Model: Beretta 85F
Caliber: 9x17mm (0.38O ACP)
Capacity: 8 round magazine
Action: straight blowback operated semi-automatic with
traditional DA/SA trigger mechanism
Construction: steel slide with aluminum alloy frame
Finish: non-glare, matte black Bruniton (tm)
Sights: notch rear with post front
Grips: dark walnut or black plastic two piece grips,
curved backstrap
Barrel: 3.8" (*), chrome plated chamber and bore
Rifling: 6 grooves, RH, 1 in 9.8" pitch (*)
Length: 6.8" (*)
Sight radius 4.9" (*)
Width: 1.4" (*)
Grip width 1.2" (*)
Height: 4.8" (*)
Weight: 21.9 oz, with empty magazine (*)
Safeties: magazine disconnect safety, firing pin block safety,
ambidextrous frame mounted safety/decocker, sear has
half cock notch
Misc.: comes with 2 eight-shot magazines, blue plastic box,
instruction manual, warranty card and
plastic cleaning brush.
Prices: typical dealer price: $350 or less
good gun store price: $380-400 or less (plastic gripped version)
(*) From 85F Beretta user's manual
The 85F is a 0.380ACP semi-automatic pistol that looks like a
miniature version of the Beretta 92FS. When I ordered the pistol, I
requested the utilitarian black plastic grips, but the distributor was
out of stock, so I got the walnut version instead for $15 extra. The
walnut grips are a dark brown, nicely checkered and have the Beretta
medallion on each side in a discreet matte gold color. The pistol is
made in Italy and imported to the US by Beretta U.S.A in Accokeek,
Maryland. The steel slide is a uniform, matte black finish that
Beretta calls 'Bruniton.' The aluminum alloy frame is anodized black
and its color matches the slide perfectly. The 85F has the same open-topped slide as the 92F for extra reliability. Unlike the smaller Beretta pocket pistols like the 21A, the 85F has an extractor. A red dot on the top of extractor shows when a round is chambered - a nice feature, but not really necessary since firearms should be handled as if they were loaded at all times, right? The 85F is larger than the diminutive Walther PPK, but it is still a very compact pistol that suits individuals with smaller hands very well.
The external frame mounted safety levers are ambidextrous and are pushed down to fire and pushed up to decock the hammer and render the pistol 'safe'. The pistol cannot fire with the magazine removed. The magazine release button is on the left side, in the usual place. The external slide stop/release lever is also in the usual place on the left side. The pistol field strips using a lever on the right side of the frame, just like the 92FS. The barrel is not pinned to the frame like the PPK or Sig P230 and is removed during field stripping. Nevertheless, like other 0.380ACP handguns, the 85F still uses an unlocked blowback action. The trigger guard is slightly rounded but has serrations on the front for individuals who like to place their weak hand finger there. The Patridge style sights are low profile, but easy to pick up. The front sight has a white dot, and the rear sight has a white dot on the lowest part of the notch. The front sight is fixed and the rear is drift adjustable for windage.
The pistol has a conventional DA trigger - i.e., first shot is double action, subsequent shots are single action. The hammer can be manually cocked for the first shot if desired, but this is a bad tactical habit to get into. The double action pull is smooth and not as stiff as the Walther PPK. The single action pull has a tiny bit of slack before the sear trips.
The pistol fed, fired, extracted and ejected flawlessly. I've found the 85F to be quite accurate - Remington 88 gr. JHP's grouped to about 2" at 50 feet from a sandbagged shooting position. Since the 85F is a newer design that the PPK, I have found no problems using hollowpoint ammunition, although I tend to use the Remington brand anyway, since their hollowpoint bullets have a shape that matches ball ammo.
Overall, the 85F is a sleek, compact semi-auto handgun that offers ease of use and carrying for target shooting and personal protection. 0.380ACP is considered the minimum centerfire caliber for personal protection, but it will do its job if you do yours.
Beretta makes the another 0.380ACP pistol known as the 86F that is slightly longer than the 85F, but has a tip-up barrel and no extractor - it is identical to the 85F in other respects.