As a heads up, Beretta does NOT recommend cocked and locked carry for this gun. According to an email I received, cocked-and-locked (hammer cocked with safety engaged) is not an intermediate position but, rather, is a transitional step where the safety lever stiffens against the decocking lever. While, at that point, the trigger bar should be disconnected - it’s not guaranteed.
I prefer carrying DA but honestly it's unfortunate that they could not find a way to rotate the firing pin plunger upward with the first upward movement of the safety.
@@Sturdy_Penguin Good one :) I picked mine up today and the intermediate position does disconnect on mine... but I'm not going to risk it anyway. Edit: Messed with it more... while it starts off "safe" it eventually drops the hammer if I pull the trigger slowly enough times. Definitely not safe.
Pretty much all competion related guns are DA/SA And if you want to have best possible tool for it then there is very few striker fire polymer frame guns in that list.
I’m extremely happy with my Sig P238 chambered in .380 as it works for me for a pocket pistol. This one looks great as well, if I didn’t already have mine, this would be a runner up
I have a Sig P238 as my carry gun and absolutely love it. This one looks very promising. I like the single/double action as I have had a 92FS and Sig 220 which both have it. Maybe I will buy one as a back-up.
I too own the all-stainless, Sig P238 HD Nickel. It is my everyday carry gun, and is also very accurate for the classic distance of 21 ft., and has been 100% reliable. Its recoil is negligible.
I have the same model sig and I love it. I also have a few guns made by Barretta (PX4 Storm (40 cal) , 1301 shotgun) that I am very happy with. I think at some point it just becomes personal taste. Would you rather have a Ferrari or a Mercedes ... or both? 😉😗
I had the p238 stainless and had to sell it because the family was in a tight spot, and of all the guns I have sold that is the one I regret selling the most. I went to see recently if I could find it for sale and its been discountinued. Apparently there were issues with "a small amount of defective manual safeties". So pissed. But it was so soft shooting and a great gun to one hand if needed. This Beretta might be an attractie options though.
Still waiting for a review on the Bersa TPR9C. Your gonna make send you the $375 bucks for it, huh? I am getting pretty close. I promise it won’t disappoint. I would contend it had one of the best triggers on the market. It certainly has the best trigger for the price point. It is the best DA/SA sub compact that is basically the same size as the Glock 26. Check it out. I highly recommend, and definitely recommend for budget blasters.
As a retired police officer and Army veteran, I can tell you from experience that the 380 properly placed will get the job done. I have a large Beretta collection and waiting to get this one added to my collection
@@DannyB-cs9vx Go! Danny! Go!!! Terrific. In Vietnam, Ruger Mark IV .22 cal pistols with silencers were used as sniper issue (obviously not LONG RANGE).
As a professional, I've seen alot of people walking around still with .380 holes in them. Strong center mass hits. I don't want my target have the possibility to get back up. I do appreciate the creativity of this lil thing tho
.380 started a series of events that led to a world war so terrible that its' unsatisfactory conclusion ensured an even bigger and brutal world war. I'd say .380's body count is higher than any other pistol cartridge on this basis alone.
I think a few years back LuckyGunner did a video about these? I recall Chris said something about these full size .380 and .32 ACP were consider "police service calibers" or something like that. I could be 100% wrong on what he said but I did recall he made a video about these Cheetahs.
Having 14 rnds of .380 might be a good thing if you listened to Ayoob, you would know that sometimes it takes 8+ rounds to take down an opponent with .380
I’ve been carrying a Beretta Cheetah fir a couple of years now. At age 70, I appreciate the comfort of a solid metal pistol in reducing felt recoil. My first .380 was a KelTec P3AT, and that HURT to shoot. So, discovering the Cheetah was fortunate. I just wish the barrels were interchangeable.
Spot-on. The KelTec .380s are indeed snappy when it comes to recoil. Having fired hundreds of rounds through KelTec's P3AT and Ruger's LCP, I have to admit a decided preference for the latter. Factory ammo, whether FMJ or JHP, doesn't seem quite so uncomfortable to shoot from the LCP. On the other hand, I really enjoyed KelTec's P32 . With its minimal recoil and mosquito-like form factor, it was a joy to shoot and to carry. Wish I still had mine.
@@SCSlimBoiseID I have two P-32s and love 'em. They're light enough that I refer to the second one as my spare magazine holder. I bought one for each of my immediate family members for Christmas, as well as, spare mags, pocket/belt clips, & box of ammo. "Merry Christmas... I love you... I hope you never need to use it." The P-32 is just so damn small and light... there's rarely a good excuse to be unarmed.
This gun is prob 3 times the size as the kel tec p3at. I sold my kel tec because it felt to cheap and I wanted something nicer. Now they don’t make them anymore i wish I had it back. That was a true pocket gun, thin and light!
@@toastz17 Get an original Ruger LCP then. To me it's just a better quality Keltec P3AT. Or if you like metal framed pistols a Seecamp or NAA Guardian. To my brain these are all basically in the same category of small DAO 380 pistols. If you are ok with carrying a 32ACP, the Seecamp is not to be overlooked as a viable mouse gun.
I would like to say that the Underwood ammo was a game-changer for me. Once I had reviewed a number of videos using this ammo for both .380 and .320 caliber and their performance, especially the permanent wound cavities expansion made without the need to expand the bullet, then I felt comfortable with my wife using this caliber in the 81BB and 84BB, since she is recoil sensitive. They are very easy to shoot guns. My daughter did very well with the 81BB on her first time shooting a pistol. The minimum recoil does allow a person to focus without flinching.
This is the way. I started my Ma on a .22 for this reason. Focused on fundamentals rather than fear of the snap. Move up to a 'large' .380, then to a full size 9 and it was no problemo.
Over the last couple years the .380 has come back in the same sort of "What's old is new again"! I didn't realize how many of people I know in my age group, late 60's-early 70's, carry either a Snubby Revolver or a .380 semi auto! We went through the years of the .380, .45 acp, .357, .44 mags, etc. now many have gone we are content with 9mm or the snubby 5-6 shot, and the .380! I've been wrestling with looking into a .380 because of the small size typically. Then I seen the S&W E-Z in .380, it is thin, light pretty much accomodates my needs! Best to ya',,,,!
As I look at eighty coming up I remember the days when I carried N-frame 25's and 28's to cover my errors. Now I am looking at having my old .32 hand ejectors rebuilt so I can carry them with wad cutters. Adaptation is key to staying in the game.
P.S. I did really love the tiny Berretta Nano but it was so small I couldn't pull the trigger! And I still Check out the Berretta 34's whenever I run across one. Takes me back to the days when we were all young and roamed Italia.
My carry is a Beretta 84BB , (not the cheetah) holds 14 with one in the chamber. It was made in the 60’s and is a genuinely quality firearm. It is all about shot placement with any/all calibers.
I have carried my Beretta Cheeta in .380 for years. The almost 4" barrel gives it a bit more FPS at muzzle, and most encounters that call for deadly force, will occur within 20'. The weapon is a little jumpy regarding recoil. The grips that came with the pistol, were a bit small for my hand. I replaced them with thicker ones, and that cured the problem. There is ammo on the market that will expand and the bullet has satisfactory penetration. ANY bullet is adequate if placed properly.
a couple of years ago, I found a NIB Beretta Cheetah that was made in 1977 on a vendor's table at a local gun show. I couldn't pull the money out of my wallet fast enough.
Pairing a .380 with a modern ammunition (EG Lehigh Extreme Defender) makes it a viable defensive weapon. The are literally dozens of good videos on this ammunition.
I welcome all the new 380 pistols. Hopefully they make the 380 so popular that Glock makes a 42X and maybe even a longer slide version similar to the 48.
You're asking for a Glock 25, which is basically a G19 chambered in .380. For some reason, it's not available in the US, so maybe the 80X should encourage the people in Austria to bring it here.
@@r0b3rt_959 Yes, kind of. The G25 and G28 are simple blowback though, and the frames are the thickness of G19 and G26: I would love to see Glock just do an addition to the G42 with a slimline style magazine the way they did with G43 - the G42 is recoil operated(as opposed to simple blowback), which tends to reduce felt recoil a bit, so for recoil sensitive shooters a slimline full length grip would be very nice. I would have honestly thought Glock would have done that by now, considering the success of G43X and G48.
@@Gieszkanne You're right in that the barrel also does move back like in a recoil operated handgun. The cut on the slide and on the barrel in recoil is "square", so they're locked together while moving back, until something doesn't cause the barrel to tilt down and unlock from the slide. With the G28 and G25 the cut seems to be at an angle, so I guess calling it delayed blowback instead of simple blowback would make sense.
Looks pretty sweet. I’ll have to try it. My LCP Max is my go-to for summer in San Antonio. P365 the other two weeks of the year. I still do have an affinity for my Sig P232.
