Any users of a Beretta Model 84 or 86?

N

nickcarr

Inactive
I'm thinking of a compact carry gun. I know it's a small caliber (at least by my standards), but I'm wondering if it's worth picking one up used?

I saw an 86 in the cabinet last night, new - for $485. Seemed kinda high to me. If I could find one used, then it might be a better deal.

Anyway, I know that the 86 is a flip up barrel versus the 84 which isn't. Is there any accuracy differences here? I read that the fixed barrel makes the 86 *really* accurate, but is that a true statement?

If anyone has an experiences/opinions on this model, then please share them...

Thanks
-Nick

PS. If they only made a model 86 in 9mm! :D
 
I have a model 86.. GGGreat pistol and very accurate. I am sure you would be very pleased with one. I got mine for $460 tax and all.
 
They're great pistols for what they are, but they're pretty large for such a small caliber. There are much more compact .380's out there (but probably none that are more reliable), and many guns the size of the 84/85/86 that fire a more potent round.

Just the same, they're neat to have for the sake of having. They just wouldn't be my choice for a compact carry gun.


[This message has been edited by JJR (edited September 19, 2000).]
 
I've got the Browning BDA380 -- a production twin of the guns that you mentioned. My BDA380 was actually made by Beretta for Browning. While others have disagreed with me on this, I think that 14 rounds of .380ACP beats 6 rounds of .38 special any day of the weeks especially when dealing with more than one BG.
 
i have an early 84 that has been fired maybe 200x since i got it back in 87' (with 2 hi-caps). no matter who fires it, it is always on the money, no ifs, ands. or buts!
however as mentioned above there are more compact .308's out there (makarov for one). but when you get into that price almost $500 out the door, why not go for something in a ..........9mm (no not a .45) such as a kel-tec which takes s&w hi-caps, or the g26 which will accept either the 19 or 17 hi-cap mags too.
just thought i would mention other options.
but do not look for something else if you are set on a .380
i own a fair amount of .380's and (against all the talk about caliber stopping/performance)i still have a fondness for the .380 and yes the much maligned 9mm
 
I have a Model 84 that I bought new 15 years or so ago. Haven't shot it a lot since then, probably not more than a couple thousand rounds, but I can't recall a failure to feed or other reliability problem. I've also owned a Browning BDA .380 which is pretty much identical except for the way the safety works. (The Beretta safety is up on "safe" and down on "hot".)

I've never really tried to find it's preferred load for accuracy, but as I recall Winchester Silvertips would move a coke can around quite nicely at about 20 yards.

I like it quite a bit and still sometimes carry is. It is roughly the same size as my Kimber Ultra - and with the Beretta I can have 14 rounds without haveing to carry a spare magazine.

As chance would have it, I've had an opportunity to try popular defense loads from both the Kimber and the Beretta on large armadillos. The 165 gr. Hydra-Shok and the 87(?) grain Silvertip. I don't know how well either round would do on a 300 # biker in full leathers and stoked to the gills on Angel Dust - but looking at the damage done to those two armadillos was a reminder that I don't want to be on the receiving end of either round.

Both shots were broadside at about 20 feet. Entered on the upper shoulder and exited lower shoulder on the other side. Complete penetration (both rounds), no recovered bullet. Exit wound indicated substantial expansion for both rounds.

------------------
Jim Fox
 
I had the single stack 85 as my first carry gun and LOVED it. I traded it for a Sucking Weasel 4516 when "calibanoia" kicked in and I was compelled to carry a .45. I still have the .22 twin m87 and it gets shot more than my other guns combined. if you don't suffer from the aforementioned calibanoia, the 84 and 86 are excellent arms. BTW, I carry Kahrs, a P9 in heat and a k40 in cooler weather.

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"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with Army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of constitutional privilege." Wilson vs. State, Ark. 1878
 
Thanks for the comments everyone.

Well, I've shot the model 84 at a gun range yesterday. I was very impressed. Where you aim is what you hit. I was a little surprised by the amount of recoil a 380 has.

Also, I shot the Kahr K9. I was also impressed with it's acurracy. Recoil felt the same, but I know that the 9mm has a little more 'bite' to it. I didn't shoot it very long, but it's making me think. I saw the polymer 9mm in the display case, but it's not for rental yet. I'll have to look around for one to shoot. I've heard the recoil isn't as bad as you might think a 16oz gun would be.

I noticed that everyone likes Winchester ammo. Any particular reason? I've always been happy with Speer GoldDot...


-Nick
 
Well guys, I bought a Beretta Model 85F yesterday. It's the single-stack version of the 84/86. All I can say is WOW! This is a beautiful carry piece. It fits in the palm of my hand and grips like a glove.

It's brand new and above all else, it was $50 cheaper than the 84 model.


-Nick
 
Have a Browning BDA 380 (think it was discontinued in 1997), as does Senior Member FUD, as noted in his post above. I like the gun. It may be somewhat short on that elusively-defined term "stopping power", but, as FUD notes, there is some advantage to having added magazine capacity -especially if you are able to hit your BG. The gun is easy to shoot, accurate, reliable, and recoil is very manageable. I don't forsee ever wanting to part with mine.
Admittedly, there are smaller, more powerful guns available for concealed carry. If it (or a Beretta 380) fits your hand and needs well, go for it.

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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed, and hence clamorous to be led to safety, by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." -- H.L. Mencken
 
The Browning BDA380 (a production twin of the Beretta) is a fairly large size gun ...
380-3.jpg

... Note how it compares to the full-size S&W 4006.

[This message has been edited by FUD (edited September 23, 2000).]
 
Okay, so what 380 ammo do I get? I've always been partial to CCI Gold-dot, but I'm curious how Federal Hydrashok or Remington's golden saber performs? Also, what about Winchester SXT ammo?
 
This is just my personal opinion so I'm sure that I'm going to get flamed for this but here goes anyway ...

I think that the Hydrashoks are over-rated UNLESS you get the +P ones -- in which case, they're the best thing going. I prefer the Golden Sabers although there is strong reason to believe that the Gold Dots might be better with regard to overall stopping power.
 
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