Return of the Cheetah

[wmg1299]

Beretta recently announced that they will be re-vamping the old .380 ACP Cheetah line of pistols. I've been wanting a Beretta 84 for years. Since a new Beretta wasn't an option, I picked up a Tisas Fatih 13 clone of the 84. The Tisas has been a great gun, and it made me want an original 84 even more.

While I was excited to learn about Beretta making a new Cheetah, I'm not too thrilled about the "X" design. The "X" series is similar to what Beretta did with the classic 92 models. Other than the inclusion of swappable sights, there were no features on the 92X guns that interested me. I worry that this will be the same with the 80X Cheetah. I loved the classic rounded lines of the original 92 and 84, and am lukewarm about the "Tacticool" look of the X models. I would have already out a deposit down on a re-released classic Beretta 84 Cheetah, but I may pass on the new 80X altogether.

What do you guys think? Do the new features of the 80X appeal to you? Am I being too hard on Beretta because I'm getting older and resistance to change?

80X Cheetah

The Beretta 80X Cheetah Pistol with a new sleek design and enhanced features is ergonomically redesigned for modern day carry and comes optics-ready out of the box. Learn More!

www.beretta.com

 

[Old_Me]

i LOVE my 92FS.

i simply will not ever want again another 380, no matter who makes it.

 

[Sld1959]

I like that, quite a bit actually. Love the replaceable sights over the integral sights. Like it is optics ready, and I like the grip frame configuration on that series more.

Yeah I like it a lot.

 

[HansGruber]

The sights are a good thing…but I much prefer the classic look.

 

[Bassbob]

Beretta recently announced that they will be re-vamping the old .380 ACP Cheetah line of pistols. I've been wanting a Beretta 84 for years. Since a new Beretta wasn't an option, I picked up a Tisas Fatih 13 clone of the 84. The Tisas has been a great gun, and it made me want an original 84 even more.

While I was excited to learn about Beretta making a new Cheetah, I'm not too thrilled about the "X" design. The "X" series is similar to what Beretta did with the classic 92 models. Other than the inclusion of swappable sights, there were no features on the 92X guns that interested me. I worry that this will be the same with the 80X Cheetah. I loved the classic rounded lines of the original 92 and 84, and am lukewarm about the "Tacticool" look of the X models. I would have already out a deposit down on a re-released classic Beretta 84 Cheetah, but I may pass on the new 80X altogether.

What do you guys think? Do the new features of the 80X appeal to you? Am I being too hard on Beretta because I'm getting older and resistance to change?

80X Cheetah

The Beretta 80X Cheetah Pistol with a new sleek design and enhanced features is ergonomically redesigned for modern day carry and comes optics-ready out of the box. Learn More!

www.beretta.com

Wouldn't be too bad if it was a 9mm and they got rid of that ridiculous trigger.

 

[somorris]

I liked the looks of the original better than the new one. Kind of like auto makers —the new guns really are hard to differentiate.

 

[Sld1959]

Wouldn't be too bad if it was a 9mm and they got rid of that ridiculous trigger.

What's different about the trigger. Been a long time since I fired a beretta pistol but it seemed a fairly standard DA/SA trigger as I remember. I personally do not mind it, shot one for my carry pistol for 20 years in the Makarov.

Guess that's also why I like the 380, very close to the 9x18 I have used for 20 years.

 

[Bassbob]

What's different about the trigger. Been a long time since I fired a beretta pistol but it seemed a fairly standard DA/SA trigger as I remember. I personally do not mind it, shot one for my carry pistol for 20 years in the Makarov.

Look at that thing. It looks like a tongue or something. It seems to have a duplex trigger bow. It's more stupid looking than the HK triggers and that's saying something.

 

[Sld1959]

Look at that thing. It looks like a tongue or something. It seems to have a duplex trigger bow. It's more stupid looking than the HK triggers and that's saying something.

It's a bit different but nothing I would worry over much about personally. As long as it is smooth faced, I hate the feel of a grooved faced trigger.

 

[Bassbob]

What's different about the trigger. Been a long time since I fired a beretta pistol but it seemed a fairly standard DA/SA trigger as I remember. I personally do not mind it, shot one for my carry pistol for 20 years in the Makarov.

Guess that's also why I like the 380, very close to the 9x18 I have used for 20 years.

I got nothing at all against DA/SA triggers. Or decockers. I have 2 Makarov pistols ( Bulgarian 9x18 and Russian .380) and my EDC is P30L.

 

[youngolddude]

Too bad they didn't keep the older look with the new sights or add a model without the decocker.

