My $400 Beretta Elite

[MD7305]

Yeah, you thought click bait...some joke about an ATI clone or something else lame? Nope. I got lucky (maybe?). This should begin "Once upon a time, in a city two hours away"...I went to my closest Glock Blue-Label dealer and it's always interesting the used guns they have. Being a big LE distributor they have an assortment of LE trade-ins and evidence guns released from custody. My eyes immediately saw a Beretta 90 series with a silver barrel, as I closed in I saw the Brig slide contours and then that logo... Please be a 92 I thought but alas is was a 96. I was less interested and then I saw a price tag...$450. I had to look at it, was given a better price and I took the bait.
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I had been wanting a DA/SA pistol for some time. I like the system and I think it has benefits, especially in conjunction with the striker guns I usually shoot. I had a P239 for a few months and loved it but wanted something bigger. This 96 Elite will fill that role.

The gun itself is not in bad shape but it was carried for sure. I checked the S/N through an online search and found it is in fact an Elite and manufactured in 1999. The clerk didn't know if it was a trade-in or an evidence gun but from the wear on the blackstrap, beavertail, and butt I feel confident it was a LE gun. The slide to frame fit seems tight, virtually no play. The frame rails show minimal wear and there's very little wear on the barrel locking surfaces or locking block. No box included and only one blued, Mec-Gar 12rd mag.
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As far as shooting, I've put 150rds through it. Very soft shooting for a .40, feels like it's in slow motion. The trigger is smooth and I can wear 2" dots out at 7yds with it! I had a 96G Elite a few years ago that I sold and I regretted it ever since. I'm aware that the 96 Berettas are not nearly as durable as their 92 siblings. That's wear the fun begins, according to my research I can install a 92 barrel, use 92 mags, and convert this to 9mm. I understand the breechface is dimensionally different along with the extractor. I'm not looking for an self defense gun but primarily a range toy, maybe an IDPA match thrown in here and there. I do want it to run reliably.
At this point I plan to do the following:
-Beretta 92 Barrel (hopefully an Elite II)
-Wilson Combat RSA (rod + spring)
-grip screws (rust)
-grips (Vertec? for a thin grip)
-Mags, Mec-Gar seems to be the best option.
-holster(s)
-?

Any suggestions or experience converting a Beretta 96 to 9mm? I know I could just put a 92 slide on it but I'd like to utilize the Elite Brigadier slide. Advice, suggestions, and hate are all welcome!


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[Gary1911A1]

Good score! I'd buy several like that until the credit card maxed out.

[MD7305]

Good score! I'd buy several like that until the credit card maxed out.

I would've but this one was it. A few years back before I was Beretta-educated, I was there and they had a slew of 92 Elite IIs for something like $500ea. If I only knew then what I know now.

[GardoneVT]

What I'd do in your spot :

Buy a regular 92G 9mm , swap the slides over, keep calm and shoot on.

Here's why. The 92G has a curved frontstrap with extra frame material and a radiused backstrap. The latter helps with control for small hands,while the former lets you use the Elite .40S&W top assembly without beating the pistol to death in the process.

Meanwhile, you swap the 92G 9mm top end onto your .40 frame (which has the 9mm frontstrap) . Voila, no more durability issues.

Its expensive, but you've got room on the credit card anyways since you save money on your Elite ;)

[LHS]

I had a similar experience not too long ago when I walked into a shop in Prescott Valley and saw what I thought was a 92G-SD for 8 bills. My wallet broke the sound barrier coming out until I saw it was a .40. Cue the sad trombone...

[GJM]

You will have turned this bargain into $1,500 in no time. :)

[45dotACP]

Hate meter pegged...

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[farscott]

The extreme discounting of the .40 S&W versions compared to the 9mm versions of the same guns (96 to 92, G23 to G19, HK P30) is really becoming pronounced. The gun public's decades-long love affair with the .40 seems to be ending. I assume that is due to a variety of reasons, including high-visibility LEO contracts going to 9x19 guns. I also assume this is the reason the 96 Elite was available for such a good price. Not too long ago, I remember watching one languish on the Beretta Forum at $650 for over a month.

The interesting thing is that I find it very easy to make a .40 become a 9x19, and the converse usually will not work due to the breech face dimensions. I have a G23 that has KKM barrels for 9x19, .357 SIG, and .40. It is my de facto handload test gun for any of those three calibers. For those of us willing to do a bit of work, some of these used .40 guns can become very nice training guns.

[ffhounddog]

I traded a HK P30 v3 for a beretta elite ii. At first I was like hmmm I want a compact, now I want another Elite gun. Best trigger of any DA/SA gun. That is a nice score and I would have bought it too. I have a Sig P229 in 40 that I really like a SAS gen2 but have been thinking of selling since a Glock is so much lighter to carry day in and day out. I have a P2000 40 lem that has over 30k rounds in v2 that I love. Reason way I love Lem.

Again great score.

[CrazyHorse5.0]

Reminds me of the day I met a guy up at my LGS to do a FTF on a 92 Elite II. I showed up a little early so I thought I'd walk around the store to pass time. I spotted a 92 EII in the used case, it was LNIB with CTC LG-302's on it.....$650. I immediately told them to get the paperwork going. Two 92 EII's in one day for a lot less than they were selling for at the time.

Congratulations!!!

[Proline2950]

Funny to find this post. I just traded for a Beretta 96G Brigadier elite 40, with a 9mm barrel. Was trading off a $750 gun and received the Berett and a savage 111 in 270. I had never heard of the Elite series after shooting it this is a keeper
13567

[LockedBreech]

Even though I have switched from .40 to 9, some of the .40 deals continue to be alluring. The fact of the matter is that while a lot of pistols in .40 suck, there are a few that were very well designed for it such as the P229 or P30.

Any date you can get a Beretta Elite in solid internal shape for $450 is a fun day to be a collector, for sure. Enjoy it.

[pastaslinger]

The extreme discounting of the .40 S&W versions compared to the 9mm versions of the same guns (96 to 92, G23 to G19, HK P30) is really becoming pronounced. The gun public's decades-long love affair with the .40 seems to be ending. I assume that is due to a variety of reasons, including high-visibility LEO contracts going to 9x19 guns. I also assume this is the reason the 96 Elite was available for such a good price. Not too long ago, I remember watching one languish on the Beretta Forum at $650 for over a month.

The interesting thing is that I find it very easy to make a .40 become a 9x19, and the converse usually will not work due to the breech face dimensions. I have a G23 that has KKM barrels for 9x19, .357 SIG, and .40. It is my de facto handload test gun for any of those three calibers. For those of us willing to do a bit of work, some of these used .40 guns can become very nice training guns.

CDNN had new gen 4 G35's for $500 several weeks ago and I wished I could have bought one for a USPSA gun

Now that carry optics has changed to fully loaded mags I am glad I did not buy the G35. I am hoping the P320 X5 is as good as it sounds.