Beretta 92 (M9, FS, S & others)

[HOUSTON RICK]

Beretta 92 experts, I have been looking at the variations of this pistol and wonder how different the variations really are. I have noticed the Italian (Italian) Police Trade ins, Model 92S, at around $300 that have the European mag release at the bottom of the grips so the magazines are not compatible to the US M9 or model 92FS mags. The 92S online price is roughly half of the cost of the basic M9 or 92FS. I know there are higher end Model 92 type pistols, but I usually collect durable shooters that I try to get at low prices not safe queens or elite versions. Other than the mag inconvenience, how different is the 92S in quality and shooting than the basic M9 or 92FS? Should I save a few more pennies for an M9? Anyone know where I can get a Beretta 92S in Houston at a good price ($300) and avoid the internet? Thank you in advance. Pictures are always nice.

 

[Flattop5]

I have a 92S. The quality is great. Shoots great. It's a very "soft" shooter. I paid about $375.00 for it a few years ago. It was an Italian police/military trade-in.

There are new Beretta magazines that have the "D" cut-out already on them, so magazines for the 92S are no problem. Just make sure that you get the right magazine type.



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[Inusuit]

I am far from a Beretta expert, but I have one of the Italian Police 92S pistols. I purchased mine about two years ago in excellent condition for $299 plus shipping. Might be unissued. Shoots great, dead reliable. I am not a great fan of Berettas but the 92S has been fun at the range.

Extra magazines are available and not terribly expensive. As the OP notes, model specific magazines are required because of the location of the mag release located on the bottom side of the grip. Some sources have magazines that will fit both the 92S and 92FS/M9.

I can't answer the questions about various models. Double the price for a 92FS or M9 isn't attractive to me.

 

[Turn4811]

The M9/92AF does have a weak link in the locking block. I have the original INOX 92AF and the locking block broke when it had about 12k rounds through it. It has just over 40k rounds through it now and I have re-sprung it 4 times and replaced the locking block every time I replace the springs.

I was also on the small arms competition team when I was in the Air Force and had a locking block break in my M9. The M9 had to have the slide cut open as it was so locked up the armorer couldn't get it apart. When I retired back in 04 it was standard practice to re-spring the M9 every 5k rounds and replace the locking block every 10k. The locking block will fail earlier if the gun is fed a steady diet of NATO ammo.

 

[DWalt]

I doubt if the 92S has the slide capture device used on the M9. But I don't know that for sure.

 

[Erich]

I doubt if the 92S has the slide capture device used on the M9. But I don't know that for sure.

You are correct: it does not.

 

[Steve912]

I doubt if the 92S has the slide capture device used on the M9. But I don't know that for sure.

They didn't originally, but many are retrofitted with it. Got mine
from aimsurplus a few years back, and it has the big-head
hammer pin.

BTW, standard 92F, etc mags are easily modded for the 92S catch,
if you're passably workable with a Dremel (or even needle files,
if you're patient).

 

[bigchuck83]

Many factory Beretta 92 series magazines already have the cutout to work with the older 92S pistols. I have some around that have both the 92fs magazine catch cut and the old heel release cut.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I doubt if the 92S has the slide capture device used on the M9. But I don't know that for sure.

That started with the 92FS ....... I still have and carry/shoot my 92F from 1988 without worry.

A few blown slides in the mid-80s on guns that had 1) bad metallurgy on their French made slides , 2)huge SEAL training round count,3) using European sub-machine gun ammo....... or at least those were some of the stories in circulation at the time.

IIRC the 92S has a pretty small front sight.

 

[squidsix]

The 92FS is my bedside gun, and has been for a long time. Like other said, replace the locking block every other recoil spring, and you will be fine. The new locking blocks have radiused cuts and are far less prone to breakage. At Crane weapons, we rejected about 5 out of 100 pistols back to Beretta USA, down from 10 or so from Italy. The Italian ones are always more nicely finished, but we were much more concerned with parts quality and interchangeability.
Here is my favorite (I have three 92 series guns: a plane jane M9, a 92g and this one, a factory 2-tone 92FS converted to single-side G decock only)
This one I drilled out the front sight and epoxied a tritium vial in it. Threaded barrel from EFK. 20-round magazines right off the beretta website.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Sounds like the 92FS is the consensus?

