Beretta M9 Failures

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We've ran over it, and it has two major issues- a cracked locking block (small, but definately there) and a very, very weak extractor. The armorer swapped them out, but for a new pistol, that's still worrying. I wonder if it actually is new or just refurbished. Anyways, I think it'll shoot better now that it's fixed, but I don't know if I'll be able to trust that particular pistol. I have been thinking of buying one for myself to really see if I like it though- I've got lots of mags, a few nice holsters, and some other kit for it already, and I need to get out of 45 and into 9mm (cost savings is huge!).

Should I try an M9 or Beretta 92? Are they concealable with a T-shirt and not-too-baggy jeans?
Click to expand...

Well, 1 - read this story - interesting article:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447555

Two - I carry a 92FS concealed everyday - even in the summer with a t-shirt. As long as the t shirt is of decent quality, and not a $5, super thin Wal-Mart special, I have no issues. But, I can only do it at the 3 o'clock position.

I had to get NP3 covered grip screws from CDNN, as rusting of the grip screws in the summer was my only issue. Now, it is a nonissue.

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I picked up a used police trade in last year. It's a 92FS Centurion.

Other than the beefy grip....the gun is great. Very accurate for me also. I did change out the locking block and some springs just for preventive maintainence. The outside finish is beat up from use but I consider it my "beater" gun.

Is it better or worse than my CZ P-01 or Smith 5906? Thats all opinion.
 
Hmm...even though I'm not a fan of the M9, I'm really seriously looking at picking one of these up. Which -92 variant is best? There's the Beretta, the Taurus, the Stoeger and ATI clones....which one is the best bang for the buck?
 
I'd recommend the Taurus PT92. It has a long track record for reliability and value, PLUS an ambidextrous frame-mounted safety w/decock feature. For many, myself included the Taurus safety is easier and more natural to use.

I've owned both, and while I have come to like the Beretta, the Taurus is the keeper.
 
See, I have the opposite experience.. Admittedly, I cannot stand Taurus, and their customer service is worse than just sticking your eye out with a fishing pole. But the 3 times (over the years) that I seriously looked at the Taurus 92 clones, I was not impressed at all. The parts were cheaply done (in my opinion) and it did not feel as tight and didn't seem to have the quality of the Beretta. Plus, I have seen on several of them - white dots NEXT to the dot depressions, instead of IN them. How crappy is that?

Get a Beretta.

If you like the Cougar, get one of those from Stoeger. Beretta owns Stoeger, and transferred the tooling to them. So, for all practical purposes - they are Beretta Cougars.
 
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Shipwreck, thanks for the reminder that every maker lets a bad item get out and fumbles the service ball from time to time. That's part of what's required to make honest assessments of products and makers.
What little I've read about the Stoegers is good, but they are still too "new" for me to recommend--I wouldn't mind if I could get a sample to test, tho!:cool::)
Also, bear in mind that the PT92s are (or were, anyway) built on Beretta machinery also.
 
I actually recently had a 45 cougar from Stoeger, but just sold it yesterday. The quality was good - I once owned a 9mm Beretta Cougar when they came out in the 1990s. However, I had the same problem I get with many other 45 autos...The grip is too big (front to back). Only the 1911 in 45 works for me...

The HK USPc 9mm fit my hand perfectly, but the Hk USPc45 and HK45c did not. Same with the COugar... 9mm Cougar works... 45 cal did not.

I actually am selling off my 45 ACP stash, as I have no other 45 cal guns after selling the cougar. I don't have the 1911 bug currently, and the one 1911 I still have is in 9mm. I plan to just stay with 9mm now...

Anyway, back to my original point... The Stoeger Cougar is made on the original Beretta tooling. And, it even has a metal trigger, metal spring housing and a metal guiderod (unlike current production Beretta 92s). I think the quality is on par with Beretta. Admittedly, the finish seems better on some Cougars than others. But that is the only difference I have seen.

Beretta owns SToeger, and they have been around a while (Stoeger has). Plus, they've been selling the 9mm and 40 cal Stoeger Cougars for quiet some time now.
 
Also keep in mind the PT92 is the one with the more accessible safety *and* can be carried cocked and locked.
The Taurus variety is built on Beretta machinery as well, for those who like to think they're actually getting a Brazilian gun. It's Italian, I assure you.

Here's something to think about though:
Try finding a Beretta 92D! that one has no external safety and with a gunsmith around who knows how to work on non-1911s you can get a six pound double action trigger on a beautifully unadorned and reliable platform.
 
Well, I don't own a Taurus PT92 - but I saw a thread last week where many owners of that gun cautioned someone from doing it. They stated that the thumb safety gets knocked off very easily. Apparently, the safety isn't as stiff as one on a 1911. Once again, its been a while since I picked one up - just reporting what they said.

And, Beretta has changed their locking block design a few times since Taurus has been making their guns. WIth the changes to the frame with the rail and what not, it's doubtful that they are using the exact same Beretta machinery any more after all these years... Not that it matters, but I'm just sayin'...
 
