
Beretta Overall Rating: [3.9 / 5.0]
Beretta delivers high-quality, reliable firearms with exceptional craftsmanship. It’s a trusted brand for competitive shooters, hunters, and enthusiasts. While customer service and repair times can lag, Beretta’s performance and heritage firmly cement its place as a premium firearms brand.

Beretta Summary
Beretta is the world’s oldest industrial manufacturer still in operation.
The company traces its roots to 1526, when master barrel maker Bartolomeo Beretta supplied barrels to the Venetian arsenal. Nearly 500 years later the Beretta family still owns and runs the business; today’s leadership marks the 15ᵗʰ generation.
What began as a small barrel shop soon grew into a full firearm manufacturer serving both militaries and sportsmen. Beretta now pairs Italian craftsmanship with cutting-edge production tech.
The firm’s headquarters sit in Gardone Val Trompia, while its parent, Beretta Holding S.A., is based in Luxembourg. Through this group Beretta controls a stacked roster of brands: Benelli, Sako, Tikka, Franchi, Uberti, Stoeger, Burris, Steiner, and more.
Beretta USA opened in 1972 and now builds firearms in Gallatin, Tennessee. The company became a U.S. household name when its 92FS pistol, designated the M9, served for decades as the standard sidearm of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Beretta balances tradition with innovation. Its catalog stretches from elegant over-under shotguns used in Olympic competition to modern tactical pistols and carbines. The company pours resources into precision manufacturing, green initiatives, and R&D, recently branching into ammunition through Norma Precision.
With 6,500+ employees and sales in 100+ countries, Beretta remains a global leader trusted by professionals, competitors, hunters, and collectors.

