Girsan Regard MC39 (Turkish Beretta 92 clone but with frame mounted 1911-style safety)

[General Geoff]

Picked this up on a killer internet deal for $277, figured it was too cheap not to try. It eliminates the biggest problem I have with my 92fs, that is the awkward and backward-functioning slide mounted safety.

Brought it home, and compared to the real 92fs, this one has a barrel about 0.5" shorter, adds a pic rail, and has thinner aluminum around the magazine well (lighter but possibly less durable). The grip shape is nearly identical due to thicker, chunky plastic wrap-around grips it uses vs the thinner panels on the real 92fs.






It should be noted that the Girsan has shallow finger scallops in the aluminum frame itself, the Beretta has long vertical grooves in that area.

Mechanically, the Girsan appears to be a very faithful clone to the Beretta outside of the safety relocation. The barrel and link from the 92fs drops right into and function checks fine with the Girsan frame and fire control:





The Girsan came with a single magazine, which is a new 18 round flush-fit Beretta 92 series compatible mag (made by Mec-gar in Italy). The new mag and old 15rd 92 mags interchange and function seamlessly between both pistols. I went ahead and ordered four more 18rd mags to use in both pistols.

So far fit/finish looks good, frankly excellent for a $277 pistol. Double action trigger pull measures about 9.5 lbs, single action about 4 lbs. Single action pull is pretty good, more than adequate for a duty pistol. Safety is ambidextrous and in the right place , engagement is stiff, disengagement is also a bit stiff and clicks positively into the on and off positions. Might get a little smoother with use.

Will report back once I get it to the range.

 

[Mauser lover]

Where!?

 

[General Geoff]

Where!?

I got mine from lockedloaded.com (ordered christmas eve), but they have since raised the price to $382. Sorry Might drop back down below 300 if you're patient.

 

[Mauser lover]

Ah! Bummer. Oh well. I need another service-size 9 like I need another hole in my head. I've not had any problems with my other Turkish clones yet, and I've heard plenty of good things from the folks who have tried Girsan. I got a good deal on an FEG High Power, otherwise I may have gotten one of those by now.

It's too bad that Beretta made WAAAAAAY more 92s with the slide-mounted safety/decocker than the thumb safety. I'm glad to know now that Girsan is making a clone of the thumb safety version too.

 

[General Geoff]

Some more pictures of both for comparison re: frame.

Beretta:


Girsan:






The only thing enclosing the hammer spring is the plastic grip. It fits pretty tightly, but obviously won't be sealed as well as the completely enclosed aluminum hammer spring housing of the Beretta.

 

[Mauser lover]

Aha! Not a clone, then! I didn't realize that. I could go either way on the mainspring housing though. Girsan is going to save weight that way, as well as give you the ability to clean it. Could it get dirtier? Maybe. Have you ever cleaned the Beretta mainspring though?

 

[General Geoff]

Aha! Not a clone, then!

Yeah this uhhh skeletonized frame appears to be unique to the MC39. Girsan's standard Regard is a much closer direct clone to the 92:




Note the contiguous frame along the back of the grip area.

 

[WestKentucky]

The safety location matches the basic type used on Taurus 92 series guns, which was part of the true beretta guns made for a govt contract in South America. So it’s faithfuller than you may think, but still not a true clone.

And a lot of folks prefer frame mounted safety on these pistols. I’m one of them, and I have seen plenty others posting about the preference of the safety location.

Girsan really went out on a bit of a spree releasing “clone” guns a few years ago. It’s hard to imagine that they were able to launch multiple platforms so close to each other without a bunch of hiccups, but from what I have heard online it seems as if they are more or less well regarded options, especially for a budget gun that’s very much in line with a beretta 92, a BHP, 1911, or standard poly-striker. Looking at their product options it seems like they just keep dropping new options on these lines too, the Tugra for example looks more like an M9 than the frame-safety regard pistols.

