Beretta M70 -- The One That Got Away

[Deleted]

Man!   I had one of these .22LR beauties in the 70's, and when I ran on some hard times, I had to let it go.   It had even been stolen from me once, by a "friend"  who almost drowned in the Red River trying to escape the cops.

It was a very sweet shooter, almost an exact replica of a S/A Walther P-38, cosmetically only.  The innards were completely different, but it that P-38 "mystique" to it, and I had to have one.    Found one for about $140.00.

Now if you can even FIND one with the original 6.5" barrel, you better have a nice bank roll, or be slightly nuts if you truly want to own one.
I get sick when I the see the prices on the few of them that are still available to be sold.   I was way too cavalier in my transactions or foresight for the future back then as a gun trader.

Behold:

www.gunbroker.com/item/866614100

Check the BUY NOW price.

[daleko]

May 6, 2020 23:39:10 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

Man!   I had one of these .22LR beauties in the 70's, and when I ran on some hard times, I had to let it go.   It had even been stolen from me once, by a "friend"  who almost drowned in the Red River trying to escape the cops.

It was a very sweet shooter, almost an exact replica of a S/A Walther P-38, cosmetically only.  The innards were completely different, but it that P-38 "mystique" to it, and I had to have one.    Found one for about $140.00.

Now if you can even FIND one with the original 6.5" barrel, you better have a nice bank roll, or be slightly nuts if you truly want to own one.
I get sick when I the see the prices on the few of them that are still available to be sold.   I was way too cavalier in my transactions or foresight for the future back then as a gun trader.

Behold:

www.gunbroker.com/item/866614100

Check the BUY NOW price.

Had the shorter barrel version that I bought in maybe '85because I liked the look and it was a Mossad hit piece, for $125. Had enough of a nub to attach a suppressor. Sold it to a fiend a cpl of years later for $125, had no use for it. Also had a Colt Trooper 4" in .357, that was well used, that I gave him, as he had his revolver stolen. I had nothing in it, as it was given to me by a friend in Chicago.

[Deleted]

May 7, 2020 13:37:46 GMT -5 daleko said:

May 6, 2020 23:39:10 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

Man!   I had one of these .22LR beauties in the 70's, and when I ran on some hard times, I had to let it go.   It had even been stolen from me once, by a "friend"  who almost drowned in the Red River trying to escape the cops.

It was a very sweet shooter, almost an exact replica of a S/A Walther P-38, cosmetically only.  The innards were completely different, but it that P-38 "mystique" to it, and I had to have one.    Found one for about $140.00.

Now if you can even FIND one with the original 6.5" barrel, you better have a nice bank roll, or be slightly nuts if you truly want to own one.
I get sick when I the see the prices on the few of them that are still available to be sold.   I was way too cavalier in my transactions or foresight for the future back then as a gun trader.

Behold:

www.gunbroker.com/item/866614100

Check the BUY NOW price.

Had the shorter barrel version that I bought in maybe '85because I liked the look and it was a Mossad hit piece, for $125. Had enough of a nub to attach a suppressor. Sold it to a fiend a cpl of years later for $125, had no use for it. Also had a Colt Trooper 4" in .357, that was well used, that I gave him, as he had his revolver stolen. I had nothing in it, as it was given to me by a friend in Chicago.

The shorter versions, including some with fake suppressors, are still pretty easy to find, and less costly.

I've never been impressed with a .22 as a hit piece, especially when you have to use subsonic ammo to make the suppressor worthwhile.  And you can't silence the noise of a semiauto slide cycling back and forth anyway.

The Colt Trooper was a sweet piece, too.  Their prices have gone out of sight, too.

I went looking for some spare magazines for my 1986 S&W Model 645, and the originals from S&W are going for $60-80 EACH.  I have three originals, and want them to last.   I ended up getting 2 Pro-Mag modern replacements for $36.00.   Couldn't find them locally so shipping and tax brought the total up to $50.00  

More than what I would like to have paid, but oh well.

[daleko]

May 7, 2020 14:07:05 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

May 7, 2020 13:37:46 GMT -5 daleko said:

Had the shorter barrel version that I bought in maybe '85because I liked the look and it was a Mossad hit piece, for $125. Had enough of a nub to attach a suppressor. Sold it to a fiend a cpl of years later for $125, had no use for it. Also had a Colt Trooper 4" in .357, that was well used, that I gave him, as he had his revolver stolen. I had nothing in it, as it was given to me by a friend in Chicago.

The shorter versions, including some with fake suppressors, are still pretty easy to find, and less costly.

I've never been impressed with a .22 as a hit piece, especially when you have to use subsonic ammo to make the suppressor worthwhile.  And you can't silence the noise of a semiauto slide cycling back and forth anyway.

