The Beretta Cheetah Series: Fun Size Duty Pistols
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2021
- Hey look, it's time for another Beretta review! The Beretta Cheetahs, (aka the 80-series) are some of the classiest pistols ever made with the side benefit of being built to last like their big brother, the 92. You might be familiar with the .380 ACP Beretta Model 84 Cheetah, or maybe even the Model 85 or Model 81 (my personal favorite, in .32 ACP). But today, we're going to talk a little bit about all eight (yeah, eight!) models in the Cheetah series and what makes them so great to shoot, own, and even carry.
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Now we definitely need a review of the newly released Beretta Cheetah 80x as a legitimate concealed carry option.
Agreed!
Absolutely.
I can't wait to get my hands on one.
Yep, I want to see his review of one
I like the old cheetahs better than the 80 x
@RabbiTosmiser
I've handled but not shot the 80X. The sights really aren't much bigger than the original 81-series guns. They can be drifted to improve POA/POI a bit, no more. The rail seems to add a muzzle heaviness I don't particularly like. I'm not fond of the aesthics either. IMO, a solid gun but not worth the ~$300-400 over a clean, surplus Model 84.
I have a surplus 81 in good shape and 84FS in excellent shape and can attest how pleasant the 32 ACP is - this may be the only gun I have that surpasses both my 92s in how smooth it operates and how pleasant is to shoot. Best $240 I have ever spent on a gun for sure! Wish the 32 ACP ammo was more affordable - this would be my range pistol of choice!
I have fallen in love with my 81BB. It's such a slick, shootable little gun. It's accurate, dead-nuts reliable, and amazingly low recoiling. I'd take it over any J-frame.
I had a 380 Cheetah in the late 80's and like a fool sold it. One of my favorite Beretta's.
The gun that got away
I can feel your pain through your comment
I did the same thing like a fool. Mine was a double stack .380 and I kick myself every day for selling it. Mine was an 84F model.
@@davelynch6725 I am mad and it isn't even my gun lol. You probably had the best model IMO
We've all sold a few we shouldn't have brother. Good thing is that the old cheetas are still pretty cheap if you ever want a replacement
I started researching and buying guns two years ago. There are no shortage of "gun experts" making videos! Chris is the best and by far has been the most helpful to me! Consequently, I buy all of my ammo from Lucky Gunner. The entire staff are fantastic and very helpful! Thank you Chris!!!
Thanks, Dana!
100% agree. Love his beard too. Pretty soon he’ll be able to carry in there
If you like Lucky Gunner you should check out Paul Harrel. Very informative stuff.
@@wisconsingunrunner Thanks, I will check him out!
I was late to the game and didn't get into shooting until later in life. The folks on UA-cam have been infinitely helpful. I especially like this channel for the "focus" on lever actions and pocket pistols that some other channels ignore.
I love mine in .32 ACP...I love that caliber.
32 acp is the one true caliber
.32 acp is my favorite caliber.
good enough for Leroy Brown
.32, the original and best ACP
You gotta love the old classy guns. They have "character", compared to new offerings.
In some cases. I say this because the Rohm guns…still exist. Also because p320 can potentially approach that depending on how it’s set up, mostly looking upon the AXG models
What gives a gun character? I think the Berettas look distinct because of the slide but I can't say that all old guns have character. Early automatics, turn-of-the-century guns, now THOSE are cool looking.
I mean yeah, these are also just better guns than every micro 9 except the sig 365
Yes like a makarov !! All these plastic guns feel like toys
Well said.
Another tip for converting between .32 and .380. If you can't find a barrel, look for a Browning BDA barrel. The Browning BDA was a rebadged Cheetah with a closed slide and used many of the same parts.
I love my Beretta 81.. Police surplus.. So fun to shoot, never jams.
Most beautiful pistol ever created.
Great video! I am Italian: my first pistol, in 1992, was the Beretta 83 / F with which I have
fired thousands of 380 ACP cartridges without ever having a problem.
