Girsan Regard M9 Clone

BlueHeelerFl said:

Especially since I really like the M9A3 but its tough to justify that kind of money.

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I don't have any experience with the Girsan, but if you really like the M9A3, one of the significant features of the M9A3 is the Vertec grip and the Girsan won't give that to you and the Girsan has built in finger grooves which always seem odd to me on a metal framed gun.

Food for thought.

The GIrsan’s run about $380 or so bucks and only come with one mag and a non standard locking block.

You can get Beretta 92’s. All day for 480-500. That have parts commonality and come with 2 mags.

So take the Girsan, add a second mag and you are at around 410 give or take. So you are within 70-90 bucks of a real deal 92.

None of this is to say the Girsan is a bad gun (I have no idea) I am just saying that for me personally the extra mag, parts commonality and known quantity the Beretta brings is worth the C note to me.

BlueHeelerFl said:

The Vertex grip is one of the things I like about the M9A3

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The new 92X will give you the Vertec grip and is a couple of hundred dollars less expensive (MSRP) than the M9A3.

http://www.beretta.com/en-us/92x-full-size/

Extra magazines are always a deal breaker for me. Does the Girsan use the same magazines as the 92FS / M9?

No idea on the quality of Girsan. However at very close to the same price point, I'd get a used Beretta, or save up for the M9A3. Buy once, cry once.

I don't quite understand the marketing strategy of Girsan , nor do I understand the advantage of the clone ... the market is flooded with used 92s in high condition and at reasonable prices.

Ive no experience with the Girsan. There are a lot of M9s around.

I recently picked up a slightly used, like new, M9, 3 sets of grips, 5 Beretta magazines, and 800 rds of Federal FMJ ammo for $500.

There are bargains out there. Look for them and be patient.

I have an early serial number Girsan. It is fantastic in every way. It comes with a Mecgar 18-round anti-friction mag (sometimes 3 mags depending on model number).

Everything on the gun seems to be compatible with standard 92 parts but I haven't torn a 92 down fully to compare. I love the finger grooves built into the grip.

Mine was an impulse buy based partly on the two-tone finish and a lot on the cost (I have about $300 in the gun). I didn't buy it to look at though - whenever I take it shooting I tend to run it until I can't operate it any more (last time I shot it I ended up with a pretty good blister after an extended string of fire).

IMO it's a good buy. To those that want to bad-mouth it (or anything else) I recommend trying it first.

The beretta 92 design is good, and there have been several clones at various degrees of quality. I can’t speak for the Girsan, but I can speak for Beretta and Taurus. At one point i had both a Taurus and a beretta in 9mm. I kept the better gun, and it is a Taurus pt99af. The only Beretta 92 series pistol I would consider right now is a brig-tac and that is simply for the Wilson upgrades. They work well and are smooth as silk, but I see nothing making me inclined to pay a premium for a “real” 92 series pistol, especially a new one. Find a deal on a used pistol if you can and know your getting quality, but don’t fall for the hype of a beretta being any better than the copies.

For what it’s worth I found a girsan when they first came out and was interested in trying one. The finger grooves turned me off to a degree and the cheap looking paint job I saw finished turning me off to them. Old school polished Taurus guns are good guns. Beretta guns are good guns. Girsan looks like an ok gun, but the paint job makes me wonder what other things they did to hit their price point.

Havok7416 said:

MO it's a good buy. To those that want to bad-mouth it (or anything else) I recommend trying it first.

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I don't know that there has been ant Girsan bad-mouthing here...
A clone of a product represents a marketing challenge to the original. To evaluate the validity of that challenge , ie : why buy the clone rather than the original - is a normal and necessary part of that evaluation process.

BlueHeelerFl said:

Was that an online deal? Locally I never see any deals. The only used 92 around here looks and feels rough

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Not an on line deal. A guy had it posted on a local gun forum for a few months. He was asking 600 without the ammo.

He also had a decent Official Police which is the gun I went to buy. He mentioned the Beretta, I asked him if he was willing to deal including the ammo, and he threw out $500. No further negotiations needed.

I never bought a used gun on line. I find a lot of good deals from private sellers.

No bad mouthing of Girsan as I said I have no personal experience. As a matter of fact I have heard good things and I like the way some of them look.

I was just pointing out to me dollar for dollar I will gravitate more towards the known quantity, in this case Beretta. Now if it was $250-$300 that might change my mind.

Given the magazine quality and generally good reputation of Turkish firearms and fairly good feedback from owners I don’t think a person would go wrong with one just saying that for me personally I would prefer the Beretta at this price point.

