Advice needed on Beretta 92 purchase

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TheReiver

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Hey everyone. I've recently gotten the itch (surely you know what I mean :) ) for a Beretta 92. I was able to sell another handgun that was only taking up space in my safe and decided that the money would be well spent in attaining the aforementioned.

I wandered into a local shop today and saw one in the used case. It has a black (parkerized?) finish with very little wear. An inspection of the internals also showed little visible wear. The action was very crisp and the frame had no visible cracks or any other problem areas. It also comes with five full capacity magazines.

The asking price is 499.95 and Mississippi sales tax should bring the OTD price to around $535. I'm not greatly familiar with this particular platform (mostly a Glocker) and my online research has turned up a wide range of prices.

I'll be back in that area on Tuesday and would like to snap it up if you guys think that is a fair price. I don't mind paying a bit more to support a local shop, but also don't want to be ripped off.........if you follow the logic there.

Anyway please let me know what you think as far as the price and what else I should check to be sure it's still in good working order. Thanks for your help and safe shooting!
 
Parkerizing is a gray-ish color. Think of the standard USGI AR magazines. That's parkerizing. If the gun is that color, it's been refinished. Stock 92FS pistols are not parkerized.

Not knowing an approximate round count, if the gun showed no abnormal wear or damage and the magazines were all in good condition, it's an ok price. I would try for $500 OTD at the least. Check the barrel out, make sure it's got good rifling, and that the crown isn't damaged. Other than that, it should be fine.
 
In my area, I see used 92's for around $450. But, they come with one, maybe two mags. Five mags included is pretty nice, I'd drop your $500 on the counter and see where it goes. Just have another couple of twenties in your pocket in case they don't go for it. $500 + tax for a lightly used 92 and five mags is a decent deal, but I'm not gonna try to beat you there.
 
If you just want a 92 to play with, being a Glock guy. Check out one of the Turkish made 92 clones. They are closer in size to a compact 92 but take the regular magazines, and are much cheaper. CDNN has them for about $300 and you have to pay shipping and transfer over that. I read a few reviews and bought one, quality is as good as my Beretta 96, and it is as accurate.
 
An extra nice used model would cost about $450 OTD here.
One shop in particular here sells most used 92's for $399 plus tax nearly all of the time. Of course there's no dickering over their prices, either you pay the price or you don't. And they don't make too many distinctions between the condition of each 92. I suppose if one looked especially nice then the price may be $25 higher, but $399 is usually the price for whatever is there on the shelf at the time.
And I can personally see paying an even slightly higher price if one were mint.
The extra 3 used magazines can add about $25 more in value, which some shops might consider selling them separately.
 
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In my area, with 5 factory full cap mags, that price is okay-good (depending on condition and assuming it's a 92fs) and I'd not sweat $25-$50 regardless. Supply and demand effects price.
 
I'm with Nelson. Or if you really want a Beretta-made, one, CDNN frequently has police trade-in and other used 92's and 96's of various types for about $300. Used to anyway.
 
Thanks for the replies so far!

@dprice3844444 I do have a carry permit, not sure what "cop paperwork" is.......
 
Thanks again to everyone who has replied. So the general consensus seems to be that it's a fair price but not a great one. Like I said I don't mind spending a few extra bones to support a local shop, so I'll most likely be getting it as soon as I close the sale on the other pistol. Please keep them coming though =)
 
If you really like it, that's a fair price, and you've been able to personally inspect it yourself before buying.
 
I would say it is a fair price for a pistol in the condition that you describe coming with 5 magazines. And since you said you don't mind paying a little extra to support the local shop, I would say it is a great price compared to some of the prices local shops around me are charging....
 
I bought my new, Italian-made model for $550 before taxes at a gun show, here in NC. That was 2+ years ago, and was quite a bargain. Everyone's region differs, and you'll have to scour the area to get a feel for prices in your area.

The Italian model comes in a silver box, includes a cleaning rod, and a nylon brush as well as a phosphor-bronze brush, while the US version does not. It came with two mags. I bought one more, again, at a gun show for $30. Three extras can run you at least $75 plus tax in most places.

If the gun is lightly used, you've taken it apart and have seen for yourself that the slide has little wear, then I would say it's a very fair price. It's not a steal, but it's fair, and worth the business to a local shop. (My opinion) My gun has 2000+ rounds through it, and the only place you can see wear is inside the slide where it touches the frame.

If you buy it, you'll love it. Mine is accurate enough that it makes me look good. :D
 
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Is this a 92F or a 92FS?

The reason why I ask is because the 92FS has an enlarged hammer pin and was a design meant to capture the slide in case of slide cracking and failure. The US Military discovered this painfully when M9s failed and launched the slide into the face of a shooter -not fun.

While Beretta later reported that this only happened when shooting hot loads, I would prefer the 92FS just in case.
 
Ditto Nelson and NG,

I have one of the Turk Beretta clones. Really nice pistol, parts appear to be 100% interchangable. Nice, even, finish. I have the 15 rd. mag provided, 2 Beretta factory mags, one Mec-Gar 20 rd. , and a Beretta 30 rd. magazine. All function flawlwssly.

If you are looking for a "shooter", for 40-45% less than a Beretta branded, this is the pistol. My opinion.

Gunner
 
For whatever it's worth, I paid $425 for my used 92FS (with 2 mags) that is in really really nice shape.
 
+1 on the Turkish clone (ATI 92-C). It has been fun!

Though I hope to own a real 92FS in stainless some day.
 
Its a nice gun and that is a fair price as stated before. And as Fremmer said, its a plus that you've been able to personally inspect the gun! If i was in your shoes, I would make the buy! I paid a little more for mine but got a few more accessories with it. Thats my .02:)
 
its a solid gun that will last your lifetime.


Not sure if your real close to Acadamy Sports or not. They often have them on sale for not much more new.

The extra mags are not a big deal as there are billions of them out there from cheap to expensive...
 
92F question

Sounds like a fair price. one thing you have to look for in used 92Fs is the use of lead bullets in them which can damage the locking blocks due to high pressure. The barrel tolerances are tight on these and lead will void any warentry but some folks shoot reloaded bullets through them. If you were take the slide assembly off and look at the lugs on the locking block you would see places that look like they were hit with a hammer.
The factory finish is called Bruniton and it is a Teflon like black finish not on The Tarus and Turkish pistols. The Turkish company Girsan specializes in the Beretta platform even making some slight improvements in the gun itself. NATO speced as well. Both the Italian and the USA 92f come with cleaning rods and a plastic case/ box, USA being Blue.
Regards
 
I used to buy-sell-trade like a mad man, yet a Beretta 92 has almost always been in my possession; currently have an Italian made Inox with between 1250-1500 rounds thru it; will always be my favorite semiautomatic platform
 
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