Any comments/input about the Beretta Model 81 (7.65mm x 17)?

C

CaptainO

Moderator
Let me begin by telling people that I'm not posting this a magnet for insults or snide remarks. I own two handguns chambered for the cartridge. One is a Crvena Zastava Model 70 that shoots quite accurately (For years it rode in the holster of a European policeman).

I want an "upgrade" from my other 7.65 mm Tanfoglio. It works, but a higher capacity pistol my be in order.

Any opinions?
 
I enjoy shooting that caliber. The surplus CZ70 that I bought turned out to be NIB! :)

I liked my FEG very much, but somehow my FiL managed to talk me out of it.

My Colt 1903 is the cat's meow! :)

I would buy one of those Berettas in a split second if I ran across one at a good price.

Today there was a gorgeous Browning at the GS. It was one of those 70's 1910/22 models with adjustable sights. According to the price tag it was apparently made of 24 karat gold underneath the blueing.
 
Last edited:
Properly loaded (read: Buffalo Bore's (+p) 75 grain HCL) is the most effective load for the cartridge known to man. It makes my Zastava "stand up and perform a tap dance". I wouldn't shoot anything else when carrying it for PD. The 7.65 is better than people think It will pass through a car door (3 out of 5 times). With the Buffalo Bore ammunition, penetration in an altercation is a virtual certainty.

I have been shooting since 1961 and have seen changes in ammunition and Buffalo Bore has improves such cartridges as the .32 Magnum, .38 S&W (not Special) and others. Even current favorites have been improved by their technology.

Look into what they have to offer. You won't be dissappointed.
 
Last edited:
I have a CZ 83 chambered in 7.65 Browning. It has a nice 15+1 capacity, and I carry it loaded with Sellier & Bellot 73-gr FMJ.

I see no need to use pseudo +P ammo in this caliber, as FMJ will provide adequate penetration. I don't know of any JHP that will penetrate adequately, unless it fails to expand, but I refuse to pay a premium price to non-expanding JHPs.

The CZ 83 is similar to, but less elegant than, the Beretta 81 Series pistol. It is easy to conceal with an OWB holster, and its recoil is about as minimal as you can get in a centerfire handgun.

I'd be pleased to snap up a B81 at a good price. Almost everyone who has owned a CZ 83 chambered in 7.65 and sold it has admitted regretting letting it go. I would think the same applies to former owners of the similar Beretta, but more so.
 
CDI Sales on GB has a boatload of 84 .380s for sale, but no .32s.

If you're flexible on calibre, you might want to take a look at some of them.
 
gyvel:

I had a Bersa Model 95 and had to sell it when times were tough. I really don't want to "step into" another caliber. A lot of the time I carry a Kel Tec P11 (9mm Parabellum). I have no intention of buying a 9mm Short.
 
The 81 is a beautiful gun worth owning if you have the money.

I like the .32 cartridge. I sold a W.German made PPK/S and still not sure why?:(
 
The reason I am looking so hard at a new, or slightly used, Beretta Model 81 is because a 3.8" barrel can launch a 75-grain Buffalo Bore HCFNL bullet at about 1060 fps and generating 187 fpe. 13 of these mean slugs can handily penetrate a skull, sternum or ribcage. :eek:

This would be a "baker's dozen" of the "nasty-grams" on tap before even thinking about changing the magazine! ;)

It seems as if it would work rather well.
 
You'll have to pay extra if you find a Beretta 81 in .32 ACP. They are rare and priced as such when they come up.

I looked over on Wikipedia.com. Here is the ballistic info on the .32 ACP vs. .380.

.32 ACP (71 grain) FMJ- 1043 fps- 177 ft-lbf
.380 ACP (90 grain) FMJ- 1000 fps- 200 ft-lbf

Why not just get the model 84 in .380? It holds 13 +1 (1 round more than the 81 which holds 12 + 1 of .32 ACP), has about the same bullet performance, is much, much easier to find, and probably less than half what you'll pay for an 81.

Click here to see a list of the 84BB's that CDI Sales has on Gunbroker right now. I've actually purchased quite a few 81 Series Berettas from them. If you'll take the time to view each auction, you can find pistols that are barely used. And look at all the auctions. They have 2 or 3 guys that take the pictures and price them. I've found mid-priced pistols in better condition than the highest priced ones.

