Beretta 81: A 'Just Because' gun...

[Tamara]

Q:
What's as big as a Glock 19 but only holds 12+1 rounds of .32ACP?

A:
1238


I don't know why, but I've always found the little double-stack .32/.380 Berettas to be... er... cute. Pointless, but cute.

When I saw this one for the price of only two-and-a-half Cheaper Than Dirt used GI mags, I decided to do my duty by taking this dangerous assault weapon off the streets.

[CCT125US]

Very cool. An 84 has been on my want list for some time. I have zero practical use for it. I thought it would go nicely with my BT380, whose only use is to help me consume the bucket of .380 I cranked out.

Let us know how it shoots.

[Chuck Haggard]

You got to thinking about high cap .32s again I see.



Back in the day before things like Glock 19s existed and very few other small semi-auot pistols were reliable at all I knew several very serious dudes who carried one of those in .380


While here and now these seem like retarded guns to own, in some circumstances they make/made a lot of sense. I talk to a couple of coppers in Brazil somewhat regularly. They were regulated by law to only carry a .38 or .380 while off duty, and all security folks and civilians who could get a permit were stuck with the same stupid rules. In an area where bad guys often do muggings in teams of 3-6, a 12-15 shot .380 suddenly makes sense, especially as a BUG to a .38 wheelgun.

[JodyH]

What's the size of your 81 and only holds 7+1 .22LR?
Yup... my Beretta 87 Cheetah.
I love the lines of the sub-caliber Berettas.

[Kevin B.]

Very nice. I have an unexplained, irrational affinity for the .32 ACP.

[BLR]

Nice.

I've always liked the single stack 380 Berettas. Like you said, pointless, but attractive nonetheless.

[jetfire]

Oh god, now you've done it. My irrational lust for ridiculous Berettas has once again been activated. I've always wanted one of those...

[BLR]

I've become a happier person generally, now that I give in more frequently to lust based purchases rather than rational ones.

[pdb]

Well that shouldn't be hard to find magazines for!

Is that frame mounted lever a safety, or a safety / decocker?

[JHC]

I think Charles Bronson as Paul . . . Kersey??? made good use of one in one of the Death Wish sequels.

[JHC]

What's the size of your 81 and only holds 7+1 .22LR?
Yup... my Beretta 87 Cheetah.
I love the lines of the sub-caliber Berettas.

Is that a tip of barrel to boot? I want one. Can I have it? (tip o' the hat to "Sneaky SF Dude" for that line)

[JodyH]

Is that a tip of barrel to boot? I want one. Can I have it? (tip o' the hat to "Sneaky SF Dude" for that line)
Not a tip up barrel, just a really good looking .22 pistol with deep blueing and nice wood.
No.

[LHS]

I have a completely irrational lust for a .22 Cheetah with a threaded barrel, I just can't stomach the asking price.

[orionz06]

How do you attach a 1,100 lumen light to it? What famous internet gun guy uses it?

[Tamara]

How do you attach a 1,100 lumen light to it?

I know, right? I'm having zero luck finding G-10 grips, and when I called the guys at Ameriglo to ask when they were planning on doing I-Dot Pros for the 81, they just laughed and hung up on me.

[JonInWA]

Of course, you realize that your life will not be complete until you get a CZ82/CZ83 in 9 X 18 Makarov, with its polygonal barrel...

Best, Jon

[TCinVA]

That's one of the ones on my "if seen at good price buy immediately" list. Totally irrational, but undeniably cool.

[Beat Trash]

Sometimes having a "Range Toy" isn't such a bad thing. I always liked the Beretta 380's.

Your Beretta 81 would be a fun gun to bounce some empty cans with.

[37th Mass]

Tam,

These guys advertise that they can put night-sights on the model 84; isn't the slide on your 81 the same? It could be an option for you.

http://www.tooltechgunsight.com/index.html

Enjoy your new toy! :cool:

[37th Mass]

I'll just leave this here...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=321798234

http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/321798000/321798234/pix280738327.jpg

[SecondsCount]

Cool gun. Almost anything blued with wood grips always makes me warm inside.

[Zhurdan]

No doubt! Very sexy gun. I'd feel compelled to wear a suit and tie if I was to carry that gun around. ;-)

[NETim]

Growing weaker... can... no.. longer... resist.

The .32 ACP is satisfactory. About as satisfactory as a 4 ounce beer. -- Col. Cooper

[Zhurdan]

Growing weaker... can... no.. longer... resist.

The .32 ACP is satisfactory. About as satisfactory as a 4 ounce beer. -- Col. Cooper

Come on now... aren't there any mostly impractical guns that just get your juices flowing a bit?

[not serious portion]Oh, and didn't you ever do the "Century Club" in college? (100 one ounce shots of beer in 100 minutes) ;) [/not serious portion]

[NETim]

Come on now... aren't there any mostly impractical guns that just get your juices flowing a bit?

[not serious portion]Oh, and didn't you ever do the "Century Club" in college? (100 one ounce shots of beer in 100 minutes) ;) [/not serious portion]

:) Um... sort of...

1246

[Zhurdan]

:) Um... sort of...

1246

See? Now I should say something like "If them ain't belted .22 Ultra Mags blah blah blah..." ;)

[NETim]

See? Now I should say something like "If them ain't belted .22 Ultra Mags blah blah blah..." ;)

It's been a long while since I quoted Cooper. This just seemed like an appropriate time to do it.

Who knows? Maybe I can get a caliber war stirred up? :)

[FotoTomas]

I want one in .25 ACP to go with my Beretta 950 Jetfire. :) Alas I do believe they never made one. :(

[37th Mass]

I just can't stop singing to myself. "She got a .32 gun in her pocket for fun, she got a razor in her shoe...". :p

[Corey]

A nice fun gun. I have an 84BB, single stack .380 with frame mounted safety that does not decock. Has black plastic grips instead of proper wood but it is a sweet looking and sweet shooting .380. Borderline practical due to its size, but I can pocket carry it with some pants. Other than that it is a range toy and conversation piece.



Of course, you realize that your life will not be complete until you get a CZ82/CZ83 in 9 X 18 Makarov, with its polygonal barrel...

Best, Jon

Just to be greedy I have three of those (anytime I find one for less than $100 I take it) and a pair of Makarov PM pistols. Fun guns to shoot and very rugged. I even shot a couple of IDPA based fun shoots with a PM. One of these days I will do a 2000 round challenge with a CZ and a Makarov, just the cost of ammo holding me back as I can't bring myself to handload for them.

[Dagga Boy]

Beretta Mod 84's scare the living crap out of me. I had to shoot the the last guy who pulled one on me...........with a man caliber gun......from Weaver......:cool:.:;):p:)

[Corey]

If that's how your going to be, then I'm not going to show you my toys. :p

[Moshe Dayan]

Beretta pistols have a certain elegance to them. I have a .32 ACP Model 70 "Puma" that is one of my more attractive handguns.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a248/LegumeOfTerror/Model%2070/IMG_1014.jpg

[Rappahannock]

I've got and enjoy shooting both a 85 and a 84 and like them a lot, will even admit freely to carrying them occasionally.
As a Public Service Announcement, double-stack Mec-Gar magazines for the 84 can still be found, reasonably priced, at Numrich Arms.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/Guevera/f912693e.jpg

[SteveK]

Love my 84. Dead sexy and second only to the PPK. I never carry it, but it's mine dammit...mine...all mine.

[TNK]

Very nice. I have an unexplained, irrational affinity for the .32 ACP.

Me too.