Beretta 92FS: Still a top-notch 9mm?

I've owned a bunch, and they are my favorite pistol. Close second is the S&W 3rd gen's. I am left with one 92, the 92fs Vertec. The straight grip and dovetailed sights are an improvement over the original.

No polymer, striker fired weapon will ever equal a beretta. Racking the slide feels like it's rolling on greased ball bearings. Double action pull is not bad, and can be improved if you want with a 5 dollar D spring and 30 seconds to install it. The quality and pride of ownership will never be there for a Glock or an M&P. Can you imagine passing down a plastic gun to your heirs? Not me.
 
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Thanks for all the feedback. There are two main themes that I keep hearing about the Beretta 92 which really make me a fan:

1) 'I've never seen one malfunction'. I've read many times, even from 'experts' who train and write about guns, say things to this effect.

2) Documented cases where 92s go 50,000, 100,000, even 200,000 rounds without ill effect to the frame and slide.

Documented confirmation about reliability and durability speaks for itself. And, I just love the way it looks. All those 80's and 90's action movies featured the good guys with Beretta 92s.
 
I have owned several Beretta 92 series pistols and I like them a lot, If I ever get a 92G then I may make that a carry pistol. Always had a hard time turning down a Beretta at a good price.


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I carried one at my first agency; it was great. I moved on to two different Glock agencies. I'm hoping to go back to my first agency and look forward to the Beretta again.

Yes, it is heavy and large for a 9mm, but I'd take it over a Glock, M&P or XD all day long.

I think the P226 is better for a SA/DA 9mm and prefer it or a USP in 9mm but the Beretta is just fine.
 
Found one at a show that I could not pass up last year.



It shoots great, but I prefer my XDM 5.25

 
There's nothing about the 92 series that can't be fixed by Wilson Combat. I'm currently building a Beretta Centurion and swapping out parts whenever I have spare money. This will work until I can finally send it to Wilson for checkering, refinish, and possibly more options if I can get my air conditioner paid off.

Here's where it's at right now:




Here's a tally of what I've added:

  1. 14# Hammer Spring (Now 8#/4# DA/SA trigger and 100% Reliable)
  2. Battlesight Rear Sight (Large U Notch Sight with the perfect sight picture)
  3. Fluted Guide Rod
  4. Flat Wire Recoil Spring w/Shok Buff (springs good for 10,000 rnds)
  5. Oversized Checkered Mag Release (this was a bitch to put in)
  6. Black Cherry Ultra Thin G10 Grips (makes the gun feel smaller than a 5906)

I have an Elite II hammer on order and will go into this gun. Right now with gun and parts I'm at $550. If I was going to carry this gun, I'd put the low profile safety levers on it that makes it impossible to put you gun on safe accidentally. If I find out my levers are plastic, I'll probably have Wilson change them out when it gets to Arkansas. I'm also not going to spend the money for the G conversion (again, I'm not carrying this gun).

What's 100% confirmed (besides how much I love this gun) is I'm getting front/back checkering, front sight drilled for a green fiber optic, and a refinish. The slide's getting black ArmorTuff and the frame is getting a different color. I just can't decide between Gray, Burnt Bronze, Federal Brown, or their dark OD Green.
 
No flies on the Beretta 92 series. In the early 1980's my department (CT State Police) was one of the first major departments to switch from revolvers (S&W 66's) to the 92. Beretta ran a magazine ad showing a couple troopers wearing the 92 on their belts, wit the caption "The gun that protects Connecticut", or words to that effect.

At first, a lot of the guys, me included didn't like the idea. I was used to my revolver, good with it, and had faith in the .357's stopping power.

Funny thing happened though. After a few "teething" problems switching to the new weapon platform, qualification scores improved for most troopers, and reliability equaled and maybe exceeded the revolver. Stopping power of the 9mm in actual use could not be shown to be any different than the .357, at least statistically speaking, within the department.

The only issue we experienced was troopers with small hands had problems with the double stack grip. For most, it was offset by the reduced recoil, faster follow up shots, and the increased capacity.

On the big side for concealed carry, they were an excellent uniform carry gun, and still are. With so many different designs and construction materials available now, the 92 series is not as popular as it once was, but that does not distract from the fact that if it fits your hand, and you are comfortable with its operating system, it is a great choice that will serve you well.

