Info on Beretta 96 Brigadier Inox.

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rec999allis

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I am looking at getting my first semi-auto and right now it's between a Beretta 96 Brigadier Inox or a Smith and Wesson 1911 stainless steel with wood grips. My question is to anyone that owns or has owned one of the two or both, what would be a better investment? If you know of a semi-auto that is of better quality then either one of these, could you let me know. The price I am willing to spend is up to $1,000. I just want to make sure I get the most bang for the buck.
 
Funny, you should ask this now. I just recently picked up an Inox Beretta 96 Brigadier and it is an excellent gun. I'm a big fan of S&W autoloaders and own over a dozen of them (5906, 4006, 4506, 3913, 4013, 4513, etc.) but I would definitely recommend the Inox Beretta 96 Brigadier.
 
Well, I personally dont like the .40S&W caliber, so of course my vote would be to the 1911.

For the $1000 price mark, there are numerous 1911's that you should/can consider. S&W, Colt, Kimber, and Springfield all make great 1911's under the 1K price.

If you're dead set on getting the S&W, go for it. I've heard great reviews and the ones I've fondled and oogled over have left me with a smile.

btw, is the Beretta with the Black controls and plastic parts? That might be something to look into also. if you REALLY want a Beretta, get one with all metal INOX parts with a straight dustcover.

Happy hunting! :)
 
I dunno ... I'm startin' to like the 96 as my reg'lar shootin' buddy has let me crank quite a few rounds downrange with his, and, for a .40 S&W platform, it seems to compare favorably to my SIG 226 (which I believe to be the best .40 pistol made) ...

That said, I'd get BOTH a Beretta (but the 92FS in 9mm) AND a 1911 (but a Springfield, Kimber or Colt) in .45 ... You could probably find a NIB 92FS (blue) and a new SA Mil-Spec and still come in right around $1000 ...
 
Thanks for the comments. I think I will look more into the 1911s. I like springfield's 1911s as well as the S&W. The gun shop that I do buissness with dose not carry Kimber anymore. Just Springfield and S&W 1911s. But I like both of these over the Kimbers anyway.
 
JMO

My first autoloader purchace when I came of age was a Beretta 96.
I had owned (or did own at the time) a 1911, a S&W N frame revolver, and a BHP.

Long story short, I got rid of the 96. That gun soured me on the .40 S&W.

Perhaps I got a lemon, but I couldn't hit well with it. With all my other guns (again, .45, full house .357 mags, and 9mm) I was able to keep all of my shots on a playing card at 21 feet. With my 96, I was lucky to get saucer sized groups at that range... slow fire. I handed it off to better shots than I, and it was the same story.

On the plus side, it never jammed and it looked cool as all get out.

YMMV
 
1911 or 96

I must break with the majority here. I've owned and shot many types of pistols and I just recently purchased my second Beretta 96 (both are the 96 Vertec Inox Police Specials) in 3 months. The pistol will shoot 3 1/2" groups at 50 yards with 165gr FMJ. A 1911 that is not compensated or ported will not do that kind of grouping. I do like my Springfield but the 96 is my tool for the trade. (JM2C)
 
I agree with the Beretta accuracy comment. My 96 was one of the most accurate pistols I've ever shot. I think it is the longer sight radius though. It sure wasn't the DAO trigger I had on mine.

The thing I DIDN'T like was that the frame is very large yet only holds 11 rounds of .40. :(
 
96...

Yeah, the DAO is something to get used to. My S&W5946, FN Forty-Nine, and Beretta 8040F are DAO but are smooth as ice once their broken in. The FN is the poly of the group and is a nice shooter but the LEO mags are tough to locate. Well, at least the DAO is 3/16ths of an inch slimmer... :scrutiny:
 
Finding a holster might be difficult if you're in a hurry, but in the long run if you took the brigadier over the smith I think you would be pleased. It's one of the more unique variants that you don't see everyday, and I wish I had picked up my share of oddball 92's or 96's before they disappeared. You can always find a 1911 "clone" somewhere, but a discontinued Beretta will be pretty hard to come by in the future.
 
The first pistol I bought was a 96

I loved it , then stupidly traded it for a S&W 1911 and i love it to!!
Then after a couple years reacuired a 96 just like i previiosly had,
never again will i trade off a gun I like.

Anyway both very reliable pistols!!
 
Of the 40's I have owned, the 96 is the nicest -- one to the Beretta
Of the 1911's out there, I'm just not feeling the warm & fuzzies w/ the 1911 from S&W -- another one to th Beretta
I'm not a fan of the 40 S&W -- one to the S&W

Which would I go w/ ---personally -- probably the 96 Brigadier ;)
 
BERETTA is my choice

I would take the BERETTA hands down. It is extremely accurate. As reliable as a GLOCK and very well made.
 
Long story short, I got rid of the 96. That gun soured me on the .40 S&W.
Click to expand...

It was the Glock 23 and +p+ ammo that soured me on the .40 S&W. Then I bought a S&W 4006, and what a world of difference there was in recoil and handling. The 4006 is as easy to shoot and handle as most any 9mm or .45, which is more than I can say for any of the other .40 pistols I have fired.
 
I'd suggest the 96 if its your first bottom feeder. It'll be more reliable and less complicated than a 1911. You might want to consider getting a 92 instead.
9mm ammo is much cheaper to shoot than .40S&W which will give you more trigger time for your dime. With the Beretta you'd also have some extra $$ left over for ammo.

IMG_2862.jpg
 
The beretta 96 was the first pistol I bought. I was very disapointed in it, having shot a few hundred rounds I found it very picky on ammo and not very accurate. The grip felt huge and hard to control, and I have big hands.
I would recommend shooting both first. So I bought an XD, sold the 96 and coudn't be happier.
 
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