Beretta pistols...92 vs 96?
- Thread starter Wrong Way
- Start date
lineofsight
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland, BC
Keep an eye out for M_A_T_T, he had a 92 inox and now a 96 inox thus may be able to give you good idea how the same gun shoots in the different calibres. A range trip may be useful too, may be able to find both there and try for self (maybe bring some ammo).
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I shoot a Beretta 96D and I love it. My buddy shoots 9mm and he won't switch. I think you need to find someone to let you shoot both and see what is more comfortable in your hands. If money is a sticking point you will find more 92's and more ammo and all a little cheaper than the .40 caliber 96.
Beretta 92 or 96?
Neither, actually...
Was shooting double stack Beretta's in the early 80's when we could still have real deal hi-cap mags. At the time the only double stacks around were the S&W 59 series, BHP, HK VP70's, and the big club handle Beretta.
Owned a few during those years but left 'em behind when I picked up my first CZ75 [not the tropical laquer finish ones but the nicer parked model]. Then finally settled on the BHP MkIII when they became available for a double stack 9mm. Unfortunately now we are limited to 10 shot mags....
Then in the early 90's when the .40 S&W made it's appearance and the big pistol makers started making examples available.... shot a bunch of different ones. Glock, Beretta and the stainless Smiths in the ealiest offerings. Personally, I think the Glock 22 is a way better choice than the Beretta 96 .40 cal. A lot of PD's who went with the Beretta are now changing to the Glock. Hence the glut of used cop Berettas on the market. The only other .40 cals I am partial to these days are the S&W 4006 and the BHP MkIII. But I still shoot the G22 the best in .40 S&W.
So...which pistol do you prefer, and why? Got the Beretta bug, and I'm trying to narrow it down
Neither, actually...
Was shooting double stack Beretta's in the early 80's when we could still have real deal hi-cap mags. At the time the only double stacks around were the S&W 59 series, BHP, HK VP70's, and the big club handle Beretta.
Owned a few during those years but left 'em behind when I picked up my first CZ75 [not the tropical laquer finish ones but the nicer parked model]. Then finally settled on the BHP MkIII when they became available for a double stack 9mm. Unfortunately now we are limited to 10 shot mags....
Then in the early 90's when the .40 S&W made it's appearance and the big pistol makers started making examples available.... shot a bunch of different ones. Glock, Beretta and the stainless Smiths in the ealiest offerings. Personally, I think the Glock 22 is a way better choice than the Beretta 96 .40 cal. A lot of PD's who went with the Beretta are now changing to the Glock. Hence the glut of used cop Berettas on the market. The only other .40 cals I am partial to these days are the S&W 4006 and the BHP MkIII. But I still shoot the G22 the best in .40 S&W.
Wrong Way
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Neither, actually...
Was shooting double stack Beretta's in the early 80's when we could still have real deal hi-cap mags. At the time the only double stacks around were the S&W 59 series, BHP, HK VP70's, and the big club handle Beretta.
Owned a few during those years but left 'em behind when I picked up my first CZ75 [not the tropical laquer finish ones but the nicer parked model]. Then finally settled on the BHP MkIII when they became available for a double stack 9mm. Unfortunately now we are limited to 10 shot mags....
Then in the early 90's when the .40 S&W made it's appearance and the big pistol makers started making examples available.... shot a bunch of different ones. Glock, Beretta and the stainless Smiths in the ealiest offerings. Personally, I think the Glock 22 is a way better choice than the Beretta 96 .40 cal. A lot of PD's who went with the Beretta are now changing to the Glock. Hence the glut of used cop Berettas on the market. The only other .40 cals I am partial to these days are the S&W 4006 and the BHP MkIII. But I still shoot the G22 the best in .40 S&W.
Don't get me wrong NAA, I apprececiate all feedback....but why is it that here on CGN, whenever:
A: Someone asks about a specific maketr, someone ALWAYS says "Get a Glock"
B: Whenever someone asks about a .22 rifle, and even goes so far as to specifically state NOT Ruger, someone ALWAYS says "Get a 10/22"
I just don't get it......
And for the record, comparing a Glock to a Beretta is like comparing a jeep (Ugly but functional) to a Ferrari (Pricier, but waaaaay prettier, and just as functional)
So....back on topic: Anybody have any personal, first hand issues with a 96 vs 92?
Good point. You'll have to browse the used market if you want a 96. The new 90-TWO series come in .40, if you are into those.
I may go to the range today with my 'new' 96 and report back. I won't be bringing my 92 for a side by side comparison, though.
Don't get me wrong NAA, I apprececiate all feedback....but why is it that here on CGN, whenever:
A: Someone asks about a specific maketr, someone ALWAYS says "Get a Glock"
B: Whenever someone asks about a .22 rifle, and even goes so far as to specifically state NOT Ruger, someone ALWAYS says "Get a 10/22"
I just don't get it......
And for the record, comparing a Glock to a Beretta is like comparing a jeep (Ugly but functional) to a Ferrari (Pricier, but waaaaay prettier, and just as functional)
So....back on topic: Anybody have any personal, first hand issues with a 96 vs 92?
For the record I never said "get a Glock" I said personally I thought the Glock 22 was a better choice than the Beretta 96 for a .40 cal. And of all the different .40's I've shot, I still shot the G22 the best.
But to be on topic..... on the 96 vs the 92.... from first hand experience.... personally, I'd take the 92 over the 96. If you don't reload the 9mm vs .40 cal is a no brainer. You can shoot more 9mm than .40 cal for the same outlay. If you do reload, on components price, you still have a slight edge with 9mm. [Where I live 9mm and .40 cal brass is plentiful and virtually free - left laying around the local ranges by the various cop agencies that practice with it]. But specifically, I don't have confidence that the 96 can stand up to a sustained diet of .40 cal ammo. So, of the two choices I'd take the 92.
92 by a long shot. Like foxbat said, 92 was originally developed for the 9mm cartridge. When the .40S&W caliber became popular, Beretta just slapped a different barrel on the 92 and called it a day. The result was a gun with a severely compromised life expectancy, which was known for developing cracks after only a few thousand rounds. Most police departments that originally went with the 96 dumped it in favor of Glock, Sig and other guns.
Sounds like it's gonna be a 92......besides, I scored a case of 9mm SXT's, and have a lline on not one....but two BNIB Italian 92 Inox's
Thanks for the info!
WW
Two Italian Inox 92's?? NICE.
I shot my .40 today. I didn't bring my 92 to compare, but there wasn't anything noticable in recoil while shooting. I had a serious flinch to the opposite side I would tend to have though. Grouping was decent, but most shots went to the left (I'm a lefty and would tend to flinch to the right).
