use glazers for defence. & a pocket holster I can have my hand on the gun in my pocket ,ready to go with no one the wiser Quicker than drawing from the hip!!!.....GLEN

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  14. Neat little article! I've had a 950 for asbout 20 years now; have only put 300-400 rounds through it but it's nice to carry around in a pocket whan I need it. With not much to grab on to it's a little tricky for my wife to rack the slide, but whe's proficient with it as well. We both tend to carry it with 1 in the chamber/hammer down, it's not a problem to bring the hammer back while drawing. It's fallen by the wayside and we both favor either a compact 9mm or a .40, but I enjoy my guns and don't imagine myself selling or trading it. Very neat article to see; thanks!

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  15. Thank you for the kind words, and thanks for stopping in!

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  16. The little Beretta 950 is probably the best little .25 a person can buy for the money , but don't laugh one of the best and least expensive .25's I have owned is the Raven ! People have called them "Saturday night specials" or pimp guns , but every Raven I have owned has worked and worked reliably , and I have owned atleast 10 Ravens over the years , I have traded them off for other more expensive weapons and not because there was anything wrong with them ! I only owned one Raven that did not work right after I shot it and the reason was the previous owner took the weapon apart and put the firing pin in backwards which I corrected and the gun worked perfectly ! The Raven serves it's purpose in providing personal protection to individuals with limited income !

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    Replies
    1. My 950bs rounds would get jammed i realized i had to manyin clip! Ps whats the best defensive round! (Brand)

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  17. Just got back from the range. My wife loves her 950 bs. Hands down the BEST .25 I have ever come across.

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  18. No matter what people say the Beretta 950 is a great weapon especially for women ! Yesterday I had a rather unfortunately event occur to me , thank God it happened to me and not to my 87 year old mother , I am a male . I was driving down to Phoenix when my car broke down in a rather dangerous mountainess area of Arizona , my transmission gave out and my cell phone did not work and I had to wave down passerbys to call 911 ! "If" I had been a woman I could have been at the mercy of any thug , rapist or robber passing by ! Thank God after an hour an a half a passing by trucker let me use his cell phone to call for help ! The trucker was a very good person and not only let me call 911 but gave be water , the temperture was over 90 degrees and I had little water in my car ! Unfortunately there are some very bad people who drive the Arizona I-17 down to Phoenix and some stranded drivers have been robbed even killed ! All older women driving alone always remember what I learned in the boy scouts ! BE PREPARED !Have a working cell phone , water ! And a pocket pistol "if" it should be needed !

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  19. I carried a Beretta 950B .25cal Jetfire from Nov 1967 until it was stolen in Nov 1982. Shot it a lot. Carried it in pocket everywhere. Never had a single problem. Never missed a gun like I miss that little fella.

    Recently bought a Keltec .32. Very difficult to rack the slide. First shot a stovepipe. Next ten perfect and FMJ rounds penetrated two-inch phone book fully. Next round would not fire . . . I had pushed the magazine eject button with my thumb. Changed grip. Next two rounds good. Decided to rack the slide and eject the rest of the rounds and clean it. Bullet would not eject. Hung up at an odd angle. Would not come out. Finally pushed it back in. Tried same thing twice more. Took it to gun store and they had same problem with three different kinds of ammo and had to shoot it to get all the bullets out. Sent it back to Keltec. My general assessment--low quality. How I miss my 950B! Gun store people said the newer Beretta .32 was not reliable like the old 950 series and they did not recommend them.

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  20. PS I know who stole my 950. That just makes it tougher to think about it.

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  21. Pleased to have you stop by, Tommy. I appreciate your insightful comments; I too still have a fondness for the old Jetfire. Keep checking around the gun shops in your area, an old one will show up for sale sooner or later. With the price and scarcity of .32 ACP ammo, the old .25 ball if much better than nothing. One could argue that a 100% reliable .25 is better than an iffy .32. My current choice for my pocket gun is a Seecamp .380. However they are hard to find and expensive... .380 ammo is very scarce.

    Again, thanks for your input.

