Question - I just picked up a couple 96ds and they are lousy to shoot. The trigger pull is way - way too stiff.

Does anyone know if there is a kit to retrofit it to sa/da vs dao? Or if there is a smith that does a conversion out there somewhere?

If not - I'll just trade the things off.

Don't know about a kit but I had a 92SD and it exhibited the same traits. Gun was a little complex to disassemble and get at the trigger group. I tried a little stoning of the sear engagement points.
I had no luck improving the trigger pull on mine.
Sold it off and bought an HK USP 45

The 96D doesn't have a sear, and comes from the factory with a lighter hammer spring than the standard DA/SA models. The trigger pull should be long and smooth, as it is designed to mimmick a double action revolver.

However, most 96D's on the market are police trade-ins that could have been abused or messed with. 92D's are becoming quite rare.

The Beretta 92 platform is actually very easy to completely break down and reassemble. You can find some great on-line videos here:

http://www.beretta92fs.com/