When did Beretta start using plastic parts?

[George Hill]

The history of Beretta is old and unique... but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking Beretta USA and the 92 series. It's often said to avoid the BUSA guns and go for the Italian ladies. Reason given is that there are plastic parts in the BUSA guns, like a safety lever, guide rod, trigger and such.
Okay, by my 92FS is stamped with Made in the USA on the slide. The trigger is aluminum. The lanyard loop is aluminum. All the levers including the safety/decocker is metal on both sides. The guide rod is metal. The only thing plastic are the grips and these are going to become wood as soon as possible.
So either a previous owner of this pistol swapped out the plastic with metal parts, or BUSA used to make the pistol right and have since starting using cheaper parts.
If my gun is an example of earlier BUSA guns, then I would have to say the earlier BUSA guns are just as good as the ones from Italy. Looking at mine side by side with an Italian made 92 I can see no differences other than finish wear and roll marks.

 

[WonderNine]

I believe they started using the plastic parts about a year ago. However they've used plastic grips for a LOOOOONG time. Maybe since the beginning. I don't mind the black plastic grips on a blued model as I dislike wood grips, but the plastic parts make me want to hurl For a stainless or blued I prefer the factory logo rubber grips. I don't even know if they make any for a Vertec.

I'm sure you'll see some posters in this thread who will say it's not big deal and that they actually like the plastic trigger/safety/guide rod, but for me, if I wanted to buy a Glock, I wouldn't get a Beretta. I can't stand the new plastic parts especially on the stainless models, they look so cheap. I'm sure you'll also get some opinions that the plastic parts in in fact strong, but I've seen a few stories on Beretta forum about the plastic guide rods breaking. If I ever bought a Vertec I'd want to look it over very well for a straight lockup and I'd change out the trigger, safety lever, and guide rod for REAL parts. While I like the Elite 1, the plastic parts are the biggest turnoff for me. I guess I'm not a big fan of the Brig slide either, but I like the white lettering! If I bought a new gun I'd have to shell out another hundred dollars or so just to get decent parts. I think they should come with the gun in the first place!!!!

Big thumbs down on plastic Beretta 92's!

*edit* Btw: there are plastic parts on Italian Berettas now too, although we cannot buy them here, as far as I know.

 

[WonderNine]

This is how a Beretta should look:

Not this:



Not knocking the Vertec's looks, just the plastic parts.

 

[BerettaNut92]

The Inox Vertecs look like

George, lots of controversy on plastic parts at the Berettaforum...IIRC going to plastic was Italy's idea???

 

[WonderNine]

IIRC going to plastic was Italy's idea???

Ya, I think somebody over on the Beretta forum claimed that? I can't remember who. It should be in one of the posts on the front page of the pistols section. Yea, I agree the plastic parts on the Inox Vertecs make it look like a$$.

 

[BerettaNut92]

That Vertec Inox looks like a cheap Airsoft gun. Do people at Beretta crank them out proud of these things???

 

[WonderNine]

Heh, from what I understand 9X19 ammo is now illegal in Italy for civilian ownership because it is a "military" caliber. I think they are all 9X23 or 9X21 for the Italian market for awhile now. Maybe they just don't care anymore?

 

[jacketch]

The day will eventually come that an all metal gun is either impossible to buy or way too expensive for the averge gun buyer. Then the all metal guns from the past will be worth a fortune and the plastic guns will be cheap and common.

 

[dsk]

I just looked at a brand-new Beretta 92 at my local dealer today. The following parts were plastic:

Guide rod
Trigger
Left-side safety lever

I'm just glad I bought my Berettas when I did.

 

[cool45auto]

I can't believe the difference in looks as far as quality goes from the first pic to the second.

Please tell me the Inox Vertec is an Airsoft!

 

[firestar]

I didn't even know that there was ANY plastic in a Beretta! My 92fs is all metal. I will not be buying one of the ones with plastic parts anytime soon. At least there are plenty of good used Berettas on the market.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I think the Vertec would look OK if they'd do away with that ridiculous accessory rail. Spoils the whole look. I'll have to check, but my 92 Inox was purchased about 3 years ago new and I don't recall seeing a plastic guide rod. What burns me is the safety lever on the right side. It looks cheap, and distinctly different from the one on the left. One thing I like about the Vertec (straight backstrap? I can take it or leave it) is that they finally did away with the fixed front sight and dovetailed it. This is how it should have been from the beginning.

 

[George Hill]

Plastic or not, I'm still jonesing for a 92 Compact. I can replace the plastic.

 

[WonderNine]

I don't understand the point of the 92 compact. It's not any smaller than full size save the slightly shorter grip and preban magazines are much harder to find and more expensive.

 

[10-Ring]

The plastic parts, esp. on the Vertec, really don't help. The plastic parts can be replaced for the most part, but it's just not right that the factory thinks it's okay to set them up that way to begin w/.
As for the Vertec...the more I see Skunk's, the more I start to warm up to them. Then I see one of the inox versions and I get set back

 

[George Hill]

It's a little shorter in the Grip and in the Barrel Slide assembly.
But you might as well be asking "What's the point of the Commander?"
Yeah, it's not much smaller... but there is a difference.

 

[SB1]

Not to kick up the old dirt

But I just purchased a stainless 92fs. None of the controls are plastic. Grips are rubber. But low and behold when I field stripped her, I noticed the guiderod is plastic. It is made in the USA and not the Vertec so I am not sure if that's the differnce there. I was just a little let down when I opened her up.

 

[10-Ring]

Yeah, a year and a half ago, a shooting buddy tried to alk me out of my Italian 92fs inox (say that 3 times fast!) When he realized he couldn't, he went out and bought one when Beretta had that guy a gun get a safe promo going. When we got it, he wasn't exactly a happy camper w/ the plastic parts But as least he got that safe (true sarcasm mode ON!)

 

[dsk]

For me, the issue is really not about plastic parts as much as using plastic parts AND keeping/raising the price.

 

[Lastryghts]

Can you still get a metal parts from the factory and switch them out?

 

[Blueduck]

For me, the issue is really not about plastic parts as much as using plastic parts AND keeping/raising the price.-DSK

Ditto