Beretta 81 Cheetah Review: Breaking Down the Compact Classic

The Beretta Cheetah series comprises nearly half a dozen different guns that come in various calibers and configurations. My all-time favorite is the Model 81, and I’m bringing it to you live and in person today to give you the scoop on this big .32 ACP.

Beretta 81 Cheeta

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The Beretta Model 81 has almost no recoil or muzzle rise, and it’s super easy to shoot.

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The Beretta 81 – Fast and Straight

The Beretta Cheetah series of pistols was first produced in 1976. They were an evolution of the Beretta 70 series and, unsurprisingly, use numbers in the 80s to distinguish the various models. Production continued until 2017 but was then paused. In 2023, Beretta reintroduced the Cheetah with the 80X series.

The Beretta Model 81 is one of two Cheetahs chambered in the .32 ACP cartridge. The Model 81 features a double-stack magazine, and the other .32 ACP Cheetah, the 82, used a simpler single-stack design.

The Model 81 uses a 12-round magazine, which doesn’t seem like a lot for such a small cartridge. It appears that you should be able to hold more, but after speaking with someone at Beretta, it seems that this capacity is intentional. Larger magazines tended to result in rimlock, which is due to the semi-rimmed nature of the .32 ACP. This would lock the gun up and create a complicated malfunction.

The Cheetahs were designed to be compact firearms, primarily aimed at concealed carry and personal defense, although there were exceptions. The Model 89 chambers the .22LR and served as a popular competitive choice due to its excellent accuracy.

Anyone who knows anything about guns can look at the Beretta Model 81 and instantly recognize that it’s a Beretta. The open slide and exposed barrel combined with a hammer-fired action are the tell-tale giveaways of a Beretta. The gentle curves and grip design of a Beretta are front and center with the Model 81.

It looks like someone shrunk a Beretta 92. These guns do differ from the Beretta 92 series. The Cheetahs are all straight blowback-operated pistols, which is an affordable and simple way to chamber cartridges like .32 ACP and .380 ACP. It’s a bit crude for such a refined gun, but it works.

Beretta Model 81 Features

1 Ambidextrous Safety

2 DA/SA Action

3 Double-Stack Magazine

The Model 81 – A Humble Origin Story

I, like most millennial gun nerds, grew up with airsoft. One of the first airsoft guns I purchased was a spring-operated Beretta Cheetah clone. I bought it because it was cheap, but that made me fall in love with Berettas and made me always want a Cheetah. As an adult with real steel money, I scooped up my chance to purchase the first Model 81 that drifted into view.

I’ve also loved the ergonomics of these guns, even if they are a little nonsensical. For sub-caliber guns, the grip design is way too thick. This has to be one of the fattest .32 ACPs ever created. It needs Ozempic, and it would match that micro-sized caliber a bit better.

For my big hands, the Beretta 81 fits perfectly. The big, broad grip design fits in my hand perfectly. A big beavertail allows me to hold high on the gun and secure a high grip for increased control. The safety is ambidextrous and sits on the frame in a 1911-like position. It’s easy to engage and disengage with minimal thumb movement.

The slide release is also seemingly oversized, but fantastic and placed well for easy engagement. The magazine release is the same way, huge and easy to release with the press of a button. This gun is considered compact, but none of the features are compact.

For me, it’s a great ergonomic fit, but for a lot of people, it might feel a bit big. It’s heavier, wider, longer, and taller than something like a SIG P365, and it’s only a .32 ACP. That might be a hard sell to some, but this all has positive effects at the range.

Shooting the Model 81

A 24-ounce .32 ACP made entirely from metal gives you a smooth-shooting, low-recoil gun. It handles and shoots more like a .22LR than a .380 ACP. The .32 ACP cartridge provides centerfire reliability with a heavier projectile capable of better penetration than the .22LR, but with significantly less recoil than the .380 ACP.

