Beretta Mod. 96...should I?

[Brickboy240]

You never know what you'll find, lurking around the pawn shops by your office! I went by one near ours and behind the gun counter, he had a pistl that I looked at really close.

This was a Beretta Model 96 40SW with the typical Bruniton/parkerized Beretta finish. This model wore Trijicon night sights and other than a little holster wear, was a very clean piece. It comes with one 11rd Beretta/Made in Italy magazine. There was also a marking on the slide, near the muzzle - the letters BP inside a badge (US Border Patrol?) that I have never seen on nay 92/96 series Beretta.

The shop had it marked for $425, but the shop owner said "I'd take 375 cash for it...no one around here wants a 40, just 9s and 45s - I can't move it."

Lets see...375 bucks for a Beretta with night sites? Sounds like a good deal and I am interested but really, the only 40 I have ever shot is my XD-40 Service.

Does anyone out there own a Beretta 96? How do you like it? Is it accurate? I know the 92/96 series are reliable. Does the 96 have any known problems that should make me not buy it?

Also, could the strange "BP" shield marking REALLY be a US Border Patrol marking? I believe they did issue 96Fs in the beginning and still carry the 96D Beretta...what else could that marking be? Its not an Italian proof mark, because this 96 was made in the USA.

Any help/advice/opinions on the Beretta 96 would be appreciated. I was not really looking for this pistol, but I like its feel and the price was very good for anything Beretta.

Thanks!

- Brickboy240

[Broadside]

I don't have a 96 but do have a 92FS I carried through the police academy. Beretta makes great guns for that low of a price I would be suspicious. That sounds like a really good deal. See if he will let you take it to a gunsmith to look at it or to the range and fire it on a try and buy.

[Brickboy240]

The guy did not seem suspicious and this is a big, reputable pawn shop chain and he said I had 30 days to have it looked at and I could have all my money back.

The low price really threw me, but looking around the web, its not THAT much lower than some on auction sites that have alot more wear and this one has been in his shop for a long time. It is entirely possible he took it in on trade for super cheap and just wants to move it - most pawnshop owners hate for anything to sit around for months.

I am really thinking of rolling the dice. I have 30 days...I'll find out if its right or wrong well within that time.

It just seemed like a very nice piece for the money. I don't own a Beretta pistol but know several that own 92s and PX4s and really like them alot.

- Brickboy240

[nightraider]

Which chain of pawn shops is it?

425 for a used Beretta is a reasonable price, as I've seen some go for around 400, so 375 really is not to far off. I would go and learn how to field strip it, then strip it in the store and do a thorough inspection of all the parts and pieces, make sure it at least looks to function properly.

[Lumberjack98]

I had a 96. It was a great pistol, functionally. It was the hardest pistol to be accurate with.

I shoot my XD pretty fast and stay VERY accurate. But I had to shoot the Beretta very slowly to be accurate.

[SLCDave]

I really like the Beretta 96. Due to the size, it's not an easily concealed gun by any means, but it's a good, accurate, solid gun. At that price, you would be able to get your money out of it fairly easily if you decided to sell it down the line. If you have the money, and want another gun in .40 S&W, it's a good choice.

[Brickboy240]

I already field stripped it while standing at the counter. I used to own a Taurus PT92 9mm so I was familiar with the platform. Internals looked barely used but in despirate need of lubrication and a bore scrubbing. Nothing glaring stuck out at me.

This guy, like some pawn shop counterpeople, was not too keen on me stripping the pistol down, but I told him I would never buy a used pistol without being able to field strip it at the counter and look it over for a minute. I believe, maybe he was just surprised when I quickly slid the slide/barrel assembly off the frame, but when I put it back together and showed him, he was much more at ease.

I dunno...I might be going back tomorrow and picking this one up. It "spoke" to me and few pistols do this. Besides, at that price, I'd love to have a quality 40 caliber autoloader with night sites to keep my XD-40 company.

- Brickboy240