 

[kenpomaniac1958]

Beretta recently announced that they will be re-vamping the old .380 ACP Cheetah line of pistols. I've been wanting a Beretta 84 for years. Since a new Beretta wasn't an option, I picked up a Tisas Fatih 13 clone of the 84. The Tisas has been a great gun, and it made me want an original 84 even more.

While I was excited to learn about Beretta making a new Cheetah, I'm not too thrilled about the "X" design. The "X" series is similar to what Beretta did with the classic 92 models. Other than the inclusion of swappable sights, there were no features on the 92X guns that interested me. I worry that this will be the same with the 80X Cheetah. I loved the classic rounded lines of the original 92 and 84, and am lukewarm about the "Tacticool" look of the X models. I would have already out a deposit down on a re-released classic Beretta 84 Cheetah, but I may pass on the new 80X altogether.

What do you guys think? Do the new features of the 80X appeal to you? Am I being too hard on Beretta because I'm getting older and resistance to change?

80X Cheetah

The Beretta 80X Cheetah Pistol with a new sleek design and enhanced features is ergonomically redesigned for modern day carry and comes optics-ready out of the box. Learn More!

www.beretta.com

I have always liked the Beretta 84, even if it is a 380. I like my Beretta APX a lot. I think older folks like me who know a little about firearms and like the classics like the Cheetah, High Power, etc, would consider buying one...

 

[rmc51]

Wouldn't be too bad if it was a 9mm and they got rid of that ridiculous trigger.

There are some pretty wild new rounds out there that make a 380 a different unit.

380 "Ultra Light"

libertyammo.com

Weight: 50gr
Velocity: 1500 FPS
Kinetic Energy: 250 FPE

380 ACP +P 68gr. Xtreme Defender Platinum Edition Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo

Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Lehigh Defense™ Supersonic Lead Free Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. Shop now .380 ACP +P Copper ammo with Solid Monolithic.

underwoodammo.com

• This bullet leaves the barrel at 1400 feet per second.
• The muzzle energy of this ammo is 296 ft lbs.

380 ACP 68gr. Xtreme Defender Platinum Edition Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo

Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Lehigh Defense™ Supersonic Lead Free Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. Shop now .380 ACP Copper ammo with Solid Monolithic.

underwoodammo.com

• This bullet leaves the barrel at 1300 feet per second.
• The muzzle energy of this ammo is 255 ft lbs.

 

[Keystone19250]

Honestly I’m not very familiar with Berreta handguns but that trigger guard is horrid looking.

 

[Bassbob]

Honestly I’m not very familiar with Berreta handguns but that trigger guard is horrid looking.

Matches the trigger.

 

[youngolddude]

This is what my 85 FS looks like. I think it's nice looking.

 

[HansGruber]

There are some pretty wild new rounds out there that make a 380 a different unit.

380 "Ultra Light"

libertyammo.com

Weight: 50gr
Velocity: 1500 FPS
Kinetic Energy: 250 FPE

380 ACP +P 68gr. Xtreme Defender Platinum Edition Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo

Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Lehigh Defense™ Supersonic Lead Free Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. Shop now .380 ACP +P Copper ammo with Solid Monolithic.

underwoodammo.com

• This bullet leaves the barrel at 1400 feet per second.
• The muzzle energy of this ammo is 296 ft lbs.

380 ACP 68gr. Xtreme Defender Platinum Edition Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo

Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Lehigh Defense™ Supersonic Lead Free Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. Shop now .380 ACP Copper ammo with Solid Monolithic.

underwoodammo.com

• This bullet leaves the barrel at 1300 feet per second.
• The muzzle energy of this ammo is 255 ft lbs.

View attachment 35160

And they’re pure snake oil.

There’s a few JHP’s out there in .380 that will do the trick as far as expansion & proper penetration…

But I just run a flat nose FMJ in my P238.

 

[Annihilator]

Many moons ago, my wife had the cheetah in .380 with the tip up barrel, she didn’t keep it long, she just didn’t care for it once she got it home and had a few range times with it.

 

[rmc51]

Many moons ago, my wife had the cheetah in .380 with the tip up barrel, she didn’t keep it long, she just didn’t care for it once she got it home and had a few range times with it.

That is a Beretta Model 86 Cheetah .380 ACP with the tip up barrel.

 

[youngolddude]

I'm afraid the 85 is a bit dated and is out performed by more modern firearms. On the other hand, being old and somewhat nostalgic, I like other guns like the Hi Power, CZ 75 and 1911. Sometimes they still have relevancy.