    Best wishes,

    Zack

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  22. Thanks for the great article and info. This is one of the guns we had at home growing up as a kid. My dad just surprised me today by giving it to me. I always liked this little gun and it will be a great alternative to carry when my Glock 23 just isn't practical.

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  23. Scott, thanks for visiting and for your comments. Getting a gun from Dad is always special and something to cherish.

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  24. As I wrote in a earlier comment.If you have a problem with your Keltec..Ship it back to them & they will fix it for free!!! Even with shipping cost they are very inexpensive to buy..My brand new 950 BS had problems also & had to be shipped back to Beretta!!!! It wouldn't even chamber one round!! It turned out the feed ramp was milled the wrong angle!!! The two other 950"s in the gun store had the same problem!!!..GLEN

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  25. Hello I have a tomcat 32 and a berreta 950bs 25 i have been carrying the tomcat for about 2yrs now and love it never had a missfire or jam runs perfect shot a perfect score with it on the off duty carry qualify just bought the 950bs hope it is as good as the tomcat p.s. i shoot the tomcat alot so its very dependable

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  26. I have a 950 Jetfire .25 in mint condition. Made in 1968. Never holstered, fired 50 rounds without a hitch.
    All black with plastic handle grips.In original box with manualWhere would the best place to sell it and what would be a reasonable asking price.

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  27. Above person can be reached at darkmann@windstream.net

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  28. With all the great new ammo on the market,Corbon,Hornady,Glaser,Magsafe...the little .25s &.32s have a lot more to offer in the way of Stopping power!!!! Besides Head shots at close range have always been good show-stoppers..I prefer Glaser Safety slugs or new Glaser Power-Ball ammo for feed reliability in both My 950 BS & My Keltec .32....GLEN

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  29. I purchased my Beretta 950BS .25 cal in '82, immediately sent it to a Texas company for a new finish thru a friend w/FFL and a weapons nut. It looks like low luster SS but is some type of super hard non-rust finish. Farmers were using this finish on their plow blades for added life. As a PO I've carried this next to skin at times and even had it slide across concrete in a fight once. Not a scratch from the 'crete. I just discovered a faulty safety 2 weeks ago-rusted a little bearing in the safety(apparently the bearing was over looked in the new finish application). It has been a great firearm, never has jammed and I only put a clip thru it every 6 months to make sure it works. My lovely bride is kinda of tired of the holes in my back pocket- hence my reason to get on here today looking for a good holster. Now since I've read the above postings, I find maybe I should not be carrying my 950BS in the half cocked position w/safety on-like I was advised many years ago. Why not? I'm not a gunsmith or gun nut so his advise 20 yrs ago seemed right. Thanks

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  30. 950-BS Warning!!!!The manual states DO NOT carry it half cock!!!! Carry it with a round in the chamber-HAMMER DOWN (safety off). hammer down safety off-is O.K.(inertia firing pin)& Thumb cock 1st shot.. Even with safety on Carry ONLY Fully cocked & locked (Fully Cocked safety on) The Manual states...DO NOT CARRY on half cock, if the gun is dropped on its hammer-it can shear-off the half cock Hammer stop & the gun can FIRE!!!! Glen

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  31. If you are ever near Lancaster PA visit the "ARMS MUSEUM " in Intercourse PA. Every thing From The American Revolution To Present..Also Rare O.S.S.Weapons..Glen

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  32. does any one know how to fix the firing pin.

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  33. i would ship it to berretta for repair

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  34. The manual does not state to carry this with hammer down on live round this is bad information. The manual states the gun should be unloaded with magazine removed then the hammer can be placed all the way down. You should never carry a single action gun with the hammer on a live round ! You should also not carry this fully cocked and locked ,not recommend.The only other reasonable way to carry this weapon is half - cock position and safety on. This has been the standard method for carrying this gun for years.

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  35. I recently have obtained a Beretta 950BS-.25 Cal. The grips were both broken at top due to improper installation. The grips were not properly snapped down into place. I bought new grips and they snapped in with some pressure. Now it looks good. The slide seems to be slightly forward approximately 1/32 from the frame. I am wondering if this can be adjusted.

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  36. Not to my limited knowledge; a gunsmith should be able to answer that for you.