Barrel length for the pocket pistol calibers is a generally overlooked thing. The short barrels of the more recently developed .32 and .380 ultra compact pistols really rob them of power. Whereas the traditional pocket guns like the Browning M1910, Colt M1903 and 1908, Walther PP and PPK, Beretta M1935 and 34, and the more recent models, all deliver substantially greater muzzle energy with their 3 1/2" to 4" barrels. These guns were the standard European police service pistols for around 70 years. They're also far easier and much more pleasant to shoot than something like the little .380s. Which are an impressive engineering achievement. Some years ago I was especially taken with the first generation Kel-Tec P32, which had an especially excellent and innovative sighting system and is remarkably thin and light. I replaced the traditional .25s I carried all the time with it. Until eventually chronograph tests revealed it was delivering only 15 more foot pounds at the muzzle. Winchester Silvertip .32 ACP runs 970 fps from a 3 3/4" barrel, but only 800 fps from the 2 5/8" barrel of the Kel-Tec. Eventually I went back to the somewhat smaller .25s. Though the Kel-Tec is still an excellent gun. But the .25s are truly small and can be hidden anywhere. These days I'm using either a stainless Beretta Model 21A which I customized in various ways, or a stainless Walther TPH. Both .22s. The TPH required adjustment of the magazines to feed properly and new hammer and recoil springs as well as putting a Kel-Tec P32 mag spring in one, but now it will feed any bullet shape there is, including oddball rounds like flat points and truncated cone hollowpoint loads, and runs perfectly with solid or hollowpoint CCI Mini Mag. I also frequently carry traditional .32 autos. .380 looks better on paper, but there is no difference in real world performance of the .32 and .380. The .32 is really a generally superior cartridge in every way. Which American shooters mostly cannot wrap their minds around because they're focused on muzzle energy figures, but it's nonetheless true. Especially when limited to ball ammunition. It will also generally function perfectly in most .32 caliber revolvers thanks to the semi-rim. Though it is not really safe to use in many of the vintage top break .32 S&W guns, and often will not fully chamber in them. But it has been done in an emergency many times. It's a somewhat dangerous practice though. .32 ACP pressure is rather higher than the little short .32 S&W round.
Own and shot dozens of 380s and Beretta is top notch but my fav to carry is a sig p238. Bersa makes a nice low end pistol and mid price it’s hard to neat the Smith EZ performance model with night sights and a great out of the box trigger. Thanks for another fun vid. 🍀Semper Fi🇺🇸
I own (and carry) several 380s... My Go-To is still my 1989 Colt Government Model (customized) as well as my 1984 Colt Government Model (customized)... But, at present, there are a handful of EXCELLENT 380s out there... Springfield 911, Sig P238, Kimber 380, Browning BDA-380 to name a few... I trust my life EVERY DAY to the 380... EVERY DAY!!!
I'm a hammer gun guy, and Berettas are beautiful and I'd love to get into them, but... I've already fallen in love with CZ. The P-01 is my favorite out of all of my handguns. I wish it came optics ready from the factory, but it's an understandably thin slide for that.
Go with custom machining. There are surprisingly a decent number of options. And something like the EPS Carry is small enough to work well on the CZ baby slide too.
P-01 is my back up carry gun. Agree that they should come milled and one day i will send it off. Got aftermarket sights (fiber front and blacked out rear) and fell in love with her all over again. Besides being a little heavier than my p365x the p-01 carries just as well. Good holster and belt go a long way in comfort of carry.
@@asathomas84 True. Personal preference though, I don't want to mill any of my slides for a footprint that might be "dead" in the future. I much prefer a factory plate system so I can change out optics if needed, or just go back to irons.
@@frankreynolds9936A man of fine taste. My favorite jewel is my PCR. The fraternal twin of the P-01, minus the rail. Out of everything that I have, The PCR and my 86 Buckmark are my two most enjoyable pistols, hands down.
I have a 96 and a 92, and what I don't have is a: serious reservations about 380 and b: an 80x. Price seems fair enough and you don't have to convince me about Beretta's quality, elegance or design. I'm in. Great review.
@@TrollMeister-s6n Yeah, ok. I didn't say don't buy or use either. Dork. Buy what you want. I simply said aesthetically the Beretta is a better looking gun. Which you didn't refute. Which was my point. But you do you and cry about an opinion and not a FACT.
As with my teen years, the 80’s were unceremoniously ripped away from me. With the resurgence of the fanny pack comes the 80X and my chance at redeeming my Carrie-Anne Moss fantasies of saving Keanu from Agent Smith.
I just love the whole Ruger aesthetic. Form following function. That's why I also love the Bond Arms Rough Series. Beautiful, rugged, sandwashed steel. And so inexpensive.
I think that Beretta is a great package and offers a lot of options. It’s not cheap, but I don’t see any regrets in picking one up with all the safety/add on options you have.
In the rush to make everything as cheap/light/plastic as possible, I truly believe something got lost in translation with modern compacts and that something is shootability. Micro 9mms shoot like shit. Ballistically are they superior? Sure...for a single shot. Ask a caliber hardo on the internet if ballistics matter when the person shooting the Glock 43x can't hit a quick accurate follow up shot to save their life while the guy shooting the Cheetah is rapidly expanding his target's new gloryhole.
If I had the option to carry a larger frame, I'd opt for the Ruger Security 380. 15 +1 rounds in civilized states and an easy rack slide. And is slightly smaller and lighter. I don't know where you got your information from, but my LCP Max holds 12 -1.
Yeah you definitely need good carry ammo for .380. It’ll work just fine with the right ammo. Cheaper stuff will either expand well or penetrate well, but rarely do both. Personally I think this is an application where monolithic defense rounds like underwood extreme defenders or arx inceptors work well since they don’t rely on expansion like hollowpoints.
I was unimpressed with the 80X after buying one. From the very start it felt heavier than the 84FS I used to own. I can't explain how or why, but it's harder to point this thing rapidly and track moving targets than my 92FS or PX4. The safety/decocker is also uncomfortably stiff, to the point where flipping it just a few times starts chewing up the skin on my thumb. Don't know if that's something that loosens up over time, but it's enough of an annoyance for me not to want to shoot it often. Slide still takes quite a bit of force to rack, but I guess that's just the nature of direct blowback pistols. Trigger is definitely nice... I'd say maybe a hair lighter than the D hammer spring upgrade on the 92FS. I won't deny that it's a gorgeous gun that's machined and finished VERY WELL, but beyond that I think I'd still rather have a SIG P238 when it comes to .380 conceal carry. And that's a tough pill for me to swallow as a huge Beretta fanboy.
@@tfbtv To be clear I actually don't disagree with a lot of what you said. I think I just set my expectations too high after getting myself hyped up since it was first revealed. Bought it, tried it, and it just wasn't the right fit for me personally. You guys still did an outstanding job of putting this review together. As a long-time watcher and subscriber I really appreciate the level of attention to detail (and humor) you guys continue to provide in your videos. Keep it up!
I was wondering because my 84 had a super stiff slide and with the lack of real estate to grip, me and my family all found it difficult to rack. My gf prefers the sig 938 and i prefer the cz 83.
I'm thrilled to have the Cheetah back stateside. I completely agree with you though; a carry specific version that ditches the rail would be great to see, and would be the deciding factor for me to purchase one. I'm a sucker for the smooth lines of the BB series of Cheetahs, and I picked up a surplus Model 85 last year thanks to your video on the 84.
This might be the best option for those who really prefer a DA/SA carry pistol, and prefer to shy away from full size guns. The smallest DA/SA is probably the PX4 Storm Carry, which is still on the thick side, this looks like it is perfect.
Hi James, you are probably the guy on YT who has the most direct line of comms to Beretta HQ. Another YT channel found a potential issue on the 80x and it would be awesome to hear from your contacts at Beretta on this. When the hammer is back and you engage the safety there is an in between stage where the lever is resting and there is also audible feedback. But the hammer doesn’t get de-cocked. If you now pull the trigger several times the gun will fire (got tested with a live round). There seem to be others that have this issue and in this video around 06:15 I think you can also see that in between stage. Given that there is haptic and audible feedback, I would argue this needs to be addressed. Would be great to get your thoughts on that and if your gun in test really showed as well this in between stage of the safety. Thx
Too big to be a pocket pistol, but it looks like it would be a good shooter. Good bedside or car gun, but I'd rather carry a nine in a pistol this size.
Glad to see how positive you are about this one. I picked mine up this morning, waiting until Saturday to get to the range is going to feel like forever.
disappointed review didn't compare as these are the 2 new non micro 380s on market. Ruger Security isn't blowback so might have lighter recoil ? I have Ruger Security and only shot it once. Interested in Baretta as well.
@@yakbutter78 interested in what else you find different between the two. I own both now as well but won’t be able to hit the range for another few days to compare.
I haven't played with an 80X in person, but I have felt for a very long time the older Cheeta pistols and the Browning BDA were the best .380 pistols ever made. I have a BDA, 84BB, 85, and an 81 presently.
I used to carry an old Tanfoglio clone of the Beretta. (It was like 50 bucks because it was an oddball at the gun shop. The heel release was a pain in the ass.) Nice to see Beretta bring back a classic. I've heard some good things about the TISAS Fatih, as well.
So in my opinion I really love my Springfield 911. It feel amazing and super smooth when shooting. Was always super accurate no matter what ammo I ran thru it. It is perfect for being very concealable and being cocked and locked, since it's a 1911 platform. Loved the stock iron sights, tritium and glow in the dark sights. So even if it's pitch black you can see all the dots for perfect sight picture alignment. Only issue i had, which some people did have with them, in the extractor. It had bad fitting, or just too much meat but one touch of the file and a good polishing. Which I polish aaalllll of my hand guns. Anyways. It will run anything and everything with no issues at all. After I slightly adjusted mine how I had described it was honestly my most reliable gun I had even when it just had in my pocket for long periods, lots of rounds thru it with no cleaning and got pocket lint and or anything else in it. By far my favorite pocket pistol
Interesting. My sole .380 is a 911. How many rounds do you go between cleanings? SA recommends every 100 rounds. I sometimes go 150 but not much beyond that. I have found that with mine, the first 50 after a cleaning cycle flawlessly, then I start to get a failure to go into battery here and there, though nothing a tap to the back of the slide won’t solve.
