By the time Im done trying to bring this aesthetically pleasing paperweight up to par with my other combat-worthy handguns, I could have saved myself a lot of headaches and just purchased a another Sig, which needs no upgrades to be shooter worthy. While not as extensive as what is available for GLOCKs, the 92 series has a number of accessories specifically tailored to it, especially with Wilson Combats recent expansion into pistols of this design. The same goes for a unit armorer or small arms maintenance Troops. There is an over travel of a few millimeters, but nothing to be too bothered by. Beretta 92FS The Civilian 9mm Pistol Due to reports of slides separating from the frames of M9 pistols in 1990, Beretta responded by adding a "slide retention device" i.e., an enlarged hammer axis pin. No malfunctions of any sort. The Beretta uses the oscillating-wedge lockup pioneered by the Mauser C96 pistol. It really is just very easy to shoot well. The pistol exhibited excellent reliability for 300-400 rounds. Im curious as to where we are in the reader review contest. Quick Cash Offer Get Offer We make you an quick cash offer online The nicely finished internal surfaces make wiping up carbon and such an easy task. Sure its an uncommon problem, but I would absolutely call that a massive failure. This is an all too common problem that Beretta needs to fix with better metallurgy or different material construction. I began shooting Beretta Cougar in .40 cal. Still, I feel it is deserving of a 4-star rating. Though if you are willing to hand over the extra cash, I believe you will find the 92FS Compact L to be a capable and thoroughly enjoyable pistol. The front and back straps of the grip are checkered, giving the user a solid grip. This is arguably the best made, full frame, mass produced 9mm handgun out there. The pistol in military parlance the M9 has proven reliable, accurate and easy to use well. Never had any jams or misfires. To kick-off this mini-series, I thought Id give a brief history of how the Beretta 92 has changed over the years. Not only that, the great majority of safeties go (naturally) down during disengagement. Any chance we can get a picture or three of a Compact L beside the full-size 92FS? The particular pistol to be scrutinized in this review is the Model 92FS Compact L, a reduced sized version of their flagship 92FS. I would ask for a refund, but thats just me. In 2010, Beretta released an updated commercial version of the 92FS, somewhat confusingly called the 92A1. So shoot me an email. Now, on my way to pick up the compact from my lgs. Its kind of funny actually. Some comparison pictures between the two would go a long way to knowing if I want it or not. As far as accuracy is concerned, during slow fire the pistol shoots as well or better than anything else, rivaling my CZ-75 as one of my more accurate handguns. Excellent. Nice write up. I upgraded my Browning with a 18.5# recoil spring, added a shock buffer, and it fires 147 gr +P Federal HST tactical rounds [1100/380] like butter, so Im staying with my Browning Hi Power; its great. Ive never had a single reliability issue with any of them. If it were based on how I feel about the fun personally, Id rate it 5 stars all day. For those with larger hands the controls will be easy to reach and manipulate. The Beretta Model 92 has seen extensive military service. Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. That said the revolver triggers pale in comparison to my Timney trigger on my Remington 700. The Compact holds the same 13 rounds and is about the same weight and length as my Browning, so those werent a factor in my decision on switching. I dont think Ive ever seen a 400X microscope used in a gun review. The SA trigger pull is pretty good though, and other than a little bit of take up it breaks about as crisp as my revolvers. But the shorter barrel size means your downrange accuracy is going to suffer. padding: 0px 40px 0px 40px; Fortunately after some crawling around I was able to find the missing portion of the hammer release on the floor. I recommend on-safe carry as long as the user practices manipulation of the safety extensively. I am not familiar as to how this part is manufactured, so what exactly went wrong is hard to determine. I love my 92FS, and a Compact L might just be compact enough for me. And, if you follow the cleaning and routine maintenance on your personal Beretta, it wont fail you when needed. In 1975 this locking mechanism, along with aspects of the then new Model 84, was used as the basis for a larger high-capacity service pistol design that became the Model 92. All comments are held for moderation and will appear after approval. I carried several firearms and ended up settling on the GP100. Control the trigger, watch the front sight and you have a hit. Different roll marks for the Italian pistol Italian Berettas will also have proof marks, date of manufacture code, and importation marks stamped on the right side of the frame above the trigger guard. Still, a regrettable purchase so far. The 92 started out with a frame mounted safety, and they changed it why? But this gun isnt just a personal favorite its one of the most ubiquitous full-size self-defense handguns in the country. Ive been carrying a Browning Hi Power MK-III as my CCW IWB, but I looked at this Beretta Compact to see if I might like it. border: none; Few things are more classy than a fine Italian handgun (even if they made this son in the US). The 92FS Compact L has been in Beretta's catalog on and off ever since. