kmw1954
Member
The Beretta Cheetah has been a dream gun of mine since 1980. I too almost bought one of those from the dealer in Ky. but instead I bought a brand new Witness Pavona.
Beretta Cheetah .380
- Thread starter Mars5l
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Gordon
Member
I want a Model 26 which is single stack and has the tilting barrel, I haven't found one in a few years of searching, except crazy priced ones on Gunbroker
zaitcev
Member
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I finally managed to take a decent picture of the peening on a 1979 Beretta 84. The switch to a thinner recoil spring supposedly helped to add some material here and alleviate the problem.
Interestingly, the finish remains where the slide actually hits the frame. So, the rim of the damage area is seen as a thin semi-circular sliver of bare aluminum.
Interestingly, the finish remains where the slide actually hits the frame. So, the rim of the damage area is seen as a thin semi-circular sliver of bare aluminum.
Thunderchicken
Member
I bought two surplus 84’s when they were cheap. I liked them a lot. Turns out my two older daughters liked them too and now they each have one. Hopefully I’ll find another one at a reasonable price some day. Since they have all my .380 ammo and I am not paying a buck a round for range ammo I can wait a while...
jhb
Member
prefer the sig p238 and colt mustang myself.
I had wanted a Beretta 85 for a long time. I thought the thinner grip would be better for my small hands. So, I got one...
Shooting the 85 killed my hand. That lowest thumb joint by the web of my hand. I think I only put like 50 rounds or so thru it. I had to sell it after the 1st range trip. I was SO disappointed. I knew that I would never take it oout to shoot again after that. I sold the gun after 1 range trip.
Someone I knew had an 84, and they claimed that they did not get hand pain. I think the wider backstrap of the 84 model MIGHT have helped me. I don't know. Those 380s are blowback - unlike 9mms. So, they are very snappy. Much more snappy than shooting a 9mm handgun.
I gave up one having a Cheetah after that.
Shooting the 85 killed my hand. That lowest thumb joint by the web of my hand. I think I only put like 50 rounds or so thru it. I had to sell it after the 1st range trip. I was SO disappointed. I knew that I would never take it oout to shoot again after that. I sold the gun after 1 range trip.
Someone I knew had an 84, and they claimed that they did not get hand pain. I think the wider backstrap of the 84 model MIGHT have helped me. I don't know. Those 380s are blowback - unlike 9mms. So, they are very snappy. Much more snappy than shooting a 9mm handgun.
I gave up one having a Cheetah after that.
wiscoaster
Member
I have one; I like it; it shoots well; it's a little snappy but not bad (less than a PPK/S), but its recoil spring is pretty stiff and so takes some decent hand strength to rack, if that's an issue for the shooter.
Risky buisness
Member
The 84 I owned was well built,mechanically, ergonomically no so much, it was a pain to fire it and with sharp edges all over it it lacked much attraction, my wife thought it was a nice handgun right up untill she fired it, and unloaded it on me.
Beretta builds durable pistols and the quality isnt at fault, the handling charistics at least for me, were.
Beretta builds durable pistols and the quality isnt at fault, the handling charistics at least for me, were.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Guess I'm not the only one that got one 'just because'. I wanted one for years and finally had an opportunity I couldn't pass up a few years ago. Great little pistols. I'd really like to have an 87.
wiscoaster
Member
Nice grips!! 
loneviking
Member
I’m surprised at the ‘snappy recoil’ comments. I bought a Browning BDA after selling a S&W Bodyguard. If you want painfully snappy go try the Bodyguard!
My BDA is a tack driver that I can shoot all day long with no pain. It’s one gun I’ll never sell.
My BDA is a tack driver that I can shoot all day long with no pain. It’s one gun I’ll never sell.
Good photograph.
The frame of my Model 84 from about the same time looks about the same in the same area. The peening of the slide stopo would also create a small flange on the inner radius of the slide stop that would make it difficult to remove the recoil spring guide rod. I've had to file away this flange periodically to make disassembly of the pistol easier.
EMC45
Member
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zaitcev
Member
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I'm running with a buffer right now. It's made from a typical 1911 buffer by DMC. However, it's a safe queen solution. The plastic shears in the space of about 50-80 rounds.
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
It's a DA, no need to carry it cocked & locked.
EMC45
Member
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I'm aware. I shot one years back and just didn't remember if you could carry it that way. One of the more accurate pistols I've shot.
JERRY
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- Jun 5, 2003
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yes
hemiram
Member
The "snappy" comments kind of confused me, I've owned at least one Model 84 or Browning BDA since about 1980 or so, and never found them snappy at all. The first one, a BDA I bought new was a very nice gun to shoot and I remember putting box after box of HP rounds through it at the gun range near my house. I probably shot it the best of all the guns I had at the time, except for my Dan Wesson 15-2, which I used to (definitely in the past) shoot pretty well. Hand pain is another thing I've never felt. Now my old PPK, that was another thing entirely. Crap gun anyway.
I agree.
The Model 84 being a larger 380 ACP soaks up recoil well even though it is a blow back operation pistol.
I'll agree that the Walther PPK has a sharper recoil since it is also blow back operation, but the Colt Mustang as well as the Sig P238 and Kimber Micro Carry is not bad even though it is smaller than the PPK but has a lock breech design.
But recoil is subjective for most folks.
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