Pawn Shop Pieces – Beretta Model 70S

Have you ever gotten such a hot deal you couldn’t say no, especially at a gun store? I did. I was at a local gun store called Turkey Creek Outfitters in Monticello, Florida, that has a huge selection of used guns. I saw a Beretta 9000S and had to have it. The salesman says he has a smoking deal and offers me a hefty discount on the 9000S and a Model 70S if I buy both. I agree as a purveyor and collector of old guns.

As I’m checking out, the dealer further sweetens the deals and just gives me another Model 70. This one is a cerakote gun that has some problems. Namely, it reportedly fired when the slide closed. It sat in the safe for a decade, and if I would sign something admitting I knew the gun’s fault, it’d be free.

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A Broken Beretta Model 70 – Why Not

The worst-case scenario is that I have a potential parts gun, an incredible display, or the world’s most dangerous paperweight. Knowing tons of knowledgeable people is one of the best things about being in this industry. I immediately asked, “Hey, what’s wrong with this gun, and can it be fixed?” I got a few answers, the simplest of which was to see if the firing pin was stuck.

I looked and couldn’t tell, so I applied heat to melt out any potential oil. I didn’t see much more than a bit of drip from the channel, did I? I then gave it a good scrub and cleaning. I went to the range, loaded a single round in the magazine, and ensured my PPE was on. I even wore gloves in case of an out-of-battery detonation.

I racked the slide, prepped for the gun to fire, and let it go. Nothing happened. Carefully keeping the gun orientated downrange, I ejected the cartridge. No primer indent, and the hammer remained cocked. I put the mag in the mag and rack the slide repeatedly.

I did it with the hammer down, the hammer cocked, and in varying positions. I pointed it straight into the berm and tilted it to the sides. Nothing happened. I finally loaded that one round and let it fire. It went through its cycle of operations just fine.  Well mostly.

The Side and Magazine

I noticed the slide locked to the rear when the last round was fired, but the slide release did nothing; instead, the slide stuck at the rear of the magazines. You remove the mag, which took some prying, and the slide slammed home. The slide could be manually locked open but not properly lock on the magazine release without manual action.

Interestingly, each of the Model 70S are .380s, but the magazines are different. One clearly has a cut out to engage the last round bolt slide open, and the other magazine does not. The magazines are not interchangeable. The only difference is that one carries the Berben Corporation and the other does not.

I did some research, and the best I could find was early Model 70 guns had a similar design. I can’t find any reference to this issue with Model 70S guns. Still, from first-hand experience, it made it into some Model 70S pistols.

I could rightly assume Beretta made changes between imported models of the 70S. Still, outside of the marking difference, there doesn’t appear to be any external identifiers that would make you take a double look at the gun.

The Model 70S Inside and Out

This Model 70S features a grey cerakote finish, so the old blueing is gone. At first glance, you still know it’s a Beretta. The open slide and exposed barrel are unmistakable. It’s a signature look for the ancient Italian company. Gun production began in 1958, and Beretta aimed to replace their aging 1935 models.

The original Model 70 was a .32 ACP pistol with a cross-bolt safety. The Model 70S introduced guns in .22LR, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP. Mine are .380s. It featured a steel frame and a frame-mounted thumb safety. The import models also featured a prominent thumb rest on the left side, making these a nightmare for left-handed shooters.

These are straight blowback guns that feed from seven-round magazines. The magazines have very prominent pinky rests that make it easy to establish a full grip on the weapon. The steel frame adds some weight, and the gun weighs about 23 ounces. With a 3.5-inch barrel and a height of about 4.8 inches, the Model 70 sits comfortably in the compact realm.

It’s a simple little gun, but clearly well made.

Old World Ergos

Ergonomically, the 70S mostly reminds me of the 80 series. The grip is just the right length and width for my hands. The big downside is that somewhat sharp beavertail that causes discomfort when firing. The safety is easy to operate and engage. Our mag release is a bit odd.

It’s placed at the bottom of the grip on the left-hand side. It’s not a heel release but a button. The magazine doesn’t fall out, either. You have to pull it out using the pinky extension. Reloads would be very slow but probably weren’t a concern for the era.

The slide is surprisingly easy to manipulate, which is good because there isn’t much of it to grip. The recoil spring seems to be appropriately tuned for the little .380 round.

Shooting the Model 70S

One of my favorite genres of old guns is small European pistols. I typically prefer them as 7.65 guns, but I will stomach the ole .380 or 9mm Kurz. The main problem with .380 ACP guns and straight blowback is the unnecessary amount of recoil. It hits your hand hard, and the thin metal beavertail digs in.

It’s not gonna make you cry, but it’ll make sure you don’t shoot this thing at a 500-round class. Still, there is some pleasantness to these old-world guns. It might recoil more than a P365, but it’s infinitely more interesting to shoot.

The single-action trigger is a delight. It’s very light and has an excellent reset—what you expect from a single-action trigger. The gun sits between the eras of sights that were basically nonexistent and sights you can actually use quickly. They wouldn’t impress today, but they are fine overall.

The combination of good sights and a decent trigger make for a surprisingly accurate gun. I could create some surprisingly nice groups at 15 yards and quickly score hits on a 10-inch plate at 25 yards. I’m not going to win at any gun games, but I could see this being a viable gun for its era.

The Italian Pony

I’ve never walked into a gun store and left with a free gun. With that in mind, I got a great deal, and I’m not sure what to do with two Model 70S. The obvious answer is dual wield, but the left-side grips make that a bit of an impossibility. As a purveyor of old European pistols, I know these two Model 70S have a safe place in my safe.

About Travis Pike

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s instructor.