Читать книгу Gun Digest Book of Beretta Pistols. Function | Accuracy | Performance онлайн

89 страница из 126

Here is the ambidextrous, 14-shot Beretta Model 84 Cheetah .380.

The 1934/35 pistols had come with conventional “European-style” butt heel magazine releases. The 70 models had a push-button release low at the rear of the left grip panel. This was seen as a more ergonomic way for thumb and fingers of the left hand to remove the magazine from the butt, and this feature was found on Beretta 9mm Parabellum pistols throughout the third quarter of the Twentieth Century, and remains on the small-frame Beretta pocket pistols.

The more or less conventional slide stop lever on the left side of the frame was a welcome addition on the 70 series pistols. Most had the “little finger extension” on the magazine that was commonly, but not exclusively, seen on its predecessor guns. Particularly nice were the .22 Long Rifle versions. Their good trigger pull, good accuracy, flat silhouette and reasonably compact size made them a favorite of discriminating plinkers and outdoorsmen. With aluminum alloy frames, they weighed just over 16 ounces. Variants in .22 LR included the standard Model 70S and the Model 71, which lasted until 1985. The Model 72 came with a barrel almost 6 inches long, as well as a standard length (3½ -inch) barrel. The Model 73 had both front and rear fixed sights attached to the barrel, on the theory (long since proven by High Standard and Smith & Wesson in the U.S.) that a front sight on a fixed barrel and a rear sight on a moving slide would not always be in a constant relationship with one another. The Model 74 had adjustable sights, also with the rear sight mounted on the barrel. This pistol also featured an adjustable trigger pull. Larry Wilson quotes factory literature of the period: “The trigger pull is adjustable by means of a conic screw acting on the sear (remove right grip panel, adjustment screw for trigger located near disconnector).” ⁽¹⁾