Beretta Home   FIELD STRIPPING (mod. 81-85 and 87BB)

Beretta Series 81 (images and texts mainly from user's manual) The series 81 Beretta pistols are blow-back semiautomatic firearms designed for personal defence, military and police use and shooting practice. The series 81 pistols have the following characteristics: A. DOUBLE ACTION The double action offers the advantages of a revolver. In the rare instance of misfire due to a faulty primer, it is sufficient to pull the trigger again to repeat the percussion on the cartridge and fire the round (mod. 87BB and 87BB/L.B. excluded). B. GREAT FIRE CAPACITY Staggered magazine: 81BB = 12 shots; 84BB, 84F = 13 rounds (10 rounds for the U.S. civilian market). Single line magazine: 82BB = 9 shots; 83F = 7 shots; 85BB, 85F, 86, 87BB, 87BB/L.B. = 8 rounds. The staggered magazine of models 81 and 84, which is no longer than a traditional magazine, almost doubles the capacity of fire. The single line magazine of models 82, 83, 85, 86, 87 gives a thinner grip and reduced overall dimensions. C. COMPLETE HANDLING SAFETY C1. Manual safety: the manual safety breaks the connection between the trigger and the sear and locks the slide in closed position. The "F" models introduce a new manual safety-decocking lever. It allows to lower the hammer cocked, chamber loaded, with the maximum safety, stopping it against the interceptor. At the same time the safety locks slide and interrupts the connection between trigger and sear. The manual safety can be engaged by rotating the manual safety lever with a fully upward thumb pressure. The red warning dot will disappear (the red warning dot can be seen only when the manual safety is disengaged). C2. Chamber-loaded indicator: when the cartridge is in the chamber, the upper surface of the extractor protrudes and shows red (mod. 86, 87BB, 87BB/L.B. excluded). In the dark the protrusion can be felt by touch. It is therefore unnecessary to work the slide to see whether the chamber is loaded. C3. Automatic firing pin safety: when the trigger is not pulled completely back, a blocking device secures the firing pin and prevents it from moving forward, even if the weapon should fall from a height and strike the ground muzzle-down. Half-cock position of the hammer (models "F" excluded). To lower the hammer to the half-cock position: retract the hammer spur with thumb; depress the trigger cautiously allowing the hammer to move little forward under the thumb control and, at the same time, remove finger from trigger. Then cautiously let the hammer move forward until it stops. Now the pistol will fire in double-action (mod. 87BB and 87BB/L.B. excluded). D. FUNCTIONAL AND ANATOMICAL FEATURES D1. Slide catch: when the last round has been fired, the slide remains open thus signalling that the magazine is empty. D2. Manual safety lever on both sides: allows easier and quicker handling also by left-handed shooters. D3. Special sights: both front and rear sights (with white dots) are designed for swift location of the target and for bringing it into alignment with the greatest possible facility. D4. Grooved frame: the front and back straps of the grip are longitudinally grooved to secure a firm hold even with wet hands, or under conditions of rapid, unaimed fire. D5. Reversible magazine release button (mod. 81, 84 only): it can easily be assembled on the right side of the pistol for left-handed shooters. Magazine safety (on request): interrupts the trigger-sear connection when the magazine is extracted. Combat trigger-guard ("F" models only): the trigger-guard is shaped and grooved to allow a functional rest of the index finger when shooting with two hands. Matte finishing with "Bruniton" (86 and "F" models only): the anti-glare "Bruniton" finish guarantees the maximum protection against hard conditions. Chromium plated barrel and barrel chamber ("F" models only) for maximum precision and longer life. Tip-up barrel (mod. 86 only). This feature offers the following advantages: the chamber can be directly loaded and unloaded without moving the slide; the chamber can be easily inspected to see whether it is loaded; the barrel can be cleaned without disassembling the pistol. HOW TO REVERSE THE MAGAZINE RELEASE BUTTON (for left-handed shooters) Mod. 81 and 84 only - With a suitable screwdriver unscrew and remove the grips. - Press the back (flat side) of the magazine release button down and away. The magazine release assembly will then drop out. - Reverse the magazine release assembly and insert the button (grooved side) in position tilting it slightly. - Holding the button (grooved side) of the magazine release assembly firmly in place, press its flat side and push it until it clicks into place. The operation is done correctly when the magazine slides easily into its housing. - Replace grips with screws. Technical specifications   81BB 82BB 83F 84BB 84F 85BB 85F 86 87BB 87BB/L.B.  Calibre: 7,65 mm 9 mm Short (.380 ACP) .22 L.R.  Operation: semi-automatic, blow-back  Hammer: exposed, double action exposed, single action  Length: 172 mm 177 mm 172 mm 186 mm 172 mm (87BB) 225 mm (87BB/L.B.)  Height: 122 mm 123 mm 120 mm  Overall width: 35 mm 33 mm  Grip width: 35 mm 30 mm 35 mm 30 mm  Weight  (with empty mag.) approx.: 670 gr 630 gr 640 gr 660 gr 620 gr 660 gr 570 gr (87BB) 660 gr (87BB/L.B.)  Barrel length: 97 mm 102 mm 97 mm 111 mm 97 mm (87BB) 150 mm (87BB/L.B.)  Rifling: R.H., 6 grooves  Rifling pitch: 250 mm 250 mm (87BB) 350 mm (87BB/L.B.)  Front sight: blade, integral with slide  Rear sight: notched bar, dovetailed to slide  Line of sight: 124 mm  Safeties:  - manual safety breaking the connection between trigger and sear    and locking slide in closed position.    Only "F" models: manual safety-decocking lever (the safety lowers    the hammer stopping it against the interceptor, locks slide in closed    position and interrupts connection between trigger and sear).  - automatic firing pin safety.  - half-cock position of the hammer ("BB" and 86 models only).  Magazine *: staggered 12 rounds single line 9 rounds single line 7 rounds staggered 13 rounds single line 8 rounds  Frame: light alloy  Slide: remains open after the last round has been fired  Finish:  - steel components: blued.  - light alloy components: anodized - matte finish with "Bruniton"    (86 and "F" models only).  - checkered walnut grips.  - matte black plastic grips ("F" models only).  Special features:  - combat trigger-guard ("F" models only).  - chromium plated barrel and barrel chamber ("F" models only).  - tip-up barrel (mod. 86 only).  - light alloy counterweight (87BB/L.B.).  On request:  - magazine safety.  - plastic grips (86 and "BB" models only).  - walnut grips ("F" models only).  - nickel-plating finish. * max. 10 rounds for the U.S. civilian market