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  #1  
Old 03-17-2009, 07:27 PM
Wyatt Burp Wyatt Burp is offline
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1934 Beretta 380. Who has one?  
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My buddy who sold me his dad's S&W 13-3 3" (I brought that up before) offered me his Dad's 1934 Beretta 380. It's not super fancy. Shooter grade that I prefer, for only $200.I'd use it just to bounce beer cans around if I can hit them. Anybody own and shoot one of these?
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Old 03-17-2009, 07:27 PM
Wyatt Burp Wyatt Burp is offline
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1934 Beretta 380. Who has one?  
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My buddy who sold me his dad's S&W 13-3 3" (I brought that up before) offered me his Dad's 1934 Beretta 380. It's not super fancy. Shooter grade that I prefer, for only $200.I'd use it just to bounce beer cans around if I can hit them. Anybody own and shoot one of these?
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Old 03-17-2009, 07:56 PM
pred pred is offline
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I have one. The model 1934 is 380, The model 1935 is 32 acp.
Both good shooters and mine has never failed to go bang, There are alot of variations as to where they went to and who used them, For $200 I would buy as many as I could afford, They are heavy and well built. Parts are still available for them, and you cant really go wrong.
Get it and be happy.
I will try and dig up a pic now.
I found a pic with my 1934 in it,,, It's right next to the Beretta 418 in 25 ACP, Plus there are a couple of other older guns there, One of my favorites there is the FB Radom P35, 9mm from 1944.

Peter
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Old 03-18-2009, 04:48 AM
dave b dave b is offline
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1934 Beretta 380. Who has one?  
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I never have shot mine. They look cool though.
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Old 03-18-2009, 05:01 AM
Mustang51 Mustang51 is offline
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1934 Beretta 380. Who has one? 1934 Beretta 380. Who has one? 1934 Beretta 380. Who has one? 1934 Beretta 380. Who has one? 1934 Beretta 380. Who has one?  
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I've had this one for a couple of years. They are well made, and pleasant to shoot...much more so than a PPK/s in that caliber. Mine is on consignment; not for a lack of appreciation for it, but because it's been necessary to cull the heard a bit.
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Old 03-18-2009, 06:01 AM
2152hq 2152hq is offline
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1934 Beretta 380. Who has one?  
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I had a WW2 issue one a long time ago. It was well used, not much to look at as far as finish. Heavy for a pocket pistol IIRC, but was a fun gun to shoot.

The green leather WW2 holster was a bit much though
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Old 03-18-2009, 06:12 AM
conn ak conn ak is offline
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My Dad, now 84, brought a Beretta .32 home from WW2. He was in the South Pacific, but traded with a guy while recovering from malaria. It's a 1937 XV model with the officers stamp of the Italian Air Force-crown over the eagle. Beautiful pistol. Not terribly accurate, but a keeper for sure.
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Old 03-18-2009, 06:16 AM
Texas Star Texas Star is offline
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1934 Beretta 380. Who has one? 1934 Beretta 380. Who has one?  
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I had one. It shot groups about the size of my hand at 25 yards, partly due to a hard trigger pull.

Recoil was fairly stiff for the caliber, I thought. The magazine is a little hard to withdraw when it runs dry. I think the slide snaps shut on its own when the mag comes out. I didn't like that. The safety is awkward. I usually didn't carry cocked and locked, anyway.

Had no problems shooting Remington basic hardball. Don't think I ever tried any hollowpoints in it.

The slide looked kind of plum colored in sunlight, as often happens with old blued guns, especially those made in wartime, where bluing may not have been at optimum temperature. Use a strong flashlight in the store to check for this.

That's why I sold it. I hate plum blue jobs. But they aren't all that way.

I think my gun was from 1944. If you find a postwar commercial example, that might be the best bet for a good shooter that's well made. But those made before late 1944 are usually well finished.

These are tough little guns, meant for a first-line military sidearm. I'm sure they're more durable than the current Beretta DA .380's.

They were very popular with both Axis and Allied troops, when the latter could get their hands on one.

The issue holsters are rather neat, and certainly compact enough.

If I didn't have more pressing needs, I'd cheerfully buy another, if it was in really nice shape.

T-Star
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380, beretta, commercial, leather, military, postwar, ppk, remington, sig arms

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