Hi all,

Was thinking of picking one up and can't make up my mind.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!

I have only shot a 92fs that was at a range. Probably had been fired 20k times and trigger in DA and SA was superb. Slide moved as it if was on ball bearings when racking it.

Purpose of firearm would be range, MAYBE home defense. Would prefer full sized model because of that. I would like to have the ability to put a tritium front sight on the gun.

Beretta lovers, help me out please. I know there is some Beretta forum out there, but here it's fine and I always find answers to questions I have. I tried glocktalk before for glocks and it was so political that I had to leave it. Let's just talk guns!

I have a love/hate relationship with the Beretta 92.

I love the idea of the 92, but in execution it's a clumsy mess. In CQC the slide can be removed from the frame by a determined assailant. The decocker/safety adds complication where none is needed. I still can't figure out the advantage of SA/DA semi-autos, when striker-fired pistols remove a myriad of complications—both mechanical and for the operator. And stripping the gun isn't easy; I can barely get the decocker apart in the same that it takes me to detail strip a Glock.

One of my 92's came from the New Orleans Police Department, and I keep it around mostly because I know it chafes the mayor to know that there are former NOPD service pistols in private hands.

So, maybe that's a good way of putting it. As a range toy I can be fun. But for self-defense purposes, I'm putting on a Glock every time.

Mike

When in real life has this happened? Reel life (movies) are fake. In fact the movie I remember showing it done the gun was unlocked so all the actor did was pull the slide and barrel off of the frame.

The G Conversion modifies the safety to decocker only.

The 92FS/M9 has been successfully protecting Law Enforcement Officers and soldiers for over 30 years. That is a impressive record to me.

Thanks Mike and BSA1

I also carry a Glock for self defense (model 19 gen 4) 99% of the time, with the other 1% being an LCP and J frame for around the house yard work duties.

I would prefer the G model. Should have specified that from the get-go.

CRH1943,

More expensive, to be sure, but if you
can afford it get the LTT. Also, view
Langdon's videos on the use of and
handling the 92. The LTT in its various
iterations if a fine pistol. As to the DA
trigger, one of his videos covers that
non-problem very, very well.

Just to save money, you'll find a regular
92FS or G very compatible. You can
achieve an excellent DA trigger just by
putting in Beretta's DAO spring, available
from Beretta. The SA trigger is nice
though certainly not up to the LTT.

In wanting a "night sight" you must choose
the correct slide which does not have the
front sight milled right into it. You need the
slide withe the pinned front sight.

The X looks seems nice but I have no
experience with it.

I really think you'll like the Langdon LTT
and he offers direct from his home site
a number of options.

No, I have no connection to him but I like
his offerings. By the by, the Wilson Berettas
are also very nice but a bit more picey. I
like Bill's rounded trigger guard and his "G"
decocker is more compact than Langdon's
if I recall. Check them both out in regard
to these features.

__________________
Ubi Est Mea

Not sure how many rounds I have through mine but to guess about 10k would be pretty close. It's been so reliable that my son always joked that you could load it with pine cones and it would still shoot. I do not mean to offend anyone but if you can possibly allow an attacker to field strip your pistol you probably should carry a phone instead. An amazing pistol.

Review:

92x LTT Review - Beretta Forum

Not familiar with the models the OP mentioned nor the quality of newer Berettas made in the US. I do own a Beretta 92F (1985 model) made in Italy that I bought at auction five years ago. 1985 was the year the US Military adopted the Beretta. Never had an issue. Smooth as silk, reliable, high quality fit and finish, accurate. You won't be disappointed.

Attached Images

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My issue with most 92s I've handled is the grips. Those monstrous, square-edged grips are an ergonomic nightmare. Who has hands that work with them, Herman Munster? I own pistols with large grip-frames, but none of them are as uncomfortable as those 92s.

__________________
Release the Kraken

I have a mid90's 92FS and an Israeli police 92C - "Compact". I have no complaints. They're easy handling, soft shooters.

__________________
Thread Killer.

I'm a Beretta 92 fan, though at this point I've only had the same 92FS I bought back in the 90s. Excellent pistol.

Given your options, I think the 92X is probably going to be the best value. It has a dovetailed front sight so you can swap it out for a tritium dot. I believe the 92X is also available with the decock-only G option from the factory, but a conversion kit that converts the safety/decocker to docker-only is available for $50. I installed one on my 92FS and see it as a good functional improvement.

I believe one of the M9 variants (A3...?) has a dovetailed front sight, but I'm not that familiar with those models.

But, as UncleEd said, if you can afford it, a LTT model would probably be the best choice. The 92X Compact LTT with no-rail is probably at the top of my wish list.

If you think carry might be an option in the future, you may want to consider the Centurion. It has a full-size grip frame, but a slightly shorter barrel/slide, so carrying would be a bit easier, but still long enough to shoot easily.

I use MecGar 18-round mags, and they've been working great for me. They also make 15-round mags for the compact versions.

FWIW, I have smallish hands, somewhere between a small and medium glove size, and the 92 is probably the gun I shoot best, including DA. With LTT/VZ ultra-thin grips, it's an even better fit. I've also never had a problem manipulating the safety/decocker. Hand-to-gun fit is an individual thing.

