The Beretta M9A3: Initial thoughts and observations

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Dragonfly

Dragonfly

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I must admit that while I’m maybe more of a SIG or H&K guy I do have a soft spot for the Beretta 92. I like the classic 1980s styling of my current model (a 92F) and I enjoy shooting it ok, but it’s pretty large for my small hands, and I found its smaller (non-replaceable) sights tough to see.

I was intrigued when the M9A3 was introduced a few years ago—the Vertec frame was especially tempting—but the price was always a little too high. However, I saw this all-black version for $200 less than the more-common FDE version I went for it. Many of you are already familiar with the model, but if not, read on.

The most obvious external change is the Vertec frame (for those that want the classic feel there are a set of rubber grips (Hogues, I think?) to approximate the older grip frame shape. I’ve never owned a double-stack semi-auto with a straight backstrap so it feels different for sure, but it feels pretty good to me.

m6J3vP1.jpg
The new grips have a couple of different textures, a nice grippy pebbled texture as well as a more traditional checkering—they offer good purchase without feeling too snaggy. You can see the enlarged magazine release, too. I’ve got small hands and this is one of the few full-size autos that I can hit the mag release without changing my grip.

The front strap has sort of a cross-hatching pattern at the top, with grooves towards the bottom. It’s quite effective.

Qy6UzTY.jpg

The backstrap has similar cross-hatching.

F8QA2Yo.jpg

The slide-mounted safeties have been angled up a bit, to eliminate the potential of inadvertently activating the safety when racking the slide.

rWBjjOb.jpg
The sights are a real improvement—here is the rear sight. It’s nice and tall, and is removable.

IpEHYwn.jpg
Here’s the front sight (also removable). I would have preferred a Trijicon HD-style sight, like SIG X-ray sights, with a brightly-coloured front sight and blacked-out rear, but these are certainly an improvement.

azqB6x0.jpg
The muzzle end of the barrel is threaded to allow for suppressor use (although I don’t think sights are tall enough to see over the suppressor…although I won’t get a chance to try!). It's nice that there's an included o-ring. I kind of like the extended barrel—it reminds me a bit of the 93R!

So—initial impressions are favorable. I’m taking it out to the range on Friday.
 
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Dragonfly said:
View attachment 928329

I must admit that while I’m maybe more of a SIG or H&K guy I do have a soft spot for the Beretta 92. I like the classic 1980s styling of my current model (a 92F) and I enjoy shooting it ok, but it’s pretty large for my small hands, and I found its smaller (non-replaceable) sights tough to see.

I was intrigued when the M9A3 was introduced a few years ago—the Vertec frame was especially tempting—but the price was always a little too high. However, I saw this all-black version for $200 less than the more-common FDE version I went for it. Many of you are already familiar with the model, but if not, read on.

The most obvious external change is the Vertec frame (for those that want the classic feel there are a set of rubber grips (Hogues, I think?) to approximate the older grip frame shape. I’ve never owned a double-stack semi-auto with a straight backstrap so it feels different for sure, but it feels pretty good to me.

View attachment 928330
The new grips have a couple of different textures, a nice grippy pebbled texture as well as a more traditional checkering—they offer good purchase without feeling too snaggy. You can see the enlarged magazine release, too. I’ve got small hands and this is one of the few full-size autos that I can hit the mag release without changing my grip.

The front strap has sort of a cross-hatching pattern at the top, with grooves towards the bottom. It’s quite effective.

View attachment 928331

The backstrap has similar cross-hatching.

View attachment 928332

The slide-mounted safeties have been angled up a bit, to eliminate the potential of inadvertently activating the safety when racking the slide.

View attachment 928333
The sights are a real improvement—here is the rear sight. It’s nice and tall, and is removable.

View attachment 928334
Here’s the front sight (also removable). I would have preferred a Trijicon HD-style sight, like SIG X-ray sights, with a brightly-coloured front sight and blacked-out rear, but these are certainly an improvement.

