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Bersa 83 or Beretta 86

Buster384
I am considering purchasing a Bursa 83 and was wondering if anyone out there had any information on this handgun pro/con? I am also looking at the Beretta 86 with the tip-up barrel and would like to hear feedback on that model as well.
Thanks...
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4 comments

Date Votes
  • mark christian
    It has been quite a few years since I sold any Bersa's, but this was what I can remember about the .380 Model 83. All of the Bersa's I sold were imported by Eagle Imports out of New Jersey and I don't know if the new importer has added or deleted any features to the pistol(I thought the Model 83 was discontinued by Bersa). For a pocket pistol this was a rather heavy gun since Bersa chose to use a steel frame rather than the more common alloy. The pistol had a rather nice blue/black polished finish and I don't recall seeing any tool marks or other blemishes. The example I saw all had very nice walnut grips which had quite a bit of figure in the grain. These were stippled rather than checkered and I prefer this as I think it gives a better feel- at least for me. I thought the Bersa fit my small hand pretty well and since it was slightly muzzel heavy it pointed low and seemed to be instictively "on target". There is no slide release so you have to pull back on the slide to chamber a fresh round after reloading. The sights were decent for this type of pistol and I liked the round hammer. I never fire anything in these little pocket blow back pistols other than FMJ and I always use European made ammo which tends to be hotter than the USA rounds. The Bersa woked fine and I don't recall any failures. I found the pistol to be a decent gun at a reasonable price (about $275 retail at the time). I sold a few and they never came back and no one called to gripe about them- a good sign.

    The Beretta 86 is slightly large than the Bersa, although with the alloy frame it is not much heavier. Workmanship was outstanding- exactly what you'd expect from Beretta...but of course you are paying extra dollars for this. The grip was very comfortable and the pistol pointed well. The tip-up barrel latched solid every time and if you feel you need the feature it won't fail you. The Beretta functioned perfectly and never gave even the slightest hint of trouble. The sights are a bit more "blocky" than the Bersa, but this gave a very good sight picture. This is a fine pistol and if you have weak hands the tip-up feature allows you to chamber a round without having to rack the slide. The Model 86 runs close to $600 retail so you'll be spending nearly twice as much as you would for the Bersa. Only you can decide what you feel you need. This information is based on my own personal experiences with these firearms as a dealer and a shooter and are strictly my opinions...others may well feel differently. I hope this helps you.

    Mark T. Christian
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  • Buster384
    Mark, thanks for the G2, I appreciate the help.quote:Originally posted by mark christian
    It has been quite a few years since I sold any Bersa's, but this was what I can remember about the .380 Model 83. All of the Bersa's I sold were imported by Eagle Imports out of New Jersey and I don't know if the new importer has added or deleted any features to the pistol(I thought the Model 83 was discontinued by Bersa). For a pocket pistol this was a rather heavy gun since Bersa chose to use a steel frame rather than the more common alloy. The pistol had a rather nice blue/black polished finish and I don't recall seeing any tool marks or other blemishes. The example I saw all had very nice walnut grips which had quite a bit of figure in the grain. These were stippled rather than checkered and I prefer this as I think it gives a better feel- at least for me. I thought the Bersa fit my small hand pretty well and since it was slightly muzzel heavy it pointed low and seemed to be instictively "on target". There is no slide release so you have to pull back on the slide to chamber a fresh round after reloading. The sights were decent for this type of pistol and I liked the round hammer. I never fire anything in these little pocket blow back pistols other than FMJ and I always use European made ammo which tends to be hotter than the USA rounds. The Bersa woked fine and I don't recall any failures. I found the pistol to be a decent gun at a reasonable price (about $275 retail at the time). I sold a few and they never came back and no one called to gripe about them- a good sign.

