Chronograph-ed some .32 acp

Just what you've been waiting for, right?

Test Conditions: Uh, partly cloudy, about 75 degrees and the muzzle was about 5 ft away from the ProChrono. There ya go.

Some strings have more rounds than others. Sometimes I just felt like shooting more, sometimes a round would not get a reading, and sometimes a round would get a ridiculous reading and I didn't count it.

Test gun: Beretta M81FS .32 acp 3.8 inch barrel. Sometimes called a "Cheetah". Gun has a few thousand through it. I don't think I'm at 5K though, when I'll change the recoil spring.

Fiocchi 60 gr JHP (Not the XTP bullet)

7-shot average 1008 fps
Low 974
High 1046
Extreme Spread 72

I've run plenty of this through this gun to count on it feeding. It has a little more bark than other .32 acp ammo I've fired. Although the Thai-Arms below has a little more recoil.

Thai-Arms 73 FMJ
7-shots Avg 1003
L 961
H 1039
ES 78

The Thai Arms has been my carry ammo when I carry this gun. It felt hotter than other .32 acp ammo, turns out it is.

Geco FMJ 73 gr
10-shot average 798 fps
L 718
H 838
ES 120

Hmm..well, it's inexpensive, and has functioned just fine in this gun for over a thousand rounds. But it's slow with a high ES. Treat it like it should be treated, as practice ammo.

Fiocchi FMJ 73 gr
8-shot average 931
L 912
H 950
ES 38

Fine ammo.

Tested a few more.

Beretta M81FS about 80 degress F. (6 shots)

PPU 71 gr FMJ

H. 844 fps
L. 768
A. 805
ES. 76

Magtech 71 gr LRN (6 shots)

H. 874 fps
L. 794
A. 844
ES. 80

CCI Blazer alluminum case 71 gr FMJ (5 shots)

H. 844 fps
L. 814
A. 836
ES. 35

How do you like your Beretta? I've been curious about that since it popped up on AIM Surplus.

I recently picked up one of the nicer surplus 81BB’s from Gander RV & Outdoors and have a half case of the PPU. Might have to pick up some Fiocchi. Thanks for the tests!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yellowfin

How do you like your Beretta? I've been curious about that since it popped up on AIM Surplus.

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Mine is an 81FS. It had been perfect for about 5k or more rounds but I recently noticed the extractor retaining pin out of place. The factory staking didnt hold.

I noticed it but later than I would have liked. It was easy to re-stake it.

Other than that the gun has been great! I've been carrying it for about three years now IIRC.

Beretta M81FS about 75 degress F. (5 shots)

Buffalo Bore .32 acp 75 gr Hard Cast Flat Point Lead

They advertise "1,001 fps -- Berretta Mod. 70, 3-inch bbl."

From my 3.8 inch Beretta 81FS I got:

H. 986 fps
L. 964 fps
Average 974 fps
Extreme spread 22 fps.

The ammo fed fine in my Beretta, but the OAL is much shorter than FMJ ammo and the nose is very flat. I still wouldn't trust it to feed unless I fed a couple hundred rounds of it. Recoil wasn't heavy (duh) and there was no muzzleflash that I can recall, just smoke.

I think it's a good round to keep in the chamber with hot FMJ in the magazine. Which is what I'll do.

Beretta M81FS about 75 degress F. (5 shots)

Buffalo Bore .32 acp 75 gr Hard Cast Flat Point Lead

They advertise "1,001 fps -- Berretta Mod. 70, 3-inch bbl."

From my 3.8 inch Beretta 81FS I got:

H. 986 fps
L. 964 fps
Average 974 fps
Extreme spread 22 fps.

The ammo fed fine in my Beretta, but the OAL is much shorter than FMJ ammo and the nose is very flat. I still wouldn't trust it to feed unless I fed a couple hundred rounds of it. Recoil wasn't heavy (duh) and there was no muzzleflash that I can recall, just smoke.

I think it's a good round to keep in the chamber with hot FMJ in the magazine. Which is what I'll do.