Price Check on a Berreta 92FS Should I buy?

EDIT: after reading your post more clearly, id say average price.

New, they sell for $550-$600 depending on where you shop. $500 is the most id pay for a used one(like maybe 50rds through it). So its not bad but isn't a killer deal you have to jump on unless its the gin you want.

Nope - the 92FS was my first handgun. Sold it an never looked back. There are several better choices in that price range, namely the CZ75, Glock, Sig, etc.

The 92FS is too big and chucky for a good 9mm. Others have more capacity and/or are smaller/slimmer.

For $450 ish you can do much better.

I see them used on Gunbroker with buy now prices of $430 (police trade-in, one mag, no box) to $450 (no box, 2 mags) to $480 (no box, one mag, Tru Dot night sights), so it looks like this one is in the ball park.

That is actually a good price, as they go for about $550 new. If you like it, buy it. That is a good price and extra mags are cheap and plentiful for the 92FS.

Maybe I just got really lucky, but about 2 years ago, I bought my brand-new Italian-made 92FS in box with 2 15-round mags at a local gun shop for $499.

leadcounsel said:

Nope - the 92FS was my first handgun. Sold it an never looked back. There are several better choices in that price range, namely the CZ75, Glock, Sig, etc.

The 92FS is too big and chucky for a good 9mm. Others have more capacity and/or are smaller/slimmer.

For $450 ish you can do much better.

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Eh, different strokes i guess. I started out with a G23c, way innacurate, so i bought a G19. Same problem. Sold both and bought a 92F and havent looked back.

I like the fact that it has heft. It makes it more accurate due to less recoil. It was never designed to be conceal carried so it irks me when people bit*h about how they cant do it.

Regarding mags and capacity, Mecgar makes flush fit 18rd mags for anout $20. Italian made factory 15rd mags can be found for for $15. I dont really think it lacks in the capacity compartment.

For $450, theres not alot of slightly used guns that are better IMO. Most of your points regarding size, thickness and overall feel are subjective. User results vary.

t dickinson, you did great with the 92c carried one for many years till they issued us sigs and took the compact back. I miss the beretta so much that I got a 92 full size inox since i couldn't fine a compact they reallly not much bigger but over all I feel the 92 is a great weapon. Lots of people say it too big for a 9mm which don't make any sense to me I agree it somewhat big for a ccw but for the range, HD I think bigger is better longer barrel for more power and sighting is easy.

be safe

I think the 92FS is a great handgun. If you have large hands. If you add wood grips, you will need even larger hands.

Even though I have smaller hands and can't reach all the controls easily, I still like my 92FS well enough to keep it. It shoots well and fires everytime the trigger is pulled.

BTW, NEW Beretta 92 mags hold 17 rounds instead of the usual 15.

"A. Higher capacity magazines
17 rounds in 9mm and 12 rounds in 40 S&W. Completely interchangeable with other 92 family magazines. THREE magazines included per pistol."
http://www.beretta92.com/specs_92a1-96a1.aspx

Why buy a large frame handgun with a questionable track record and 16 round capacity when you can buy a medium or small frame CZ75 handgun with proven, more durable and accurate design (in full or compact size) that is smaller, slimmer, more ergonomic, and inherently more accurate (due to the slide rail design) and greater capacity (from 17 to 20 rounds depending). All for the same price.

Look around and see that the CZ is universally loved whereas the Beretta 92 has a love/hate following with more on the hate side...

I carry one in the military and it's too big and heavy for what it does, and I have large hands.

In your price range:

For a carry gun, there are much better choices.

For a home defense guns there are much better choices.

For a range gun there are much better choices.

I have the 92FS which I bought used 2 years ago for $325+tax and It was a little on the rough side, which for me is perfect. I carried one for a few years while USCG LE then while Active US Army. Yes, its big and bulky. Other than that its a great pistol. Parts available any where as are magazines, holsters and grips. The M9a1 is a great shooter too, btw.
The price is average, lots of them out there.

