nero45acp
Member
Last week I bought a Beretta 92 Steel I SA 9mm, and today I finally got a chance to get it out to the range.
General Overview:
The 92 Steel I is a Italian made, all steel full-sized 9mm, with a polished and satin nickel alloy finish. As a rule I don't like nickel finishes so I may have it hard-chromed in the future, though I must admit that Beretta did a very nice job with the finish. The polished portions of the gun while quite shinny are not as bad a fingerprint maganet as some other pistols I've owned with bright nickel finishes (1958 Colt Gov. Model).
The slide to frame fit is as about perfect as one can find in a non-custom pistol. There is no play to it nor does the slide bind in any way. Overall the fit/machining on this pistol is first class. The sights are traditional 3 dot set-up, dovetailed, and provide a excellent sight picture. I believe that they are Novaks.
The Steel I is available in DA/SA or just SA. I bought the SA version as I want to use it as a range/target pistol. The SA trigger on my Steel I is VERY Crisp with absolutely no creep. The take-up and reset are very good out of the box (though not as good as a 1911, but then what is?), and are fully adjustable (on the SA version) by using a two 25mm set-screws situated inside the upper portion of the frame/magazine well. My only complaint about the trigger (or the entire pistol for that matter) is the weight of the trigger pull. I don't have the equipment to measure it precisely but I estimate that it is between 5-6lbs. Not bad, but heavier than I would like for a target pistol. After the holidays I plan on taking it to a local gunsmith I trust, and see if he can lighten it to around 4lbs.
As I said earlier, the Steel I is full-sized and all steel, so it's rather hefty at 38.8 oz unloaded according to the instruction booklet (Beretta USA's website list it as 41.1oz). The Steel I also has the Vertec type grip which fits smaller hands better than the regular 92 or 96 grip. Unlike the Vertec, the Steel I does not have the accessory rail. I have small hands so I find that the Vertec and Steel I fits my hands well (though not as well as a 1911, Hi-Power, or P225). With grip serrations front and back, and nicely textured grip panels the Steel I provides a nice solid and secure grip.
The Steel I comes with a sturdy plastic carrying case, nicely done instruction booklet in several languages, two cleaning brushes, and two "low-capacity" 10 round magazines (I believe you can use regular 15 round mags in the Steel I). MRSP for the Steel I is $1730, but I was able to get mine for $1205 (that included FL state tax I had to pay) at On Point Firearms. They are a small outfit but they have fantastic prices!
Range Report:
I took my new 92 Steel I to the range this morning and put 200 rounds of Winchester White Box (value pack) 9mm ammo through it. The Steel I performed flawlessly. No FTF or FTE. The spent cases were nicely ejected about 4-6 feet to the right (no hot cases bouncing off the forehead). The Steel I shot POA with the sights being right on. I was able to consistantly shoot 2-3 inch groups at 10 yards freehand/slowfire. I am sure that the Steel I is much more accurate than I am. With the Steel I's heft being comparable to a 1911, the recoil from the 9mm cartridge is minimal and thus made the Steel I very fun to shoot. As I said earlier, my only complaint is that I wish the trigger pull was a pound or two lighter.
Conclusion:
The Beretta 92 Steel I is an excellent all steel (heavy) full-sized 9mm, that fits small hands well. It is more reliable than the three 9mm 1911's I've owned (I know 200 rounds isn't much but my 9mm 1911's could never get thru even that without a failure), and fits my hands better than a SIG P226ST. However, I feel that for most shooters the Steel I is overprice. If you have regular-sized to larger hands, and want a full-sized all steel 9mm I would recommend the SIG P226ST. It is accurate, reliable, and can be had for around $400 less than what I paid for the Steel I. But if you want a hefty, full-sized 9mm and the P226ST doesn't fit your hands, and you're tired of unreliable 9mm 1911's, then yes the Beretta 92 Steel I is an excellent pistol that I would recommend.
nero
General Overview:
The 92 Steel I is a Italian made, all steel full-sized 9mm, with a polished and satin nickel alloy finish. As a rule I don't like nickel finishes so I may have it hard-chromed in the future, though I must admit that Beretta did a very nice job with the finish. The polished portions of the gun while quite shinny are not as bad a fingerprint maganet as some other pistols I've owned with bright nickel finishes (1958 Colt Gov. Model).
The slide to frame fit is as about perfect as one can find in a non-custom pistol. There is no play to it nor does the slide bind in any way. Overall the fit/machining on this pistol is first class. The sights are traditional 3 dot set-up, dovetailed, and provide a excellent sight picture. I believe that they are Novaks.
The Steel I is available in DA/SA or just SA. I bought the SA version as I want to use it as a range/target pistol. The SA trigger on my Steel I is VERY Crisp with absolutely no creep. The take-up and reset are very good out of the box (though not as good as a 1911, but then what is?), and are fully adjustable (on the SA version) by using a two 25mm set-screws situated inside the upper portion of the frame/magazine well. My only complaint about the trigger (or the entire pistol for that matter) is the weight of the trigger pull. I don't have the equipment to measure it precisely but I estimate that it is between 5-6lbs. Not bad, but heavier than I would like for a target pistol. After the holidays I plan on taking it to a local gunsmith I trust, and see if he can lighten it to around 4lbs.
As I said earlier, the Steel I is full-sized and all steel, so it's rather hefty at 38.8 oz unloaded according to the instruction booklet (Beretta USA's website list it as 41.1oz). The Steel I also has the Vertec type grip which fits smaller hands better than the regular 92 or 96 grip. Unlike the Vertec, the Steel I does not have the accessory rail. I have small hands so I find that the Vertec and Steel I fits my hands well (though not as well as a 1911, Hi-Power, or P225). With grip serrations front and back, and nicely textured grip panels the Steel I provides a nice solid and secure grip.
The Steel I comes with a sturdy plastic carrying case, nicely done instruction booklet in several languages, two cleaning brushes, and two "low-capacity" 10 round magazines (I believe you can use regular 15 round mags in the Steel I). MRSP for the Steel I is $1730, but I was able to get mine for $1205 (that included FL state tax I had to pay) at On Point Firearms. They are a small outfit but they have fantastic prices!
Range Report:
I took my new 92 Steel I to the range this morning and put 200 rounds of Winchester White Box (value pack) 9mm ammo through it. The Steel I performed flawlessly. No FTF or FTE. The spent cases were nicely ejected about 4-6 feet to the right (no hot cases bouncing off the forehead). The Steel I shot POA with the sights being right on. I was able to consistantly shoot 2-3 inch groups at 10 yards freehand/slowfire. I am sure that the Steel I is much more accurate than I am. With the Steel I's heft being comparable to a 1911, the recoil from the 9mm cartridge is minimal and thus made the Steel I very fun to shoot. As I said earlier, my only complaint is that I wish the trigger pull was a pound or two lighter.
Conclusion:
The Beretta 92 Steel I is an excellent all steel (heavy) full-sized 9mm, that fits small hands well. It is more reliable than the three 9mm 1911's I've owned (I know 200 rounds isn't much but my 9mm 1911's could never get thru even that without a failure), and fits my hands better than a SIG P226ST. However, I feel that for most shooters the Steel I is overprice. If you have regular-sized to larger hands, and want a full-sized all steel 9mm I would recommend the SIG P226ST. It is accurate, reliable, and can be had for around $400 less than what I paid for the Steel I. But if you want a hefty, full-sized 9mm and the P226ST doesn't fit your hands, and you're tired of unreliable 9mm 1911's, then yes the Beretta 92 Steel I is an excellent pistol that I would recommend.
nero
