Is this a suitable BUG?

Hi there,

I carried a Beretta 21A Bobcat as a BUG for a year or two. They are suitably accurate for such a small pistol and great for short range plinking.

Since then, I have graduated to the Kel Tec P-32 and then on up to a P-3AT of the same relative size and weight, but with more power.

Here is a comparison chart:

http://www.geocities.com/r_oremland/PocketAutoComparison.jpg

A Beretta 21A is a great back-up gun considering that it is better than nothing (my thinking at the time as well). Practice with a lot and you will enjoy it.

Chris

Mine worked great for a long time, then started malfunctioning. Apparently that seems to be the way with them; they work great until they don't. Then they're an aggravation beyond belief.

It went bye-bye. Shame, since the regs mandate a .22LR for offseason carry on Game Lands.

Nice little pieces. I kept the one in .25ACP; centerfires have MUCH more reliable ignition, and the Winchester pellet-nose will feed in almost anything.

The 21A doesn't have an extractor, so keep the chamber clean.


Regards,

Pat



Regards,

Pat

I think the little Berettas are fun in .22, and yeah, while not a primary, one would make a good BUG. I like shooting this one--it's for when you want to exterminate rats without waking the neighbors. (Yep, it's legal.)

I look at this a bit differently than the average person I suppose. To me a Backup Gun (BUG) is just that...the gun you go to reflexively if yours quits working, runs dry(which is the same as quits working) or you get disabled in your strong hand (a very significant factor if you review a lot of real gunfights).

There for, for me (does not mean you have to do it my way!), a bug should be as or more effective than my primary (because things are really bad if I have to use it) and should be available instantly to either hand. It is not a bad idea for it to hold more rounds as if my strong hand is disabled I don't want to have to reload the bug but I would not give up power for more bullets.

That does not mean I don't see the need for a small super concealble gun which I tend to think of as the "hideout gun". While years ago I might have stooped pretty low and I might someday again consider doing so, I tend to think the minimum caliber for the hideout is .38 spl or 9mm. But then I have talked to a lot of folks who have been shot with "sub caliber" guns since the old days when I thought a .380 was "adequate".

YMMV

Good luck!!!
Jim

Brian;
Roger that...was it in "Unforgiven" in which the character said "I don't want to get killed for lack of shootin' back"

Jim

Hi there Jim,

In most environ's that I travel these days, my primary gun is a .32, .380, or compact 9 mm.

I don't want to be left in "harms way" due to "lack of shooting back" either!!!

I generally get a kick out of going to the range and watching folks pull their (favorite fill in the blanks) pistol out their range bag and I pull mine from my pocket!!!

Those folks must get tired of carrying their range bags around all day....

Moving forward,

Chris