Opinions & Thoughts on Beretta 84FS?

TTSH · Apr 5, 2018

An "ANIB" nickel-plated Beretta 84FS just popped up for sale near me (i.e., consignment at a local shop) at a relative bargain asking price vs. MSRP and even pretty good vs. supposed street price. While still a little rich for me, if it doesn't sell after a while I'm tempted to make an offer on it... but I don't even know why?

This has got to be the world's flashiest, world's heaviest .380 pistol.

It would seem to have no practical value at all unless you are very recoil-phobic. It would make a great all-metal 9mm compact double stack... except for the fact that it isn't a 9mm.

On the other hand, it's still a Beretta and my twin full-size 92FS pistols and my little baby 950BS might like a compact sibling in the safe with them?

I do remember liking this series of pistols a lot when they first came out 40+ years ago. It's amazing that they are still made in this brave new plastic world of ours. On the other hand, I am decidedly not a nickel-plated kind of guy... having only one such handgun and being far less than happy with it.

But I *am* an all-metal pistol guy after all, and this gun is all-metal and, I must admit, interesting to me in a sick, inexplicable sort of way.

I need help.

Should I make an offer on it or not? It won't be cheap if I do. It's still going to be relatively expensive by my poor old retired man's standards. Any other owners out there? Would anyone else make an offer on such a gun?

Any and all thoughts on this appreciated.

squidsix · Apr 5, 2018

I think they are particularly slick and pretty, and some of the smoothest-shooting .380s on the market. They are remarkably common in civilian and police holsters in Italy, and the three of four of them I shot over there were very accurate and reliable.
A co-worker here in Maine has one (nickel double stack) and carries it most every day as his primary CCW. Previously he carried a Beretta 1934 .32 so to him this is a massively powerful handgun haha!
I like them very much, and if one came along at a reasonable price I would scoop it up in a second. I too have Beretta 92 series guns and think the 85/85 FS pistols are very cool.

CAJUNLAWYER · Apr 5, 2018

Beautiful well made pistol. I ordered one years ago when they still had Kitchen table FFL's Took one look at it and it was HUGE!!! Decided I didn't want it and the FFL said OK, he had a buyer for it so thankfully I got my money back.
Oh, btw, did I say it was HUGE

If Beretta ever came out with this pistol in 9mm with a single stack mag, I'd be on one like stink on shinola!

LVSteve · Apr 5, 2018

I've shot one and was unimpressed. It has more kick and muzzle flip than a 9mm of the same size. That's blowback operation for you. The locked breech (and lighter) Sig 250SC in 380 we have kicks much less.

TTSH · Apr 5, 2018

CAJUNLAWYER said:
If Beretta ever came out with this pistol in 9mm with a single stack mag, I'd be on one like stink on shinola!

And therein lies the problem.

It's a .380.

Supposed improvements in ammo notwithstanding, it still seems to take a whole lot of 9mm rounds to bring down your typical drugged-up perp these days... so what's it going to take with a .380?

I'll admit that I sometimes pocket carry .380 when absolute maximum concealment is the priority, but I prefer 9mm otherwise.

But this would not be a carry gun for me. No way José. Might turn out to be the good wife's favorite pistol. I could easily see that happening.

TTSH · Apr 5, 2018

squidsix said:
I think they are particularly slick and pretty, and some of the smoothest-shooting .380s on the market. They are remarkably common in civilian and police holsters in Italy, and the three of four of them I shot over there were very accurate and reliable.
A co-worker here in Maine has one (nickel double stack) and carries it most every day as his primary CCW. Previously he carried a Beretta 1934 .32 so to him this is a massively powerful handgun haha!
I like them very much, and if one came along at a reasonable price I would scoop it up in a second. I too have Beretta 92 series guns and think the 85/85 FS pistols are very cool.

Thanks for the review!

I'm not surprised that it would have been a popular cop gun in Italy... but I'll bet that plastic is now the order of the day there just as it is here.

No question that I am a Beretta fan. I wish more of them were on our MA approved handgun roster. Turns out that the 84FS *is* on the roster so even if this nickel-plated one sells before I'm in a position to make an offer on it, I could always keep an eye out for a blued one.

petepeterson · Apr 5, 2018

TTSH said:
But this would not be a carry gun for me. No way José. Might turn out to be the good wife's favorite pistol. I could easily see that happening.

I think it's a pride-of-ownership type gun. A conversation piece. If you're not planning on carrying it, then I think it would be a great purchase.
For home defense purposes, 13 rds of .380 will certainly work in a pinch.

TTSH · Apr 5, 2018

petepeterson said:
I think it's a pride-of-ownership type gun. A conversation piece. If you're not planning on carrying it, then I think it would be a great purchase.
For home defense purposes, 13 rds of .380 will certainly work in a pinch.

Once again Pete, I think you have hit the nail right on its head.

It strikes me too as less of a practical gun in today's world and more of something you'd have to justify for other more esoteric reasons.

And I don't have a big problem with that except for the fact that this would not be a cheap purchase.

This would have to take the place of a future 3rd Gen purchase in my "zero-sum game" world.

On the other hand, for right now at least, top condition 3rd Gens are not exactly growing on trees around these parts.

TTSH · Apr 5, 2018

LVSteve said:
I've shot one and was unimpressed. It has more kick and muzzle flip than a 9mm of the same size. That's blowback operation for you.

Yep.

I've been thinking a lot about that.

