Sig226 vs Beretta 92FS?

[DoomGoober]

After much research, I bought a Sig P226. I like it but the other day I picked up a friend's Beretta 92FS and boy, that thing points beautifully, my groups were amazing (even using his Straight Eight sights, which screwed with my vertical aim a bit.) The trigger definitely isn't as smooth as the 226, especially double action, but it's not particularly worse -- just different.

The only thing I didn't like was the safety on the slide, which I kept activating as I racked.

So my question is, why do so many people dislike the 92FS? Am I missing something that will reveal itself only after many hours of use? Why did the internet consensus so heavily favor the P226?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Milkmaster]

No complaints about my 92FS. It eats anything I decide to shoot through it without complaint, is as accurate as I can be, and disassembles for cleaning easily. What is not to like? The only valid complaint I do here is from those with smaller hands. The 92FS is a full size pistol. Some with smaller hands may not like it for good reason.

 

[john5036]

If you are reactivating the safety every time you rack the slide, you are doing it wrong Load the magazine, do the DA dance, fire till slide lock, reload, hit slide release, repeat. No need to rack, the slide release is quite pronounced vs. a Glock, which requires a bit more focus.

However, it's that safety/decock lever that's the reason many people dislike it. It really is a functionally worthless manual safety in defense situations. People forget that it is a battle/war pistol primarily, with personal defense quite the afterthought.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

The complaints mostly come from those in military service because the military picked such a reliable handgun, and stuck crappy aftermarket magazines which is the cause for all the faults.

 

[Gun Fever]

My m9 is a fine piece of machinery never had a problem, and i think it's much better looking than most full size pistols

 

[labhound]

Love my Beretta 92FS and my Stoeger 8000 and 8045, all with the slide mounted safety/decocker. As a matter of fact, I prefer it over a frame mounted safety.

 

[Rustinthewheel]

A lot of disdain for the M9/ 92 series comes from the military, from what I have seen the sidearms are not always well taken care of, or get worn. This coupled with the not always wonderful quality of military ammo leads some people to lose faith in the Beretta design.


They are both beautiful firearms, and will give plenty of faithful service.

 

[cslinger]

IMO the SIG is the better handgun design.................that being said by better I mean like the Ford F150 is better then the Silverado.

Basically both are very good. The SIG is a bit more durable in my opinion.

 

[DoomGoober]

Thank you for all of your replies. I do notice that it's mainly former military who dislike the 92FS.

Can anyone explain why the most common variant has a safety? Is this a military requirement or is it so you can carry condition one?

Thanks again!

 

[EAJ]

Decisions, decisions; a remedy for the indecisive…

 

[Nushif]

So my question is, why do so many people dislike the 92FS?

I think because most people get exposed to worn out and shot out military models that are stored in armories for years on end.

My 92D had been perfect pretty much, aside from being honkin' HUGE if I ever wanted to conceal it. Why does it have a safety? I dunno, tbh because the design doesn't *need* one ... so it kinda reeks of a requirement.

 

[Quentin]

I'm not a fan of the Beretta 92FS. A little too big for my hands and awkward. Shot just fine but seems like for such a large gun it should be a .40 S&W or .45ACP. I've fired a lot of 9mms and think there are better choices. Of the 9mils I've fired I have to give the nod to the Hi-Power. I have not fired the Sig 226 but it feels good in the hand.

 

[DblEGT]

I loved the 92FS so much, I went out recently and purchased the updated version, the Beretta 92A1..... A VERY SWEET GUN !!! Just look at the construction, quality, design, etc ... WOW.

(by the way, I tried the SIG 226 and came away unimpressed)

 

[MJ_ATL]

I miss my Beretta 92FS, it was one of the best shooting most accurate pistols I've owned. One of these days Dad will give it back to me and it can sit next to my Sig Sauer P226s and they can all compete for favorite gun status.

 

[Smaug]

Versus? Well, you probably don't to hear this, since you bought the P226, but I think the Beretta is a supermodel compared to any Sig Sauer.

You make a fair point about the DA trigger though.

I'd take the Beretta in a heartbeat.

As for activating the safety accidentally, you'd get used to that if you owned it. Nice long barrel and sight radius.

