Any benelli b76 owners out there?
- Thread starter albanian
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Bladeandbarrel
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- Mar 3, 2003
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Great pistol for FMJ. they are a no-go with hollowpoints, I often wondered if better magazines would correct that as the standard mags are pretty poor. Would be a great gun to supress with a fixed barrel...
My understanding is that the grip angle requires the rounds to be angled rather sharply in the mag (you can see this through the mag cutouts) which leads to the feeding difficulty with hollowpoints. I don't think this was a concern for Benelli as hollowpoints weren't an issue in Italy or for military contracts.
Phil DeGraves
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- Aug 24, 2006
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Had one years ago. Very comfortable, but as mentioned, too steep a grip angle for reliable feeding with anything but FMJ. Also the plastic magazine followers were soft and eventually would stop catching the slide lock. They were never very expensive. They could have improved the magazine angle without changing the grip angle if they'd wanted to.
schmeky
Member
Radio,
Where is it?
Where is it?
hardwarehacker
Member
Glad that I have finally found a few people who know something about the B76.
I purchased one a couple of months ago on GunBroker. Cost too much, but it is solid stainless with adjustable target sights and as-new in box. Also found three spare mags (also stainless) up for auction.
Mostly wanted one because a long-deceased friend had one and kept telling me how great it was. Never got to shoot his...
My immediate interest is in finding a holster for this pistol. I have a few other oddballs in my collection, and there usually turns out to be gunleather for some more common model which fits them. Any suggestions for this one?
Thanks
HH
I purchased one a couple of months ago on GunBroker. Cost too much, but it is solid stainless with adjustable target sights and as-new in box. Also found three spare mags (also stainless) up for auction.
Mostly wanted one because a long-deceased friend had one and kept telling me how great it was. Never got to shoot his...
My immediate interest is in finding a holster for this pistol. I have a few other oddballs in my collection, and there usually turns out to be gunleather for some more common model which fits them. Any suggestions for this one?
Thanks
HH
schmeky
Member
hardwarehacker,
I am pretty sure you have a satin hard-chromed B-76. I have followed the B-76's since they first came out many many years ago (32 to be exact) and to my knowledge, there never was a stainless version. 10,000 were made.
You have a great rust resistant shooter there.
I am pretty sure you have a satin hard-chromed B-76. I have followed the B-76's since they first came out many many years ago (32 to be exact) and to my knowledge, there never was a stainless version. 10,000 were made.
You have a great rust resistant shooter there.
Xigris
Member
I've owned a B-76 for nearly 20 years. I think I paid about $325 for it. It's one of my favorite 9mm plinking & informal target pistols.
I've always thought it was one of my better looking 9mm's. I like the grips and the grip angle feels good to me.
I've always thought it was one of my better looking 9mm's. I like the grips and the grip angle feels good to me.
hardwarehacker
Member
B76 finish
>>I am pretty sure you have a satin hard-chromed B-76.
>>
It was listed as stainless, but the seller was a dealer who may not really have known much about this model. It is one of the nicest matte finishes I have ever seen on any gun. A very fine texture, looks like it was bead blasted.
>>I have followed the B-76's since they first came out many
>>many years ago (32 to be exact) and to my knowledge,
>>there never was a stainless version.
>>
You are probably right.
Guess I need to tear it down and see if I can find any interior surfaces which might have escaped the finishing process. Usually plated finishes show some wear along the slide tracks, but I could not find any. Don't really know how much it has been shot (if at all), so that may explain the absence of wear. I need to dig a bit deeper for a definitive answer.
>>10,000 were made.
>>
Don't have it here to look at, but I think the number on this one is 059xx.
How common (or uncommon) is the adjustable rear sight?
Guess it is time to take a day off work and go shoot this critter.
By the way, I just found a holster which fits adequately. It's a Galco bought on eBay whjich was listed as being for a SIG 228, but it doesn't fit that gun very well. The trigger guard pocket is square instead of triangular, but the rest of it fits my B76 very well. Don't know what it was made for, but it has a Benelli in it now.
Thanks for the inputs.
HH
>>I am pretty sure you have a satin hard-chromed B-76.
>>
It was listed as stainless, but the seller was a dealer who may not really have known much about this model. It is one of the nicest matte finishes I have ever seen on any gun. A very fine texture, looks like it was bead blasted.
>>I have followed the B-76's since they first came out many
>>many years ago (32 to be exact) and to my knowledge,
>>there never was a stainless version.
>>
You are probably right.
Guess I need to tear it down and see if I can find any interior surfaces which might have escaped the finishing process. Usually plated finishes show some wear along the slide tracks, but I could not find any. Don't really know how much it has been shot (if at all), so that may explain the absence of wear. I need to dig a bit deeper for a definitive answer.
>>10,000 were made.
>>
Don't have it here to look at, but I think the number on this one is 059xx.
How common (or uncommon) is the adjustable rear sight?
Guess it is time to take a day off work and go shoot this critter.
By the way, I just found a holster which fits adequately. It's a Galco bought on eBay whjich was listed as being for a SIG 228, but it doesn't fit that gun very well. The trigger guard pocket is square instead of triangular, but the rest of it fits my B76 very well. Don't know what it was made for, but it has a Benelli in it now.