Love the 80 series. I own an 84 FS. I've had it for 20 years and it was my first carry gun. I think Beretta was ahead of its time. This is a compact gun with high capacity that has been around for ever. When it comes to reliability, the best.
I’ve had mine for about a month. I had to fire a bunch of pistols; and honestly none fit in my hands well, or I just didn’t like the feel.
Until I stumbled along the F series 84 FS.
Really like all the features and the assurance of having a duty style pistol. Plus it’s just a blast to shoot.
I also own a Beretta 84FS with a nickel slide and frame in pristine (like new) condition with 3 nickel 13+1 round mags. It shoots like a dream and is accurate. I do like the look of the new Beretta 80x Cheetah Bronze with the 13+1 mag though, but would be reluctant to sell my 84FS in order to buy it. The one issue I'd love to find a solution for in my 84FS is the difficult-to-rack slide that is endemic to the 84FS. I know the reason for this is the blowback design. Has anyone come up with a fix?
@@michaelspinelli6510 the nickel finish makes your 84fs a unicorn, those things are just as hard to find as a model 86. Never sell that thing
Thanks! "A hard tumble from the peak of Mt. Hideous!" A new saying for me.
Same lol
I bought a Beretta 85bb from DK Firearms in Bowling Green Va 2 years ago. It has become my carry gun. It doesn't misfeed and does very well.
FYI the magazine disconnect safety can easily be removed, following the instructions in the Beretta Forum reference library. It only takes 10 minutes, even if you are careful to preserve the finish of the screws. I saved mine in a plastic bag. But it's absolutely 100% okay to do, because Beretta actually shipped guns that way at times.
Thanks!
Model 84 was the first gun I ever bought, awesome gun.
Carried an 85 as my backup when I was in uniform and as my primary when I was in investigations all thru the 90s and early 2000s .........still have it and love it
Beretta 81 with converted .380 mags holds 14 or 15+1 of .32 ACP. Load up with Fiocchi 73gr and you're in great shape for carry.
It's such a wonderful pistol to shoot.
I have some of the converted mags for my 81, but I've found them difficult to load without inducing rim lock. Have you noticed that?
@@LuckyGunner Being that the feed lips are hammered, I would of course assume that each mag would be a crap shoot. I have two converted mags and they both work just fine, no malfunctions compared to the factory.
@@LuckyGunner My modded 84 .380 mag was very difficult to load. However, I had no feeding problems at the range once the mag was fully loaded. I designed and installed a shim-kit to reduce the internal width slightly, and the excess friction, as the smaller diameter 32 rounds were stacking up almost side by side. Still, it helps to use a speed-loader to insert the last two or three rounds.
As an LEO back in the 80"s I carried a 92/84 combo on duty and the 84 off duty. Bought them while in FRG in the U.S. Army prior to the Army adopting the 92. Loved them both. Great channel, keep the faith.
Love my 81 BB! This was a good explanation of the Cheetah line up. Thanks
James Reeves did a frat house review of this pistol a few weeks ago. It's nice we have Chris giving us the adult version. I like how Chris varies his topics; lever guns, ammo selection, ccw knowledge, shotgun use- and creates great videos full of well presented useful information flavored with his own self-deprecating humor.
Couldn't agree more
Ahh Reevesy gotcha ya panties in a bunch aye? I think he’s funny. 🤷♂️👌😆
@@ripcanadamsIt's a compliment.
@@aesthetically1980 yeah he cracks me up. To me there’s plenty enough serious gun reviewers, I don’t mind some humor thrown in. 👍🏻
As an old "grognard" who started his career in '90, I LOVE your videos on "old" guns. Keep in mind, many of these were "state of the art" when I started carrying a pistol.
The 82f is awesome. Perfect for conceal carry. Slim and deadly accurate. Great review. I’ve been waiting for this video for so long!!!!
Love this series and love 380's... I have two Sig P230's that I carry. Been looking for a good Beretta... Yes, old and obsolete...but so am I...
