Beretta M9/92FS

[USMC Tanker]

I'm going to be purchasing an M9 soon, but I just wanted to learn the truth about some rumors I've heard. I've heard that the slide isn't capable of handling hot loaded defensive ammunition. Any truth to these rumors?

Everyone has heard about the Navy SEAL taking a slide to the face years back, but I believe those problems have been addressed already.

The M9 I've always carried in the Marines has never let me down, and is in my opinion a fine firearm. I hate the NATO rounds, but with my own I want to arm it with some hot loads. BUT, I need to know if it could handle it first because I would hate to eat a slide.

 

[rellascout]

Go get yourself a M9 and blast away.

They are great pistols. They have a lot of haters but in the end they are one of the finest 9mm handguns in the world.

 

[ID_shooting]

Hey Tanker,

Army 19K20 here.

Anyway, Like you, I carried an M9 for years and liked it alot. Upon getting out I bought one. MANY MANY +P rounds, and not one like of trouble.

Hope that helps.

 

[rellascout]

Your wallet will break from shooting thousands of round of +P defense ammo before your M9 will.

 

[otomik]

there's a few differences between the M9 and the 92FS

the M9 sights are the 2-dot system, 92FS are 3-dot
in 1992 around the introduction of the .40cal Beretta 96 they redesigned the locking block for extra durability (here's a list of proof marks, might want to keep notes of little things to check for when you're shopping). If you're going for maximum durability I'd suggest the Brigadier variation with it's heavier slide (but perhaps more importantly the front sight can be removed to replace with night sights). You might want to check out Beretta Forum, they can give you a lot of detailed advice and their classifieds section is where I got a great deal on my 92SB Compact.

X = 1954
XX7 = 1971
AT = 1988
XI = 1955
XX8 = 1972
AU = 1989
XII = 1956
XX9 = 1973
AZ = 1990
XIII = 1957
XXX = 1974
BA = 1991
XIV = 1958
AA = 1975
BB = 1992
XV = 1959
AB = 1976
BC = 1993
XVI = 1960
AC = 1977
BD = 1994
XVII = 1961
AD = 1978
BF = 1995
XVIII = 1962
AE = 1979
BH = 1996
XIX = 1963
AF = 1980
BI = 1997
XX = 1964
AH = 1981
BL = 1998
XXI = 1965
AI = 1982
BM = 1999
XXII = 1966
AL = 1983
BN = 2000
XXIII = 1967
AM = 1984
BP = 2001
XXIV = 1968
AN = 1985
BS = 2002
XXV = 1969
AP = 1986
XXVI = 1970
AS = 1987

 

[JNewell]

Do this...

1. Buy the 92
2. Shoot it with any commercially available ammo until it breaks
3. Come back and tell us:
a. how much the ammo cost than the 92
b. how many zeros there are on the right hand side of the decimal point when you figure out what the cost of the 92 divided by the number of rounds fired

Really, it's not a concern...

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Early on the M9 had some issues. They have been fixed a decade or more ago.

I've seen a lot of 9mm go down range from them in the last 15yrs with no issues (besides bad mags or bad shooters).

Buy one. They are a fine pistol.

 

[10-Ring]

Buy & enjoy! I've got 2...circa 1992 92's w/ 1000's of malf/problem free rounds each!

 

[USMC Tanker]

Otomik,

I know the differences between the M9 and the 92FS, but thanks for the info!

I'm not planning on ALWAYS firing hot loads through it. For plinking or general range use, I'll use regular ball. However, when I keep it loaded at home for defense (only to fight my way to my 870P MAX by the way!) I plan on loading it with hot 9mm. I will of course practice with hot loads at the range periodically to train the way I'll fight.

Tanker

 

[Lebben-B]

I am not a fan of the M9. I positively despise the slide-mounted decocker/safety. I don't care for the exposed barrel configuration either. That said, the M9 is a fairly robust pistol capable of reliably going "bang" in most environments.

The biggest weakness of the M9 lays in the magazines. When buying a used 92 or buying additional mags, please look at the manufacturer. If the maker is Checkmate, run - do not walk - away. The Checkmate mags the Army bought were poorly Parkerized, with clumps and bumps of material on the inside of the magazine body. This causes the mag spring to bind and catch on the magazine body, resulting in failures to feed. If you find yourself in possion of Checkmate mags please inspect the interiors carefully.

MecGar makes a decent M9/92 mag, as does Beretta (Of course).

Mike

 

[rellascout]

+1 for the Mecgar Mags.

Checkmate are crap.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Yeah, I also had a ton of Chekmate mags that I had to trash.

They are very poor quality. Good training tool if you want to practice clearing the weapon.

 

[rabrog]

I hang out on the Beretta forum, and remember reading something recently about the SEAL issue. What I remember from the Beretta forum is that story is that the SEAL in question was testing some very hot handloads. I'd suggest going over there and doing a search. I won't post the URL here as it might be against forum rules, but it's a good place for information on Berettas.

