With a production history that stretches back into the early 16th century, Beretta is undoubtedly the oldest firearms manufacturer in business today. Over the years, the company has garnered a reputation for offering world-class semi-automatic pistols. And with such a long and varied production history, there are a variety of options floating around the used, surplus and LE trade in markets to suit the tastes of the serious minded and more casual collectors alike.
The Beretta 85BB is a pre-Cheetah model chambered in .380 ACP.
Among Beretta's most diverse and enduring lines of semi-automatics are the medium-framed 80 Series models. Debuting in 1975 and 1976, they are essentially the Beretta 92 open-top slide design scaled down for calibers smaller than 9 mm. The 80 Series is also known as the Cheetah line. But not all models have frames marked “Cheetah” on the right side. This is because the name was applied to just the commercial guns staring in 1995. Nevertheless, the 80 Series guns are often collectively referred to as the Beretta Cheetahs.
The 80 Series feature classic Beretta 92-style open-top slides.
Caliber options are denoted by the model numbers. The Model 81 and 82 are chambered in .32 ACP while the Model 87 and 89 are rimfire guns chambered in .22 LR. The lion's share of the series, Models 83 through 86, are chambered in .380 ACP. The differences include variations in the internal safeties, the external thumb safety levers, magazine capacities, sights and slide serrations.
The left side controls include the slide stop and magazine release button.
Not too long ago, I was perusing the law enforcement trade-in pistols on the AIM Surplus website. There I found a listing for a retired Beretta 85BB .380 ACP which would ship with two factory magazines for a listed price of $359.95. I became a fan of these compact-size Berettas thanks to an evaluation of a surplus Model 81, so I jumped at the chance to work with this version.
The Model 85BB is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic that accepts single-stack magazines for a 7+1 ammunition capacity. The Model 84 often hogs the spotlight because it uses double-stack magazines that provide a 13+1 round capacity and did so years before the subcompact 9 mm pistols took over the defensive handgun industry. However, the grip frame of the 85BB is noticeably slimmer and the gun is a bit lighter when fully loaded. These two features can make a difference in the shooting experience for those with smaller hands.
The rear sight is drift adjustable for windage.
This particular gun is stamped “G.F.” on the right side of the frame. This indicates that it was previously issued to the Guardia di Finanza, or Italy's financial police force, which is responsible for customs enforcement, border security and anti-smuggling operations. This model was issued to them until around 2005. Since then they have made their way into the U.S. surplus market.
The open-top blued steel slide features an integral white-dot front sight paired with a dovetailed square notch rear sight. The stretch of cocking serrations, at the rear of the slide, is longer than on some previous models. The barrel, which remains locked in place when firing, is 3.8" long.
The G.F. stamp on the frame indicates this was an Italian police force pistol.
The aluminum frame features an earlier rounded trigger guard profile which would be replaced with a squared off guard on later models. The external controls include a right side takedown lever along with the slide stop and round magazine release button, both of which are on the left side of the frame. The Model 85 often has a left side thumb safety lever. In this case, the lever is ambidextrous. This model does have a firing pin safety but it does not have either a decocker or a magazine safety to prevent the pistol from firing when the magazine is removed.
This surplus pistol shipped with two 7-round magazines.
This ignition system is of the old school double-action/single-action variety. Starting with the spurred hammer resting in the forward position, the pistol exhibits a long, heavy double-action trigger pull which cocks the hammer and fires the gun, much like a double-action revolver. In this case, the double-action trigger weighed in at a smooth and workable 6 lbs. 10 oz. After that first shot, the hammer is cocked by the rearward movement of the slide setting the trigger to single-action mode. This cuts the trigger's arch of travel in half with a light take up before breaking cleanly with just 3 lbs. 7 oz. of trigger pull. The thumb safety can be engaged with the hammer cocked, 1911 style, for a single-action trigger pull for the first shot fired.
The Model 85BB is simple to disassemble for routine cleaning.
The grip frame is grooved along the front and back straps to provide some texturing. The black polymer grip panels are checkered for added purchase. For those who prefer the look and feel of hard wood grips, a variety of aftermarket options are available. The factory 7-round magazines are made of blued steel and fit flush to the base of the grip frame. There are some 8-round extended magazines available for this model if you look around for them online.
The slimmer single-stack grip profile contributes to a comfortable fit for smaller hands.
The pistol I received was in top-notch condition. The trigger guard's finish shows bit of handling and storage wear. But the lack of holster rub on the slide, the black finish of the aluminum frame, and the nearly ding and scratch free polymer grip panels, indicates that this particular gun may not have even been issued. A quick bench check of the controls and action revealed snug fittings and firm springs throughout. Disassembly exposed an interior with the clean, neat machining Beretta is known for. Overall, this is a high quality gun that's worth more than its surplus price tag might imply.
Test ammunition included practice and defense-grade loads in typical bullet weights.
At the shooting range, the 85BB provided the shooting experience I was hoping for. The pistol, magazines and ammunition were utterly reliable throughout the course of testing. Weighing in at 22.1-oz., unloaded, it was well-balanced and handy. The grip frame fit my somewhat smaller hands just like it had been sized for me. And unlike some compact double-stacks, the single-stack magazines did not pinch the little finger of the shooting hand when inserted quickly. These qualities, along with the softer shooting characteristics of the .380 ACP cartridge, made this a shoot-all-day comfortable pistol to work with.
Formal accuracy testing was conducted by firing 5-shot groups into paper targets posted at 7 yards. A Garmin Zero C1 Pro chronograph was used to measure average bullet velocities for 10-shot strings. The .380 ACP test loads included an Armscor USA practice-grade load along with Remington HTP and Winchester Train & Defend defensive hollow points. Here are the results:
When you can find them in good condition, the Beretta 80 Series models can be some of the best surplus pistols available. This Model 85BB certainly falls into the more bang-for-your buck category. Its markings and history also make it an affordable collectible. Could it be pressed into service as a defensive handgun? I can't speak for all of the used Beretta pistols out there, but this one checked most of the defensive pistol boxes quite neatly. Some folks will argue in favor of the double stack Model 80s that hold more ammunition. That makes sense in an era where capacity is king. But for those looking for that just-right slim grip profile, this one is hard to beat!
LE Trade-In Beretta 85BB .380 ACP Pistol Specifications:
Manufacturer: Beretta, Italy
Distributor: AimSurplus, LLC
Action Type: blowback-operated, semi-automatic, center-fire pistol
Chambering: .380 ACP
Barrel: 3.8" blued carbon steel, fixed
Rifling: five-groove, 1:7" RH-twist
Frame: aluminum alloy, glossy black finish
Magazine: 7-round detachable box
Sights: white-dot front, drift-adjustable square notch rear
Trigger: 6 lbs. 10 oz. double-action pull; 3-lbs. 7-oz. single-action pull
Overall Length: 6.8”
Height: 4.78" (measured from top of sights to bottom of magazine base plate)
Width: 1.6", slide; 1.20", grip
Weight: 22.1-oz. (unloaded)
Accessories: two magazines
MSRP: $359.95