Also a P230 guy. The Beretta 80 Series are GREAT. I recommend the .32 as they are a DREAM to shoot!!!
@@nomanmcshmoo8640 I passed on a used 80series in 32 and kick myself for doing so. I love my Beretta Tomcat 32 circa 1996 and I have never had the frame crack even though it is an early issue. As long as you stick to the ammo that is no higher that 130ftlbs at the muzzles, you are OK. That stat is from the Beretta site.
@@gsojohn5079 John, if you snoop around you can find them at gun shops. Even if you pay a bit more..it is still hundreds cheaper than a new one. BTW: thank you for the tip on the Tomcat....always wanted one but didn't want to deal with frame cracking. That is good info and I thank you.
Hey dude, that's funy, I own two Sigs 232 SL and want to get chetah 84. 👍 🙂
This video brought to mind so many memories. My father carried an 86 in the 90s. And an 87 was the first gun I ever fired.
Never was a Beretta guy until I got the 81BB a couple of years ago. They are VERY nice guns!
Found an 85F lurking in the corner of my gun shop's case and grabbed it up with about 30 seconds of inspection. Best firearm purchase I ever made. I have never held a more comfortable pistol. For me, it's absolutely perfect for EDC and it's so much fun to shoot. Word to the wise: buy one if you find one.
I have an 84 & 85 and they are a little heavy for CC but are so reliable and easy to use I love them at the range. I love the decocker feature as the trigger is very smooth
Cool thing now is that Tisas is making a licensed copy of the 84 called the Fatih. I just bought one because I couldn't find a Berretta version. I have about 200 rounds through it with no issues. It takes 84 parts and magazines. I use a Sticky holster carried IWB and it works great and it kind of works decently in a couple of the holsters I have for other guns.
I am very impressed with Tisas quality, i have their Sigana 9mm. Id rather have a new Fatih .380 than a surplus Cheetah .380 both are roughly the same price.
My Dad has an 87 he bought new a while back. I just picked up my surplus 84 today. Absolutely clean, almost new looking. Paid $375 plus tax can't wait to shoot it.
Was not expecting the Marvin Gaye closing…too funny.
I am, now. Thanks for spoiling.
Funny you say the CZ 82/83 is ugly, I really love its design. Also your old review on it is what pushed me to get one
I bought an early model cheetah a few years back. An import of course-its a blast to shoot and is the only gun I own that my wife enjoys as well. I think Chris hit the nail on the head with this review-though I rarely if ever carry it, its a beautiful and charming piece of history that still has relevance. If nothing more, its a great gun to practice with or just enjoy on a field day. Not only that, everyone seems to enjoy it-experienced or not.
"Took a tumble from the peak of Mount Hidious," even as a CZ fan, I can't argue with that.
Keep the DA/SA stuff rollin Chris! You influenced me to get a PX4 and it’s my go to!
There is also the very similar Beretta-made Browning BDA. Sweet-shooting little .380 pistol that's even better looking than the Cheetahs, with very nice wood grips, a closed slide, and slide-mounted decocker/safety and mag disconnect.
I had one back in the 80,s and used it for my main carry Gun at a Jewelry/precious Metals store I worked in. I had to throat it and polish the ramp to get it to feed Winchester Silvertips but once I did it was a great gun . The Beretta series DOES have better sights though.
@Common Sense Realist I polish the feed ramp on every semi-auto. Makes a difference. Since my BDA is a range/barbecue gun, it doesn't get fed hollow points, so no feed issues.
Browning BDA is a more attractive (IMHO) clone of the Beretta 84, made by Beretta under contract. Is a decocker DA/SA; mine has never failed to feed any ammo, FMJ or hollow point, no malfunctions of any sort, excellent accuracy. As LG says, classy old school craftmanship that's rare today. Greg Ellifritz' comprehensive review of cartridge effectiveness in real-world shootings showed little difference among 380 acp, 38 spcl, 9 mm and 40 s&w. So, 14 380 acp rounds is likely sufficient.
