I need help, I am on the fence about which semi auto pistol do I want. I'm down to the S&W 6906 and the Beretta 92FS, might consider a compact. Anyway, I'm in NJ so carrying ability isn't really part of the equation but I might one day live in a more friendly place.
I've been a revolver guy mostly and own only one semi, a little Clot model N.
I love the S&W products but the Beretta ain't too shabby either.
Help push me in the right direction.
Thanks

I've fired both and when I had a chance bought a 6906. So far I've had no second thoughts about that decision. I will say that I think the 92 series are easier to repair but that is probably because I was trained on repairing them when I went through armourers school at Ft. Lee. When I purchased the 6906 I replaced the recoil spring, at the suggestion of people here. A part that S&W sent me for free by the way.

I have always thought the Beretta was too big to be a 9mm. I prefer the Smith.

The 92FS is a fine firearm but for me the 6906 is the way to go. Mine has been flawless with any ammunition I've run through it. Also easily concealed which is why I bought it, though you don't have that consideration at this time. The knowledge of SW third gen pistols is boundless on this forum. I don't know if this is true for Beretta. Of course I may be a bit biased.

Both are fine. I have a 96D in .40 caliber. The issue of size is valid I think. I would get the S&W.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Have shot both and I do own a 6906. Have put a lot of rounds through my 6906 and its dependable and reasonably accurate. FWIW the Smith will take 15 round mags from its larger brother if that means anything to you. I carry it with the 12 stocker as it’s more concealable and have the 15 as a backup/spare. The spare does leave a little gap below the grip. (no big deal to me)

As NYS has its own ASB in place my mags are provable purchased before the law went into place.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I can't comment on the 6906. But I've had a 92FS for many years and really like it. It's had ZERO failures of ANY kind, ever. The comments about size are valid.

That said, just yesterday I came into a M&P9c (topic for another thread). Never thought I would intentionally own a 'black gun' but this thing is starting to grow on me...

I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

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But then, what do I know?

That's the advice I was hoping for, S&W 6906 it is. Thanks for the push. Stand by for a range report in the coming weeks.

They are both fine/excellent but I was gonna say forget both and Get a CZ 75, it will out shoot both of them.

"But of course it's you not the gun" ( A past thread)

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Still Running Against the Wind

First, I would consider a 5906
I think, albeit almost the same
as a 6906.....a better of the two.
A 92 Beretta is larger.....but an impeccable
firearm..... a shooter and an impressive
track record for being so.
I own both....and would not even begin
to compare them......if having to choose
between the two.
Having a 5906.....I've never needed ....
or ever thought of needing....a 6906.
[but if you would give me one.....]
edit:
speaking of the 92 Beretta......
slap me up side the head.....go on, do it....
you die-hards......
Taurus version of the Beretta 92 is made in the
Beretta factory....in Brazil......and has also...
an impeccable track record for/with almost
NO malfunctory[if that's a word] history...
a proven, dependable, reliable weapon.
Yep, had one for sometime......shooter !
Back to S&W.....a 5906 can be found...
very inexpensive, and with different sight
configurations .....
A somewhat 'heavy' gun for it's size.....and solid !!!
Own one....it's a keeper.
My $.07.........get both, or all three, you will be happy.

I've got a 9mm 92 Centurion and a 6906. For shooting the 92 has the edge. I been carrying this since 1994, flawless performance in a compact package. Joe.

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I prefer the trigger of the Beretta.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

I have not owned a S&W 6906 for a few years, but did have this S&W 469 until a few years ago. The size, weight, and accuracy of these guns is fine for self defense work. The 6906 does have the advantage of being able to change both the front and rear sights easily.


I have owned four Beretta 92F & FS series guns. This Inox is my last. I like them, but there are more compact choices for concealed carry. I did have a Galco CM202 belt holster that worked great with my first Beretta 92F. I now use a Don Hume J.I.T. belt slide.



The safeties and triggers are basically the same on both guns. Mine all shot about the same (for me), not that I am the greatest handgun shooter. The overall size will be the determining factor for you.

The East meets the West and agrees. Although I don't own either, have shot the Beretta and really like the overall looks of them.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

I wasn't going to bring up the Taurus', but since they were mentioned above I will.

I have a PT99 and a PT101. Comparing them to their Beretta counterparts the quality of material and craftmaship, at the time I bought them, was quite noticable. My Sgt. carried a Taurus PT92 and had malfuntions with it quite often, but after shooting it and watching him shoot it I determined it was a combination of him not keeping it properly maintained and using magazines that had several metal burrs on the feed lips. I went with the Taurus over the Beretta for one reason, the safety is mounted on the frame and not the slide and can be used as either a hammer drop or like a single action and cocked and locked.

The wife has a 69X6, not sure what the number is but it's DA only, that she carried as a LEO. I like the full size of the Taurus, even for a 9mm, and the safety, again. But if size was that important to me I'd probably go for the 69X6.

