Where to get a 92FS barrel that isn't oversized

[Schwing]

I have an early 90s era 92fs. It is one of my all time favorite hand guns. One issue I have always had with it is the common problem with the barrel diameter being on the wide side. It is .3585.

I shoot a lot of lead bullets but have a challenging time getting good accuracy. I cast my own and can certainly cast a .360 bullet but I find that when I hit about .358 or .359 that you pretty much hit the limit of the cartridge and start splitting necks etc. Using an M die helps but... The result are finished cartridges that won't even chamber in my other 9mms.

Anyone have a bright idea of where I could get a barrel that is closer to .355 or .356? I can certainly order another barrel but it would be a crap-shoot as to whether it will have the same problem. I am also wondering if there are any aftermarket barrels that might be less prone to this problem. I know a lot of 92s have this issue.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[BSA1]

When you say early model how old is it?

My 92FS is 25 years old and shoots as good as I can at the moment. I am bringing it out of the safe for edc. My practice bullet is 115 gr. Cast Lead sized .356" behind W-231 powder.

(I have not shot it in years. My U.S. Army son loves to shoot it when he is home on leave).

Anyway it is a law enforcement model and serial number starts with BER. If you have not done so I would call Beretta USA and discuss it with them.

 

[Schwing]

The issue isn't really the inherent accuracy of the gun. With jacketed bullets, it shoots very well. The problem is that the barrel diameter is so wide that lead bullets have to be sized to .360 to shoot well which is just too big.

 

[Wil Terry]

WHY is .360"O.D. too big if it works ??
ALMOST ALL foreign 9MM PARABELLUM are of .357" or a bit more and have been for one hundred years. The only series of 9MM pistols to adhere closely to the .355" I.D. are American made S&W 9MM pistol barrels. MINE have all shot just fine with .358" lead projectiles !
And so it goes...

 

[Edarnold]

Since you cast your own bullets, perhaps you could try a softer alloy? If accuracy with your existing bullets is poor at .357" diameter it suggests they are too hard to slug up with the powder charges you are using. Maybe dropping to an alloy that gives you a BHN of 9 or 10 will give better results.

 

[Schwing]

I understand casting fundamentals. I have had acceptable accuracy with 10-14 bhn bullets sized to .359 but I don't want that. As stated in my original post, the result is a cartridge that won't chamber in my other 9mms. I don't want that.

What I am looking for is the ability to replace my barrel with one that is closer to .355 to eliminate the necessity to tinker with my lead loads. I also don't want to have to cast bullets that only function in one gun.

 

[BSA1]

If sounds like our guns are about the same age.

I shoot 98% cast bullets. As a matter of fact I went to the range today and shot 100 rounds of cast lead bullets with no complaints.

Have you tried calling BerettaUSA?

 

[jakk280rem]

Call Bar-Sto and ask them what the bore and groove diameter of their barrels are.

 

[RecoilRob]

I haven't had much good luck using light lead 9mm's, but have found this Lyman mould to really deliver a great bullet that works well in my 92 Compact. http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/74...m-356-diameter-147-grain-flat-nose-bevel-base

They come out nearly perfect and I size to .356. No leading. Excellent accuracy and they fly really well out of a carbine barrel over 3.8 231. With full power loads the lead 'should' upset to fit whatever reasonable bore you are using, but the light bullets get going way too fast and will lead. The 154 grn (lubed) can be driven with full power loads about 950 out of the pistols and the barrels all stay shiny. No other lead 9mm has come close to shooting as well as these...and might be worth a try if you can't find that tighter barrel you're looking for.

 

[BSA1]

I corrected my previous post to .356" cast bullet. I own several 9mm's and use the same bullet and loads in all of them. It is too much trouble and time to fine tune my reloads to each gun.

As I have been considering buying one of the surplus Beretta 92S I am curious what the bore size of them is.

 

[Schwing]

I corrected my previous post to .356" cast bullet. I own several 9mm's and use the same bullet and loads in all of them. It is too much trouble and time to fine tune my reloads to each gun.

As I have been considering buying one of the surplus Beretta 92S I am curious what the bore size of them is.

They seem to be all over the map. A friend of mine owns 2 92FS's and both of his barrels slug at .356. I have chatted up several folks at the range when I see them shooting 92s with cast bullets and have heard everything from .355 to .359.

One thing I have been tinkering with is using my lee .358-125-RF mold. It casts them at exactly .358. I then powder coat them to bump them up to .359. The downfall is that they have a very wide Ogive on them so they head space on the bullet a bit. In fact, I have to get the OAL on them way down to 1.050. Between about 4.2-4.6 grains of unique they are accurate without any pressure signs.

So the bottom line is that I know how to make accurate bullets for it but I would like a smaller barrel.

 

[Schwing]

Call Bar-Sto and ask them what the bore and groove diameter of their barrels are.

This might actually be an option. I sent them an email and am waiting to hear back. They are a bit pricey but, if the dimensions are ok, it looks like this might be the best options so far.

 

[1KPerDay]

My 92FS slugs .357". I shoot indoors mostly .355-.356" plated from xtreme or berrys without issue (though my SIG is about 30% more accurate with same loads, and it also slugs .357"). Outdoors I shoot MBC smallball sized to .358 (most are about .3585"). No issues with necks splitting or any other problems, very accurate.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

WHY is .360"O.D. too big if it works ??

It appears that he doesn't want to have to load two different types 9mm ammo -- one for his Beretta, and another for his other 9mms (multiple guns)...

 

[amd6547]

Taurus PT92 barrels will drop in to a Beretta 92....

 

[Schwing]

Taurus PT92 barrels will drop in to a Beretta 92....

That is a great thought! I don't see many out there but that is a definite possibility.

 

[highlander 5]

I have a 92 fs Bar Sto barrel and according to their sight the diameter is .3555 so it will handle both cast and jacketed equally well. You will have to buy and install the locking block but for another $50 Bar Store will install one for you. Oh I forgot to mention Bar Sto's barrels are stainless steel.

 

[GooseGestapo]

The Taurus suffer from the same thing. I recently acquired a Taurus PT99 and shot it for the first time yesterday.
It suprised me with some Lee 105-SWC @.357" over 5.2gr of LongShot. Shot very nice groups but with a tad of vertical stringing. However, it shot "shotgun" patterns with some Lee 120gr TC over same load that were sized to .356".
I have a quantity of the 105gr SWC's @.358" so will try those. They sometimes don't want to chamber in th Performance Center S&W's. .357" however perform fabulously.