Beretta Pico - Who has one?

[Zendude]

I have a Pico and it has become my main EDC gun lately. It is light, thin, very reliable, appropriate DAO carry gun trigger weight, soft recoil, and has good sights. It easily pocket carries with the standard magazine and carries easily iwb with the mag extension (to help with draw), and will not print if you use a tuckable holster. No need to buy pants with a larger waist size. My glove size is medium but I think it might be difficult to manipulate if you have larger hands. I added Talon grips which help. It does take a bit of practice to develop a stable grip since the frame is so small.
A pic with the Pico in my N82 Tactical Original Tuckable holster, microcarry size:

 

[toivo]

Tiny gun, long and heavy trigger. It just didn't work for me. My hand would run out of "squeeze" before the trigger broke. YMMV.

 

[bikerdoc]

Tried them all, ( Iwork in a LGS) on the Bersa Thunder. Sig 938was also contender, but costs 2X plus times the Thunder.

 

[kokapelli]

The Pico is definitely harder to shoot than the Taurus TCP. It has a smaller grip and a heavier trigger. The sights are better but the rest of the gun is working against you. It took me awhile to find the target but once I built a cadence with the tiny pistol I was able to shoot well enough to make my informal outdoors shooting practice worthwhile. I had a much faster learning curve with the Taurus TCP due to the light and smooth trigger and "generously sized" grip.

Sounds like the TCP worked better for you.

 

[SeanSw]

Sounds like the TCP worked better for you.

Undoubtedly I had an easier time getting along with the TCP at first. Unfortunately it didn't feed the ammunition I wanted to use for self defense and I was accidentally tripping the magazine release on rare occasions. I could have settled on an alternative carry ammo but dropping the magazine by accident is too serious to overlook. To be clear, that was a user problem and not a malfunction. One of my friends could not even fire the gun without pressing the release due to the way his hands fit the gun.

The Pico mag release and true DAO trigger were decisive factors in a replacement, though any potential feeding issues are still unknown to me.

 

[SeanSw]

Tiny gun, long and heavy trigger. It just didn't work for me. My hand would run out of "squeeze" before the trigger broke. YMMV.

I can see this happening easily if you have larger hands. Mine are medium-small and it still requires a proper grip. Definitely avoid the Pico if you can carry anything larger.

 

[Reloader of Southamerica]

Hi,

I just got a few weeks ago my Beretta Pico 380 acp pistol gen 2.

It has a way to heavy slide racking and Trigger pull.

So I took out the inner hammer spring and now it has an 4 to 5 lbs Trigger pull as it had before about 9 lbs (mine).
Some watchmakers skills and Patience is needed to make this fix which is easy but you ahve to know what you are doing.

The gun is 100% reliable and after taking out the inner hammer spring I neve experienced an light primer hit or any issue. Yes it does not indent that much as before the primer but has a good enough indentation.
Trigger pull without the inner hammer spring is about the same as the TCP and Bodyguard.

For the gen 3 upgrade Beretta should suspend the inner hammer spring completely and put a Little bit stronger outer hammer spring into the Pico in order to make sure there is never an light primer strike.
Like this the gun is IMHO the best mouse 380 acp and other than what here described and suggested is not necessary for the gen 3 Pico.

Tell me what you guys think.

 

[kokapelli]

Hi,

I just got a few weeks ago my Beretta Pico 380 acp pistol gen 2.

It has a way to heavy slide racking and Trigger pull.

So I took out the inner hammer spring and now it has an 4 to 5 lbs Trigger pull as it had before about 9 lbs (mine).
Some watchmakers skills and Patience is needed to make this fix which is easy but you ahve to know what you are doing.

The gun is 100% reliable and after taking out the inner hammer spring I neve experienced an light primer hit or any issue. Yes it does not indent that much as before the primer but has a good enough indentation.
Trigger pull without the inner hammer spring is about the same as the TCP and Bodyguard.

For the gen 3 upgrade Beretta should suspend the inner hammer spring completely and put a Little bit stronger outer hammer spring into the Pico in order to make sure there is never an light primer strike.
Like this the gun is IMHO the best mouse 380 acp and other than what here described and suggested is not necessary for the gen 3 Pico.

Tell me what you guys think.

If correcting what seems to be the big problem with the Pico can be corrected that simply, why has Beretta just removed the spring?
I believe you when you say this fix works, but I would never feel comfortable modifying what the manufacturer Engineered.

 

[Reloader of Southamerica]

If correcting what seems to be the big problem with the Pico can be corrected that simply, why has Beretta just removed the spring?
I believe you when you say this fix works, but I would never feel comfortable modifying what the manufacturer Engineered.