BlueHeelerFl said:

Anyone have experience the EAA For San Regard M9 clone pistol? I saw a positive video review for them and they look interesting.

I want an M9/92 to pair up with my CX4, but price is always an issue. Especially since I really like the M9A3 but its tough to justify that kind of money.

You can get one of these for under $400 on Davidson's, plus you get the lifetime warranty.

If I'm going to settle for a less model or even a used M9/92, would it be worth it to go for this really inexpensive clone?

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I got an earlier variant of this Beretta 92 clone in 2012: It was clone of the Centurion model with a 4.3” barrel, imported by ATI, called the ATC92. Stamped MKEK, but I understand manufactured by Girsan. Mine did not have finger grooves. A nice, well built, good shooing pistol. Takes a Beretta recoil spring when you wear that out; guide rod is steel. Locking block doesn’t look standard unfortunately. Barrel not chrome lined. Takes Beretta mags. Is a clone of the 92F, not the 92FS. The spacing of the grip screws is slightly different than Beretta; but Hogue aftermarket rubber grip (wraparound with finger grooves ) fit my pistol in spite of that due to the flexibility of the rubber grip. Replacement Beretta wood/plastic grip panels would be tricky. A friend who was an armoror in the Army inspected my pistol and said it was a well built copy of the M9. I liked mine and shot it a lot with no problems; I ended up giving it to my daughter who enjoys it. Mine was cheap: $299 + shipping from CDNN as I recall. It was an excellent value at the time because a good used Beretta police trade was then going for around $450 at gun shows in my area. Hope this helps.

Havok7416 said:

I have an early serial number Girsan. It is fantastic in every way. It comes with a Mecgar 18-round anti-friction mag (sometimes 3 mags depending on model number).

Everything on the gun seems to be compatible with standard 92 parts but I haven't torn a 92 down fully to compare. I love the finger grooves built into the grip.

Mine was an impulse buy based partly on the two-tone finish and a lot on the cost (I have about $300 in the gun). I didn't buy it to look at though - whenever I take it shooting I tend to run it until I can't operate it any more (last time I shot it I ended up with a pretty good blister after an extended string of fire).

IMO it's a good buy. To those that want to bad-mouth it (or anything else) I recommend trying it first.

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no bad mouthing, serious inquiry. is it as good or close enough to the beretta? money costs aside. just quality and fit and finish from what you know? trying to understand its place. thank you.

jhb said:

no bad mouthing, serious inquiry. is it as good or close enough to the beretta? money costs aside. just quality and fit and finish from what you know? trying to understand its place. thank you.

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I think it will hold up just as well as a Beretta, everything else being equal. I haven't run my Girsan too hard yet, primarily because I have a glut of 9mm guns and little time to devote to just one frame. I think the Girsan represents an incredible value though.

Havok7416 said:

I think it will hold up just as well as a Beretta, everything else being equal. I haven't run my Girsan too hard yet, primarily because I have a glut of 9mm guns and little time to devote to just one frame. I think the Girsan represents an incredible value though.

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understood. thank you.

Greetings,
I have just purchased the Regard MC. Not many options now. Intend to use it for HD and some target shooting.
Saw a few posts regarding the fact that in the original 92F, the slide may separate from the frame in case of failure, flying in the face. Is that a potential issue with this model as well? Are there any aftermarket mods to diminish the possibility of this happening?
Thanks for any ideas.

I would not worry about that.

sophie999 said:

Greetings,
I have just purchased the Regard MC. Not many options now. Intend to use it for HD and some target shooting.
Saw a few posts regarding the fact that in the original 92F, the slide may separate from the frame in case of failure, flying in the face. Is that a potential issue with this model as well? Are there any aftermarket mods to diminish the possibility of this happening?
Thanks for any ideas.

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As far as I'm aware, that problem was fixed a long time ago. I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks!

For my smaller size hands the Vertec grip is the only version of the Beretta Model 92 that I can get a decent grip on and still reach the trigger comfortably.

8 or so years ago, I debated the same thing - Girsan vs Beretta 92FS.
At the time PD trade in Beretta's could be had for around $400. I grabbed the Beretta. It was my 1st. I was surprised by how well the gun shot and also by how heavy it was in comparison to my Glock 19. For a range gun it's fine / fun to shoot / historical. For all day carry the lightweight, accurate, reliable, with capacity - Glock 19 wins.

I traded the 92FS off on something else. 1st magazine - learnnig the POA. The DA 1st shot was easily learnable as I recall.