Beretta 92F

VincentVega

VincentVega

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So I have the opportunity to buy a 92F Beretta. From what Ive heard this is the pistol that the US military had problems with slide breakage but then they designed the 92FS. I cant remember what they changed, something to do with the slide block (terminology correct?) that prevents the slide from traveling rearward off the frame and into the shooters chest/face. My concern is, how prevalent was this in the 92F is it something to be concerned about? Should I just spend the extra 500 bucks on a new 92FS (the 92F is selling for around 600 bucks) or is there some way to modify the 92F to make it safer should the slide break?
 
Any breakage issue was fixed years ago.

Another M9 "issue" was caused by the US purchasing cheaply made mags.

The Berettas are excellent--both in engineering and materials. Mine has never had a misfeed or FTF. It's an extremely well-made and engineered handgun.

More important is the fit between you and the pistol.

Are you comfortable with the grip size and angle? And the relationship between your hands and the controls? Unless you enjoy firing the gun, and the design of the gun enhances your accuracy, don't buy it.
 
I love the point weight and the feel of the Beretta. The controls for the slide stop are perfect for me, and the stiations on the slide dont dig into my hands like the CZ does. Ill admit that the grip is a bit fat but my hands are pretty large so its not really an issue for me. Havent fired one yet, hoping to go to the states and try one out.
 
I had a Beretta 92SB... the cute version of the 92FS. This gun never had a jam or a malfuction of any sort. The only thing stupid about this gun is that I did sold it...:rolleyes:
 
You'll have to clarify for me... but the later F model should have a cut in the bottom of the slide (left side) running front to back in which a large washer pinned in the frame rides. It is the washer engaging the front end of this cut that will/would prevent a broken slide from hitting you. It may have come later. Have you got this cut or no? Also, there is some that say an F model is without the slide mounted safety, but I disagree as I think the F model incorporated both B and S redesigns. If yours is very early, you won't have the groove... may be worth something as a collectors piece one day, but if you are actually worried about failure (there really weren't that many and you ain't using uber hot NATO ammo), just grab a brand new FS.
As a side note I don't think one ever failed with normal 9mm, 9mm+p, or possibly even 9mm+p+ ammo. I believe NATO runs higher pressure than +P+ for which there is no civilian counterpart. Chime in and slap me if I'm wrong....
 
The Beretta 92F was modified with an enlarged hammer pin that engaged a slot cut the the slide to prevent a broken slide from striking the shooter.


This modification was designated the 92FS.

Most of the Beretta's you will encounter nowadays are the 92FS. The SB and the F lack this modification.
 
Yeah to be honest even thought the price is right and I wouldnt be using hot ammo I think it would bother me to know that it MIGHT happen even though it wouldnt. Think I will get a new 92FS in Inox if I can still get one. I dont like the look of the 90-two as shallow as that sounds it looks to "plasticy" for me even though it is a full aluminum frame and slide. Anyone know if there are any issues with the guide pin for the recoil spring? I know they changed it to a plastic composite. It wouldnt deter me from buying it as if there was a problem (which I doubt) then I could just change it out.
 
I've owned a few 92 series Beretta 9mm pistols, starting in the early 1980's, when hi-cap mags were legal & there weren't many double stack pistols out there. [And the USGI issue pistol was still the 1911...] All of the Berettas I owned were reliable enough & functioned well. But despite having large hands I could never adjust to the "table leg" feel of the Beretta grip.

The CZ75 and Browning HP pistols just seem to fit my hand better. Got my double stack 9mm's covered with a Browning HP MkIII now. So, these days I'd pass on a Beretta deal unless it was smokin' & I was looking to flip the pistol for a few bucks to buy something else.
 
VincentVega said:
I dont like the look of the 90-two as shallow as that sounds it looks to "plasticy" for me ..... Anyone know if there are any issues with the guide pin for the recoil spring? I know they changed it to a plastic composite. It wouldnt deter me from buying it as if there was a problem (which I doubt) then I could just change it out.
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Don't change it out. There are no problems with the guide rod, basically it doesn't need to be strong at all... as it is never under stress... just a guide. It will not wear out or break. Old 1911's didn't even have need for (a complete) one if you think about it. All it does is keeps the spring from garbling up like a slinky given to a three year old kid with ADD. The 40 cal Inox is very very nice and with a limit of 10 rounds anyways its something to look at. I am not a big fan of the 40 for 40's sake, but it shoots real nice in a Beretta from what I've tried. I like the rubbery grips on the 40 inox as well. The 92a1's ain't a bad option if you like the 9mm.
 
