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

[NCBeagle]

New Beretta Cheetah

The new Cheetah is frustrating. It looks really good but fills no specific role, for me. Feels and looks good in hand. 13+ rounds of .380 is good firepower. Probably an easy shooter. But, I do not collect Berettas and would probably not carry it. Handled this one today at Carolina Sporting Arms in Charlotte. It is really sharp. I may give in and buy it. It is classy. Comes with a cool case.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Beretta missed the mark on reintroducing the 380 Cheetah. Looks to be extremely well built but doesn't fill the niche it should. A more shootable 380.

The Ruger Security-380 does. Sure the Beretta is a whole nother level of higher build quality. But it's a blowback that will deliver more felt recoil over other larger 380s like the EZ or Ruger. It's price also puts it into a category that will exclude most new shooters. Most beginners aren't going to be wanting to spend $700 and up for a niche gun that won't be as comfortable to shoot.

Yes, the Beretta is a better built gun, but something like the Ruger Security-380 is likely to better for women, arthritic, crippled or generally infirm shooters and cost less than half the price.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Is that a blowback or locked breech design?? Pretty gun, I like the green, but too big for a 380. I think I just answered my question, gun that big has to be a blowback.
That is why I like the S&W BG 380 so much. Gawd I wish they would make it a MAX like Ruger did with their .380

 

[Echo40]

.380 ACP pistols come in two major size ranges: Painful to shoot or pleasant to shoot.

Try shooting 100 rounds through a Ruger LCP in one hand, followed by an additional 100 rounds through the Beretta 80X Cheetah in another, then tell me if you still think that the 80X is too big for a .380.

Then tell me which one you'll be taking with you on your next range trip.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

.380 ACP pistols come in two major size ranges: Painful to shoot or pleasant to shoot.

Try shooting 100 rounds through a Ruger LCP in one hand, followed by an additional 100 rounds through the Beretta 80X Cheetah in another, then tell me if you still think that the 80X is too big for a .380.

Then tell me which one you'll be taking with you on your next range trip.

All true, I agree - - - if one is masochistic enough in one range session to put 100 rounds through a pocket-sized pistol like the LCP.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Speaking of Beretta 92Ss, here's an Italian-made job with heel-based magazine release and lanyard loop; police surplus imported into America some years ago.

As it is marked "92S" my question is does FS for Fixed Sights only show up on M92s made here in the USofA?

 

[Stewboy]

.380 ACP pistols come in two major size ranges: Painful to shoot or pleasant to shoot.

Try shooting 100 rounds through a Ruger LCP in one hand, followed by an additional 100 rounds through the Beretta 80X Cheetah in another, then tell me if you still think that the 80X is too big for a .380.

Then tell me which one you'll be taking with you on your next range trip.

On this score, can anyone tell me about how a 70s (all steel) in .380 feels at the range? I've been hearing the siren call of that gun b/c I like my .22 so much.

 

[SF VET]

About 15 years ago, found this Browning. at my LGS, bought it, got some extra mags for it, and had a gunsmith drill a tiny hole and fill it with white paint on the front sight, making it a whole lot easier to see. Back before the micro 9's were coming out, I did carry it a few times. Now, it is a bit big for a 380, but this little 380 was just a fun gun to shoot. Years ago, gave it to my daughter in law, and I don't think she has shot it yet. SF VET
[url=https://postimg.cc/Dm5Dw5pc] [/URL]

 

[LVSteve]

.380 ACP pistols come in two major size ranges: Painful to shoot or pleasant to shoot.

Try shooting 100 rounds through a Ruger LCP in one hand, followed by an additional 100 rounds through the Beretta 80X Cheetah in another, then tell me if you still think that the 80X is too big for a .380.

Then tell me which one you'll be taking with you on your next range trip.

The LCP for 3-4 mags to keep my hand in, and any medium locked breech 380 because they are always ahead of the Beretta Cheetah. Yes, I dislike the Cheetah that much.

 

[ladder13]

I’d buy, if looking, a Girsan MC 14T

 

[NCBeagle]

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.

View attachment 657933

View attachment 657935

That CZ-83 is sharp. I dig it. Will probably look for one of those.

 

[Nonno]

On this score, can anyone tell me about how a 70s (all steel) in .380 feels at the range? I've been hearing the siren call of that gun b/c I like my .22 so much.