Great review of the Cheetah, I'm seriously considering adding one of these to my collection. My only concern with the Cheetah is that for rapid point and shoot drills the grip angle is different enough from a 1911 frame that it would likely cause me to hit a little lower than I normally would; similarly, my Glock 42 grip angle is different than the 1911 and that causes me to hit a little high on rapid point and shoot drills. The 1911 grip angle is a natural grip angle for me. I honestly think you should review a Browning 1911-380 Black Label Medallion Pro, this is the 4 1/4" barrel model. I have the 4 1/4" barrel and the 3 5/8" barrel models, so far, they have both eaten the ammo I throw at them and run flawlessly, they are great for smaller sized hands, they are light weight and excellent for cocked and locked Concealed Carry with appropriate training and an appropriate holster. I personally like the 4 1/4" barrel length, it gives an extra boost in fps.
My Sig P250 compact (3.9 barrel) weighs slightly under 23oz without the 15rd mag (25.50 with). As much as I think Berettas are great, the width is about the same as my P250 and I shot the red out of the center of a target at thirty feet with the P250 a couple of weeks ago. P250 is Double Action Only with a super smooth trigger. I was hoping to avoid a striker gun (P365X or XL) and have a lighter carry option but the Berretta 80x weight advantage is only 2oz so I will stay with my 9mm. A P250 disadvantage is that the rear sight interacts with the firing pin safety block so nobody wants to deal with the rear sight replacement for liability concerns. And the 80X has the plate when the P250 does not. The 80X specs show a 1.4 inch width (1.25 grip). Why are there not any 1 inch thick DA/SA pistols in 380 or 9mm? The Sig P239/225a single stack was.
I like the rationale you finished this video for selecting this hand gun and the points you brought up as to whether it’s right for each individual… I like to have a separate gun to go with however I’m dressed for the day or how I feel lol
in real life, lots of factors besides terminal energy. looking at data from actual shootings, .380 ACP seems to perform comparably to 9mm and other defensive cartridges, probably something to do with users as well as bullets. lots to consider when picking a caliber for concealed carry (or backwoods carry or in-home carry & bedside table)
Maybe a little off target (ha ha), but I recently took my original P365 and added an XL frame (12 rds) and then purchased the Sig 380ACP conversion kit. All I need to do is pop off the 9mm slide and install the 380ACP slide and it shoots very well and follow up shots are great. Did have some issues at first (seems mag related), but now with all ammo dependable. I can even use the 9MM mags with no issue. Love to see you test that kind of setup!!!
Seems like a nice setup! I'm thinking about getting the p365 in 380 but wish they would come out with a 380 barrel closer to 4 inches. Don't own any sigs.
Thanks for the wonderful video, and a huge thanks for not ruining it with crappy background music. I don't know why some people are compelled to add annoying background music throughout their videos.
Back in the 90's I was essentially living on my range every day, training private citizens on their first gun in the process of getting one of the newly available CCW permits. Back then there were still a lot of revolvers, but I saw my share of .380's. None were tiny by today's standards. You had the Walther PPK, the SIG P230/232, the Bersa, the CZ83, and the Beretta 84/Browning BDA. New people always seemed to do well with the larger .380's like the CZ, the Beretta, and the Browning. I came to the conclusion that there wasn't much wrong with a 13 shot .380 in the hands of a private citizen looking to defend themselves against oppotunistic criminal attack. I still think that today. I don't care a lot about capacity, because for a private citizen the handgun serves as a mechanism to help them break contact and ecpe an ambush, not to win a gun battle. I think we obsess too much over cartridge power in this setting. Law enforcement is a different matter since they are required to either make a suspect submit and be taken into custody or kill them. Let' face it, if one empties just about any .380 in that context, you've hung around too long. Now that I'm retired and have no badge anymore, I occasionally carry a .380. For me, that means a Glock 42, which some consider to be too large for a .380. I disagree. It is about the smallest auto that still has enough barrel for decent effect, and enough real estate to be really shootable for me. For someone who doesn't want to carry a 9mm, I think a large for caliber .380 might be just the ticket. New shooters often have problems with high pitched noises, and in my experience do well with the subsonic .380's report. I think this new 80X will offer a good balance between balistics and shootability for the typical private citizen who wants something nicer and more substantial than a Kel-Tec or a Ruger LCP. I'd probably spring for one of these new Berettas if I had not purchased a Beretta 92X Compact. Except for thickness and weight, there isn't that much difference in dimensions. But had the 80X come out first, I might well have bought it instead. To me, a Beretta classic pistol is a piece of Italian art that you can shoot, so the rail on the 80X is a downer. I think it spoils the lines of a beautiful gun. My 92X Compact is the now-discontinued non-railed version. I enjoy looking at it as much as shooting it. After the craze for the new 80X dies down a bit, who knows, I might get one anyway.
Well spoken Sir. The obsession with magazine capacity and stopping power is not relevant to most civilian gun conflicts. Shoot once to break contact and run.
You must not know Chicago where i'm from. Thugs shooting high cap guns with ful auto switches. so yes we need high cap to defend ourselves from these lawless criminals.
@@danielsantos531 You can of course own or carry whatever you want, and yes, you live in a dangerous and lawless city. But that is not the typical experience for the average American citizen. And let me ask you this, do you imagine that the best tactic for you when attacked is to stay where you are and shoot it out with those "thugs shooting hgh cap guns with full auto swithces"? That sounds like a good way to get killed to me. Would it not be better to take cover and then use whatever weapon you have to make your way to safety? When under fire from a numerically superior or better armed force, my training has always been to attempt to break contact and escape. Obviously you can do whatever you want, this is just a suggestion. Even better, if you can, move away from that city I'd do so. Whatever you do, I hope you will stay safe.
I kinda disagree and agree with that capacity statement. Yes, normally only one or two rounds are needed to break contact, but part of the reason you carry a gun is as a "just in case something bad happens", and thats how I look at extra capacity. No, I'm not looking to expend my two or three high cap mags, but again, it's there, just in case.
You need to look at Browning's 1911 .380. I've got tiny hands, and while I think the Cheetah 80X is very comfortable in firing position, I have to use my support hand to engage the mag release. The .85 scale 1911 .380 is just flat comfortable in my hands, and when I hold it, I understood why it's service career was so long. It feels like an extension of my hand, and its controls are super-easy to manipulate. Its barrel is 4.25", and yet I suspect it's easier to conceal than the Beratta. The composite-and-aluminum grip module is of course, lighter. On the other hand, only the collector-bait 1911 models come with a pickatinny rail, there's no provision for optics, and its magazines are limited to eight rounds. Both companies are known for quality, and I'm finding it a tougher choice than I'd like.
Gave my mother money and took her to get her first gun that is a S&W M&P 2.0 EZ in .380. She was settling on a Revolver but she really hated the DAO trigger pull being really heavy and she fell in love with the S&W and even on her first try was okay at hitting targets. Only gun she could comfortably rack the slide back on with her carple tunnel and I'll admit I was impressed with it too. This looks like a better replacement for my Springfield 911 in .380 and hopefully doesn't have as many feeding problems.
I have several Cheetah's, and as a big Beretta fan boy I've always been curious why they wouldn't be able to make a 9mm in this frame size...the pistol seems big enough to me even if only single stack. THAT, in DA/SA would basicallly make a mini 92 and would be a game changer.
My .380 Colt Mustang Pocketlite is my ‘go to’ carry pistol and the best gun I’ve ever carried. Loaded with +P self defense ammo I have every confidence in this gun compared to a 9mm
After buying and trying the 80X, I agree. I think the P238 is still king in terms of shootability and conceal carry comfort. It's such a shame it's being replaced by a generic polymer, striker-fired pistol (P365-380) with mediocre trigger. Kind of hoping S&W comes out with a .380 variant of the CSX.
Sig Sauer P238HD is by FAR the best BUILT 380 on the market by far...very smooth shooter..laser accurate...lowest recoil and built to last 2 or 3 lifetimes....heirloom quality
@@cacinaz8802 I am a big time DA/SA guy and love my P229 and P239, but my P238 in the pocket is .380 at its best. My LCP2 kicks like a mule compared to the P238. It’s only 15 ounces too. The slide is .68” The slide is actually thinner then the LCP2/Max and the grip is only .05” wider.
@@Sig_P229 Agreed. Actually I have the P938 in 9mm. I am not a fan of SA pistols for carry. Just never trusted the cocked and locked condition. DA/SA with round in the chamber, decocked and safety off. But if you carry without a chambered round, and feel confident you can rack the slide, then the SA triggers are really hard to beat.
The 92 has always been my favorite pistol; just picked up the 80X to add to my collection and "Bravissimo!" Pint sized 92 compact! This thing is a work of art!
Beautiful gun. I wish they were available. About 6 months ago I got too impatient and opted for the Tisas Fatih. It doesn't have all the options as the 80X but I like the gun and it was half the cost. It can be carried cocked and locked, as well. Good review.
As much as I like DA/SA, in full-size .380 pistols, I prefer the Browning 1911-380. The browning is significantly lighter, however, it still has low recoil due to the locking breech. I do see the advantage in the Berettta being able to accept a red dot sight without modification. However, the weight penalty still make it a less than ideal choice for daily carry when compared to other full-size 380 pistols.
