Thinking of buying a Beretta 84

W

Whirlwind06

New member
All of these .380 threads have me looking at .380s. I have a compact 9mm that I carry most times. And it doesn't fit a deep concealment role, so I'm not really looking at it as carry gun just like the way it looks. I haven't found any really bad reviews, just the big for the round type comments.

So does anybody have anything bad to say about the 84?
 
Nothing negative really but if you get an 84F watch out for the decocker.

However, many F version pistols allow the user to raise the decocker/safety to a click/stop that does not decock the hammer nor engage the safety. With these pistols, a very firm upward push is required to decock the hammer and engage the safety. With the decocker/safety in the intermediate position, pulling the trigger will cause the hammer to fall and the loaded pistol to fire.

Great looking and great shooting guns. There are some excellent deals on some surplus 84s on Gunbroker right now. They are being sold by Cole's Distribution out of KY. They are a great seller with a great rep! Prices range from $249 to $369.

I did not get mine from Coles... I almost snagged a 85F the other day but the cost when a bit higher than I wanted to pay.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Pistols/BI.aspx?IncludeSellers=2621012&mfg=1000038





 
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...just the big for the round type comments.
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Which makes little sense. That means the 1911 is too big for the .45acp too. ;)

I have nothing bad to say. This 84f was my carry for many years. It was as reliable any gun I've ever owned and I shot it very well. I bought several models, another used 84fs and a 85fs. All perform perfectly. Great gun, well worth owning.

 
I love mine. If you can get one for under $300, jump on it! It feels almost like a 92 in my hand, but it shoots a more gentle round. And I like the high capacity. It is not a carry piece for me, but if I had to use it for SD, I would be grateful for the double-stack magazine... which also makes it more fun on the range.

If they are that cheap, get you one! The worst case scenario would be that you don't like it (which would be very surprising). If that happened you could just hold onto until the surplus ones are gone again, then sell it for a profit.
 
The Cheetah series has one very unique attribute,,,

The Cheetah series has one very unique attribute.

Over the years I've allowed many people to shoot my 85 & 87,,,
In all those folk not one has disliked the gun(s).

Every other gun I have is liked by some people,,,
And disliked just as strongly as others.

But not the Cheetah.

Now I've had people comment that it's too big for concealment,,,
I've had people say they want a smaller carry pistol,,,
And of course the "big for the round" comments.

But I've never seen anyone shoot my pistols,,,
Who didn't smile when they fired them.

The 84-85-86-87 Cheetahs seem to be universally loved by all.

Any time that I want to shoot for pure enjoyment,,,
The Cheetahs get packed in my range bag.

berettas.jpg


Aarond

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Guggmeister said:
Snappy evil recoil.
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This should read FELT recoil. I don't find it to be that bad. I think the issue is that the slide smacks the frame pretty hard as it cycles, due to the unlocked breech action, and some shooters perceive this as "sharp" recoil.

However, it should be pointed out that the pistol actually has a very low bore axis, making accurate and fast follow-up shots a piece of cake. :D
AustinTX said:
It's pretty hard to find a negative review of the 84 from anyone who has fired one. They're wonderful pistols.
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I love the guns, but I've pointed out a few downsides in past threads. To summarize:
  • The stiff recoil and hammer springs combined with relatively small grasping surfaces on the slide make the slide difficult to operate for people with weak hands. I regard this to be the #1 drawback of the gun.
  • Some individual pistols seem sensitive to limp-wristing. However, this is a technique-related issue.
  • "F" version decocker/safety will sometimes "hang" in an intermediate position where it is NOT actually on-safe (WVsig already mentioned this).
  • The slide serrations may cut your thumb if you use the 1911-style thumb-atop-safety grip technique, and I have the scars to prove it. :( However, this is another technique-related issue.
  • Slide cannot be operated with pistol on-safe, although this is commonplace with older European autos.
  • B, BB, and no-suffix versions are not the easiest pistols to manually decock due to small and rounded hammer spur. Recommend extensive practice with chamber EMPTY.
  • No-suffix version lacks a positive trigger-actuated firing-pin block and relies solely on an inertial firing pin. Recommend a secure holster, and IMHO this version is NOT safe to carry in DA off-safe mode at half-cock.
  • Aftermarket sight options are very limited.
Two added notes...
  1. SOME of these pistols were sold with a magazine disconnect. There's no way to discern which ones unless you have the original box, as the feature was an option. However, if you get one like this and it bothers you, it's probably the easiest-to-remove mag disconnect in the auto-pistol world: remove RH grip panel, look for big loop- or curly-Q-shape wire spring on RH side of grip frame, lift it out, reinstall grip panel, and you're done. :) FWIW the mechanism works via spring pressure pulling down on a longitudinal slot in the trigger bar, thus disconnecting the trigger from the sear; a small shelf on the magazine body disengages the spring from the slot when the mag is locked in the pistol.
  2. If you're a lefty, the magazine release is easily reversible. Simply remove and reinstall backwards, using the same basic procedure as the Series 92, which is covered all sorts of places on the 'Net. :)
 
Just so I'm clear, I didn't mean to imply that everyone would love or like every aspect of the different versions of the gun. :) I'm just saying that reviews that are negative overall are pretty hard to come by.
 
Love mine and it is hard to find a review that is overall negative.

I'm a newish shooter and I did find the felt recoil to be a bit snappy, but when I switched out the original 1974 walnut furniture for a Pachmayr it was MUCH reduced. An M84 with Pachmayr is a pretty thick handle though….

Congrats to the OP on the acquisition, hope you love it. What kind?
 
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