Going back years (decades, actually), one of the familiar knocks against the M9/92 series was “it’s just too damn big for a 9mm”. Fast forward to 2015, and is this still seen as an issue with the M9?
Too big how?
Grip? I don’t find it to be too big, fits my hand in the standard configuration well. And while I do not have massive hands I can reach and actuate all the controls, including the safety without issue. if you have small hands it may be an issue.
Width? Maybe a bit, but not unmanageable.
Height? About the same of most full sized service type pistols.
Length? Okay, it is long, but length isn’t something that makes concealment a huge issue, generally that is width and height of the grip so again not that much worse than a lot of other options. Also, with the addition of weapon lights I think this argument and width are pushed to the side by some.
To me, for a full sized service pistol that is carried in an OWB type holster, or retention type duty holster I do not find it to be a massive pistol, if anything the size makes shooting it fast and accurate very easy and will generally say the M9/92 series is underrated for what it is. Also, something that is worth noting, for a range gun I find women will take to shooting my 92 over the smaller glocks in 9mm because it is very soft shooting, easy to shoot, and the size is not something of an issue. Now for concealed carry it is not ideal, but can be done, but again not ideal.
I have short-wide hands, and I learned on a M9. Maybe that makes it easier for me, I don’t know. I have never had an issued with them as long as they didn’t break…but that’s another topic.
It is a full sized service pistol with excellent reliability, accuracy, and little recoil.
The lack of a dovetailed front sight is horribly outdated.
Ergonomics are not optimal.
It does have an above average grip size that a percentage of shooters find too large. The newer radius in the back strap ameliorates this, and should be the norm in my opinion. Even better are the EII and M9A1, etc. frames with this radius and also checkering and beveled magwell. The Vertec frame makes it even smaller, but I do not prefer it.
The magazine release is very “stubby”
and much better options are available.
The slide mounted safety was dictated. A frame mounted safety/decocker would have been better ergonomically.
That and the SIG were excellent choices for a NATO round service pistol at the time it was adopted. I do not dislike them.
Im a tall, bigger fella and Ive NEVER thought it too big. I CC’d mine for years. Love the gun still.
I am average size. And weight
5ft9 and 185. I find that the 92 conceals fairly easy with an old Blade Tech IWB holster I have for it. It’s not as easy as my Glock 19 but it wasn’t to bad.
I do like the Beretta a lot. I am looking at those 92G-SD very tempting
I challenge people who make such complaints to put a 1911 and a Beretta side by side.
Personally I don’t think the grip is too fat. Likewise I don’t think the Sig is any “better”. A double stack 45 has quite a girthy grip in comparison to the Beretta. I think the hate just comes from people wanting to be different.
That said, the Vertec grip felt soooo good
I’ve been shooting the 92 for years and I have owned several. For the short time I didn’t have one I kept my mags because I knew I would getting another. The 92 is my full size service pistol of choice. Used to carry one but now I carry something a little smaller and lighter.
High quality magazines are inexpensive and plentiful.
I must confess to also being one of the unwashed heathen. Received this the other day from Bud’s. Now I must go repent…
You are not helping me not buy a new one.
Maybe the Easter bunny will leave me one
I don’t know how that problem could be anything but subjective. If you have small hands then maybe? I don’t think they’re any bigger than sigs or glocks?
I find them to be very comfy, accurate, and reliable. The safety and lack of front dovetail is annoying but If I had to pick a da/sa I’d pick it over anything. Not a fan of da/sa but I certainly wouldn’t feel at a disadvantage with one. It’s scary how accurate they can be.
For me, I have to remember not to “power stroke” the 92FS/M9s when changing mags and charging the gun. Doing so means you could easily hit the safety and have a pistol that is de-cocked and on safety. In a heated moment…that might be very unsettling.
Besides that, the M9 is a very low recoiling pistol that is pretty reliable. Swap the hammer spring for the “D” spring and the thing becomes damn nice if you ask me.
With the right clothes choices and holster…yeah…I could hide the M9 if I chose to carry one. Yeah it is a tad big and heavy but the low recoil and long sight radius are plusses for dealing with its weight and thickness.
So overall…I think it is a mixed bag. Not optimal but very far from terrible. Makes a great open carry ranch pistol or range gun.
I wear a medium mechanix glove. I think the M9 is a hair big for what I was asking of the one I had. I can dress around a G19 but really couldn’t the 92. Not without changing my entire wardrobe(Maybe I could have if I experimented with holsters more). The controls were a bit hard to get to as well but nothing insane or out of the norm for my hands… All that said, man it was a smooth gun. Slide felt like it was on ball bearings, soft shooting, accurate. I will own one again but I won’t buy until I can get either some wilson love or a steel elite model. It is down there on the list though.
I keep looking at Grant’s site… A 92FS for $499 is a pretty darn good deal, I’ve been talking myself in and out of one for the past couple of days. I had a commercial version of a M9 a few years back, and sold it for some needed cash. I had installed a “D” spring in it, and I remember the DA pull was pretty good, very useable, I regret selling it, I’m torn between buying a 92FS from Grant, or maybe seeing if he could get a 92A1… I can’t make up my mind… The fact that mags are dirt cheap (15-17rnd Beretta factory mags from Midway, $19.99 each) isn’t helping either… And, as I recall a “D” spring isn’t very expensive… Hmmm, what to do…
Without a doubt the Beretta 92 is one of the best, no-nonsense, bet-your-ass right out of the box combat handguns you can buy. For this money and more you can pick up more popular options that are a much bigger crap shoot.
The 92 is a large combat autoloader. It is in the category with USPs, G17s, 1911s, etc. This isn’t meant to go in a fanny pack.
I love em’
Dimensionally the grip is very close to a Glock 19. The rounded sides and long DA pull make it seem bigger than it is.
The frame is aluminum and the slide is only about 2/3 of a slide so they’re really not that heavy.
Whoever said an M9 is pretty reliable is wrong. They’re probably the most reliable handgun on the planet and they just don’t have problems like a lot of guns these days.
Too bad Grant does not have the M9 for 499 bucks. I’d be all over that like a fat kid on a donut! LOL I just prefer the M9 over the 92FS.
I sold my 96F years ago and miss having a pistol from that platform.
People often complain about the fixed front sight but even with the fixed 3 dots or the factory Trijicons on my old 96F…I sure could hit my targets with that set up.
Overall the M9/92FS is a pretty good pistol. A tad outdated today but our military could have don much worse than the M9 if you ask me.
One thing that Beretta has going for it (IMHO) is that their QC has remained pretty consistent over the years.
The two I have owned ran 100% right out of the box.
I also noticed zero difference in quality or reliability between the US and Italian made guns. Both shot equally well.