That was probably the biggest reason that I didn't try to bargain for it right on the spot... and why I'm asking for feedback in this thread. Thank you.

loknload · Apr 5, 2018

Never fired one but it is one model that’s been on my radar scope for purchase.
I’m not a big fan of nickel plated handguns but for the right price I would grab it.
I like my Berettas as well and have two Cougars, one .40 and one .45. To me both are good shooters and I do use the .40 as a CCW.
Purchased a 92s import sometime ago which was one of the Police surplus guns.
I dont think this one ever made it out of the armorers cage? Not a mark on it.
But like I say, I like my Berettas and if the price was right I’d grab it, maybe for a trade for a blued one someday!

squidsix · Apr 5, 2018

TTSH said:
Thanks for the review! I'm not surprised that it would have been a popular cop gun in Italy... but I'll bet that plastic is now the order of the day there just as it is here. :

Actually I was living there only one year ago, and there's a LOT more metal guns in holsters over there than here.
In Italy, civilians ( and private security) can't own "military ammunition" like 9mm, 5.56, etc (whatever happens to be in NATO standard inventory).
.380 and 9x21 are FAR more common there than any other cartridge for pistols, and revolvers are basically not seen at all outside of military use (save for some excellent SAA copies I saw up in the hills).
All that to say that the Beretta 380s are extremely common there, and the carry of .380 is also extremely common.

TTSH · Apr 5, 2018

squidsix said:
Actually I was living there only one year ago, and there's a LOT more metal guns in holsters over there than here.
In Italy, civilians ( and private security) can't own "military ammunition" like 9mm, 5.56, etc (whatever happens to be in NATO standard inventory).
.380 and 9x21 are FAR more common there than any other cartridge for pistols, and revolvers are basically not seen at all outside of military use (save for some excellent SAA copies I saw up in the hills).
All that to say that the Beretta 380s are extremely common there, and the carry of .380 is also extremely common.

Interesting!

I hadn't thought about that... the military ammo exclusion thang... and how that may have played into the extraordinary longevity of the series. Also good to know that our Italian friends haven't given up entirely on all-metal pistols.

We all-metal fans need all the help & support we can get these days.

ColbyBruce · Apr 5, 2018

I had a Beretta 84B, maybe a BB? As everyone else has stated, these are large pistols. I compared it to my S&W 908 one evening and then gave it to my son.

Here is the S&W 908, Walther PP, and the Beretta 84.

TTSH · Apr 5, 2018

loknload said:
Never fired one but it is one model that’s been on my radar scope for purchase.
I’m not a big fan of nickel plated handguns but for the right price I would grab it.
I like my Berettas as well and have two Cougars, one .40 and one .45. To me both are good shooters and I do use the .40 as a CCW.
Purchased a 92s import sometime ago which was one of the Police surplus guns.
I dont think this one ever made it out of the armorers cage? Not a mark on it.
But like I say, I like my Berettas and if the price was right I’d grab it, maybe for a trade for a blued one someday!

I suppose a much smarter thing to do would be to try and snag a 92 Compact INOX w/rail... that is, if I ever find one!

So far, I've just seen pictures!

Anyway, we'll see how it goes. I'll be back up that way tomorrow, so I might stop in that shop and see if I can feel out the owner about the response he is getting to the gun (the 84FS). It seemed to be garnering an awful lot of attention last trip up there, but maybe that is just because it was the newest, shiniest thing in the used gun case.

STCM(SW) · Apr 5, 2018

I'm also a all steel handgun guy, 380 PPK clone, BHP 9mm,
The S&W 9mm shield sits in a basket, haven't shot in several years.

TTSH · Apr 5, 2018

ColbyBruce said:
I had a Beretta 84B, maybe a BB? As everyone else has stated, these are large pistols. I compared it to my S&W 908 one evening and then gave it to my son.

Here is the S&W 908, Walther PP, and the Beretta 84.

Good comparison pix... thank you!

I think the consensus, so far, is clear that the 84FS is a hard gun to justify here in America based on a typical CCW evaluation approach or even a range gun approach... my opinion too and hence this thread.

So why the heck does it still appeal to me?

Or at least would appeal to me at a slightly more attractive price?

No way I can test before buying. No range around here has one in their rental fleet... no surprise at all.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's update.

TTSH · Apr 5, 2018

STCM(SW) said:
I'm also a all steel handgun guy, 380 PPK clone, BHP 9mm,
The S&W 9mm shield sits in a basket, haven't shot in several years.

Yeah, I hear you loud and clear. I already sold my Shield 9 and plan to sell the good wife's Shield 9 very shortly.

I'd have a BHP right now if Browning hadn't gone and discontinued the damn gun.

My best hope now is a Turkish stainless steel clone. Maybe I can be the first old man on my block to get one.

squidsix · Apr 5, 2018

TTSH said:
So why the heck does it still appeal to me? Or at least would appeal to me at a slightly more attractive price?

No way I can test before buying. No range around here has one in their rental fleet... no surprise at all.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's update.

It appeals to you because LOOK at it! It's freakin beautiful!
And it's outstandingly reliable and accurate.
If you think of the Beretta 92FS as a 15-round "service" 9mm, it's HUGE by comparison to the current offerings from H&K, Glock, Sig, etc. HUGE!
But Beretta 92FS is beautiful, reliable, and crazy accurate. Did I mention they are gorgeous?

squidsix · Apr 5, 2018

I am not going to be very helpful in convincing you to pass these up.

petepeterson · Apr 5, 2018

TTSH said:
So why the heck does it still appeal to me?

Because you'll look like Tony Montana...(even though his was a .32)

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