MODEL 86 BERETTA .380 ACP W/ A TIP-UP BARREL

BRONX2SNELLVILLE

I recently considered purchasing the MODEL 86 .380 ACP Pistol from BERETTA which has a tip-up barrell. I checked one out at the store and changed my mind. While I'm sure the pistol works nice what I didn't like was its bulkiness. I was left with 2 questions;1. What purpose does it serve to make such a large .380 when there are 9MM pistols that size?2. Why doesn't BERETTA make a smaller .380 w/ a tip-up barrel along the lines of the TOMCAT? Is there a reason this is not possible? I know I love their other pocket pistols.I'd be grateful to any insight other readers can offer...Thank you!P.S. My current carry choice is the compact 9mm BERETTA Mini-Cougar 8000

Der Gebirgsjager

Bronx-Your question is more in the nature of a discussion, and I'd have to say that most of it should be addressed to Beretta for an authorative answer. I also find the pistol bulky and oversized, but really like the tip up barrel design. Since we apparently can't have the best of both, your Cougar is a pretty good choice. I used a Beretta 1934 for quite awhile, but a couple of years ago purchased a Hungarian-made FEG APK. Love it! All steel, slim, reliable without the Walther price! Gave one just like it to my-son-in-law-the-deputy because, whatever one wishes to say about the borderline adequacy of the .380 round, most of the guns made for it lend themselves to easy carry; and one is better off to be caught with a .380 than without the .45 they left at home or in the car.

nmyers@home.com

The tip-up barrel is a great design for those people who want an auto, but are unable to work the slide due to lack of strength, arthritis, or degenerative neurological disease. The Model 86 is not only bulky, as you point out, but more expensive than many 9mm's.Small autos in .22, .25, & .32 require only the recoil spring to keep the action closed during firing. More powerful cartridges such as 9mm, .40, & .45 require a locked breech to allow the cartridge to leave the barrel before the slide & barrel unlock. The .380 is on the border; the slide must have sufficient mass (or clever engineering) to keep it from opening too soon. The Tomcat, already somewhat large for a pocket gun, would have to be even larger if made in .380.Neal