Beretta 950
| Beretta 950 Jetfire | |
|---|---|
 Beretta 950 Jetfire and 8 round magazine | |
| Type | Pistol |
| Place of origin | Italy, United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Beretta |
| Produced | 1952-2003 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 280g/9.9oz |
| Length | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| length | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
| Width | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Height | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
The Beretta 950 Jetfire 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. Based on very early Beretta models, the weapon is intended to be a very simple and reliable pocket pistol. [1]
![[1]](http://handguns.g00net.org/Beretta/PicB_950_jetfire.jpg){kind=link}
Specifications
The Beretta 950 Jetfire is a simple blowback pistol with a single action trigger mechanism and tip-up barrel. The frame is made out of aluminium alloy, the slide and barrel are carbon steel.
Early models (Pre-1968) do not have a safety lever, but do include a half-cock notch on the hammer.
Intended market
The Beretta 950 Jetfire is a backup, self-defense pistol that appeals to undercover agents and police officers.
Design advantages
Simple and small, very easy to conceal. Last resort pistol. Inexpensive, very easy to maintain. Well built, able to be reliably fired very quickly, magazine swap reload is fast and simple. .25 ACP is a centerfire cartridge, which in many circumstances has been shown to be less prone to misfire than the rimfire .22 cartridge, a type used by other holdout pistols of similar size. The flip top design helps the user to check to see if a round is chambered and can be chambered but not cocked. It can be very easily worn in an ankle holster. The 9 shot capacity (8 round magazine + 1 chambered) gives it sufficient fire power. If rounds are placed well, then it makes up for the small caliber.
Limitations
The traditional .25 ACP cartridge is not very powerful, though still potentially lethal. The safety system is very basic. The accuracy of the pistol is only adequate at short ranges. Its small grip makes it prone to bite (the slide can cut the top of the shooters hand when fired). As the pistol lacks a shell extractor, relying instead on blowback pressure to clear the shells, misfires must be removed manually by tipping up the barrel and prying out.
Technical data
- Type: Beretta 950 Jetfire
- Trigger system: Single-action only
- Caliber: .25 ACP
- Capacity: 8 rounds magazine, 9 rounds if first chambered
- Frame material: Aluminium light alloy
- Slide and barrel material: Carbon steel
- Grip material: Plastic
- Barrel length: 60 mm
- Length: 120 mm
- Height: 87 mm
- Width: 23 mm
- Mass: 280 g
- Safeties: none or left-side thumb switch
- Magazine release: Lower grip heel pushbutton.
- Production years: 1952 - present day.
- Production locations: Beretta Italy, Beretta USA, Beretta do Brasil (1970's)