Yes I agree.
I was at first hesitating as well to fumble with the FCU but then I asked Beretta Details about the hammers springs and they said the gen 2 (different slide serrations model) has still installed 2 of them.
So I took some Courage and took out the slide release latch and spring. From then the maine hammer pin I took out and then took the hammer spring Plunger (round part) of and slide the inner hammer spring out. Then reassembling I neede to call a relative to help since it's Kind of an watchmakers chore to get the parts in place.
But yes then gun works reliably and is the smoothest, easiest and best pistol ever.
I believe the +P Rating is gone having done this. Recoil may have increased as small amount but still it's the softest shooter above all others. Recoil has not changed considerably.

I feel comfortable now since I newer got a light primer strike yet. Primer strikes are weaker but a bit below normal but every round has fired till date.
I believe the heavy springs in the Pico is a lawyer Thing and due to the fact they want to rate the pistol approved for +P ammo. So they have to put in very stiff springs for the Buffalo Bore ammo. Like this the Pico will get probably a bit more Frame battering but the gun is built strong and the Frame is high Quality glass filled Nylon.

In my findings the hammer spring made for the very hard to rack slide and heavy Trigger pull. Not so much the main recoil spring. Having tooken out the inner hammer spring I bet if you take in again the inner recoil spring the gun is +P rated again (like that it would be a stiff slide rack but a very light Trigger pull).

 

[Jeb Stuart]

As a avid pocketgun shooter and one that shoots a couple of times a week I can say that the Pico is one of the finest Pocket guns out there. I had gone throught 4 Lcp's before finding the Pico. Man what a well made pistol. I mean ever detail has been so thought out for concealment. Machining and build quality is fantastic. I bought the second Gen. which was revised in 2014. Trigger is strong, but buttery smooth. Just what I prefer in a pocket gun. And this gun is MILD to shoot to say the least. There is a learning curve to the slide stop, but just like anything else you get use to it. I shoot often so I have become just so use to it. Even the trigger is something that I do not even notice being on the strong side. I can shoot about 150 rds. before I can start to feel it. I understand that some women, or someone with say arthritis would have difficulty. I have it in my thumb, but it does not phase me.
The pistol is build like a TANK!! I mean it is Stainless Steel throughout the gun. Even the recoil spring guide rod is stainless.
1) All stainless Steel
2) Super easy take down (I will bet a dollar to a doughnut that this feature will copied in the future by other manufacturers. In fact I see the New Spectrum has copied it alreay
*beefy take down pin, no more broken ones to deal with or sending a receiver down range.
3) Rated for Plus P ammo (that should tell you something)
4) Modular Grip. Very easy to change out grips. (I had split grip frames on my LCP, spilt rail etc., plus I do like the ability to get different colors or worry about a crack.
5) DOUBLE STRIKE CAPABILITY - a fantastic advantage for self defense especially on a pocket gun.
6) Sleek design. Feels like it was designed in a wind tunnel.
7) Mild, I mean a Mild shooter. None of the recoil found in other small pocketguns. None of the "High Five Slap" like the LCP's
8) Great Trigger-strong but smooth all the way through. Just what you want in a pocket gun. As Hickcock45 said. " I like that trigger"
9) Accuracy-This gun is extremely accurate. I shoot it without the Pinky Extensions and it will lodge like a anchor between the third and fourth finger. (I use to shot the LCP'S with a Hogue Handall, but removed it and went with grip the way the engineers designed it. Actually much better shooting.
10) Fantastic sights, the best I have seen. Very easy to install Trijicon night sights which I did.

I bought this gun and as of yesterday at the range, now have close to 2000 rounds of ammo fired through it without One failure of any kind. I ended up getting a second one because I appreciated this gun so much and that one as of yesterday has over 500 rds with No hiccups.
It is obviously Beretta did not go after the Mass Market. They built a well made highly concealed firearm. Many new shooters have never heard of Beretta. What a mass market, Pistol, then I would suggest the LCP.

Lastly, I bought a Kahr CW380 and yes, that is a fine mild shooter as well and also well built. 500 rds now without a failure with range ammo. If you like light but firm trigger that may be the gun for you.
Look at the pic below. Notice how the receivers are thick and well built. The handle recoil like a breeze, can shoot plus P ammo and built for longevity and a lot of rounds down range.

 

[usp9]

Jeb Stuart, I concur on all you said. Excellent value in a gun now too as prices have dropped lately. Not sure about the Kermit Green though.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Lol, that is Ranger Green. The grip material on the Kahr is a custom, from Traction Grips, it is more of a very sturdy canvas like material. Don't like ranger Green, you can also get the Beretta in a desert sand color grip which very popular. And of course the Black and Silver which is beautiful which is my other pico. The Polymer grips can be changed in about one minute. Thanks for posting.