Taurus PT92 for home defense

[Erik M]

Im looking at buying a model 92 in 9mm. I like the fact that it has 18+1 round capacity. I have a Mossy 500, but I feel more comfortable with a handgun for homestead defense, at least inisde the house. From the asking around ive done these guns ive recieved positive reactions with the only negative thing being that some beretta parts may not be compatible.

My questions are to the people that have experience with the gun how do you like it, what are its mannerisms, what ammo do you recommend? Also, does anyone not recommend it for any reason?

 

[Steve C]

The Taurus PT92 is a close copy of the Beretta 92 with some minor differences, one being the location and action of a frame mounted safety and allowing cocked and locked as well as decocking vrs the slide mounted Beretta decocking safety lever.

I have both pistols and while the Beretta is a nicer fit and finish with a little better trigger IMO the Taurus is perfectly good for self defense and is my most often carried pistol int the car. My Taurus 92 is an older model without the decocking feature of the newer pistols. Both the Taurus and the Beretta are extremely reliable pistols making them work fine in home defense where size isn't an issue.

 

[21bubba]

Everything that Steve c said +1

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I have an older PT92. It has proven reliable in the extreme and has done serveral years of "house duty" before. The only reason it is not doing so now is I want "commonality in weapons" at the house; my wife is not a shooter and since her defense gun is a revolver, all are.

I wouldn't hesitate to use my PT92 again if I didn't consider the commonality thing important.

Best and good luck.

 

[mljdeckard]

I had one and I had problems with it. The double-action was slipping, the hammer would drop before it went all the way back, giving me light strikes. I took it to a 'smith', (This was back when I really didn't know anyone better) that said "It's just dirty", he gave it back and the problem was still there. I got rid of it.

This was right after I got out of the army the first time, and I was still Beretta-conditioned. I recently shot a Beretta again for the first time in about 16 years and I despise it after carrying 1911s again for so long.

 

[KyJim]

I had a PT 99, the adjustable sight version, for many years and it was always reliable. I have smallish hands so it never quite fit my hand correctly. I traded it after 15+ years.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I've had a PT-99 for a while. Never had any kind of malfunction.

If Crimson Trace made a laser for it, it would be my nightstand gun.

 

[GRIZ22]

I have a PT99AF (adj sight version) since 1988. I used it as a duty gun for 4-5 years (firearms policy changed) and have put about 20k rounds through it. The only problem i ever had was the rear sight leaf broke (it did get banged around a little as a duty gun)which Taurus fixed with a 2 week turnaround.

I found no problems with reliability of any ammo I've used. I've found it most accurate with vurtually any 147 gr subsonic. Your results may differ.

 

[bestseller92]

I'd go for a Glock 17 instead, but that's just because I consider it the finest 9mm made and because it fits my hand better than the 92 series. The Taurus 92s are, I hear, fine pistols.

 

[Taurus_9mm]

Greetings fellow Kentuckian. I own a PT92 which has been accurate, durable and reliable since day one. The only FTF I've ever had was due to a dud round and no fault of the gun itself. I'd highly recommend one if that's what you're considering.

For ammo in my 9mms I'm partial to most quality loadings in the 124 gr. weight or thereabout. Currently mine are stoked with Gold Dots. I think this is a happy medium between the 115 and 147 gr. fodder.

www.taurusarmed.net

 

[shooter429]

Best model of the worst brand

I would not recommend it. Although mine was the most reliable of all my Taurus handguns, it still had to go back to Taurus for fixing, took around 4 months as I recall, and then functioned with fmjs reliably, until it broke at ~1900 Rds and had to be replaced. They are still poor quality guns when compared to quality Euro and American makes. If you want a Beretta, buy the Beretta, not a cheap wanna-be. The design is sound, if manufactured well. The Berettas function flawlessly, are accurate and will stand the test of time. If you are not set on that design, there are other good alternatives like Glock 17, S&W M&P, Sig Sauer 226 to name a few. All those guns are reliable, accurate and will not let ya down the way Taurus will.

