[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

[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.

[MikefromOhio]

Why Beretta?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Echo Talon]

or this one

SIG SAUER® P226

[Jubal Harshaw]

FWIW, I bought a Beretta tomcat about 2 years ago. Despite living in a dry climate (SoCal), the blued parts of that gun were covered with rust very quickly. Nothing like that happened to any of my other guns, or, indeed, to any other metal thing I own. Just something to keep in mind.

[Postal Worker with a gun]

All of you have lost track of the fact that he says he wants a plinker. I have a 22 cal target pistol that does that just fine for me. (Going to have to dig it out and see who made it, do not remember off-hand)

Cheap gun, cheap ammo. Mine fires the 22LR which is very easy to get.

Unlike my primary handgun, a 1076 S&W.

[absalom01]

I have a relatively new 92FS and a Vertec as well.

Both are just like the old-school Berettas: boring, but super-reliable. Not so much fun to shoot, but they go "bang" with comforting regularity.

[sig226]

The 92FS is the most popular handgun sold. Next is the Glock 19.

If you spend a little time looking, you'll find a used 92FS for about $300, and there might be 50 rounds through it. Sometimes, they come with the box of 50 rounds that the guy got when he bought the gun, and there are ten or fifteen rounds missing.

MIM parts are standard on all Smith and Wesson guns, and all Kimbers. I don't like the technology myself, but it wasn't invented for gun makers and apparently, it works.

Beretta switched to a plastic trigger and a plastic guide rod. Both parts are easily and cheaply replaced. If you want a new one, you better get it soon. They're getting hard to come by.

[KeyesPlease]

You might consider a CZ 75 as well. Similar in size to the 92 with more of a High-Power contour to the grip. 15+1 capacity with all steel construction. Easy to disassemble, reliable and accurate. NIB with 2 15 rd mags for around $425 depending on where you live.

[School of Rational Thought]

Have a 92FS for years without ever having a jam.

Also the 9mm ammo is cheaper. It is accurate and I use it for IPSC.

Now 45s are also fine, but don't forget to factor in the "I have a small gun" so I need a big firearm factor that influences alot of opinion.

Also shot placement is the real determinant. What can you control easily, not only at targets but if you are in a self-defense mode. Which will you control better and will the extra rounds you have with the 9mm factor in.

Did you write what you would use it for?