One of these will be a “do-it-all” gun. Range, HD, the evil and ever present SHTF/TEOTWAWKI (sarcasm of course), future competition.
I’m set on my EDC. I’ve been focused on my Glock 17 for that purpose. It gives me everything I need in the size/capacity that I want. S&W 642 for those times I need smaller.
I’m looking for “different” in terms of shooting.
I’ve narrowed it down to these 2 manufacturers and these 2 particular “platforms”. I’ve owned both at various times. Slide mounted/frame mounted safety, polymer/metal frame has no real bearing in my search. I’m experienced with both and am comfortable with both.
What are some of your thoughts/opinions of one vs. the other? Pros/cons, likes dislikes, is one superior to the other for my intended purposes?
I like the reliability and aftermarket support of the Beretta 92, but I dislike the super-high bore axis. For HD I imagine you’ll want a pic rail, which limits you to certain models (A1 and A3 in current production, I think).
Personally I think some version of the CZ-75 is better than both of those options. But between those two only, I’d go with a 92.
USP but only if you turn it into a Combat Competition clone.
Edit: why? Because the combat competition is rare, they look cool and because I like the USPs safety location better than the beretta’s, which wouldn’t really matter if you went Combat Competition.
I wish the CZ pistols worked for me. Unfortunately the levers are in the wrong/difficult locations for me to properly manipulate. Which for me is weird because I have large hands.
For strait up durability and longevity the HK USP will be tough to beat. The last USP I owned was freakishly accurate too as an anecdotal data point of one example. The downside to this is the out of the box USP will not have the most refined trigger in the world, particularly the DA trigger. The SA is workable, but the DA is horrid on standard USP’s. The LEM trigger is pretty damn good though, and the Combat Comp clone version of the LEM is supposed to be very good. The USP Expert and Tactical will also have a good trigger, with the DA being decent, and the SA being quite good. Some USP’s like the Expert and Tactical will also have good adjustable sights out of the box. One other issue to note is that HK never updated the dust cover rail to standard Picatinny style, so you’ll need an adaptor or accessories with USP mounting hardware included. Magazines are more expensive and less readily available, but the factory mags do tend to be well made and very durable.
The Beretta is still plenty durable, and has a better trigger out of the box. A worked over Beretta trigger like that in the Wilson Combat Brig Tac is awesome. Beretta uses a standard dust cover rail so accessories are easy to mount. Magazines are plentiful and cheap compared to the HK, but good factory mags are the way to go along with Mec-Gars which are less cheap. The Beretta in my experience is a smoother shooting pistol that a easier to track the sights with.
You won’t go wrong with either one, I’d have a tough time deciding one way or another myself.
Obviously choose what works for you. For me, CZ’s slide release lever so far forward means I don’t worry about accidentally holding it down with my thumb. I find it difficult to shoot a Sig P226, for example, without holding the release lever down, and the Beretta 92 and some others are a little better for this but not perfect - although I find the 92 almost a happy medium in that I can reach the release lever but don’t usually hit it by accident. On the CZ-75 I do have to change my grip to reach the slide release lever. The standard 1911 slide release lever is in roughly the same forward position. However, all the other controls on a CZ-75 are in locations that are fairly typical and work fine for me. YMMV of course.
I’ve had an HK USP, .45 Tactical with the goal of adding a can. I never could warm up to it, so I sold it. Good reliable gun, but just not my cup of tea. I still have the Beretta 92FS, and I do like it, but prefer all my CZ’s over both. I currently have a 75B, 75 Pre-B, 75D PCR, and 97B. The 75 series accepts the wonderful .22 Kadet Kit conversion which I also have. I could sell all my other pistols, and keep the CZ’s and be happy.
Otherwise easily the Beretta IF it’s not too big for your hand. Both need aftermarket help badly. Far More support and options for the beretta, excellent, inexpensive flush fit 18 rnd mags too.
I never liked the beretta, but most of my experience was with the brigadier model DAO in 40 s&w. H&K are tough, durable, reliable and accurate, but never liked their standard triggers. For your listed reasons of a "do it all"weapon and “SHTF” , you already have a glock 17. Glocks are much easier to work on with minimal tools,gunsmithing and time in a SHTF scenario. Also extra internal parts are cheap. For that reason, I would pick the glock you already have and save your cash.
Both guns are vetted and considered by most who have used them to be accurate and reliable. Both designs have also been in service as military sidearms. However, I would be inclined to give the Beretta 92 series a little edge since I believe it served longer, and being the US service pistol mil surplus mags and holsters are more available on the cheap. Factory and aftermarket mags are also cheap for the Beretta with larger than standard capacity mags easy to get and relatively cheap compared to the extended USP mags(~$125 I believe for the 30rd USP mag). Both can mount lights, the USP just doesn’t do it as easily nor can it mount a majority of lights without an adapter. The Beretta A1 and A3 pistols can easily mount most pistol weapon light that you could want. Though a slick frame 92FS or what have you would require it’s own adapter. The factory railed Berettas though would be easier to find holsters for both with and without lights, which to me would be important. I would also argue that the Beretta has more aftermarket support and personally do not find the safety/decocker to be too badly placed to be hard to use, with G conversions becoming more common it also be comes less of an issue as far as inadvertently activating the safety. The USP also has a variety of configurations, and is probably easier to configure to your tastes, which depending can be a big selling point. The USP might have better mag funnel options, don’t know any for the 92, however the USp one locks you into Jet funnel mags, which while good, are pricey.
As far as triggers, Beretta probably has a nicer out of the box trigger, and with Wilson options might even have a better custom/match trigger. I have a USP with a Match trigger in it and I still don’t think it is as smooth in DA as my old Beretta 92 SA triggers I would call pretty much a draw. Only change from factory for the Beretta was a D main spring and hell of a lot of use.
In the end I’d personally say a Beretta 92 would be the better option, I’d just make sure to get one with sights that can be swapped, and a light rail and you should be pretty much covered. Perhaps the most ideal one being the the 92G-SD. This is also taking the assumption of a Range, Competition, and HD gun all in one package. Will likely do 2 of those three very well and the third only decent in my opinion, depending on your set up. If carry becomes the main priority and without mounted light my opinion may change. My opinion may shift slightly, though still giving edge, albeit slightly, to the 92 for parts and accessories if the options were the P30 vs the Beretta. I would consider the P30 the preferred option over the USP, all things being equal as well.
Hope that helps OP, trying to avoid a novel in the break down here. The final decision is still on you, and you will have to make the call on what features and options are most important. I’d personally consider both guns to be more than adequately accurate and reliable as well as durable.
Beretta all day and twice on Sunday. The USP is about as ergonomic as a 2x4 with a pretty crappy trigger. There’s also the massively over-engineered dual spring that makes shooting anything faster than .30 splits accurately a real challenge.
Beretta 92 series. I like the USP, it’s a fine pistol, plenty durable and reliable. But mags and holsters… I once bought police surplus 92 mags at my LGS for $8 apiece. Spare parts, tune up parts are plentiful for the 92. I do like the LEM trigger and mag release of the USP though…