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  37. I've had a 950 BS since the early 80's, carried it off and on, and have put a few thousand rounds through it. Never had ANY problem with it, and for such a tiny piece the pistol (mine at least) is amazingly accurate. Maybe it's the practice time on it, but the lousy sights have never been a problem as it shoots exactly where I point it, and it points pretty darn intuitively for me without using the sights.

    Just because of the caliber it's not the gun I'd prefer to have in a gunfight, but it's immensely easy to conceal, which makes up for a lot.

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  38. Zack, thanks for the cool posting on the Jetfire. I had one for years, but "got stupid" and sold it. It is one of the few guns I ever regretted selling, so when I found another used one (sitting in a gun shop, like you said, and getting little interest from anyone) I shapped it up for $150 about ten years ago. Mine is identical to the one you have pictured, except for filing down the front sight and opening the rear notch on one side to get the gun to shoot "poiont of aim" at 20 feet. When I showed the guy at the gun store my 1" grouping (at 20 feet, using a two-hand hold) he couldn't believe it; I don't know why; they are accurate little guns, although, as you already pointed out, not the easiest things to shoot. I have to grip it just so in order to keep the slike from biting my hand; still, the effort is worth it. I did finish off a 160 lb hog (already wounded by my .308 and crawling for the woods) wiht my Jetifre. I reached for my .22 mag, and realized I left it in the truck; I didn't want to destroy any more meat with my .308, so I pulled out the Beretta from my pocket and shot the hog in the head (twice, because I had read how underpowered .25 autos are). When we dressed it out, my friend was amazed at the damage from the .25, both shots from it had penetrated both sides of the skull (bullets were Fiocchi 50 gr FMJ). After I saw what it did to that hog, I carried that gun many times when anything bigger would have been too detectable. They are cool little guns, very reliable, and of excellent quality. Thanks for your write up and commentary; very much enjoyed reading it.
    take care & God bless,
    dave

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  39. Thanks for stopping by! I enjoyed your comments and insight.

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  40. This was helpful. Where can I find an inexpensive pocket or inside the pants holster?

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  41. How about 'cocked and UNLOCKED'? I used to own a Jetfire and carried it tucked in the top of my Vietnam boots, just behind the ankle (very comfy there, like it was made for carrying it). One evening when I got home I pulled out the little pistol and saw it was cocked (safety not on). It cocked no doubt when I shoved it there, hours before.
    I probably would have jumped straight up 5 feet if that thing had gone off. Sort of like when Elmer Keith stepped on the rattlesnake. 'Jet' propelled.
    That was a wonderful pistol, I'd like to buy another.

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  42. Where can you find an inexpensive pocket or inside the pants holster? ...Try Butler Creek -Uncle Mikes "SIDEKICK" holsters they make a nice inexpensive holster...I actually use one of their pocket "revolver" "Sidekick" size#2 holsters for my small autos in the pocket.a little more $$$ you can get a Desantis "Trickster" Or Super Fly for pocket carry Both nice.. GLEN

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  43. I too am a 950BS owner and fan. My only concern is that the safety has a habit on going to the on postion when firing. Any suggestions??? My grip wrong?????
    thanks
    Duroc

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  44. If the safety has a firm "click" when going off and on it may be your grip. If the safety seems a little slushy, the pin may be loose and recoil may be moving the safety. Factory Customer Service may be able to help.

    Good luck!

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  45. Lots of GREAT things happening lately with Ammo..I still Load for defense with Glasers, in .25,.32,.380 & .38 CAL But now More choices are available than ever...& they feed like F.M.J.hardball But expand like Hollow-points. Corbon,Glaser "POWER BALL"..Also DPX..Hp Hornady Ftx Even a new .22 Winchester Mag rim-fire FTX bullet with flex tip technology.Great foruse in your NAA MAG MINI REVOLVER!!Glen

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  46. I'm another fan of the 950. I bought one about 15 years ago, and when I showed it to my wife she said "Where's mine?" Back to the gunshop, and now she and I have a matched pair. Both have been tuned and are stone reliable with Hornady 35 grain hollow points, the load we both use for carry.

