need feedback; used Beretta 92 Inox or nib FN Herstal FNP-9

[kmrcstintn]

I'm in a bit of a dilemna...I have found 2 very good 9mm specimens that I would like to buy and can only buy 1 of them due to budget;

The first is a used Beretta Italian made Inox 92FS~seems like low mileage, some rubbing on the barrel from the slide and a moderate amount of clearcoat removed from the frame where the slide and locking block make contact (clearcoat comes off easier than anodizing); 4 mix-and-match Beretta and MecGar hi-cap mags; no box; no paperwork; excellent condition asking $559.00

The second is a nib FN Herstal FNP-9~polymer frame, interchangable backstraps, stainless slide, 3 hi-cap mags, decocker, box, paperwork, lock; new condition asking $449.97

I have always liked Berettas; I'm usually not a used gun fan; this one seems clean and well-cared for; ergonomics are great; seems very heavy to me

I have not experienced any FN Herstal products; the price is good and the feedback on this model is phenomenally positive; ergonomics are great for a poly gun; weight distribution is good

Anyone have any balanced feedback? Is $560 too much for a lightly used Italian Inox with 4 mags? Does the FN need a longer track record before investing in one?

 

[rellascout]

I'm in a bit of a dilemna...I have found 2 very good 9mm specimens that I would like to buy and can only buy 1 of them due to budget;

The first is a used Beretta Italian made Inox 92FS~seems like low mileage, some rubbing on the barrel from the slide and a moderate amount of clearcoat removed from the frame where the slide and locking block make contact (clearcoat comes off easier than anodizing); 4 mix-and-match Beretta and MecGar hi-cap mags; no box; no paperwork; excellent condition asking $559.00

The second is a nib FN Herstal FNP-9~polymer frame, interchangable backstraps, stainless slide, 3 hi-cap mags, decocker, box, paperwork, lock; new condition asking $449.97

I have always liked Berettas; I'm usually not a used gun fan; this one seems clean and well-cared for; ergonomics are great; seems very heavy to me

I have not experienced any FN Herstal products; the price is good and the feedback on this model is phenomenally positive; ergonomics are great for a poly gun; weight distribution is good

Anyone have any balanced feedback? Is $560 too much for a lightly used Italian Inox with 4 mags? Does the FN need a longer track record before investing in one?

$550 for an Italian Beretta is not a bad price. Without looking at the pistol it is hard to say. If you rate the condition at between 95% and 98%. This was posted in another thread yesterday.

Blue Book value, for what it's worth, on a PERFECT Inox model is $650. The next step down from perfect, 98%, puts it at $525. 95% condition is $415.

So $560 is in the range depending what state you are in. No box and manual hurts but you are getting two extra mags. Mecgars are great.

The FNP-9 is the same gun as the Browning Pro-9

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg129-e.htm

People really seem to like them At $450 they seem like a steal to me. I am not a fan of polymer guns but the ones I have held feel good.

If it were me I would offer $500 Cash for the Beretta and see whay they say.

Rellascout

 

[Heraclid]

Not knowing which of these guns to purchase is a good problem to have!

I'd take the Inox because I already have a Browning Pro-9.

Really, it would be hard for me to pass up the Inox. I dig Berettas. Beautiful guns, apparently exceedingly reliable. But like you, I am sort of funny about used handguns in that I probably would not typically consider buying one. That made a new Beretta much pricier than a Pro-9 for me.

Interestingly, this is basically the same choice I was recently facing in looking for my first handgun. Well, early on it was down to the 92FS and Pro-9, and later the PX4 had an outside shot at it too (it also gets very positive reviews for the most part and the price point was good). For all the talk about how large the 92's are, I actually found a 92FS felt slightly better in my hand than a Pro-9, but ended up going with the Browning. For me, having a bb gun modeled after a 92FS made the real thing feel quite familiar for me. I would say neither the Beretta or the Browning is exactly ideal for concealed carry, if that is a concern for you. But the Pro-9 is better for it, being polymer instead of steel, and a bit smaller. I wanted to keep that option open, which put a check in the Pro-9 column.

As you said, I found out very quickly that what information is out there about the FNP-9/Pro-9 is... as you rightly said... phenomenally positive. After reading about them at length, it wasn't quite as hard to pass up a more expensive, heavier Beretta. Personally I don't find the slide-mounted Beretta safeties to be uncomfortable, but do you think you might?

Would you want to have cocked & locked capability? The Inox will do it, the FNP probably is decocker-only and will not. The Pro-9 has always had cocked and locked, and supposedly FNP's that do this are now out there, but so far all I have seen with it are the Brownings.

Word is that the FNP trigger is better of the two. And if you were thinking you'd prefer the Beretta's recoil because it is a steel gun, the FNP-9 should be a pussycat to shoot too - the Pro-9 is no problem. It is one sweet gun if I do say so myself. I shot it pretty well I guess, and had NEVER fired a real gun prior to it. Many shooters, inexperienced and experienced, seem to have a similar experience - see the following:

http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=537899&highlight=pro9

Granted, you may want to consider that the Beretta will be easier to get things for. Parts, mags, holsters, etc.

Really can't go wrong. Select a few personal preferences (to carry or not to carry, safety orientation) and it will be easy to choose and with these contenders you can feel good about it either way.

 

[kmrcstintn]

1) no carry...housegun

2) most Beretta 92's are aluminum framed, not steel

3) only very few select Beretta 92's are cocked and locked

4) all FNP's that I am aware of are decock only

5) sad part is that I owned a Browning Pro-9 for a very short time and wanted a heavy framed revolver for scouting and hunting, so it went bye-bye without even being fired...I was really impulsive in those days

6) I have owned Beretta 92's before...kinda vanilla, almost bland, yet overly reliable and comfortable familiarity with them (I like 'em and I don't like 'em, but I like 'em more)

7) Thanks for the link

8) Since I have a shotgun combo on layaway and I also have a 3" barreled Ruger sp-101 being transferred between Gander Mountain stores to put it on lawaway, I might just redouble my efforts in that direction since I like revolvers 2:1 over autoloaders

9) Amazing how a person can change their mind overnight about a purchase when practicality gets thrown into the mix (the SP-101 can be a house gun to backup the shotgun; it can function as a scouting/hiking/backpacking sidearm and take the abuse of heavy magnum loads; with the advent of usable short barreled defensive loads, it can also make a good car gun since I'll be commuting and working 3rd shift when I start the new job; I know it only holds 5 rounds, but so does my 642 snubby that is my current CCW/house gun/car gun)

 

[10-Ring]

Italian inox 92fs in-a-heartbeat!

 

[C-grunt]

I know a guy with an Inox Berreta and after shooting it, I want one bad. The thing was insanely accurate, coming close to my fathers Kimber Goldcup 1911. I have heard great things about the FNPs, but I would go with the 92 because of avialability of parts/gear and because you have experience with it.