Thanks for this video. It answers a big question I had. So yes, the longer barrel gives the Cheetah 80X significantly better stopping power than most other 380 pistols. As Paul Harrell would say: Enough of a difference to make a difference. It's a beautiful handgun too. Now all I have to do is move to the US so I can buy one! 🤔
Given the choice for a 380 POCKET gun, I'd still go with the Ruger LCPMax. But for a CC in a pistol slightly larger then the Beretta 80X, why not go with a compact 9mm? That would be the choice I'd make.
My wife loves her LCP, I carry a 49 dated Spanish Llama scaled down 1911 in .380. Sure it’s single stack but I’ve shot it a ton it’s got a re-spring kit and it’s never jammed on me yet.
.380 in general is a great pocket/purse gun. Growing up my dad always had one tucked away in the kitchen so us kids or our mom could react more quickly to an intruder (he didn't leave it out until we were all teens & had firearm experience.)
Beretta designed the Browning BDA when they made the 92f to match. They then sold it to Browning. That's why the 84 decock lever is reverse of the 92. Great gun.
Im comfortable with 380 with the new defense ammo out there. I have a G42 as a summer pocket gun and run Underwood Ultrapenetrator in it. Shield Plus is my go to in 9, but this looks very compelling.
Thanks for showing us this pistol. It looks great and the accuracy is amazing. I’m not familiar with the Beretta optic mounting system as it seems like it rides a little high. It would have been nice to see the optic mounted to this pistol to ensure that there is sufficient adjustment for a 15 yard zero. I’m still not crazy about the current price of .380 ammo. Perhaps Ventura Munitions can be a market leader an offer us .380 at 9mm prices.
I dont understand why they wouldnt mount the optic to the barrel, they can and most other semi autos cant. Non reciprocating red dot lower than most any other pistol. Plus red dots work better the further out you place them.
Best reasons for. 380, it's not likely to overpenatrate inside a house walls. And explaining a self defense incident to a judge with brains and 12 living jurists, "your not looking for a fight with .380 damn what that female prosecutor is claiming!" BTW my .380 is a CZ-83!
I like the .380 for a pocket pistol. The Keltek and LCP Max are both great examples. However, I have no interest in a larger sized pistol in this caliber.
@@sebfrett1005 I struggled to shoot mine... replaced the trigger with one from MCARBO and their spring kit. Huge improvement! I feel a lot more comfortable carrying the LCP MAX. I did get an 80x out of some fetish for smallish guns; not sure it's a carry piece, but it's a sweet shooter!
I was under the impression that the color scheme in the video was a special edition , like only 1500 made. I was in the market for an M9A4 Centurion but if I don’t have to settle for black I’d be all over this kitty! P.S every thing else I own is in black; kinda want to switch it up!
Looks good, but I think I'll stick with my CZ 83. I don't have an optics mount or a rail, but I don't want those on a CC gun. CZ discontinued the 83 in 2012, just when .380 was getting popular.
I am currently teaching an older lady who was a piano teacher how to shoot. She had a 357 mag from her late husband which was awy too much for her so we started looking at options. I have never been a fan of the 380 but we found the Smith and Wesson Shield EZ which is a compact 380, not a sub compact. It has been perfect for her. There is a lot of people out there who need these medium to full sized guns in these smaller calibers and it is nice to see manufacturers making them.
The line he said when James was at his class was a sticker for me too. Lol. I remember exactly how he worded it too- it was descriptive and got the point across imho.
Don't take this the "wrong way". I carried a 9mm single stack almost every day, at all times. When the "need" arises, use what you will carry, all the time. Practice with it. drive with it. Sleep with it. Eat with it. Whatever it takes to have it, when you "need" it!
The .380 barrel length paradox is a real thing. Too small and it doesn’t preform well enough, too large and you might as well get a 9mm. I bought my G42 not too long after they came out and did a ton of reading about various barrel lengths and load performances. (I carry hornady XTP loads in my Glock) The Beretta Cheetah probably falls in the “might as well get a 9mm,” class for me, but I wouldn’t think less of someone who bought one.
there's a reason the Girsan version of the Cheetah clone here has hit the top of my list, put a couple hundred rounds through one the other day and while i wish it had an extractor just in case, zero malfunctions in spite of no break-in period.
I've owned or shot almost all the carry guns out there right now. I switched from the 48 and the P365 (XL and original) to the Shield Plus Performance Center. I picked up an 84bb since i love the 92 and it's too big for me to really conceal. The 84 is an amazing size. With optics and just a little bit shaved off the thicc lady, I am so excited for this. Will be interesting to see if I can get my hands on the optics plates for the EPS carry.
![Why I Bought a 40 Year Old Italian .380 [Beretta 84 Cheetah]](/img/n.gif)
As a heads up, Beretta does NOT recommend cocked and locked carry for this gun. According to an email I received, cocked-and-locked (hammer cocked with safety engaged) is not an intermediate position but, rather, is a transitional step where the safety lever stiffens against the decocking lever. While, at that point, the trigger bar should be disconnected - it’s not guaranteed.
I prefer carrying DA but honestly it's unfortunate that they could not find a way to rotate the firing pin plunger upward with the first upward movement of the safety.
In mine, its definitely not disconnected and the gun will fire no problem in that halfway position.
So if you appendix carry like that, the entire gun can turn into a de-cocker?
@@Sturdy_Penguin Good one :)
I picked mine up today and the intermediate position does disconnect on mine... but I'm not going to risk it anyway.
Edit: Messed with it more... while it starts off "safe" it eventually drops the hammer if I pull the trigger slowly enough times. Definitely not safe.
@@Sturdy_Penguin I tried it and it blew a hole in my Bud Light, soaking my Legos and spare ammo in my Fanny pack.
Pleased to see great manufacturers still putting our DA/SA guns. Would love it if Smith put out a revamped 5906
4506 and a 1006 too 👀
Pretty much all competion related guns are DA/SA
And if you want to have best possible tool for it then there is very
few striker fire polymer frame guns in that list.
CZ never stopped.
@John Smith They did discontinue the 75BD I'm 45ACP
@@70bonnevilleguy53 But now we have a 10mm so we're better off. .45 has just lost the bullet design race at this point.
My EDC is a Bersa thunder Plus, 15+1. Shoots great, no malfunctions after two years of shooting. I like the de-cocker and safety on it.
Agree, for all the highlights mentioned.
Really like the Bersa + gun over several other 380s I have. Never failed to go bang.
I also like the plus...
But the decocker is Ehh.....
My first handgun was a Bersa 380 Thunder. It was an awesome little gun. Accurate, reliable and easily concealable.
I have an 80x. This firearm is extremely accurate and the recoil is minimal. I love it!
I’m extremely happy with my Sig P238 chambered in .380 as it works for me for a pocket pistol. This one looks great as well, if I didn’t already have mine, this would be a runner up
I have a Sig P238 as my carry gun and absolutely love it. This one looks very promising. I like the single/double action as I have had a 92FS and Sig 220 which both have it. Maybe I will buy one as a back-up.
I have a P238 and a Beretta 82 and wouldn’t consider either a pocket pistol. But their certainly nice carry sizes.
I too own the all-stainless, Sig P238 HD Nickel. It is my everyday carry gun, and is also very accurate for the classic distance of 21 ft., and has been 100% reliable. Its recoil is negligible.
I have the same model sig and I love it. I also have a few guns made by Barretta (PX4 Storm (40 cal) , 1301 shotgun) that I am very happy with. I think at some point it just becomes personal taste. Would you rather have a Ferrari or a Mercedes ... or both? 😉😗
I had the p238 stainless and had to sell it because the family was in a tight spot, and of all the guns I have sold that is the one I regret selling the most. I went to see recently if I could find it for sale and its been discountinued. Apparently there were issues with "a small amount of defective manual safeties". So pissed. But it was so soft shooting and a great gun to one hand if needed. This Beretta might be an attractie options though.
I can't put together the adult man Lego defenders in this comment section. You guys have me in pieces.
I can tell you've never had a Lego playdate with your wife's boyfriend, bigot!
Still waiting for a review on the Bersa TPR9C. Your gonna make send you the $375 bucks for it, huh? I am getting pretty close. I promise it won’t disappoint. I would contend it had one of the best triggers on the market. It certainly has the best trigger for the price point. It is the best DA/SA sub compact that is basically the same size as the Glock 26. Check it out. I highly recommend, and definitely recommend for budget blasters.
You'd be amazed,
I meet alot more friendly people pulling out a gun then my legos,
I think you're on to something.
I may be a grown ass man who builds Legos but that's funny asf
I spent way too much on star wars day just to get that free lego death star and coin😅
As a retired police officer and Army veteran, I can tell you from experience that the 380 properly placed will get the job done. I have a large Beretta collection and waiting to get this one added to my collection
A rock properly placed can bring down a Goliath. If you are out of rocks, a single 22lr has killed many.
@@DannyB-cs9vx The first murder I investigated was a single.25 auto in the lung. Victim expired in less than a minute
@@rogersappington968 Thank you. All the cargo pant bro's seem to forget that humans are made of meat and bullets are made of metal.
@@DannyB-cs9vx Go! Danny! Go!!! Terrific. In Vietnam, Ruger Mark IV .22 cal pistols with silencers were used as sniper issue (obviously not LONG RANGE).
@@edm192 Yep I wouldn't chance it. Need at least a 9mm.
People sleep on .380 more than the sidewalk in the French Quarter.
As a professional, I've seen alot of people walking around still with .380 holes in them. Strong center mass hits. I don't want my target have the possibility to get back up. I do appreciate the creativity of this lil thing tho
@@spaghettiman600 Been there, done that, bruh.
