There is nothing wrong with a 9 mm. Nothing wrong with a chevy nova either. You can put something under the hood that has some kick with both of them
So… is the Beretta M9 still the Worst?
- Thread starter Glenn R. McMannly
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After six pages, it's easy to see this is not really a very worthwhile thread, like many others. Perhaps this originated solely for the sake of argument which seems to be a competitive sport for many these days. I'm guilty also as I participated.
I am not a huge fan of the 226 or the 220 but we had deputies who carried them both (in fact one was involved in a shooting with a 220 - it worked just fine!) and I must say the only ones I ever saw choke were a 226 that the officer had not lubed (it actually squeaked when you ran the slide - easy fix) and my own 220 which I loaned to a friend who took it to the state academy (because they would not let him shoot his actual duty gun a 1911) and he broke the trigger bar - that too was an easy fix. All the 220/226 series guns we had ran good and shot good!
Just because I don't particularly like them doesn't mean they are not a good gun - my experience with the M9 tells me it is a pretty poor design for a military gun, but so long as they are not broke they do tend to run. Sort of hard to shoot and the AMU had a heck of time making them match worthy but they managed.
They may not be as accurate as some other guns but I was still able to pass the Army Rifle Qual (barely) with one - it was much easier with a clapped out 1911a1 built in 1943!
It would be way down on my list of guns to carry...but it would be on the list (about 20 positions behind a S&W Model 10
- OK that is unfair it might acutally be higher on the list 
).YMMV and likey does! That is fine!
Riposte
That's nice to hear the good report on the P220. I bought one of them from a gun shop/first responder equipment store over in Coatesville, PA that had acquired a bunch of them from the Connecticut State Police. It was a great deal and mine seemed to shoot pretty well for me.
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The 220 is certainly among my favorite .45s. I've had a 226 and 220 for many years. I'm not a 9mm disciple, but if I had to choose one, it would be between the the Beretta 92 or Sig 226. My guns have been shot a good deal almost exclusively with cast bullet handloads. Both have been accurate and trouble free.
For those with a need to criticize, please do so but only if you've had adequate experience with the 220 and/or 226 , at least a thousand rounds or more with each gun and can point out the shortcomings you experienced.
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The best and most cost effective upgrade to the 92 is replacing the hammer spring with the Beretta "D" spring, $9 from Beretta. This spring came stock in the DAO versions and noticeably improves the DA pull.
It is also simple to install.
It is also simple to install.
squidsix
Member
Border Patrol found after an enormous amount of shooting that the trigger spring could fail, leaving you with a dead pistol. If you have an early 92 series with the older trigger spring, I recommend swapping. Border patrol switched to a unit from Wolff that replaced the trigger spring with a more robust assembly, but I found it kinda ruined the feel of the trigger press, for me.
New chrome silicone springs solved the problem.
Of note: In my 24 years in the USN working on untold thousands of M9 pistols, I never saw a broken trigger spring. I think Crane used a better part in them when they shipped to Fleet units.
New chrome silicone springs solved the problem.
Of note: In my 24 years in the USN working on untold thousands of M9 pistols, I never saw a broken trigger spring. I think Crane used a better part in them when they shipped to Fleet units.
Sal1950
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I believe slide breakage issue started to raise it's head in the 40 cal 96s. The stock slide just wasn't up to the power of the 40 for heavy usage. I have a Taurus PT92 that I've put like a jillion 9mm rounds thru, broke 2 locking blocks till I replaced it with the latest Beretta updated one, slide takes a lickin and keeps on tickin. I also own a Beretta Brigadier 96 INOX with it's stainless steel heavy duty slide which I know will never crack.
Guess I'll be in the minority and talk against the M9. My was issued one about a week before deployment to Desert Storm. We had one range trip before deployment to test our new sidearms. I found the firearm "ass heavy" and slower on follow up shots over the 1911. Accuracy…similar to a shotgun using buckshot. I'll admit that my previous experience was primarily with 1911 firearms. Realizing the Army wasn't providing the volume of shooting I believed necessary for a combat soldier, I engaged in IPSC/USPSA handgun competitions. I can honestly say in all the years I competed, I did not see a M9/92 at any matches. I eventually saw Glocks in the later years, but no Berettas. You will not find an M9/92 on my arsenal, not willing to give up space for my 1911s.
The three on the right were my carry on my last deployment in 2003, before I became a "CONTRACTOR" the rest belonged to the SAS I was with.. The M-9 was because I had a suppressor for it, but the first time I tried to use it in Cyprus, it failed. The 1911 was rebuilt by me (I did 25 of them with new barrels, Night Sights, springs, and match bushings for the unit). The M-14 (W/selector) was my primary and worked well..