I bought 1 model 85 (single stack) and 2 model 84s (double stack) that looked nearly new, and got all of them for $350 or less each. I personally recommend the 84BB model. The width of the double stack grip really spreads the recoil over the palm of your hand. Also, the BB versions have grooves on the front and rear of the grip that aid in keeping a firm grip on the pistol.

I actually bought an 84BB with wood grips, thinned the grips down to about half their original thickness, then stippled them to make the grip just slightly thicker than the double stack. So now, I have a lovely blued Beretta pistol that is barely thicker than the single stack version, yet holds 13 + 1 rounds of .380. It is now my daily concealed carry pistol.

This photo shows the 84BB with thinned grips on the left vs. a standard 85 on the right.
IMG_1974_zps6kqvpdwo.jpg


This shows the stippling.
IMG_1980_zps1w4ruabw.jpg
 
WILTERRY

My remark wasn't snide. I simply am not interested in a .380. I started this thread and kept it civil.

Had I wanted a bulkier pistol I would be looking at either a CZ-75 or BHP.
 
Not sure what you mean by, "had I wanted a bulkier pistol...". The Beretta 81 & 84 are the exact same pistol. The only difference is bore size of the barrel and the magazines. So size-wise, a Beretta 81 gains you nothing over a Beretta 84.

And yes, I realize you were discussing the Beretta 81 in .32 ACP. My point was to suggest that the 84 in .380 would offer you higher capacity and better ballistics at half the price (for a nice used one from CDI Sales).

If you're stuck on a Beretta 81, by all means get one. Lucky for you that Beretta has started selling them in the U.S. within the past month or so. You can get one on Gunbroker right now for $725-750.
 
ferrarif1fan said:
Lucky for you that Beretta has started selling them in the U.S. within the past month or so. You can get one on Gunbroker right now for $725-750.
Click to expand...
CaptainO, my advice is that if you really want a new 81FS, BUY NOW SOON IF YOU CAN. :)

AFAIK Beretta has not imported any new 81s in a coon's age, and my hunch is that once this current batch is gone – it's GONE. It may be a matter of years before any come to the U.S. again... if it happens at all.

FWIW Cole Distributing (CDI) and a couple of other GB sellers have been selling a few police-surplus 81s during the past year, but most have been slightly higher-priced than similar 84s, they have typically been in low condition grades (Good vs. VG/Exc), they've been outnumbered by 84s at probably a ~20:1 ratio, and many have come without magazines.

Speaking of which... another piece of advice regarding the 81 is that if you find any magazines for less than ~$45/ea, BUY THEM. :) As hinted by ferrarif1fan's previous post, the 81 requires a different magazine than the 84, and 81 mags are far less common than 84/BDA 380 mags (and are also not offered by Mec-Gar). I notice that 81 mags are shown as available on Beretta's website, presumably since they're once again importing pistols that accept them; I suggest stocking up while you can, as they're likely to disappear when the 81FS pistols do.
 
Last edited:
One is a Crvena Zastava Model 70 that shoots quite accurately (For years it rode in the holster of a European policeman).
Click to expand...

Your "CZ" is actually "Česká Zbrojovka", the Czech firearms manufacturer, of CZ70, CZ75 and CZ83 fame.

The "other CZ", is Crvena Zastava (Red Flag), used by the Serbian firearms manufacturer Zastava Arms. They unfortunately use the same acronym, and make the CZ99.
 
I take it back. Apparently there was also a Zastava Arms CZ Model 70 based on a shrunken Tokarev frame, also in 7.65 mm like the Czech CZ70.

Thanks for helping me learn something new.
 
CaptainO said:
I hope that I have the fortune to find one [in September].
Click to expand...
Be positive. Persistent generalized bias against .32-caliber pistols works in your favor here. There's not much of a market for a $750 double-stack .32 once the die-hard Beretta fan club members all pick theirs up. :)

FWIW this may evolve into a similar situation to several now-discontinued .32 H&R Mag S&W revolvers – some were such slow sellers when they were cataloged that many of them had to be put on clearance to get them off store shelves, yet they're now sought-after collector's items. :rolleyes:
 
I have a 2" barreled .32 H&R Magnum aluminum-framed, concealed-hammer, DAO S&W revolver. It shoots well with both .32 S&W Long and .32 H&R Magnum revolver carridges.

You'd be surprised at how acurately it shoots. Don't sell the little .32's short. Especially the .32 H&R Magnum revolvers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top