I second the use of the D hammer spring. I installed it in my 92FS and it made a noticeable improvement with the DA trigger pull.

Ernest Langdon's YouTube videos are an excellent resource for Beretta users, as well as users of DA/SA pistols in general.

Just my opinion.

I suppose one legitimate complaint is the grip size. I installed the VZ Palm Swells in the pic and the difference was night and day.

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If you want interchangeable front sights get a 92A1, A3, Brigadier, or Wilson Combat model. I carried the M-9 frequently during my military career and liked it. Even the samples which had been issued to dozens of people before me ran fine in all environments.

The stock DA pull is rough. It can be easily remedied as mentioned above with the D spring. Or have Wilson Combat do an action tune. If money was no object I would own a dozen.

I adore my plain-jane 92FS - it's a breeze to shoot and is an absolute beauty. The slide was noticeably smooth and ball-bearing like new from the factory. If I intended it to be anything more than a range toy I'd invest in the D-spring and G-decocker modifications, or I'd purchase a variant with those preinstalled. Both the Langon and Wilson Combat offerings are stellar - I'd try to handle both separately to see what suits you best.

(I'd also highly recommend the ultra-thin Wilson Combat grips if you purchase a standard (non-vertec, non-92X) model. They make the gun so much nicer to hold and they fit most hands significantly better than the thick stock grips.)

Been shooting and carrying a Beretta 92 since 1989.
Most maligned gun in recent history.......

Continentalops post has good info.

Newer features like the radiused backstrap, G decocker only model ( or the kit), D-spring and thin G-10 grips( all made by VZ grips) make the 92 a different gun than the one introduced in 1985 as the M9.

I've no experience with the new X guns.

If you can afford one the LTT or Wilson Combat (I have the Centurion) guns add "all" the bells and whistles........ or look for a used EliteII which was Ernest Langdon brain child when he worked at Beretta.

My favorites are the Compact followed by the Centurion. The Compact with 15rd Mec-gar mags is really a small duty size gun. Think Sig 229

I recently purchased a 92A1 with the threaded barrel, great pistol. Now it's quiet too.

Earlier I commented I wasn't
familiar with the new X model.
Checked it out.

Lots of desirable features at
a good price. It would seem to
be a winner.

__________________
Ubi Est Mea

Much good information posted so far; I'll just add to the chorus pointing OP toward LTT.

I think for anyone looking to get into the 92 game these days, Langdon Tactical is by far the way to go.

__________________
Pickpocket

Huge 92 fan. Wish I'd kept my A3, as that was the smoothest I've yet owned, but I'll be going with the LTT for the next one. The couple I've handled and one I've fired were excellent. Just keep in mind, they're excellent 92 series guns, but they're still a $1200 handgun, and if you're not dead set on 92 series there are a ton of fabulous handguns in that price range.

I have all the Beretta’s mentioned. I carry the 92X. If I knew I was going to be in a gunfight, I want the Wilson Combat 92 Elite in my hand.

I got the Wilson Centurion.... the Centurion is what I've always thought the M9 should have been.

Glock is on Gen 5...... despite all the upgrades "the plain jane" model Beretta is still just the 92FS

You are probably set on a 92, but have you ever fired a CZ75?

For just target range use, I'd buy a used 92FS, do a detailed inspection and then go bang away on the range. Before COVID and right around the M17 fielding I purchased a lightly use 92FS for $450 when I was on leave in NY. Check the slide and locking block for cracks, make sure the trigger doesn't follow the slide forward, the safety/decocker works properly, trigger resets, etc.

If you are feeling saucy, update the locking block to the current iteration, swap the hammer spring to the D Spring, replace the trigger spring with a new one or a spring/strut assembly (Wolfe, Wilson) and some thin VZ grips.
You don't need to drop a mint to make a 92 shot nicely, most shoot fine out off the shelf (unless they are worn out M9s)

Or you could get a LTT trigger job in a bag, an updated locking block and thing grips and call it a day. The 92 is a actually fun for tinkering with.

You can also get a .22 converison kit that is a lot of fun too.

Just be carefull, if you wrap you hands around an LTT, you may not want to put it down.

Thanks everyone! Lot of good, detailed information.

One other question is about how the gun balances in the hand. Example: Does the full size balance better or does the Centurion balance better?

Another example: I love my 4" 686+ and the extra round is awesome, but my 4" Model 13 feels soooo much better and balances better (no front end weight).

Regarding the CZ...i have shot one and fell in love. Ergonomics unsurpassed. Felt better than a Hi-Power or a 1911 to me. However, not a fan of
A) pulling trigger with thumb on hammer to decock it in safety only models
B) decocking the gun on decocker models because hammer does not sit flush to the slide. Older smiths sit flush, sigs sit flush and berettas sit flush.

Thanks all

I like the Centurion/Compact balance and overall handling better. Followed by the Elite II with the 4.7" flush fit barrel.

Though almost all mags have 3 more rounds than when I started shooting 92s..... then 94-2004 pretty much only used 10 round mags at the range.... so that's 5-8 less than today.