    I have heard tales of RN ball glancing off bone. The Hornady HP has a sharp-edged cavity and will dig into bone. It will also expand nicely in water jugs.

    Great thread, Zack. Thanks!

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  47. .25 Jetfire is my favorite carry weapon.

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  48. I have a .25 cal. 950BS that I bought new in 1998, I love it. I normally don't "carry", but if I feel the need I do drop it in my pocket at times. I only have the 1 magazine that came with it but want another one. Where is the best place to get another one? Should it be an original Beretta clip? ...or will an aftermarket one work as well? Enjoyed this article, thank you.
    ~~~ Jim.

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  49. Hey there Jim.

    My .25 ACP 950 BS spare mags are from Mec-Gar of Italy; I bought them from Cheaper Than Dirt. Many gunmakers have Mec-Gar make the mags for their pistols.

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  50. Zach, thanks for the info on the clips, I'll check that out.

    About the safety going to the ON position when firing ... mine sometimes does too, but it is because of my grip, I tend to grip it to high & my thumb (knuckle?) hits it on recoil. Keeping my thumb out of the way seemed to cure my problem with it. ~~~ Jim

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  51. This was my first gun about 30 years ago. Still have it too. Anyone know if the magazine from a Beretta 21 is the same? Found some of those for $15.

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    Replies
    1. No Jetfire & mod 21 Bobcat mags are NOT the same

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  52. Fully adjustable for comfort,with a back swivel to help straps lay flat for good concealment and comfortable,versatile shoulder holster systems.
    www.chiefsupply.com/search/galco.aspx

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  53. I also have a .25 cal. 950BS. However, I am getting a lot of malfunctions. It ejects fine but about one out of five rounds hangs before getting fully chambered. Looks like the casing is not making it all the way up the ramp. A friend of mine had one too... same thing. He sold his. I want to see if I can figure out what the problem is. Ideas?

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  54. Durned if I know, Skeebo. The magazine may be the problem, but it would cost you between $30 - $40 to buy a new mag to find out.

    Hope it all works out for you.

    Zack

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  55. Ordered a new magazine. Pretty sure that is the problem. Either that or the feed ramp was not milled right. I polished the ramp and tried some very minor tweaks on the existing magazine... no go. If the round it not pointing up just a hair in the magazine it will run slap into the flat metal just below the feed ramp. Maybe there is a round for this that has a 'pointier' shape to it. For now it is a new magazine. Will report back.

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  56. I found your article a very interesting read. I owned a Minx for many years, more as a curiousity rather than a serious self-defense weapon. My only objection was this pistol fell into what I call the "too cute" category...you know, the kind of weapon that the untrained handler might think it is so cute, it is not a deadly weapon, which is not true for any firearm...they all have the potential to be deadly and should always be treated with respect and handled carefully. That said, the Beretta is of better than average quality in both function and appearance. And though some "experts" disagree, I am with you...in a pinch, it is better than nothing. Keep up the good work...I will check back and read your comments in the future.

    Wyatt

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  57. Wyatt, many thanks for the kind words and for stopping by!

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  58. Bought one a few months ago, nice looking pistol. I do notice, however, that my magazine release button resembles a slot-headed(?) screw type as opposed to the concentric circles-type I see most in publications. Is this just a variation denoting age or something else? Thanks.

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  59. I have one Minx with a smooth button (made in USA), one Minx with the slotted button (made in Italy), and a Jetfire with the circles on the button (made in USA) ... and no idea why they did them that way.

    Thanks for stopping in.

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  60. Hello I'm from Brazil. I have a / Taurus PT 51. First model with Taurus name after the sale of weapons Beretta manufactures that has existed for many years in Brazil. Our laws limit totally number and caliber of weapons. Hill jealous of the opportunities in the U.S. and am content with a 38 SPL r my pocket pistol. Congratulations discussion

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  61. Hello, Edson! I am very honored to have you visit.

    I have some fine guns from Brazil that I really enjoy.

    Many thanks for stopping by!

