The two pistols I named don't suck at all to shoot, and are probably the easiest of all .380 semiautos to shoot. Excellent recoil management (something the polymer framed pistols don't do well) and superb accuracy (also something the polymer pistols are not known for for).
Any number of plastic guns offer superb accuracy. Walther Q5, for example. And Glock 42 is easily more accurate than PPKs, especially old, out-of-production ones. The barrel is just better cut on it, and the lock-up is consistent enough. In addition, it offers a miles better practical accuracy, because its sights are better, and changeable.
To say that plastic guns offer worse recoil management is a stereotype, but in case of .380 it's just absurd. Of course Glock 42 offers far better recoil management than Walthers and Berettas! And that occurs despite Glock having much smaller, less ergonomic grip than Cheetah. Just ask someone to run a 5x5x5 or any number of other drills on timer. In any case, no metal .380 offers the recoil and recovery of S&W 380EZ.
The big thing Beretta 85 has going for it really is its magazine capacity. But if I want to compete with a .380, I break out my "G42K" with extended grip and run ETS 12-rounters. At least I can see where I'm aiming with it
One other thing: factory trigger of Cheetah sucks. It's a DA/SA gun that ought to be great in that department, but it's no CZ. At least G42 can be run with an easy, progressive press. With the 85 I have to hold onto it for dear life and never know when it's going to break. The travel is very small on it, but it only works when the pressure is stable! A trigger job can fix that I'm sure, but come on.
Oh, and for those latecomers: OP was talking about something not in current production.
Well, yeah, I can sympathize. I love taking Beretta out of safe just to caress it, too. Just never shoot it.
P.S. Early 84/85 series guns have a massive peening problem where the slide hits the soft aluminum frame. Supposedly it was fixed in 84FS, but I don't know if I trust these claims.
