A short time back, I bought a nice Beretta 70, in .32 ACP. It's an accurate, lightweight gun, and I sometimes carry it in my pocket. Since then, I've become attracted to a slightly larger caliber in .380 ACP. I was never a big fan of the caliber, and I've mainly stuck to revolvers in .38/.357, and .38 Super in the Colt 1911. I have fired the Walthers, both in PPS, and PPK/S, and I wasn't impressed. At a recent gun show, I dove into .380 ACP, and bought a Colt Government Model in .380. I was impressed by its performance and soft recoil. I then doubled down, and bought a Sig Sauer P232. It's very impressive, but the recoil is a bit sharper.
Last Wednesday, at my LGS, one of the counter guys and I were discussing .380's. He told me that a guy had been in the store Monday, and put a Beretta 85FS on hold, until he could come up with the cash. I mentioned that if the deal fell through, I'd be interested. The deal fell through, and the manager called me late Thursday, asking me if I'd be interested in the gun. Yes. And I went there the next day to buy it. It's really a beauty. I know the previous owner, and he only ran about fifty rounds through it. After the necessary paperwork, off to the range at our club. I cleaned it, slathered everything in TW25 grease, and loaded it up. After a couple of break-in rounds, I ran about 150 more through it. It was flawless, and shot right to point of aim. Not a single failure, and the recoil is almost as mild as the Colt Government .380. It's heavier, but a very well-built pistol. I just need to find the right holster for it, and it will get some carry time.
Don't get me wrong. I love my LWT Commander in .38 Super, but these .380's are excellent pistols.
Three .380's
Linear Mode
