So I recently acquired this neat little guy and I have to say it's a cool gun for the collection. I don't plan to use it for defense or anything but just something to take out once and a while and shoot. The pistol's trigger is still a bit gritty. It seems like it wasn't fired all that much. I can understand as some parts of the country .25 acp is ridiculously expensive. Luckily that's not the case for me. I'd like to smooth this trigger out and practice dry firing it in DA to get used to it. My only question is if it's safe to do so. I don't want to damage this little guy and I know some .25 autos have fragile firing pins. I know this one was made in 2007 if that helps at all. Sometimes these guns go through numerous changes over the years.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Safe to Dry Fire Beretta 21A Bobcat (.25 acp)
- Thread starter Big Tom
- Start date
redlightrich
New member
Hello Tom, I was under the impression for the most part, that CF handguns were safe to dry fire. My BIL had that exact pistol for several years, and did a fair amount of dry fire with no harmful result. I could not tell you exactly what year it was, but I know he bought it used about 9 years ago.
I understand your concern though, and the load on the firing pin is certainly changed when there is no primer absorbing some of the shock.
Personally, I don't do a lot of dry fire myself. If a trigger needs breaking in, I go out and shoot it a lot.
I also understand this is not always practical for everyone. Hopefully someone with long term experience with that pistol can chime in.
Good luck
Rich
I understand your concern though, and the load on the firing pin is certainly changed when there is no primer absorbing some of the shock.
Personally, I don't do a lot of dry fire myself. If a trigger needs breaking in, I go out and shoot it a lot.
I also understand this is not always practical for everyone. Hopefully someone with long term experience with that pistol can chime in.
Good luck
Rich
Walt Sherrill
New member
If you don't have one, you may want to download the owner's manual.
I had a Tomcat, not the same gun, but centerfire, and it would take just a relative few trigger pulls before it would break the firing pin. (Had it happen once with a snap cap, too, because I didn't notice how badly the snap cap "primer" area had been damaged by the firing pin. The snap cap wasn't working at that point -- and let the firing pin travel too far.)
As noted above, most center fire guns are safe to dry fire, but there are exceptions, and you want to be careful, if you don't know for sure.
This link might work: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/574085/Beretta-21-Bobcat.html
I just tried viewing the manual at the link above without downloading, and on page 10 it says don't dry fire -- use a spent case to in the chamber to protect the firing pin. But check to make sure the indentation doesn't get too deep -- in which case use another spent (fired) casing.
I had a Tomcat, not the same gun, but centerfire, and it would take just a relative few trigger pulls before it would break the firing pin. (Had it happen once with a snap cap, too, because I didn't notice how badly the snap cap "primer" area had been damaged by the firing pin. The snap cap wasn't working at that point -- and let the firing pin travel too far.)
As noted above, most center fire guns are safe to dry fire, but there are exceptions, and you want to be careful, if you don't know for sure.
This link might work: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/574085/Beretta-21-Bobcat.html
I just tried viewing the manual at the link above without downloading, and on page 10 it says don't dry fire -- use a spent case to in the chamber to protect the firing pin. But check to make sure the indentation doesn't get too deep -- in which case use another spent (fired) casing.
Last edited:
I care about my arms is the reason I don't dry fire much and when I do I use the Italian type snap-cap, having a spring loaded brass button as the primer. Can't recall ever having firing pin issues.
I dislike the Azoom snap-cap having a plastic/rubber button as the primer. Azoom appears to be the only maker of caps for the 25ACP, I really need caps for my striker fired Raven 25ACP. To relax the striker spring I use a chop stick.
I dislike the Azoom snap-cap having a plastic/rubber button as the primer. Azoom appears to be the only maker of caps for the 25ACP, I really need caps for my striker fired Raven 25ACP. To relax the striker spring I use a chop stick.
Obtaining factory snap caps for odd calibers is not easy. Some years ago I got some 3 ft. nylon plastic rod in diameters that fit tightly in small and large primer pockets. When I need a snap cap, I cut a piece of the right length from one of the two rods, and put it in the primer pocket of a deprimed case. I have yet to wear out one of those "primers", and doubt I will run out of rod any time soon; I have used about 3 inches of each in 30 years, so I suspect what I have will last a while. If I had some larger diameter rod, I think I could make .22 rimfire snap caps, but those are easy to get.
Jim
Jim
Bill DeShivs
New member
Jim,
That nylon gets pierced by the firing pin the first time that you use it. After that, the nylon offers no cushioning at all to the firing pin. There is already a hole in it.
You have just been lucky that no firing pins have broken.
That nylon gets pierced by the firing pin the first time that you use it. After that, the nylon offers no cushioning at all to the firing pin. There is already a hole in it.
You have just been lucky that no firing pins have broken.