There may be a whole style of handguns produced today that goal to seize the low-recoil market. S&W has the EZ collection, Ruger has the Safety-380 and LiteRack LCP, and Walther has the CCP collection. These are all pretty new, however Beretta produced the most effective low-recoil defensive handgun again in 1976: the Beretta 81 Cheetah.
It’s simple to get misplaced within the Beretta Cheetah catalog; there are numerous fashions. The Mannequin 81 was a .32 ACP pistol that includes a direct blowback design, a DA/SA set off, and a double-stack journal. Beretta not too long ago acknowledged the design’s excellence and functionality by introducing a .32 ACP variant of the trendy Beretta 80X. This contemporary possibility options an optics-ready slide and a rail for a light-weight.
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The older Beretta 81 is available in quite a lot of configurations. Mine is the 81BB, for instance. Listed here are the varied fashions available on the market:
81: The unique mannequin with no letter suffix. It includes a spherical set off guard and a high-gloss blued end.
81B: Launched in 1980, this mannequin added a firing pin security and a shorter extractor.
81BB: This variant stored the firing pin security and quick extractor whereas including extra slide serrations and three-dot sights.
81F: This mannequin launched a squared-off fight set off guard, a Bruniton end, and a security that doubled as a decocker. It additionally retained the upgrades of earlier fashions.
81FS: The ultimate mannequin produced till 2017, that includes minor inner security enhancements.
Why the Beretta 81?
The Beretta 81 will not be a pocket pistol. It’s all-metal and roughly the dimensions of a Glock 19, only a bit svelter. It nonetheless falls into the “simple to hide” realm; you may carry it AIWB or IWB with ease. I’ve even carried it OWB, the place the slim design makes it simple to cover underneath a barely dishevelled t-shirt.
Admittedly, the DA/SA set off isn’t so simple as a striker-fired or DAO design. You could have two totally different set off pulls to take care of. Nonetheless, the security lets you carry it “cocked and locked” in single-action mode. Personally, I nonetheless want the heavier preliminary double-action pull. Whereas it’s heavier, the general weight of the set off continues to be mild sufficient for straightforward administration.
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Ergonomically, the gun is sized excellent. The grip is lengthy sufficient to fill the hand, and the frame-mounted security is simple to activate. The journal launch is intuitive, and the slim body will match most individuals’s fingers. The grip panels are superb, although they may use a bit extra texture.
The slide may be very simple to govern. If it feels troublesome, you may cock the hammer first to make working the slide easy. The weapon makes use of double-stack magazines, providing you with 12 rounds of .32 ACP. In comparison with fashionable weapons of an analogous measurement, the capability appears low, the P365 holds 12 rounds of 9mm and is way smaller, however there’s something particular to be mentioned concerning the .32 ACP cartridge.
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The .32 ACP Benefit
The usage of .32 ACP will immediately flip some shooters off. The American mindset of “minimal calibers,” like .380 or 9mm, usually causes individuals to miss efficient cartridges for these challenged by recoil. .32 ACP isn’t an optimum cartridge—it’s costly and doesn’t all the time carry out nicely with jacketed hole factors.
Due to this, you must analysis ammo that may meet penetration requirements. One benefit the Beretta 81 affords is a 3.8-inch barrel, which will increase velocity and aids in penetration. Rounds just like the 60-grain XTP have confirmed to be fairly succesful for defensive use from these longer barrels.
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Alternatively, you may keep on with the traditional 73-grain Fiocchi FMJs, which give wonderful penetration from each pocket pistols and the longer-barreled Beretta 81. Word that .32 ACP has a semi-rimmed case and might be topic to “rimlock” if the general cartridge size is simply too quick. This may be a difficulty when looking for hole factors, so make sure you select a cartridge that matches the size of traditional FMJ .32 ACP.
With all that in thoughts, does the .32 ACP provide sufficient advantages? It handles brilliantly. There may be hardly any recoil from the Mannequin 81. You’ll be able to shoot it quickly with ease, and the gun barely strikes. You’ll be able to “magazine dump” as quick as doable and nonetheless create a gaggle smaller than your palm. The recoil feels nearer to a .22 Magnum than a .380 ACP, however you get centerfire reliability. For low-recoil customers, it’s powerful to beat.
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The Fundamentals
In common Beretta vogue, the 81 handles the fundamentals of being a “good gun” very nicely. The three-dot sights are simple to see, and the gun is sort of correct. I can punch quick, tight teams at shut vary and even hit man-sized targets at 25 and 50 yards. That thick, hand-filling grip does an important job of letting you place lead on course.
The set off isn’t Beretta’s greatest, however it’s superb for a DA/SA design. The double-action isn’t harsh, although it isn’t as refined because the GTS or the newer 80X collection. The only-action break is crisp, although there’s a good bit of pre-travel.
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The Beretta 81 can be exceptionally dependable. I’ve fired a case of .32 ACP via it to this point and not using a single malfunction. I’ve run into some laborious primers in surplus ammo, but when the single-action pull did not ignite them, the second double-action pull completed the job. I’ve solely shot about 100 hole factors to this point and haven’t skilled rimlock, however it’s nonetheless price maintaining a tally of.
Remaining Ideas
The Beretta 81 collection hasn’t change into overly costly but. Manufacturing lasted for many years, so there are fairly just a few available on the market at reasonably priced costs. I spent $350 on this used 81BB. Whereas I’d level newer customers towards the trendy 80X, the 81 stays a extra reasonably priced entry level. It’s a superb low-recoil possibility for self-defense that delivers the traditional Beretta high quality you count on.
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