    Best regards,

    Zack

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  62. PT 51 950 is the Beretta without locks. 25acp Caliber. Known in Brazil with beretinhas (short for Beretta) are famous for their reliability and the number of deaths caused over the years

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  63. I like a small caliber automatic with an exposed hammer, and the Beretta is such a gun. There are so many guns that have a pin exposed to let you know it's cocked. These can fire if dropped. The Berettas' are far more secure. I normally carry a S&W model 60, but the Beretta is the only gun I feel is safe for regular carry in it's size

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  64. i have a beretta model 950 bs-25cal i need to find a new handle grip does anyone know were to find one respond to me at topher4u2b@yahoo.com

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  65. Slide developed 1/8 inch crack on 30 year old Jetfire. Beretta repaired no charge. Worked perfectly even with crack. About 350 jam free rounds. CDNN is selling lots of Jetfire parts, get em while you can. Great gun. Add little red or white paint to front sight and helps alot.

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  66. People who own guns either love the Beretta 950 or hate it ! I own the 950 and love the little gun, last weekend at a swapmeet I talked to an individual whose father had used a Beretta .25ACP to shoot a criminal who tryed to rob him years ago in the 1950', well the bullet merely bounced off of the criminals skull ! Thankfully we have far superior ammo today for the .25ACP than what could be had in the 1950's !

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  67. Sorry if this issue has already been addressed. But, I have an older 950 that does not have a manual safety. Seems to me that the only practical way to carry it is in half cock position with a round in the chamber. I know everyone says that can be dangerous but what are the options?

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    Replies
    1. Hammer down .& Thumb cock first shot ..inersial firing pin ..keeps it from accidentally discharge if dropped on hammer ...DO NOT CARRY half cock! Carry hammer down ... Hammer arrest in the channel against metal... Firing pin is not touching primer it will not ignite primer un.less Hammer is cocked

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  68. I have two of these. The first I bought in 1992. It had repeated FTF's as the top rounds in a full magazine would nosedive into the barrel just a fraction too low to get guided up the feed ramp. This was a consistent problem.

    The second came from my mother-in-law who had the gun but no magazine. This little pistol was made in 1964-1965 and is the non-safety version. She even had the box with the price in it - about 45.00 back then. This 950-B (no 'S' because no safety) ALSO failed to feed just like mine. Consistently, just like mine. A friend of mine had one too... FTF's all the time.

    Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I polished the feed ramps and very slightly made a smoother transition around the bottom edge of the ramp. I sort of rounded that sharp angle a bit, slightly lowering the area in which rounds were getting stuck and not going up the ramp.

    Both guns now fire flawlessly. It may not be the prettiest thing to look at, but it worked.

    I am looking to sell one...

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  69. I've got a 950 BS .25 as well. What's interesting is that I bought one new in 1983, but traded it in 2003 for a .410 shotgun for my 14 year old son so we could go bird hunting for the first time. I didn't want to trade it, but money was tight and I really wanted him to have that single-shot 410.

    In 2008, my mother passed away and in going through her things, what did I find? A 950 BS in .25 cal in perfect shape, still in the Beretta blue box with the manual, cleaning brush, and a tiny box of ammo that had about 10 rounds missing. It's basically new!

    Two questions -

    1) where can I find the two-letter code that tells what year it was made?

    2) what is the best defense ammo for this? It's such a lightly powered caliber I would think penetration of a FMJ is important, but then again a JHP may do more internal damage. Can the 950 fire +P ammo?

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  70. Lovely write up, we have a lot of these in Goa, India where I live.

    Girish Sardessai

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  71. Much of the criticism of the 25acp round is valid. That being said 50gr FMJ 25 acp ammo carries similar velocity and bullet weight as an M16 bullet that has traveled 900-1000 yds. 55gr vs 50gr .. both at 720 to 850fps. My Jetfire holds 9 rounds.. So the question to the 25acp critique becomes.. Would you walk out 1000 yds and let me take 9 shots at you with an M16? Always good to get down to the cold hard math. Peace.

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  72. I own a .25 Bobcat and love the pistol. However, a friend was attacked several years ago by a man with a club. He managed to put three rounds of .25 acp into his attacker before he was killed with the club. His attacker is now in prison for life, my friend is dead. We shouldn't put too much confidence in such a small caliber handgun when our lives and the lives of our loved ones may depend on our ability to stop an aggressor.

