Beretta Model 84 f .380 acp Review

beetlefang · October 11, 2002, 01:23 PM

Hi,

I have recently purchased a new Beretta Model 84f .380acp. I haven't seen many internet reviews concerning this pistol - maybe it's all common knowledge, nevertheless, here's my short experince with it so far....

Let me preface this info with - I'm not an armorer, just an enthusiast so my terminology may be off.

Beretta Model 84 f .380 acp comes with 2 magazines (10 shots each), gun lock that fits through the slide, two bore brushes one soft one copper, plastic foam lined case, manual.

Price - $500 US

Out of the box the pistol looks nice. The slide is difficult to pull back and the magazines are EXTREMELY difficult to load to full capacity. So difficult in fact, that after four bruised thumbs (mine and my father in laws) I made an oak tool to assist in loading. I've recently posted concerning the stiff magazine springs, and received advice to load the magazines to limber the springs. After about a week of loading and the following shooting, the magazines can now be easily loaded to full capacity without tools, curse words etc...

So far the pistol has fired a little over two hundred rounds - 150 "winchester 380 auto winclean" and 60 "gold dot jacketed hollowpoints". All bullets were fired after filling the magazines to full capacity.

The pistol has shot all the of the rounds without any type of problem - no jamming, no failure to feed, no stove piping (although that this woud probably be hard to do with the open slide). The gold dot seemed to be the 'dirtier' of the two cartridges - leaving a coating of blackened soot on the feeding ramp, while the winchester seemed to leave a silver clean feeding ramp after shooting.

The pistol was fired from standing and kneeling without the use of a rest and with double action first shot and single action follow-up shots. The ranges were 7 and 15 yards and the targets were 5 1/2 inch Shoot n C black stick on targets. Although I'm not a good shot - I can easily hit the target at both ranges. My groups seem to fill approximately 1/4 of the target and improve with every magazine. A real pistoleer could shoot this weapon much more accurately I'm sure.

After shooting and cleaning the pistol the slide is much easier to pull, and the magazines can now be loaded without a thumb bruise or finger strain. Maybe the pistol just needed some break in tlc to limber it up.

I'm satisfied with the pistol and look forward to shooting it a lot more.

-Beetle

Omaha-BeenGlockin · October 11, 2002, 04:45 PM

I bought one about six-months ago NIB---but mine was only $319---kept it for about 2-weeks till I figured out I REALLY don't like blow back pistols---well, other than .22's. Sold off a Sig P230 to my buddy for the same reason---he loves it---I hated it.

Nothing really wrong with it---just too snappy recoil for what it was and for my tastes----I've got mini 9mm's that kick less---where's the .380 Colt Gov't when you need it??

Stephen A. Camp · October 11, 2002, 05:13 PM

Hello and thanks for the report. I don't recall ever seeing one of these malfunction with even close-to-decent and better ammo.

Best.

VVG · October 11, 2002, 05:28 PM

I had an 84BB for years - 13 round mags. Never hiccuped once. Paid $190, sold it last yearfor $340, so it was good to me. Lots of nice features - safety goes on whether cocked or not, ambidextrous safety and reversible mag release, chamber loaded indicator you could feel in the dark, decent sights, good trigger, almost no recoil.

Baron Holbach · October 14, 2002, 07:27 AM

Beetlefang, here is the solution to your sore fingers:

http://www.magloader.com/

I ordered the small size Magloader but the company shipped me all three sizes -- small, medium, and large. Ever since I began using the small Magloader for loading my semiautomatic clips, shooting autopistols has been a joy -- and no more sore fingers.

Peter M. Eick · October 14, 2002, 08:21 AM

The only thing to watch for on your 84 is when you replace your recoil spring. The default one from wolff is the wrong size. He says so in his catalog (it is for the older models) but I had to prove to myself he is right. Order your springs from beretta.

By the way, I cannot remember the last failure to fire in mine.....

Sierra · October 14, 2002, 09:31 AM

That whole family of Beretta 380's (84, 85, 86) and the very similar Brownings are all outstanding and are considered by many to be the best of the breed. While I own the Model 87, which has the appearance of the 85 but is chambered in .22, I have experienced very few malfunctions and a friend of mine who owns a 85 has never had a malfunction. Good choice.

Tommy Vercetti · June 15, 2011, 09:24 PM

I have a very pretty polished blue Beretta 84BB in the safe somewhere

aarondhgraham · June 16, 2011, 09:21 AM

Congratulations on your new handgun.

There's just something about the Cheetah models that attracts the eye,,,
They are kind of like a K-frame in that they just snuggle right into your grip.

Now all you need is a Model 87 (.22 LR) to compliment your Model 84.
http://aarondgraham.com/pics/allegra.jpg

Does your Model 84 have the round trigger guard like my Model 87?,,,
Or is it the squared off "combat" style version?

Aarond

**Mike Irwin** · June 16, 2011, 11:24 AM

Nearly NINE years old, guys.

Count it, nine.

And the OP hasn't been here in going on a year.

I can't even begin to fathom why a 9 year old thread would be restarted with such an innocuous comment.