There are better choices than a Beretta. I've owned 3 of them in the 80s and 90s, never again. The Beretta 92 has been work in progress for decades.

The Beretta is a solid handgun, but as many members pointed out, there are better choices. The Beretta will go bang each time the trigger is squeezed, but it is heavy and only has average mag capacity. Sig, Glocks, and HK's are likely held in higher regard with respect to the Beretta. The Beretta has the all-metal frame on it's side making it virtually indestructible, but it is also heavy. Besides, polymer pistols like Glocks and HK's and some Sig models have been proven just as strong as steel guns. For the same price as the Beretta, you can find a new Glock with a higher mag capacity, lighter weight, and better accuracy.

I have four handguns of which my Beretta 92FS is the sweetest to shoot.

Its an average price on a used Beretta, but, they are good solid pistols. I much prefer them to the full size Glock. I carried both on duty at one time or another when I was in LE. The Beretta, is a full sized duty handgun, make no mistake about that, if you wish to carry it concealed, then you might want to look elsewhere as has been posted. If you want it for home defense it should suit your purposes very well, it is a very reliable weapon with proper magazines and ammunition. It usually is quite accurate as well.

And you can grow your hair out and pretend to be an undercover cop!

leadcounsel:

a questionable track record

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Are you referring to the few slide cracking problems on initial US-made models that were fixed over 25 years ago? Or is there some evidence of more recent problems with the design?

16 round capacity

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Not anymore:

17 rounds in 9mm and 12 rounds in 40 S&W. Completely interchangeable with other 92 family magazines.

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So that's 18 rounds in the old standard Model 92 with the updated factory Beretta magazines.

I have no problem with people who dislike the Beretta 92/M9 because of personal experience carrying them. If you don't like it, great, carry something else. I do.

But saying it has a "questionable track record" because of accounts of some cracked slides in the early 80's, which were fixed by a complete re-design 25 years ago, is pretty misleading.

The 92FS is too big and chucky for a good 9mm. Others have more capacity and/or are smaller/slimmer.

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+1.



the lethal weapon craze is over.

Look, the Beretta 92FS is a big heavy gun. I don't think anyone would deny that. But it also shoots very sweetly, I don't think anyone would deny that either. Where reliability is concerned, there are not a lot of hard facts but the 92FS as one one of the most widely sold pistols in the world (and was the most reliable pistol when the US military did their trials in the 80's) so is surely going to be there in the top echelon. And the price is remarkably low for a quality pistol - I would suggest because it has been produced on such a large scale and because it has been under-appreciated, perhaps as "old fashioned" and prhaps forgetting that other pistols also have considerable ancestry. What one person calls "old fashioned" an other person may call "proved and tested". We get so many unsubstantiated claims in these discussions. I am in absolutely no doubt that the Beretta 92 FS is one of the finest pistols ever made.

Too high for used 92FS IMO

LGS recently had them on sale NIB for $499.

Yes, the Beretta had problems with blowing up and injuring the shooter. Sure the problem was fixed. But.... enough to raise eyebrows IMO.

I've owned the Beretta 92FS - it was my first pistol. I shot the heck out of it. It was less than desireable in the reliability category.

I have been issued the M9 (same gun) in the military. I've been issued a few different ones, and shot many different ones. Overall admittedly they have worked fine.

I have larger than average hands and am a larger than average guy. I personally find it an undesireable pistol to use. Sure, it's about as sexy as a pistol can get, but the ergonimics are not good and the safety is backwards. There are many choices I would pic over the M9/92FS.

I have a 92FS and love it. It shoots great and is 100% reliable after many thousands of rounds. I had an M9 as a medic in the Army and grew to love them. I would trust my life with it. My 10 year old son loves to shoot mine too. I really like full size 9mm's like Berettas, Glocks, or HiPowers for shooting. For carry I like something smaller, lighter.

The price is a little high, but not horrible.

leadcounsel:

Sure, it's about as sexy as a pistol can get

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At least we can agree on that!