Beretta Cheetah

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Browning BDA-380
Beretta 84F-JH01.jpg
The Beretta 84 Cheetah.

Type semi-automatic pistol
Land of Origin Italy
Specifications
Length 172 mm
185 mm (86)
225 mm (87 Target)
173 mm (BDA)
Barrel length 97 mm
111 mm (86)
150 mm (87 Target)
Weight 685 g (81)
660 g (84FS)
620 g (85FS)
660 g (86)
570 g (87)
835 g (87 Target)
640 g (BDA)
Cartridge .32 ACP (81 series)
.380 ACP (84, 85, 86 series and BDA)
.22 LR (87 series)
Action blowback, double action

Feed Mag size by model:
  • 12 rounds (81)
  • 13 rounds (84)
  • 8 rounds (82, 85, 86, 87 Cheetah)
  • 10 rounds (87 Target)
Sights iron sights
Service History
In service 1981-present
Used by see Users
Production History
Design Date 1975
Manufacturer Beretta, Browning
Produced 1976 - present
Variants see text
The Beretta Cheetah, also known with its original model name of "Series 80", is a line of compact blowback operated semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. They were introduced in 1976 and include models in .32 ACP (Model 81), .380 ACP (9 mm Short) (Model 84, 85 and 86) and .22 LR (Model 87).

It was also marketed in North America as the Browning BDA-380 from 1977-1997.

Contents

Variants

BB models

Improvements to the original Cheetah resulted in the BB suffix (e.g. 81BB). These models have a loaded chamber indicator and firing pin safety. Later BB models replaced the original wooden grips with black plastic grips.

FS models

Current production models are in the FS configuration (e.g. 81FS). This includes a restyled trigger guard (notably square shaped) similar in appearance to current Beretta 92 models that allow for a finger hold on the front of the trigger guard. Previous models have a rounded trigger guard. A decocker was integrated into the safety; when the safety-lever is manipulated to safe, the hammer is also lowered.


81 and 82

These two models are chambered for the .32 ACP cartridge. The 81 has a double stacked magazine with 12 round capacity, while the 82 has a single stacked magazine with 8 round capacity and resultant thinner grips.

84 and 85

These two models are chambered for the .380 ACP (9 mm Short) cartridge. The 84 has a double stacked magazine with 13 round capacity, while the 85 has a single stacked magazine with 8 round capacity and resultant thinner grips. It has a four inch barrel, and has an ambidextrous frame-mounted De-cock/safety. The frame is alloy. It is available in both black and satin nickel finishes, with plastic or wood grips.

86

In 1986 Beretta introduced the model 86 which differs significantly from other models in the series, because it has a redesigned front end with a tip-up barrel that hinges in front of the trigger guard. This allows the shooter to load a cartridge directly into the chamber if they do not wish to operate the slide.

87

There are two distinct 87 models both chambered for .22 LR. The standard model (introduced in 1986) is similar to other models, but the 87 Target (introduced in 2000) has a longer barrel and slide (that can accept optical sights) and is single action only.

Browning BDA-380

Historical data: Browning BDA-380[1]
Date Historical Information Serial No. Data
1977-1997 In 1975 Browning standardized its serial number identification which it followed until 1998. S/N Example:

425RR01001

This would be a BDA-380 pistol, made in 1977 with the serial number 01001.

1. BDA-380 Type 425=BDA 380
2. Date of Manufacture is a two digit code

3. Serial Number beginning with 01001 at the start of each year.

Z=1
Y=2
X=3
W=4
V=5
T=6
R=7
P=8
N=9
M=0

The Browning BDA 380 is a blowback operated, double action semi automatic pistol. It has aluminium alloy frame and steel slide. Ambidextrous slide mounted safety switch disconnects the trigger from the hammer when engaged. The pistol featured low profile fixed sightst and was available in either polished steel or blued finish, with wooden grip panels.

The Browning BDA 380 pistol was introduced in 1977 as a compact and lightweight pistol for police and civilian use. The gun was manufactured in Italy under contract from FN Herstal (Belgium) and marketed as FN model 140DA (in Europe) or Browning BDA 380 (in USA). Some sources said that BDA 380 is a copy of the Beretta 84, but close inspection shows some differences (i.e. the Beretta 84 has frame mounted safety while BDA 380 has slide mounted safety). The manufacture of the BDA 380 was discontinued in 1997. It was adopted by Belgian police.

The gun enjoyed a good reputation as reliable and comfortable to fire.

Users

Resources

Book.jpg
Gun Owners' Resource has the following relevant documents available for free download for the Beretta Cheetah and/or its variants:


External links


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