View attachment 928335
The muzzle end of the barrel is threaded to allow for suppressor use (although I don’t think sights are tall enough to see over the suppressor…although I won’t get a chance to try!). It's nice that there's an included o-ring. I kind of like the extended barrel—it reminds me a bit of the 93R!

So—initial impressions are favorable. I’m taking it out to the range on Friday.
Click to expand...

I like how they put the slide safety more "upwards" pointed. Looks great !
 
I have the FDE version, just bought it recently in fact. It is the nicest handgun I currently own. I first shoot it last week and it sure does shoot nice. I do want a 92x Performance next, but a black M9A3 sure does look nice. Might have to add that to my list as well as a standard 92fs... Maybe a 96...
 
Seems a bit silly that it took this long for them to incorporate the adjustable sights that have been on Taurus PT99s for 20+ years, but I like the gun. Not sold on the vertec frame, but I see nothing wrong with it either. The traditional 92 feel is what I like most about the beretta guns, and it seems like they are headed in a good direction. I still don’t like a slide mounted safety, but that’s the only m9 gripe I have left with this iteration. Maybe they will finally be a gun worthy of pouring time and money into for a competition rig... but that’s basically the brig-Tac.
 
Awesome! You'll enjoy it. I really like the black. I picked up a green G model from Buds about a year and a half ago. I managed to find one on an obscure site somewhere for really cheap, comparatively.. and Bud's price-matched it. Probably about the same you spent on this one, it sounds.
It shoots very nice, and is super smooth. The entire action almost feels hand lapped.
I love the look of the vertec grip, but it makes the pistol a little too small for me, unfortunately. So I have the rubber wrap around grip on mine.
My only real gripe is with the sights. I like that they're tritium, but I hate that they're a flat, shiny black. (At least mine are somewhat reflective) Not matte, not textured in any way, but smooth and might be able to catch light at the right angle. I don't carry this pistol, and 90% of my range time is under a roof, but this seems like something they missed- especially considering it was presented as a contender in the race to be a military's sidearm.
That aside, it's very repeatable and 100% reliable thus far. Really sweet rig overall.

I picked up some 20rd MecGar mags from Greg Cote. Good price, too. Nice to have.
 

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Dragonfly

Great write-up and photos, as usual of course! Like you I have small hands and the flat back strap Vertec design of the M9A3 is the only Beretta Model 92 grip frame that I can get a comfortable feel for.
 
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Thanks for the kind comments!

I realized I left off a picture from my original review—this one shows the picatinny rail and the re-shaped triggerguard. There's now no checkering and the top is flat and 90° to the rail...I'm thing to provide support for lights or other rail-mounted accessories.
TrbX6aj.jpg

I had a chance to take the pistol out to the range today. Conditions were pretty warm and muggy...about 31°C (almost 90°F). The pistol worked well—as expected. Nice trigger pull and with mild recoil—I like the trigger reset especially—there's just a bit of take up before hitting the break again.I did find the pistol a little slippery from having sweaty hands—the cross-hatching pattern could stand to be a bit more agressive. With my post-cataract eyes I also found the sights a little tough to see, as expected. I've only been out shooting twice in the last eight months so I'm likely as out of practice as I've ever been so accuracy results were a little disappointing, although I'm confident it was all on me. Here are the first rounds at 10m—ammo was RUAG 124 grain...not my best effort!

Vo8mAk0.jpg

I tried a few more at 7m at a brisker pace—getting better. I've noticed in the past when I've been away from shooting I don't concentrate as much as I should on grip pressure—that's likely what was causing the shots to drift left. It looks like the M9A3 has a "shoot to the dot" sighting arrangement where the front sight dot goes where you want to rounds to go, too.
H6qXpSF.jpg

Overall, though, I really enjoyed the pistol. It fits great in the hand and is so pleasant to shoot. I'll likely keep the sights "as is" for now, but I may consider a set of replacement sights. I see that Beretta has a set similar to Trijicon HDs—"Spartan" sights. I may have a look at them.