Thanks for the inputs.
HH
WA_SIG
Member
I have had one for a long time. It is a very nice pistol and shoots as well as my SIG 226 as long as I use ball ammo. (It doesn't like anything else.)
I don't shoot it a lot any more because of it's rarity .(re; lack of replacement parts.) Workmanship is first rate and I find it a very attractive piece. It's too bad it wasn't a more popular gun.
Whenever I have it out, it draws attention and people can't believe Benelli made a pistol.
I don't shoot it a lot any more because of it's rarity .(re; lack of replacement parts.) Workmanship is first rate and I find it a very attractive piece. It's too bad it wasn't a more popular gun.
Whenever I have it out, it draws attention and people can't believe Benelli made a pistol.
schmeky
Member
hardwarehacker,
I don't know the numbers of B-76's with adjustable sights, but I know there were not very many. I had one years ago with adjustable sights. I foolishly sold it.
WA Sig,
Sounds familiar. I was in a large gun store a few months ago and I was talking with the gunsmith. I made a comment about having an unusual 9mm pistol. I told him it was a Benelli. He then said, "No, you have a Beretta, no such thing as a Benelli pistol".
I'm going back there soon, and quess what I'm taking with me
I don't know the numbers of B-76's with adjustable sights, but I know there were not very many. I had one years ago with adjustable sights. I foolishly sold it.
WA Sig,
Sounds familiar. I was in a large gun store a few months ago and I was talking with the gunsmith. I made a comment about having an unusual 9mm pistol. I told him it was a Benelli. He then said, "No, you have a Beretta, no such thing as a Benelli pistol".
I'm going back there soon, and quess what I'm taking with me
If its got the adjustable sights its actually a P-76. I bought mine 30yrs ago in Germany while stationed there. That gun now spends most of her time in the safe as the P-76's are rarer than the standard model. I only paid 150.00 through the Rod&Gun in Darmstadt.
hardwarehacker
Member
B76 information
Did not even hope for so much detailed information so fast. The scans of the manual and disassembly instructions were particularly helpful. Don't want to think about how long it would have taken me to find the takedown latches on my own -- it was difficult enough even knowing which widget to fiddle with.
Ok, mine is not stainless as the seller claimed, it has a really good matte chrome finish. Really had to look to be certain. It has definitely been fired, but not much. Perhaps the factory test rounds, perhaps a box after that, no more. The serial number is 056xx, not 059xx (memory fades as we age).
Both the box and the gun are labeled 'B76', however I would not be surprised if the correct designation really is P76 -- probably not enough of them made to justify nit-picky markings.
Now that I understand what I have, the decision of whether to shoot it a lot, a little, or not at all becomes difficult. The box is kinda ragged, there is no original manual with it, but it still rates as almost-new-in-box.
Do I keep this as a safe queen (I already have quite a few queens in my safe) or have fun shooting it? Is the experience of putting a box or two of ammo through a rare pistol worth turning it into a used rare pistol? Need to think this through a bit.
Thanks for all the good inputs. Now at least I have some solid facts to consider.
One last question, if anyone can answer: Given that this design did not make the cut as a standard sidearm for the Italian army, what did?
Thanks all
HH
Did not even hope for so much detailed information so fast. The scans of the manual and disassembly instructions were particularly helpful. Don't want to think about how long it would have taken me to find the takedown latches on my own -- it was difficult enough even knowing which widget to fiddle with.
Ok, mine is not stainless as the seller claimed, it has a really good matte chrome finish. Really had to look to be certain. It has definitely been fired, but not much. Perhaps the factory test rounds, perhaps a box after that, no more. The serial number is 056xx, not 059xx (memory fades as we age).
Both the box and the gun are labeled 'B76', however I would not be surprised if the correct designation really is P76 -- probably not enough of them made to justify nit-picky markings.
Now that I understand what I have, the decision of whether to shoot it a lot, a little, or not at all becomes difficult. The box is kinda ragged, there is no original manual with it, but it still rates as almost-new-in-box.
Do I keep this as a safe queen (I already have quite a few queens in my safe) or have fun shooting it? Is the experience of putting a box or two of ammo through a rare pistol worth turning it into a used rare pistol? Need to think this through a bit.
Thanks for all the good inputs. Now at least I have some solid facts to consider.
One last question, if anyone can answer: Given that this design did not make the cut as a standard sidearm for the Italian army, what did?
Thanks all
HH
schmeky
Member
HH,
Since it has been hardchromed, any collecor value has been reduced. You have yourself a fine shooter there. I think it would be difficult to wear out a B-76. Probably the main item of concern would be a firing pin.
Just guessing, but someone like EGW might be able to make you one, but it might be a bit pricey. I would only dry fire it with some quality snap caps like A-zoom.
The THR members are an incredible source of information and knowledge.
Since it has been hardchromed, any collecor value has been reduced. You have yourself a fine shooter there. I think it would be difficult to wear out a B-76. Probably the main item of concern would be a firing pin.
Just guessing, but someone like EGW might be able to make you one, but it might be a bit pricey. I would only dry fire it with some quality snap caps like A-zoom.
