Q's about purchase P99 and 92fs

[schadenfreude]

I went to a shop today and "tried on" several pistols. It got down to only two choices. Everything else brought the word NO to my lips quickly.
I'm looking for some feedback and any other possible suggestions.

The best feeling one was the Walther P99. Hands down fit my hands the best. A close second was the Beretta 92 fs. Both in 9mm form. The Walther was $529 and I think the Beretta was $590 or thereabouts.

I haven't heard anything bad about either. I really don't understand the P99's trigger. What is the purpose of the trigger pulling back half way then needing to be pulled the rest of the way? Is it like that for each subsequent shot?

I like the fact that you can get pre ban mags and other accessories fro the Beretta but that isn't a huge factor with me.

The gun will be used for home defense and as much target practice as I can fit.

Thanks in advance. (Sorry the newbie is long winded)

 

[mr. e]

I've had and shot both. The Beretta in 9mm and the Walther in 40 auto. I found the Beretta easy to shoot accurately, but too large to carry and, even with a 15 shot mag, too large for a 9mm. As a house gun and for target practice, it would be a great choice.

I carry the Walther as my CCW and shoot it regularly. I don't know if it's the pistol, the round, or me, but I don't shoot it as accurately as the Beretta in a slow fire situation. For carry, however, it's easy to point quickly, 100% reliable, and conceals comfortably due to it's small size and light weight. Also, I like what I think is the extra power of the 40 auto round.

Since the Walther P99 is striker fired, if you get a misfire, you can't thumb the hammer and try again. Unlike the Kahr, which is also striker fired, you can pull the DA trigger and reset the striker for another try. With the Kahr, you have to reset the striker using the slide.

If size and weight didn't matter, and I was looking for target accuracy, it'd be the Beretta.

 

[Cawdor]

If you are asking about the single action-trigger forward mode of the P99, here is some information, you may find helpful.

From the Walther Online P99 Manual

TRIGGER IN FORWARD POSITION DOUBLE ACTION FIRING - P99, P990
The trigger is in the forward position when firing in double action mode. For a quick first shot when fine accuracy is not the most important concern, point the pistol at the target and take aim. TO FIRE: pull the trigger all the way through the full length of its travel. This cocks the striker and fires the pistol all in one motion. This is the only way to fire a P990 pistol.

SINGLE ACTION FIRING - TRIGGER FORWARD - P99
If the striker is decocked, but you wish to fire the first shot single action, point the pistol in a safe direction, pull the slide back about 3/8 inch an let it go. This cocks the striker without ejecting the round in the chamber. When you have loaded the first round into the chamber, or if you have decocked the striker and then cocked it again without firing the pistol, the trigger is forward, in the same position as double action mode, BUT THE TRIGGER PULL WILL BE MUCH LIGHTER. TO FIRE: carefully take up the slack until the trigger clicks into the single action position, and then fire the pistol in single action mode à see next page.

SINGLE ACTION FIRING - TRIGGER REARWARD - P99
After you fire the first shot the striker is cocked and all shots are single action. In single action mode the trigger is much further back in the trigger guard and the TRIGGER PULL IS MUCH SHORTER AND LIGHTER. TO FIRE: squeeze the trigger all the way back.

QUICK ACTION FIRING - P99 QA
The Quick Action (QA) Trigger of the P99QA differs from the standard P99 by offering a constant trigger pull for every round fired. If you pull the slide rearward and release, with a loaded magazine in the well, the gun will be loaded and ready to fire. Once loaded, pulling the trigger will move the striker to the rear and allow discharge. Depressing the take down button will decock the gun and render it unable to shoot. With the striker decocked, the gun will not fire. If the slide is slightly moved rearward on a decocked gun it will go into a ready to fire mode.

Walther P99 FAQ: P99 Anti-Stress Trigger

Massad Ayoob reviewed the P99 in the December 1998 issue of Guns. Referring the the single action-trigger forward mode, he wrote:

This is ingenious, mechanically. Logically, I'm having trouble figuring out what the hell this feature is intended for.

Ayoob thought it might have some advantage in IDPA. He went on to say:

Other than that, it's kind of spooky. I wouldn't carry the gun this way. Neither would Melcher [a spokesman from Interarms, the first importer of the P99], who said, "It would depend on the individual. We certainly don't recommend that mode of carry to the average shooter. Certain special purpose police units might find a use for it, however."

 

[10-Ring]

Go find a range & shoot them both. Fit is one thing, performance in your hands is another! Buy the one that works best in your hands. If you do that, you can't go wrong w/ either pistol
Welcome to THR!

 

[45R]

The P99s trigger is a weee bit strange but once you get use to it you own it. The P99 is one of the sweetest 9mm handguns that I have shot.

 

[schadenfreude]

Thanks for the great reply's. It turns out that there is a local range that rents a lot of these handguns so I'm going to try get down there for some try outs.

Anything need to be done to these weapons right off? The clerk at the store (friendly non commission store) told me that I should replace the recoil rod after purchase with a metal one. Is that true?

 

[Martini13]

P99 40S&W and 92fs

Welcome to the fold. I have both guns and think you can't go wrong with either one. The Walther is my all time favorite, and my CCW. The trigger is not hard to master and you will find it makes a great deal of sense. Both are accurate amd reliable to a fault. If I had to pick one, it would be the P99 40s&w. My two cents worth.

 

[schadenfreude]

Just my luck. I called the only range around here that rents guns(that I know of) and asked if they have a 92fs and a P99. The lady on the other end says "Nope....both broken"

I guess I get to buy blind then...........