Most people find the 70s very ergonomic and they point naturally. I'm the exception. I was never comfortable with mine (I had both the .22 and .380). The short grips just didn't fit my hand. They shot ok, reasonably tight groups, but I didn't enjoy them, so I sold them.

My Cheetahs, on the other hand, at wonderful to shoot, I don't find them particularly snappy, and have no problem putting 100 rounds through them at a range session, followed by 50 rounds of .38 in a wheel gun.

 

[Triggernosis]

.380 ACP pistols come in two major size ranges: Painful to shoot or pleasant to shoot.

Try shooting 100 rounds through a Ruger LCP in one hand, followed by an additional 100 rounds through the Beretta 80X Cheetah in another, then tell me if you still think that the 80X is too big for a .380.

Then tell me which one you'll be taking with you on your next range trip.

This is my best-shooting (most comfortable) .380.
GOGTV 2017 - Browning 1911-380 - YouTube

It's noticeably softer shooting than my Sig P232 (and is almost identical in size), my Beretta 84FS, and the Ruger LCP.

 

[Triggernosis]

Speaking of Beretta 92Ss, here's an Italian-made job with heel-based magazine release and lanyard loop; police surplus imported into America some years ago.

As it is marked "92S" my question is does FS for Fixed Sights only show up on M92s made here in the USofA?

I don't think FS means "fixed sights". In the Beretta 92 line, the "F" was used to designate the U.S. Government model that had some changes done to it over the previous "S" and "SB" models Then, the 92FS came along, which has an enlarged hammer pin that fits into a groove on the underside of the slide. The main purpose is to stop the slide from flying off the frame to the rear if it cracks. This was in response to reported defective slides during U.S. military testing.

So, I'm guessing the 84FS is the same as the 92FS. Just theorizing, though.

 

[alwslate]

Speaking of Beretta 92Ss, here's an Italian-made job with heel-based magazine release and lanyard loop; police surplus imported into America some years ago.

As it is marked "92S" my question is does FS for Fixed Sights only show up on M92s made here in the USofA?

The FS of the US or Italian made 92FS military model does not stand for fixed sights. The S was added to the Model 92F when the hammer pivot pin was given an enlarged head that rides in a slot in the slide. It was changed to prevent the rear section from flying backward if the slide were to ever break as a very few test samples did during the development of the gun. So the S stands for the slide safety.

 

[gunbarrel]

Thank you, alwslate! I remember when the military was testing the Beretta M9 for possible replacement of the M1911 & M1911-A1and a number of slides failed (cracked), and Beretta made that modification.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Thank you for the FS clarification.

The main purpose is to stop the slide from flying off the frame to the rear if it cracks. This was in response to reported defective slides during U.S. military testing.

In 1994 I was assigned to CENTCOM in Tampa, FL, for a few weeks. Straight up the road about 15 minutes or so was an indoor range. I went there a couple of times using borrowed range guns. During one of my visits I borrowed a Beretta 92x (I have no idea what letters it carried) and, sure enough, after maybe 25 rounds that slide cracked clear through. You could see daylight through it. Interestingly, however, as a range gun, there was no telling how many thousands of rounds went through it before I got to shoot it. Still, that AIN'T supposed to happen.

Laughably, I borrowed another of their range guns and that one broke whilst I was shooting as well.

I was done after that!

 

[alwslate]

The issue of slide separations of a few guns during the testing process was traced to a non standard batch of steel. Afterwards Beretta did extensive testing of the slides of 92FS pistols and declared the slide to have a service life of at least 80,000 rounds. This is far greater than the expected life of the frame so it was a moot point. But to reassure buyers the enlarged head of the hammer pivot pin remains.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

.380 ACP pistols come in two major size ranges: Painful to shoot or pleasant to shoot.

Try shooting 100 rounds through a Ruger LCP in one hand, followed by an additional 100 rounds through the Beretta 80X Cheetah in another, then tell me if you still think that the 80X is too big for a .380.

Then tell me which one you'll be taking with you on your next range trip.

Agree with you 100%. Next question....Which one are you going to slip into your pocket for discreet carry. Tradeoffs abound. If I am going to actually carry a gun as big as the Beretta 80X it will be something in 9mm-like the Sig P365

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I love everything about the Beretta 92FS EXCEPT the fact that it is so big. Grip is way too big for my hands although the new Vertec Grip profile cures this problem. Since I've got a M&P full size and the P365, both of which fit my hands perfectly I no longer can justify another 9