Beretta 950

Beretta 950

Beretta 950 Jetfire and 8-round magazine
Type Pistol
Place of origin Italy
Brazil
United States
Production history
Manufacturer Beretta
Produced 1952-2003
Specifications
Weight 280g/9.9oz
Length 120 mm (4.7 in)
Width 23 mm (0.9 in)
Height 87 mm (3.4 in)

Cartridge .25 ACP, .22 Short
Caliber 6.35
Action single

The Beretta 950 is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured by Beretta since 1952. It builds on a long line of small and compact pocket pistols manufactured by Beretta for self-defense. It is intended to be a very simple and reliable pocket pistol.[1]

Specifications

The Beretta 950 is a simple blowback pistol with a single action trigger mechanism and tip-up barrel. The frame is made out of aluminum alloy, the slide and barrel are carbon steel.[2]

Early models (*950B* Pre-1968) do not have a safety lever, employing a half-cock notch on the hammer instead. Later models (*950BS* Post-1968) are provided with an external safety lever.[2][3]

Intended market

The Beretta 950 Jetfire chambered in .25 ACP is a backup, self-defense pistol that is intended for undercover agents, police officers or individuals licensed to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense. The Minx version in .22 Short is not advised for such a role due to the caliber[2]

Limitations

The .25 ACP cartridge is not very powerful, but a well placed shot can be lethal. The safety system is very basic. The accuracy of the pistol is adequate although the small grip and short sight radius may limit some shooters to be effective only at short ranges, though this is not really an issue, considering the limitations of the cartridge.[2]

Its small grip also makes it prone to bite (the slide can cut the top of the shooter's hand when fired). As the pistol lacks a shell extractor, relying instead on blowback pressure to clear the shells, misfires are easily removed manually by tipping up the barrel and prying out.[2]

Technical data

Beretta Jetfire with the tip-up barrel open

References

  1. Ahern, Jerry (5 October 2010). Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Concealed-Carry Handguns. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 220. ISBN 1-4402-1743-2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ayoob, Massad (2011). Gun Digest Book of Beretta Pistols: Function, Accuracy, Performance. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 12–18. ISBN 1-4402-2653-9.
  3. Wilson, R. L. (2008). The World of Beretta: An International Legend. Book Sales, Incorporated. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-7858-2104-5.

See also

External links

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