Beretta

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

I’ve been reading the forums here for a few months now, and have finally made it around to this section. One of the first things I noticed was the multitude of posts regarding Glock pistols…and hardly any that have to do with Beretta. Among a few other pistols, I have a 96 and love it. My dad has a few Glocks, and I enjoy shooting them, but mentally, I can’t get over the lack of a true safety.

I know Glocks are fantastic firearms, but why no love for Beretta? Please keep this as factual as possible, as it is not my intention to stir the pot.

For the record, I’m not LE, nor do I carry the 96 except to the range. The LCR is my carry weapon.

2

Many are not a fan of the size/weight, slide mounted safety, or the DA/SA trigger. Sight options are also limited on the models with the silly fixed front sight.

They are reliable well built, guns however. I think everyone without a bias acknowledges that. However the big three here (Glock, M&P, P30) do things either the same, or better, and in a more compact package.

I enjoy my 92FS, and have no intentions on selling it. However, my M&P9 is my current go to gun, and the one I spend the most amount of time training and shooting.

Edit

I noticed your location. I doubted I’d ever encounter another user on this sight from Mobile.

Also, I should note that my experience and comments are chiefly with regards to the 92FS/M9. I have no firsthand experience is the 96’s, PX4’s, etc.

3

They are serviceable arms. They are reliable, but not durable. They have their own idiosyncracies in maintenance, training, and deployment, some of which are more significant than their competitors. They are heavy and lack size efficiency, especially as compared to their competitors.

40SW is hard on the 96, especially in volume.

Not a turd, just not a favorite.

4

I have a 92 INOX and I love it. I also have a beater Italian 92 at Robar getting some TLC. I can’t wait until that gun comes back.

So yes, I love Beretta.s they’re great pistols. But I’ll take my HK(s) first.

5

Well, technically, I’m across the bay…but who’s counting.

I agree with what has been posted, especially the weight aspect. If your vehicle’s parking brake ever stops working, you can always throw the 96 on the hood as a paperweight.

6

Skintop, can you explain what you mean when you say the 40SW is rough in volume? Just curious.

7

The .40 round beats the crap out of the 96s, causing all kinds of issues.

I know of a major LE agency that dumped the 96 after only 2-3 years of use due to the constant breakdowns.

8

I have and love a Beretta 92fs. In fact I just put 100 rds through it this evening. Prior to getting my Glock 19, it was my primary HD pistol. In fact, I would still say I shoot it better than my Glock (in single action) but then again I’ve put over 3000 rounds through the Beretta and being new to Glocks, have only fired about 700 rounds with it. I decided to practice more and shift over to the Glock as my primary HD over the Beretta for a couple reasons.

(1) Most important, I don’t want to have to deal with the multiple functions of the Beretta. From the slide safety that may accidentally be engaged if I have to rack the slide to the first HEAVY double action pull when its in ready mode at HD. I train to simply pull the slide on the reload to chamber the round and I have experienced at the range where I accidentally put the gun on safe. The first double action pull at the range can be accurate, but I really have to concentrate on it…reacting to a bad bump in the night…probably not so focused on steady sights and trigger control.
(2) I don’t have the M9A1 (which I think looks kinda fugly), so the weapon mounted light makes the Glock a much better HD gun.
(3) While both guns have run flawlessly, the Beretta definitely requires a bit more TLC after a day of training. Needs a cleaning and a lube after about 300 rds (would run well beyond that as torture tests have shown, but for my peace of mind that’s where I set my cleaning schedule to). The Glock can take a bit more neglect and still be reliable (haha…I still clean it every 300 rds, but if I was really tired after a day at the range and didn’t give it some TLC, I’d still sleep ok)
(4) My weakest point, but IMO is still a point for me. My Beretta, new was a $700 gun. Glock, was new $550. If my gun ever has to do its most important and dreaded duty, it’s going off to the evidence bin destined to have an electric pencil mark it and getting it back would even be a question. The cost of replacing the Glock would be a bit less.

In the end, I love my Beretta. It has given me a relaxing good night’s sleep for the past year and a half. I would have no problems relying on it again. And I can still make 1 ragged hole with it at 15 yards.

9

I’m an AF Security Forces Member aka MP and we dont even use the safty on the M9. We use the decocker when we need to, but we carryw ith a round in the chamber and the safty off.

10

I carried my 92F for years. I had no problems with it. But after I bought my P30. That became my number 1 carry.

11

For me, the slide mounted safety and the difference between first trigger pull (the most important) and the all of the following pulls removed it from the option pool for me.

Note: I came to the M&P line from a steel single action. MY BHP is retired and might be on the chopping block.

12

My recollection is that Beretta introduced refined 92s and 96s at the 2010 SHOT show. I’ve heard nothing about them since. The 96 now has a buffer, I think. Anyone have experience with the latest versions?