It’s a Goldilocks caliber when it comes to sub-calibers and straight blowback guns. It’s enough for defensive use, but not enough to be difficult to shoot. With the lack of recoil, you can shoot this gun extremely quickly without losing much accuracy. It’s flat shooting with minimal muzzle rise and a front sight that snaps right back on target.

You can easily cook off double taps in less than half a second, or Bill Drills that get mighty close to that two-second time. It feels a bit like cheating, to be honest. The big, wide grip, combined with the weight of the gun, makes shooting the .32 ACP a delight. At least when it comes to shooting performance, it’s not a delight on your wallet.

Ringing Steel

The barrel doesn’t move while the gun fires, which does give us a slight mechanical accuracy advantage. Mix that with an ergonomic grip and a decent trigger, and we can get a gun capable of making sub-3-inch groups at 15 yards. At 25 yards, you can engage targets ranging from eight to 10 inches easily enough.

Even out to 50 yards, you can hit C-Zone steel without a lot of effort. The double-action trigger delivers a smooth but heavy pull. The single-action has a fair amount of take-up, but is ultimately light and smooth. The break isn’t crisp, but it’s fine overall. That thick grip is what helps me shoot accurately.

I can get a good grip on it and apply the proper pressure to keep my hands from moving while shooting. The sights are fine, but I wish they were a hair bigger. The small design makes them challenging to see quickly, which slows you down when shooting rapidly or trying to get a bead after the draw.

Worth the Price of Admission?

I’ve yet to run into any reliability issues with the Beretta Model 81. I only shoot brass-cased .32 ACP FMJs. Hollow-points and .32 ACP can create rimlock, and FMJs give better penetration for this sub-caliber round. With standard .32 ACP FMJs, the gun runs without a problem.

These guns are no longer in production but are still fairly common. The Model 81s won’t get cheaper. Right now is the time to buy; with prices between $ 350 and $ 400, it’s the right time to invest. The price will only rise.

I want to thank Ammunition To Go for providing the .32 ACP ammunition for this test and review.

Beretta 81 Cheetah Pros and Cons 

The pros outweigh the cons by a large margin, as you can see below.

Report Card
Shootability	The Beretta Model 81 has almost no recoil or muzzle rise, and it’s super easy to shoot.	A+
Reliability	I’ve had no issues with the Beretta Model 81, but .32 ACPs tend to be unreliable with hollow points.	B+
Ergonomics	The grip is going to feel wide to a lot of shooters, but it’s perfect for me. The controls are easy to use and massive for such a small gun.	B+
Accuracy	Mechanically, the gun excels when it comes to accuracy, but the small sights make it a challenge.	B+
Value	It’s a bit old these days, but the Model 81 has a lot of charm and usefulness left in it.	B+

Beretta 81 Cheeta

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Our Grade

B+

Reviewed by Travis Pike

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Best Ammo for your Beretta 81 Cheetah

I shot several kinds of ammunition that work well with this pistol, however, our top pick would definitely be the Fiocchi Range Dynamics 73 Grain.

Fiocchi Range Dynamics

Marketplace	Cost
Midway USA	$0.58 / per round
Firearms Depot	$0.53 / per round

Beretta 81 Cheetah Accessories

The best part about accessorizing your Beretta 81 is the stuff that’s already on there. You can skip the stock, trigger, and rails and go straight to other goodies!

1. Falco Holsters Hamilton

I want to thank Ammunition To Go for providing the 9mm ammunition for this test and review.  IWB Rig Dual Clip Design Pancake Design Made of 1/8” thick or 7-8 oz heavy premium full-grain Italian leather

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How to Care for Your Firearm

Check out this video that walks through the detailed process of cleaning and caring for your Beretta 81 Cheetah.

Important Links and Manuals

Need more info on this firearm? Don’t worry. There’s plenty out there. We recommend you get started with the following resources:

• Owner’s Manual: Check it out here