[Guest]

I was at the Gun and Pawn today, and I couldn't resist a little Beretta .22. It seemed like a good gun to throw in my pocket and dink around in the yard with, so I could pop a squirrel if one showed up.

However, considering I don't have a .380 or a snubby, I might consider carrying it as a BUG. It would NEVER be my primary, because .22 rimfire can be somewhat unreliable (but even that's not so bad when it's got a Double-action trigger-unless the round is powderless or unprimed, of course.) However, as a backup, it's better than nothing, right?

 

[Chris Stephens]

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

 

[pff]

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

 

[lelandray]

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.)

 

[Guest]

Well, it's not a gun that I'm planning to run to death, but if it finally does give up the ghost, I think I'll go for a .380, if I can find a good one with a normal DA, or SA trigger. I can't stand a Kel-Tec, though, or any non-revolver DAO, for that matter. I guess I'm too spoiled to my Hi-power's trigger.

I'm going to bide my time. With the Rohrbaugh R9, the newer Kahrs, and the Kel-Tec P3AT having recently arrived on the scene, manufacturers are going to see that they've been neglecting the market for lightweight, but powerful little pocket rockets. I imagine we'll see some interesting things in the next few years. When someone comes out with a .380/9mm pocket gun that has a SA or normal DA trigger, I'll go for a "real" Bug, but not before. I just can't shoot these little DAO guns.

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hi there chubbypidgeon,

I never got around to owning the 1st generation Kel Tec P3-AT.

I did however buy a 2nd generation P-3AT and haven't had any problems with it. I do actually shoot as well or better than the Beretta 21A and like the enhanced power factor.

Small guns aren't for everyone and some people just plain dislike them. I shoot my BHP the best of all my guns, but I can't carry it everywhere.

Chris

 

[jimhigginbotham]

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

 

[briand]

Jim H you have the same philosophy as my profession, the fire service. We "back up" a 1-3/4" attack line with a 2-1/2" hose. If the first isn't providing enough "waterpower", the second almost certainly will!

If this fails we back off and break out the "big guns"--5" hose with a straight or fog tip, usually quickly set up and then left to operate on its own.

 

[jimhigginbotham]

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

 

[Chris Stephens]

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

 

[oldgranpa]

On a long road trip my primary is my 1911 on the seat beside me and my bug is a Kahr PM9 in my pocket. When I stop at a reststop and get out of the car, my bug becomes my primary.
og.....who always does it backwards.