Beretta 85FS

[Mr. Mosin]

Some time back, I handled a 92FS, and loved it. How it looked, how it felt, how it handled. I was in love with it. But the grips was too big for my midget hands. So, I struck up to looking for a single stack variant of the 92 (still haven’t found one, don’t know if Beretta even made one).

Today, I stumbled upon the 80 series, specifically the 85FS. So... those of you who own one of these gorgeous pieces, please enlighten me. Will they feed HP’s, or would I be limited to FMJ (would a .380 HP even expand *reliably* and have enough velocity left to adequately penetrate) ? Are they drop safe; any upgrades needed, etc ? I hate the micro .380’s like the LCP. Painful to shoot, worse than a J-frame .38 Spl to me.

This... this seems like a gun one could run 1k rounds through in one session, and carry on with life the next day, instead of nursing a numb and tingling hand for a week.

 

[shoobe01]

Straight blowback, so not as soft shooting as you would expect they would be for the caliber. Pretty chunky. Very pretty guns, nice to look at (still: have seen new made ones recently in Italy), but old technology so heavy and large for the cartridge today.

Unless I recall wrong, DA pull is hideous. Carry it safety on, hammer back. Get a good holster.

Fair bit of rambling info on it: https://therangewi.com/beretta-85-fs-cheetah/

 

[9mmepiphany]

This... this seems like a gun one could run 1k rounds through in one session, and carry on with life the next day, instead of nursing a numb and tingling hand for a week.

That is because the 84/85 series guns were designed as duty guns to be carried in a duty holster on the belt.

The recoil is a bit sharp due to the straight blowback system. The staggered magazine 84 guns, with their wider frame, were much more comfortable to shoot. the ones I've shot were very accurate.

The double action is a bit heavy, but no more than a stock 92...unfortunately the common 92 "hack" of switching in the "D" mainspring from a DAO model isn't available for the smaller guns.

If you're searching for a single stack 92, you should look at the Beretta M951...there use to be a bunch available as surplus guns

 

[Mustangowner]

I had an 85FS for several years, they're awesome. They conceal quite well thanks to the rounded edges, mine fed everything I ever shot through it perfectly. They're fairly accurate, though the grip of the 85 is quite small for my hand so I always pushed rounds to the left slightly and I couldn't really do anything about that, it just meant I'd have to aim at the side of the 10 ring at 8 yards, the side of the 8 ring at 15 yards and the side of the silhouette at 25 yards using a B27-75 reduction target which was my qualification target. Still probably my fastest split time on rapid fire drills came with that gun. Though I probably wouldn't carry it anymore (mostly because I don't have to aim off with my Glock 27 and the carry laws in my state have changed so it's not a big deal if the gun prints anymore), I do wish I still had my 85FS, times were tight though and the Ruger LCP coming out made .380 ammo impossible to find in my area. The only reason I haven't bought another one is because they cost almost double what I paid for mine now and my Glock 27 suits my needs better now, so I don't have enough of a purpose for it to justify it.

 

[Bob811]

I've had mine for about 6 months and agree with all comments made above. To directly address your question about HP's - - I carry Hornady Critical Defense in mine and they feed just fine.... probably due in large part to their very noticeable conical design. Great carry piece - good luck with it!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

That is because the 84/85 series guns were designed as duty guns to be carried in a duty holster on the belt.

The recoil is a bit sharp due to the straight blowback system. The staggered magazine 84 guns, with their wider frame, were much more comfortable to shoot. the ones I've shot were very accurate.

The double action is a bit heavy, but no more than a stock 92...unfortunately the common 92 "hack" of switching in the "D" mainspring from a DAO model isn't available for the smaller guns.

If you're searching for a single stack 92, you should look at the Beretta M951...there use to be a bunch available as surplus guns

Not quite a single stack 92, as the 51/951 is single action. But yes, an excellent pistol.

The single stack 92s are the 92 type M-

They are fantastic guns, but expect to pay big $$$$ if you are lucky enough to find one. I foolishly sold mine when a guy threw a grand at me......
Spare magazines are made of pure unobtanium as well.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Thanks all. I’ve read that they can be difficult to find. I want one, cerakoted SOCOM Blue, will walnut grips. Classic look.