 

[mikebaker1129]

I purchased one of the Girsan MC39’s yesterday, not for as good of a price as the OP, but for $319 + TAX.
I also have a South African Vektor Parts kit in .40 purchased on GB years ago, that also uses a Frame mounted safety.
I am going to try to see if it fits just because.
I have an Italian made 92FS, but I hate the safety/decocker on the slide.
I will update on the whether the Vektor fit or not

 

[gc70]

Sadly, EAA Corp quit importing the Girsan Regard MC Gen 3, which is a true full-size 92-style pistol with a frame-mounted safety, traditional grip without finger grooves, forward cocking serrations, a dovetailed front sight, and a rail.

 

[mikebaker1129]

The SP2 does fit the frame of the Girsan, but the safety is not in alignment.

 

[General Geoff]

Sadly, EAA Corp quit importing the Girsan Regard MC Gen 3, which is a true full-size 92-style pistol with a frame-mounted safety, traditional grip without finger grooves, forward cocking serrations, a dovetailed front sight, and a rail.

Lockedloaded.com still has them in stock for $498 (add to cart to get that price)

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Some more pictures of both for comparison re: frame.

Beretta:
View attachment 1189269

Girsan:

View attachment 1189270


View attachment 1189271

The only thing enclosing the hammer spring is the plastic grip. It fits pretty tightly, but obviously won't be sealed as well as the completely enclosed aluminum hammer spring housing of the Beretta.

Biggest downside I see to that setup is proprietary grip modules which limit customization and may be difficult to source in the future. The mainspring shoe design is similar to what P-series Sigs use. Is it poly or steel on the Girsan?

 

[Riomouse911]

The safety location matches the basic type used on Taurus 92 series guns, which was part of the true beretta guns made for a govt contract in South America. So it’s faithfuller than you may think, but still not a true clone.

And a lot of folks prefer frame mounted safety on these pistols. I’m one of them, and I have seen plenty others posting about the preference of the safety location.

Girsan really went out on a bit of a spree releasing “clone” guns a few years ago. It’s hard to imagine that they were able to launch multiple platforms so close to each other without a bunch of hiccups, but from what I have heard online it seems as if they are more or less well regarded options, especially for a budget gun that’s very much in line with a beretta 92, a BHP, 1911, or standard poly-striker. Looking at their product options it seems like they just keep dropping new options on these lines too, the Tugra for example looks more like an M9 than the frame-safety regard pistols.

I guess the expired patents with all the drawings, and modern computer modeling, really cuts down R&D time for these companies to create really good copies of existing guns.

Stay safe.

 

[WestKentucky]

I guess the expired patents with all the drawings, and modern computer modeling, really cuts down R&D time for these companies to create really good copies of existing guns.

Stay safe.

With production, the product is actually a small part of the development. Sure it needs to work and be a desirable product for it to sell well, but the mechanisms associated with manufacture of each individual piece, assembly of those pieces, logistics of getting everything together to be assembled… all of that is a process. CNC machine operations does help, but it’s not the end-all-be-all solution because the machines are not cheap. Even with looking at cheap manufacturing, stamping and casting tools take time and money to get going, and generally not a small amount of either. The good thing there is that the expense quickly amortizes away because you write one check and then run a million parts in no time flat.

Yes the simple fact of having dimensional drawings and examples easily aquired for reverse engineering makes it faster, but the fact of the matter is that these are highly complex products with tight tolerances and a lot of moving parts. It is pretty impressive to launch a single product line without major snags, let alone multiples. Compare this launch to Ruger relaunching the Marlin brand, that was not fast or cheap, but it’s a quality product.

 

[General Geoff]

Update: Finally got it out to the range. Put five full 18rd magazines through the gun, zero malfunctions. Ammo was a mix of 115gr, 124gr, 147gr, and a hodgepodge of old FMJ mixed with various JHPs and MHPs I had rattling around. First mag @ 25 yards (aim was middle bullseye):





I like the single action trigger, very short reset and crisp break. Pistol is more capable than me, for sure. I look forward to more rounds through it.

Overall, for $277 I'm extremely pleased with its performance.

 

[Navy87Guy]

If they made a version with the Vertec-style straight grip, I’d be all over it!

 

[Strainer]

Nice score! I recall prior, standard Girsan regard pistols (clones of the 92F Beretta) had a locking block and corresponding slide cutouts that were different than Beretta 92F…the locking block-slide engagement was different- cut on a slant, not vertical. Thus the locking block was proprietary. How does yours compare?