13

One of the things that hurts the 92/96 series is the fact that they are big. People with small hands or women can sometimes find them challenging.

14

I have noticed a few comments in the slide safety being an issue. Blackboar touched on it briefly, but could someone please elaborate? I use the safety (when on fire) to rack the slide by wrapping my index finger and “bird” finger on each side of the selector, but I get the feeling that may cause issues.

On a completely different note, Pumpkinheaver, you just gave me a good chuckle. I read your handle and pictured this big man-gorilla holding a pumpkin…then I read your comment. No disrespect intended, as you are correct.

15

The Beretta 92 series is a good gun. Accurate and reliable.

You must remember that guns for some are toys. Nothing wrong with that.

For some, guns are tools. Some are issued their tools, and have no say in the matter. I am in that boat as a LEO. Over the years, I’ve been issued crap (not so much any more, thank God!) Your best option is to train and make due with what you have.

For those who carry their pistols as tools, and have a choice, such as many on this board, they seek the best option available to them.

This is why you will see so many topics and posts about various guns, but not so much about the Beretta. While it is a good gun, there are guns out there that do the same function, but better.

While the Beretta is a functional gun (I own a 92fs, and have no intention of selling it) you can find several guns that are more size efficient, more durable, as accurate or more so, and easier to shoot due to a consistent trigger pull vs. the DA/SA. Guns that come to mind are the Glock 19/17, M&P 9mm, HK P30.

If used for recreational shooting and kept in the nightstand for home protection, the Beretta 92 can serve an individual well, and I would not have issues if it was my only gun in the house for this roll.

But if I had to carry it every day concealed, I feel there are several better options out there. For me, my issued M&P does every thing the Beretta can do, and then some. My personally owned Glock 19 that I’ve carried off duty for over a decade also trumps my beretta for a daily carry gun.

Before all those Beretta owners start burning up the keyboards, yes I am sure you can conceal a Beretta efficiently with the proper holster. But I offer that you could do it even more efficiently with a Glock 19. Both are 15 shot 9mm’s…

16

I have noticed a few comments in the slide safety being an issue.

Most people advocate racking the slide using something similar to this method. It puts the most amount of flesh possible in contact with the slide, helping to prevent slippage. This isn’t me in the photo BTW.

Doing so on the 92FS can result in inadvertently activating the safety. If you’re performing a tap rack bang to quickly bring your weapon back up to operation, engaging the safety isn’t something you want to happen.

Also, the activation and deactivation of the safety is less intuitive than if it were frame mounted. However, I find the 92FS less offensive than some others as the shape and spring assist mean you can deactivate the safety by sweeping your thumb forward and downward.

As far as the trigger goes, dropping in the hammer spring from the DAO models is one of the best things you can do for these.

17

My personal experience with Berettas has been mixed. My first LE duty weapon was an early Italian manufactured 92F. Although it was large, and the sights were not ideal, the finish was beautiful with no rust occurring in use at the Academy and several years of patrol use, the action was very slick, and the mediocre trigger pull had been improved by an LAPD gunsmith. The most impressive characteristic of this pistol was that it was EXTREMELY reliable–there were NO malfunctions in 25,000+ rounds of Winchester and Federal 147gr JHP’s over 5 years. I had a different experience with Beretta’s when I went TAD to a Marine unit which had M9’s. The U.S. made Berettas were far different than the one which I had used at the PD: the finish was horrible, the trigger pull was agonizing and L O N G, the pistols were not accurate, and they were prone to broken parts and rust–in short the U.S. made Berettas were garbage. As can be discovered in many accounts, the M9 has had issues with broken locking blocks and other problems. I also agree with Beat Trash, the Beretta is very large, has poor ergonomics, and limited durability compared to modern, ergonomic 9 mm pistols like the G19, P30, M&P, etc…

As noted above, most of the LE agencies around here that unwisely adopted the 96 had significant durability issues with them, even more so than with the 92F and M9…I think just about every agency has switched to the Glock or M&P.

18

My 92F was Italian made. Build like a tank and fun too shoot. From what I’ve read these are the best Berettas.

19

My fiancé is gonna be pissed at you guys when she finds out I got a new gun. Ha.

In all seriousness, thanks for the productive responses. Ignorance is bliss, and I have been fortunate enough to have never encountered the issues mentioned. However, as I know a large majority of this site uses their weapon for work, it makes sense to not take a gamble when there are so many great options, especially if you are putting your life on the line.

The Beretta sure is sexy, though. Ha.

20

I have been seriously considering the M9A1 but it seems a lot of people would recommend something else over the Beretta, so I have been hesitant. The dealer I use has a few in stock for $640, but I haven’t pulled the trigger on it yet. I hate to spend that kind of money and then not be happy with it.

I am in the market for a full size 9mm as I have several compact 9mm and .40 pistols.