AMBASSADOR
Member
Why are these guns so popular and expensive?
Beretta 84/85 FS
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nitetrane98
Member
I can only comment why I like it's brother, the Browning BDA .380, essentially the same gun except for slide and decocker location.
Far from the current mini-might .380s available from others the BDA is a well made, substantial feeling gun in my hands. Not to say the others are not well made. The smaller guns are quite painful to put a box full of shells through, to me. The narrow, single stackers really hit the web of my hand hard. I don't really know why, as it's not anywhere close to a tackdriver, but I really enjoy shooting mine. So much so that I invested 100 bucks for dies and shellplate for my Dillon.
Of course Browning does not sell them anymore, I don't know about Beretta. That's going to effect price.
And finally, I think it's one of the sexiest pistols ever made. Walnut and blued steel (eh, OK alloy fame) and a grip I can get all of my fingers on go a long way for me.
All just my .02 worth.
Far from the current mini-might .380s available from others the BDA is a well made, substantial feeling gun in my hands. Not to say the others are not well made. The smaller guns are quite painful to put a box full of shells through, to me. The narrow, single stackers really hit the web of my hand hard. I don't really know why, as it's not anywhere close to a tackdriver, but I really enjoy shooting mine. So much so that I invested 100 bucks for dies and shellplate for my Dillon.
Of course Browning does not sell them anymore, I don't know about Beretta. That's going to effect price.
And finally, I think it's one of the sexiest pistols ever made. Walnut and blued steel (eh, OK alloy fame) and a grip I can get all of my fingers on go a long way for me.
All just my .02 worth.
usp9
Member
They are popular because they are the King of the .380acp. World class design, quality construction, solid reliability and very good accuracy in a light weight pistol.
The ergonomics are great...none of the problems that plague some other small frame .380s. Add to the fact that they are beautiful... well, that's just a winner. What other gun offers the choce of magazine capacity, grips and finish in a top quality package?
Quality costs, that's just a fact of life.
usp9
Member
Not all of us have little girly-man hands.
Jim Watson
Member
Different brand, similar product...
Jeff Cooper was taking a German shooting class on a tour of the Walther plant.
A student, when shown the then-new PP Super (9x18 Police), said it was a fine looking gun but should be in 9mm P.
The Walther rep said "But what then of our P1 (P38)?" The student said, "It should be a .45."
Jeff Cooper was taking a German shooting class on a tour of the Walther plant.
A student, when shown the then-new PP Super (9x18 Police), said it was a fine looking gun but should be in 9mm P.
The Walther rep said "But what then of our P1 (P38)?" The student said, "It should be a .45."
huntsman
Member
They are popular because they are expensive and they are popular because they aren't in 9MM
usp9
Member
Those are the same grips I had on my 84 originally. They look like the smooth Browning grips. I also bought a Police trade in 84 with custom rubber grips which are the best I've used...even better than the Pachmayr.
huntsman
Member
Then don't, just like I'll never buy a 9mm. the 84/85 and BDA aren't for everyone and that in itself is a reason for me to own one.
I had a Beretta 84 which was a great gun. They are hi capacity (13rd mag) and very easy to shoot as they are large for a 380. It's a perfect gun for someone whop finds a full 9mm too much for whatever reason. I sold mine as it was the same size as my 469 which was a full 9mm parabellum. Wish I had kept it though.
TexasBill
Member
My wife has a Browning BDA (more on those in a minute) and I have a Beretta 84FS Cheetah. 13+1 and enough weight so that the recoil is mild. I also have a Walther PK380 First Edition. At typical SD ranges, the .380 does the job; tens of thousands of .380 pistols have been issued as primary duty weapons and more issued for plain-clothes officers (the Walther PPK was standard issue for NJ State Police detectives).
The Beretta (and the Browning) are beautiful guns and feel as good in the hand as any handgun I have ever owned. They are well-made and well worth the price.
If I really, really need something with more oomph, I have a FN-Herstal FNP-9 and a Beretta PX4 Storm, both in 9mm and an S&W .357 Magnum revolver. The only .40+ caliber handgun I want is the S&W Model 22, Model of 1917 in .45ACP.
You can get a brand-new, in-the-box, Browning BDA. Browning no longer catalogs the gun but they make batches of them for Davidson's Gallery of Guns http://www.galleryofguns.com/. Your dealer can order one through Davidson's. They are a distributor so they won't sell direct. My wife purchased her brand-new BDA almost exactly two months ago.
The Beretta (and the Browning) are beautiful guns and feel as good in the hand as any handgun I have ever owned. They are well-made and well worth the price.
If I really, really need something with more oomph, I have a FN-Herstal FNP-9 and a Beretta PX4 Storm, both in 9mm and an S&W .357 Magnum revolver. The only .40+ caliber handgun I want is the S&W Model 22, Model of 1917 in .45ACP.
You can get a brand-new, in-the-box, Browning BDA. Browning no longer catalogs the gun but they make batches of them for Davidson's Gallery of Guns http://www.galleryofguns.com/. Your dealer can order one through Davidson's. They are a distributor so they won't sell direct. My wife purchased her brand-new BDA almost exactly two months ago.
Not every gun buying decision needs to be made on such clinical criteria as ammo availability and power. I own two of these. They are some of the most beautiful guns ever made, are very fun to shoot, and have wonderful ergonomics. I have no plan to ever use one for defense.
Judging guns based only on their practicality would sure make gun collecting a dull hobby.
huntsman
Member
+1 Quality and fit are my reasons for owning a BDA.
I don't feel the need for more than a .380 and .45 ACP.
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