Opinions on Beretta 92FS Brigadier 9mm

[Florida Guy]

About to buy one of these in the Inox style (stainless barrel and coated frame).
Would like any feedback from present or past owners and how they liked/disliked this gun.

The Brig comes with the Hogue finger groove grips which I have on other guns and really like.
I can buy a "standard" 92FS Inox for about $100 less than the Brig version,
which gives me a heftier barrel, and the Hogues.

I would end up buying new grips anyway, so figure I may as well buy them on the gun.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Looks like night sights.....................the barrel is not heavier... just the reinforced slide.........and also allows front sights to be changed.

I've got the EliteII with the Brig slide and 4.7" barrel vs 4.9 as pictured...... my favorite Beretta at the range or for gaming.

Prefer the Compact or Centurion for EDC!

Switch out the hammer spring for a Factory D spring for a better trigger...... note; Wilson Combat has other springs for range/game guns.

Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat is a big fan ....... and has had Beretta build 2 special runs of 92s; one a Brig which he sales for $1300IIRC

 

[ToddG]

Meh. Big and heavy. And you'd better have some big hands to wrap around the grip. I had one for awhile. Sold it to someone with smaller hands. Go figure. A poor man's Deagle without the big bore? Not that big, but sometimes felt like it.

 

[sigp220.45]

I have the standard 92 and 96, but I would love to have a Brigadier! Very nice, I bet it shoots great.

 

[Florida Guy]

Meh. Big and heavy. And you'd better have some big hands to wrap around the grip. I had one for awhile. Sold it to someone with smaller hands. Go figure. A poor man's Deagle without the big bore? Not that big, but sometimes felt like it.

I have big hands which is one of the reasons I want one.
A friend has one and told me it should be really nice in my hand.

 

[lebomm]

This is a new one on me ! I had thought the Brigadier was a single-stack 9mm w/mag catch at lower left rear as copied by Helwan. Not so?

Larry

 

[ContinentalOp]

I have a regular Beretta 92FS and love it. I got mine over 20 years ago. Most reliable gun I've ever owned and I tend to shoot it better than anything else despite being on the large side for my small-medium hands.

I don't have the Brigadier, but the feature I like most is that interchangeable front sight. The 92FS front sight is integral with the slide. My 92FS has a dead tritium insert in the front sight. From what I've researched, I'm basically stuck with it. Since the rear sights are dead, too, and I've developed a preference for plain black sights, I just went over them with a black Sharpie.

I should note that the only gun I've been able to shoot as well as my 92, and was equally reliable, was an old 4" HB S&W Model 10.

 

[ContinentalOp]

This is a new one on me ! I had thought the Brigadier was a single-stack 9mm w/mag catch at lower left rear as copied by Helwan. Not so?

Larry

The Helwan Brigadier is as you described. Beretta came out with a modified version of the 92FS some years ago, I can't remember exactly when, with an interchangeable front sight and reinforced slide (those little bumps by the ejection port).

 

[Spleenless Dave]

I really like that Brigadier! If you like it, I'd say go for it. I'm definitely a Beretta fan, as you can see.

 

[joeintexas]

I'd say go for it. I have the 92fs Inox and shooting it is a joy, smooth action, light recoil and very accurate. Also, easy to clean and maintain. Lots of grips available also.

 

[Wee Hooker]

IMHO. given it's longstanding place in US military history, everybody should have a 92/ 9m in their collection. Looks like you've picked a nice one.

 

[BAM-BAM]

This is a new one on me ! I had thought the Brigadier was a single-stack 9mm w/mag catch at lower left rear as copied by Helwan. Not so?

Larry

IIRC..............................

the "Helwan"/ Beretta's Model 951 was a single action / single stack Beretta from the 1950s..... most common imports were old Egyptian army guns built in Egypt under contract with Beretta........ most were only dropped once.

safety was an awkward push button cross bolt at the top of the grip.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

IMHO. given it's longstanding place in US military history, everybody should have a 92/ 9m in their collection. Looks like you've picked a nice one.

^^^THIS^^^

Big pistol, yes...but the action is silky smooth and shooting it sooo nice.

 

[BE Mike]

I owned a 92FS Brigadier which I had accurized. I now own a standard 92FS. The extra weight is good for shooting and as has been stated, the dovetailed front sight is a big plus. The only things I don't care for in the Beretta 92FS is the standard double-action (double/single) and that the safety works opposite of what it should. If I could find a decent 92D (double action only), I'd trade my 92FS off for it.

 

[ContinentalOp]

The only things I don't care for in the Beretta 92FS is the standard double-action (double/single) and that the safety works opposite of what it should.

Aside from the DA/SA issue, you can manipulate the 92FS safety the same as you would on a 1911. The biggest difference is that you may have to flag your thumb a little higher. I attached a picture showing how (not mine, I found it on the interwebs). The lever is spring-loaded so all you have to do is nudge the lever off the detent. That's how I work the safety lever. While I keep my 92 ready with the safety off, I still use this thumb motion to make sure the safety is off when picking up the gun (I don't carry it...yet) or after performing a slide manipulation (reload, malfunction clearance, etc.). My thumbs are relatively short and I can do this move. Of course, not everybody has the hand/thumb architecture to do this, but it may be worth giving it a try.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Beretta offers a $50 kit to make the safety decocker only...... automaticly flips back to off safe..............

 

[Rolling]

Had a 92FS M9A1, traded it for a CZ 75 SP-01 and never looked back. I wouldn't buy another Beretta. They look nice and function well, but I do not find them extremely accurate and every one I have come across has a lot of play in the slide. I do not have small hands, but I have to adjust my grip to access the slide release and decocker/safety on the full size Beretta's. Just doesn't work for me, but plenty of other people seem to be happy with their Beretta's.

 

[kraynky]

My 92FS is also one of my most accurate handguns. I did replace the hammer spring with a D spring, and it helps the double action pull a good bit. However, they make the hammer release lever out of plastic or poly something, and mine broke within the first 200 rounds. I bought a metal one when I bought the D spring. I have a Beretta CX4 Storm that uses the same magazines, so I'll be keeping it around for a long time.

 

[crazyphil]

My 92FS in a slide, with Hogue Camo-Lamo stocks. It's the only 9mm
I kept, so you might say I like it. No Brig, but I like it just the same.