The Colt Trooper was a sweet piece, too.  Their prices have gone out of sight, too.

I went looking for some spare magazines for my 1986 S&W Model 645, and the originals from S&W are going for $60-80 EACH.  I have three originals, and want them to last.   I ended up getting 2 Pro-Mag modern replacements for $36.00.   Couldn't find them locally so shipping and tax brought the total up to $50.00  

More than what I would like to have paid, but oh well.

To be clear, I never put a sup on. I only bought it because when I walked into the store to look around, I had a cpl of Cs in my pocket, I liked the look and it was $125. I thought it would be a good starter for my wife who had never shot anything before than. My friend eventually told me many years later that their value had risen. I just shrugged. #1 son just moved to Durham and "pinched" my Smith 3913 to travel w and keep. So I've moved my SIG 220 out of the darkness to my bedside. I had bought it a few years ago for below wholesale used cost and got 6 mags w it, as they had bought it low. Found out the orig SIG mags had some value. I guess I could peddle 4, if I wanted to, and be in the pistol for little. Isn't worth the effort, for me.

[Deleted]

May 7, 2020 14:42:49 GMT -5 daleko said:

May 7, 2020 14:07:05 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

The shorter versions, including some with fake suppressors, are still pretty easy to find, and less costly.

I've never been impressed with a .22 as a hit piece, especially when you have to use subsonic ammo to make the suppressor worthwhile.  And you can't silence the noise of a semiauto slide cycling back and forth anyway.

The Colt Trooper was a sweet piece, too.  Their prices have gone out of sight, too.

I went looking for some spare magazines for my 1986 S&W Model 645, and the originals from S&W are going for $60-80 EACH.  I have three originals, and want them to last.   I ended up getting 2 Pro-Mag modern replacements for $36.00.   Couldn't find them locally so shipping and tax brought the total up to $50.00  

More than what I would like to have paid, but oh well.

To be clear, I never put a sup on. I only bought it because when I walked into the store to look around, I had a cpl of Cs in my pocket, I liked the look and it was $125. I thought it would be a good starter for my wife who had never shot anything before than. My friend eventually told me many years later that their value had risen. I just shrugged. #1 son just moved to Durham and "pinched" my Smith 3913 to travel w and keep. So I've moved my SIG 220 out of the darkness to my bedside. I had bought it a few years ago for below wholesale used cost and got 6 mags w it, as they had bought it low. Found out the orig SIG mags had some value. I guess I could peddle 4, if I wanted to, and be in the pistol for little. Isn't worth the effort, for me.

Nope.
Keep all the magazines.  They are worth more than you think.  If you have a bad mag and no spare, you have a very slow to reload single shot pistol.  Mark the mags 1 - 6, and rotate them out on a regular basis if you have confirmed they all work.
I'm always changing out 1911 mags so the springs get to rest.

[Panama pfRedd]

May 7, 2020 14:42:49 GMT -5 daleko said:

May 7, 2020 14:07:05 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

The shorter versions, including some with fake suppressors, are still pretty easy to find, and less costly.

I've never been impressed with a .22 as a hit piece, especially when you have to use subsonic ammo to make the suppressor worthwhile.  And you can't silence the noise of a semiauto slide cycling back and forth anyway.

The Colt Trooper was a sweet piece, too.  Their prices have gone out of sight, too.

I went looking for some spare magazines for my 1986 S&W Model 645, and the originals from S&W are going for $60-80 EACH.  I have three originals, and want them to last.   I ended up getting 2 Pro-Mag modern replacements for $36.00.   Couldn't find them locally so shipping and tax brought the total up to $50.00  

More than what I would like to have paid, but oh well.

To be clear, I never put a sup on. I only bought it because when I walked into the store to look around, I had a cpl of Cs in my pocket, I liked the look and it was $125. I thought it would be a good starter for my wife who had never shot anything before than. My friend eventually told me many years later that their value had risen. I just shrugged. #1 son just moved to Durham and "pinched" my Smith 3913 to travel w and keep. So I've moved my SIG 220 out of the darkness to my bedside. I had bought it a few years ago for below wholesale used cost and got 6 mags w it, as they had bought it low. Found out the orig SIG mags had some value. I guess I could peddle 4, if I wanted to, and be in the pistol for little. Isn't worth the effort, for me.

Mine, loaded with 230gr Gold Dots.

Plus lots of loaded 7 and 8 round SIG mags in the safe...