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    Replies
    1. So sorry for your loss ❤️..small calibers .22 .25 ,32 should always be used as head/face shots..that's where the mouse guns work effectively ..the crumpled Weaver stance is very effective tactic at close range ..it also makes it extremely difficult for a perp to disarm you ...

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  73. To anonymous of December 3, 2012, very sad that your friend lost his life trying to defend himself with the Beretta .25ACP, with these small weapons shot placement is most important, the mini-revolvers are the worst, an attacker high on dope would be difficult to stop even with a .38 or even a 9MM, that is why so many of the GI's dislike the 9MM as it does not have the stopping power of the .45 ACP, all I can say if you are armed with .25 ACP use the best ammo for sef-defence you can buy, and make all your shots aimed at the head ! Remember humans are NOT supermen, people have been killed even with high powered airguns and many criminals have been shot dead with cheap little .22 short rimfire revolvers made by RG !Always remember to try and talk your way out of a violent incident before you use that gun !

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  74. I am very fortunate to have bought a little Beretta 950 BS in the very early nineties. I have traded-in, and sold several guns over the years, but for some reason I have never considered selling my little .25 Beretta. I have a good friend who is also a police officer and one day while at the range I brought the little .25 out of my range bag and he laughed and wanted to shoot it. He was amazed at what a nice single-action trigger it had. My ex-wife wanted to keep my 950 during the divorce, but I kept it. I have always been able to draw and cock the hammer on the Beretta very easily. I don't think it slows anything down at all.

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  75. hay guys i have a problem wit my 950 jetfire beretta, every time i fire my gun the hammer gets stuck n wont reload the next round, if any of you guys can help me out , it be much ablide.

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  76. I really wish I could help, but that really isn't much information to go by. A hands-on exam by a gunsmith should provide the answer.

    YouTube may have some videos on the Jetfire that may help you.

    Good luck! Thanks for stopping by.

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  77. I also have a 950 and love it's small size and good looks. I actually find it a bit hard to shoot because it is so small. I'm afraid I'll shoot the end of my fingers! (This gives you some idea how bad my shooting style must be, I tend to use my middle finger because of an injury to my index finger which just sticks out there.)
    Mine also wouldn't cycle properly sometimes, but I was able to fix it just with Gun Scrubber solvent and careful oiling. You might try this first if you haven't already.

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  78. Thank you for the pdf file!

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  79. Watch the Gun Scrubber solvent on plastic IT WILL MELT !!I just bought & fired My New Taurus TP .380 Pocket pistol. I was considering Buying a Ruger .380 Or Kel Tec .380 ( I own a Keltec .32)But I loved the feel & looks of the Taurus .380. 300 rounds at the Range & no Stoppages ! I used a Neoprene fingerless Glove ,I shot the last 7 rounds Barehanded & Boy do these .380,s KICK !!GLEN M.

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  80. This past week I tryed out several different small pocket pistols to see which was best for me, and the one I liked best, was my Beretta 25 model 950 !The Kel-Tec I was not thrilled with the hard to see sights, or the double action trigger pull, and the North American Arms .22 mini-revolver had terrible sights and slow to get off a second shot, the Beretta was accurate and I could hit the target, a great little pistol to carry behind one's wallet for an unforseen emergency !

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  81. My first gun purchase was a Jetfire 950B (no safety) model. Overall, I found it to be a frustrating pistol.

    While it was beautifully made, I did occasionally come across reliability issues, and it's a godawful pain in the ass to clear one of these pistols. There's no extractor to remove the spent round, no slide-stop to keep the slide back, and the slide is extremely hard to grasp with VERY heavy springs. Trying to clear a double feed usually took 5-10 minutes and two people. Not fun!

    Beyond that, I never felt that there was any practical way to carry this weapon for CCW.

    I usually carried it hammer down on a live round, but I always felt that the hammer was too small and too difficult to cock under stress, and it also eats up valuable time in a gunfight, when your opponent already has his weapon ready to go.

