Surplus Beretta's at Lever Arms

ghostie

ghostie

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My girlfriend wants to buy a used Beretta in 9mm. She's been looking at those Italian police surplus Beretta 92S's they have at Lever Arms in Vancouver.

Have any of you guys looked at these closely? What did you think? It seems to me that they have three of them, and that all three have been sitting in the cabinet since the summer. It doesn't seem like they've sold one, but then I only stop by about once a month. Am I right on that? If that is true, it doesn't seem like a good sign.

I've had a close look at one of them, and it seemed pretty good to me. They've definitely seen some use, but everything seems to be in order. One of them (not the one I looked at) has some very signifigant holster wear, the other two not so much. The one I looked at had Italian markings on it that were quite a bit different from other 92s and 96s I've seen, the "Made in Italy" or "Made in U.S.A." ones. These ones, if I remember correctly, do not say "Made in Italy" on them. Pistols with a phrase written in English on them are obviously for export to the U.S. These ones had little markings on them, some kind of Italian version of what the "Eagle over N" marking is for German made pistols, I assume.

The main thing I am wondering about is other people's take on the wear on the bore. I looked at one of them. There was wear there, but it didn't look signifigant to me. It actually looked more dirty than worn. Most people seem to think that Canadian and U.S. police surplus guns have not generally seen a lot of rounds. Does that hold for the Italian Police as well?

So what's the verdict boys? Will she be happy with one of these? Or are they past their prime - their best accuracy being well behind them?

Please no comments on other better pistols in the same price range. Between the two of us we already own many of the popular pistols on the market. She's just interested in a Beretta in 9mm, and these Italian police guns in particular.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Beretta92S.jpg
 
I wouldn’t worry about the bore (unless the wear is really significant) it wouldl take a LOT to wear out a barrel (probably 100K+)...

FYI you can get a .40 Beretta police trade in for the same price and those guns are newer.

Personally I would though in an extra few hundred dollars and get a new 92FS. They’re a bit cheaper then they were a couple of years ago… You can get one for about the same (or less) as what you paid for your Steyr ;) and Beretta is Lot better gun IMO (I have both!)

If she hasn’t handled one yet and has small hands I’d recommend the new 90-two ($999) it has interchangeable grips (slim and regular) or look for a used Vertec or Elite 1A

Btw you can change grips on a 92FS (there’s tons of them) but 92FS grops wouldn’t work on a 92S because of the mag. release location, but I guess I could modify them if you/she decide to change them...
 
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ghostie said:
Please no comments on other better pistols in the same price range. Between the two of us we already own many of the popular pistols on the market. She's just interested in a Beretta in 9mm, and these Italian police guns in particular.


Beretta92S.jpg
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Since she's got her heart set on a Beretta then it boils down to how well this model fits her hands. If she finds it comfortable then you're away to the races. If not have her try out the newer models with the more ergonomic grip.

Ex-cop pistols usually have been carried a lot & shot moderately. These Berettas should be no exception. That is to say, in & out of a holster for daily carry, with the requisite wear on the sharp edges/contact points. Bore should be decent. You'll crack the frame on an aluminum frame gun like the Beretta from usage long before you will shoot out the bore. ;)
 
A brand new 92FS or M9 is only $799 now. Most folks like the idea of a new gun and are willing to pay a little more to get one.
 
They're not bad :)

I had one through here and shot it at the range. As good as the new ones, although the trigger pull was stiffer. Good accuracy (for a Beretta :) Smaller sights...

The problem I had with it was the different mag catch location, and the fact it only came with one mag. I have since found a few Beretta mags that fit these, but the regular ones just won't work.

I would tend to agree - a new one is comparatively good value for the money.

If you do get this one, talk to me about spare mags :)

Gunnar
www.armco-guns.com
 
Well, it is true that she really seems to have her heart set on a Beretta - and it has to be 9mm because she thinks that the .40 and .45 bullets are too expensive.

I'm going to violate my own rule about suggesting other guns in the price range, and open the discussion up for everyone else to do the same. She owns a Ruger 22/45 and a Ruger 10/22 and she wants to have her own 9mm now. I have a Glock 17, a Steyr M9-A1 and a Walther P99 AS in 9mm. I'm also on the verge of buying a USP, and she doesn't want to have the same gun as me. She has shot all of my 9mm's and she likes and shoots the Glock the best. I have been suggesting that maybe we can split the cost on a Glock 19 and she can register it in her name and pay me back later - she thinks it is a bit pricey though. Shane at Reliable has G19s with fixed sights and a Bar-Sto 106mm for $1199 now. Basically the same deal as Questar. She is a smaller person and I thought the G19 made sense for her. She's thinking about it.