It's a tough choice. I want to buy both for different reasons but I also want a 1911 eventually. I'm going back to the store tonight to window shop some more.



Here's another newbie question, why all the love for the .40? Is the 9mm that weak in comparaison?

 

[venom600]

Since the Walther P99 is striker fired, if you get a misfire, you can't thumb the hammer and try again. Unlike the Kahr, which is also striker fired, if you can pull the trigger and reset the striker. With the Kahr, you have to reset the striker using the slide.

Not true of the DA/SA P99, you must have a QA model. If you have a misfire in the DA/SA version of the P99, you can just keep clicking away in DA mode until you fire the round, or get tired and rack the slide.

--Ben

 

[mr. e]

Nope, it's the SA/DA model and like you said, after a misfire you can reset and possibly fire the round with the DA trigger.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I have the 92FS and have always wanted a Walther P99 too. Funny, in my gunshop it's the Walther that's more expensive than the Beretta....

I just prefer the Beretta in looks and handling but if you think it's too big for carry, try a compact version type L or M. Otherwise, I'd go with your gut and learn to live with the trigger.

 

[slh02]

Funny...

The beretta and P99 were two of my favorites when deciding on my first pistol. I really liked both and only one thing made the p99 a clear winner in my book:

I couldnt reach all of the controls with one hand on the beretta! I have small hands and while the grip was very comfortable, I just couldnt get past the fact that I couldnt reach all of the controls with my shooting hand if the situation called for it.

You may want to try that when you handle the 92 next...

Oh yeah, if you get the walther I guarantee you wont regret it. It is a really sweet pistol. I have well over 2k flawless rounds through mine. Its easy to clean and maintain and dead reliable (went ~300 rounds without cleaning over a 3 month period and had no hints of malfunction).

 

[BKP99]

I absolutely love the P99.

the trigger lets your have your way.

Standard heavy DA
Long SA...good for carry. Best compromise between true SA and true DA. Plus you could always 'click' it into short SA before doing what you need to.

Or if you're really brave...Short SA...carried that way too!!! However on various forums people advise against it for safety reasons.

 

[schadenfreude]

I have made up my mind both ways several times now.

P99
Feels a bit better in my hand
Has an accessory rail for a light
Simple and lightweight

Beretta
Has a manual safety
Has a hammer
Pre ban mags avail

I want all of the above features but guns that have that are out of my set spending limit like the sigs & HK's unless I buy used or trade in stuff.

:banghead:

 

[Gabe]

I think the Beretta is the sexiest handgun ever made! However the slide cutout also make it pretty hard to grab and rack from the front like some schools teach. If you figure out a way I'd like to know.

If you like the Walther, check out the Smith and Wesson model 99. It's basically a licensed derivative of the Walther, might be a few bucks cheaper.

 

[sorny]

I've got a Taurus PT-92 AFS so I guess that's close enough to comment on the general functions of the Beretta 92. I love the gun. The shape, the look, the .. shinyness I got an IWB holster for it and 3 10 round mags but I can't carry it. Too huge. It's fine when I'm just walking around, but when it comes to sitting it either tears into my back or sticks out badly. No way I could conceal it properly. My CCW gun is a Kahr P-40, but the PT-92 is my home gun and is fun for target pratice. I qualified for my CCW with the 92 and the instructor eyeballed it and kept telling me how I had a great gun and I handled it well. Of course everyone else had 30 year old, neglected POS's.

BTW: I dunno if they're all like this or not, but my 92 has the smoothest slide racking I've EVER seen. Like it's gliding on some kind of super lubricant against the frame. Easy to pull back and it feels like there's no metal/metal contact. Just awesome to shoot.

 

[schadenfreude]

Isn"t the Taurus identical except for the safety is in the proper position?

How much do the PT 92's sell for?

 

[sorny]

AFAIK that's the only difference. But then again I'm a newbie and I don't know a whole lot about the different makes/models of guns. I've only owned two pistols ever. The PT-92 is usually cheaper. On gunbroker.com they're between $350-400 NEW for a stainless steel model. Mine is stainless and I got it used at a gunshop for $300. Not too bad.

 

[igor]

The Taurus 92 is good quality for the money. Differences to the Beretta also include a slightly different shape in the front strap of the grip, mag release and, obviously the mags themselves. Materials aren't as good as Beretta's, my 'smith had a laugh drilling a hole in the Taurus slide... It doesn't seem to have practical implications, though. Stay away from Taurus 99, that's what I have - the rear sight is no good. I'm getting a 92 slide soon.

Beretta holsters and such will fit perfectly. Gotta love that Condition 1 carry.

I've got one since the early 90's, over 20.000 rounds thru it until I broke my first locking block. I'll replace it after the next 10.000 myself... maybe by then the whole barrel. But now it's as good as anything, groups around 5 cm (2") at 25 meters.

A Walther would fit my grip much better, those grip adapters are a gift from <deity here>. But, after a lot of contemplation, I couldn't rationalize the trigger function: although my primary concern is IPSC, not CCW. YMWV, I guess. I'm sticking to Taurus.

 

[schadenfreude]

Just to update everyone and thank you all for the help.

I bought the 92fs vertec today. Got it for $500 locally. It fit my hand petter than the 92fs, had an accessory rail, adn was cheaper than the sig226 and the HK's that I was considering.

We'll see how I like it. If I don't.......I'm only out $500 and can sell it and try again.



Thanks again