A few years ago, I bought an Israeli surplus 84F. They were quite cheap at the time.
I didn’t envision any serious use for it. I just wanted to try it out.
Well, that changed when I shot it. I found the 84F fit my hand just about perfectly, pointed like a finger, and was more accurate than a 380 has a right to be. Utterly reliable, of course.
That pistol quickly moved to the never sell list, and often rides IWB…like now.

Yes, there are reasons that the Cheetah series of pistols has remained in production for close to 50 years. I, too, own an 84F and I would never sell it.

I really like the look and feel of the 80x. No it’s not quite as good looking as it’s stainless steel non railed big brother the 92X but it’s quite comfy in the hand. It’s also pretty damn good looking IMO.

My two latest pistol purchases. (Range report coming soon)

Looking forward to your range report Stickman. Range day for me is tomorrow; family event is happening today. The Cheetah felt like I was shaking hands with an old friend when first picked up and handled. Yesterday I bought some more ammo for the range test and looked at several other .380s at a different spot than my purchase. The sting my checkbook felt isn't as bad now.

ETA: Today I went to run the Cheetah a little. 130 rounds of mixed ball, SIG V-Crown and Remington JHP. No failures. Recoil was a bit snappy and would have been no problem if not for the sharp checkering on the backstrap. Mine likes a 12 o'clock hold. The Mec-Gar magazine was actually easier to load than the factory Berettas. I carry a pair of el cheapo batting gloves in the bag, and those took care of the checkering bite. Another session is planned later this month before putting it on the job.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rat2306,

Call me an odd duck but I absolutely love the looks of the gun. That said, I felt looks comes secondary to utility so that’s really not important to me. A gun has to work when you need it most.

quote:

Whatever you think may be right for you, but I would say just get a lighter loaded 9mm round, if you have a problem with that aspect, perhaps subsonic and use one of the newer small nines like a 365, Hellcat, G43X etc. You have more flexibility, power potential and higher round count. A long time ago I considered a Beretta model 84, but it just does not make sense

Well thank you for telling me how to think. You'd make an excellent gun counter ninja, just not in my shop.

Recoil is not an issue; my EDC is a G23. I wanted a "sometimes" jeans pocket pistol with great capacity and the Ruger fulfills that role extremely well, better than any current 9mm does. My backup carry Shield+ is too large for that task. My former backup P365 is just about small enough, but it has that trigger bow, and I'll be damned if I'd carry any P365 in a soft pocket holster given the possibilities of incidentally snagging the trigger.

Does anyone know if Beretta or a 3rd party manufacturer makes threaded barrels for the Beretta 80X?

Going off my memory from about a decade ago when I bought my first Cheetah I remember a machine shop could convert existing barrels to threaded barrels.

Would my best bet be to find a spare barrel and have it converted? I don’t want to modify the original barrel on my 80X.

Allegheny Gun Works sells actual threaded barrels for the .380 guns. I'd email them to see if it'll work on the 80X.

https://shop.alleghenyarms.com...retta-barrel-380acp/

That’ll work! Thanks DanH! In the description it mentions compatibility with the 80X.

From their description:
“ Fits all Beretta 80x/81/82/83/84/85, Browning BDA 380, Tisas Fatih pistols. These barrels can be used to convert pistols between .32 & .380. For single-stack guns all that is needed for the caliber swap is a barrel. ”

I wonder if it would need a booster to run reliably suppressed with a 9mm can?

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428]
I wonder if it would need a booster to run reliably suppressed with a 9mm can?

I'm out of help on that one. You might email them and ask. They were one of the few Beretta specialists before Wilson Combat jumped into the game and Langdon came back.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
I wonder if it would need a booster to run reliably suppressed with a 9mm can?

A 'booster', also known as a Nielsen device is intended to be used only in conjunction with firearms which use a tilting barrel. This Beretta is a blowback pistol with a non-tilting barrel.

You can use a silencer on this Beretta which can use a booster, but the booster must be removed and in its place, a 'fixed barrel spacer' is used.

It would be a serious mistake to use a booster with the Beretta BOX.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
I wonder if it would need a booster to run reliably suppressed with a 9mm can?

A 'booster', also known as a Nielsen device is intended to be used only in conjunction with firearms which use a tilting barrel. This Beretta is a blowback pistol with a non-tilting barrel.

You can use a silencer on this Beretta which can use a booster, but the booster must be removed and in its place, a 'fixed barrel spacer' is used.

It would be a serious mistake to use a booster with the Beretta BOX.

Very good to know!

Yesterday I was doing research on whether a Nielsen device/booster would be necessary on a Beretta 92 and the answers were anything but consistent. When I compared the 92 to my 80x I immediately noticed how the 80X barrel does not move backwards. Even though it isn’t “fixed” to the frame like a PPK/s it is considered a fixed barrel with extremely little movement. After looking at the two side by side it makes sense why using a Nielsen device would be a very bad idea on the 80X.

From what I could gather using such a device on a Beretta 92 seems to come down to whether your 92 will function without it. Is this correct?

I'm going to say no and that the Nielsen is designed for "Browning Tilting-Lock Barrels" which covers 99% of all handguns. Both the 8X and 9X Berettas do not use the Browning Tilt method.

From what I have read heavy suppressors can benefit from a Neielson device when attached to a 92. The 92 isn’t exactly a fixed barrel pistol nor is it browning tilt barrel design. The barrel moves backwards but in a straight line. This is probably why I came across so many different opinions from those shooting with suppressors attached to their Beretta 92.

One of the most popular videos on YouTube of a suppressed Beretta 92 is being shot with a booster/Nielson device.

If I use a lightweight (ex. Aurora II) suppressor on my 92, it works fine without a booster.

I normally use a booster with my regular sized suppressors on the 92.

DanH, Thanks again for the link to alleghenyarms! They ship out fast as hell!! My 80x threaded barrel is out for delivery today.

Well the guide rod sticks out too far for the non booster end cap to thread fully onto my 80x. This is what I get for wanting to shoot suppressed a gun that few people have considered silencing.

The way I see it my options are to either file down the part of the guide rod that extends past the end of the slide a few mm (if I can find a replacement so I don’t ruin a good firearm) or shim my suppressor so it won’t thread so far onto the barrel.

Sorry you can't remake a masterpiece weapon without being built as it was the new style just ain't quite like the ole 84.

It will be a FUN little gun when I’m done with it. No, it won’t have the classic lines and aesthetic appeal as the older Cheetah but I’m glad Beretta is making them again because those older guns are not nearly as easy to find or as affordable.

Every time I hold the 80X it does make me think to myself how cool a gun like this would be in 22lr. So yeah, a 22lr Cheetah is likely something I’ll also acquire eventually.

I’d love to see Beretta make a 22lr variant of the 80x. I’d buy one or two of those no doubt!

This is one of those guns I regret not getting with the getting was good.

Also, I THINK CZ made some clones of the 84s and 85s in both 9x17 and 9x18. IIRC I believe those were also nice guns.

No you can't beat these vintage blowback Berettas.

I have one bone to pick though. I don't know why some of you guys would want to ruin this type of platform with serrations, light mounts, threaded barrels, fancy sights, etc. That doesn't make sense to me for the type of gun it represents.

This thread reminds me of a nice East German Makarov. Those aren't quite a beautiful as an original Italian, but there's just something to be said for a regular gun without the shit machined into and hanging off the gun.

Maybe it's a generational thing, rant off.