Help w/ Beretta 84FS Cheeta: not easy to rack the pistol’s slide.

[cfullgraf]

I have a 1980 vintage Model 84 and it is easier to rack the slide with the hammer cocked than with the hammer un-cocked. While it is a DA/SA ;pistol,. it does not have a decocking system.

I think the later versions of the Model 84 have a de-cocker system, maybe I am wrong, but this would allow you to load the pistol and safely de-cock the gun after the slide is racked.

Manually lowering the hammer has its own safety issues.

Of course, this requires the owner to be comfortable with the double action shooting of the gun.

I've put several thousand rounds through my Model 84 over the years and it has been as reliable as a light switch. If you feel a 380 ACP is adequate pistol, the Beretta Model 84 would be a good option.

 

[tolstoy]

I never mentioned the recoil spring being to stiff, as I said the force required to rack the slide is minimal compared to drawing my 80 lb. bow. By poor design I was pointing to the very small one inch long serrated area located between the very sharp edges of the slide release and safety lever, the sharp upper corner of the grip and the double stack grips being wider than the slide making it very difficult with my large palm to make contact with the slide surface using the overhand grip as in the video above. I would think the longer serration on the later F models and the matt finish helped in this respect.
I can easily rack the slide with the overhand grip by moving my hand forward, away from the protruding grips and slide release and safety lever and extending my thumb back horizontally to the serration but doing this you risk taking a chunk out your hand if it is in the path of the slide. Some manufacturers have added a second serration towards the front of the slide. For me using the sling shot grip in this forward position, away from the cluttered area of the rear serration works just fine.

 

[tolstoy]

I never mentioned the recoil spring being to stiff, as I said the force required to rack the slide is minimal compared to drawing my 80 lb. bow. By poor design I was pointing to the very small one inch long serrated area located between the very sharp edges of the slide release and safety lever, the sharp upper corner of the grip and the double stack grips being wider than the slide making it very difficult with my large palm to make contact with the slide surface using the overhand grip as in the video above. I would think the longer serration on the later F models and the matt finish helped in this respect.
I can easily rack the slide with the overhand grip by moving my hand forward, away from the protruding grips and slide release and safety lever and extending my thumb back horizontally to the serration but doing this you risk taking a chunk out your hand if it is in the path of the slide. Some manufacturers have added a second serration towards the front of the slide. For me using the sling shot grip in this forward position, away from the cluttered area of the rear serration works just fine.

 

[tolstoy]

Looking at the photo posted above of Tallboy's very fine looking 84 and 81 Berettas clearly shows the difference of the small serrated area on the 81's slide compared to the longer serration on the 84.
If the 81 was flipped over you would see the slide release as well as the safety lever in close proximity to the serrated slide area, the same as it is on the 84. Also it is easy to see that the raised grip surface is what the palm will be in contact with rather than the narrow surface of the slide using the overhand grip when racking the slide.

 

[zaitcev]

I have searched for several options, the most logical one is to replace the recoil spring; however, I’m afraid it will have a negative effect on the performance of the firearm.

Do not under any circumstances use a lower rated spring on a Beretta 84: you'll ruin the frame in the space of 500 rounds. And once this process starts, it cannot be stopped, even if you machine or file the peening out. There will be not enough material remaining.

I found it easier to rack the slide by reaching from the rear, the way we did in 1970s. The modern "cup" method actually makes it harder.

2nd ask: Has any one seen a “beavertail” protection for this specific firearm? I have small hands and would benefit from having one.

I do not understand. Hammer on Cheetah does not extend beyond the standard bevaertail. You cannot get a hammer bite on Beretta 84.

 

[zaitcev]

@ATLDaveAs for the Beavertail question, it has nothing to do with its coverage area, it has to do with the recoil. Even though, I apply a solid and tight grip, the recoil is much harder than, say, a Browning HiPower. So, I was wondering if there are any after market attachments as there are for Glocks.

I found that the recoil of Cheetah feels way more comfortable if I do not crowd up on the slide as the modern doctrine dictates. By holding it in a relaxed way and relatively low on the grip it feels much better. Of course, this is not guaranteed to work for every hand shape, but perhaps is something to try.

 

[Charly2020!]

I found that the recoil of Cheetah feels way more comfortable if I do not crowd up on the slide as the modern doctrine dictates. By holding it in a relaxed way and relatively low on the grip it feels much better. Of course, this is not guaranteed to work for every hand shape, but perhaps is something to try.

@ATLDave thx. I've tried that too and it helps just a bit. Now, after 2000 rounds I can tell that the spring has given up just a bit. This is a VERY HARD gun to rack and shoot. Yes, it is beautiful and operates flawlessly; HOWEVER, it is a tough one.

 

[Charly2020!]

Do not under any circumstances use a lower rated spring on a Beretta 84: you'll ruin the frame in the space of 500 rounds. And once this process starts, it cannot be stopped, even if you machine or file the peening out. There will be not enough material remaining.

I found it easier to rack the slide by reaching from the rear, the way we did in 1970s. The modern "cup" method actually makes it harder.


I do not understand. Hammer on Cheetah does not extend beyond the standard bevaertail. You cannot get a hammer bite on Beretta 84.

@ATLDave Thx again. I didn't mean I got bitten by the hammer; rather, because of the gun kicking back so hard, it hurt my hand right where the Beaver tail is at. I even added a Houge grip but didn't help at all. In sum, this is not the right gun for me (my hands). I rather find a smoother/softer alternative.

 

[golden]

WARNING!,

Do not buy a BERETTA model 86 (this is the Cheetah series with the tip up barrel). I bought one in anticipation that I might need a gun I could load without racking the slide (not a problem so far) and in the past ten years, it has fired a total of 41 rounds and broken twice. It is a good paperweight. I have never had any problem with any of the other Cheetah series pistols and have shot the 81, 82 and 84 extensively.

Jim

 

[Defcon727*]

Things go as we age, a fact. Get yourself some of the Talon "Pro" 1"x4" DIY strips. Cut to length and width, degrease, place, heat and form into the serrations several times. This is very nice material and will aid you well. Of course the push/pull and pre-cocking the hammer works well.