Shooter429

 

[kev74]

I've had my PT92 for about a year now. I bought it used - it was made in 1986 and looked very "broken in" when I got it. I've put several thousand rounds through it and use it regularly for local handgun leagues. I've had one FTF in this time and it was right after I switched the grips on it from smooth wood to a more grippy plastic - I hit the mag release by mistake during a rapid fire drill, so I can't blame it on the gun.

Its a great gun and it eats what ever I feed it.

 

[zhyla]

I've had one for 10 years. Solid, easy to use handgun. No issues. Would eat marginal-quality reloads that would stuff up my dad's glock no problem. Couple things to note:

- They're big guns. Not too heavy, but very bulky. Make sure it fits your hand. It fits me fine but there's no way my wife could handle it.
- There's a lot of nooks and crannies that take time to clean. Some don't really need to be cleaned. The slide guiding slots (name for that???) are long and really skinny. I like the open bolt face design like Glocks and USP's for ease of cleaning.

If it suits you I say go for it. But if you haven't shot/seen anything else I would say keep shopping. I wouldn't be wooed by an extra round or two of capacity either. 15 is *plenty* for home defense.

 

[Storm]

A Taurus PT92 for home defense? Heck yes. One once protected my family's lives when I had to draw on a burglar coming through a dining room window at three in the morning. Heck yes, it has never missed a beat. While I generally depend on an HK USP .40 or a seven shot Smith 686 for home defense, this evening, by coincidence, with floods raging here in Metro Atlanta, the PT92 is by my side.

 

[m2steven]

i have a pt92 afs - shot it today matter of fact. it may indeed be the best pistol from the worst manufacturer, but this pistol would be a good piece if it were from S&W or CZ or Glock (i shot all 4 today). It's a fine a pistol as you can buy. Now some will vehemently disagree with me, but in it's price range it's a high value weapon.

Get one. It will serve you well, and with the money you save, get plenty of
cheap 9mm ammo to put through it. I can say good things about the guns I shot today, but the PT92 (and the original Walther) are so well balanced and the triggers are so nice - it's difficult to find a better pistol unless you shoot a 1911.

I have the gorgeous stainless version and not only does it shoot well, It's about the best looking gun i've got. You can purchase worse pistols all day for 900 bucks from good companies.

Don't let the Taurus stigma keep you away from this particular pistol. Let the taurus stigma keep you away from everything else they make, but not this. If you like it, buy it.

 

[AKElroy]

Eric--I have a 20+ year old PT99, and it is still one of my best shooters and extremely reliable. I love the frame mounted safety, and mine is more accurate than I can shoot. If you go this route, get the wrap-around pachmayr's; they transform the ergo's. That said, the same money opens up others that may be even more fun to own & shoot, like the CZ 75/85. I am not a millenium fan, so my Taurus recommendation is limited to the 92/99.

For HD, I keep my two 9's loaded w/ DoubleTap 115 gr +p's. Rounds this light are devestating up close, and less likely to OP in the house. That said, I do not rely on either of my 9mm's for HD because the round in any weight still OP's more than most, materially more than a .40 or .45, definately more than your 12 gage, so this may be a consideration.

For HD, I keep a 12 gage next to the bed & a .40 XDm w/ a TLR-2 attached in the nightstand.

 

[RippinSVT]

One of the best guns I ever owned. I sold mine when I was in need of cash, foolishly, and have regreted it ever since. I also owned a Beretta 92 that, in my experience, was not as nice a gun as my Taurus 92.

 

[zhyla]

get the wrap-around pachmayr's; they transform the ergo's.

+1 on the Pachmayr grips. The stock grip kind of sucks to be honest.

 

[Mags]

Had the stainless model and now have a blued model AFS. I am Active Duty Military and I am quite fond of the Beretta so I wanted something similar to the Beretta for my first handgun. The PT92 was an affordable alternative to the Beretta and I purchased a stainless model. When I had enough money to buy a Beretta I still chose the the Taurus PT 92. I regret selling my stainless model to buy a Glock it would have been nice to have two PT 92s.

 

[03Shadowbob]

my 92 has over 10,000 rounds through it without a hickup. Never have had to change springs yet. Has eaten everything I have fed it. It is big and bulky but damn accurate AND the safety is in the right place.