.380 started a series of events that led to a world war so terrible that its' unsatisfactory conclusion ensured an even bigger and brutal world war.
I'd say .380's body count is higher than any other pistol cartridge on this basis alone.
@@ChimneySm0ke The cemetery is full of people who said "It's just a .380."
@@classifiedad1 You make an excellent point.
The CZ83 is a great 380 too. It's nice that Beretta is making the cheeta again. Too bad CZ doesn't do an update of the 83
@ 12:10 "If it sounds dumb, but it works, it's not dumb" Quote of the Year.
Such a beautiful gun. On paper it doesn’t make sense to me, but I still feel I need one haha.
Agreed lol
pretty much
On paper, the Cheetah is fantastic. I’m in the 10 ring even with rapid fire.
I think a few years back LuckyGunner did a video about these? I recall Chris said something about these full size .380 and .32 ACP were consider "police service calibers" or something like that. I could be 100% wrong on what he said but I did recall he made a video about these Cheetahs.
Having 14 rnds of .380 might be a good thing if you listened to Ayoob, you would know that sometimes it takes 8+ rounds to take down an opponent with .380
I’ve been carrying a Beretta Cheetah fir a couple of years now. At age 70, I appreciate the comfort of a solid metal pistol in reducing felt recoil. My first .380 was a KelTec P3AT, and that HURT to shoot. So, discovering the Cheetah was fortunate.
I just wish the barrels were interchangeable.
Spot-on. The KelTec .380s are indeed snappy when it comes to recoil. Having fired hundreds of rounds through KelTec's P3AT and Ruger's LCP, I have to admit a decided preference for the latter. Factory ammo, whether FMJ or JHP, doesn't seem quite so uncomfortable to shoot from the LCP. On the other hand, I really enjoyed KelTec's P32 . With its minimal recoil and mosquito-like form factor, it was a joy to shoot and to carry. Wish I still had mine.
@@SCSlimBoiseID I have two P-32s and love 'em. They're light enough that I refer to the second one as my spare magazine holder. I bought one for each of my immediate family members for Christmas, as well as, spare mags, pocket/belt clips, & box of ammo. "Merry Christmas... I love you... I hope you never need to use it." The P-32 is just so damn small and light... there's rarely a good excuse to be unarmed.
haven't tried too many pocket pistols, but the recoil on a Sig P238 feels so soft to me compared to a Ruger LCP or SW BG 380
This gun is prob 3 times the size as the kel tec p3at. I sold my kel tec because it felt to cheap and I wanted something nicer. Now they don’t make them anymore i wish I had it back. That was a true pocket gun, thin and light!
@@toastz17
Get an original Ruger LCP then.
To me it's just a better quality Keltec P3AT. Or if you like metal framed pistols a Seecamp or NAA Guardian.
To my brain these are all basically in the same category of small DAO 380 pistols.
If you are ok with carrying a 32ACP, the Seecamp is not to be overlooked as a viable mouse gun.
I would like to say that the Underwood ammo was a game-changer for me. Once I had reviewed a number of videos using this ammo for both .380 and .320 caliber and their performance, especially the permanent wound cavities expansion made without the need to expand the bullet, then I felt comfortable with my wife using this caliber in the 81BB and 84BB, since she is recoil sensitive. They are very easy to shoot guns. My daughter did very well with the 81BB on her first time shooting a pistol. The minimum recoil does allow a person to focus without flinching.
Look at Precision One's hollow point .380
This is the way.
I started my Ma on a .22 for this reason. Focused on fundamentals rather than fear of the snap.
Move up to a 'large' .380, then to a full size 9 and it was no problemo.
What does recoil sensitive mean?
@@TheHaughtyOsprey you're so insensitive!
@@shirothehero0609 is
I love my S&W bodyguard 380 I got the laserless model. Hides in my pocket nicely.
Over the last couple years the .380 has come back in the same sort of "What's old is new again"!
I didn't realize how many of people I know in my age group, late 60's-early 70's, carry either a Snubby Revolver or a .380 semi auto! We went through the years of the .380, .45 acp, .357, .44 mags, etc. now many have gone we are content with 9mm or the snubby 5-6 shot, and the .380!
I've been wrestling with looking into a
.380 because of the small size typically. Then I seen the S&W E-Z in .380, it is thin, light pretty much accomodates my needs!
Best to ya',,,,!
As I look at eighty coming up I remember the days when I carried N-frame 25's and 28's to cover my errors. Now I am looking at having my old .32 hand ejectors rebuilt so I can carry them with wad cutters. Adaptation is key to staying in the game.
P.S. I did really love the tiny Berretta Nano but it was so small I couldn't pull the trigger! And I still Check out the Berretta 34's whenever I run across one. Takes me back to the days when we were all young and roamed Italia.
My carry is a Beretta 84BB , (not the cheetah) holds 14 with one in the chamber. It was made in the 60’s and is a genuinely quality firearm. It is all about shot placement with any/all calibers.
Held a cheetah 80x today and being a fan of the classic 92.
The 80X will be added to my must have.
Would love to see a stainless and polished version
An inox version would be lit.
Same but Lindsay mocked me for wanting a pimp gun
Black frame with a stainless slide & barrel would be perfect.
@@Nerotiquewe’ve been asking Beretta to get rid of those hideous black controls on inox guns for over 20 years… 😣
Needs 15-18 rds in the mag
I have carried my Beretta Cheeta in .380 for years. The almost 4" barrel gives it a bit more FPS at muzzle, and most encounters that call for deadly force, will occur within 20'.
The weapon is a little jumpy regarding recoil. The grips that came with the pistol, were a bit small for my hand. I replaced them with thicker ones, and that cured the problem.
There is ammo on the market that will expand and the bullet has satisfactory penetration.
ANY bullet is adequate if placed properly.
I owned a Beretta.380, model 84, back in 1979; absolutely flawless operation, highest quality, superior accuracy!!❤ Anyway questions??😊
a couple of years ago, I found a NIB Beretta Cheetah that was made in 1977 on a vendor's table at a local gun show. I couldn't pull the money out of my wallet fast enough.
Terrible sights though with not much ability to switch out the front I have the 84 in nickel.
Pairing a .380 with a modern ammunition (EG Lehigh Extreme Defender) makes it a viable defensive weapon. The are literally dozens of good videos on this ammunition.
Overpriced gimmick ammunition designed to separate fools from their money
"But duh jello tests... DeRp"
@@virgilhilts3924Happy no one agrees with this
I welcome all the new 380 pistols. Hopefully they make the 380 so popular that Glock makes a 42X and maybe even a longer slide version similar to the 48.
A limited addition .32 acp version with a flush fit higher capacity magazine would be cool too.
You're asking for a Glock 25, which is basically a G19 chambered in .380.
For some reason, it's not available in the US, so maybe the 80X should encourage the people in Austria to bring it here.
@@r0b3rt_959 Yes, kind of. The G25 and G28 are simple blowback though, and the frames are the thickness of G19 and G26: I would love to see Glock just do an addition to the G42 with a slimline style magazine the way they did with G43 - the G42 is recoil operated(as opposed to simple blowback), which tends to reduce felt recoil a bit, so for recoil sensitive shooters a slimline full length grip would be very nice. I would have honestly thought Glock would have done that by now, considering the success of G43X and G48.
@@Gieszkanne You're right in that the barrel also does move back like in a recoil operated handgun. The cut on the slide and on the barrel in recoil is "square", so they're locked together while moving back, until something doesn't cause the barrel to tilt down and unlock from the slide. With the G28 and G25 the cut seems to be at an angle, so I guess calling it delayed blowback instead of simple blowback would make sense.
Looks pretty sweet. I’ll have to try it. My LCP Max is my go-to for summer in San Antonio. P365 the other two weeks of the year. I still do have an affinity for my Sig P232.
same 2 for me..summer LCP Max, winter P365.
“the other two weeks of the year”… I’m dying here!
😂
Glad Baretta have brought back the Cheetah series, they have always been good little guns. I love my .380 Cz 83, it is so fun to shoot
Barrel length for the pocket pistol calibers is a generally overlooked thing. The short barrels of the more recently developed .32 and .380 ultra compact pistols really rob them of power. Whereas the traditional pocket guns like the Browning M1910, Colt M1903 and 1908, Walther PP and PPK, Beretta M1935 and 34, and the more recent models, all deliver substantially greater muzzle energy with their 3 1/2" to 4" barrels. These guns were the standard European police service pistols for around 70 years. They're also far easier and much more pleasant to shoot than something like the little .380s. Which are an impressive engineering achievement. Some years ago I was especially taken with the first generation Kel-Tec P32, which had an especially excellent and innovative sighting system and is remarkably thin and light. I replaced the traditional .25s I carried all the time with it. Until eventually chronograph tests revealed it was delivering only 15 more foot pounds at the muzzle. Winchester Silvertip .32 ACP runs 970 fps from a 3 3/4" barrel, but only 800 fps from the 2 5/8" barrel of the Kel-Tec. Eventually I went back to the somewhat smaller .25s. Though the Kel-Tec is still an excellent gun. But the .25s are truly small and can be hidden anywhere. These days I'm using either a stainless Beretta Model 21A which I customized in various ways, or a stainless Walther TPH. Both .22s. The TPH required adjustment of the magazines to feed properly and new hammer and recoil springs as well as putting a Kel-Tec P32 mag spring in one, but now it will feed any bullet shape there is, including oddball rounds like flat points and truncated cone hollowpoint loads, and runs perfectly with solid or hollowpoint CCI Mini Mag. I also frequently carry traditional .32 autos. .380 looks better on paper, but there is no difference in real world performance of the .32 and .380. The .32 is really a generally superior cartridge in every way. Which American shooters mostly cannot wrap their minds around because they're focused on muzzle energy figures, but it's nonetheless true. Especially when limited to ball ammunition. It will also generally function perfectly in most .32 caliber revolvers thanks to the semi-rim. Though it is not really safe to use in many of the vintage top break .32 S&W guns, and often will not fully chamber in them. But it has been done in an emergency many times. It's a somewhat dangerous practice though. .32 ACP pressure is rather higher than the little short .32 S&W round.