Larry
 
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I agree with the others that there are better selections today as far as features and functions but ......given the extensive military service of the Beretta 92 (like) pistol, and the fact that it will likely soon be replaced, I almost feel obligated to own at least one. It's like owning a piece of history.

FWIW, I can shoot mine (on the range) as well as any of the other 9's in the stable. True DA triggers can be stiff but replacement of the trigger spring with an "M" version goes a long way towards making it better. ( Like none of us have tinkered with the triggers on our Glocks, M&P.s , etc :-)
 
I got my first Beretta 92 in 1988 .... still have it and a few others....

Reliability has been unsurpassed............

But IMHO the M9 (full size)really is too big for a" civilian/daily carry" 9mm.

My preference is the Compact or the Centurion for a full size carry gun. Both are 3/4 of a inch shorter than the M9.... the Compact is 13+1 and the Centurion can be 15,18,or 20+1..... both can use full size magazines as back-ups .... with a Farrar magazine collar on a full size mag you turn the Compact into an Centurion.

Get the factory D spring for an instant trigger job......... $5

After 25 years I've settled on VZ G-10 grips on my carry guns... for the thinnest/strongest grips.

___________________________________

Three other 9mm's to consider are the

Smith 915.... this is the S&W forum...:D

Browning HP....... still a great gun ....... would be my first choice if I carried cocked and locked

Beretta 92 Compact Type-M the 8+1 single stack version of the 13+1 Compact........ my second favorite Concealed Carry 9mm after the Smith 3913/14 series.
 
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Unique Pistol

I've fired a fair assortment of 9mm pistols and of all that I've fired, the Beretta comes the closest to feeling like the slide is on roller bearings. It shoots really smooth and recoil recovery is easy.

That said, the Beretta was designed as a uniform duty weapon and attempts to CC this baby is, at best, a compromise, even for large individuals.
 
A fan

A couple of years ago, ran across a nice 92FS made/shipped in 1986 for $150. Too good to pass up. CC certainly is out of the question, but despite its large grip, it's great fun, accurate, easy to shoot and absolutely reliable. My BUG for home defense, if I ever empty the 1911. My favorite 9mm; the rest are for a special purpose like CC.
 
Earlier this year I picked up on one of those 92S surplus guns and love it! I realize it's not as refined as later versions but it works for me! ;)
I also own two Beretta Cougars which I did at one time carry the 8040, in general I do like Berettas! :cool:
 
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It all sort of depends on what you want it for and your perspective in owning one.
I think of it as a TOOL rather than a gun I get any particular pride or pleasure from; as such, while it is a bit clunky, it is a serviceable tool and will get the job done.
However, my personal preference is to have guns that I can enjoy as more than just a functioning tool and this is not one of them.
 
An awful big 9mm, but looked upon in the light of 'it's a tool', there's not much wrong with them.

Personally, I absolutely hate a slide-mounted safety. Several years back, I picked up the Taurus version, a used SS PT92, which has a frame mounted safety, ala-1911. Paid $200 and figured I'd mess with it a bit. Couldn't get it to malfunction.
Later, it became a loaner pistol for classes I was teaching. It never failed, regardless of ammo choice over many thousands of rounds. (Yes, a Taurus)

But, my choice in a double stack 9 will probably always be the Browning HP. Near-perfection to me.
 
Old Corp said:
Personally, I absolutely hate a slide-mounted safety.
Click to expand...
I don't know what it is about them, but I agree. They just look so wrong.

I had a 92 for awhile. It was okay, but just didn't fall in love with it. Awfully big and heavy, and while my hands aren't small, they are on the small side of medium.

No recommendations for the CZ yet, so I put mine out there. A CZ-75 SP-1 does everything the 92 will do, and with, I think, less felt recoil due to the low bore axis.
 
BigCityChief said:
Not a bad pistol at all, but I think you'd really like the Beretta 92g, a Beretta/Wilson Combat collaboration that elevates the platform IMO.


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Click to expand...

I would, but after this takes a trip to Wilson, it'll be hand finished with better build quality than the factory Wilson/Beretta guns.
 
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