The latest addition to the collection. B96 Combat combo = 125mm + 150mm barrel, frame safety.
This is the combo version of the 96 Combat designed for IPSC events. It has what Beretta called the Accurizing Barrel Bushing which is replacable for wear. It was desinged to eliminate free play at the muzzle end of the barrel. At the time around 1997 it was Beretta's attempt to counter the 1911 dominated competition arena. Specs are: mag capacity 11 rnds, overalll length 9.5 in (150mm barrel) 8.5 ( 125mm barrel), barrel length 4.9in (125mm) 5.9 (150mm), width is 1.7in, height 5.9in, sight radius 6.7in, weight unloaded 150mm barrel 40oz, 125mm barrel 38oz. Trigger has overtravel adj and short let off. The lockup on the 92 series pistols happens during firing. If you put a round in to the chamber close the slide you can actually move the rear of the barrel side to side ever so slightly, but during ignition the locking block locks up at the rear of the barrel solid. Around the time Beretta came out with this configuration the AMU (Army Marksmanship Unit) was experimenting with accurizing the 92, and a front barrel bushing was one of the changes. The AMU actually only slightly improved the accuracy of the 92, but they also went as far as to milling steel inserts into the frame for slide to frame tightening which proved later on to weaken the frame tangs where the inserts were and the tangs were breaking. Accuracy was improved very little with the frame inserts if at all. The barrel bushing was another attempt to eliminate the free play, but it is at the end of the barrel, not at the rear where the lockup is. The barrel bushings were not accepted as a long term item on the 92 Combat/Stock. The Beretta 92 was accepted as a military pistol and not a competition pistol, which led the the low sales and acceptance of the Stock and Combat setup, and subsequently the end of production of these guns. Ironically, Beretta did eventually come out with the Elite, Elite 1A and EII. These guns are slightly similar to the Combat/Stock, but you notice Beretta did not put a barrel bushing on any of the Elites, and they are "G" decock only models. Beretta and the AMU finally realized through time and testing that the barrel bushing was not what they had hoped for on the 92, since bushings worked so well to improve accuracy on 1911's. The 92 is very accurate as a stock/factory gun, and the Elites have proved that. But as things are the 92/96/98 (the 98 was 9x21) Combat/Stock guns are very sought after today. I They are awsome guns suited for the Beretta shooter who shoots competition.
This is the combo version of the 96 Combat designed for IPSC events. It has what Beretta called the Accurizing Barrel Bushing which is replacable for wear. It was desinged to eliminate free play at the muzzle end of the barrel. At the time around 1997 it was Beretta's attempt to counter the 1911 dominated competition arena. Specs are: mag capacity 11 rnds, overalll length 9.5 in (150mm barrel) 8.5 ( 125mm barrel), barrel length 4.9in (125mm) 5.9 (150mm), width is 1.7in, height 5.9in, sight radius 6.7in, weight unloaded 150mm barrel 40oz, 125mm barrel 38oz. Trigger has overtravel adj and short let off. The lockup on the 92 series pistols happens during firing. If you put a round in to the chamber close the slide you can actually move the rear of the barrel side to side ever so slightly, but during ignition the locking block locks up at the rear of the barrel solid. Around the time Beretta came out with this configuration the AMU (Army Marksmanship Unit) was experimenting with accurizing the 92, and a front barrel bushing was one of the changes. The AMU actually only slightly improved the accuracy of the 92, but they also went as far as to milling steel inserts into the frame for slide to frame tightening which proved later on to weaken the frame tangs where the inserts were and the tangs were breaking. Accuracy was improved very little with the frame inserts if at all. The barrel bushing was another attempt to eliminate the free play, but it is at the end of the barrel, not at the rear where the lockup is. The barrel bushings were not accepted as a long term item on the 92 Combat/Stock. The Beretta 92 was accepted as a military pistol and not a competition pistol, which led the the low sales and acceptance of the Stock and Combat setup, and subsequently the end of production of these guns. Ironically, Beretta did eventually come out with the Elite, Elite 1A and EII. These guns are slightly similar to the Combat/Stock, but you notice Beretta did not put a barrel bushing on any of the Elites, and they are "G" decock only models. Beretta and the AMU finally realized through time and testing that the barrel bushing was not what they had hoped for on the 92, since bushings worked so well to improve accuracy on 1911's. The 92 is very accurate as a stock/factory gun, and the Elites have proved that. But as things are the 92/96/98 (the 98 was 9x21) Combat/Stock guns are very sought after today. I They are awsome guns suited for the Beretta shooter who shoots competition.