 

[Shipwreck]

I wanted an Beretta 85 for years. I finally got one a few years ago. I had to sell it after the first range trip - the snappy blowback recoil just killed my thumb... I wish I had gotten the Beretta 84 (it is wider), because it may have helped my problem.

As someone else said - the Cheetah series is straight blowback. The recoil was sharper than a locked breach 9mm handgun, IMHO. The backstrap is rather thin too, because the 85 is single stack. My hands are kind of thin, and the gun just killed my thumb as I shot it.

The bottom joint of my thumb (by the web of your hand) took a beating on every single shot. I had planned to shoot 150 rounds on that first range trip - but I had to finally stop shooting the gun at the 50 round mark. This comes from a guy who has owned far many handguns than the average person over the past 20 years.

I did not want to sell the gun, but I knew I could not keep it. That joint in my hand hurt for a couple of days afterwards. Had I gotten the 84, MAYBE I could have kept the gun. The fatter backstrap may have helped this issue, I do not know. But, I personally am not going to try to spend the money and try again.

If I were you, I'd try before you buy.

 

[tarosean]

Spare magazines are made of pure unobtanium as well.

Beretta actually released a bunch a year or two ago. Was awesome as my type M hasn't been shot much in the last decade because I was down to a single mag.

 

[Shipwreck]

Beretta actually released a bunch a year or two ago. Was awesome as my type M hasn't been shot much in the last decade because I was down to a single mag.

Yea, I think I sent you the link when I saw they were available.

 

[tarosean]

Yea, I think I sent you the link when I saw they were available.

Yes, you did ... In the end after multiple purchases, (they limited the number you could purchase) I ended up with 6 new mags.

 

[Shipwreck]

Great to hear

 

[george29]

I think Helwan Arms makes a 51 clone (licensed).
OP, try getting your hands on a CZ83, long ago I tried the 84/85 (can't remember which) and the Browning 380 (also made by Beretta) and they didn't fit. The CZ83 was a perfect fit but I ended up getting a Jericho 9mm instead.

 

[edwardware]

After reading Lucky Gunner ammo penetration tests on .380, I loaded my wife's with the hottest FMJ I could find: the basic S&B bulk ammo.

I did run a variety of JHP through it, and it ate everything without a hiccup.

 

[amd6547]

I have a Model 84F I bought on a whim, due to it’s Israeli surplus price. It was a pistol I always wanted.
One trip to the range, and it became a “never sell”. It is reliable, and accurate, and fits my hand like it was made for me.
I keep it loaded with Underwood XTP +P for serious use.

 

[bannockburn]

I have had both, a Model 84 and a Model 85. Loved the Model 84 with its 13 round capacity and used it as a home defense gun for many years. The Model 85 was alright but seemed a bit too big for a single stack .380 and I ended up trading it for a Star Model 30.

 

[Tallball]

I have big hands, so I chose the Model 84. I like it a lot.

In case anyone didn't read it in one of the other threads, a bunch of surplus Model 81's have showed up lately. It's basically a Model 84, but in 32acp. All of the usual surplus places seem to selling them now, with prices in the low $200's. I got mine from AIM.

Sorry to go OT, just trying to make a PSA.

 

[cfullgraf]

Today, I stumbled upon the 80 series, specifically the 85FS. So... those of you who own one of these gorgeous pieces, please enlighten me. Will they feed HP’s, or would I be limited to FMJ (would a .380 HP even expand *reliably* and have enough velocity left to adequately penetrate) ?

My Beretta Model 84, the double stack version of the Model 85 feeds anything I put in it. I even loaded some 38 caliber, 110 JHP bullets that cycled fine. I just could not get the velocity high enough to upset the bullet. For a long time, I loaded Lee cast 105 grain SWC bullets. I got away from casting and got some other 380 ACP guns that did not like the SWC bullets so I drifted away from that bullet.

Since from the magazine up on the Model 85 is the same as the Model 84, I suspect it will also feed about anything as well.