I am a big fan of “Old School” .380’s. I have plenty of experience with the Walther PPK and Sig P230. I know there are smaller and lighter options out there but I really enjoy the old school heft of a DA/SA .380. That being said, I have never had the opportunity to use a Beretta 84FS Cheetah. If you have experience with this gun please share your experience and/or perspective. I may add to the collection at some point.

I have the Model 81 - the .32 ACP that holds fewer rounds than the .380 version. I love it - elegant and easy to shoot.

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I own the single stack version, the 85fs. I had a black finish, and now have this nickel one.

It’s bigger than the PPK, but identical in length as the SIG p232 (both of which I’ve owned in the past). The double stack version 84 is thicker.

Out of the three, I prefer the Beretta 80 series. Reassembly is tricky but once you get the hang of its fine. Make sure to refresh the recoil spring often as the alloy frame will get beat up.

They are good guns.

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I had one at one time and loved it but found it too large for concealed carry. They're very well made and very accurate. I do prefer a PPK, although I don't own or carry a .380 anymore. Again they are great guns enjoy them.

There's another thread out there about this pistol. Great gun but with the blow back design and warm SD loads it will beat the web of your hand.
For SD its fine. If you have the need to go blasting - it will get your notice after about 10-15 shots - IMO.

Is it straight blow back?
I thought Beretta used a Browning style link.


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Try a CZ-82 or CZ-83. Much better fighting pistols.

I have owned the 84, 85 and much scarcer 86 with tip up barrel. I like them for their accuracy, design and heft and they just look sharp. I don’t try to CC with it but I find them very nice shooters I like the CZ 83 as well as the PPK. Then the old old school Colt model 1908 hammerless. My wife carries and shoots the Sig P238 very well.


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They are straight blowback and kick more than a Kahr CW9.

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I have a Model 84 that I bought new in 2010. The pistol is absolutely reliable and accurate enough. If you're familiar with the PPK, then you know what a little hand biter the .380 can be. The Beretta is a little better because of its bulk. Small hands will have difficulty cycling the action. The big negative on this gun was the price. I think that there are used ones out there in the $350 range.

This pistol is no longer in Beretta's on-line catalogue, so it may be out of production. I don't think it was ever very popular in the United States.

I use to CC the 84 a lot. So much so, I had a gunsmith remove the front sight, mill in a dovetail and install a Trijicon front sight. I also had him enlarge the rearsight opening. This reduced accuracy a little, but i gained faster targer acquisition in both daytime and in lowlight situations while still being accurate enough. I carried it in an IWB holster and loaded it with Buffalo Bore 90 grain +P jhp bullets. It is in the same size catagory as my S&W 6906, Colt Officer 1911 LW, and Sig 229 Carry(3.5" barrel). Recoil never bothered me, I also shot(loaded and shot at range seldom) the Colt with 185 grain +P. I love the looks and its feel in my hand. You just have to realize that it is a .380 and know its capability and limitations. I don't understand why people think a .380 has to be chambered in a subcompact pocket pistol. While American police officers were carrying a 6 shot, 4 inch, .38 Special revolver, many European police officers were carrying the 84 or similar pistols in .380.