Whichever of the two shoots better than the other may be determined by the shooter. Herewith my experience:

I have shot the 92. It was fine, and most certainly acceptable as a duty gun. That said, I consider it too big for the 9mm ctg. By the same line of reasoning that makes it less than practical as a concealed carry pistol. Possible of course, but in my view just too large.

I own a 6906. I got started with the second generation version, the 467. This pistol had been seized by our department. At the close of the case, the court awarded the pistol to our department. At the time this all happened our department was in the transition from revolvers to pistols. Our issue revolver for uniform carry was the 4" S&W 686; for plain detectives and command staff it was the 2.5" S&W 66. During this period I was offered the 467 as a carry gun. i decided to test it first. To begin with, it was completely reliable. The double stack grip fit my large hand better than any revolver or pistol I had ever shot (the key I think). I thought this pistol would be ideal for carry (I was admin), except the action was something north of terrible. Despite knowing I could never own the pistol, on my own dime I had my local gunsmith do an action job. He did an amazing job.

Then, using that compact little pistol, I shot nothing below a perfect score on our qualification course. That was even better than I did with the 686, despite years of PPC competition. Some of my other deputies in the patrol division carried the Beretta 92. They could not come near me. I had long been one of the best shots in the department, but that small, lightweight pistol with a 3" bbl made me the top gun in the department. Given how much I liked the 686 (I had engineered the move to them) I was as surprised as anyone else. But targets tend to be truthful. Besides my scores, subjectively I felt I was not working as hard on the course. It all seemed easier with the 467.

Alas, all good things end. Our department decided to issue the full size Glock in .40 S&W caliber. By this time I was so dialed in with the feel of semi-auto, I was able to continue my record. The day I walked out retired I was still the departmental top gun.

But it had all started with the 467. That pistol was so great I decided to get the then-current third generation, the 6906. The action on this one was far better than on the 467, but I still had my 'smith do his same magic. The outcome was identical, except now it was mine.

Now back in the day when all this was happening, I was already outshooting everybody, some of those including Beretta 92s. Had someone carrying a CZ, Colt Gold Cup, etc, etc, challenged me on the qualification course I would have gladly accepted the challenge. That pistol and my hands were just made to go together.

I think S&W hit it out of the ball park with the 6906 and its predecessor.

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Release the Kraken

I've had a Beretta for about thirty-five years and have shot it a lot, mostly with cast bullets. It's big and heavy but this makes it a joy to shoot, if shooting was on your priority list. Also quite accurate. I've never been a great 9mm enthusiast and seldom shoot mine anymore. The Beretta is also a very safe gun and there's no drawbacks to a single action/ double action design.

I wonder if the OP has made a decision yet?

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

It takes some people a long time to make a decision.

He hasn't logged on in 4 years.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

In the middle 1990s my current agency's issue service pistol was the S&W Model 6906. The thinking was the Model 6906 could be carried as a duty and off duty weapon. The agency was having a number of OIS and the "Perks" shot was living. Then the agency was Model 4506s. I don't recall anyone carrying the Model 4506 off duty.

Well, the OP said he was stuck in New Jersey. Maybe he was unable to escape to a Free State. Very sad.

Those Jersey Turnpike tolls are brutal.n

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Sure you did

Or as we used to call it when our son lived there "The Tollbooth State."

My wife used to joke that we should put together a "Scenic Toll Booths of New Jersey" calendar. At least I think it was a joke.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

First get the right Beretta 92! The 92 Compact is now a 15+1 gun with Mec-gar mags. The Centurion is 17/18+1 full size frame matted to a Compact
4.25" slide/barrel....... 3/4"shorter than the M-9

Just carried my PC-Shorty-9 [6906] this morning in a Milt Sparks Executive Companion 12+1 with spare 15rd mag w/+2 adopter 17/20 rd Mec-gar mags available.

The 92 Compact and the 69xx guns are IMO both "small duty size guns" not really "compact guns"; but both can easily be carried concealed.

Post 2000 Beretta's have radiused backstraps, short triggers are available, G/decocker kits are available and they can take ultra thin G-10 grips

Both are great guns and will serve one well for decades!!

I've had both since the late 80s.

For zombie threads I prefer my 92... although after I put thinner grips short reach trigger and less power springs. Now it shoots like a machine and my wife with baby hands can shoot it!

I liked RetCapt’s story about his 469 (I presume) and 6906. I always had a hard time with my 6906 but never had access to anyone who could tune it, so I blame the crunchy action. Can’t say I could ever see much use for the 92FS, but back in its hey day we shot them a lot. My experience with mine was generally disappointing. It shot better with .357” jacketed bullets than with regular 9mm bullets.

He got the 6906:

6906 reassembly difficulty

Hope everything worked out for him. Thread closed.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220