Own and shot dozens of 380s and Beretta is top notch but my fav to carry is a sig p238. Bersa makes a nice low end pistol and mid price it’s hard to neat the Smith EZ performance model with night sights and a great out of the box trigger. Thanks for another fun vid. 🍀Semper Fi🇺🇸
P238 (Legion) for me as well!
I like my Colt Mustang pocket lite a lot. It has never failed to feed.
My wife's P238 Spartan is the best running handgun we own. Runs like a sewing machine.
I own (and carry) several 380s...
My Go-To is still my 1989 Colt Government Model (customized) as well as my 1984 Colt Government Model (customized)...
But, at present, there are a handful of EXCELLENT 380s out there...
Springfield 911, Sig P238, Kimber 380, Browning BDA-380 to name a few...
I trust my life EVERY DAY to the 380...
EVERY DAY!!!
@@855LeeHillBilly Sadly, the Springfield Armory 911 isn’t made anymore…but I’m glad I’ve got mine! Yes, it is an awesome pistol.
I'm a hammer gun guy, and Berettas are beautiful and I'd love to get into them, but... I've already fallen in love with CZ. The P-01 is my favorite out of all of my handguns. I wish it came optics ready from the factory, but it's an understandably thin slide for that.
Go with custom machining. There are surprisingly a decent number of options. And something like the EPS Carry is small enough to work well on the CZ baby slide too.
P-01 is my back up carry gun. Agree that they should come milled and one day i will send it off. Got aftermarket sights (fiber front and blacked out rear) and fell in love with her all over again. Besides being a little heavier than my p365x the p-01 carries just as well. Good holster and belt go a long way in comfort of carry.
@@asathomas84 True. Personal preference though, I don't want to mill any of my slides for a footprint that might be "dead" in the future. I much prefer a factory plate system so I can change out optics if needed, or just go back to irons.
A 380 CZ would be cool
@@frankreynolds9936A man of fine taste. My favorite jewel is my PCR.
The fraternal twin of the P-01, minus the rail.
Out of everything that I have,
The PCR and my 86 Buckmark are my two most enjoyable pistols, hands down.
I have a 96 and a 92, and what I don't have is a: serious reservations about 380 and b: an 80x. Price seems fair enough and you don't have to convince me about Beretta's quality, elegance or design. I'm in. Great review.
I have a 96 with 9mm and .357Sig conversions.
The .380 I bought however is the Bersa Firestorm
I love the Bersa thunder plus!
A very underrated fire arm.
1 year ago: "The best .380 ever made." Hop today:"Hold my Bodyguard 2.0."
The Bodyguard doesn't look as nice as this.
@@monotech20.14 Some of us purchase firearms to use, not gaze upon, but you do you, mmmkay?
@@TrollMeister-s6n Yeah, ok. I didn't say don't buy or use either. Dork. Buy what you want. I simply said aesthetically the Beretta is a better looking gun. Which you didn't refute. Which was my point. But you do you and cry about an opinion and not a FACT.
The larger barrel on the Beretta .380 is said to give it a tad bit better penetration when compared to its pocket size competitors.
Indeed - and barrel length is an important velocity-boosting factor, particularly with the .380 cartridge.
As with my teen years, the 80’s were unceremoniously ripped away from me. With the resurgence of the fanny pack comes the 80X and my chance at redeeming my Carrie-Anne Moss fantasies of saving Keanu from Agent Smith.
"Dodge this." When you see how fast they can move, it doesn't make sense that she'd get the drop like that, but it is so cool:)
Hell yea
You have a way with words & I'm here for it!
Just came across this and that…my friend…..made me spit my coffee I laughed so hard. Well done sir, well done indeed.
Bought a lcp at a gun show and love it. Fits nicely in my pocket.
I just love the whole Ruger aesthetic. Form following function. That's why I also love the Bond Arms Rough Series. Beautiful, rugged, sandwashed steel. And so inexpensive.
Ruger LCP with Hogue grip, 7+1 is my edc.
I think that Beretta is a great package and offers a lot of options. It’s not cheap, but I don’t see any regrets in picking one up with all the safety/add on options you have.
In the rush to make everything as cheap/light/plastic as possible, I truly believe something got lost in translation with modern compacts and that something is shootability.
Micro 9mms shoot like shit. Ballistically are they superior? Sure...for a single shot. Ask a caliber hardo on the internet if ballistics matter when the person shooting the Glock 43x can't hit a quick accurate follow up shot to save their life while the guy shooting the Cheetah is rapidly expanding his target's new gloryhole.
If I had the option to carry a larger frame, I'd opt for the Ruger Security 380. 15 +1 rounds in civilized states and an easy rack slide. And is slightly smaller and lighter. I don't know where you got your information from, but my LCP Max holds 12 -1.
Hopefully this is successful, I’d like to see Beretta bring back the 71 with the same treatment.
I got an 84BB because of your first Cheetah video. I would like an F or FS as well because it was Trinity's gun
Yeah you definitely need good carry ammo for .380. It’ll work just fine with the right ammo. Cheaper stuff will either expand well or penetrate well, but rarely do both. Personally I think this is an application where monolithic defense rounds like underwood extreme defenders or arx inceptors work well since they don’t rely on expansion like hollowpoints.
As always, some great info given and well placed/timed humor... Exactly why this is my favorite firearms channel!
Walther PPK works fine, usually as a backup but its been a terrific pistol
Just like the Beretta 1934 !
@@hellskitchen10036. One of my favorites, Colt 1903 and 1908 too.
I was unimpressed with the 80X after buying one. From the very start it felt heavier than the 84FS I used to own. I can't explain how or why, but it's harder to point this thing rapidly and track moving targets than my 92FS or PX4. The safety/decocker is also uncomfortably stiff, to the point where flipping it just a few times starts chewing up the skin on my thumb. Don't know if that's something that loosens up over time, but it's enough of an annoyance for me not to want to shoot it often. Slide still takes quite a bit of force to rack, but I guess that's just the nature of direct blowback pistols. Trigger is definitely nice... I'd say maybe a hair lighter than the D hammer spring upgrade on the 92FS. I won't deny that it's a gorgeous gun that's machined and finished VERY WELL, but beyond that I think I'd still rather have a SIG P238 when it comes to .380 conceal carry. And that's a tough pill for me to swallow as a huge Beretta fanboy.
My subjective experience differs from yours but I'm hearting this well-developed comment for the reference of other viewers.
@@tfbtv To be clear I actually don't disagree with a lot of what you said. I think I just set my expectations too high after getting myself hyped up since it was first revealed. Bought it, tried it, and it just wasn't the right fit for me personally.
You guys still did an outstanding job of putting this review together. As a long-time watcher and subscriber I really appreciate the level of attention to detail (and humor) you guys continue to provide in your videos. Keep it up!
I was wondering because my 84 had a super stiff slide and with the lack of real estate to grip, me and my family all found it difficult to rack. My gf prefers the sig 938 and i prefer the cz 83.
I'm thrilled to have the Cheetah back stateside. I completely agree with you though; a carry specific version that ditches the rail would be great to see, and would be the deciding factor for me to purchase one. I'm a sucker for the smooth lines of the BB series of Cheetahs, and I picked up a surplus Model 85 last year thanks to your video on the 84.
This might be the best option for those who really prefer a DA/SA carry pistol, and prefer to shy away from full size guns. The smallest DA/SA is probably the PX4 Storm Carry, which is still on the thick side, this looks like it is perfect.
Bersa Thunder
Try and find one, good luck.
Hi James, you are probably the guy on YT who has the most direct line of comms to Beretta HQ. Another YT channel found a potential issue on the 80x and it would be awesome to hear from your contacts at Beretta on this.
When the hammer is back and you engage the safety there is an in between stage where the lever is resting and there is also audible feedback. But the hammer doesn’t get de-cocked. If you now pull the trigger several times the gun will fire (got tested with a live round). There seem to be others that have this issue and in this video around 06:15 I think you can also see that in between stage.
Given that there is haptic and audible feedback, I would argue this needs to be addressed.
Would be great to get your thoughts on that and if your gun in test really showed as well this in between stage of the safety.
Thx
My 84 FS is my favorite of all my hand guns. The fit and feel is perfect, it is just 'right'. Would love to see an 80x.
I collect Beretta pocket pistols, and this is definitely on my list.
Too big to be a pocket pistol, but it looks like it would be a good shooter. Good bedside or car gun, but I'd rather carry a nine in a pistol this size.
I prefer my 70s, fits in my pocket.
Glad to see how positive you are about this one.
I picked mine up this morning, waiting until Saturday to get to the range is going to feel like forever.
I like the Ruger Security .380 myself.
disappointed review didn't compare as these are the 2 new non micro 380s on market. Ruger Security isn't blowback so might have lighter recoil ? I have Ruger Security and only shot it once. Interested in Baretta as well.
