Baretta Bobcat .22LR problems

[pfgrone]

New Baretta Bobcat .22LR, choosey on ammo. Question: What to do?

I've methodically tested 4 types of ammo:
1. Remington Golden Hollow Point
2. CCI Mini-mags
3. CCI Velocetor
4. CCI Stinger

All, except the Stinger, had fail to feed problems in that the first round coming from the magazines (2 magazines) would jam with the bullet caught between the top edge of the chamber and the slide. I tested with hand loading the flip-up barrel or by sling shoting the slide. Didn't seem to make any difference.

The Stinger ammo fed and fired the whole 50 round box with no problems on any kind. I am not thrilled to have a one ammo type gun. I would like to shoot cheaper ammo at the range. The other ammo sometimes had fail to fire but no stovepipes were experienced. The trigger can be pulled again on a fail to fire cartridge so a fail to fire would normally fire OK on the second strike.

Questions:
1. Would it help or harm to gently Dremil the top edge of the barrel chamber so ammo might not hang up?
2. If it would help, should I leave it to a gunsmith to do instead of me?
3. Is it likely that both factory magazines are faulty? (At $29/magazine, I hope not.)
4. Suggestions related to the problem are appreciated. Please, no suggestions that I should have bought something else instead of the Bobcat.

Thanks

[10mmillie]

My suggestion is to try more different types of ammo before you go dremil on it. I had two of these about 10 years ago and never had an ammo issue like yours and I shot every makes of ammo I could through them. Give it a good cleaning and clean your mags and try again with something else like Federal bulk pack from Walmart.

[GEM-Texas]

The small semi 22s are notorious for feeding problems. Don't ask about the Taurus PT-22 that I had. I've seen a friend's Bobcat do the same.

So let me ask, what is the for? If not for a plinker and you like this size and tip - up, the 25 ACPS are more reliable.

Yes, I know the entire stopping power debate (blah, blah) - just responding to making this platform run.

To just plink, a Buckmark is fun and runs.

[puma guy]

I sold a lot of these back in the 60's and 70's with no problems, I think the model designation may have been different. I can't remember. There may be manufacturing differences nowadays, but Beretta has a good reputaion as far as I know. I remember a .25 ACP or .32 ACP in this size, also but also can't recall for sure. They made a larger .22 and .380 I think called the Jaguar. Looking them up I found a common thread of FTF and the necessity to use Hi Vel ammo. Stinger being the most common. here's a video of one that had the ramp polished. Hope it helps in resolving the problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJHVEwtWQOQ

[fm2]

I have shot the Beretta 21a with standard velocity (CCI,Rem. Target) and the high velocity .22 ammo and all worked well. You might try loading the magazine down a round or two and see if that has any effect. How many rounds have you run through the pistol?

[tallmike]

I had a bobcat for a short time a couple of years ago. I had the exact same problems that you are seeing, but I did not go through the trouble and expense of testing different ammo. I sold it to a pawn shop and took the $50 loss (I bought it used about 2 months prior to selling) because I did not want to carry it.

[MoJo]

My Taurus PT 22 did the same thing until I slightly pinched the magazine lips in. It does just fine now.

[WildBill]

My Taurus PT 22 did the same thing until I slightly pinched the magazine lips in. It does just fine now.

Check this out. It was written for High Standard magazines, but it might help. YMMV.

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/feb97magazine.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.gun-tests.com/pdfs/1-3-20steps.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pfgrone]

Mojo & Wildbill: Thanks. I'm going to consider modifying the mag lips. I'll study the 20 step process first until I'm confortable with it.

[WildBill]

Mojo & Wildbill: Thanks. I'm going to consider modifying the mag lips. I'll study the 20 step process first until I'm confortable with it.

Good luck.

I have two High Standard pistols which I have been shooting 40+ years without any feeding or other issues. About 5 years ago I wanted a couple extra magazines so I bought a couple factory mags at a gun show. The next time I went to the gun show I stopped by the booth where I bought them to admire some of the High Standards that he had in his display case. I mentioned to the guy about my problems with feeding with the new magazines. The president of High Standard happened to be at the booth and told me about this procedure. It worked fine for me.

I also have a Ruger which is over 30 years old and have never had feeding issues. I believe the comments about the smaller .22 pistols. A couple years ago a friend bought a Sig Mosquito. He had failures to feed and eject all of the time. He could hardly even shoot a whole magazine without some kind of issue. I don't know if he ever solved it. Sometimes I think that the new smaller .22 pistols are just too light. My High Standard and Ruger are hefty chunks of metal.

[talltex]

I have shot the Beretta 21a with standard velocity (CCI,Rem. Target) and the high velocity .22 ammo and all worked well. You might try loading the magazine down a round or two and see if that has any effect. How many rounds have you run through the pistol?

I've got 2 of them...when fresh out of box one would have an occasional failure to feed...after a couple hundred rounds it cleared up and is flawless now. The other one never had any type of problem at all.