Taurus PT 92 AFS

[mikemyers]

I was visiting a relative, and he knew someone selling off a good part of a rather large gun collection. I ended up buying two guns, a High Standard .22 Target Pistol (which I'm still learning about) and a Taurus PT-92 AFS 9mm.

There have been several discussions here on THR about the Taurus - I read through several of them. The latest was this:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=651158&highlight=taurus+pt92+afs
That thread is from 2012, and the others are even older.

The biggest concern regarding this Taurus seems to be the "locking block" which apparently has been revised both on the Taurus, and on the Beretta 92. I didn't want to add to an old thread, so I'll ask my question here...

What is a "locking block", and how serious an issue is this? Is it the kind of thing you ignore until when/if it breaks, or is it something that should be upgraded ahead of time? I'm in Miami, and Taurus is in Miami. Should I just take the gun to them now to let them replace it with a newer design (if there is one), or just start using the gun and when/if anything happens, call them?

 

[Glockwheeler]

The locking block and the trigger spring have been the "Achilles Heel" of the Beretta 92 design. The original locking blocks had some reports of breakage (primarily the military M9). They are a wear item and should be periodically inspected for signs of cracks and replaced as needed. I have yet to see a broken locking block in person and I have owned several 92's over the past two decades without any issues. I believe the current blocks are rated for a minimum or 20-30,000 rds? The single most important method in preventing breakage is to replace the recoil spring every 3-5,000 rds. I strongly suspect the lack of spring change has likely led to many of the broken locking blocks reported in these pistols.

I have an old Italian 92FS INOX which has had many thousands of rds. fired through it since 1990 and the original locking block shows very little wear, but again, I have performed recommended maintenance on it as well. In fact, I have never had a parts breakage in the pistol since I purchased it new. By the way, that stainless Taurus PT92FS is a very nice looking pistol. Congrats on your purchase. I would simply buy a spare locking block assembly if you are worried about it and change it if you ever find the original starting to develop cracks. It is a very simple task to change them out.

 

[WestKentucky]

I hope it's as nice as my pt99af. I have put a couple grand through mine and it was well used when I got it. Lube it, change the springs once a decade and don't worry about it.

 

[AustinTX]

What is a "locking block", and how serious an issue is this? Is it the kind of thing you ignore until when/if it breaks, or is it something that should be upgraded ahead of time? I'm in Miami, and Taurus is in Miami. Should I just take the gun to them now to let them replace it with a newer design (if there is one), or just start using the gun and when/if anything happens, call them?

The locking block is the winged metal block held between the two "legs" on the bottom of the barrel by a curved recess in the forward leg and a pinned plunger that moves fore and aft in the rear leg. The purpose of the block is to keep the barrel locked to the slide during the first portion of the recoil cycle (as with the common tilt-barrel action) until the block "falls" as it rides down its own set of frame rails, arresting the barrel's movement and decoupling it from the slide.

Like Glockwheeler said, it should be treated as a wear component and replaced at regular intervals. A lot of PT-92 owners use the third-generation locking blocks (current production) from Beretta in their guns, which are fully compatible and are the toughest available. I believe the recommended replacement interval for third-gen. blocks is every 15,000 rounds; these latest blocks last well beyond that (sometimes by many tens of thousands of rounds) on average, but it's a cheap part, and it's much better to replace it before any breakage occurs. If your gun doesn't have the third-gen. block shown the previous link, you can buy a locking block kit from Beretta USA. (There are videos showing you how to remove and install the block on Youtube.) This kit also comes with a compatible recoil spring, which is something you should probably change out right away, since you likely don't know the gun's round count. Like Glockwheeler said, the single most important thing you can do to keep your pistol in good working order is to change the recoil spring at the appropriate intervals. This is true of any pistol, but it's especially important for ones with aluminum-alloy frames. You can buy future replacement springs from Wolff.

Apply some grease to the aluminum frame rails to protect the anodizing (do this with any aluminum-framed gun) and to the area of the frame that guides and arrests the locking block, and you'll be in good shape. There are many different kinds available, from Shooter's Choice synthetic grease to Brian Enos' Slide-Glide to Wilson's Ultima Lube II Grease, and many others, any of which will do the job.

Oh, and if you're going to rely on this gun for self-defense, you should replace the trigger return spring as well (very cheap, and also available from Wolff). The one in the gun is probably the one it shipped with. Beretta significantly strengthened the design of the spring around 2001, and the Wolff spring for the 92 (same for both Beretta and Taurus) incorporates this change. These should be replaced every 5,000 rounds for a 92 in a self-defense role.

Enjoy!

 

[mikemyers]

Thank you all for the detailed information. Now I know what to buy, spring, spare locking block, and (unless what I already have is adequate) grease.

