NRA Gun of the Week: Beretta 21A Bobcat

** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

The Italian-designed Beretta 21A Bobcat is an ultra-compact, semi-automatic double-action handgun chambered for .22 Long Rifle. The Bobcat operates like a traditional, fixed-barrel self-loader would, but its designers included a tip-up barrel. The barrel unlocks by the flick of a frame-mounted lever—making for a gun that is quick and safe to load or unload, which is appealing to folks with limited dexterity. A double-action trigger with a manual safety is also included and its function, when in the safe position, locks the slide from rearward movement. To learn more about the U.S.-made Beretta 21A Bobcat, check out this NRA Gun of the Week video hosted by American Rifleman's Brian Sheetz.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Beretta U.S.A. Corp.
Action Type: direct-blowback-operated (fixed barrel), rimfire semi-automatic pistol
Chambering: .22 Long Rifle
Slide: steel
Frame: aluminum
Barrel: 2.4”; tip-up style
Trigger: double-action, 11-lb. pull; single-action, 4-lb., 12-oz. pull
Weight: 11.8 ozs.
Sights: fixed; notch rear, blade front
Magazine: seven-round detachable box
MSRP: $410; Inox (stainless) models only

Additional Reading:
Hemingway's Beretta













  




 

 




Latest

Hk Cc9 GOTW 1
Hk Cc9 GOTW 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch CC9

The Heckler & Koch CC9 isn't merely just another micro-compact. It's the result of a significant amount of work on the part of the company's US subsidiary to create the first truly American-made HK.

The Armed Citizen® May 22, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Political Report | Braced Pistols’ Status Unresolved

The U.S. Supreme Court has characterized handguns as the “quintessential” Second Amendment arm. Pistol braces increase accuracy and ease of operation for large-format handguns, especially for users suffering from physical disabilities.

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we ...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.