We've gone shopping for a 9mm a few times and are going to go again this Saturday. She wanted something in 9mm in the $500-$600 range. She looked at the Norinco "Sig 226" gun at Lever Arms, but thought the grip was too fat for her. The replacement grips do not make it any thinner apparantly. She has the same thought on the used Sig 226 and 220 they have at Reliable (I think they are both still there. They were both $699). That single stack Sig 220 in 9mm is a real nice piece of work. I'm interested in that one myself, but I expect someone will snap it up before too long. The grip is just too fat fopr her. I was wondering about the Beretta's size too. It seems like quite a long gun to me, but she seems to be ok with "long and sleek", but she doesn't like "bulk".

They had a "Made in Italy" Beretta 96 .40 cal. at Reliable for $595. She likes the feel of this but.... the calibre seems to be a show-stopper for her. A box of 250 UMC rounds is only like $15 bucks more than 9mm, but I think she also feels like it will be more recoil, and doesn't like that.

She liked the feel of the Italian Police Beretta as well, and the price was good ($550), but we weren't sure exactly what we were getting there - and thanks very much for the commnents, I think you guys are right. The bore is probably not the issue on which "buy/don't buy" will turn.

We've looked at the Beretta 90-two that Reliable has in (I think they have brought in two of them so far). I believe it is also $1199. I dig the look of it personally, but she likes the more traditional 92/96 look. Women! Geez, it's gotta be the right look, right calibre, right grip, right price! ;) Well at least I can be thankful that I have a girlfriend who is interested in this sport with me and wants to go to the range and spend her own money on this. :)

We looked at Baby Eagle in 9mm as well, and that one might still be in the running for her. I've shot that gun, and I liked it. We looked those Ruger centrefire handguns as well. The price is right but she thought they were ugly. Can't say I disagree. The only Ruger centre-fire autoloader I like is that new .45 they came out with. Tokarev seems to be the cheapest thing you can get in 9mm, but she wasn't interested in that either.

We're going to have a look at a few more things this weekend. I'll let you guys know how it goes.
 
What about the S&W M&P...

New in 9mm, they are between 679$ and 748$. They look and feel nice and it is not as big as the Beretta 92....(it has 3 interchangeable grip pads to help in the grip fitting.)...so she may be able to fit it to her hand. The guns also have a lifetime warranty....

....there is a problem with factory mags being dropped and cracking....but I would just invest in 2 all metal ones.

Worth considering....reviews are good.
 
why not arrange to come out and try a few different guns sometime, before you buy?
 
IM_Lugger said:
if you/she looked at other guns around $1000+ why not just get a new 92fs for $799? :confused:
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Yah, that seems to make the most sense right now. I'm going to suggest that to her. Do you know where they have them in stock? We just have 3 main gun shops in the city of Vancouver and then maybe another 3-4 more in the surrounding burbs. I know that Reliable just has the 90-two, and a used 96. Lever Arms just the Italian Police surplus 92s. I will check Italian sporting goods on Saturday and maybe even go out to Hunter's in Surrey.

What about the online people? Questar, I don't think so. Wolverine, some used 96's I think.

Anyone know where we can get a new 92FS, preferably a "Made in Italy" one? Also, if anyone has a near-new used one let me know.

She may just decide to buy that Italian police surplus gun, I'll keep you guys updated.
 
the shooting edge seems to have the best price on Berettas, other places still charge $850-950... they should have some in stock (inc the military M9 verson)
 
here's what i do know as far as Beretta, the Italian Police and their use of weapons.

There are seven different types of Police in Italy.

1.Arma dei Carabinieri
2.Guardia di Finanza
3.Polizia di Stato (state police)
4.Polizia Penitenziaria (penitentiary police)
5.Corpo Forestale dello Stato
6.Polizia Provinciale (Provincial Police)
7.Polizia Municipale (Municipal Police) Local city / village / district cops.

All are issued Berettas.
The following 1,2,and 3 (mentioned above) get lots of use out of their equipment and lots of range time. #2's are typically issued smaller weapons than the 92 because they wear them mostly concealed.

4,5,6 and 7 get about as much range time as our guys do - perhaps even less as they are given an allowance of ammunition - and it's not a lot. Further to that many of the #7's (and #4's) own their own guns so it's not likely that you are getting a regular Police Officers service weapon.
I suspect you are purchasing an 1.Arma dei Carabinieri (MP)or 3.Polizia di Stato (state police) gun because they are upgrading to the 90-2's.
 
Alot of the used Itallian 92's around are DAO.....which sucks ass.
For a chic for size and shootability, STI RangerII :)
Ranger2Web_800w.jpg
 
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