Best .380 I've Ever Shot

Congrats on the Cheetah. I think they are some of the best looking handguns out there and would really like one in nickel but I just can't get my head around the price. The key to most of the pocket guns for reliability is a thorough break in, they are just so tight, particularly their recoil spring assemblies and slides.
 
I don't understand the critical comparisons to a "pocket nine" or an LCP type pistol. It is apples and oranges.

The Beretta 84 is more of a service weapon for holster carry. In some times and places 380 has been considered perfectly adequate for such duties.

LCP and LC9 type pistols are for civilians to carry concealed (or maybe as a BUG for LEO).

It is strange to criticize a service weapon for not being a CCW, or vice versa. They are what they are. Get the one that you want and be happy. :)
 
I am a big Beretta fan and also happen to live close to CDI Sales. I think I've visited them 3-4 times to pick up some of these delightful Beretta 81 Series pistols. They are beautiful little blued works of art. They shoot great too. As a matter of fact, I shoot them so well, I've just changed my concealed carry piece from a Beretta PX4 Compact to the Beretta 84, which packs 13+1 rounds.

I just bought a nearly unused 84BB a few weeks ago and thinned down the wood grips that came on it. I then used a Dremel to put a little stippling on the grips so the pistol would be easier to handle during firing. I carry IWB right above my right, front pants pocket. Changing from the PX4 Compact to the 84BB dropped a few ounces and also reduced the thickness of the package. I'm loving it.

Here's the collection...some are nearly new and will not be shot.
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Here's the recent work on my new concealed carry 84BB.
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This pic shows the 84BB with thinned grips vs. a standard gripped 85 (single stack)

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QUOTE: "I don't understand the critical comparisons to a "pocket nine" or an LCP type pistol. It is apples and oranges.

The Beretta 84 is more of a service weapon for holster carry. In some times and places 380 has been considered perfectly adequate for such duties.

LCP and LC9 type pistols are for civilians to carry concealed (or maybe as a BUG for LEO).

It is strange to criticize a service weapon for not being a CCW, or vice versa. They are what they are. Get the one that you want and be happy."

I agree completely. The comparison is more like apples vs watermelons.
 
I have a Bersa Thunder 380 CC, it has been one of the most reliable 380's I have owned.
Performs flawlessly, have not had a single issue with it.
 
ferrarif1fan said:
I... thinned down the wood grips that came on it. I then used a Dremel to put a little stippling on the grips so the pistol would be easier to handle during firing.
Click to expand...
I have to compliment you, that's a really nice grip mod. :cool:

So those started out as the standard beaten-up smooth wood grips found on most of the Israeli surplus 84s? My 84BB is wearing a couple of strips of grip tape for better control, but they don't do much for looks.
 
Yes, those grips started out as the smooth ones. The smooth ones can look really nice, but they have almost no functionality to them, as they make the pistol too hard to hold onto. I used furniture stripper to remove the varnish, sanded them flat and to the thickness I wanted, then got the Dremel out to make the dimples. After that, a coat of dark walnut stain, followed by a couple of coats of spray poly. I really like how they turned out.
 
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The Glock 42 I had jammed almost on every round of various types. It fired partially out of battery with sparks and smoke coming out of the ejection port.

However, after a trip to Glock it runs well. It is a nice pocket configuration as compared to the Beretta but I feel the OP's pain.

It depends on what you want the gun for. The Berettas are nice bigger guns.

Didn't like the LCP even though it ran better of the box and it was reasonably accurate close up. It did sting.
 
"Best" is subjective but the CZ 83 I got from Aim is probably the best-shooting .380 for me. I have a half-dozen others in the caliber and I shoot this CZ more accurately and comfortably than any other. Never shot the Beretta but I'm guessing it's similar in size and feel.
 
Awesome guns. While the new in box price of $600-800 is a bit wince-inducing, these great guns are readily available on the used market in the $300-500 range which is a fine deal.
 
I'll join the choir,,,

I'll join the choir,,,
My Cheetah (85 single stack) is wonderful.

I own a Ruger LCP for my EDC pistol,,,
I own a Bersa Thunder 380,,,
I own a Beretta 85.

All three have proven to be reliable,,,
But the Beretta is the one that makes me smile.

Aarond

.
 
I also own the Beretta and the Browning; both are fine pistols that I wouldn't sell or trade. However, My SIG p232 is, for my purposes, a better pistol. It's highly accurate and better suited to carry, size and weight.

I have an HK4 enroute that is .380, .32acp, .25acp and .22lr capable. We'll see how it compares to the others.

I've had a Browning 1911 .380 on order forever. Will probably be too old to shoot it, if it ever shows up.
 
I've always liked the Cheetah, but for a .380 I carried either a German Walther PPK/S in .380, or my Colt Government .380. One Kahr introduced the PM9 I quit carrying my .380s in favor of the 9mm. Every once in a while I'll grab a Colt Mustang and slip it into my coat pocket if I'm going to the store, but any more it's a 9mm loaded with Gold Dot 124 Grain JHP +P. In the summer it's the subcompact PM9 and in the winter it's either my HK VP9, or the HK45C. I've always enjoyed shooting the .380s and .32ACPs though. Not cheap to shoot, but a lot of fun.
 
I love my 84f as well, if Beretta had half a brain they would make a single stack 9mm in the same size and weight. With that classic look of the 84/92 I think they could sell a few.
 
I had a Browning BDA .380 for a little while, same pistol without the Beretta style slide cutout, and it was a wonderful shooter. I totally concur with your experience overall. That said, I'd go with the Beretta in the future as I had some issues with the safety lever on the BDA getting stuck on safe. Excellent shooter, though. Just hard to justify keeping around for me as I generally carry a full sized pistol in 9x19.
 
The Beretta 84 and Browning BDAs that I've owned are two of only a few semiautos I've had that I trusted completely. If the ammunition is round enough to be chambered and if it fired, the guns would/will eat it. I would put the Beretta 92FS and my S&W 5906 in the same category. IMHO, the 84 has it all, looks and reliability, making it the best .380 ever made. I've had three of them, and two BDAs, so I must like them a lot.
 
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