AllOutdoor Review – Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert .22 Long Rifle
Sam.S 02.16.23
The Beretta Bobcat has been a staple of pocketable 22 Long Rifle pistols for almost 40 years. It originally made its debut back in 1984 as the Model 21A. This was a follow-up to the popular 950 series that had been around since the 1950s but importation was stopped in 1968 for gun law-related reasons. Beretta USA came onto the scene around 1980 and the 950 slowly worked its way to becoming the 21A in the late 1980s after the 22 was already seeing success. This one is a really exciting piece for me. I have always wanted to shoot one of these very elegant pocket pistols and better yet thanks to the threaded barrel on the Covert model I can feel like a spy while I do it. Let’s dive right into my review of the Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert 22LR!
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Specifications: Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert 22LR
The Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert made its debut in late 2020/early 2021 alongside a flat dark earth version with plastic grips. The bottom line for most of us when we saw them was these Beretta Bobcats were factory threaded! Who doesn’t want to feel like they are in a spy movie? The Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert is a double-action/single-action straight blowback pistol. This means that unless the hammer is cocked the trigger will have a heavy double-action trigger pull. It is heavy because in double action the trigger is doing the job of actively cocking the hammer and then dropping it at its apex.
- Action: Single/Double
- Barrel length: 2.9″
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Firing Mechanism: Semiautomatic Straight Blowback
- Magazine: 7 (Just one magazine)
- Overall Height: 3.7″
- Overall Length: 5.42″
- Overall Width: 1.1″
- Weight: 11.8oz
- Safety: Manual Right-Handed Thumb Safety
- Rear Sight: Shallow Groove
- Front Sight: Half Moon Ramp
- Grips: Dark Walnut
- Slide & Barrel: Blued Steel
- Frame: Aluminum Forging, Black Anodized
The MSRP of the Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert currently stands at $559. The normal or standard Beretta 21A Bobcat sits at $479. This is a fairly standard price point among metal framed 22 pistols. Since the Covert’s debut, there have been a few more threaded models released such as the Ghost Buster, Black Gorilla, and Kale Slushy. No, I did not make those up. Despite their creative names, they all have a uniqueness only understandable when applied to this cool little 22.
“The same dedication to advanced design, uncompromising quality and strict quality control that make the 92F, PX4, APX, and Cheetah such international standouts is found in all Beretta small caliber, pocket-size pistols. Simplicity, safety and practical use are their best qualities…
Beretta Bobcat Covert Comparable in size to a smart phone and weighing only 11.5 oz, the ultra-concealable Bobcat has been the ultimate pocket pistol for over three decades. With the addition of a factory installed 1/2x28TPI threaded barrel, the new Bobcat Covert model takes ultra compact to a new level with ultra quiet capability. It is user-friendly, durable, reliable and accurate, while with its snag-free lines is can be tucked in any kind of holster or pocket for deep concealment.
Available in .22 LR, it is perfect for concealed carry (on its own or as a backup pistol), and it keeps besting all pistols in its class for quality, value and design. Practical, Safe and Reliable User-friendly design is common to all Beretta small frames. The exclusive tip-up barrel allows the user to easily load a round directly into the chamber without racking the slide. It also assists in the safe clearing of the pistol by giving an easy and absolutely safe way to check the bore and and remove a live cartridge.
Jamming and stove-piping problems are virtually eliminated by the open slide design shared by all small frame Berettas. Advanced Materials Keeping an eye on uncompromising quality helps keep Beretta small caliber semi-automatics ahead of the pack. Beretta pistols in the 21 Series utilize a tough forging process for their barrels, while slides are fashioned from solid steel bar stock–and frames from solid aluminum forgings. Covert Finish In addition to the traditional Black and Inox finish, the 21A Bobcat is now available in Covert configuration. This model has a blued steel slide and barrel. The alloy frame is black anodized to match the color and finish of the upper components. The other metal parts (trigger, hammer, trigger guard, safety, magazine, etc.) are black finished, while we top off the dark aesthetic with a set of dark Walnut grips.”
