(Another) Beretta 81 question........

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Nice, now get a few spare barrels in both 32/380 with threads.

Get some 380 magazines, modify a set and then make them for 32.
You simply bend the feed lips on the 380 versions to only feed 32 by closing them/pinching them closer together.
I suggest getting nickel for one set and blued for the other.
Mark them otherwise, somehow.
Maybe a red paint dot and blue dot.
Red=32, Blue =380.

Edit; Considering buying like..2-3 more od these..just because they are such sweet shooters.
Reloading makes it stupid inexpensive.
 
I'm a little late with this but the image shows the variations in all of the Cheetah series pistols.
191209-Beretta8121series.jpg

I purchased the Model 81 and have no regrets,,,
Comparing it with my 85BB I like the fact that the 81 doesn't have a magazine disconnect like the 81BB does.

After I painted the sights with glow paint I'm loving my 81.

Anyways, Hope this helps.

Aarond

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Thanks for the chart, some good information there.

My 81BB does not have a mag disconnect, just checked. Spare mag arrived yesterday, extra ammo arrives tomorrow and the Indiana State Police grips I ordered should arrive ~Monday-Tuesday.

Now i just need some time to sneak away to the range........
 
I was browsing the Beretta 81 aftermarket grip thread and saw references to Farrar Indiana State Police grips. Did a little research and found that the Indiana State Police issued a batch of Beretta 84F pistols that were equipped with rubber grips.

I looked around on the internet and wouldn't you know it, a pair showed up on Ebay for $10 shipped so I snapped them up. Figured it wasn't much of a risk, if I don't like them I'm only out $10.
 
Put the Farrar grips on my Beretta, I like them quite a bit. They are definitely staying.

Even though I haven't even had it to the range yet, the build quality of this pistol impressed me so much that I have ordered a second one. But not for myself, unbeknownst to him I'm having it shipped to my brother in Washington. I am paying for the pistol, shipping and sales tax but I'm sticking him with the $25 FFL fee, lol.

I figure he won't mind too much..........:evil:
 
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Put the Farrar grips on my Beretta, I like them quite a bit. They are definitely staying.

Even though I haven't even had it to the range yet, the build quality of this pistol impressed me so much that I have ordered a second one. But not for myself, unbeknownst to him I'm having it shipped to my brother in Washington. I am paying for the pistol, shipping and sales tax but I'm sticking him with the $25 FFL fee, lol.

I figure he won't mind too much..........:evil:

Good to have brothers like you. :D

I received the additional 2 mags for my 81BB yesterday. I really thought I'd have tried this gun out by now, but work has kept me really tied up. Did 12 hours today, not sure how tomorrow will turn out, but I know my week is full. Making money, but not making holes in targets. :confused:
 
I will actually have time this weekend, but the weather isn't going to be very good. Current temp is -13 and not looking much better for the rest of the week. I need to find an indoor range, lol.
 
So far I’ve purchased five if these and all have been tack drivers. Two friends bought one from me and one was a gift to my older brother on his 65th birthday. Now my brother has bought four more.

Part of my insanity with these Beretta 81’s is that about three years ago I was fortunate to find a Beretta 81FS for under $600. When this batch of surplus hit the market at $200 to $250, I knew they were a bargain price for an excellent handgun. I have more regrets over guns that I passed over or traded than over the ones I’ve purchased.
 
I'm completely happy with mine,,,
I'm considering ordering another just to have as a gift for future use.

I believe this was the,,,
Fiery-arm Deal of the Decade.

Aarond

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Sorry I just have to say to Montanaoff road that I was just thinking about these Berettas yesterday as I drove around Gainesville FL in shirt sleeves with the top down on the 'Stang trying to decide if I have been to the range too much already this month.

I want a mid sized .32 and a buddy just sent me a link to a Broke Gunner add for a 1935 Aluminum frame for a lot more than these 81s went for. Much as I like the '34/35's it may be time to modernize.

-kBob
 
Sorry I just have to say to Montanaoff road that I was just thinking about these Berettas yesterday as I drove around Gainesville FL in shirt sleeves with the top down on the 'Stang trying to decide if I have been to the range too much already this month.

I want a mid sized .32 and a buddy just sent me a link to a Broke Gunner add for a 1935 Aluminum frame for a lot more than these 81s went for. Much as I like the '34/35's it may be time to modernize.

