Beretta Accuracy

[trooper]

Hi guys,

I've got a question regarding Berettas. I just returned from the range where I had the opportunity to put some 50 rounds through my friend's Beretta 92 FS Inox.

I liked the feel of it and it did fit my large hands pretty well. It was very easy to get back on target after the first shot.

I complimented him on his gun, but he told me he wasn't really satisfied with it's accuracy. He then showed me that he was actually able to move the barrel a bit when the slide was fully closed, and told me that this was a construction issue of the pistol and could be found on any 92 FS.

On the contrary, I've heard some people around here saying that they view it as one of the most accurate service pistols. What's your opinion?

If the guy is wrong I might consider buying one next year.


Regards,

Trooper

 

[10-Ring]

Hi trooper!
1st off, I'd like to ask what you have planned for this pistol? This will determine the type of accuracy you will be requiring from your gun. If you plan on bullseye shooting, the 92fs will probably fall short of your requirements. If you're looking for a self defense/combat style, IDPA, range gun, the 92fs is a fine pistol! I've got 2 that have proven to be quite accurate for these applications

 

[spankaveli]

i don't have much personal experience. i shot a 92fs at the range once and the only problem i noticed was that it shot low, but that was probably my own fault. it was still much more accurate than i.

 

[Amish]

The gun is as good as it's shooter. You need to find the right grip and trigger pull to get maximum accuracy out of every individual gun. My shots out of my Elite II was always hitting to the left until I adjusted my trigger pull. Now I hit about dead center. Beretta's are not forgiving guns. If your a bad shooter it will bitch slap you until you get it right.

 

[Amadeus]

My Beretta 92 is a delight to shoot. I am small of stature (5' 3") yet the pistol fits me well. Regarding accuracy - I can shoot it faster and more accurately than my Smith and Wesson 66 4" barreled revolver.

As a service pistol, that gun has only ever given me its best performance. It is accurate, well balanced, and easy to operate. Obviously there have been the occasional fliers. But the Beretta 92 is a solid and accurate platform for civilian defensive needs.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Out of all the handguns guns I've had, USP45C, USP40F, Kimber 1911, Wilson KZ45, my Beretta is the easiest to shoot AND the most reliable. All except the Beretta(s) are gone now. Jury's still out on the P7M8 because I haven't ran it at a match yet.

Accuracy can be improved with another barrel (Barsto) but I think the stock gun shoots better than me anyway, and a trigger job from Ernest Langdon, but don't know if you can ship a gun to him from where you are.

The sights make a big difference because of the picture they're set up with. At first they 'shoot low' but that's how they're set up--to drive the dots. Good for close-up work but hard to nail a 4-inch steel plate at 20 yards with.

 

[trooper]

10ring,

right now I'm mostly shooting 25m bullseye with some quick-fire drills in between. However, I'm planning to get involved into more action-oriented disciplines sometime. It will only be a range gun.

Anyway, since I'm not a very advanced shooter most quality guns will be more accurate than me.

First I was unsure about the safety lever but I soon found out that I can reach it fairly easy with my thumb. I also like the grip size because I've got rather big hands.

I take from your comments that the guy actually was wrong about the rattling barrel in his specimen?


Regards,

Trooper

 

[Amadeus]

I know there is some minimal movement of parts in the firearm - but nothing that feels unnatural.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I take from your comments that the guy actually was wrong about the rattling barrel in his specimen?

My Vertec barrel points to one side, and not sure about my Elite II, I can check them both when I get home.

 

[WonderNine]

Some Beretta 92's are good some are bad as far as accuracy. The bad ones usually have a crooked or sloppy lockup. This is something to look at when purchasing a new Beretta. It's the most important thing I look at. To make sure the barrel is not touching the slide on either side and is straight in front.

Here's what I think of the "the gun is only as good as the shooter" comment :banghead: Well "duh", but the gun has to be accurate too.

I know for a fact there was a huge accuracy difference between different Beretta 92's I have shot and owned and it was all due to crooked/sloppy lockup not "me" the shooter.

 

[Al Thompson]

Trooper, how did that one shoot? Good tight groups or poor ones?

Good thing about being in Germany, you'll get a made in Italy one.

 

[Shake]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but because of the way the Beretta 92/96 locks up during firing (using the locking block), some barrel movement while the gun is NOT being fired is not that good of an indicator of it's accuracy potential.