@@lclee1972 Same, especially given that you could buy 2 Security .380's and 2 boxes of ammo for the price of an empty Cheetah.
Looks great except not optics ready
@@lclee1972 I have the cheetah and the security 380. The ruger is noticeably softer, but not flatter.
@@yakbutter78 interested in what else you find different between the two. I own both now as well but won’t be able to hit the range for another few days to compare.
I haven't played with an 80X in person, but I have felt for a very long time the older Cheeta pistols and the Browning BDA were the best .380 pistols ever made. I have a BDA, 84BB, 85, and an 81 presently.
Get the 80X, it's an incredibly good pistol!
I used to carry an old Tanfoglio clone of the Beretta. (It was like 50 bucks because it was an oddball at the gun shop. The heel release was a pain in the ass.) Nice to see Beretta bring back a classic. I've heard some good things about the TISAS Fatih, as well.
So in my opinion I really love my Springfield 911. It feel amazing and super smooth when shooting. Was always super accurate no matter what ammo I ran thru it. It is perfect for being very concealable and being cocked and locked, since it's a 1911 platform. Loved the stock iron sights, tritium and glow in the dark sights. So even if it's pitch black you can see all the dots for perfect sight picture alignment. Only issue i had, which some people did have with them, in the extractor. It had bad fitting, or just too much meat but one touch of the file and a good polishing. Which I polish aaalllll of my hand guns. Anyways. It will run anything and everything with no issues at all. After I slightly adjusted mine how I had described it was honestly my most reliable gun I had even when it just had in my pocket for long periods, lots of rounds thru it with no cleaning and got pocket lint and or anything else in it. By far my favorite pocket pistol
Interesting. My sole .380 is a 911. How many rounds do you go between cleanings?
SA recommends every 100 rounds. I sometimes go 150 but not much beyond that. I have found that with mine, the first 50 after a cleaning cycle flawlessly, then I start to get a failure to go into battery here and there, though nothing a tap to the back of the slide won’t solve.
The 80x definitely has a place in the toolbox … And Another informative and entertaining presentation🇮🇹 🇮🇹🇮🇹
Great review of the Cheetah, I'm seriously considering adding one of these to my collection. My only concern with the Cheetah is that for rapid point and shoot drills the grip angle is different enough from a 1911 frame that it would likely cause me to hit a little lower than I normally would; similarly, my Glock 42 grip angle is different than the 1911 and that causes me to hit a little high on rapid point and shoot drills. The 1911 grip angle is a natural grip angle for me.
I honestly think you should review a Browning 1911-380 Black Label Medallion Pro, this is the 4 1/4" barrel model. I have the 4 1/4" barrel and the 3 5/8" barrel models, so far, they have both eaten the ammo I throw at them and run flawlessly, they are great for smaller sized hands, they are light weight and excellent for cocked and locked Concealed Carry with appropriate training and an appropriate holster. I personally like the 4 1/4" barrel length, it gives an extra boost in fps.
My Sig P250 compact (3.9 barrel) weighs slightly under 23oz without the 15rd mag (25.50 with). As much as I think Berettas are great, the width is about the same as my P250 and I shot the red out of the center of a target at thirty feet with the P250 a couple of weeks ago. P250 is Double Action Only with a super smooth trigger. I was hoping to avoid a striker gun (P365X or XL) and have a lighter carry option but the Berretta 80x weight advantage is only 2oz so I will stay with my 9mm.
A P250 disadvantage is that the rear sight interacts with the firing pin safety block so nobody wants to deal with the rear sight replacement for liability concerns. And the 80X has the plate when the P250 does not.
The 80X specs show a 1.4 inch width (1.25 grip). Why are there not any 1 inch thick DA/SA pistols in 380 or 9mm? The Sig P239/225a single stack was.
I like the rationale you finished this video for selecting this hand gun and the points you brought up as to whether it’s right for each individual… I like to have a separate gun to go with however I’m dressed for the day or how I feel lol
in real life, lots of factors besides terminal energy. looking at data from actual shootings, .380 ACP seems to perform comparably to 9mm and other defensive cartridges, probably something to do with users as well as bullets. lots to consider when picking a caliber for concealed carry (or backwoods carry or in-home carry & bedside table)
Maybe a little off target (ha ha), but I recently took my original P365 and added an XL frame (12 rds) and then purchased the Sig 380ACP conversion kit. All I need to do is pop off the 9mm slide and install the 380ACP slide and it shoots very well and follow up shots are great. Did have some issues at first (seems mag related), but now with all ammo dependable. I can even use the 9MM mags with no issue. Love to see you test that kind of setup!!!
Seems like a nice setup! I'm thinking about getting the p365 in 380 but wish they would come out with a 380 barrel closer to 4 inches. Don't own any sigs.
Got the p365-380 great sights, I did add a red dot love mine
I concur with you ( reluctantly) this is quite possibly the best 380 made. Time will tell, I’m in!
Good content
Thanks for the wonderful video, and a huge thanks for not ruining it with crappy background music.
I don't know why some people are compelled to add annoying background music throughout their videos.
The funniest and accurate reviews I’ve ever seen! Keep
Up
The great work.
Back in the 90's I was essentially living on my range every day, training private citizens on their first gun in the process of getting one of the newly available CCW permits. Back then there were still a lot of revolvers, but I saw my share of .380's. None were tiny by today's standards. You had the Walther PPK, the SIG P230/232, the Bersa, the CZ83, and the Beretta 84/Browning BDA. New people always seemed to do well with the larger .380's like the CZ, the Beretta, and the Browning. I came to the conclusion that there wasn't much wrong with a 13 shot .380 in the hands of a private citizen looking to defend themselves against oppotunistic criminal attack.
I still think that today. I don't care a lot about capacity, because for a private citizen the handgun serves as a mechanism to help them break contact and ecpe an ambush, not to win a gun battle. I think we obsess too much over cartridge power in this setting. Law enforcement is a different matter since they are required to either make a suspect submit and be taken into custody or kill them. Let' face it, if one empties just about any .380 in that context, you've hung around too long.
Now that I'm retired and have no badge anymore, I occasionally carry a .380. For me, that means a Glock 42, which some consider to be too large for a .380. I disagree. It is about the smallest auto that still has enough barrel for decent effect, and enough real estate to be really shootable for me. For someone who doesn't want to carry a 9mm, I think a large for caliber .380 might be just the ticket. New shooters often have problems with high pitched noises, and in my experience do well with the subsonic .380's report. I think this new 80X will offer a good balance between balistics and shootability for the typical private citizen who wants something nicer and more substantial than a Kel-Tec or a Ruger LCP.
I'd probably spring for one of these new Berettas if I had not purchased a Beretta 92X Compact. Except for thickness and weight, there isn't that much difference in dimensions. But had the 80X come out first, I might well have bought it instead. To me, a Beretta classic pistol is a piece of Italian art that you can shoot, so the rail on the 80X is a downer. I think it spoils the lines of a beautiful gun. My 92X Compact is the now-discontinued non-railed version. I enjoy looking at it as much as shooting it.
After the craze for the new 80X dies down a bit, who knows, I might get one anyway.
Well spoken Sir. The obsession with magazine capacity and stopping power is not relevant to most civilian gun conflicts. Shoot once to break contact and run.
You must not know Chicago where i'm from. Thugs shooting high cap guns with ful auto switches. so yes we need high cap to defend ourselves from these lawless criminals.
@@danielsantos531 You can of course own or carry whatever you want, and yes, you live in a dangerous and lawless city. But that is not the typical experience for the average American citizen. And let me ask you this, do you imagine that the best tactic for you when attacked is to stay where you are and shoot it out with those "thugs shooting hgh cap guns with full auto swithces"?
That sounds like a good way to get killed to me. Would it not be better to take cover and then use whatever weapon you have to make your way to safety? When under fire from a numerically superior or better armed force, my training has always been to attempt to break contact and escape. Obviously you can do whatever you want, this is just a suggestion. Even better, if you can, move away from that city I'd do so. Whatever you do, I hope you will stay safe.
I kinda disagree and agree with that capacity statement. Yes, normally only one or two rounds are needed to break contact, but part of the reason you carry a gun is as a "just in case something bad happens", and thats how I look at extra capacity. No, I'm not looking to expend my two or three high cap mags, but again, it's there, just in case.
I find it funny that James actually bought a surplus handgun and loved it so much he had to get the modernized version
My H&K .380 HK4 was as close to perfect mechanically as I've ever seen. I carried it for years.
My hk4 was a mechanical nightmare, I’m jealous.
You need to look at Browning's 1911 .380. I've got tiny hands, and while I think the Cheetah 80X is very comfortable in firing position, I have to use my support hand to engage the mag release. The .85 scale 1911 .380 is just flat comfortable in my hands, and when I hold it, I understood why it's service career was so long. It feels like an extension of my hand, and its controls are super-easy to manipulate. Its barrel is 4.25", and yet I suspect it's easier to conceal than the Beratta. The composite-and-aluminum grip module is of course, lighter.
On the other hand, only the collector-bait 1911 models come with a pickatinny rail, there's no provision for optics, and its magazines are limited to eight rounds. Both companies are known for quality, and I'm finding it a tougher choice than I'd like.
Gave my mother money and took her to get her first gun that is a S&W M&P 2.0 EZ in .380. She was settling on a Revolver but she really hated the DAO trigger pull being really heavy and she fell in love with the S&W and even on her first try was okay at hitting targets. Only gun she could comfortably rack the slide back on with her carple tunnel and I'll admit I was impressed with it too. This looks like a better replacement for my Springfield 911 in .380 and hopefully doesn't have as many feeding problems.