The THR members are an incredible source of information and knowledge.
hardwarehacker
Member
Either this is the original finish or someone bought the pistol and immediately had it chromed, then put it in its box without ever shooting it. When I took it apart, there was zero wear, no internal rub marks or scratches. Nada.
Everything fits very tightly and the machined edges are very sharp. None of the signs of routine use, no evidence that a blue finish was removed or of the usual prep work before plating.
If it was chromed by a previous owner, I agree that it is a shooter. If it was a factory finish, then it may be even more uncommon.
Has anyone else here seen or heard of a factory-chromed B76?
= = = = =
Are there enough interested B76 owners to make it worthwhile for someone to machine a run of new firing pins? I would buy two or three if they were available.
HH
Everything fits very tightly and the machined edges are very sharp. None of the signs of routine use, no evidence that a blue finish was removed or of the usual prep work before plating.
If it was chromed by a previous owner, I agree that it is a shooter. If it was a factory finish, then it may be even more uncommon.
Has anyone else here seen or heard of a factory-chromed B76?
= = = = =
Are there enough interested B76 owners to make it worthwhile for someone to machine a run of new firing pins? I would buy two or three if they were available.
HH
Nimble1
Member
Since the trigger,hammer and bolt carrier were originally hard chromed, compare the finish to them. Its possible that the finish is original. Have you written Benelli? I did a while back and they sent a photocopy of a manual for free. I would be interested to know if they have any spares left, I would hate to break a firing pin.
I have seen a few "silver" B76 on Gunbroker. Here's one (I hope the link is still good): http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=99971413 The seller refers to it as a "stainless finish". It's really not clear what it is.
Nimble1
Member
Wow!
Thats nice!! I believe its a factory hard-chromed finish. The overall finish appears to match the finish on the basic hard-chromed parts. Pretty gun!
Thats nice!! I believe its a factory hard-chromed finish. The overall finish appears to match the finish on the basic hard-chromed parts. Pretty gun!
hardwarehacker
Member
B76 on GunBroker
Storm and Nimble1: That is the one I purchased. Glad you like it, now I don't need to post any pictures.
There is no question in my mind that this is the original factory finish. If it looks new in the pictures, that is even more obvious close up. The plating looks identical everywhere, inside and out.
Yes, I guess it is time to see if Benelli has any spare firing pins or other parts.
Thanks to all -- I now know a lot more about what I bought. Still trying to figure out whether to treat it as a shooter or an investment.
HH
Storm and Nimble1: That is the one I purchased. Glad you like it, now I don't need to post any pictures.
There is no question in my mind that this is the original factory finish. If it looks new in the pictures, that is even more obvious close up. The plating looks identical everywhere, inside and out.
Yes, I guess it is time to see if Benelli has any spare firing pins or other parts.
Thanks to all -- I now know a lot more about what I bought. Still trying to figure out whether to treat it as a shooter or an investment.
HH
I've become fascinated with these guns. What kind of groups do these shoot at 25 and 50 yards? One would think they'd be pretty tight. Are there any smith's the have experience with these or are you on your own?
If anyone has one in CO they are not using, let me know.
J
If anyone has one in CO they are not using, let me know.
J
old_ironsights
Member
It appeared to me that the steel on the GB weapon had been refinished in electroless nickel to match the alloy parts. I've done that with rifles and had the stainless steel glass-beaded to match. Makes a nice package.
I've done it with a Tok,
but I don't think I'll do it with my B-76.
I've done it with a Tok,
but I don't think I'll do it with my B-76.
Im like the looks of that Tokarev.
I'm almost certain that the hard chrome is a factory finish. I think I've seen it listed as an option in the gun appraisal books.
I see you have target sights on your B76. Is that original?
I think the B76 is one of the best looking guns going, and one of the most beautifully built.
I'm almost certain that the hard chrome is a factory finish. I think I've seen it listed as an option in the gun appraisal books.
I see you have target sights on your B76. Is that original?
I think the B76 is one of the best looking guns going, and one of the most beautifully built.
Broken Hammer
Recently at the range while firing my Benelli B76, an apparently very hot round caused the hammer to break off. Very unusual event. Obviously needs a new hammer and someone knowledgeable enough to replace it. Any ideas out there. I do not know any gunsmiths who can do this.
TIA
Recently at the range while firing my Benelli B76, an apparently very hot round caused the hammer to break off. Very unusual event. Obviously needs a new hammer and someone knowledgeable enough to replace it. Any ideas out there. I do not know any gunsmiths who can do this.
TIA
schmeky
Member
md11drv,
I bought a parts only B-76 some years ago and the hammer had been broken and welded. If this hammer weren't welded I'd sell it to you, otherwise you'll have to fix yours via welding. A good welder with a TIG could do it. You could grind it and rechrome.
A replacement may be near impossible to locate.
I bought a parts only B-76 some years ago and the hammer had been broken and welded. If this hammer weren't welded I'd sell it to you, otherwise you'll have to fix yours via welding. A good welder with a TIG could do it. You could grind it and rechrome.
A replacement may be near impossible to locate.
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