Beretta gunning for growth in Accokeek

Gazette.net (Maryland) ^ | 6/22/07 | Liza Gutierrez

[kiriath_jearim]

Fueled in part by a war half a world away, a family business that started in Renaissance Italy has been quietly growing in southern Prince George’s.

‘‘Since 1985, Beretta has been the official supplier of side arms to all five branches of the U.S. military,” said Elio Oliva, vice president of law enforcement and military sales and marketing for Beretta U.S.A. Corp. of Accokeek.

The top priority of the Italian firearms’ U.S. division is to ‘‘handle all of the U.S. military business,” Oliva said.

[Abathar]

"Three large domestic military orders are coming up for grabs, and one is a large Army contract for about 650,000 pistols, Wold said. Beretta currently has that contract, which is estimated to be worth between $300 million and $500 million, Wold said. Holding onto that contract isn’t a done deal for Beretta, he said. ‘‘Beretta weapons have been jamming and malfunctioning in the field,” Wold said. And there has been controversy over U.S. military contracts going to foreign companies, he said. "

I bought my 92F back in `87 and have literally ran thousands of rounds through it, everything from cheap Russian and Mexican crap to Winchester STHP's and I have never had a jam, even going through 500 rounds at a time without cleaning. I know the big debate about 9mm and lethality, but as far as dependable goes my Beretta has never failed me ever.

[gonzo]

I rather like my 92FS:

Stainless is a good idea in Florida ................... FRegards

[ExSoldier]

Didn't Beretta get the memo about the 9mm FMJ being ineffective in the sandbox? Are they ready to go head to head in a competition with the top 45ACP contenders from H&K or Sig? I think NOT.

Don't get me wrong I love my M92FS and I even compete IDPA with the gun, but I don't carry it...or rarely.

[Abathar]

They have the same gun chambered for the .40 cal, I have been knocking around the idea of getting one for about a year now. If the military went with that or the 10mm they would be far better off I think.

[Erik Latranyi]

Didn't Beretta get the memo about the 9mm FMJ being ineffective in the sandbox? Are they ready to go head to head in a competition with the top 45ACP contenders from H&K or Sig? I think NOT.

First, the military has already stated that the next sidearm will be .45 acp.

100 years after being designed, we will probably see a return of a 1911 variant.

[Lurker]

100 years after being designed, we will probably see a return of a 1911 variant.

About time.

L

[ExSoldier]

even going through 500 rounds at a time without cleaning.

When I was looking for a dedicated home defense weapon on which to hang a gunlight (so not for ccw) I asked my best buddy, a retired Special Forces 05 (Lieutenant Colonel) and he said that if he ever had to take a gun to war straight from the box without lubing or cleaning it would be the H&K USP fullsize 45ACP.

So I bought one and tested that assertion. Straight from the box to the range and I determined not to clean OR lube until I encountered a jam, either FTF ot FTE. I expected it to go about 500 rds, just based on my friends knowledge and experience.

TWO THOUSAND ROUNDS later that gun was humming along like a contented kitten. I felt like I had to clean her out of sheer respect. That gun is now my dedicated home defense weapon with a streamlight gunlight on the rail and 3 sp mags....I sleep soundly.

I'm looking forward to the new contender for the armed services 45 from H&K called (oddly enough) the H&K45 when it becomes available for sale to the public. I'll pick one of those up for real CCW. Co-designed by Larry Vickers (founding armorer for US Army Delta Force) it is going to be one awesome weapon. I also expect it to win the military trials, hands down.

[ExSoldier]

100 years after being designed, we will probably see a return of a 1911 variant.

Don't get me wrong, I love my 1911s and own two but that is not going to happen. Not even my 1911s can stand up to the abuse my H&K USP will handle with a smile.

[ExtremeUnction]

I rather like my 92FS

Me too. Not only does it shoot flawlessly, it is a beautiful handgun. Also, while I know that the pro .45 people will talk about stopping power, I prefer the lower kick of the 9mm.

[ExSoldier]

They have the same gun chambered for the .40 cal..

Yeah I've fired one of those and didn't like it. For the 10 or 12 rd capacity it's too big and there is waaaay too much "muzzle flip" for fast recovery between rounds. Heck even the 1911 has a faster shot-to-shot recovery time. The 10mm is simply overkill. Too much recoil and too much stress on the weapons themselves. That's why the FBI downsized to the 40 S&W. Although HRT still uses (IIRC) a Les Baer 45ACP. A lot of the SpecOps folks I know use a 1911 variant for combat, but just as many like the Sig P220 or the H&K USP.

