The unusual Benelli B76: initial thoughts and observations +Range Report added+

[Master-G]

I started shooting in the mid-1980s, and while I could only afford a CZ75 back then as my 9mm pistol, I always thought that the 1970s and 1980s had so many unique and innovative pistol designs, like the Steyr GB, or the H&K P7, P9S or VP70. I’ve been lucky enough to pick up most examples from back then, and this one might be the one to complete my collection (and not a moment too soon, unfortunately).

The Benelli B76 certainly doesn’t get the attention of some of its counterparts like the H&K P7, and I must admit that other than it’s striking look I didn’t know that much about it. They were made from 1976 to 1990, and the model I was most familiar with was the standard model with fixed sights and a matte finish, and the Sport model, with had a blue finish, adjustable sights and an extended barrel with barrel weight. I didn’t even know this version—the B76 Target—was available. It’s the same size as the standard model but has the polished blued finish and adjustable sights of the Sport model.

The top of the slide is flat and is grooved. I think this is probably the most “stylish” handgun I own!

The controls are fairly standard with a couple of quirks—the magazine release is in the usual location, but is pushed forward instead in inwards. The safety is also in the usual place, but operates vertically instead of through an arc. Oddly, there is no decocker—this usually doesn’t bother me since this is a range-only gun of course but there’s another oddity I’ll mention a bit further along that presents a bit of an issue.

The single-stack grip is grooved on both the from and the back.

And speaking of grooves, the full trigger guard has an internal groove. Some H&K pistols have a similar (though smaller) grooves, and I’ve read it’s to prevent a glove finger from being caught under the bottom of the trigger. On H&K pistols I found that the groove “bit” my trigger finger on recoil—we’ll see how this one fares.

The trigger is grooved has has the trigger bar attached to the left side. At the rear of the trigger guard area you can see an overtravel adjustment screw. I’ve grown to appreciate how much more pleasant a trigger can feel with low overtravel—it was one of my favourite features of the Gray Guns trigger I installed in my P226—so I was keen to learn of this feature on my new pistol. But, I’ve read that it’s possible to over-adjust the screw out too far to the point where the hammer won’t drop, and with no decocker there’s not way to lower the hammer and re-adjust the screw. I might just leave this one well enough alone. The double-action pull is very stout—maybe 15 lbs?—but the single action pull is a wonderfully light and crisp 3.5 lbs. (with a bit of the aforementioned overtravel).

The front sight is a very large blade with a large white stripe. It’s similar to the front sight on my P9S Target.

The rear sight has two smaller vertical white lines. It makes for a pretty good sight picture, and also offers a longer sight radius than the fixed sights of the standard model.


(continued below)

 

[Master-G]

OK, so far there’s nothing really unusual about the pistol….maybe a few quirks but nothing to groundbreaking. Once the pistol is disassembled, though, things take a bit of an unusual turn. The pistol uses what Benelli called “Inertia Lock”; I’m not aware of any other pistols that use it.

You first start by removing the locking block (you can see it in the rear sight picture above) by flipping the little “wings” and removing it. The slide then slides off the front, revealing this unusual-looking arrangement.

You’ll see the fixed barrel, and, remarkably, a removable bolt, or breechblock.

The front of the bolt shows the extractor at the 12 o’clock position with the red “loaded chamber” indicator (although it’d be hard to see without getting awfully close to the muzzle).

The rear of the bolt reveals the secret to the pistol’s unique mode of operation. The two key parts are the black circular protrusion on the top of the bolt, and the keyhole-shaped lever at the rear. When the slide is fully forward, the locking block pushes this lever upwards, which cams the bolt down into the locking recess in the frame.

Here’s the locking recess—it’s the angled crosswise part of the frame between the ejector and the hammer (it’s shaded dark due to it’s angle). You can see the corresponding mating portion on the bolt in the picture of the bolt above—it’s the darker area at the bottom below the firing pin. When the bolt is cammed in place it’s locked.

Here’s a picture of the underside of the slide (one thing that’s unusual is that it’s pretty empty—this also makes it lighter than expected). At the moment the pistol is fired, the frame will start recoiling, but the inertia of the slide’s mass (its resistance to moving…think Newton’s first law) means that it takes a tiny bit longer to start moving, during which chamber pressure can drop to a safer level for ejection. Once the slide moves back the groove that runs side-to-side across the slide will engage the top of the bolt lever and pull the bolt upwards out of its locked position allowing it to move freely. The left-to-right grove with the semi-circular portion on the left end then engages the circular protrusion in the bolt and pull it rearwards to eject the case and pick up a fresh round. Wow! That was a mouthful!

Unusual operating mode aside, this is a very pleasant pistol to hold. The “Glock-like” gip angle feels very natural to me, and the single-stack grip is pleasingly slim. The target sights are easy for my post-cataract eyes to pick up, too. I’m hoping that the combination of the weight of the all-steel pistol (exactly 1000g , or 35.3 oz., according to my kitchen scale) combined with a low bore axis and lighter slide will make for low muzzle flip, too. I’m looking forward to taking it out!

