Thinking about buying Beretta handgun

me ^ | 4-17-06 | me

[LouAvul]

I am thinking about buying a Beretta 9mm handgun. Am leaning toward the 92FS since it is the least expensive and all I want is a plinker.

I don't know what the vertec, inox, etc., is. But I understand that Beretta has been using more and more plastic and MIM parts lately.

Some shooters have even questioned their quality of late.

MIM doesn't really bother me since I'm sure my recent manufactured handguns use such.

Plastic doesn't really bother me since I also have a Glock 17.

But overall quality and reliability do concern me.

Thanx in advance.

[RedBeaconNY]

I'm thinking about making some instant pudding. Mmmm, chocolate...

[Servant of the 9]

I am thinking about buying a Beretta 9mm handgun. Am leaning toward the 92FS since it is the least expensive and all I want is a plinker.

Think about the fact that the US Military is getting ready to replace all of theirs with 45s.

Dumping the 38s to go back to 45s ........ didn't we already go through this once after the Spanish American War?

So9

[mwyounce]

You might want to look at the Taurus 92. It's made at the same Brazillian factory that used to produce the Beretta, before they sold it lock, stock, and barrel (pun intended) to Taurus.

[Hodar]

Have you considered the Taurus PT92 9mm? Essentially the same pisotl, but about half the price.
Got mine at Wal-Mart about 8 years ago for ~$350
Info

[Hodar]

Great minds think alike....

[Shooter 2.5]

I have one and can't say I am in love with it. It has a nasty habit of slapping my trigger finger on the reset. Sort of like Chinese water torture after a couple hundred rounds. I bought one of the newer Browning HighPowers but not only are holsters a little hard to find but I haven't had time to shoot it yet.

[mwyounce]

Great minds think alike....

Yes we do!

I love my Taurus 92.... I also have a 145 for CCW.

[MikefromOhio]

Why Beretta?

[ER Doc]

I've got the Taurus, too. Different safety from the Beretta, but otherwise the same gun.

[Hodar]

Just thinkin' here.

My 9mm will punch through some sheetrock, the back of a sofa and still have a little sting left to it. My clip holds 20 rounds (pre-limited clip days)of hollow points, so I can be very generous to my 'guests'. In the short range 'home turf' area; it's plenty lethal.

However, I do not think that my 9mm will likely exit my brick exterior, go into my neighbors brick exterior and ruin his day. If I had a 45; I'd have to be more stingy with the ammo. I sure hate to feel stingy when I have a guest to 'entertain'.

That's why I went 9mm. Sometimes limited penetration is a good thing. Now, in a police or military setting; I think we would both prefer the biggest, meanest and power packed punch we could get. But not in the middle of Surburbia. At least IMHO.

[KoRn]

I've had a 92FS for almost 7 years. Lots of shooting and I've never had even a hiccup with it. I'd highly recommend it for fun if nothing else. I think there are better handguns out there for for self defense.

[TFMcGuire]

I believe you will be very happy with this firearm.

Its not small nor very concealable and it doesn't fit a lady's hand very well.

The 9mm is a flat shooting mild-recoil cartridge and Beretta are well known for the quality of their firearms.

If you have more gun that you enjoy shooting, you'll ever become very proficient with it.

[Hodar]

Bought a set of Pacmeyers for it. The wood panels made the gun just a wee bit to 'slippery' for my tastes. Overall, this was an outstanding purchase. Cleans easy, assembles quickly, and has never jammed. Decent grouping.

I think every home should have one. It's a really good, solid, well made automatic. Glad to hear you're enjoying yours too.

[skimask]

Personally I like the Sig Sauer P226 for a 9mm. A bit expensive but well worth it. I have shot about 3000 rounds with my SIG and not one cartridge has ever hung up in the slide.

[Donald Meaker]

The US has bounced back and forth between large caliber (.44 to .45) and small caliber (.36/9mm) twice, once during black powder days, and again with smokeless powder.

No doubt, the .45 can have better terminal ballistics. The .36 is easier to shoot in some situations.

For a standard pistol range of 20 feet.

Say a .36 has a .9 probability of hit and a .8 probability of kill, given a hit.

Say a .45 has a .8 probability of hit, and a .9 probability of kill, given a hit.

The combination of each is the same, .8X.9=.72 or 72 percent probability of kill for one round. Shoot two rounds and you get. Pk= .72+.72-.72*.72 =0.9216 or 92 percent.

Cut the distance to 10 feet, and Probability of hit goes up, but Probability of kill given a hit stays the same.

.36......Pk= .95 X .8 = .76 for one round, .94 for two rounds

.45......Pk= .9 X .9 = .81 for one round, .96 for two rounds.

What happens is if your enemy gets closer, the .45 gets better.

Your mileage may vary. the above is one way to think about things.



The question is what happens when you get closer?

[Echo Talon]

Get a Sig.

[matt1234]

Got a 92 FS. Like any weapon (tool), you have to consider what you want it to do. Choose the right weapon for the intended job. What is it that you're trying to accomplish?

Pros: (1)very easy to dissassemble and clean (2)same as standard military sidearm, so good for military training (3)cheap and easily obtainable ammo (~$115 per 1000 rd. case) (4)reliable (5)due to military and law enforcement use, there will be spare parts for the rest of your life

Cons: (1)a little big for concealed carry (2)less take-down power than other calibers (e.g., .45 cal) (3)NOT cheap; i spent about $585 on mine

For me the deciding factor was having a personal weapon with which I could hone my military skills.

BTW, my spring guide is plastic, while military spring guide is steel.

[Echo Talon]

The P229R DAK™ is the standard pistol of the Dept. of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard who selected the P229 after a 3 million round grueling torture test.

[mwyounce]

Get a Sig.

Now that's a sig! </Crocodile Dundee voice>