Beretta Model 1934 380ACP

[TheoW]

What do you think of this gun as a concealed weapon? Fully loaded,cocked and safety "ON"?

[Whitwabit]

Wondering what you would do for a holster and what position you would wear it to conceal it ..

It was designed and purpose-built for the Italian armed forces. In the early 1930s, the Italian army was impressed by the Walther PP pistol. Beretta did not want to lose a big military contract to their German competitor and designed the M1934 for the Italian Army which accepted it in 1937. It is chambered for the 9 mm Corto, more commonly known as the .380 ACP.

[TheoW]

That's not what I asked.

[tops]

I know I'm in the minority and most people don't agree with me but I don't carry any kind of an auto pistol cocked with one in the barrel. When I carry my .45 Colt auto I carry it with the hammer down and I cock it as I draw the same as I would with a single action revolver. On the Colt with the hammer down the firing pin is not resting on the primer but I don't know about your gun. It is easy for you to check. Larry

[Erich]

I own one, and I like it. But the safety requires a 180-degree throw to remove it, so I don't feel that it's a particularly useful gun for this sort of carry. (And that's never how Beretta or the Italian army recommended it be carried.)



There is no firing pin safety, which could trouble many folks for loaded-chamber carry (though I'd note the firing pin spring is very stout). I find the gun to be reliable, if underpowered.

I believe I've discussed my 1934 here before - you might want to run a search if you're interested.

[adwjc]

Since you ask, there are many safer alternatives.

Sell it to a collector and get something in current production.

[RobertJ.]

I like them. I've always liked most things with the Beretta name, especially the older ones.

I also don't mind the .380 ACP. However, I couldn't see myself using this as an EDC when there are better choices.

I would tuck it away as a back-up, though. And, if it was my only gun, it would make do just fine until I could afford my first choice, but I'd carry it hammer down. I prefer the 1911 type of "cocked and locked", but given the safety on this pistol, I could live with thumbing the hammer on the draw for a while.

[Redcoat3340]

I had one in .32 acp and thought it had a nasty flip and nastier recoil and I was not very good with it. Plus even in .380 there are 9mms that are of equal size and a lot better for self-defense. (Shield and Sig 320 are my two personal favorites.

It's a nice collector's piece but has been totally eclipsed by modern technology whether in plastic or steel: Sig 230 or 232, Sig 250 for DAO and even a Walther PK380 plus a whole bunch of others.

[sigp220.45]

I have two - a WWII vintage and one from 1964. I like them a lot.

They are flat and reliable, if a little on the heavy side. The mag release is on the butt, and though the slide locks back on empty, it goes forward when you pull out the empty magazine. If you don't intend to carry a reload it doesn't matter.

As Erich pointed out, the safety takes some getting used to. I think if you practiced with it enough you'd be ok.

There may be better choices available, but there are also a whole lot worse guns out there.

[Wise_A]

Originally Posted by adwjc

Since you ask, there are many safer alternatives.

Sell it to a collector and get something in current production.

There's such a staggering array of quality .380s and compact-9s on the market, why ignore them?

[RILEY31]

I had a great uncle who carried a Beretta 1935 same gun just in .32 acp. His was a bring back from WW2 and he always had it with him.People would tell him there where a lot better guns and better calibers than the .32 and his response was always the same."I hit what I shoot at with this one, And this one has saved my life 3 times. There is no better gun as far as I am concerned". So if you like it carry it. I am sure it will do the job.

[Wise_A]

Originally Posted by RILEY31

I had a great uncle who carried a Ruger LCP. His was a bring back from WW2 and he always had it with him.People would tell him there where a lot better guns and better calibers than the .380 and his response was always the same."I hit what I shoot at with this one, And this one has saved my life 3 times. There is no better gun as far as I am concerned". So if you like it carry it. I am sure it will do the job.

No disrespect, but I can tell that story with just about any gun, and somewhere, it'll be true to one extent or another. Everybody's uncle/grand-pappy/dad had a great gun that they said saved their life. That's not a reason to use it.

[BC38]

Originally Posted by RILEY31

I had a great uncle who carried a Beretta 1935 same gun just in .32 acp. His was a bring back from WW2 and he always had it with him.People would tell him there where a lot better guns and better calibers than the .32 and his response was always the same."I hit what I shoot at with this one, And this one has saved my life 3 times. There is no better gun as far as I am concerned". So if you like it carry it. I am sure it will do the job.

