Beretta Model 75 (.22 LR)
Kim du Toit
March 12, 2004
1:00 AM CDT
I still have a soft spot for this pistol. My mother owned one back in South Africa, and it’s the one with which I learned to shoot handguns.
I love this gun. That swooping triggerguard, the streamlined look and the elegant barrel just get me where it counts. I don’t even care how well it shoots (although it’s excellent)—it just looks wonderful.
There are a lot of things wrong with the Beretta Model 75: the magazine release (at the bottom of the grip) is in an awkward place, requiring that you relax your hold before pushing it; the safety (the other large button at the top of the grip) is likewise in a non-ergonomic position, and the “open barrel” in the receiver top allows dirt into the action. Cleaning, however, is a snap—the Model 75 is one of the very easiest pistols to field-strip.
But the Model 75 “points” beautifully, its operation is silky-smooth, and it’s very accurate. Beretta, after all, knows a bit about gun manufacturing. (It’s actually a better gun than the one I own, the Model 101T or “Target”, which was supposed to be an improvement on the 75, but wasn’t.)
And people (like me) who love the Model 75, are prepared to pay a hefty premium for the privilege of owning one (and the magazines, when you can find them, cost nearly $100 each). This one was listed at Collectors Firearms.While I was still making up my mind whether the $550 was worth it, it was sold, after having been posted for maybe eight hours.
In retrospect, it was worth it, and I’m still kicking myself.
Damn. Missed it by this much.
Gratuitous Gun Pics
