Beretta 85FS vs. CZ 83 / 82

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Jeff23

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Hi All--

I searched for and read all the CZ vs. Beretta threads but didn't see one on the.380's, sorry if I missed it. For my next gun I want to buy either a Beretta 83FS or a CZ model 83. It would be great if the knowledgeable people on this forum could give me some guidance. I have handled both guns, and my major reason for liking them is that I have large hands with rather long fingers--both these pistols have fairly large grips that fit my hand much better than most small autos.

I know where I can rent a Beretta 85, not sure about the CZ but I will check out a couple of places.

I will not deny having a slight aesthetic preference for the Beretta mystique, but on the common sense side, I'm a subscriber to Gun Tests.com, and their test report on the 85FS was lukewarm. They haven't done a report on the CZ. Also on the common sense side, I can get a CZ 83 for $400 locally while the same shop was selling the Beretta for right around $600. I don't mind paying the extra $200 if the Beretta is really a better gun. I may use it for a CCW or car carry piece from time to time and I want a reliable weapon.

If I did go with the CZ, I'd be interested if anyone here would tell me the benefits and drawbacks of going with the CZ 82 in 9x18 Makarov. My main reason for thinking about it is that ammo seems quite plentiful as opposed to380 ammo. Don't relaod right now, but I have in the past and would again if prices got really out of hand. 9x18 is a new caliber to me, don't know enough about it to make a judgement, so I will read up. But any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
cz-82 is far less expensive than the other two, and 9x18 is cheap and plentiful. same gun as the cz-83 for half the price.
 
Hard to beat the price and condition on the current crop of surplus CZ82 for around $200. They're dependable and accurate. 9x18 can be easier to find lately than .380.

Of these 2 choices, it's the route I would go. A new CZ83 in .380 and the Beretta will cost you double what a cz82 from JGsales will.
 
I am a huge CZ fan owning three of their 75 series based pistols. I don't own an 82/83 but from what I've read they are a fine double stack, small and reliable pistol in 9MM Mak or .380. They current crop of surplus pistols is hard to beat and I'd probably go that route if given the choice, mostly due to cost.

However, I do own and often carry a Beretta M85FS. Its the single stack version, (the M84 is double stack) and therefore a little slimmer and lighter than the CZ. Its an accurate, relaible, well made and elegant little .380 but that comes at a huge price difference. They are pushing $600 now from what I hear, but if you can find a used one at a good price, get it.
 
I've owned two Walter PPK/Ss, two Cheetahs, and now own a CZ83. The CZ is, by far, my favorite .380. The pistol feels heavier than the Beretta, but it conceals as just easily. Though snappy, the recoil of the CZ83 isn't as bad as with the Beretta. My CZ83 has been 100% reliable since I've had it. It's the most accurate .380 I've ever owned (by far) - more so than the Beretta. The double action trigger pull is as smooth as on the Beretta, and the single action pull is light and crisp. The trigger is wide, smooth and comfortable. It has a steel frame, which I like a lot better, and which will give it enhanced durability over the Beretta. Of course, the price is much better for the CZ. It holds a lot of ammo. The CZ83 is a great .380.

CZ83.jpg
 
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IMHO the Beretta is the better quality pistol. If you're planning on making it a CCW, then the Beretta 85 is going to conceal easier.

The Beretta has the better grips I think. I've never been a fan of the CZ, single screw grip panel. You have more options with the Beretta in that there are plastic, wood and rubber grips available.

The Beretta is lighter than the CZ. Both the Beretta 85 and 84 are lighter.

The Beretta has a decocker. The CZ does not. This is a game breaker for me, because I don't do "cocked and locked" carry.

Both guns have good triggers.

Both take down fairly easily, but I prefer the Beretta method over the CZ's Walther style.

The CZ gave me hammer bite.

Both guns are accurate. I prefered the Beretta, but then again I shot it more and am biased.

Both guns are reliable.

Size wise the CZ and Beretta are almost identical.
TEST005.gif

There really isn't a right or wrong answer, both are perfectly acceptable. The Beretta is one of those guns that seems to be made for my hands and fits, feels and performs flawlessly. The CW never gave me the same "warm and fuzzy" feelings.

I carried a Beretta in a Galco Fletch. I never carried the CZ.
 
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Being the big time Beretta fan I am, notice my handle:cool:; I'd get a steel framed version of the Beretta if it was available.
The throat on my 84 was gouged pretty deep by some rather aggressive hollow point ammo. Russian I think.
And a few thousand rounds.
Funny how the side by side comparison with another 380 is almost identical, you should compare a Para P-12 with these pistols. Also about the same, as my lovely other half pointed out. She carries the P-12 nowdays. With 185's to keep down weight I'm told:p
 
For that size pistol, get a 9mm.