After getting used to my Elite II I've found it to be very accurate. It does have some "wiggle" in the barrel, but still shoots very good groups.

Shake

 

[WonderNine]

As long as it doesn't wiggle too much, but common sense dictates that whichever way the barrel is pointing is the direction the bullet is gonna go.

I don't think wiggle is as much of an issue as having a fairly straight lockup.

 

[ChuckB]

Hi, Trooper. My 92FS is more accurate than I'll ever be, and I'm getting pretty good with it (ahem). It fits me well- an important issue for accuracy- and it feeds everything I load into it. I love it!

Chuck

 

[George Hill]

If you want the most accurate pistol you can get for 9MM, then you need to be looking at a SIG P210.
Everything else is less accurate. And if you still want a Beretta 92 and want it more accurate, you can get a custom fitted barrel that will do the trick.
Or you can just suck it up and deal with the accuracy level of the common combat auto pistol.

However, I feel that the Beretta is one of the more accurate combat pistols out there.

 

[cool45auto]

Beretta's are not forgiving guns. If your a bad shooter it will bitch slap you until you get it right.

Amish is dead on with that comment. My Beretta shoots way better than me. If I'm taking my time I shoot good, if I slack off the groups open up like crazy. True with any gun I guess.

 

[Croyance]

but he told me he wasn't really satisfied with it's accuracy. He then showed me that he was actually able to move the barrel a bit when the slide was fully closed, and told me that this was a construction issue of the pistol and could be found on any 92 FS.

But could your friend show you that he was more accurate than his Beretta? If he cannot prove (by using another gun) that he shoots more accurately than the Beretta, maybe he is looking for excuses for his own lack of ability. Golfers often blame their clubs.
From what I have seen, barrel movement is much more of a perceived issue than a real one. It is just something easy to see to (falsely) judge by. Many pistol smiths put in "improvements" because people can easily eye them up, thinking that those additions actually improve accuracy and reliability.
You actually shot this pistol. The recoil alone would have moved the barrel, as well as the slide movement. Yet you found great accuracy in that gun. Are you going to judge by results?

 

[Shake]

Knew I'd read it somewhere. . . Beretta L-list regarding barrel play

Tenth paragraph under "The Design of the 92-series Handgun".

Shake

 

[WonderNine]

It seems WAAAAAY too many people here want to always assume the shooter is at fault and never for one second believe that it's just possibly a bad example of a gun.

You'd think some people had never seen a lemon in their life.

 

[Shake]

Not that I disagree, WonderNine, but there are a LOT of just plain poor shooters out there. . . Probably reason for the comments in this thread.

Shake

 

[firestar]

I think Berettas are on average more accurate than most service type semi auto pistols, not less accurate. My bbl will move a little if I push hard but it is not what I would call loose.

I shoot it O.K. but I have seen others shoot it to levels that are shocking. I am amazed what some people can do with this fine weapong. And it is reliable. Got to love the Beretta.

 

[trooper]

Trooper, how did that one shoot? Good tight groups or poor ones?

It worked just fine for me. As I said, it's probably way more accurate than I am.

I didn't know about the barrel lockup thing (apparently my friend didn't either . It makes sense when I look at the groups.

I think the 92 just earned a place very high on my wish list Though I heard that nowadays they put plastic triggers and safety levers in them, which bothers me a bit.


Regards,

Trooper

 

[Al Thompson]

Don't know about the plastic parts issue. This may not apply to you anyway as most (all?) Berettas in the USA are built here. I know several folks who hold the opinion that the ones built in Italy are better.

 

[LAWDOGKMS]

In about 1997, I won a 100 yard shootoff, for a new 870 shotgun, using service pistols only.

We were shooting at an 18" x 12" steel gong at 100 yards..standing...two handed grip.

I competed against about 25 other officers, using Glocks, Sigs, and S&W autos..

I got (19) out of (25) hits...

This was with a Stainless Beretta 92FS, that I bought in approx 1992..

It was probably my most accurate, and easy to shoot pistol.

I now shoot Glocks almost exclusively, because I'm issued one, so I try to keep the design of the guns I carry regularly the same..

It wasn't a good concealment piece, but I sure do miss that 92FS..

 

[dhoomonyou]

I just sold my 92fs inox, due to the fact it was NOT a consistently good shooter.