 

[gdawg]

Wow. That is a unique configuration in impeccable condition. Very striking design. Almost seems like Pardini may have been influenced by some of the Benelli design element.

Your detailed pictures really make me regret not buying one of these. I almost pulled the trigger on a B80 in 30 Luger listed on the EE 4 or 5 years ago but passed because I thought ammo would be hard to find. Then ammo became more readily available.

Congrats on completing the collection, Master-G. Those would have all been on my list too.

 

[Master-G]

Congrats on completing the collection, Master-G. Those would have all been on my list too.

Thanks!

 

[MR73]

Congrats on your acquisition! Great review and photos of an exquisite example in a very rare configuration. You hardly ever see adjustable sights on a B-series pistol without an extended barrel and barrel weight, and I’ve only ever seen one other example roll-marked “B76” that had the polished blued finish of the B76 Sport and MP3S.

 

[Painkillers]

It's a nice looking pistol. The grip rake has me concerned though.

 

[ianfroese]

Italians, always making things aesthetic and weird. I love it. Great review, breakdown, and photos!

 

[dan belisle]

I never owned one, but got to use one a fellow range member had. I quite liked it, the grip angle reminded me of the Luger, very comfortable. I think his was the only one I ever saw in the flesh, so to speak. Nice pistol. - dan

 

[Waba]

That was the best and most complete explanation of the locking system I have seen. Your pictures are fantastic.

Back when these were introduced I had a real hard time to acquire even a basic understanding of the system from the write ups and diagrams. Your presentation, so many years later, made it all come together.

I had occasion to shoot one of these in the early 80's one day when just myself and a fellow shooter were on the range. I recognized his pistol and of course we wound up trading guns for awhile as he liked my Model 19. I really liked the ergonomics of the Benelli. IIRC the fellow's loads were fairly light Bullseye ones that he had tailored for himself. He claimed he had never had a malfunction with that load.

Many thanks for your post, I truly enjoyed it.

 

[Master-G]

That was the best and most complete explanation of the locking system I have seen. Your pictures are fantastic.

Back when these were introduced I had a real hard time to acquire even a basic understanding of the system from the write ups and diagrams. Your presentation, so many years later, made it all come together.

I had occasion to shoot one of these in the early 80's one day when just myself and a fellow shooter were on the range. I recognized his pistol and of course we wound up trading guns for awhile as he liked my Model 19. I really liked the ergonomics of the Benelli. IIRC the fellow's loads were fairly light Bullseye ones that he had tailored for himself. He claimed he had never had a malfunction with that load.

Many thanks for your post, I truly enjoyed it.

Thanks very much!

 

[sillymike]

Nice find. Thanks for sharing

 

[pirate604]

Master G, another outstanding post, I always enjoy reading them and looking forward to the next.
This Benelli is quite the anestheticly pleasing peace and I bet the craftsmanship is second to none. I bet it is very enjoyable to fondle. Its funny, the inner workings look like something the Germans would come up with. Overly complicated marvels of engineering. Congratulations on your aquisition. I really look forward to hearing about how it shoots.

 

[gdawg]

Hard to see that Benelli MP3S on EE(12-x) and not be able to spring for it. Prohibited only because it is a 32. Given it is 32 long wadcutter, too bad it did not make the target pistol exception list.

 

[Master-G]

I had a chance to take the pistol out for the first time last week. My cataract surgery a few years ago resulted in my regaining excellent distance vision but for near vision I needed reading glasses. I can usually see most handgun sights OK, except for all-black, but I wanted to try out full-lens safety “reading” glasses. I picked a strength that was a little too strong so the target was a little tougher to see than I would have preferred and I think I didn’t get to wring maximum accuracy out of the pistol. I think I’ll try another pair with weaker strength. Anyway, onto the shooting!

The first thing I noticed was that the magazine is loaded like a Ruger .22 pistol—there’s a button that you hold down with your thumb as you loaded rounds in from the top. It worked well, and it was easy to load all eight rounds in. The pistol has a pleasantly “punchy” recoil and very little muzzle flip—not surprising due to the low bore axis and all-steel construction. It was reminiscent of the recoil of my H&K P7—I don’t mind a bit of punch in my recoil and while muzzle flip is minimized this would not be one of my lightest recoiling 9mm pistols.

The trigger was crisp and light, but the overtravel bugged me a little bit…I might adjust the screw a bit to bring it down. There were no functioning issues at all, although it took me a bit to locate the ejected cases—most ended up directly behind me with the pistol’s vertical ejection.

After a few magazines through the pistol I was getting pretty good groups, although the glasses were, I think, causing some issues. I was using just Winchester white box 115 grain ammo too, which worked great but it’s not my “go to” for accuracy.

Here’s my last “slow fire” target fired at 10m. There are five rounds scattered off to the left, but seven are in a tight little group just a smidge more than 1.5”. I think represents the pistol’s accuracy potential.

Here’s a video of the pistol in action (without sunglasses on I can see that I've developed a bit of a “blink flinch”. I'll have to work on that!):

It was a very enjoyable late summer evening at the range.