Beretta 92FS or 1911?

[ajmclean]

I'm considering selling my .357 S&W 686 4 inch barrel and buying an automatic pistol. I'm the original owner and it was purchased in the 90s. Round count is probably about 300-500. How much could I get for it?

92FS
I love the 9mm ammo price, manageable recoil, and it's cool how our military is now using it. Also, prices aren't bad for a new 92FS. But does the gun have the awesome history of the 1911!

1911
beautiful gun, stopping power, won multiple wars, many aftermarket accessories, and it's just a bada** gun. If I was going to get a 1911, what company should I buy from and what model should I choose? (I don't need the most accurate one and I like original non-tactical looking ones)

WHAT DO I DO?!?!

[Ripon83]

You can keep your .357, buy an RIA .38 super 1911 for $380 plus taxes/fees/shipping (less then $500), and then a 9mm barrel for $60. Then you have a 9mm - 1911 and still enjoy having your .357 around. the 686 is a great pistol...I don't know what they sell for today but its easy to see - search 686 in the market place and several come up. Do the same at Gun Broker dot com and you will see the same thing - dozens there I believe.

[Oldnoob]

Once you try a decent 1911, you would never want to pick up that aluminum over sized junk, given that you don't mind spend the money for ammo. Beretta got nothing on any 1911 (not even an entry level one like RIA).

Just my personal opinion of course.

[ajmclean]

You can keep your .357, buy an RIA .38 super 1911 for $380 plus taxes/fees/shipping (less then $500), and then a 9mm barrel for $60. Then you have a 9mm - 1911 and still enjoy having your .357 around. the 686 is a great pistol...I don't know what they sell for today but its easy to see - search 686 in the market place and several come up. Do the same at Gun Broker dot com and you will see the same thing - dozens there I believe.

do I really want a 1911 in 9mm though? Also, isn't RIA made in the Philippines? I want to buy American

[jermzzzzzzz]

Get both.

[voiceoftheright]

I have four Berettas and a Spingfield Loaded 1911...they are all awesome guns and you can't go wrong with either. You'll get better accuracy out of a 1911, but my grouping with the Berettas isn't far behind.

[esartori]

Sell the s&w to me. For 100 ill take it off your hands seriously though u can get a good price depending on condition especially if it doesn't have a lock.

As for beretta vs 1911 I'd say 1911 all day unless ammo cost is a huge concern

[Fishslayer]

You'll be sorry if you sell the Smith. Don't do it.

Get a RIA FS 1911 Tactical model, a few extra Wilson mags & call it good. The only obvious difference from the GI is the sights.

Everybody should own a 1911 & a .357 wheelgun. It doesn't get a whole lot better than a 4" 686.

[Turo]

Do you not like your .357? Considering how little you shot in the last 10+ years I guess the answer is yes.

If you do still like it, I would suggest not selling it and just saving up for a 92fs/1911 later.

If you had to choose between the beretta and the 1911, I'd go 1911 first, then the 92fs later. This year is the 100th anniversary of the 1911, how could you NOT get one? As far as which one, I'd go plain and get a Springfield Arms GI mil-spec. Then you can have one just like our soldiers carried for ~$600 give or take.

[ajmclean]

Sell the s&w to me. For 100 ill take it off your hands seriously though u can get a good price depending on condition especially if it doesn't have a lock.

As for beretta vs 1911 I'd say 1911 all day unless ammo cost is a huge concern

what do you mean by "a lock"? Ammo cost isn't really that big of a concern. So judging by these previous posts, 1911 it is!

[ajmclean]

Do you not like your .357? Considering how little you shot in the last 10+ years I guess the answer is yes.

If you do still like it, I would suggest not selling it and just saving up for a 92fs/1911 later.

If you had to choose between the beretta and the 1911, I'd go 1911 first, then the 92fs later. This year is the 100th anniversary of the 1911, how could you NOT get one? As far as which one, I'd go plain and get a Springfield Arms GI mil-spec. Then you can have one just like our soldiers carried for ~$600 give or take.

I love the .357, I just don't feed it nearly as much as I should. And excellent point about the 100th anniversary. I'm digging the Springfield GI too

[huckberry668]

I cut my teeth on a 586/686 and they have a special place in my heart so I'd suggest you keep it. Especially yours is probably pre-lock model. I have several Berettas and 1911s and I wouldn't call Beretta 'junk'. Best plan for you maybe saving up for 1 each in the future. I love all my 1911s as well as my Berettas. I shoot both equally well and it has nothing to do with the gun, it's all about training. The grip sizes are nearly the same on both.

If you're going to buy a Beretta, buy used as long as they're unaltered by the owner. These guns are dead reliable that I don't think you need to worry about them working properly. Search the forums for great deals. There are often used Berettas sold for about $450.

If you're going to buy a 1911, buy new so you'll get the warranty and not other people's problems. In my experience, 1911s are more prone to feeding, ejecting and owners tinkering problems. I recommend Sig 1911. they're often over looked but best value on the market in my opinion. they are dead accurate and reliable too. check the accuracy eval at the bottom of the page: http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=255555

[Fishslayer]

what do you mean by "a lock"?

Forget the exact year but during the Hillary administration S&W caved to the antis & put the ILS aka Internal Locking System aka Infernal Lock aka Hillary Hole.... well.. you get the idea. ... on their revolvers. Not a real popular feature. Pre-lock S&W are more desired by some, myself included.

So judging by these previous posts, 1911 it is!

Good call.

[Sunday]

Try to shoot both and see which one you like the best. 9 mm cheaper ammo and hollow points make the 9mm work well. Been shooting 1911 since 1969 and you do not want a Kimber, RIA ,Springfield or any other made with MIM parts. 1911s do not do well with them. The more a 1911 costs the more you will like it, just a fact. Start with the Dan Wesson PM7 or a used Colt "if you can buy a nice one" on up to a Wilson combat. A fine 1911 is a treasure that will last and last. A 9 mm 1911 is sweet

[esartori]

Ya there are some who will pay well for a pre lock 4 inch 686. I know if its in good condition I'd be interested and I'd pay a fair price. However, all selfishness aside, u should keep it. It is probably one of the best .357s out there. I rarely see one for sale and especially a 4 inch