@@thomasholohan4090 Nobody who poo-poos the .380 as a carry round has ever volunteered to take a few in the vitals for science. That's all you need to know.
I have a BDA 380 which is essentially the same as the Ber 84 .. very nice to shoot .. nice to see that someone else appreciates them .. Scott
I have a 85 B. It is a wonderful carry pistol. It is beautiful, elegant, amazingly engineered and built, accurate, easy to shoot well, perfect carry size, and one of my all time favorites that will never leave my family.
Excellent firearm but don’t carry it. Don’t want a beautiful piece like that in an evidence locker.
Aw, Chris! I thought you were going for a V for Vendetta shoutout at the end!
Excellent as always. May St. Algorithmas bless the channel.
Loved your review- I own an 81BB, also have a CZ83. Great guns, great styling and just fun to shoot.
I also have a CZ83, from what may have been the last batch imported into the U.S.
And I'm very glad I was able to get it! I've been offered double what I paid for it on numerous occasions!
Love the review--nailed the pros and cons. I've had a Cheetah double stack (84fs) for about 20 years. It was once my only pistol and would be the last one I let go of. True it's only .380 and it is snappy as Chris notes. The slide is also heavier to rack than a modern pistol. But it's still my favorite gun by far. Gets a lot of comments at the range as well
I like Beretta 80 Series in 32acp because they're fun to shoot. Have also found that in teaching a newbie to shoot the low recoil and muzzle blast of the 32 is helpful.
Most awkward ending to a video yet! Excellent content and great little pistols. I’ve always appreciated the potential in these little Berettas!
Great review, and thanks for sorting out the various iterations. Very helpful.
You do a superb job with the vids and it's been an absolute delight being subbed all these years. Hope you have a perfect weekend and thanks again for all the content on your channel.
Lol!! Glad you have started making more videos. Always look forward to the new ones.
Another great video. Thanks for the refined content (and sweet graphics, however you do that!).
I love my 81BB in .32 ACP.
I've owned an 85 for years. Wonderful pistol.
One of the top gun reviewers out there. Thanks!
I think I'm in love. Thanks LGA, this is perfect.
Got a Cheetah 87 last week
It shoots anything and is very accurate for a non fixed barel gun. Loving it so far.
I have a surplus 81 and love it, extremely enjoyable to shoot, great for training new shooters too. You can get modified 84 mags for 14+1
Which kind of modificaton?
@@salvomarino7531 don't remember who does it now, but they take new Mec-Gar 84 (.380) mags, do a little work to the feedlips and the hold open notch so they reliably fit and feed 14 rounds of .32
I absolutely love mine, but right now the cheapest ammo I can find for it is $45 a box, so my Cheetah sits in the safe, for now.
I was so glad to find my 84BB a year or two ago! It felt like the missing link between my Tomcat and 92FS. Lol
This is an excellent review and commentary on the Cheetah models. As to somewhat similar .380 pistols, the Sig P250 is a duty-size pistol, chambered in .380 ACP and with 15-round magazines. P250s in .380 all had 3.55" barrels and either subcompact (12-round) grip modules or compact (15-round) grip modules with the dust cover cut back to subcompact length.
The best part of this video is around 14:17. "Enlightened enough to appreciate the merits of small pistol calibers." I love this. I almost always carry a 32 caliber.
Thanks for doing this! I LOVE my 84.
My favorite pistol. I put some wood grips on my 85 to give it a nicer look. If you're going to shoot .380, this is the best platform, imo.
Picked up an 81 the last year of their manufacture and is one of my all time favorites.
Great video, I have a similar gun a Taurus PT 58S in 380 that i have had for many years and was one of my first acquisitions to my collection. Its has run flawlessly and I have never had an issue with it.
Affable, informative, and succinct per usual. Keep ‘em coming.
Thanks, will do!
I'm a fan of the .380, this is just an awesome piece i need to add to the collection!