 

[1KPerDay]

I have both and like both. The ONLY thing I dislike about the beretta is the location and function of the decocker/safety. It's in the way and (for me) can be activated during malfunction clearances. Other than that it's a peach.

I'd take the SIG if I could only have one, though.

 

[funnelcake]

Once shot both side by side. The Beretta felt way better, shot better, and was more accurate. Same opinion & better accuracy was expressed/ achieved by the two shooting companions along for the day. Obviously small sample pool though. Most distinct memory is the Sig felt like a cheap toy while handling and shooting. I know better and both are alloy frame pistols, so I expected them to be somewhat similar. Definitely surprised me. 92 is on the list if a double-stack nine ever ranks high enough on the want list.

Funnel

 

[md7]

Both pistols have their advocates and detractors. In the end, they are both well made and reliable pistols that should serve you well, so the deciding factor should really boil down to personal preference.

 

[Onmilo]

I own a Sig 226 and I own a Beretta M9 and like them both.
I understand why they ended up so equal in the U.S. service pistol trials!

P.S. the 92FS/M9 was designed to go "on safe/decocked" when the slide is cycled.
With training and familiarization, one gets in the habit of holding the safety levers high for first shot single action or snicking the safety to the up/off position for ready to fire trigger cocking first shot if so inclined.

The 226 can be cycled and left cocked because it has a firing pin lock that will not allow the firing pin to go forward unless the trigger is pulled fully to the rear, or it can be decocked for a first round triggger cocking action using the decocking lever.

The only complaint I have between the two guns is with the Sig which I find the slide release to be located to far to the rear which causes me to hit the decocking lever instead of the slide release during speed reloads, very annoying.

 

[1KPerDay]

P.S. the 92FS/M9 was designed to go "on safe/decocked" when the slide is cycled.

Really....

 

[SwampWolf]

The ONLY thing I dislike about the beretta is the location and function of the decocker/safety. It's in the way and (for me) can be activated during malfunction clearances.

Same thing happens to me with the Model 92 and it's not uncommon for any slide mounted safety/decocker to be inadvertently activated during malfunction clearance drills. I'm a big fan of Smith & Wesson third generation pistols but the same thing can happen to them (the traditional da variants). You just have to be mindful of the possibility and be able to react accordingly.

On the plus side, the aforementioned Berettas and Smiths are so darned reliable that malfunctions are a very rare occurrence indeed.

 

[W.E.G.]

I traded my Beretta 92 even-steven for this.



I have several crunchentickers - although none of them a SIG.

I don't think I'm going to find a 9mm I like as a CARRY GUN better than the Glock 17.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I own a Sig 226 and I own a Beretta M9 and like them both.
I understand why they ended up so equal in the U.S. service pistol trials!

P.S. the 92FS/M9 was designed to go "on safe/decocked" when the slide is cycled.
With training and familiarization, one gets in the habit of holding the safety levers high for first shot single action or snicking the safety to the up/off position for ready to fire trigger cocking first shot if so inclined.

The 226 can be cycled and left cocked because it has a firing pin lock that will not allow the firing pin to go forward unless the trigger is pulled fully to the rear, or it can be decocked for a first round triggger cocking action using the decocking lever.

The only complaint I have between the two guns is with the Sig which I find the slide release to be located to far to the rear which causes me to hit the decocking lever instead of the slide release during speed reloads, very annoying.

They both have firing pin blocks and both are designed to be carried hammer down only. The Beretta has a safety and that is usually left off for carry as it was designed.

The complaint you have with the SIG is just because you aren't used to using it as much.

 

[Paul7]

I've got a new 92FS that had numerous failures the first 150 rounds, hopefully I can get it straigtened out. Never had so much as a hiccup on my Sigs.

 

[Jed Carter]

I have both the Beretta 92FS and a SIG P226, the Beretta for the most part is a safe queen, SIG makes many range trips and has done night stand duty for many years. Beretta is a fine pistol, I just do not like the slide mounted safety / decocker, it is hard to reach, flips the wrong direction (at least for me). SIG's trigger is smoother in SA and the SIG has Tritium night sights. SIG sure is ugly, Beretta is a real nice looking pistol, but I would choose a P226 over the 92FS. The SIG is worth the higher price tag in my experience, but other than the safety lever on the Beretta I have nothing but good experiences with it... just better with the P226.