    I tried carrying chamber empty with a loaded magazine, but again, trying to rack the slide is very difficult on this little pistol. The springs are heavy, and the slide is small and quite slick. I wouldn't want to have to do this in a dark alley when my life was on the line.

    I was also underwhelmed with the .25 acp round, and it's feeble track record in real world gunfights.

    I ended up selling the Jetfire and using the money to purchase a Kel-Tec P32. The P32 is lighter, more reliable, much more user-friendly, and has better sights.

    Recoil is much more pleasant in the P-32 despite the fact that it's a more powerful pistol.

    It's safe to carry with a round in the chamber, but can also be carried chamber empty and racked easily on the draw.

    And the .32 acp has a much better track record than the .25 acp does (though neither is a death ray, LOL).

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  82. I never use gun scrubber on ANY of my guns anymore ..MELTING!!! I use Primarily Break Free ...Occasionally..Easeox Glen

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  83. Just got my hands on a 1952 950 with no safety, firing pin is missing, plastic grips cracked & broken, wore out edges... looks like crap but I can't wait to mod it... any body know where I can get an extended/drum clip ?

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  84. I have a .25 cal 950 BS like the one used in the TV show A Team in the 80s by Lt. Dirk Benedict. All of the metal parts are gold plated (only the frame is black). I wonder if anyone knows anything about this particular gold model. Any idea of the value? It seems to be factory original.
    I got in in Massachusetts in 1985.

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  85. Great post folks.. I own a 950bs .25 cal. looking for a rebuild kit.. Anyone out there know any suppliers? Local or national..

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  86. I am a retired Chicago Police Officer, and own a 950 Jetfire. I have fired many rounds through it,and have never had a malfunction.
    When I do carry it, it is with a round in the chamber, and the hammer all the way down. There is a small space between the firing pin and the head of the .25 caliber bullet. I believe this is the only safe way to carry it.
    I would never purchase a Keltec auto. I had 3 of their guns, and all 3 would jam all the time. all 3 were new and replaced by Keltec, but even after replacing one after the other, they still would jam.

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  87. Im with the Chicago pd officer .i carry my jet fire 950 bs with round in the chamber hammer down .thumb cock ist shot .this is safe to do as gun has an inertia firing pin ..this means when hammer down the hammer is resting in a channel up against metal& CANT MOVE FORWARD .the firing pin is with a space in between & there is NOT enough force to drive the pin into the second part of the pin & hit the primer if dropped on hammer that is fully lowered..you can also carry Fully cocked & locked SAFETY Engaged ..If the safety somehow became disengaged & hammer fell or fell on hammer ,the half cock should catch hammer as long as trigger is NOT being pulled.DO NOT CARRY HALF COCK as if dropped on hammer Half cock could shear off & FIRE!! the Bobcat Is carried the same way hammer down ,round in chamber except its double action ..GlenMO

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  88. Hi
    I own a Jetfire (XVI) italian made in 1960.It was a gift 3 years ago.I have shot maybe 50 rounds without any malfunction.It is very easy to carry and to conceal.
    Is becoming my favorite carry gun.
    Thanks Zach for taking your time to write and modérate this blog.

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  89. Thank YOU Anon! Your comments are most welcome.

    Thanks for stopping by.



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  90. Not sure where you are located, but kind of had to snicker at the part about a qualifying score in the ccw class. It would be fantastic if that type of course was required p, but in truth, most cc’d classe are a lecture and some handouts on the law and your liability. In most of them you are lucky to even fire a handgun, let alone be required to make a qualifying score! Now you can find “real ccw classes”, but unfortunately they are the exception rather than the norm. Just saying...
    Cheers
    Unkei

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  91. I have a Beretta 950 BS that I bought from a coworker for $125. It has always been reliable and I carry it cocked and locked in a little brown leather belt holster. The holster had a tab that secured the pistol and put the tab in front of the hammer, but I found it to be to finicky the reholster and just cut it off! The pistol is still held securely and is much safer to reholster quickly now. I like the little mouse gun and usually carry it along with an NAA Mini Revolver.
    Cheers,
    Unkei

    ReplyDelete

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