October 11, 2002, 01:23 PM	#1
beetlefang Member Join Date: October 4, 2002 Posts: 41	Beretta Model 84 f .380 acp Review Hi, I have recently purchased a new Beretta Model 84f .380acp. I haven't seen many internet reviews concerning this pistol - maybe it's all common knowledge, nevertheless, here's my short experince with it so far.... Let me preface this info with - I'm not an armorer, just an enthusiast so my terminology may be off. Beretta Model 84 f .380 acp comes with 2 magazines (10 shots each), gun lock that fits through the slide, two bore brushes one soft one copper, plastic foam lined case, manual. Price - $500 US Out of the box the pistol looks nice. The slide is difficult to pull back and the magazines are EXTREMELY difficult to load to full capacity. So difficult in fact, that after four bruised thumbs (mine and my father in laws) I made an oak tool to assist in loading. I've recently posted concerning the stiff magazine springs, and received advice to load the magazines to limber the springs. After about a week of loading and the following shooting, the magazines can now be easily loaded to full capacity without tools, curse words etc... So far the pistol has fired a little over two hundred rounds - 150 "winchester 380 auto winclean" and 60 "gold dot jacketed hollowpoints". All bullets were fired after filling the magazines to full capacity. The pistol has shot all the of the rounds without any type of problem - no jamming, no failure to feed, no stove piping (although that this woud probably be hard to do with the open slide). The gold dot seemed to be the 'dirtier' of the two cartridges - leaving a coating of blackened soot on the feeding ramp, while the winchester seemed to leave a silver clean feeding ramp after shooting. The pistol was fired from standing and kneeling without the use of a rest and with double action first shot and single action follow-up shots. The ranges were 7 and 15 yards and the targets were 5 1/2 inch Shoot n C black stick on targets. Although I'm not a good shot - I can easily hit the target at both ranges. My groups seem to fill approximately 1/4 of the target and improve with every magazine. A real pistoleer could shoot this weapon much more accurately I'm sure. After shooting and cleaning the pistol the slide is much easier to pull, and the magazines can now be loaded without a thumb bruise or finger strain. Maybe the pistol just needed some break in tlc to limber it up. I'm satisfied with the pistol and look forward to shooting it a lot more. -Beetle

October 11, 2002, 04:45 PM	#2
Omaha-BeenGlockin Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2001 Location: U.S.S.A. Posts: 854	I bought one about six-months ago NIB---but mine was only $319---kept it for about 2-weeks till I figured out I REALLY don't like blow back pistols---well, other than .22's. Sold off a Sig P230 to my buddy for the same reason---he loves it---I hated it. Nothing really wrong with it---just too snappy recoil for what it was and for my tastes----I've got mini 9mm's that kick less---where's the .380 Colt Gov't when you need it?? __________________ I take the leech that's bleeding me Can't stop to save my soul I take the leash that's leading me -------Metallica

October 14, 2002, 07:27 AM	#5
Baron Holbach Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2002 Location: Maryland Posts: 238	Magloader for your 84F Beetlefang, here is the solution to your sore fingers: http://www.magloader.com/ I ordered the small size Magloader but the company shipped me all three sizes -- small, medium, and large. Ever since I began using the small Magloader for loading my semiautomatic clips, shooting autopistols has been a joy -- and no more sore fingers.

October 14, 2002, 08:21 AM	#6
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,571	The only thing to watch for on your 84 is when you replace your recoil spring. The default one from wolff is the wrong size. He says so in his catalog (it is for the older models) but I had to prove to myself he is right. Order your springs from beretta. By the way, I cannot remember the last failure to fire in mine..... __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!

June 15, 2011, 09:24 PM	#8
Tommy Vercetti Senior Member Join Date: June 26, 2004 Location: Fairhope, Alabama Posts: 1,109	I have a very pretty polished blue Beretta 84BB in the safe somewhere __________________ "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." Sinclair Lewis, (It Can't Happen Here, 1935) "Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

October 11, 2002, 05:13 PM	#3
Stephen A. Camp Staff In Memoriam Join Date: April 17, 1999 Posts: 2,570	Hello and thanks for the report. I don't recall ever seeing one of these malfunction with even close-to-decent and better ammo. Best.

October 11, 2002, 05:28 PM	#4
VVG Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 645	I had an 84BB for years - 13 round mags. Never hiccuped once. Paid $190, sold it last yearfor $340, so it was good to me. Lots of nice features - safety goes on whether cocked or not, ambidextrous safety and reversible mag release, chamber loaded indicator you could feel in the dark, decent sights, good trigger, almost no recoil.

October 14, 2002, 09:31 AM	#7
Sierra Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 1998 Location: Portland,OR,USA Posts: 335	That whole family of Beretta 380's (84, 85, 86) and the very similar Brownings are all outstanding and are considered by many to be the best of the breed. While I own the Model 87, which has the appearance of the 85 but is chambered in .22, I have experienced very few malfunctions and a friend of mine who owns a 85 has never had a malfunction. Good choice.

June 16, 2011, 09:21 AM	#9
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 6,388	Sweet pistols, aren't they,,, Congratulations on your new handgun. There's just something about the Cheetah models that attracts the eye,,, They are kind of like a K-frame in that they just snuggle right into your grip. Now all you need is a Model 87 (.22 LR) to compliment your Model 84. http://aarondgraham.com/pics/allegra.jpg Does your Model 84 have the round trigger guard like my Model 87?,,, Or is it the squared off "combat" style version? Aarond __________________ Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Combat: "A Silent Cry" Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

June 16, 2011, 11:24 AM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,306	Nearly NINE years old, guys. Count it, nine. And the OP hasn't been here in going on a year. I can't even begin to fathom why a 9 year old thread would be restarted with such an innocuous comment. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.