 

[JayFramer]

The 92FS is my bedside gun, and has been for a long time. Like other said, replace the locking block every other recoil spring, and you will be fine. The new locking blocks have radiused cuts and are far less prone to breakage. At Crane weapons, we rejected about 5 out of 100 pistols back to Beretta USA, down from 10 or so from Italy. The Italian ones are always more nicely finished, but we were much more concerned with parts quality and interchangeability.
Here is my favorite (I have three 92 series guns: a plane jane M9, a 92g and this one, a factory 2-tone 92FS converted to single-side G decock only)
This one I drilled out the front sight and epoxied a tritium vial in it. Threaded barrel from EFK. 20-round magazines right off the beretta website.

Surefire makes a light mount adapter that attaches to a 92FS triggerguard. That paired with a light would make the perfect home defense handgun. The suppressor would help mitigate hearing loss damage and the 20 round magazine would provide lots of firepower.

 

[pharmer]

Great guns. I got the SS barrel cheap but it required the "new style" locking block to work. 100% performance from a 100% full size sidearm. Joe

 

[BAM-BAM]

Nice I've always preferred the flush fit barrels.... 4.7 vs 4.9 inches. As found on the Elite models.

IMHO the Centurion with its Compact 4.25 inch upper is what the M9 should have been in the first place.

 

[Stevens]

I have a model 92SB made in 1984. I haven't been able to find online what are the differences between it and a 92S ?
Anybody out there know?
Thanks!
Steve W

 

[squidsix]

The 92s has heel-mounted magazine latch. The SB has the features later found on the FS but with a straight front strap. The 92SB has a beautiful glossy finish, much nicer than the matte finish on the 92F, 92FS, and M9.
The sights are slightly different also.
Holsters, mags, and many parts work from the FS to the SB, but the model 92S had a unique safety.

 

[soonerbb]

I own 5 different models and shoot them all, one of the great things about the 92/96 series is they are interchangeable. I currently shoot a 92FS (9mm) frame with an Inox 96 (40 cal.) upper, no issues what so ever. The locking block issue someone raised was never a factor for civilians. If you want shooters i would recommend two models 92FS Brigadier or the M9...They are great pistols....Best of luck...

 

[Geno44]

I looked at a 92S several years ago at the local gun shop. The sights were very small compared to the later models. They didn't work well for "mature" eyes. I bought a later model with better and bigger sights. The 92S did seem well made.

 

[VaTom]

I have a 1985 92F that I was fortunate to come across at a local auction several years ago. Wasn't in the market for one but glad I bought it. Made in Italy. 1985 was the year the US Military adopted the 92F. The 92FS was the new model designation after the cracked slide stop safety feature was added. The US Military contract specified that the pistols would be Made in the US thus the Beretta factory in USA.

It is a sweet pistol, super smooth, easy to rack, great finish and walnut grips. All 92's made in Italy have a two digit alpha code stamped on the right side trigger guard. Mine is AN signifying 1985.

 

[rockquarry]

I have a 92F that I bought new in 1988. It's been fired a great deal, but probably no more than 1,200 rounds or so has been with jacketed bullets.

It took a long time to work up good cast 9mm loads, but my gun shoots cast bullets at least as accurately as jacketed bullets and they shoot to point-of-aim instead of consistently low like factory ammo.

The Beretta will feed and function just fine with .38 cal. cast SWCs, a use for which it was never intended. I'm not sure you can jam one of these guns.

The Beretta is big, heavy, and actually sort of clunky, but it's accurate and as dependable a handgun as you'll find and I've had a bunch of them in the last fifty years.