Beretta 87 Cheetah .22cal

[Handgunner00]

Am considering the purchase of a lightly used Beretta 87 Cheetah in .22 caliber (photo attached), but online handgun forums cite mixed reviews on this pistol. Any Firing Line members who have experience with this Beretta care to offer an opinion?

Peter

[mk70ss]

I don't know who would not rate the Cheetah as one of the premier .22 handguns. They are superbly made with great fit and finish. I have had two and both function flawlessly and were very accurate. This is the one I still have.

[Carmady]

I don't know who would not rate the Cheetah as one of the premier .22 handguns.

Somebody who wants to buy one?

[Handgunner00]

Thanks, mk70ss, for your positive assessment and for the spectacular photo of you Beretta 87 Cheetah. This is what I had hoped to hear.

Peter

[James K]

IIRC, the whole Beretta Series 80 line was also made (and marked) for FN, who sold them under the FN name and in the US under the Browning Arms label. So, again IIRC, in some places, two Beretta lines were competing against each other under different labels!

Jim

[Jaywalker]

I bought mine in 1993 and it has not once failed to shoot: no failures to feed, no failures to fire, no failures to eject. It's hard to imagine a better 22 pistol.

[Venom1956]

I'll take it if u don't want it. I was waiting for a ,22 to arrive when they announced they wouldn't be importing them anymore I got a
380 easily but I couldn't get my hands on a 22 for South of 1k it was a difficult gun to walk away from

[carguychris]

Originally Posted by James K

IIRC, the whole Beretta Series 80 line was also made (and marked) for FN, who sold them under the FN name and in the US under the Browning Arms label.

AFAIK they did not do this with the .22s, only with the double-stack centerfire models.

The Browning BDA 380* was based on the .380 Beretta 84 and takes the same magazines, but has a closed-top slide, spur hammer, and a slide-mounted decocker/safety in place of the Beretta's frame-mounted safety (later changed to a frame-mounted decocker/safety on the F and FS versions). It was built alongside the Berettas on the same Italian production line, and is fairly common in the United States.

FNH also offered a similar model for European police sales called the FN 140 DA. It had black plastic grip panels rather than the pretty wood ones on the BDA 380, but was otherwise similar. It is sometimes found in a .32 Auto / 7.65 Browning chambering, equivalent to the Beretta 81. The 140 DA was never sold new by FN Browning in North America, but some have found their way to the U.S. as police surplus.

*The BDA 380 is not to be confused with the Hi-Power BDA (a DA/SA BHP variant) nor the BDA 9, 38, or 45, which were early SIG Sauer P226 variants rebadged and sold in the U.S. as Brownings before SIG Sauer established their own import company.

[aarondhgraham]

It's pricey as all get-out,,,
But it's a great performing handgun.

Here's mine with her matching model 85.



Another owner described it as,,,
"A real pistol that happens to be chambered for .22 LR."

Mine sees a lot of range time,,,
It's just a joy to shoot.

Aarond

.

[Handgunner00]

There is no doubt that the Beretta series 80 pistols do photograph well, as you guys have demonstrated in these threads. Well, the hunt is on and I fully expect to pay at or near a thousand bucks for a Beretta 87 Cheetah at 98% or better. Anyone ever seen the very rare Beretta 87bb/long barrel, which is the Cheetah .22 cal with an extended 5.9" barrel?

Peter

[rock185]

Handgunner, I bought a new 87, years ago, before they started putting all the extra lettering on the right slide of the slide and frame. Quality, beautifully finished, reliable little .22, that I should never have sold. I agree that one might expect to pay upwards of $1K for one now days.....

[Handgunner00]

Yep, we all have a list of firearms that, in hindsight, we deeply regret having sold. My chief regret was a magnificent nickel Browning BDA in 99% condition with three factory nickel mags.

Peter

[Pilot]

I bought one LNIB a few years ago, and the stellar reports are true. Buy once, cry once. I highly recommend them. The only .22 I shoot more is my CZ Kadet.

[ferrarif1fan]

I've had a Beretta 87 for years. Over priced? Probably. Exceptional? Definitely!

I shoot mine off hand at stuff laying on the 50 yard berm at a local range. Using bulk ammo, it's not difficult to keep shots within 6" or less of what I'm shooting at. Not bad from a 3.8" barrel.

It is one .22 pistol I'll probably never part with. They look beautiful and ooze quality.

[Handgunner00]

Just bought a NIB Italy-manufactured Beretta 87 Cheetah thanks to Beretta's recent reintroduction of this fine handgun into the US market. Question: Any .22 cal ammunition not recommended for the 87 Cheetah - specifically referring to the high velocity rounds like the CCI Stinger?

Peter

[rock185]

Congrats, I can't remember if I tried Stingers in my 87 or not. New production is good news. Hope you'll post some photos of your new acquisition. Sure like to see how the new production looks compared with my 87 years ago.

[Handgunner00]

Thanks. Will work on photos, rock185.

Peter

[Handgunner00]

Photos attached. The unpopular "billboard" notices are still prominent on the right slide. Not a big deal to me - the fit and finish are extraordinary, as expected. Heading to the range this week.

[Handgunner00]

One more photo.

[rock185]

That is nice!

[Sgt Pepper]

Man, that is sweet!

[Handgunner00]

Took it to the range today and confirmed what I had heard on this Forum - the Beretta 87 Cheetah is a tack-driver with accuracy that reminds me of the S&W 41 I owned years ago. This one is a keeper!

Peter

[redlightrich]

Hello Handgunner00. I read that you say they have re-introduced the Beretta 87 Cheetah 22? I see no information about this on their site. It seems like their site is a second priority to them though.

By the way, beautiful gun you have bought there!!!!


Do you have any links to this information? Is there a current "part number" or "model number" that I can find or you can supply?

I have been strongly considering this pistol.

Thank you

Rich

[Handgunner00]

Rich: Saw a thread on this Forum, or maybe it was the Beretta Forum, indicating the 87 Cheetah was coming back in 2017, so I asked my local gun dealer. He confirmed the fact. Then called Beretta USA, who also confirmed the 87 Cheetah, manufactured in Italy, was back in the US market with an MSRP of $950. The Beretta rep had no explanation why the 87 had not yet been featured in the Beretta Website. You asked about model and parts numbers for my 87 Cheetah. Attached is a snapshot of the box label with several identifying numbers that may help your research.

Peter

[redlightrich]

Thank you very much. Just today, I noticed a few for sale on G broker. Yes indeed!! It is back, and I now have my chance for a brand new one. I came very close to buying a used one about a year ago, for near the same price.

Happy days

Rich