Anyone here have a Beretta 96 pistol, single/double action, .40S&W? Is this a reliable handgun with a smooth action? How does it compare to a 1911?
Aesthetically I think it is a very attractive weapon.
Nowhere even close to the trigger perfection of a 1911. But it does have a very smooth trigger, and it is very easy for even the novice of shooters to pick up and hit Xs with it. It’s nice, accurate, and you’re right about the aesthetics.
Way too much trigger reset travel, but overall a great pistol.
I have a Taurus PT99-AF, the 9mm variant (the Taurus PT9x series are actually Berettas, made on Beretta equipment purchased by Taurus), I believe the only difference between the 92 and the 96 is the upper slide assembly (slide, barrel, locking block, spring and guide)
My PT-99 is a very smooth shooter, 9mm has a reputation of being a fast, snappy round, fired from a Glock or other composite pistol, you tend to see a lot of wrist recoil, straight up and back, the muzzle rises first then goes backwards
the PT-99 being a metal-framed pistol, has more weight in hand, and balances much better, it has a nice, neutral balance and settles comfortably in hand, the balance point of the gun does not change as the magazine empties
a composite pistol’s balance point does change as the mag empties, getting more muzzle-heavy, a composite with a full mag balances nicely, a mag with a near-empty or empty mag is muzzle heavy, composites are also invariably top-heavy
since a composite is top heavy to start, it seems logical that that’s why it has such a “whippy” or “snappy” recoil, there’s less weight in the grip area to counterbalance the slide
the recoil of my PT-99 is very smooth and manageable, instead of whipping/snapping upward, it gently pushes back, then lifts up, it feels more like the recoil of a .45 ACP
the trigger feel on my PT-99 is nice and crisp, a short pull to firing, smooth and clean, trigger reset is equally short, followup shots are easy to get back on target due to the smooth, manageable recoil, double-taps are dead easy
there’s something to be said about the advantages of an all-metal gun, there are definite advantages over “tactical tupperware” composites
Beretta makes a very nice pistol, well worth getting
I’ve tried to get into the 1911-chassis pistols, but I just don’t like their narrow, single-stack grip, I prefer a nice, meaty double-stacked grip
i have a 92d and hate it. i can never seem to shoot well with it. on the other hand, my sig p226 is sweet–my husband just bought another sig, the p232. we haven’t had a chance to go shooting with it yet.
Heh, yes, I bought the Beretta 96, ironically in a .40 too, right after Lethal Weapon came out. Gorgeous isn’t it?
I’m afraid I have no experience with the 1911 so I can’t compare the two but I have pumped several thousand rounds through it and love it as much today as the day I bought it. It never has jammed or malfunctioned in any way, shape or form. It’s just been a joy so yeah, I guess that constitutes “reliable”.
I remember having a choice of calibers when shopping and I now see that must have included other Berettas like the 92. An FBI friend though said they’d just switched to the .40 (another make but same caliber), thus my choice. Sweet and effective.
I have the 96 Vertec, and I gotta say I’m not a big fan. It sure looks purdy, but just like Chuck Woolery once said, sometimes there just isn’t a love connection. The nice thing about the Vertec is that it has the accessory rail, if you feel obliged to pimp out your gun. And for all the rounds I have put through it, I’ve only had a couple stovepipes. But there is just something about it that doesn’t allow me to shoot straight. I’m not sure if it is the trigger point, the balance, or what. But I am on the hunt for a similar .40.
I have an older Italian made 92F which is the 9MM version. It has been a great gun for me, my experience has been the same.
So between the 9mm and the .40 which would you recommend?
I’m not familiar with the .40 ammo but I will say I don’t feel under-gunned with the 9MM. My 92F holds 15 rounds which is good for recreational shooting but I don’t think most self defense situations will require that many rounds! 
How many does the .40 hold?
I shot the 92F in a pistol league at one time and did pretty well for an out-of-the-box combat pistol using cheapo FMJ ammo. I was shooting (50ft.) against a lot of guys with full on target guns and came in about the middle of the pack, so the gun is capable of decent accuracy. I doubt I could still shoot that well now, sadly.
Personal choice. Don’t let 1911 fans tell you that 9mm is inadequate. Test out a .40 and see if the recoil is manageable. They are both fine for target/defense.
9mm ammo is usually cheaper though.
I have one, nice gun. 1911 is a good weapon, and I want another one, but I had a 1911 when I got the berreta and had to sell one or the other so I kept the berreta.
9mm IS innadequte, but it has nothing to do with 1911. There’s a reason most police departments use .40.