My PT911 has the same safety as the 92 series and I will agree that the safety isn't as stiff as *some* 1911s, but a lot stiffer than others. I think the reason it gets knocked off is because it sticks out more, to be honest.
Although, I do have to wonder how the safety gets "knocked off" in a holster.

The problem really is that any gun you don't own and pick up for the first bit you have it, is that you do the same motor skills you do with your other guns.
So a really dedicated 1911 shooter has a tough time with a DA, or with a gun where he can't ride the safety, or a revolver, or, or or ... My point being is that if you train with virtually any gun it can be safe. Which kinda poses a bit of a problem in reviewing a gun. Because each shooter brings a whole lot of muscle memory with them that may or may not work for the gun they're handling.

In any case, I do still maintain that pretty much 80% of all negative reviews of Tauri(?) come from people who simply don't like the company. that's the case with a couple of companies and let's face it folks, we, as a community are not the forgive and forget type, neither are we the most accepting of any deviation from any given norm. So in theory a brand new laser gun with a .5 pound trigger and recharging capacity may be the best thing since sliced bread, but there's no way it'll take off because it doesn't look like a S&W revolver or a 1911.

Taurus put out a lot of lemons for a while, but from every Taurus I have touched in my (short) shooting lifetime there is no trace of that left anymore. Again. A bit of a personal observation, but that's pretty much all of ours.
 
FWIW, my personal choice was to go with a factory Beretta M9 - they've done a couple of runs of the 92F with military markings, with mostly USGI parts other than the frame. My experience with it has been excellent - took it to Bastrop and shot it in the TX Combat Pistol matches - and it not only ran flawlessly for the 400 or so rounds fed it, but it got me both my Governor's Twenty Tab and my first 'leg' points toward the Distinguished designation, so I'll be able to wear the Bronze Army Excellence in Competition badge until I get enough points to upgrade to Silver and then gold.

I went with the M9 because it is what I've carried on several deployments, the manual of arms is second nature, and it lets me experiment with different gear to find out what will work best for me next time I deploy. It also allows me to use my own gear in the state, regional and National matches.

Shipwreck - there's just no way that's a new M9 with the problems you describe - a few years ago we got 'all-new' pistols - but they were reworks,and some of them had some of the same issues you describe. Ours didn't even have the white dots repainted on the sights!

My experience and opinions only!

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And set up for 3-gun competition.​
 
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I picked up a new Beretta 90-Two today at the gun store- it seemed to melt into my hand in a good way. So did the PX4 Storm- I really liked them both- Beretta is climbing my like list again.
 
I suppose my favorite features of the Berettas are the flip-up safeties, the DA/SA, and the hammer-fire. I'm not a huge fan of the open slide, but I do like the ease of takedown on the 92 and somewhat of the Storm.

Either way, my next pistol is going to be a compact 9mm, potentially a 92 if I can find an affordable one.
 
Use only beretta or mec gar magazines

I heard about the problems in IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN. The DoD bought some low bid, non BERETTA made magazines and these were the cause of many problems blamed on the M9 pistol.

I bought some before this came out. They were advertised as military contract overproduction. They should have been marked as FERTILIZER, because they were worthless.

I could not even slide one of the three mags into my 92. I did not even trying them on the range. I have had excellent results with BERETTA marked and MEC GAR whom I understand is making the BERETTA marked magazines.

MEC GAR makes magazines for many companies that sell them as their own.

Try a different mag and make sure what you have been issued is not worn out. One of the few problems with a BERETTA came with an old mag that came with a used gun I bought. I did a fast reload and the mag bottom piece popped off the mag and the ammo, follower and spring fell out.

I tossed the mag in the garbage, then and there. Using my other range mags, I did not have any problems.

Jim
 
"I'm not aware of a "commemorative" M9A1."--12131
Maybe not the best term; that's just how I thought of the pistols with military markings that are sold on the civilian market.
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Golden, I think you are referring to the early parkerized Checkmate magazines. They fully met the Army's specs, but the ultra-fine sand of Iraq was not taken into account when the Army developed the specs. Other magazines, such as M1911 and M14 mags didn't have any problems--even those made by Checkmate. In fact, Checkmate M14 magazines are very well regarded.
If a magazine is bad, though, no amount of explaining will help the situation and those park'ed magazines caused a TON of problems.
 
I've never even seen a 92 malfunction where there wasn't bad ammo involved. Mine is ridiculously tolerant of anything I put in it.
 
I bought five Checkmate M9 mags dated '05 and used them in my Beretta 92FS...The worked perfectly. That having been said, the absolute best 92FS mags are the mecGar 18 and 20 round mags, and the beretta sand resistant mags.
 
I have four good ones and two range mags I've collected, plus holsters and stuff. Can you use M9 mags in a new 92 or in a Storm?
 
If by new 92 you mean the 90-Two... yes. The Px4, doubtful, they have their own series of mags.

There's very little to no difference in an M9 vs. the Italian 92, or the American 92FS (M9 without the marking, and with 3-dot sight) so the mags will all work across that board.

I have the 92FS, the American produced one with the parallel to the slide/barrel dust cover vs. the slanted Italian one. Love it.
 
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