Sal1950
Member
I loved the M-14. I grew up shooting my Dads M1 at the range with him. When I enlisted in 1968 the M14 was still what we trained with in Basic. When I next went to Infantry 11B10 AIT and they handed me my first M16 I thought, what's this plastic POS, never could grow to love them. In Nam I first bought a M1Carbine from a ARVN for a couple bucks and later got a M3 Grease Gun, again from an ARVN. I would carry at least 2 of them at all times. Greaser stowed in my rucksac with no problem.
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I much prefer the .45 ACP cartridge over the 9mm, but as guns go, I like the Beretta and the 1911. I don't think you're in a minority.
VaTom
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One positive feature of the Beretta 92 that has not been mentioned in the thread is the chrome lined barrel specified by the Military. Supposed to help with cleaning and rust/pitting resistance, as well as longevity. On the Italian made ones the chrome lining is easily visible as it extends to the crown of muzzle.
Don't know if the new Sig military pistol has it. Anyone know?
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Don't know if the new Sig military pistol has it. Anyone know?
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The real differences are probably slight at best. "Experts" claim accuracy with non-chrome-lined barrels is better in ARs. Whether there is truth in that statement is unknown to me.
Paul01223
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IMHO the M9 was always an outstanding handgun. Sure it had issues but a lot of these issues involved extreme use which was fixed in the FS version of the 92 and aftermarket Checkmate magazines. At the end of the day it was a worthy successor to the 1911.
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I will also vouch for the problems encountered with the Beretta 96. I was the firearms instructor and armorer for our police department. We adopted the Model 96 in the early 1990's when police agencies everywhere were going to the 40S&W. After a couple years service we began experiencing broken locking blocks on these duty weapons. At that time the guns probably had only a couple thousand rounds through them. As I later discovered, other agencies were having the same issues. Beretta was in a hurry to market a 40 cal to law enforcement( which was the trend in police weapons) and shoe horned it into the Model 92 platform without adequate testing. The irritating part of the story was that Beretta officials denied knowledge of this problem( can anyone say Sig) which I confirmed was a lie. Long story short, we dumped the 96 and went to Glock. The Glocks provided excellent service for years.
So that's my rant!
LVSteve
Member
The question of chrome lined versus unlined barrels and the effects on accuracy comes up from time to time. I have yet to see full scientific comparison of two rifles or pistols where the lining as the only difference.
I have also read that chrome lined ARs are not as accurate as those with plain barrels. Then again if you want an accurate SKS, you buy a Chinese one which does have a chrome lining. I've never seen the Yugo SKS (plain barrel) praised for its accuracy, so there are a lot more factors at play than just the presence or absence of chrome.
I'm a Beretta fan. I like the M9A4 a whole lot. I've tricked up my Beretta pistols with Wilson Combat parts. I carried a HiPower every day for 13 years, so transitioning to a DA/SA was a treat!
My preference is DA/SA for safety reasons. Of course, my first pistol was a revolver. So, shots could be single action, or double. The CZ75 variants are great, too. Lately, I have enjoyed the CZ75 D PCR. It's a compact 9mm version that was made for the police force of the Czech Republic.
I never trusted a striker fired pistol enough to put it inside my waist band until the Bodyguard 2.0 which is available with a manual safety. I might buy a Shield after my positive experience with the Bodyguard 2.0.
The Sig P320 etal should have had a blade safety (like a Glock) AND a manual safety lever. To have a pre-cocked action like the P320 invites unexpected discharges.
Military pistols and LEO pistols are all subject to the most demanding conditions. One can never predict what the circumstances will be.
Another factor is maintenance. Rough handling, high use, part replacement, and daily carry are all things that must be considered.
We have put a pistol in the hands of non-gun raised kids, and expected perfect results.
My preference is DA/SA for safety reasons. Of course, my first pistol was a revolver. So, shots could be single action, or double. The CZ75 variants are great, too. Lately, I have enjoyed the CZ75 D PCR. It's a compact 9mm version that was made for the police force of the Czech Republic.
I never trusted a striker fired pistol enough to put it inside my waist band until the Bodyguard 2.0 which is available with a manual safety. I might buy a Shield after my positive experience with the Bodyguard 2.0.
The Sig P320 etal should have had a blade safety (like a Glock) AND a manual safety lever. To have a pre-cocked action like the P320 invites unexpected discharges.
Military pistols and LEO pistols are all subject to the most demanding conditions. One can never predict what the circumstances will be.
Another factor is maintenance. Rough handling, high use, part replacement, and daily carry are all things that must be considered.
We have put a pistol in the hands of non-gun raised kids, and expected perfect results.
One of my guys, who was issued an used 92F had the trigger spring break while we were qualifying at the range.
I installed Wolff trigger springs in both my M9's several years ago (one less thing to worry about).
I own several Beretta 92's in varying configurations and most of them have D springs installed.