(Sorry, somebody had to say it.) :)

Larry
 
Wow, I'm learning quite alot here, thanks to all. Have to think it over . . . I may have to buy one of them, shoot it for awhile, and if I like it then fine, problem solved. But if I feel that the other one might have been better, I'll end up going out and getting it just to see. Then I'll trade or sell whichever one I decide isn't my flavor. I can't tell you how many times I've done a similar process with shotguns. :) I end up losing some money, but it's a hella lot of fun figuring out what's next. I've let some nice guns go too, but hey--somebody else has given them a good home and TLC I'm sure.

Another solution would be to get a Beretta in .380, then shoot / carry it for awhile and see how it works out. If it's all good, I can still get a CZ, but in 9x18! Then I'll have two separate pistols for completely different purposes. One for when I need a Beretta .380 and another for when I need a 9x18 for some reason I haven't thought of yet. . . wait, I know--ammo shortage, etc.

Where would you go to buy a NIB CZ in 9x18? Just curious--

Anyone else have a brain that works like mine? For your sake, I hope not.

DT, I know what you mean, but as you can see, the 9mm is a separate issue :)

I am always interested in the "cocked and locked" controversy. But I should really go and search all the threads on it before asking questions about it.
 
OK, that last post was a bit wifty, I know. But I'm in that stage of letting the whole thing percolate. I will stop thinking out loud and report back when I make up my mind and buy one or the other.

Thanks to all for the information, the great photos, etc. It's great to have such a source of advice from people who have actually owned these pistols!

Best,

Jeff
 
The good thing about this decision is neither is a bad gun. You may like one or the other more, but you're not deciding between 'good' and 'bad', just picking a favorite flavor.

Larry
 
No I'm not nuts, I promise you. You can order all the other ammo you want online too. I just said that I haven't seen any around here lately. I used to see it around all the time, and that makes me a bit nervous about buying a 9x18mm chambered gun.
 
I reload .380, but I have been able to buy all the Brown Bear 9MM Mak (9x18) I want and at reasonable prices on the net.
 
The problem with 9x18 is a limited choice of HP defense ammo with the trade off of having more power and ever so slightly more frontal area. I believe the only serious 9x18 defensive ammunition is the hornady xtp, and hornady being hornady loads it pretty light so you only get a slight edge on the .380. Some may say that there are heavy hitting hollow points from barnauls brown and silver bear line but I do not trust these to always expand and a few non scientific type tests did not show great things. I like the cz, great trigger and I hate decockers, I can lower the hammer by myself.
 
Well you might as well have a .380 then because the stop percentage is much better with hollow points than 9x18 fmj's.
 
My problem with the 9X18 is that before the current ammo shortage, I never saw it anywhere. It seems to me that it is available now to sort of fill a void. Once .380 ammo is readily available again, as surely it will be, I'd be concerned 9X18 ammo would get scarce again.
 
The CZ-83 is the better pistol, and in my opinion every bit as ascetically pleasing as is the 85! The CZ is alll steel, a tack driver, and 1/3 the pricepoint of the Beretta, both are nice pistols, the CZ is just that much nicer...
 
No experience with the Beretta 85FS, but I love the CZ-82. Had one 10+ years ago & just got one again recently. The 9x18 is a better round than the .380. Also, CZ-83 for $400? Wow, a bit steep.



Jeff23

Beretta 85FS vs. CZ 83 / 82
<SNIP>I can get a CZ 83 for $400 locally while the same shop was selling the Beretta for right around $600. I don't mind paying the extra $200 if the Beretta is really a better gun. I may use it for a CCW or car carry piece from time to time and I want a reliable weapon.
<SNIP>
Click to expand...
 
Onward, it's one new CZ 83, actually the only one I've looked at, but there are four huge gunshops I have still to visit--I'm going to two of them tomorrow, so I may do better on the CZ price. The $600 Beretta 85 is used but in excellent / like new condition. I'm scouting around on both of them. No rush to buy. However, I haven't yet seen any other Beretta 85 under $600.00.

I continue to be fascinated by this discussion, including the .380 ammo mystery. I realize that neither of these is a pocket auto, but if you guys were going to carry it concealed, how would you do it?
 
Ah, I see. Then $400 is a fair price for a new CZ-83. As an aside, you can likely pick up a used one in excellent condition between $225 - $275.


Jeff23
Onward, it's one new CZ 83, actually the only one I've looked at, but there are four huge gunshops I have still to visit--I'm going to two of them tomorrow, so I may do better on the CZ price. The $600 Beretta 85 is used but in excellent / like new condition. I'm scouting around on both of them. No rush to buy. However, I haven't yet seen any other Beretta 85 under $600.00.<SNIP>
Click to expand...
 
I continue to be fascinated by this discussion, including the .380 ammo mystery. I realize that neither of these is a pocket auto, but if you guys were going to carry it concealed, how would you do it?
Click to expand...

I carry mine in an Uncle Mike's iwb holster, size 1.
 
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