Originally Posted by Wise_A

No disrespect, but I can tell that story with just about any gun, and somewhere, it'll be true to one extent or another. Everybody's uncle/grand-pappy/dad had a great gun that they said saved their life. That's not a reason to use it.

Point well taken.

On the other hand the bolded part of the statement is the critical piece. Like the old saying, shot placement is key - caliber is secondary.

I don't have one of these, but in many respects it appears to be similar in size - and probably weight - to a Colt 380 Government Model. Other than the more difficult to manipulate safety, I don't see where it would be significantly worse as a CCW.

Though it is true that there are certainly a lot better choices available in a more modern firearm.

[Ross3914]

I own two WWII ones. It's reliable and both of mine are quite accurate, despite the tiny sights. Being all steel, they're kinda heavy, and the safety's 180 rotation isn't the best for CCW. It is what it is.

[Inusuit]

Originally Posted by TheoW

What do you think of this gun as a concealed weapon? Fully loaded,cocked and safety "ON"?

I recently acquired one of these made in 1941, or XIX in Fascist chronology. It's an interesting pistol, and if it were the only small handgun I owned, I would carry it cocked and locked and not feel underarmed. However, I have smaller .380s and lighter 9mms that I prefer for concealed carry.

[sigp220.45]

This thread prompted me to fish mine out of the safe, along with its seldom seen .22 caliber brother, the Model 948.

The .380 fed Winchester flat point FMJ perfectly and shot to the point of aim at 15 yards. If I carry it, I'll load these.

The .22 was boringly reliable and accurate, as usual.

[shawn mccarver]

Originally Posted by TheoW

What do you think of this gun as a concealed weapon? Fully loaded,cocked and safety "ON"?

To quote Major Boothroyd's comments about another Beretta model used for concealed carry:

"Nice and light - in a lady's handbag; no stopping power."

YouTube

[jeeps]

It's a good pistol,while not the best it will work with practice. You are well armed.

[Wise_A]

Originally Posted by BC38

On the other hand the bolded part of the statement is the critical piece. Like the old saying, shot placement is key - caliber is secondary.

I've never personally bought into the "this is the gun I hit with" argument, myself. There's such a selection of concealable semiautos in the segment, there must be something in the same action with decent sights.

You might not end up with your favorite gun of all time, and you might have to actually try to practice with it enough (as opposed to wanting to shoot it anyway), but you can always find a good'un.

Nothing against the caliber--.380 is fine. It's just that this is a very old design, with a very awkward safety, that fires .380, in a size that a modern gun would deliver 9mm or .40 in.

And hey, it is a good gun in its own way. It probably does have some collector value--another reason not to bash it up by carrying it--and with an SA trigger, it's probably pretty fun to shoot. But give me a Ruger LC9/LCR/LCP, or a Springfield EMP, or a Glock .380 or 9mm any day.

[RILEY31]

Wise_A, I apologize for not asking your opinion before posting. I never said it was the best choice, but it is his choice as to what he wants to carry. There are many better carry guns, and better calibers as far as that is concerned.But as far as you having the audacity to call out my post to give an answer that has been repeated on every small caliber thread ever, on this and every other gun forum, is just ridiculous.

[Irn-Bru]

It's hard to find the perfect blend for carrying. You want something that conceals well, is accurate and holds x amount of rounds. I've tried many different guns and yet to find the perfect balance. Right now it's the CZ 75 PCR. Not the smallest or lightest, but I shoot it better than all of my carry options and it hold an adequate amount of ammo.

[BC38]

Originally Posted by Wise_A

I've never personally bought into the "this is the gun I hit with" argument, myself. There's such a selection of concealable semiautos in the segment, there must be something in the same action with decent sights.

You might not end up with your favorite gun of all time, and you might have to actually try to practice with it enough (as opposed to wanting to shoot it anyway), but you can always find a good'un....

Sure you can. If you can afford to buy multiple guns. I was of the impression that this one is what the OP already has. Which brings up another old CCW pearl of wisdom - that the best gun is the one you HAVE on you.

If you disagree with the idea that for a CCW, proficiency and accuracy have to be first and foremost, then far be it from me to try to persuade you otherwise.

[Wise_A]

Originally Posted by RILEY31

But as far as you having the audacity to call out my post to give an answer that has been repeated on every small caliber thread ever, on this and every other gun forum, is just ridiculous.

It doesn't get repeated that often, and even if it were, that still doesn't make it a good argument.

Originally Posted by BC38

Sure you can. If you can afford to buy multiple guns. I was of the impression that this one is what the OP already has. Which brings up another old CCW pearl of wisdom - that the best gun is the one you HAVE on you.