 
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Nice write up , I just purchased my first beretta a 92X full size and I absolutely love it. The vertec frame is perfect for my tiny hands and its more accurate than I am. I recently took it to qualify for my ccw ( yes I know it's huge to conceal but it will be my winter gun) and the only person who shot better than me was my father in law who was shooting his kimber custom 1911 that he's had for years and I was shooting my beretta for the first time, this isn't to say that I'm a crack shot by any means but the Beretta 92x has a great trigger in my opinion and with the vertec frame and new sights it was easy being accurate ...heck the instructors even went through 4 mags of ammo because " they just had to try the new beretta" lol I didn't mind. I never liked the 92fs or m9 because the grip was so big but my twin brother who is in the Navy and has carried one for the last 9 year's or so told me to try the 92x and swore that I would love it and man he wasn't wrong
 
Lovely gun and write up. I have always had a soft spot for the 92. As a child of the 1980s, it's kinda my generation's 1911 inasmuch as it was THE gun you saw used in cop/action movies. I handled a 92x Compact the other day, and I loved it. Better judgement won out over desire as $700+ is a bit steep for a gun that's hard to feed right now with ammo shortages. Still, way up on my list. Love the classic Italian design with modern flair.
 
This has been discussed a lot at the Beretta Forum. It is usually because of locking block fitting.

It is annoying, but the accuracy doesn't usually suffer. I will admit that I usually look for this before I buy a Beretta 92 variant, however
 
JohnKSa said:
It's rare, in my experience, for them to be lined up perfectly. Doesn't hurt anything.
Click to expand...


I don't think it is that rare. I have owned 28 different Beretta 92 variants over 25+ years. Only a couple of mine had this... Towards the start of my Beretta buying, before I knew about this issue.

I'd say about 1/4 to 1/3 of them have it MAYBE.
 
I have an M9A3 and like it very much. I use it for my house gun with a light attached. It is BIG and with a light, it is heavy. On the other hand, it is reliable, accurate, has a nice trigger, the VERTEC grip which I like and night sites. The only downside is that it is BIG! Concealed carry can be a challenge.

Jim
 
Shipwreck said:
This has been discussed a lot at the Beretta Forum. It is usually because of locking block fitting.

It is annoying, but the accuracy doesn't usually suffer. I will admit that I usually look for this before I buy a Beretta 92 variant, however
Click to expand...
I had to order it , couldn’t look before I bought . Will it stay that way or change over time with wear ? Doesn’t bother me if it will stay that way . Maybe put a couple hundred rounds through it before I build a compensator and see if it changes ? Thank you in advance .
 
It will stay that way, at least until you change the locking block. Then it might change. There have been entire threads on this at the Beretta Forum explaining why they believe it doesn't effect accuracy despite it being tilted to 1 direction slightly.I recall someone resolving this by having a gunsmith fit the locking block. But, honestly - I wouldn't go to all that extreme. If it shoots fine, don't worry about it
 
I don't think it is that rare. I have owned 28 different Beretta 92 variants over 25+ years. Only a couple of mine had this... Towards the start of my Beretta buying, before I knew about this issue.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Guess I've just been unlucky. I don't think any of my Beretta 9x series have had a perfectly centered barrel. Not that it made any difference that I could tell in terms of accuracy or function.
 
Shipwreck said:
It will stay that way, at least until you change the locking block. Then it might change. There have been entire threads on this at the Beretta Forum explaining why they believe it doesn't effect accuracy despite it being tilted to 1 direction slightly.I recall someone resolving this by having a gunsmith fit the locking block. But, honestly - I wouldn't go to all that extreme. If it shoots fine, don't worry about it
Click to expand...
It shoots just fine . Function’s fine as well . I build compensator’s to match the slide , so it’s no extra work that it’s off center . Interesting pistol , recoil seems smoother and less snappy than the others . Thank you for the information. Always a wealth of knowledge on the High Road .
 
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