Beretta 92 open slide design

[GLOOB]

Why other manufacturers didn't copy the open slide:
The open slide does not work with a Browning tilt system. The Browning system requires the top of the slide just fore of the chamber to lock the barrel. Most semi autos use the Browning tilt locking mechanism. This type of slide also requires more machining! For what?

Why even Beretta no longer uses the open slide:
Open slide doesn't work for a rotating barrel system, either, which is Beretta's latest thing. For this system, a nub on the barrel has to ride in a groove in the top of the slide. Hence, even Beretta couldn't use an open slide on their current pistol designs, if they even wanted to.

The other downside is the slide has to be thicker on the sides to make up for the missing mass, and thicker at the fore/aft points for structural integrity.

Also, this type of design requires that the barrel and slide come into close proximity, else foreign object could just drop right through between barrel and slide. In most guns, there's an air gap all around the sides of the barrel. The breech, locking lugs, and bushing are the only part that needs to touch, so there's less chance of the action gumming/slowing when dirty.

Random thought: I've never seen anyone shooting a 92 at the range. I am curious if that's odd, or maybe the 92 isn't as popular as I thought it was. 1911's are the most common handguns I see, followed by polymers.

 

[IdahoLT1]

The Beretta 92 can hold 18 round in a flush fitting mag. I have small hands but the grip or trigger reach doesn't bother me. I think the large grip and the weight help a lot in reducing recoil. The 92s are very soft shooting. Another plus on their weight is they are hard to jam by limp wristing them. Glocks, on the other hand, are very easy to limp wrist.

I bought my first 92 after I sold my G19 and G23C. I wasn't impressed with them at all.

 

[golden]

Only disadvantage was width of slide

My agency adopted the BERETTA 96 (same as the 92, but in .40 S&W) and used it all over the southern border. I did not hear of any reliability problems.

I will note that when we did jam clearing exercises, the BERETTA was very hard to clear. It turned out that it was almost impossible to get it to jam in the first place and the usual trick of seating a snap cap bullet in the chamber and trying to jam it with a round in the mag was too easy to clear.

Also, the open top design almost never misfeeds in my experience. The side block locking mechanism was used on the WALTHER P-38. BERETTA copied it since it would work with an open top slide which the P-38 also had.

In my agency's testing, ALL THE GUNS FAILED! We then did a retest with updated designs and only the BERETTA 96 Brigadier and SIG 229 passed. BERETTA had the price advantage as usual since they make their guns in the U.S. while only part of the SIG was made in the U.S.
Also, the BERETTA had a MUCH BETTER TRIGGER. I used both guns and the BERETTA'S trigger was noticabley smoother.

I like the BERETTA, but always found the grip a bit large. I have also shot the 8 shot, single collum magazine 92M Compact and the smaller grip is easier to handle.
I really like the Vertec grip, which has a smaller circumference that makes it easier to handle.

Jim

 

[mljdeckard]

I'm in the same boat as leadcounsel. My issue M-9 is falling apart. If it was a borderline call in 1985, there have been MANY designs since then that have solved a lot of problems. (Half of our guys got issued M-11s.)

 

[REAPER4206969]

The reason others don't use it is as GLOOB stated. Most other pistols use a modified Browning tilting barrel locking system that is dependent on the top of the slide for locking. The Beretta uses an oscillating block locking system, so the slides top is superfluous.

You will note that the Beretta's Grandfather, the Walther P38 has an open top slide as well.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Also, the Glock models 17L/24/34/35 have a large cut out in the top of the slide to reduce weight in order to use the same recoil spring assembly as the 4.5" guns.