This one is long winded, so skip to the bottom if you'd like the long story short version.

Last Friday I was in one of my local shops and was pleasantly surprised with the selection of handguns. Of course a few caught my eye, and I spent the weekend thinking about them. I'm lucky enough to have today off (and it's a BEAUTIFUL day!) so I decided I'd pick one up today, but also decided that since I'm TRYING to not spend so much on guns right now, I'd trade something in.

The victim: my SW40VE.

First of all, I'm mainly a revolver guy. I like the reliability, performance, and the look of them better then semi autos. So when it came to my Sigma, it was always low on my favorite list. Obviously the trigger was a bit of an issue for me... just not the best. I DID like the magazine capacity though, and actually carried it once or twice. Anyway... I decided it was it's time to go.

I was a bit weary because I know the trade in value is often low for Sigmas around here. Luckily the owner and I have been getting to know each other more and more over the past few months. I believe when he found out I'm a vet and not just some young punk after guns, he took more of a liking to me and has been giving me some good deals lately. I gave him the Sigma and after a quick looking over, he offered me $190 for it. He then started to strip it down and inspected everything closer. When he saw how amazingly clean I keep my guns, he offered me another $20, and then another $15 when I presented the case w/ all the papers and extra magazine. So he was offering $225 for my used SW40VE. I was offered $150 at another shop. He was figuring selling it for $300.

Well I was happy with this, so I decided to give everything another look. I came across two Berettas in good shape.. a 92FS and a 96G. Now I may have mentioned this before, but I'll mention it again (and most likely will in the future ) I qualified as a small arms expert on both the M16 and M9, so I was really considering the 92FS. However... I don't own any 9mm handguns so therefore own no ammo for it. We all know 9mm is not really on the shelves much. I do however have a few hundred .40 rounds, so I looked at the 96G. I'm very happy with the .40 so I figured I'd consider it. He was offering it for $399. The only thing I didn't like about it was the decoker is only a decocker, not a safety. If it looks so much like a safety, I want it to be a safety. It also only came with one 11 round magazine. After some negotiating, He offered it for $370 and threw in an extra magazine. I bought it.

I raced home and took my new friend out to get better acquainted. 11 rounds later, I had a big ol' smile on my face. In only 11 rounds I regained the accuracy I once had with the M9 which I couldn't duplicate with my Sigma OR my M&Ps (very close with M&Ps though).

LONG STORY SHORT: I traded my SW40VE for a Beretta 96G and am so far very happy with the decision, but feeling a little guilty about trading in a Smith & Wesson.....

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- The Federalist #46 -

Congrats: I would be happy making the same decision.


Unless it was a S&W Model 39 or 41, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Noah

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Nicht mehr als 30 Zeichen

The Berreta 96 is a great gun and parts are very easy to come by. I have one I picked up a few years ago and I like it a lot.

Bill

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US Marine, 16 years+

I would have gone with the 9 but that's just me. I think you got a good deal. I made the mistake of letting my 23 year old have my stainless 92FS and I've ofter wished for it back.

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Forum consigliere

I don't think this will make you feel any better but I would have done the same thing..
I've got a deal worked out with my Buddy & am trading him a Beretta92FS, Dan Wesson 15-2 & a Ruger MKII Slabside for a 1989 Dodge Dakota..
There both worth about the same & he'll let me shoot the guns whenever plus gave me the option to buy any back at his price of course..
I need another little truck plus none of the guns are S&Ws
Congrats on the B96
Gary/Hk

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MightShowYouHisSmith&Wesson

I believe that you can switch out the springs and make your decocker into a decocker/safety switch,but this would be better posed on the Beretta forum. I have a 96d centurian on layaway and cannot wait to get it out and send some rounds down range. I would also like to swap out the stock grips for the Hogue Aluminum ones in green.

I was really considering it. I still would like the 9, but like I mentioned I don't have any ammo and can't find it.. all I reload so far is .38s and .357s. I'd hate to have a new gun and not be able to use it!

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- The Federalist #46 -

That is definitely something I will look into!

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- The Federalist #46 -

If it will make you feel better, many years ago I gave one of my sons a pristine 6" Model 17
Several years later I found out the little S*** pawned it. yes I was pissed

I have a Mossberg model 185 K-A 20 gauge that my father gave me years ago that I have absolutely no use for... but it's one of my favorites! I can't believe he pawned it!

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- The Federalist #46 -

Hey, ya did what made you happy and if your satisfied that's all that matters! About two years ago the Pa State Police went to the Glock in .45 GAP. The enlisted men and employees could buy thier old Berreta 96-D's in .40 S&W for a very reasonable price. One of the Seargents dident want his and I bought it. Luck had it, it was before the ammo craze and not wanting to load for the .40 was able to buy a good stock of ammo on the cheap. Only took her out a couple of time's and it is a good shooter.

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Stay safe people!

My wife has a 96G and a pile of mags. You can get mags from MecGar that hold more than the 11 that a Beretta mag holds. Hers is an ex Indiana State Police gun with their logo on their grips. I ran 369 with three mags and a holster, which was probably a good price.

Her experience with handguns comes from the Navy, and their were no 9mm Berettas in stock at a good price that day.

For all that, the 96 series was/is somewhat problematic. A lot of them are on the police trade in market for a variety of reasons. First and foremost may well be that they are simply a large gun for what they do and for their capacity. The grip is fairly wide, but it still only holds 11 rds with a factory mag. A Glock, S&W MP, XD, et al will hold 13-15 depending on model. Of greater concern was a track record of unusual, and sometimes not fully explained, failures with the series where the guns would jam at bad times.

It was an early attempt by Beretta to bring a .40 caliber to market, and basing one off the 92 might not have been ideal.

I still have a Sigma 40VE myself. That was a good trade in value.