u/Dense-Assistant624

Picked up the PSA special for only $199 plus tax, transfer fee, and shipping (total ~$275) around a month and a half ago and I have mixed reviews on it. Came in advertised as “Good to very good” and as LEO trade in. Many reviews ranged from poor barrels to non functioning and to excellent shooters with mostly original parts and WWII dated slides and frames. I knew it was a gamble either way but I took the chance. Ended up with a decent pistol overall with a 1956 slide and barrel with a new production.

Initially out of the box, it had a thick layer of grease that encased the whole pistol with a nice purple bluing from use and original grips/magazine. Pistol seemed to function fine and felt good in the hands. Did not test the ability to feed and chamber at the FFL/pawn shop (this is foreshadowing later events). Took it home and did not inspect the barrel too much due to it being coated in grease. After cleaning it I noted some minor pitting in the original threaded barrel but good lands and grooves. When taking it to the range, it refused to fully seat the round (as seen in the pictures). The small amount of rust and corrosion had formed where the lands start and wouldn’t fully allow the bullet seat and engage. If you have a similar case take a small polishing agent and softly buff it out taking time to test it in between as not to wear the barrel. I would also highly recommend that you use a toothbrush or the small side of a USGI cleaning brush to polish the chamber with toothpaste as well. This is a soft method to break away corrosion and bust any rust that may be there.

Taking it home the barrel also had issues being removed even with light taps. It too several good blows from a rubber mallet to get it to move, and after inspecting, the frame was just so new and unworn, as is in new production, that it was difficult to get it out and in. I found the best way is to oil and drop the slide over and over to wedge the barrel back in or to easily sand the barrel slightly to fit. It should traditionally come out with light pressure from your hand and without assistance.

Returning to the range and with oiling and cleaning, it functioned excellent and is now one of my more enjoyable pistols to shoot. At 10m it will shoot tight groups that would give a modern production firearm a run for their money and I would rival that it shoots as accurately as a Taurus .380 of the same size.

Take it into consideration and understand that the grade of these vary from excellent to poor. Trying to get in contact with PSA is easy but warranting these is difficult because they are sold “as is” and will refer you to the actual Beretta to deal with any issues even though these are 50+ year old firearms. I show these photos as this is the most issues I ever had with the pistol, but overall with some elbow grease, it ended up as a good shooter. RTI will sell theirs for a little more and you will typically get newer production (1966-1975) but they will tend to be in better overall condition. They also have new production barrels if you want to not deal with the issues I had and just get a good shooter or conceal carry which is also another choice.

TLDR: go to RTI, pay a little more, and know exactly what you’re getting or put in light work and get a good shooter that could be from WWII.