Beretta 92FS, Girsan Yavuz 16, first gun, thoughts?

Cryovenom

Cryovenom

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Hey Guys,

A little intro: I got my R-PAL last month, have my training/membership course for the EOSC this weekend, and have been thinking ahead to my first handgun. My first experience ever shooting a gun was with my uncle on a range in Nova Scotia. That was an amazingly fun day! We shot a few guns that day, but the one I enjoyed most was his Beretta 92FS.

Now that I'm thinking of getting my first handgun I began doing some research on different guns. From the Glock to the Tokarev to the Shadow, no matter what I do I just keep coming back to that plain-jane black Beretta 92FS that I shot with Uncle Bud years ago.

So after much debate with myself, I've decided that I either want to get that Beretta 92FS, or the Girsan Yavuz 16 which is a turkish Beretta clone.

The average going price for a new 92FS in black seems to be $750, and a quick google search found it at Kelly's Sporting Goods and Lanz Shooting Supplies for that price.

The only place that I've managed to find the Girsan in stock in Canada is Badger Arms Supply, for a price that's much easier on the wallet of $510

My questions are these:

1. Has anyone shot both guns, and what are your thoughts on comparison?
2. What's the general feedback about Badger? (good? bad? indifferent? - I already know Kelly's has a great reputation here especially with the Tokarev threads)
3. Can anyone think of a reason to go for one gun over the other?
4. Does anyone know a place where I can pick up either gun for less?
5. Since this will be my first gun, do you have any advice for a newbie?

I'm not against buying used, but two things are pushing me towards buying a new one from a store: 1) From what I've read on here, transfer times buying from a store are MUCH quicker than a private sale, especially for residents of Quebec, and 2) Since it's my first gun, I'd rather have a brand new one that's ready to go out of the box without much fuss. I don't want to risk getting a used one to find out that it has feeding problems or something then have to do troubleshooting before I'm even comfortable with the gun at all.

So what do you guys think?

Jon
 
I own the girsan and highly recommend it, it has a very very nice finish. Well perfect to be honest and it's the same thing as the beretta but cheaper. Great shooter. Go for the girsan
 
Canada Ammo is getting his Girsan 16s back in stock within 2 weeks. He also sells them for 490 + free shipping.

I wouldn't deal with Badger Arms (you can search through the threads here), given the popularity of the Girsans, he is probably out, but has not updated the web inventory. Seriously, I think someone used to get the guys at BA to send pics of whatever he was buying to make sure it was actually there.
 
When I started shooting a while back in the 80's I had a Beretta 92F as my first handgun. Maybe watching too much Die Hard and Lethal Weapon movie influences? Now that I'm back, I thought it fitting to get a 92FS.

I thought about the Girsan and the savings but I know for me personally, I know it's not an authentic Beretta so I saved a bit longer and got the real deal. I shot the Girsan and it felt identical, couldn't tell ya about accuracy 'cause I'm not the greatest shot to begin with. If money is a deciding factor, get the Girsan and spend the extra on ammo. If you care about the brand name, get the Beretta. :)
 
I chose the 92 FS for my first handgun back in Jan. I bought it at Al Flaherty's for under $700. To me it felt the best and has a great reputation being used in the US army. I'm very happy with it and its a blast to shoot, no issues. I shot a glock 17 at the range as well and was very impressed with that, felt pretty smooth. In my opinion the Italian beretta is more reliable and has better quality. I bought a benelli shotgun as well for the same reason. Next on my list is a S&W .357.
 
I'm sure the Girsan is well built but let's be honest, if you get one based on cost, your still gonna see pictures of a Beretta 92 and want it. There is just something about a copy that doesn't fulfill your need for the real deal. The most expensive part about this hobby is feeding your firearm and not the firearm itself so to me for a couple hundred bucks more, i'd get the authentic. Just my 2 cents though.
 
The first handgun I bought was a new Beretta 92fs. I don't regret buying it either: Only shot 1000 rounds through it in the 1.7 years I've had it and not one ounce of grief or difficulty with it. Up to the point before and waiting for RPAL to arrive, I had been giving it the eye like it was Caroline Dhavernas... such a beautiful gun. It's next sibling was a 1911 clone by Para-Ordnance, also a nice looking design but still isn't the real McCoy.
 
New Camper said:
The first handgun I bought was a new Beretta 92fs. I don't regret buying it either: Only shot 1000 rounds through it in the 1.7 years I've had it and not one ounce of grief or difficulty with it. Up to the point before and waiting for RPAL to arrive, I had been giving it the eye like it was Caroline Dhavernas... such a beautiful gun. It's next sibling was a 1911 clone by Para-Ordnance, also a nice looking design but still isn't the real McCoy.
Click to expand...

LOL, you and I were on the same page. My second purchase after my 92FS was a Sig 1911 then a Ruger Vaquero SAA and now my Glock 22 RTF2. :p
 
Trinimon said:
When I started shooting a while back in the 80's I had a Beretta 92F as my first handgun. Maybe watching too much Die Hard and Lethal Weapon movie influences? Now that I'm back, I thought it fitting to get a 92FS.

I thought about the Girsan and the savings but I know for me personally, I know it's not an authentic Beretta so I saved a bit longer and got the real deal. I shot the Girsan and it felt identical, couldn't tell ya about accuracy 'cause I'm not the greatest shot to begin with. If money is a deciding factor, get the Girsan and spend the extra on ammo. If you care about the brand name, get the Beretta. :)
Click to expand...

lol, for me it's the John Woo movies. He is notorious for arming the heroes in his films with dual Beretta 92FS pistols with hi-cap mags.

Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon made it popular in the USA much like Eastwood made the 44 magnum popular.
 
I'm looking for a Beretta 92 type gun myself and have been for a while. Basically going through the same contemplations you are. From what I've read and seen, the Girsan looks like a better choice. Reviews have been good and some say the Girsan is a nicer gun overall.

With that and the price difference, I won't be buying a Beretta. Girsan from CanAm is most likely.
 
I found this video performing torture tests on the Girsan. Seems to perform like the Beretta 92.



NATO
Our pistols are tested according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defence’s technical specification of No. 02-38B, which covers the NATO standarts.


HIGH-PRESSURE SHOOTING TEST
A total of 15 high pressure 9mm x 19 Parabellum cartridges with an average pressure of 2800-3700 kg/cm² are shot continuously.
The aim is to control whether or not there would be any damage on the pistol and on its parts during the shooting.
RESULT: FREE of Error


SPEED TEST
In this test, 10 cartridges are shot with the pistol.The speed of the cartridge bullet from the barrel at 10 meters off is measured.
The Standard of this speed should be 335 m/sec.
RESULT: The speed of the Yavuz 16 pistols is aproximetely 363 m/sec.


DISPERSAL SHOOTING TEST
Shooting is made at 25 m distance to the target with 10 cartridges, 9mm x 19 Parabellum and average chamber pressure is 2600 kg/cm². The Standard of this test: All of the 10 shootings should be in a circle of maximum 8 cm radius.
RESULT: All of the 10 shootings are gathered in a circle of 6 cm radius.


HOT WEATHER TEST
With fully loaded magazine and a bullet in the chamber, the pistol is set in safety position and waits for 24 hours in an atmosphere of + 55ºC degrees together with a full spare magazine . Later, 16 series of shootings are made when the barrel is at 0 (±3) degrees.
RESULT: FREE of Error


COLD WEATHER TEST
With fully loaded magazine and a bullet in the chamber, the pistol is set in safety position and waits for 24 hours in an atmosphere of -33º C degrees together with a full spare magazine. Later, 16 series of shootings are made when the barrel is at 0 (±3) degrees.
RESULT: FREE of Error


ENDURANCE TEST
Continues 5000 shots are done. The pistol is cleaned each time after firing 600 cartridges and cools down after each 60 shots.
RESULT: FREE of Error


DYE ENDURANCE TEST (SALT TEST)
The pistol waits for 24 hours at 20 (±3) degrees in salty water (50 gr salt NaCl in one liter water) with 5% concentration in a convenient container together with its magazine .(Magazine is not in the pistol).The dye and the coating of the pistol and the magazine are examined and there should be no blister, erosion or change in color or hue.
RESULT : FREE of Error


TRIGGER POWER TEST (AFTER ENDURANCE TEST)
After endurance tests the trigger power is; it must be between:
Single action: 1200-3200 gram
Double action: 2000-5500 gram
RESULT: Single action: 2000-2500 gram, Double action: 4500-5000 gram.


DROP SAFETY TEST
The magazine is fully loaded and 2 cartridges taken out. These two cartridges are replaced with two empty shells (with loaded primer) . After replacing the emptly shell the magazine is inserted in the pistol and the safety position should be ’’off’’.
The hammer is set up and the pistol dropped on hammer, barrel and lower back corner of grip.
The hammer is not set up and the pistol dropped on hammer, barrel and lower back corner of grip
The pistol is dropped 6 times on each position on a 2 cm thick steel which is placed on concrete from 1 meter height. After drops there should be no firing, no damage on the primer and there should be no damage on pistol itself and the pistol should be in ready to fire.
RESULT: FREE of Error
 
Thanks for all the great feedback guys. I've never been one to buy something for its brand name alone. I generally do my research and go for quality and function, with a serious second thought given to form (I do develop brand loyalty after a string of good experiences with a company's products, but that doesn't apply in this case).

From what I've read and what folks here have said the Girsan is at least equal in quality and function to the Beretta and costs much less. It's not a cheap knockoff we're looking at, it's a quality firearm manufactured to high standard under license from Beretta. Form-wise they're both very attractive guns so they come up even there.

Since I really don't mind having to say "No, it's a Girsan, a Turkish clone of a Beretta" when people ask if it's a Beretta 92FS, it looks like I'll be grabbing the Girsan when it comes back in stock at CanAm. The extra $200+ will go towards a hard case, trigger lock, ear and eye protection, a cleaning kit and of course ammunition and maybe an extra mag.

If anyone has pictures they'd like to post I'd love to see them. And can someone point me to some resources on how to clean and care for these guns? Detailed instructions on disassembly, cleaning and lubricating the Beretta/Girsan would be great if you've got them.

Jon
 
I got my Girsan as a Christmas present for myself. Probably put about 400-500 rounds through it so far, and the thing is absolutely flawless. It points really naturally for me. I find I get more interest at the range when people ask me "is that a Beretta?" Or say "nice Beretta" and I say, "it's not a Beretta, it's a Girsan, a Turkish clone of the Beretta 92fs". There are no machining marks anywhere on this pistol, and I've had it completely apart... And on that note, h ttp://www.berettaforum.net/vb/showthread.php?t=13088 there's some good reading in there, it's technically for the M9, but the internals are the same.
 
Just out of curiosity - is there any difference in the warranty behind each of these firearms? To play devil's advocate, how easy is it to get a Girsan serviced as opposed to Beretta? From the sounds of things they're both fine weapons and I imagine one shouldn't have any issue with either one of them. Just wondering.

Gotta admit - I'm intrigued... Might have to grab one of these Turkeys for myself!
 
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