[Deleted]

May 8, 2020 12:31:51 GMT -5 Panama pfRedd said:

May 7, 2020 14:42:49 GMT -5 daleko said:

To be clear, I never put a sup on. I only bought it because when I walked into the store to look around, I had a cpl of Cs in my pocket, I liked the look and it was $125. I thought it would be a good starter for my wife who had never shot anything before than. My friend eventually told me many years later that their value had risen. I just shrugged. #1 son just moved to Durham and "pinched" my Smith 3913 to travel w and keep. So I've moved my SIG 220 out of the darkness to my bedside. I had bought it a few years ago for below wholesale used cost and got 6 mags w it, as they had bought it low. Found out the orig SIG mags had some value. I guess I could peddle 4, if I wanted to, and be in the pistol for little. Isn't worth the effort, for me.

Mine, loaded with 230gr Gold Dots.

Plus lots of loaded 7 and 8 round SIG mags in the safe...

Looks in pretty good shape for living on a lake bottom.

But Sigs DO make good boat anchors.

[Panama pfRedd]

May 9, 2020 18:30:15 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

May 8, 2020 12:31:51 GMT -5 Panama pfRedd said:

Mine, loaded with 230gr Gold Dots.

Plus lots of loaded 7 and 8 round SIG mags in the safe...

Looks in pretty good shape for living on a lake bottom.

But Sigs DO make good boat anchors.

In your dreams. Nothing is more reliable. 1911? Too finicky. Glock? maybe... just don't like Glocks much... weird grip angle and mush for triggers, even after hot-rodding... but reliable.

Now rant about cycling spent casings in your S&W boat anchor for the 57th time.

[Deleted]

May 9, 2020 18:52:59 GMT -5 Panama pfRedd said:

May 9, 2020 18:30:15 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

Looks in pretty good shape for living on a lake bottom.

But Sigs DO make good boat anchors.

In your dreams. Nothing is more reliable. 1911? Too finicky. Glock? maybe... just don't like Glocks much... weird grip angle and mush for triggers, even after hot-rodding... but reliable.

Now rant about cycling spent casings in your S&W boat anchor for the 57th time.

If you want to settle for 9 shots before reloading, that's OK by me.

I'll take the 14 from my G30.

If I wanted that long trigger pull, I'd still carry my 645, or a DA revolver.

Sig's are overpriced, too, but hey, if you're happy with all that .........  who am I to dissuade you?

Enjoy.

And I have to admit that the easiest way to shoot a perfect score in qualification is to use a S&W DA revolver.

I'm still debating on if I want to do that, if the LSP range will ever reopen.   I'm overdue for my certification shoot.   That's OK.  So is everyone else who qualified when I did.

[Panama pfRedd]

May 9, 2020 19:32:43 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

May 9, 2020 18:52:59 GMT -5 Panama pfRedd said:

In your dreams. Nothing is more reliable. 1911? Too finicky. Glock? maybe... just don't like Glocks much... weird grip angle and mush for triggers, even after hot-rodding... but reliable.

Now rant about cycling spent casings in your S&W boat anchor for the 57th time.

If you want to settle for 9 shots before reloading, that's OK by me.

I'll take the 14 from my G30.

If I wanted that long trigger pull, I'd still carry my 645, or a DA revolver.

Sig's are overpriced, too, but hey, if you're happy with all that .........  who am I to dissuade you?

Enjoy.

And I have to admit that the easiest way to shoot a perfect score in qualification is to use a S&W DA revolver.

I'm still debating on if I want to do that, if the LSP range will ever reopen.   I'm overdue for my certification shoot.   That's OK.  So is everyone else who qualified when I did.

We all can't be Mutt.

[Deleted]

May 9, 2020 20:21:13 GMT -5 Panama pfRedd said:

May 9, 2020 19:32:43 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

If you want to settle for 9 shots before reloading, that's OK by me.

I'll take the 14 from my G30.

If I wanted that long trigger pull, I'd still carry my 645, or a DA revolver.

Sig's are overpriced, too, but hey, if you're happy with all that .........  who am I to dissuade you?

Enjoy.

And I have to admit that the easiest way to shoot a perfect score in qualification is to use a S&W DA revolver.

I'm still debating on if I want to do that, if the LSP range will ever reopen.   I'm overdue for my certification shoot.   That's OK.  So is everyone else who qualified when I did.

We all can't be Mutt.

I agree.

The rest of the world should be normal.

[Panama pfRedd]

May 9, 2020 19:32:43 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

May 9, 2020 18:52:59 GMT -5 Panama pfRedd said:

In your dreams. Nothing is more reliable. 1911? Too finicky. Glock? maybe... just don't like Glocks much... weird grip angle and mush for triggers, even after hot-rodding... but reliable.