    The Beretta 86 is slightly large than the Bersa, although with the alloy frame it is not much heavier. Workmanship was outstanding- exactly what you'd expect from Beretta...but of course you are paying extra dollars for this. The grip was very comfortable and the pistol pointed well. The tip-up barrel latched solid every time and if you feel you need the feature it won't fail you. The Beretta functioned perfectly and never gave even the slightest hint of trouble. The sights are a bit more "blocky" than the Bersa, but this gave a very good sight picture. This is a fine pistol and if you have weak hands the tip-up feature allows you to chamber a round without having to rack the slide. The Model 86 runs close to $600 retail so you'll be spending nearly twice as much as you would for the Bersa. Only you can decide what you feel you need. This information is based on my own personal experiences with these firearms as a dealer and a shooter and are strictly my opinions...others may well feel differently. I hope this helps you.

    Mark T. Christian
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  • sck
    Dear Buster:
    Mark covered the topic pretty well, but there are a few other points you might want to consider.

    1. The most obvious difference is in loading. The Beretta with the tip up barrel is much easier to load. I've had several customers who were not able to pull the slide back on the Bersa because of age, artheritis, or other physical problems. It's not that the Bersa is more difficult or stiffer than any other .380, it's just that the Beretta is so much easier for folks who have problems with their hands.

    2. Although it may be difficult to believe simply seeing the two pistols and comparing fit, finish and overall workmanship, it has been my experience that the Bersa is a more reliable pistol than the Beretta. I've sent back more than a dozen new Beretta's for repair after the owners found problems, usually with feeding. I've only send back two or three Bersa's and one of them was simply shot to death. Based on physical appearance, I wasn't exactly enthusiastic about Bersa and always tried to steer customers in other directions. One day I took my Beretta and my Browning to the range with a fellow who took his Bersa. I wasn't able to shoot a whole clip from either of my weapons because of jams and breakage. The Bersa performed flawlessly for over five hundred rounds. The fact that several rural police departments in my area allow their officers to carry Bersa as off duty weapons indicates that there are some who stake their lives on this pistol.

    3. There is one other alternative, although it may be difficult to find. CZ made a model 83, (at least I think that was the model) that was loosely based on the standard Beretta .380, not the tip up. If you can find one, the advantages are that it will cost less than the Beretta, generally be of better fit and finish than the Bersa, and there are high capacity magazines available (if that is a consideration).

    Best of luck -- let us know which you select -- Steve
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  • lrarmsx
    The Bersa is a fine weapon, however I'm not sure I'd be looking at just their Model 83. The 383, 85, 86 etc., were all nicely done. I preferred the 383 over the 83, but then again the newer Thunder series ones have a lot of the same features and are currently imported so mags and accessories are going to be easier to find.

    The Beretta 86 is a bit large as .380's go. The pop up barrel has some distinct advantages however. The Beretta 85 has the same grip and uses the same magazine and it noteably smaller in the slide and barrel. The Beretta 84 is basically going to be the same size as the 85, but will have a slightly larger grip and take the current 10rd mag or the pre-ban 13rd. The 86 and the 85 are an 8rd mag.

    Along those same lines the CZ83 will be about the same size as the Beretta 84. It too will have a 10rd mag and be able to take the 13rd pre-ban mags when you can find them. The trigger pull on the CZ83 is usually superior to that of a Walther PPK, although not as compact. The CZ83 also has the advantage of an ambidextrous mag release. The Beretta 84 can be reversed from right to left, but the CZ can be pushed from either side without modification. The Bersa's and the Beretta 85-86 are set up for right handed use only when it comes to the mag release. The Beretta's and the CZ will have an ambi safety as well as where the Bersa will not.

    The Browning BDA 380 will be the same size as the Beretta 84. They take the same mag and are both made by Beretta. The biggest difference is that the BDA will have the safety in the slide and the Beretta will have the safety in the frame. The barrel is enclosed on the BDA as well as where the Beretta is more exposed like the Beretta 92 style.

    There are a number of weel done .380's out there. You just need to decide what features are of importance to you. The tip-up barrel on the Beretta 86 sets it apart from all of the others, but that same feature also makes it the biggest of the bunch as well. So if concealment was a primary interest, that may be a detractor.
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