The fellow I bought it from had a long list of what guns he wanted to sell. Looking them up on the internet, this Taurus had lots of reviews saying how good it was. At that time, I hadn't yet seen it, but when I did, it looked like a brand new gun. The price was very reasonable, so I figured why not. I've never owned a 9mm before, only shot one once while visiting friends out west. That was a Glock, and I didn't like the gun very much - it was a "rental", and out of one box of ammo, it seemed like every 10th shot jammed. From what I've read, the Taurus doesn't have this problem.

First impressions are that it's big, and heavy, because of the size it's very easy to grip well, it's beautifully finished, and is very smooth. I wish it had adjustable rear sights, but those are available if I ever really want to change anything (http://www.precisionsalesintl.com/Product/TPU_product_page.html. I went to the Taurus support link on their website, and printed out the user manual.

Is this a gun you can dry fire? If so, is it better to get snap caps?

 

[mikemyers]

I finally had two opportunities to shoot this gun, earlier in the week, and today. For whatever it's worth, it was very enjoyable to shoot, but my groups are nothing like what i usually get from my other guns.

I'm sure the problem is "me", not the gun, but while I've been looking all over, I can't find any postings indicating what the gun is capable of (group size, etc.).

My gun has non-adjustable sights, but unless I'm missing something, that simply means I'll have more work to do to get the gun zero'ed in. Vertically, it is good. Horizontally, it shoots about one inch to the right of what I'm aiming at.

Anybody have an idea of what a Taurus or equivalent 9mm pistol ought to be capable of, say, at 15 yards?

 

[WestKentucky]

My 99af puts shots on a half dollar consistently at 10yds. I had one that was even more accurate a while back that I cleared a farm pond of a turtle infestation with. That gun was 50/50 on turtles out to 25 yards...So imagine aiming at a soda bottle cap at 25 yards. That one was easily the most accurate auto I have ever owned. The only thing that is even in the same realm was a sw22a with a scope.

 

[mikemyers]

Thanks; hand held at 10 yards, I can't come close to a group the size of a half dollar, so this is far beyond my capabilities right now, but it's good to have something "to shoot for". Actually, I can't shoot that well even with my .22 target gun - maybe close. Lots more shooting to do, and getting used to the gun.

If the 99af can do it, I assume so can a 92 AFS with non-adjustable sights.

Was your gun "stock", just the way it was manufactured by Taurus?

 

[WestKentucky]

Was, still is, and will be unless I scrounge enough money to put a fastfire 2 on it, and yes, absolutely the 92 will shoot as tight of a group, it just may not be centered on the target. They have the same barrels, so there's no reason to believe one is capable of more than the other.

 

[Steve C]

I bought my Taurus PT92 new in '89. Notice its the old model w/o a decking safety. The locking block broke one of the locking ears during a range session in 2010 so I got over 20 years of use without problems. I probably put close to 10K rounds through this pistol of all type, cheap steel case Wolf and other Russian ammo, S&B, Chinese and other Surplus stuff, and lots of hand loads.

Bought a new lock block and replaced the recoil spring for good measure and its fine. Figure if it shoots another 20 years without a problem I'll be happy.

 

[leadcounsel]

Tagged. This was nearly my first gun and I wish it had been. I remember drooling over a stainless one in the local gun store for weeks but failed to pull the trigger.

I've since acquired a 92 and 99 in blued finish and while I've never shot them, they are a joy ergonimically and I prefer them over the Beretta due to the safety.

I'll be taking the advice here and proactively swapping out the locking block and springs.

 

[JR47]

I own an early (no decocker) PT92 that was bought long ago. It has in excess of 30K rounds through it. They have included standard, +P, and +P+ rounds. I replace the recoil spring every 5K rounds, or earlier when the replacement is more than 1/4" longer. I use Wolff springs. I'm still on the original locking block. Other than the recoil spring, a paint touch up of the three dot sights, and a set of Uncle Mike's grips, the gun is as it left the factory.

Beretta had the issue due to military use without replacing the recoil springs.

 

[Ditchtiger]

Taurus used to exchange locking blocks when I broke one. The policy now is to return the pistol for warranty. I don't think so. I can buy a block for 1/2 of what it costs to ship a pistol. And I learned years ago to keep a spare block it the cleaning kit.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Only Taurus I've ever owned.

I also own one of the early Taurus PT 92 pistols with just the frame mounted safety and no de-cocker.

I'm not sure how many rounds of ammo through it. It's a definite keeper and a nice pistol. I've got the orginal box, grips and two factory mags, Also have four of the 18-round Mec-Gar magazines...my favorites.

I've never changed the block in mine. I probably should.