I have several Cheetah's, and as a big Beretta fan boy I've always been curious why they wouldn't be able to make a 9mm in this frame size...the pistol seems big enough to me even if only single stack. THAT, in DA/SA would basicallly make a mini 92 and would be a game changer.
the .380 is a direct blowback. 9mm would have to use a different system ie hinged and would necessitate a whole rebuild...
@@Hawkinszm1 9mm is also blowback.
looks very nice but almost 800 for price for a 380
But does it come from the factory greased with olive oil?
"why does this smell like roasted garlic"
Mine was covered in oil, sorry I didn’t test if I could cook with it 🤌
Extra slutty olive oil
Atsa nice!
My .380 Colt Mustang Pocketlite is my ‘go to’ carry pistol and the best gun I’ve ever carried. Loaded with +P self defense ammo I have every confidence in this gun compared to a 9mm
Great video as usual! If I were to consider a .380, this definitely would be my first choice. Thanks James!🙏🏻
The Sig Sauer P238 is really underrated
After buying and trying the 80X, I agree. I think the P238 is still king in terms of shootability and conceal carry comfort. It's such a shame it's being replaced by a generic polymer, striker-fired pistol (P365-380) with mediocre trigger. Kind of hoping S&W comes out with a .380 variant of the CSX.
I have one. But the P238 is SA whereas this is a DA/SA. Every pistol has trade-offs.
Sig Sauer P238HD is by FAR the best BUILT 380 on the market by far...very smooth shooter..laser accurate...lowest recoil and built to last 2 or 3 lifetimes....heirloom quality
@@cacinaz8802 I am a big time DA/SA guy and love my P229 and P239, but my P238 in the pocket is .380 at its best.
My LCP2 kicks like a mule compared to the P238. It’s only 15 ounces too. The slide is .68” The slide is actually thinner then the LCP2/Max and the grip is only .05” wider.
@@Sig_P229 Agreed. Actually I have the P938 in 9mm. I am not a fan of SA pistols for carry. Just never trusted the cocked and locked condition. DA/SA with round in the chamber, decocked and safety off. But if you carry without a chambered round, and feel confident you can rack the slide, then the SA triggers are really hard to beat.
I wish CZ would stop getting pounded by colt, unstrap themselves from the pommel and give this treatment to the CZ82/3.
I like where your going with this!
CZ makes great guns but they're always behind the ball and then whiff when they take a swing.
An all expense paid trip will always get you a great review.
You are absolutely correct!!
Not always
The 92 has always been my favorite pistol; just picked up the 80X to add to my collection and "Bravissimo!"
Pint sized 92 compact! This thing is a work of art!
Ive carried Ruger LCP II 380 every day for 3 years now. Fantastic little gun!!
Beautiful gun. I wish they were available. About 6 months ago I got too impatient and opted for the Tisas Fatih. It doesn't have all the options as the 80X but I like the gun and it was half the cost. It can be carried cocked and locked, as well. Good review.
As much as I like DA/SA, in full-size .380 pistols, I prefer the Browning 1911-380. The browning is significantly lighter, however, it still has low recoil due to the locking breech.
I do see the advantage in the Berettta being able to accept a red dot sight without modification. However, the weight penalty still make it a less than ideal choice for daily carry when compared to other full-size 380 pistols.
My older BROWNING BDA is a complete GEM .. Just love it…Wife stole it from me. 😂❤🎉
Thanks for this video. It answers a big question I had. So yes, the longer barrel gives the Cheetah 80X significantly better stopping power than most other 380 pistols. As Paul Harrell would say: Enough of a difference to make a difference.
It's a beautiful handgun too. Now all I have to do is move to the US so I can buy one! 🤔
Dont you just wish you could. We have all kinds of guns over here to carry.
Given the choice for a 380 POCKET gun, I'd still go with the Ruger LCPMax.
But for a CC in a pistol slightly larger then the Beretta 80X, why not go with a compact 9mm?
That would be the choice I'd make.
My wife loves her LCP, I carry a 49 dated Spanish Llama scaled down 1911 in .380. Sure it’s single stack but I’ve shot it a ton it’s got a re-spring kit and it’s never jammed on me yet.
These pistols are very overlooked. They are excellent concealed carry with modern ammo. The Lehigh &Hornady ammo changes the defense game.
You sold me. Just bought a P3AT.
I'm curious how that did for you.
I've been interested in one for the wife since beretta announced. I think this is gonna be a grab for me this year.
.380 in general is a great pocket/purse gun. Growing up my dad always had one tucked away in the kitchen so us kids or our mom could react more quickly to an intruder (he didn't leave it out until we were all teens & had firearm experience.)
I worked UC back in the late 80's and always felt very secure with my Sig P230. Superior pistol. Wish I still had it.
Beretta designed the Browning BDA when they made the 92f to match. They then sold it to Browning. That's why the 84 decock lever is reverse of the 92. Great gun.
I am really satisfied with my Seecamp. A true carry pistol.
Im comfortable with 380 with the new defense ammo out there. I have a G42 as a summer pocket gun and run Underwood Ultrapenetrator in it. Shield Plus is my go to in 9, but this looks very compelling.
Might replace my edc shield plus in 9 for this ngl
I like these pistols (I had an original Model 84), but it's hard to call a blowback gun the best anything ever made.
Thanks for showing us this pistol. It looks great and the accuracy is amazing. I’m not familiar with the Beretta optic mounting system as it seems like it rides a little high. It would have been nice to see the optic mounted to this pistol to ensure that there is sufficient adjustment for a 15 yard zero. I’m still not crazy about the current price of .380 ammo. Perhaps Ventura Munitions can be a market leader an offer us .380 at 9mm prices.
I dont understand why they wouldnt mount the optic to the barrel, they can and most other semi autos cant. Non reciprocating red dot lower than most any other pistol. Plus red dots work better the further out you place them.
I've been waiting for the 80x to come out since I seen it. Love the color they released it in too. Definitely gonna get one
Best reasons for. 380, it's not likely to overpenatrate inside a house walls. And explaining a self defense incident to a judge with brains and 12 living jurists, "your not looking for a fight with .380 damn what that female prosecutor is claiming!"
BTW my .380 is a CZ-83!
I like the .380 for a pocket pistol. The Keltek and LCP Max are both great examples.
However, I have no interest in a larger sized pistol in this caliber.
Agreed or in the boot, final stand/line of defense
This is heavier and bigger then a P365 in every way. I fail to see the point.
Lcp max trigger is ass and grip too small for my man sized hands tbh
@@sebfrett1005 I struggled to shoot mine... replaced the trigger with one from MCARBO and their spring kit. Huge improvement! I feel a lot more comfortable carrying the LCP MAX. I did get an 80x out of some fetish for smallish guns; not sure it's a carry piece, but it's a sweet shooter!
I was under the impression that the color scheme in the video was a special edition , like only 1500 made. I was in the market for an M9A4 Centurion but if I don’t have to settle for black I’d be all over this kitty! P.S every thing else I own is in black; kinda want to switch it up!
I’d still consider a M9A4. I’ve got the full size and it’s amazing. Extremely accurate. That said, I still want this 80X.
This gun is a solution to a problem that never existed.
You DO have a point there Amigo!
because older and smaller shooters don't exist?
Tell that to Glock.
@@lclee1972 Only in the minds of marketing executives
Looks good, but I think I'll stick with my CZ 83. I don't have an optics mount or a rail, but I don't want those on a CC gun. CZ discontinued the 83 in 2012, just when .380 was getting popular.
thank you for the heads up on the decocker, i didnt realize it had on, and the guy at the gun show didnt think it did.
I am currently teaching an older lady who was a piano teacher how to shoot. She had a 357 mag from her late husband which was awy too much for her so we started looking at options. I have never been a fan of the 380 but we found the Smith and Wesson Shield EZ which is a compact 380, not a sub compact. It has been perfect for her. There is a lot of people out there who need these medium to full sized guns in these smaller calibers and it is nice to see manufacturers making them.
I wont buy a .380, not because of its inferior ballistics, but because Clint Smith shamed me out of it...
The line he said when James was at his class was a sticker for me too. Lol. I remember exactly how he worded it too- it was descriptive and got the point across imho.
The mental image of Clint Smith and a tugboat.....wowsers!
Don't take this the "wrong way". I carried a 9mm single stack almost every day, at all times. When the "need" arises, use what you will carry, all the time.
Practice with it. drive with it. Sleep with it. Eat with it. Whatever it takes to have it, when you "need" it!
The .380 barrel length paradox is a real thing. Too small and it doesn’t preform well enough, too large and you might as well get a 9mm. I bought my G42 not too long after they came out and did a ton of reading about various barrel lengths and load performances. (I carry hornady XTP loads in my Glock) The Beretta Cheetah probably falls in the “might as well get a 9mm,” class for me, but I wouldn’t think less of someone who bought one.
there's a reason the Girsan version of the Cheetah clone here has hit the top of my list, put a couple hundred rounds through one the other day and while i wish it had an extractor just in case, zero malfunctions in spite of no break-in period.
I've owned or shot almost all the carry guns out there right now. I switched from the 48 and the P365 (XL and original) to the Shield Plus Performance Center. I picked up an 84bb since i love the 92 and it's too big for me to really conceal. The 84 is an amazing size. With optics and just a little bit shaved off the thicc lady, I am so excited for this. Will be interesting to see if I can get my hands on the optics plates for the EPS carry.