[Erik Latranyi]

Also, while I know that the pro .45 people will talk about stopping power, I prefer the lower kick of the 9mm.

Look, its your choice. Our military needed to learn (once again) that when you go up against fanatics, the 38 and 9mm is insufficient.

[Abathar]

I like the H&K too, it is a great gun for home defense and my next gun will be either that or the Beretta in the .40 cal. I carry my 92F in my truck as a knock around gun, it is getting old and showing its age so I keep it stashed there within easy reach.

At home (I live out in the boonies down a 3/4 mile driveway, completely isolated from anyone else) I don't mess around. I keep a loaded Win model 98 with buckshot in the corner of my bedroom for home defense. I figure that gun is the best alarm system ever made, the sound of it jacking a shell in is enough to get the attention of even the dumbest criminal. Downstairs I have a Colt 10mm delta elite gold cup, I have polished it here at work and it works beautiful for about the first 3 mags, after that I don't want to have to ever trust it, once it gets a little dirty she starts to jam often enough to make me nervous.

[Abathar]

I have some 50 grain 10mm that has a muzzle speed of over 2K fps. The recoil is so low I have to put my weak spring back in to fire the stuff but I was seriously impressed with the effect downrange. I normally don’t fire hot loads in that frame, I just don’t think it was meant to take that kind of pounding from that large a caliber. If they go with the .45 I don’t think it will be in the 1911 frame either.

[mozarky2]

Yeah, my 92fs is a sweet gun. I don’t have any problem with the 9mm. After all, if you don’t hit your target, it doesn’t matter how big the bullet is...

[ExSoldier]

I don't mess around. I keep a loaded Win model 98 with buckshot in the corner of my bedroom for home defense. I figure that gun is the best alarm system ever made, the sound of it jacking a shell in is enough to get the attention of even the dumbest criminal.

Gotta agree with your point but have to say you are "messing around" with working the action on a pump gun as some kind of warning to an intruder. You have to figure that somebody creeping around your home in the middle of the night (way out in the middle of nowhere), having gained unlawful or forced entry is there for a deliberate purpose and it means violence for you and yours. It's no accident and he's willing to handle you should you choose to offer resistance. Jacking that pump just gives him a sense of your direction in which to fire....first!

I really don't mess around. If somebody is willing to come past the alarm and two 140 pound Newfoundland dogs by the time they get inside their bodies will already be cooling to the touch....and bullet riddled. Thank God for Florida's improved laws on this issue.

[ExSoldier]

I have some 50 grain 10mm that has a muzzle speed of over 2K fps.

That sounds a lot like the loads from MagSafe or RBCD. I have some of both in 45 and 40...MagSafe in 9mm too. I like 'em for low recoil, low flash and a total lack of richochet in case of a miss. Also no chance of a T-N-T or Thru-N-Thru gunshot wound likely to threaten an innocent.

[Abathar]

We have a lot of petty crime here, not dangerous stuff, just morons looking to steel scrap or any other way of making a quick buck for their meth habits.

In Indiana we have it pretty good, if the guy makes it into your house you are pretty much set to do anything you want with him. I have had to chase people off my property twice now at night, both times I was carrying my shotgun and saw nothing but someone heeling and toeing it away from me at top speed into the woods.

I know what your saying though, I guess it just comes down to whether you think someone is there to hurt you or your family or will retreat if faced by force. Personally I will choose to give them that option myself, I know that is not popular here on FR, but to be honest I would rather know that if I ever shot someone that they knew I was going to do it before I did, even if that means giving them an advantage to begin with.

I guess old age has mellowed me, I'm not afraid to pull the trigger but I would sure rather not do it unless there was no other option. Letting them know I was armed and serious about shooting them is just the way I am I guess, live and let live has always been my motto.

[quikdrw]

I bought my 92F about the same time. And it has never jammed. I wonder what is going on with the ones the military has.

[Abathar]

Magsafe is the stuff I have. I couldn’t remember the website to get the stats until you mentioned the name. I have the 46 grain swat load at 2400 fps, that is what I wanted for use inside my home with kids around.