Taurus PT 92 / 99
- Thread starter Ron In MD
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2012
- Messages
- 4,642
- Reaction score
- 7,865
The old "made on Beretta Machinery" is bogus at this point. If they are still using 40+ year old machinery I don't want one. That tooling wore out long ago . But I do believe there was a transfer of institutional knowledge that has stuck around to this day, and improved upon.
Taurus gets a bad rap. I have a theory about this. Inexperienced shooters tend to buy inexpensive guns. These are the folks least equipped to deal with even small issues. Inexpensive guns are for experts. They can deal with the issues and if there's any performance to be had out of it, they'll find it. I have a few. A couple of 9mm's (PT809 and PT 911) and a .380 (PT 638). The .380 is a hoot. All have been reliable. Especially the PT 809. Less than $300 for an 18 round gun with a spare mag and grip inserts. I've shot every kind of ammo through it, including thousands of lead bullet reloads from 115gr to 147gr and it's never failed. The trigger is pretty awful though.
The inexperienced should buy the best gun possible. It's hard enough to learn how to shoot a handgun, it's a huge distraction to have to deal with problems.
Taurus gets a bad rap. I have a theory about this. Inexperienced shooters tend to buy inexpensive guns. These are the folks least equipped to deal with even small issues. Inexpensive guns are for experts. They can deal with the issues and if there's any performance to be had out of it, they'll find it. I have a few. A couple of 9mm's (PT809 and PT 911) and a .380 (PT 638). The .380 is a hoot. All have been reliable. Especially the PT 809. Less than $300 for an 18 round gun with a spare mag and grip inserts. I've shot every kind of ammo through it, including thousands of lead bullet reloads from 115gr to 147gr and it's never failed. The trigger is pretty awful though.
The inexperienced should buy the best gun possible. It's hard enough to learn how to shoot a handgun, it's a huge distraction to have to deal with problems.
I know Taurus' early revolvers looked really crude in terms of finish. The cylinder flutes featured grooves, similar to what you often see on sight ribs. Trigger pulls were sometimes reported to be very stiff. I think this contributed much to the poor reputation.
My PT92C is one of my favorite semi autos. I prefer the frame mounted safety/de-cocker over the slide mounted Beretta style. The only negative aspect is finding magazines is difficult, although I have a few. The other negative aspect is finding aftermarket grips. I'd love to find a pair of G10 grips, but seems no manufacturer ever made them for this model.
Jim PHL
Member
Back in the mid-80's the first NIB gun I ever bought myself was a PT99AF. ("Brazilian Berretta"). For a few years it was my only gun. Traded it in on something smaller when I got my first carry permit but I never had a lick of trouble with it. Reliable, accurate and well-finished. Can't speak to what's happened at Taurus since then but that was a great gun.
LVSteve
Member
Now there's a gun (PT 638) you almost never hear about, but I would wager it shoots soft and is easy to rack. The Sig P250 models in 380 certainly are. New or used examples are like hens teeth. I know, because I've been looking for a cheap one for my wife's buddy how has the hands of a 12-year old. Maybe I should find her a CPX-3 instead. Anyway, it strikes me that S&W didn't start the "EZ" thing at all.
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2012
- Messages
- 4,642
- Reaction score
- 7,865
For what it's worth, as far as I know the PT638 is the only polymer frame, double stack, striker fired, locked breech .380 ever made.
It is a very soft shooter and an excellent gun to introduce shooters to centerfire. They are hard to find, and the magazines are even harder to find. The guns pop up on gunbroker a couple of times a year. If you ever get one and need mags, let me know.
I really like double stack .380s. But most are blowback. That's not a problem for me but for sensitive shooters any big locked-breech .380 is as easy as they come.
Echo40
Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2017
- Messages
- 4,069
- Reaction score
- 7,912
I know the thread is a month old now, but seeing as I just ordered a PT92 AFS online, I figured that I'd bump it with my two ¢s on the subject...
As of this month, I've been shopping online for a Beretta 96A1, (i.e. the latest variation of the Beretta 92 series, chambered in .40 S&W) but unfortunately I was unable to find one anywhere, and think that Beretta may have actually quietly discontinued it, or at least has throttled down production substantially.
However, during my search, I found the Taurus PT92 AFS (i.e. Taurus' latest variation of the 92 series with a a Stainless Steel Slide/Barrel on a mirror polished Aluminum frame) online. I've always sort of favored the PT92 over the 92FS because of the frame mounted safety, but in recent years have been more attracted to the Beretta since Taurus discontinued the .40cal PT100 several years ago, whereas the 96A1 remained in production, at least recently.
The PT92 AFS was readily available — unlike the 92/96A1 — and was priced about $275 less. Having some personal experience with Taurus, being an owner of a Judge Magnum, and having family members who own Taurus brand firearms as well which have given them no problems, I have no particular concerns over the reliability of the PT92, especially considering that it is based on a Beretta design.
Sure, a Beretta would carry its value better than a Taurus, but seeing as I have no intention of selling it, that's no concern of mine either.
Once I have received my PT92, I'll post my impressions of it, but I very much doubt that I'll be disappointed.
As of this month, I've been shopping online for a Beretta 96A1, (i.e. the latest variation of the Beretta 92 series, chambered in .40 S&W) but unfortunately I was unable to find one anywhere, and think that Beretta may have actually quietly discontinued it, or at least has throttled down production substantially.
However, during my search, I found the Taurus PT92 AFS (i.e. Taurus' latest variation of the 92 series with a a Stainless Steel Slide/Barrel on a mirror polished Aluminum frame) online. I've always sort of favored the PT92 over the 92FS because of the frame mounted safety, but in recent years have been more attracted to the Beretta since Taurus discontinued the .40cal PT100 several years ago, whereas the 96A1 remained in production, at least recently.
The PT92 AFS was readily available — unlike the 92/96A1 — and was priced about $275 less. Having some personal experience with Taurus, being an owner of a Judge Magnum, and having family members who own Taurus brand firearms as well which have given them no problems, I have no particular concerns over the reliability of the PT92, especially considering that it is based on a Beretta design.
Sure, a Beretta would carry its value better than a Taurus, but seeing as I have no intention of selling it, that's no concern of mine either.
Once I have received my PT92, I'll post my impressions of it, but I very much doubt that I'll be disappointed.
Similar threads
