Those of you that have one, what are the pros and cons? TIA

I just got one, and really cannot comment on it since I am still in the honeymoon phase.  I will say that they are well built, and do fit my hand extremely well.  Nice sites, very easy to acquire. Recoil is firm, but not jerky in my humble opinion.

Field-stripping and cleaning could not be easier; press a button, slide a lever and off comes the slide.  Assembly is the same.

Biggest negative that I have is the pull when it is double action.  I tend to go way off target when attempting to fire the weapon in that manner.  Single action, the trigger is smooth on mine and breaks extremely nicely.

All in all, I am quite happy with it.  Just wish that it was easier to find magazines for it.  Mine came with a 10 rounder and a 11 rounder(?).  Hope this helps.

Quoted: Biggest negative that I have is the pull when it is double action.  I tend to go way off target when attempting to fire the weapon in that manner.  Single action, the trigger is smooth on mine and breaks extremely nicely.

While I have a 92 (and not a 96), I have to agree that the double action trigger pull is a beast.  I've heard excellent things about trigger jobs from
www.langdontactical.com/main.htm

I think I'll send my 92 that way sometime.  The Level-1 trigger job takes it to a "smooth 8 lbs in DA and crisp 4 to 4.5 lbs in SA."

Level-3 takes it to "about 7 lbs in DA and 3 to 3.5 lbs in SA.   Note: This setup is not recommended for duty or carry pistols and may not be compatible with some types of ammunition. "

Viper Out

I have had a 96F for about 4 years now.  I have put thousands of rounds through it, only had a couple jams on one batch of S&B ammo.  The gun fits my hand well (I'm 6' 5") though it is large for my wife.  Plus the gun looks cool.  This gun is definitely a "keeper".

Hello Malpaso,
I highly recommend the Beretta 96. My department issued weapon is a 96D, which I've had for 8 years. Early in my career, and not being familiar with the gun, I had a few malfunctions which turned out to be operator induced (my off hand thumb was pushing up on the slide release in the Weaver hold), but for several years now I haven't experience any fail-to-fire problems. I also own 96D which was made at the Beretta factory in Italy. I would have preferred the SA/DA version, but I bought this Beretta through my department for $200.00 in a special deal that I couldn't pass up. We are due to have most of the older department guns replaced with new 96D's early next year. I don't know if Beretta makes an Inox 96D, but if they do, that would be my choice for a replacement.
If you do get the blued Beretta, I recommend getting the Hogue stainless steel grip screws (no rust problem), the Hogue rubber finger groove grips (improves feel) and the Wolff Spring trigger conversion unit. This last item was designed for the INS to prevent trigger spring breakage. It also smooths out the trigger pull noticeably. The Wolff Spring website lists several different pull weight versions.
Good luck, Mike

Glad you're all happy with the "Italian Tomahawk."  I would rather pay $800 for a Sig P229, then take a "Burrito" 96D for free.  With Glocks, Sigs, and HK's out there, I can't even imagine why someone would want a Burrito.  I'm on my third one now.  My first one broke inside of 500 rounds.  My second one had this nasty habit of double feeding.  (Yeah I changed out all of my mags.)  I'm on my third one now and it hasn't failed me yet.  I'm looking to replace it with a superior brand soon.......

By the way if you have hands smaller than Andre the Giant's, you may want to consider something else with smaller grips.  

MG

Mine shoots great and the Trijicon night sites are cool.  I agree it's somewhat of a beast but the bulk also helps keep the recoil down.  It's nothing I'd try to carry concealed.  

The availablility of mags?...I've yet to find a used one.  Good luck.

Although the 9mm has its place, I've never been a fan so I chose the .40 .  If your planning on just using it at the range for fun then you may want a 9mm due to the availability of cheaper ammo and hi-cap mags.

Hi Mean_Green,
I do own a 229 in .40cal., and I like the gun very much. I also have three Glocks (21,22 and 27), and these are great guns too. My duty Beretta has operated unfailingly, it is accurate and it just feels good in the hand. If my department stays with the .40cal., I can't think of a reason to change makes. Now if I were somehow able to persuade a switch to .45auto, then a Glock or Sig would be my choice. The Arkansas State Police recently turned in their Sig 229 (.40cal.) handguns, reportedly because of reliability problems. They now carry Glock. My Sig has never displayed function problems, and although it has a short barrel, it has been relatively accurate. Then again, it isn't my duty weapon, and it sure hasn't been cycled near as much as my Beretta.
For no real good reason, I've never taken a liking to the H&K USP, but I wouldn't mind someday getting my hands on a .40cal. P7.
Take care, Mike

leoAR, I sincerely hope your Burrito never fails you.  Last time I qual'd the guy next to me had a catastrophic failure and he keeps his 96D clean and only shoots it when qualifying.  I've seen this happen several times and it just flat out scares me.  The longer barrel does promote increased accuracy and there are a few guys that, like yourself, are happy as getout with their 96D......But not me!  Again, good luck and may the Burrito Breaker Demon pass you by.

MG

Ive had my 96FS for about 6 years now and have put many thousands of rounds down range with it and have NEVER had a failure with it. My 92FS was giving me problems when I shot it for the first time but I sent it back to Beretta and they had it back to me with 2 brand new 15 round mags in less then 3 weeks.It seems the 2 10 rounders that came with it had out of spec lips and I have never had a problem with it since, 100% reliability!


BKVic

The Beretta 96 is a fine firearm.  I've got two.
I have had one catastrophic failure with Federal 165-gr. Medium load "FBI" ammo.  Jumpin' Judy!
It turns out that I most likely made the mistake of recycling the round one too many times from the chamber to the mag, etc., thereby making it a bit "short & NOT weak"!!!
We never found the case head.  The rest of the cartridge case fire-formed itself to the feed ramp.  The triggerbar popped out of the frame, as it is supposed to do according to Beretta, when this situation might occur, as it did.
The hook of the extractor was also blown or ripped off.
Beretta sent the wrong 9mm extractor TWICE, and then I got the right one installed. The gunsmith told me the Beretta is a strong design to be able to live through this failure and still function perfectly after reassembly.
In the meantime, while the Centurion was in for repairs, I bought a standard 96 and installed the Mec-Gar target sights and Hogue grip on it.
I took it out to try it with Federal 180-gr. Hydra-Shoks and on the 5th round experienced a failure to go into battery...?  I looked at the round after waiting about 15 seconds and discovered it exhibited a bulge at the base of the case.
Without further ado, I quit using Federal ammo in these guns, period.
I've never experieced any kind of problem with any other ammo, re of weight or bullet type.
Only the Federal has given me problems, in two different models and two different weights of bullets.
I'd buy another Beretta 96 in a heartbeat.  They're tougher'n shit.