I have a, bought new in New Jersey in 1978, a Beretta Model 84. No Cheetah tag till late 80's early 90's. Built in Italy, brought in by Bergen NY, NY.
I kept waiting for the 86. Beautiful gun. So easy to tip-up. It also proves you need to pay attention to fully unload. Since it doesn't have an extractor
Wish I’d bought the 86 instead of my 85BB - it’s a real chore to rack the 85’s stiff-as-hell slide, especially with the razor sharp serrations!
It’s interesting that I have been looking at getting a 84 and then Lucky Gunner comes along and drops this.
My 85 is the most accurate pistol in my safe. You can hand this gun to anyone and they will hit what they aim at, people at the range love it.
I have the 81FS and 84FS both NIB. They may be surpassed by smaller more potent models from ther manufacturers but as far as aesthetics and engineering they are nearly works of art.
Great show! I’ve always respected Berettas!
Great video, as always. I discovered the Cheetah, believe it or not on an old episode of Miami Vice. Tubbs secretly stored in his under his car and told a bad guy to quote "GET, bang, OUT, bang, OF, bang, MY CAR, BANG!"
When I was old enough I searched for the pistol in pond shops and gun shows. In almost every instance they were in .32 acp or in very bad condition.
That being said just about everyone that I shot with, told me to forget the Cheetah and go with a 'same-size' 9mm option. For both concealed carry and home defense.
Well, flash forward a decade or two and suddenly the Cheetah has become the bee's knees. With more and more videos regarding pistols chambered for .380 (namely by you) I've seen an upswing in their interest. That being said the Cheetah has made a resurgence. Rightfully so.
Now if we could only get the .45 Super, .44 Special, 41 Magnum, and the Taurus PT-92AF back into the same light. Oh well...
I have an 85F and an 84. Love them both. I ordered an El Paso Saddlery Double Agent holster and it works great for concealed carry.
Got my Beretta Cheetah, blonde ponytail, and a gray suit for those Chris Shiherlis feels.
Chris, great video and overview on the 80 Series. I have the 87 and it's simply marvelous. A wealth of info on the 80 series is available on The Beretta Forum for those interested.
I love my 81s. I have an 81 BB and an 81 FS. I really appreciate your videos. I buy all my ammo from you all to show support.
I have a 84 FS...love it. Brought some really dope grips from turkey for it and the are in pretty good demand on gun broker.
i do own a Beretta cheetah in 22lr. realy a beautiful gun, especially with wooden grips.
greetings from Germany.
After much research, I decided to buy a surplus 81BB for my wife who is recoil sensitive with the 9mm subcompact I originally got her. My tradeoff also includes using Underwood extreme defense ammo which is especially helpful, since JHP is not an option for the .32 caliber. I also just recently purchased the 84BB in 380acp and have it loaded with the Underwood extreme defender. I was pleasantly surprised by how well I shot it with the Underwood ammo on my initial target shooting round.
Great video, thank you. You overlooked the TISAS FATIH 380B .380 as a double stack. It's a licensed version of the Beretta 84FS and is excellent by all accounts. They come into the country in spurts. Much cheaper than buying a nice Beretta 84FS. IMHO if price is an issue, watch for the FATIH and grab one when they are available. I have a Beretta 84F with the de-cocker and happen to have the same LOK grips you have, which I love. For those that don't know, LOK makes great grips. These are simply excellent pistols. And the double stack mags are still readily available.
I actually got my Beretta 85FS new for around $400! Nickel plated with wood grips, I could NOT take my eyes off it!
I've watched a dozen or so of your pistol reviews over the years. Your thoroughness on the Cheetah review is superb and leads me to remain Subscribed!
