History
The Beretta 20X legacy began in late 1984 with the original Beretta 21A. The Italian company has been manufacturing these .22 pistols and other firearms in the United States for decades.
The Beretta 21A Bobcat is an SA/DA handgun with a simple blowback function. The original design was offered in .22 LR and .25 ACP and marketed as a deep concealment pocket pistol for those looking for something easy to carry.
The 21A’s tip-up barrel design eliminates any difficulty pulling back on the slide and makes it easy to drop a round into the chamber. The ease of loading paired with the light recoil of the .22 LR or .25 ACP cartridge made this an ideal handgun for shooters of all physical abilities.
The Bobcat Gets an Upgrade
Fast-forward 30 years, and Beretta gave the Bobcat a makeover and released the new version at the NRAAM 2025 show earlier this year. The Beretta 20X is a light, modern version of the 21A with a new “effortless loading system.” A simple push button releases the slide, eliminating the heavier lever on the 21A. The 20X magazine release button was relocated to the traditional spot and magazine capacity increased to eight rounds.
Another big advancement on the 20X is due to the rising popularity of shooting suppressed. The Beretta 20x has a few different options for 1/2x28 threaded barrels, making it easy to have one of the quietest shooting experiences possible.
This 20X is the “Do It Yourself” model with a threaded barrel and a skeletonized flat trigger with smooth, light double and single-action pulls. The suppressor-height iron sights feature a blacked out rear and a white front dot. The grips are Beretta’s new helical design, which is reminiscent of a G10 style. The safety makes it easy to carry cocked and locked.
On the Range
Shooting .22 LR is plain fun. Recoil is light, it is easy to suppress, and it’s cheap. While I may not have the fading grip strength that the ELS is designed to combat, I will tell you it is so much fun to pop the barrel and drop in a round. The tip-up barrel is also perfect for shooting subsonic rounds that do not cycle the action.
To be honest, with my big hands and a handgun this small, I thought I would hate the Bobcat 20X. Boy, was I wrong. Aside from the hours of fun that I have had on the range, I have even started carrying this handgun in my pocket.
The helical pattern makes for a comfortable grip, and the trigger is light and crisp. There is no recoil from the .22 LR cartridge, and it is easy to get good follow-up shots with the 20X.
Now, shooting .22 is fun, but shooting .22 suppressed is a hoot. I recently reviewed the Dead Air X Ruger RXD22Ti, and I have shot countless rounds through that suppressor with this handgun. The Beretta 20X is impressively quiet, considering the barrel is less than 3 inches. With a can, it is easily hearing safe with no need to wear hearing protection.