Now rant about cycling spent casings in your S&W boat anchor for the 57th time.

If you want to settle for 9 shots before reloading, that's OK by me.

I'll take the 14 from my G30.

If I wanted that long trigger pull, I'd still carry my 645, or a DA revolver.

Sig's are overpriced, too, but hey, if you're happy with all that .........  who am I to dissuade you?

Enjoy.

And I have to admit that the easiest way to shoot a perfect score in qualification is to use a S&W DA revolver.

I'm still debating on if I want to do that, if the LSP range will ever reopen.   I'm overdue for my certification shoot.   That's OK.  So is everyone else who qualified when I did.

I never keep a round chambered AND a fully loaded mag in the well. This is why that 8 round mag only has 7 rounds in it.

[Deleted]

May 13, 2020 11:46:39 GMT -5 Panama pfRedd said:

May 9, 2020 19:32:43 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

If you want to settle for 9 shots before reloading, that's OK by me.

I'll take the 14 from my G30.

If I wanted that long trigger pull, I'd still carry my 645, or a DA revolver.

Sig's are overpriced, too, but hey, if you're happy with all that .........  who am I to dissuade you?

Enjoy.

And I have to admit that the easiest way to shoot a perfect score in qualification is to use a S&W DA revolver.

I'm still debating on if I want to do that, if the LSP range will ever reopen.   I'm overdue for my certification shoot.   That's OK.  So is everyone else who qualified when I did.

I never keep a round chambered AND a fully loaded mag in the well. This is why that 8 round mag only has 7 rounds in it.

I'm not carrying a gun with an empty chamber.   Not on purpose.   That's suicide.

My 645 sits in an accessible place with a round in the chamber, safety off, and full 8 round mag.

My Combat Commander is in another place with the hammer down on a loaded chamber and a full 7 round mag.   It only takes a split second to thumb the hammer back and engage the thumb safety.

The Mini-14's mag is loaded, but its chamber is empty. Same with my Winchester 1300 Defender.

Along with the always loaded Glock, I've got the bases covered.

The rest of my guns are totally empty.

[Panama pfRedd]

May 13, 2020 11:59:52 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

May 13, 2020 11:46:39 GMT -5 Panama pfRedd said:

I never keep a round chambered AND a fully loaded mag in the well. This is why that 8 round mag only has 7 rounds in it.

I'm not carrying a gun with an empty chamber.   Not on purpose.   That's suicide.

WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT AN EMPTY CHAMBER?? WHERE DO YOU RECKON THAT 8TH ROUND IS?? YOU SAID 9 ROUNDS WHEN I SHOWED YOU MY SIG WITH AN 8 ROUND MAG, REMEMBER?

The only loaded gun I don't keep chambered is my 12ga pump.

My 645 sits in an accessible place with a round in the chamber, safety off, and full 8 round mag.

My Combat Commander is in another place with the hammer down on a loaded chamber and a full 7 round mag.   It only takes a split second to thumb the hammer back and engage the thumb safety.

The Mini-14's mag is loaded, but its chamber is empty. Same with my Winchester 1300 Defender.

Along with the always loaded Glock, I've got the bases covered.

The rest of my guns are totally empty.

[Deleted]

May 13, 2020 12:18:31 GMT -5 Panama pfRedd said:

May 13, 2020 11:59:52 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

I'm not carrying a gun with an empty chamber.   Not on purpose.   That's suicide.

WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT AN EMPTY CHAMBER?? WHERE DO YOU RECKON THAT 8TH ROUND IS?? YOU SAID 9 ROUNDS WHEN I SHOWED YOU MY SIG WITH AN 8 ROUND MAG, REMEMBER?

The only loaded gun I don't keep chambered is my 12ga pump.

My 645 sits in an accessible place with a round in the chamber, safety off, and full 8 round mag.

My Combat Commander is in another place with the hammer down on a loaded chamber and a full 7 round mag.   It only takes a split second to thumb the hammer back and engage the thumb safety.

The Mini-14's mag is loaded, but its chamber is empty. Same with my Winchester 1300 Defender.

Along with the always loaded Glock, I've got the bases covered.

The rest of my guns are totally empty.

Well, gee nimrod .......... why would you have a loaded chamber and a downloaded magazine in the gun?

The magazines are designed to be loaded to full capacity and carried in the gun that way.

Your statement was worded in such a way to imply that you either carried an empty chamber and a full mag, or a loaded chamber and a downloaded  mag.  Sorry if I misunderstood what you wrote.

And yes, any gun with an 8 round magazine is not at full capacity unless you can completely unload it and have 9 live rounds in your hand.

Now, what is the rationale for not carrying a full magazine?