-kBob

kBob, the 81 my brother got a month or so ago and the 81BB I got a couple weeks ago are mighty fine .32 ACP pistolas.

The 81s are larger than any other .32 I've ever held, as my brother has many classic .32s and I have two modern pocket .32s to compare to. I think of these 81s as 80% sized Beretta 92s, and these 81s are very comparable in size to a CZ75 Compact or CZ82/83. IMO, the 81s are slicker than those two CZs and the 81 seems better made as well.

I can't readily think of a 21st century made gun in an equivalently powered cartridge except for a KelTec PMR30. Only because the .22 Mag out of that gun and the .32 ACP out of the 81 ought to perform very similarly to each other for not much difference in ammo cost. I mention this as I've thought of that KelTec (which I've fired many times) as a great hi-cap, low recoil option for those that want it. I think these 81s can fill the same requirement, with a lower magazine capacity of course, but in a classic all metal gun that many of us really can appreciate.

If you're on the fence and you already have .32 ACP ammo on hand, I say jump off that fence and get an 81 on order (with extra magazines) from Classic Firearms or AIM Surplus while they still have them in inventory. :evil:
 
I bought one from Aimsurplus.

I’ve bought NIB guns in original boxes that weren’t as clean, pristine, and unblemished as the M81 I got.
It shoots even some very mild 78gr RN cast bullets over 1.8gr of Bullseye.
Hasn’t balked yet with over 500rds of reloads varying from the aforementioned RN and Bullseye in mixed brass, to 60gr GoldDots over 2.9gr of #231, 60gr XTP’s, 65gr Hydroshoks, 90gr Lee TLSWC, or 93gr LEE RN.

If it fits the magazine, chamber, and has sufficient power to cycle slide, it’s eaten it!
It shoots just a tad to the left, but I can fix that.

A pleasant, practical, little gun! And splendid range toy...
Glad I got one while they last...
Too bad magazines are $$!
 
Sorry I just have to say to Montanaoff road that I was just thinking about these Berettas yesterday as I drove around Gainesville FL in shirt sleeves with the top down on the 'Stang trying to decide if I have been to the range too much already this month.

I want a mid sized .32 and a buddy just sent me a link to a Broke Gunner add for a 1935 Aluminum frame for a lot more than these 81s went for. Much as I like the '34/35's it may be time to modernize.

-kBob
The 81 is definitely a fine mid-size 32acp but a bunch bigger than a 1935. The 81 is about the same size as a Colt 1903 or Savage 1907. The 81 will be newer than either of those, as reliable and accurate as either of those and have a magazine that holds more rounds than either of those.
 
Finally! I got to zip into a local indoor range during a lunch break and try out the 81BB. I took along my .22 LR Bersa Firestorm as well, because I wanted to see if the 81BB in .32 ACP truly had the recoil of a .22, as so many have said on the UTubez.

Ummm . . . no, this blowback .32 ACP lets you know you're shooting a centerfire gun. The 81BB is no hand hitter, but the thinner Firestorm let me know what a .22LR pistola firing Mini-Mags feels like. Just call the Firestorm a kitten and the 81BB a house cat in felt recoil. The only other comparison gun I brought was my Remington RM380, which definitely had more muzzle rise when fired, but the locked breech seemed to soften the recoil compared to snap of a blowback. Still, the smaller .380 was a bobcat compared to the 81BB house cat. :D

One thing that was nice was that shooting the 81BB with my weak hand was nearly as easy and accurate as shooting with just my strong hand. Of course, two handed shooting was even more controllable.

Considering the loose tolerances between the barrel and slide of the 81BB, this gun was self defense accurate at up to 15 yards (max distance I tried). The Firestorm has a frame mounted barrel and less slide to barrel tolerance which may be the reason it shot slightly tighter groups than the 81BB. Still, I could really blame my 54 year old eyes looking through handgun sights. :p

An interesting thing was the magazine capacities. I have four 12-round mags for the 81BB. Two of them could actually hold 12 rounds each. The other two could only hold 11 rounds each. I had the mags apart for cleaning many days ago and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. I'll look into this further when I clean the gun.

For today's range session, I fed the 81BB Fiocchi FMJ and S&B FMJ ammo. The Firestorm had hollow point CCI Mini-Mags for lunch. Neither pistol had a problem as they just fired and reloaded themselves exactly as they were supposed to. Very nice indeed. :cool:

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