If it were an otherwise-suitable choice, I'd be inclined to agree, even if I thought there were better choices available.

However, the awkward safety design kills it for me. Even if you intended to carry it with the safety disengaged, it would be difficult to operate if it unintentionally engaged.

I also don't subscribe to the "best gun is the one you have" being in such a way. Going smaller, or lighter, or in a smaller caliber is one thing. If you read my posts, I never knock those considerations.

I'm suggesting the gun itself is unsuitable compared to modern options. Even among its contemporaries, the Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless has a better safety design.

Nor do I see where it's the OP's only option for CCW.

If you disagree with the idea that for a CCW, proficiency and accuracy have to be first and foremost, then far be it from me to try to persuade you otherwise.

Where did I say that?

I simply questioned the premise that a person could only be competent with only one gun. It's a silly notion.

[alwslate]

Originally Posted by TheoW

What do you think of this gun as a concealed weapon? Fully loaded,cocked and safety "ON"?

The 1934 Beretta is one of my favorite pistols and I own seven
of them plus six 1935s in .32 ACP and two 948s in .22 LR. I
will try to actually respond to your question based on my
personal experience of carrying some of them. My usual mode
of carry has been with chamber loaded, safety off and hammer
on half cock notch. The lighter and slimmer 22s are ok for the
pocket but the heavy 32s and 380s need a belt holster. Safety
off and hammer on half cock is safe because the CF firing pins
are inertia type, springs are strong and half cock is barely off
the firing pin. Even so I can thumb back the hammer with one
hand but cannot with the hammer fully down. If carried for
CC seriously full time the best carry mode would be chamber
loaded, hammer cocked and safety off, with a proper holster
that covered the trigger guard. Why? As with some other autos
safety is awkward at best and best used as takedown lever
only. All springs are heavy and hammer notches are deep. 50
rounds at one setting with one of my .380s left me with a
blood blister on my trigger finger. IF dropped at full cock the
tang would prevent the gun from landing on the round hammer
with full force and and even if it could the full and half cock
notches and or the heavy sear would have to be sheared AND
the firing pin struck with enough force to overcome the FP
spring. Impossible. Despite the naysayers who are just
expressing their opinions and aren't really familiar with the
1934 it is the best design of the blowback .380 autos of all
time.

[RILEY31]

Very informative post alwslate. Thanks!

[Erich]

Originally Posted by alwslate

My usual mode
of carry has been with chamber loaded, safety off and hammer
on half cock notch.

...

Safety
off and hammer on half cock is safe because the CF firing pins
are inertia type, springs are strong and half cock is barely off
the firing pin. Even so I can thumb back the hammer with one
hand but cannot with the hammer fully down.

...

All springs are heavy and hammer notches are deep.

...

IF dropped at full cock the tang would prevent the gun from landing on the round hammer with full force and and even if it could the full and half cock notches and or the heavy sear would have to be sheared AND the firing pin struck with enough force to overcome the FP spring. Impossible. Despite the naysayers who are just
expressing their opinions and aren't really familiar with the
1934 it is the best design of the blowback .380 autos of all
time.

alwslate, I don't know if I ever thanked you for the practical info you relayed (excerpts/summary above) when I bought my 1934. I've benefited from your thoughts - and I agree this is fine blowback .380 design: the ruggedness and simplicity of reminds me of that of the Makarov. Ergonomics are great (the safety is odd, but usable and in line with ideas of the time), the thing is perfectly useful for a Southpaw such as myself, the gun has a relatively long barrel (delivering good velocities) for such a small piece . . . and it's possessed of an elegance that speaks of an earlier era when labor was not the most expensive component of a firearm.



They used to be downright cheap, but they are still inexpensive for a WWII gun. I was searching for a nice one after remembering how I liked these back when I worked in a gun store between college and law school in the Eighties and wound up with a relatively recent commercial version because it was made in my birth year.

[TheoW]

Just to fill in the story.....I was given this piece 35 yrs ago. It was inoperable with no firing pin or spring and a peened muzzle. It was a bring-back and eventually some A-H did it bad. I machined and heat treated a new pin and used an old spring. I repaired the muzzle(1/8" loss) and test fired the piece at my club. Perfect!! It's a fine gun having matching numbers, 95% blue and very comfortable to hold and shoot. I reload for it .....3.2GR BE / 88GR Speer. So thank you, one and all, for your informative comments! Great Forum!

Ted

[Erich]

We'd love to see it, Ted!