New Beretta Cheetah - update thread name to "Beretta discussion"

[ISCS Yoda]

There has to be a reason that they brought the .380 Cheetah back and it cannot be the green color, which I really like.

80X Cheetah Green | Beretta

© Beretta USA Corp.

It's still too large for a .380, as much as I like that model, and it's VERY expensive comparatively.

So, is it the addition of a rail for a light, the ability to put a red dot sight on it, or .......... just because?

Comments solicited.

 

[Camster]

Cheetah 380s were always expensive compared to other offerings of that caliber. While lower price 380s have hit the market since those days, I don't see the price for the new one as excessive. I just want them to bring back the .22lr version. I shouldn't have sold my model 87 Cheetah.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Cheetah 380s were always expensive compared to other offerings of that caliber. While lower price 380s have hit the market since those days, I don't see the price for the new one as excessive. I just want them to bring back the .22lr version. I shouldn't have sold my model 87 Cheetah.

Mold mdl 71 in .22LR......Was Dad's. When his eyes were good he was deadly with it. I also have a Jaguar in .22lr.

 

[huthike]

Mike, the photo looks like a model 948. I have several Beretta .22’s, and enjoy them all.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I am with Camster on the .22 Cheetah. I purchased on NIB for my wife several years ago with the idea of training her with it and then stepping her up to the model 85 or 84 .380 with all the same ergos. She never took to it and decided on a revolver instead . I really like it and should have kept if but eventually sold it like new. I got scammed on one a couple of years ago trying to purchase one of the net. I lost $700.

 

[Lucnic]

I’m just the opposite. I looked at one but I didn’t like the green color. I wanted black. It was the only color in stock. I’m really intrigued by the Cheetah. It’s a beautiful handgun. I like 380. I’m always surprised by its accuracy.

 

[LVSteve]

Very well built, overpriced, 380 blowback gun with as much perceived recoil as many 9 mm pistols. Fired one at a range once and quickly decided I didn't like the design.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Let me restate - I LIKE THE CHEETAH! Always have. I have always felt it was too big for the caliber but I think they're gorgeous pieces of machinery and excellent firearms. Then, again, what else do we expect from Beretta?

I was very happy to acquire this around 15 or 20 years ago:

For the record, I agree with huthike, that does not look like a Model 71 Beretta, because this is a 70 S:

M948 is more likely.

 

[huthike]

I’ve always liked the Beretta pocket pistols and 22’s better than their full size combat style guns.

 

[Luke Duke]

I had a Cheeta. Super accurate gun. But, when practicing with it I'd always get powder blow back in my face. Found I could conceal my 2.5 model 66 just as easy. Don't get me wrong these things fit your hand so good.

 

[TJm15.38]

I'm sure the Beretta Cheeta is a great gun, but I would put my CZ-83 up against any .380 in this size and category of pistols. I also like the .380 ACP in both the CZ-83 and my Glock 42.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Mike, the photo looks like a model 948. I have several Beretta .22’s, and enjoy them all.

You are correct. Mode 948. Had to get my glasses out to see. Daddy bought it 1950 while in the army. Was his only handgun for many years. A squirrel in a tree top didn't have a chance. My newer one is a mdl 71.

My co-hort has a .380 like my 948 that borrow and shoot occasionally.
Would love have one like Yodas' with adj. sights.

Sorry for the Highjack OP. just like to talk about my Beretta's.

 

[10Mad]

I have one and I love it. Fits my hands perfectly and is one of the few newer guns I’ve seen that lives up to the hype. I have an old 81 in 32ACP for comparison and if you like Cheetahs the new version addresses all the upgrades you could want. The only thing I’m ambivalent to is the rail. I’d prefer it without since I have no intention of mounting a light.
I like DA/SA hammer guns. I have no concern about carrying this gun for self defense as it’s a shooter.

 

[dsf]

I found this nickel version in CA a few years back. It's their FS version. Not quite sure what the FS stands for - Fun Shooter?

 

[Stewboy]

Good to see this thread. Besides my two Model 41s, my favorite .22s are a Beretta 70s (all steel), and an 87. Great pistols to look at and to shoot. I think I have a slight preference for the 70s because of the solid trigger, steel frame and slide, and single action. Very reliable and seem to eat any ammo.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Good to see this thread. Besides my two Model 41s, my favorite .22s are a Beretta 70s (all steel), and an 87. Great pistols to look at and to shoot. I think I have a slight preference for the 70s because of the solid trigger, steel frame and slide, and single action. Very reliable and seem to eat any ammo.

The 70s is a very fine machine, which explains why the Mossad used it for assassinations after the Munich Olympics. One odd aside - years ago I shot a box of .22 LR Remington Thunderers through mine and they shot so dirty that after awhile the gun could barely cycle its action. I never used that ammunition again.

Would love have one like Yodas' with adj. sights.

Indeed, it's excellent.

Sorry for the Highjack OP. just like to talk about my Beretta's.

No hijack - anything about Berettas would be welcome here.

 

[BB57]

The Beretta 80X isn’t cheap and it’s not small or even compact by .380 standards, and there are smaller 9mm micro sized handguns.

Kimber Micro 9 and Beretta 80X:

However it’s also not all that big by Beretta .32 ACP and .380 ACP standards:

It’s also still smaller than some other compact 9mms like the CZ 75 PCR or one of the new compact clone of the Hi Power.

And it’s a lot smaller than a Beretta 92 Compact.

——

The 80X feels good in the hand and that can be a plus compared to some of the smaller .380 ACP pistols.

The double action trigger on the 80X is absolutely superb with a light and very smooth pull. Better yet, when loaded and decocked, the DA trigger pull is also quite short by DA trigger standards.

I looked at one in the local gunshop just to look. But after feeling the trigger on it, I moved from looking to buying.

Now…the obvious negative is that it’s a straight blow back operated 380 ACP that is not far behind some 9mm compact pistols in size or felt recoil. But it’s also no worse than the Kimber Micro 9, and the pistol is still easily carried and concealed in an IWB holster.

It took me a couple months to special order a holster for it from Next Holster, as they had to obtain a mold for the 80X, but that won’t be an issue for subsequent customers and no doubt other holster makers are also getting up to speed with holsters for it.

On the plus side it’s a 13+1 capacity .380 ACP with a 3.9” barrel that allows the cartridge to maximize its potential.

In my experience the 90 gr. XTP will expand and give a little over 12” penetration when launched at a velocity of 1000 fps and the 3.9” barrel gets the velocity up around 1050 fps with a max load.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I do have to admit that I had a Model 81 in .32 ACP and it just did not work for me. I gave it to a friend. Apparently, she's happy with it.

 

[gunbarrel]

I think Beretta is missing out on sales of the Beretta 86 with the tip-up barrel in .380 acp. It's great for those not strong enough to rack the slide of a semi-auto .380 in that size. Girsan came out with a clone of sorts for under $500 (the MC 14T), but it's no Beretta.

Other:

-- I love my CZ 82 in 9mm Makarov (the CZ 83 is the same gun, in .380)

- My favorite 9mm Para is my Beretta M9 (basically, a Beretta 92 FS).

 

[Stewboy]

Great looking pistols everyone. Here's my 70s, 87, along with my 41s.