First Look: Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert 22LR
Admittedly this is not my first rodeo with the Beretta 21A Bobcat. I have had the opportunity to handle quite a few while I work at a gun shop and have always been impressed with their uniqueness and quality. The first one I ever held was the Jet Fire which was a Model 950 in 25ACP. Beretta did produce the Bobcat in 25ACP for a good while but now appears to only catalog one SKU and a part of me highly doubts they make many of those particular ones. The Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert comes in a fittingly sized-cardboard box. Within the box is a soft case containing the pistol and cable lock. There is also a smattering of informational sheets and a manual.
Range Time: Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert 22LR
Kicking things off with the obvious oddity regarding the Beretta 21A Bobcat (and its earlier 950 influence) is the flip-up or tip-up barrel feature. This allows the user to “chamber” a round without manipulating the slide. One very noticeable drawback, out of the box even, was the sights. Since this pistol is a “pocket pistol” the sights are very low profile. At the range, unless you are shooting at a neon green sheet of paper they might as well be non-existent. It was very hard for me to find my sight picture after firing and with a suppressor attached you can veto the sights entirely. It is a drawback if I was purchasing this gun for accuracy at the range but anyone who does that probably needs to look up the definition of what a pocket pistol is.
At the range, this gun was very pleasant to shoot. To my surprise, it actually had some pep as far as recoil is concerned. Not snappy or aggressive but you knew it was there. Adding my suppressor to it made a difference in balance as well as the obvious sound. One really neat feature of these guns that I never realized until shooting it was that despite them not technically being “drop safe” and not having a decocker, the barrel can be tipped up while the hammer is cocked so you can comfortably lower the hammer on what would be a loaded chamber.
In recent years I have heard mixed reviews as far as reliability goes. I always take these claims with skepticism over belief. 22lr is a dirty imperfect cartridge. Most cheap plinking ammunition is loaded to such a low standard that if you hooked up a chronograph the change in fps from one shot to the next would blow your mind. How can anyone expect any autoloading handgun could be 100% reliable with a rimmed cartridge that is loaded so loosey-goosey? I am happy to report that even with subsonic 22lr the Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert functioned without fail.
Firing suppressed was a very pleasant affair. The only noticeable potential and the probable downside was that the gas coming back from the suppressor would often toss some specs of burning powder onto either my hands or my neck. This is, to me, chalked up to a “nature of the beast” sort of thing. Anyone who shoots a great many guns suppressed will tell you that this happens and as long as you are wearing safety glasses it is no big deal.
Handling the gun took some getting used to since it is very small. The flip-up barrel is a meat feature but the manual of arms took a while to get down. The magazine has no sort of assistance in ejecting so I always had to pull the magazine out of the well myself. The sights are very rudimentary with a small grove and a front ramp. The safety is easy to manipulate but it is noticeable in how little it feels like it moves. The magazine release is obviously in an odd position by today’s standards but at least it is a button and not a heel release.
Final Thoughts: Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert 22LR
Now, the pocket pistol term may convey that this is a gun meant for carrying. The whole debate of 22LR being a viable carry cartridge is something I will not get into. I am sure a pleasant debate can break out in the comments. On the short end, I will say that I personally would not carry this gun. I would however love to own one for the pure enjoyment side of things. You have probably noticed that I saved the appearance of this handy little pocket pistol for a final talking point. This gun is so beautiful. I realize that the gun itself has not changed besides the threaded barrel and dark walnut grips. Something about this combination makes it superior looking in comparison to all the options that have come since. Beretta absolutely nailed the look right off the bat and in my opinion, it is entirely worth the money to have such a good-looking fun gun!
In closing, I want to say thank you to Beretta for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think. Do you believe that this version of the Beretta 21A Bobcat pocket pistol is worth spending your money on? Would you take this out to the range? Would this be your go-to backup gun? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