NAA just curious when was the last time you’ve handled a Beretta? What kind of grips did the gun(s) have? I myself handled other peoples 92’s with aftermarket wooden grips and they were HUGE. My 92FS (and ALL new 92’s) have Houge rubber grips that are very slim and comfortable to hold in my average size hands.

Should I just spend the extra 500 bucks on a new 92FS (the 92F is selling for around 600 bucks)
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FYI you can get a brand new 92FS for $800 in Bruniton finish, which is what I would do ;) With that said I’ve never had a problem of any sort with mine 92FS Inox in thousands of rounds I've shot thru it. Btw unfortunately Inox models have been discontinued… :(

But I really wouldn’t worry about the anything if I had the F model, the slide in the face literally happened only a few times and considering a that Beretta sold a couple million of those guns that is nothing! (there are a LOT more Glock owners with powder burns, than Beretta owners with slides imbedded in their faces :rolleyes:) FWIW I heard it was a metallurgy problem that has been fixed...

Plus I don’t believe that the slide can just come apart without warning; you’d have to be shooting thousands of rounds with a cracked slide before it would actually brake apart.
 
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IM_Lugger said:
NAA just curious when was the last time you’ve handled a Beretta? What kind of grips did the gun(s) have? I myself handled other peoples 92’s with aftermarket wooden grips and they were HUGE. My 92FS (and ALL new 92’s) have Houge rubber grips that are very slim and comfortable to hold in my average size hands.
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Last one was a stainless 92 something or other with black plastic grips. Yeah, maybe I'll give a spankin' new one a "feel" next time the local shop has one in. Still, after all these years, the BHP MkIII works best for me in a 9mm double stack, though. ;)
 
I think there might be more of a demand for a revamped version of the model. The new one has a rail on it for accessories and there are other improvements made on it as well. I dont know Im sure they have there reasons guess its something like the auto makes not producing the same model of car year after year, maybe sales are down and a new version is going to boost sales or something. I always liked the look of the 92 series though, the new one looks to plasticy like I said.
 
I like the look of the new M9A1 model...

M9A1_small_maxi.jpg
 
VincentVega said:
the US military had problems with slide breakage but then they designed the 92FS.
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The only "thing" I've read about cracked slides was caused by faulty test ammo that the US Government used to test Beretta M9's when the contract was up for re-negotiation. There were also a handful of cases in the late 1980's where US Navy Seals and US Marines reported slides on their Government issues "broke". An investigation showed that the pressure levels of the government made ammo was way above the NATO specs. The slides broke because of the over pressure ammo and for no other reason.
Am I worried....No, should I be...No. Personally, I'm in the market for a 92 Brigadier.
 
Just to clarify a bit further, the ammo was higher preasure bacause the seals were issued "Proof ammo" One of the pistols broke after firing some 5,000 rounds of proof ammo. Each firearm must withstand ...1... round of proof ammo and a 92 withstood 5,000 before it gave up the ghost. There was a really good article on this breakage in the American Rifleman shortly after this happened. I have always found this magazine to be the best of all of the gun mags. I kinda think all the rest are more fluff than fact!

Scott
 
Sorry to beretta fans In 1998, had a friend (Civilian) who was quite proud of his 92. He had only put about 1200 rounds through it. One day the slide went flying, brushed past his ear, and imbedded itself in the ceiling 6 feet behind us.:eek: Neither he nor I have ever gotten over that.

The range hand to use a prybar to get it out of the ceiling.:runaway: I shot revolvers for a few days.:redface:
 
safeguardguy said:
Sorry to beretta fans In 1998, had a friend (Civilian) who was quite proud of his 92. He had only put about 1200 rounds through it. One day the slide went flying, brushed past his ear, and imbedded itself in the ceiling 6 feet behind us.:eek: Neither he nor I have ever gotten over that.

The range hand to use a prybar to get it out of the ceiling.:runaway: I shot revolvers for a few days.:redface:
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really and how did this happen exactly? the complete slide? part of the slide. and how did it get into the ceiling if it went past his ear? was he shooting it straight down?
 
Slavex said:
really and how did this happen exactly? the complete slide? part of the slide. and how did it get into the ceiling if it went past his ear? was he shooting it straight down?
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Yea, I find that a little hard to swallow. There were what...3 cases of this ever happening in the US military? Despite millions of them used over a period of several years.

The 92 series has been my favorite looking gun since I was a little kid, but of the couple of them that I've shot, they fealt like a brick in my hand.
 
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