Evaluation Criteria
Quality & Reliability
Beretta ranks among the most consistently reliable and high-quality firearm manufacturers in the world. With nearly 500 years of nonstop production, the company has built its legacy on precision craftsmanship, tight quality control, and rugged engineering.
Beretta firearms are known for their excellent fit and finish, refined mechanics, and long-lasting materials. From elegant over-under shotguns like the 686 Silver Pigeon to battle-proven pistols like the 92FS, Beretta consistently delivers high-performing firearms.
Many models are still made in Italy, combining old-world gunsmithing with modern CNC machining to blend tradition and tech.
Beretta pistols, especially the 92 series, have proven durable under harsh conditions for decades. The U.S. military used the M9 (Beretta 92FS) as its standard sidearm for over 30 years, subjecting it to high round counts, environmental stress, and extreme operational demands. Beretta’s shotguns and rifles also earn trust worldwide from law enforcement, military units, and competitive shooters. Users consistently report dependable cycling, minimal malfunctions, and impressive longevity, even under heavy use.
In short, Beretta has earned its reputation for quality and reliability not just through heritage, but through rigorous, proven performance across both civilian and professional use cases.
Customer Experience
Overall, Beretta offers a solid customer experience, though it can vary by product category and purchase method. Most buyers report smooth transactions, especially when ordering through reputable dealers or Beretta’s online store. The company maintains a polished, professional brand presence, with detailed product info, helpful instructional content, and a user-friendly website.
Beretta shines in the out-of-the-box experience. Their firearms arrive well-packaged, clean, and ready to use with minimal setup. Manuals, accessories, like extra magazines or choke tubes, and included cases are typically high quality. The fit and finish of the guns themselves earn frequent praise, reinforcing Beretta’s reputation for value and craftsmanship.
Customer support is where feedback gets more mixed. Some users report courteous, helpful service from Beretta USA for warranty repairs or parts orders. Others mention slow responses or long repair times, especially during peak demand or post-pandemic backlogs. That said, Beretta offers fairly generous warranty coverage (typically 1–3 years, with extensions available on registered models) and maintains a network of authorized service centers across the U.S.
Value for Money
While Beretta firearms are rarely the cheapest option on the market, they consistently deliver on the quality expected at their price point, and in many cases, they outperform similarly priced competitors.
For example, models like the Beretta 92FS, A300 shotgun, and APX series pistols are often seen as high-value picks because they combine military-grade reliability with refined design and excellent longevity. These firearms tend to run smoothly out of the box and hold up well over time, which reduces long-term costs for maintenance or replacement.
In the higher-end market, Beretta’s sporting shotguns, like the 686 Silver Pigeon or DT11, can be expensive, but they are also precision-engineered, beautifully finished, and capable of lasting generations if properly maintained. For serious clay or upland shooters, these shotguns are often viewed as investments rather than mere purchases.
Ultimately, while Beretta isn’t a “budget brand,” the level of engineering, materials, and performance you get for the price makes most of their offerings a smart long-term value, especially for those who prioritize reliability and quality over trend-based features or low entry costs.
Industry Reputation
Beretta holds a strong reputation in the global firearms industry. As the world’s oldest continuously operating gunmaker, established in 1526, Beretta built its legacy on craftsmanship, military heritage, and high-performance sporting arms. That reputation isn’t just historical. Beretta remains a consistent presence in military, law enforcement, competition, and civilian markets worldwide.
- In the defense sector, Beretta gained massive credibility with the 92FS/M9, which served as the U.S. military’s standard-issue sidearm from 1985 to 2017.
- In the sporting world, Beretta is equally prestigious. Their over/under shotguns, especially the 686 and DT11, are dominant choices among competitive clay shooters, including Olympic athletes. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, shooters using Beretta shotguns, particularly the over-and-under DT11 and SL2 models, claimed an astounding 14 out of 15 medals in trap, skeet, and mixed team events.
- Among civilian shooters, Beretta is seen as a premium legacy brand. It’s not niche or boutique, it’s a cornerstone name, respected like Sig Sauer or Heckler & Koch, yet still broadly accessible. Whether for hunting, home defense, or competition, Beretta stands out as a trusted brand backed by centuries of refinement and real-world performance.
Service & Returns
Beretta’s service and returns experience is mixed and largely dependent on the specific issue, the product in question, and how the customer initiates contact
Beretta USA offers a standard 1-year warranty on most firearms, with options to extend it (up to 3 years) by registering the firearm online. Many customers report positive experiences when sending in guns for repair, especially for common models like the 92FS or A300. Their Tennessee-based service center is capable of handling a wide range of issues in-house, and they offer online RMA request forms, shipping instructions, and return tracking through their website.
Authorized service centers throughout the U.S. also help streamline regional repairs for shotguns and competition models, keeping turnaround times reasonable in many cases.
That said, support consistency is a common complaint, particularly for over/under shotguns, specialty models, or hard-to-source parts. Customers have reported:
- Long wait times (4–8 weeks or more) for repairs or part replacements.
- Difficult communication, with limited updates and hard-to-reach reps.
- Lack of transparency in repair status and costs for out-of-warranty service.
Additionally, returning newly purchased items (especially accessories or apparel from Beretta USA’s store) can sometimes involve restocking fees and delays if the item isn’t in new condition or returned through the right channel.
In short, Beretta’s service experience is adequate for most users, but it’s not as fast or customer-friendly as brands like Smith & Wesson or Glock. If you’re dealing with a flagship or high-volume model, the process is usually smooth, but more specialized items may face longer queues and slower resolution.

User Feedback Highlights
- “The Beretta 92FS is one of the most reliable pistols I’ve ever owned – runs smoothly with minimal maintenance and great accuracy.” The Firing Line Forum
- “I’ve put thousands of rounds through my A300 and it’s never let me down. Comfortable, reliable, and well-made.” Shotgun Life
- “Had an issue with the extractor on my 92FS early on and the warranty process was slow and frustrating.” Reddit
We actively gather feedback from the broader firearms community to ensure our reviews reflect a range of real-world experiences.

Beretta Final Verdict
For shooters seeking tradition, precision engineering, and proven performance, especially in shotguns and pistols, Beretta remains a top-tier choice. Their firearms deliver excellent reliability and user experience. Just be aware that repairs or warranty support may involve service delays.
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