The open slide design of the Beretta, which helps with reliable feeding, makes it more vulnerable to sand and grit. With that caveat, a well-maintained Beretta will run as well as any other higher-end gun. I was once on the line and had a $800 Sig 226 in the next lane choke while my $400-500 Beretta PX4 kept spinning like a top. Beretta makes a very reliable, accurate, well-machined pistol. Keep the somewhat increased grit sensitivity of that open slide in mind and you'll be fine.
I just ordered a 96A1 for my dad yesterday, I have great faith in the platform. The older 96G served him perfectly for about a decade.