Beretta 92FS Expectations

[marb4]

I bought a new 92FS a few months ago and am so far very satisfied with it. I have a question for those of you with more Beretta experience. I've put around 1500 rounds through this pistol and in that time have had 2 failure to extract occurences. The first one happened at around 1000 rounds. I removed the extractor and cleaned it and the channel. The second came today after around 500 rounds since the extractor cleaning. Interesting that both of these happened with the Federal Walmart ammo (maroon and black box). Could be coincidence or ammo specific. I've heard the stories of guys with x thousand rounds and never a hiccup and I don't doubt that but am wondering what is a reasonable expectation. Are 2 occurances in 1500 rounds a cause for concern or just one of those things that happens to all autoloaders from time to time? Just looking for some real world feedback.

This pistol seems to perfer hotter 124 grain rounds but has run well with all the other major 115 grain offerings. Works great with my SD choice (Winchester Supreme Elite +P).

I'd appreciate any feedback you guys can offer. Thanks.

 

[EddieNFL]

I was a test dummy for proofing qualification training when the 92 was first issued. Acceptable accuracy and reliable, but the triggers, uh, sucked.

I did, just yesterday, witness a limfac. I was SO'ing the local IDPA match and a shooter was using a 92. He was having failures to extract and every time he tap/racked, he would engage the safety. Not the guns fault, but still not a good thing. The gun was new to him, so I'm certain he'll train himself to avoid it.



BTW, the malfunctions were caused by a lack of lubrication.a

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've been shootinga Beretta for several years, even carried it as a dutygun for a while, and have never had a failure to extract. With it's huge ejection port, all the extractor needs to do is pull the casing free of the chamber.

Are you saying the extractor left the empty casing in the chamber and the next round fed from the magazine to cause a jam?

Which lube are you using for the rails and the locking block?
How much are you using?

Is it a problem with all your magazines or just one?

 

[Smaug]

I think you're right on with the gun "preferring" hotter 124 gr. ammo. I think the stock recoil spring is the one designed to work with the military ammo, which is 124 gr. FMJ, and is a bit hotter than cheap 115 gr. FMJ.

 

[Jeb21]

I wish that I could help. I have had a 92 for a couple of years now and have fed it all kinds of ammo including the Federal ammo - have about 2k rounds through it (and I bought it used). I have never had a failure of any kind. I wonder if the extractor or the spring needs to be replaced on your weapon.

2 failures in 1500 is not a big issue however, I would still want to get the to bottom of the problem.

 

[Tomcat47]

Non Issue! Great Purchase!

 

[HorseSoldier]

Two in 1500 could be nothing more exciting than light loads/poor QC on the ammo side, especially if you're talking about cheap range ammo.

If they're consistent, you might want to look at stepping down your recoil spring, as was suggested up thread. Or shoot hotter ammo.

 

[Steve in PA]

My 92FS is over 20 years old and I've never, ever had an extraction issue. I did have a locking block (old style) break, but I still have the stock extractor in the pistol. Other than the locking block breaking, the only malfunction that I can ever remember happening with my Beretta was a squib load (my fault). Other than that, the pistol just plain runs.

 

[Capstick1]

I was USAF Combat Arms before I retired. I think I'm a little familiar with the Beretta 92 pistol. I've seen more than a fair share of broken 92's in my lifetime. This is the main reason why I don't own one. Typically the barrel locking block lugs will crack at around the 5 or 6 thousand round mark. The slides will last around 12 or 13 thousand rounds before they crack. Every cracked slide assembly that I've seen has cracked at the exact same spot, on the left side rail just behind the barrel chamber. There are more durable pistols out there you could spend your money on.

 

[REAPER4206969]

During the 2009 military testing of the M9, the Beretta had an average stoppage rate of 1 in 17,000rds. and a parts failure rate of 1 in 30,000rds.

 

[ants]

Your clue is the Federal Champion ammo, 9mm in the maroon and black box.
Only about $10.99 at WalMart, a very economical ammo.
But it gives up something to be economical.

It's a 115g copper plated bullet (not fmj) with about 4.3 to 4.5 grains Bullseye powder. Where most 115 grain 9mm loads chronograph at about 1100 to 1200 feet per second, the economy of your Champion 9mm is that it only runs about 950 to 1000 feet per second. This softer load is much easier to shoot and surprisingly accurate, but doesn't always cycle a pistol properly. Your malfunction is fairly normal for that ammo.

Note for those in IDPA or USPSA:
Federal Champion 9mm does NOT meet minimum power factor.


In this case, it ain't the gun. Don't blame it.

 

[EddieNFL]

Are you saying the extractor left the empty casing in the chamber and the next round fed from the magazine to cause a jam?

Sometimes it would barely eject the case and not strip the next round. Sometimes it would not extract the case and attempt to feed the next round...or not. At first, I thought it was an ammo issue.

Which lube are you using for the rails and the locking block?
How much are you using?

Not my firearm. Not sure what or how much he used, but after a visit to the safe area to apply lube it functioned perfectly for the remained of the match (another 50 or so rounds).

Is it a problem with all your magazines or just one?

Same problem with all mags.

 

[triplebike]

I have two 92FS's one USA , one Italian. Both are approaching 10,000 rds fired . Never a hiccup of any kind. 1000's & 1000's of the rds fired were the Walmart Federal, along with just about every other brand. Only thing I replaced were the recoil springs (with stock) at about 6000 rds.

I would replace the extractor & spring , they're very inexpensive & fairly easy to replace.