[kungfuhippie]

I went there at lunch with a co-worker that wants to try on some guns before he buys one. He shot a sig something or other in 9mm and liked it. I decided to go cheap on the rental (my star B 9mm has been acting it's age lately) so I rented a Beretta 92 9mm. I liked it, it was a little thicker than I'm used to but it shot well and that 15rd magazine was sure nice.

So, I was planning on buying a HP for christmas or another Star (newer model) or a 1911. Now I'm thinking Beretta. Is there anything I should know before a eager salesman tells me I'm buying the gun God would buy if he needed a gun?

[Lobotomy Boy]

Buy what you like. You can't really go wrong with an HP or a 92, or even a CZ or any number of other guns. The last time I bought a full-sized, metal-framed 9mm, I narrowed it down to either an HP or a CZ75B. I went with the CZ because it was quite a bit less expensive. It's a great gun, but it's become a dedicated .22, thanks to a Kadet kit. I still kind of wish I'd bought the Browning.

In other words, buy what you like.

[kungfuhippie]

That's what I've always done unless I can't afford it:D I just remember my Marine buddy always talked crap about the beretta, I was not into guns yet so I don't remember why.

[Rotorflyr]

A lot of the military guys talk crapola about the Beretta cause it's 9mm and they can't use HP ammo, also (supposedly) there were some problems with the frames cracking, but I've never seen any real proof of it.

If you liked the 92, check out the 90Two as well. (the PX4 is also supposed to be nice)

[kungfuhippie]

well there's something, I like all my handguns to be capable of shooting HP ammo, even if it's just a brand or two. Heck my star B (1943) will feed most HP without a hicup.

[Snarlingiron]

I think you misread. He didn't say the Baretta wouldn't shoot hp ammo, but that the soldiers couldn't shoot hp ammo. The Baretta should handle pretty much whatever you feed it. I personally don't like the gun, but there is really nothing wrong with it.

[kungfuhippie]

Yep, misread. So to those who don't like it, is it just a fit thing or a quality thing? The one I was shooting has got to be old, having the 15rd magazine here in PRK(it's a rental gun).

[Beatnik]

I think dislike of the Beretta comes mainly from the fact that it replaced one of the best firearms ever made.

Every gun has flaws initially - even the 1911 we all know and love is the A1 model, not the original design - so I doubt that's it.

They took away a trusty weapon who had been working flawlessly for over 70 years and replaced it with a weapon people say succumbs to the same problems that the 1911 was adopted to overcome way back then. That's why they don't like it....

[Pecos21]

The Beretta 92 is the gun God would buy if he needed to buy a gun.

All joking aside, it is one of the most popular handguns out there and like the Glock, you hear a lot of hear-say about it.

The truth is, the open slide design and the shallow angled feeding ramp allow it to feed and eject just about anything. I have never seen one jam.

They are built tough, easy to dissasemble and clean and they are a classic.

Nothing against the CZ, it is a more economical choice, but the Beretta just appeals more to me.

[Snarlingiron]

Okay, but only because you asked. I have a Glock 19, and my son has a Beretta 92. I love the Glock. The Beretta is a well made accurate reliable gun. But it also is DA/SA, has a decocker, and a manual safety. This means that you have to learn 2 trigger pulls. You have learn to operate the manual safety. A handgun for me has one purpose. Self Defense. When you are stressed, as you will be in any situation where you have to defend yourself, your heart rate goes through the roof, your breathing becomes shallow, you develop tunnel vision, your auditory senses shut down, and your ability to manipulate mechanical devices (i.e. fine motor skills) goes out the window. Way too many variables on the Beretta for me. The Glock has 1 trigger pull for all 16 rounds, has no external safety, and no decocker. Pull the trigger, it goes bang. Besides that if I were to try to pick the most inconvenient place possible to put the decocker it would have to be on the rear of the slide. I whack my thumb every time I operate the slide. Besides, if you are getting a gun that is as large and as heavy as a 1911, why not just get a 1911? Opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one, and this one is mine.

[kungfuhippie]

Besides, if you are getting a gun that is as large and as heavy as a 1911, why not just get a 1911?

That's on my list too, but for the moment I've got a single shot:banghead: extractor spring:banghead: autoloader Star Model B 9mm and about 3000 rds. of 9mm waiting to be shot, assuming I get the star fixed it's showing it's age and will be retired to light range use anyway. I like the 9mm and a star is anything but light (think skinney 1911 in 8mm). I like it. I may just get the BHP (like this too), I'll see what my options are when I go.

My list right now to buy is (one of each caliber, several options)
1. 9mm BHP, beretta, CZ 82...
2. Walthers PPK, or Bersa Thunder in .380ACP
3. 1911 of some sort in .45ACP, when the time comes I'll see what I can afford/want

And this would take 90 days to get even if I had the cash:banghead:

[Snarlingiron]

I also have a HP, and would pick it hands down over the Beretta. Again not a quality or accuracy issue, but more ergonomics.

[Beatnik]

hey kunfuhippie,
make sure you fire a 380 PPK before making any decisions.
I got to fire one last weekend and it was like a freaking meat tenderizer.
6 rounds turned the web between my thumb and index finger red.
>150 rounds through a 1911 did no such thing.

[kungfuhippie]

good thing to know about the ppk. As far as pistols go I always try to shoot first. some rifles are just nice to have even if shooting it is a pain (mosin m44)

I have other reasons I may lean towards the bersa thunder (including price:D )

[mljdeckard]

I try to stay subjective.

I was an armorer in Germany, we switched out our 1911s in 1992 for Berettas, and right away I had trouble. NOT THE SLIDES CRACKING, (Mine were brand new,) but mostly soldiers taking them apart and playing with them, and messing them up. I remembered thinking, "These things won't be here for as long as the 1911s were."

The single action is nice. The weight makes them shoot very easily. But pete's sake, by modern standards, it's VERY large. And it was designed in a way that it can't be re-chambered for a .45.

It's not that Berettas are bad, it's just that there are so many pistols that are better now. A LOT has happened since they got that contract in 1985. Seriously, look at the Glock, the XD, the Sig, go to a good range that will let you rent everything.

And YES, if I had the choice, I would carry my 1911 to war.

[Lobotomy Boy]

A while back I had to admit to myself that I shot Glocks better than any other type of handgun, and since then the only non-Glocks I've bought were long guns or wheel guns. I will get a 1911 someday because I've always wanted one, but otherwise I don't see myself ever getting any of the autoloaders I used to lust after.

But that's just me and the way I shoot. You might have completely different results. If I tried to push my likes on you, I'd be just like all those other A-holes who say that Glock is the only gun worth having or that Glocks are all crap. If you read through enough threads on this forum, you'll see the world is already lousy with those sorts of A-holes. That's why I said you should get what you like.