I have a 92FS, and I don't hesitate to run +P Personal Defense ammo through it, although even if I could afford to shoot +P all the time I wouldn't. As I recall from the manual (which is downloadable from Beretta on one of their sites), the 92FS is rated for +P ammo but they don't suggest it as standard fare for it due to accelerated wear.

 

[Redhat]

I never understood the problem with the slide mounted safety/decocker...works fine for me.

What exactly is the issue with it?

Thanks

 

[Average Joe]

Great gun, buy and enjoy.

 

[Surefire]

I love the 92FS/M9s. And I may be the dissenter in that I also LOVE the open top design and exposed barrel. Makes it quiet a bit easier to have access to the barrel to clear a jam--I've never experienced a jam yet, but I figure eventually all pistols will jam given enough rounds through them. Nothing man makes is perfect. I also think the open top design should reduce FTEs, since there is a bigger area for empties to eject.

 

[Gixerman1000]

The 92 is a great pistol but whether it’s right for you will have to come down to personal preference.

I own 3 92FS's, a 96FS and a few other Beretta's, I have never had the first problem with any of them in 1000's of rounds and as an owner of other firearms from just about every major manufacturer I can say the 92 will run with anything in it's class.

 

[Ultima-Ratio]

Try To Break It!

In my case the barrel quit at 88,000rds and the locking block at 90,000rds
The rest of the weapon is as good as new....well I replace the recoil spring occasionally. It's a range gun, 92 STS 9mm, in a side by side with a Glock 19 the G-19 needed many small springs, extractors etc long before 40,000rds

 

[Lebben-B]

I never understood the problem with the slide mounted safety/decocker...works fine for me.

What exactly is the issue with it?

It's not so much an issue as it is a personal preference. The decocker is located on a gripping surface of the slide. When I grab the slide, I want nothing there that could interfere with my grip. I don't want to have knobs or levers that my fingers could slip off of if they are wet, sweaty or numb from cold/sleep. There could also be a chance of accidentally decocking the pistol. Say the pistol is in condition one. You reach up to pull the slide back a bit to visually ensure a round is loaded. In the process of doing this, you grab the slide at the wrong angle and decock the gun. You now have two choices: you can fire with a much heavier DA trigger pull or recharge the weapon, which leaves you less one round. At the range, this isn't a big issue. If you're in your bedroom at night listening to strange noises coming from the living room, it becomes huge. Remember - Murphy was a gunfighter, too.

Mike

 

[Lucky 7]

Get yourself one if you like em. They're tough and reliable enough for the Marines in Security Forces. They'll stand up when you need them to just don't get stupid with loading the 9x19 to crazy pressures and the gun will outlast you.

Semper Fi!
-L7

 

[Redhat]

Lebben-B

I've done lots of malfunction drill training as well as having to apply immediate action on the weapons during timed courses of fire (been carrying the M9 since 1992) and never once put the safety on while racking the slide. That doesn't mean it won't or can't happen...maybe it's because I slingshot the slide. But from day one of training we were admonished to be aware of that possibility.

On the other hand, the biggest problem I've had when firing with both thumbs fwd, is to inadvertantly press down on the slide stop which kept the slide from locking back when the magazine ran empty.

I coud be wrong but I bel;ieve the decocker was a requirement the US made when the pistol was initially tested.

Overall good reliable accurate pistol, I have no complaints.

 

[Lebben-B]

I've was in service when the M9 was introduced. Like you, I've done countless malf drills and IADs with the M9/92. IMO, a frame mounted safety is one less thing to worry about. As one of my old mentors was fond of saying, "If it can happen, it will happen. Plan accordingly."

As I said earlier, the M9 is a robust, reliable weapon. But it has some things I don't like about it.

Mike

 

[Redhat]

#1 being that DA trigger pull that can be up to 16 lbs!

 

[Lebben-B]

DA trigger pull that can be up to 16 lbs!

Roger dat!

 

[albanian]

"DA trigger pull that can be up to 16 lbs!"

I have found that most Beretta DA triggers are very smooth and not all of them are heavy. I have a 92fs Police Special that came with a nice light smooth DA/SA trigger.

I have two 92Gs that had heavier and less smooth triggers but still better than most. There is an easy fix if you think the DA trigger is a little heavy. Just drop in a lighter hammer spring. You can get the Beretta 92D hammer spring which makes a huge improvment in the DA and a slight improvment in the SA. You can also get 1911 hammer springs and they fit and work perfectly as well. I put 1911 hammer springs in alll my Berettas and they are much better. I think I paid $9.99 for a three pack of the 1911 hammer springs and the job takes about 5 minuits and can be done by someone with zero gunsmithing skills so there is no reason not to do it yourself. Check out the Beretta forum on what to do and how to do it but it is not a big job at all.