PS - Your pointing out that blow backs are harder to rack is true and "sold me". I've 2 "Maks" one for my wife. She has a tough time racking the slide and I've been checking reviews to find her something that she can easily rack. I've about narrowed it down to the Taurus G3-C or the S&W MP Shield both in 9mm
M&P all the way
Thanks for the video. I ended up with the same grips and put a little talon tape across the front strap. Great feel
I bought a Beretta 84 back in 1988. I'd been in love with the design and specs for a few years by then. It was one of my first gun purchases. I carried it as a police dispatcher and when riding along as a reserve. I made a trade which though favorable in a practical sense (my model 84 for a S&W 66 2 1/2" and S&W 3000 riot gun) left me missing my gun. A few years ago I got a chance to get another one for a little over $200. I jumped on it and carry it pretty regularly as part of my carry rotation. It is comfortable to hold even on my most arthritic days (as is the CZ82, but mine is temporarily down until I replace the sear spring). That fat grip is easy to hold when "arti" flares up and it really softens felt recoil remarkably.
I can shoot it FAST and very accurately and with a Kahr .380 in my pocket as a BUG, I'm pretty set.
I agree with you on .32 acp. While I have more .380s, I do have some .32s and really like the round for all the reasons you noted. Plus, it seems to do best with FMJ ammo ... you know ... the cheapest option yet is not known to sail on through with lethal energy left over, unlike .380 FMJs.
Thanks for reviewing one of my favorite guns.
This is my favorite pistol! I like the 84bb version for the bluing, double stack magazine and with a set of pachmayr grips!
The first gun I bought is a LE surplus Beretta 81 (no suffix), and I love it. Great ergonomics for my hands, accurate, reliable, easy to shoot. Mine can't be carried cocked & locked, though: the safety will not engage when the hammer is fully cocked.
The model 84BB double stack is a great gun! As I cannot tolerate plastic guns, the all metal 84 is my kind of gun. For small of back carry, it is perfect.
I have an 81 and a 71 (22 lr). These are the Bentleys of small caliber pistols.
Just bought a surplus 84bb. thanks for the video :)
Wow - what a gorgeous gun
Chris, thanks for the detail video.
That outro, lol. Always enjoy your videos Chris. And yes, y'alls shipping is the fastest.
I have in my collection a Browning BDA in 380 and a Beretta 81 in 32. The Browning BDA is a version of the Beretta 80 series of pistols. It has an inclosed slide and a slide mounted safety. I have converted my 81 to 380 by installing an 84 barrel I purchased from Gun Parts. I love both of these range toys.
A friend has one in .380. It definitely has more felt recoil than my 1911-380. I have a .32 auto and all of my kids can shoot it. It is one of the surplus guns but it has been flawless so far.
Just to add, the Browning BDA .380 of the same era was made by Beretta for FN/Browning.
Only differences were a closed top slide and a safety/decock lever on the slide.
Oh, and the sights seemed a bit more minimal.
I picked up a 81BB today. Cold weather in my neighborhood limited my range time but so far it is great. Same Beretta quality as the others I own with almost no recoil. Continuing my search for Models 86 and 87.
Love the Beretta Cheetah, seriously overlooked compact.
I snatched up a surplus .32 double stacked cheetah earlier this year, I think for around $300. Still haven't shot it, but I just got ammo for it and this video has me pumped about my decision to pick it up.
Yeah i have the model 81 in .32 and I love it. It was my fist carry gun. I concealed carried it with a belly band and open carried it with a good holster I found from Turkey on ebay. You had to wear the thing in for a while but eventually it formed to fit the gun and became a really good holster
I was lucky enough to grab up a MOD81. Purchased an additional 2 mags directly from Beretta, and its one of the coolest pistols I've shot... or seen. It's like a mini FS92.
I love my Cheetahs. I have an 81BB which I bought surplus from Gander Outdoors. My favorite Cheetah is my 87BB I bought at a gun show in the early nineties. Both are beautiful guns and a joy to shoot.
C'mon, C'mon, C'mon baby! Deep cut, Mr. Baker! Spot on Beretta review, some love for the smaller calibers...and a nod to early '70s Soul! MG is smiling somewhere.