Beretta M1935 - how to carry?
 

A friend recently gave me a very clean M1935 that was made in 1949. He didn't want to be bothered with the 32 ACP.

How do I carry it? The safety only blocks the trigger. It does have a half **** notch, but, I don't know if this pistol's half **** was designed for safe carry when loaded or just to prevent discharge if the hammer slipped.

If local law permits, single action should be carried in "condition 3" (no round in chamber, hammer down, ammo in magazine). I heard even U.S. military M9 is carried in condition 3 if not in combat action (please correct me if I am wrong).

Great gun, very reliable and nothing really wrong with the 32 ACP with proper bullets. About 92% one shot stops if I remember correctly, of course no one shoots just once with a hand gun :)

The half notch is pretty strong on this gun and the firing pin is spring loaded, and I have known people to carry it this way but safety is always very important. I have seen guns fall out of pockets and onto hard surfaces, the last thing you want is to shoot yourself or someone by accident.

The best approach is the one suggested by Alvin, empty chamber.

So you will need to do some practice in removing and chambering a round for best speed.

I don't think you will loose much time, it may actually be quicker with the empty chamber method.

The safety on this gun, requires the thumb to first rotate it forward and then to shift to the hammer, the natural tendency is to remove the trigger finger from the trigger well during this action to prevent premature firing, the trigger finger must then be placed back in the correct position. Also the action of twisting the safety will tend to prevent acquiring your target properly, the action of pulling the hammer back tends to raise your point of aim requiring even more effort on the shooters part to bring the point of aim on target.


Using the empty chamber method and the safety in the fire position the gun is pulled and the other hand is used to cycle the action this allows the trigger finger to brace its self hard against the front of the trigger guard and remain in the correct position, it is true that cycling the action tends to raise the barrel and point of aim but releasing the slide will force the barrel back down and at that point the gun can fire almost instantly. There is also the added stability of having both hands on the gun for a second to stabilize it, important if you have been startled or hurt by your attacker.

The only draw back to this gun is that if someone is already on top of you getting it into action will prove very difficult.

You need to think of things to get the attacker off you before pulling the gun, All you need is about one and a half seconds with both hands free. Spit in the face, scream, show your tits, throw you billfold or purse on the ground, do anything completely unexpected and one and a half second later the problem has gone away.

well my two cents worth, sorry started to ramble :)

Vern

Here's a clip from Pistols Of the World, by Ian hogg...I take this to mean it is identical to the M1934 as to disassembly...

Interesting...I like 32 ACP...

Thanks for the suggestions. It looks like empty chamber is the way to go.

The gun is very reliable. In 300 rounds it only gave feeding problems with .311 diameter bullets. I also tried some 86 gr jacketed bullets (C-96) and had no problems.

The trigger pull is really heavy. After three magazines my right index finger was sore.

Never tried one in 32ACP. Is the slide as hard to pull back with unc***ed hammer as the 9mm short?

Steinar - it's pretty stiff. Too bad it's not as easy as a P-38.

Thanks for the info Freischütz.
The P38 is a locked breech design, I think that's the reason for the difference between the two.