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Too heavy, not a fan of a safety on a carry gun, not a huge fan of DA/SA for carry either. Beretta 92FS is a series of Beretta 92 semi-automatic pistol. Excellent review: very thorough and well written. The trigger is very good. We find it necessary to have the 92 in our inventory for the significant number of students coming to us for training specifically on that gun, usually relating to military service. Its my old eyes not the gun.you see. The sights are intended for rapid acquisition at combat ranges and precision fire to at least 50 yards. The traditional blued finish was changed to the more utilitarian matte black Bruniton finish. Till then its more of a range toy though. In the late 80s through 2004, Beretta also offered the Compact L Type M variant. So will you. For a very brief period in the early 2000s, Beretta produced limited-run special edition compact models called the Custom Carry (a 92 FS Compact L with a single-sided safety lever) and the Custom Carry II (a 92FS Type M Inox with asingle-sided safety lever and Novak rear sight). In the early 2000s, as Beretta struggled to compete with other manufacturers in the crowded law enforcement market, one of their major efforts was the 92 Vertec. The 92FS Compact L shoots as well as the most accurate service pistols I have used. This includes locking block breakages. When it comes to personal defense, serious handgunners attempt to retain the power, accuracy and reliability of the service pistol, while deploying a shorter and lighter version. (Retired SF NCO). The Compact L will accept any 92FS magazine, so increased capacity is available if so desired. While the Vertec grip design has some fans, its never been the most popular modification to the 92 series. The difference is notable when I shoot them side by side. I dont think Id want to carry that particular firearm anyway. if you look at the shape of the safety, it actually takes real effort to accidentally disengage it by accident. How do these two handguns stack up against eachother? I have recommended the PDX Defender 124-grain +P or the Winchester 115-grain Silvertip for many years. Compatible surplus magazines are available by the boatload. Id like to replace them with 15 rounders. The Bruniton enamel finish had proven durable through hundreds of draws from a kydex holster and several months of carry in less than friendly Florida weather. They offered to replace the part if I sent them the gun, but would not send me the part to do it myself as it was part of the safety mechanism. The Beretta isnt a small pistol, but it is light enough and features a good reserve of ammunition. } 1. Ive probably run about 4000 rounds through my FS without a single malfunction of any kind. How Hard Was it to Reload the M1 Garand in Combat? I know that is how I feel, but I didnt kid myself in my review and rated it average (3 stars) as I think it was the most accurate. During the course of our series on double action semi-autos, I mentioned a couple of times that Im a fan of the Beretta 92 pistols, and its one of the guns Ive been spending a lot of time with at the range this year. As a collector I own many a pistol I feel is flat out terrible. $699.99. The fact that I own it doesnt mean I like it. The Beretta is an excellent pistol in most respects, but is shows its age when compared to more modern handguns. The frame rail allows for the addition of light, lasers, and bayonets (if thats your sort of thing). This feature was retained on the 92S, but after the US armed forces expressed interest in the 92S, Beretta changed the layout of the pistols controls. A guy at work had the same failure with his. This compact is intriguing because my wife and I both have 92s and she carried her 92 as an EDC for a couple of years, but the size made it difficult so she switched to something smaller and lighter. Drawing from a holster, it is easy to have your thumb disable the safety while you obtain your grip, from which point you rely on keeping your finger off the trigger and the long DA pull to prevent discharge of the pistol until your sights are aligned and you are ready to shoot. During one of my few first range sessions with the Compact L, I discovered that the safety/decocker ceased to function. Recoil control in a 9mm caliber handgun this size presents little difficulty and while rapidly addressing multiple targets, the pistol and the shooter produced good results. Overall Length: 7.8 inches The GP is also more accurate and I make up for the round count with Double Tap 158gr. All Used New Used. It held 13 rounds, It was made in Italy and has oversize white dot sights. My experience with the hammer release lever is not typical, and I wholeheartedly believe, based on past experience, that Beretta builds an excellent, durable product. The disassembly latch makes for easy, toolless fieldstripping, breaking the 92FS down into 4 main components for easy maintenance. The barrel crown was particularly well done with a true 45-degree cut in the crown. Among other things, the Vertec attempted to address the common criticism that the 92 series is difficult to use for shooters with smaller hands. The Beretta going against convention is like the old Buick automatic transmission quadrant going PNDLR or whatever it was: confusion could get you killed. My inspection of the part leads me to believe it was not properly heat treated, which would indicate that this is simply a bad part that slipped through their production line. The barrel is clipped close to the slide in Beretta Centurion style, making for an attractive appearance and a slightly shorter pistol. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Under rapid fire, the weight of the pistol coupled with its predicable and responsive trigger makes quick, accurate strings easily achievable. If 3 stars is the average and/or median rating, then a currently-manufactured-of-modern-materials pistol that breaks ANY part within the first 400 rounds of shooting does not deserve even a 3-star rating for durability, in my opinion. I went back and made a comparison with my GP100 and Blackhawk. The moderate checkering lets you keep a consistent grip; the gun never feels like it is going to jump or shift in your hand. Still, the problem I had must be reflected, and I docked the pistol one and a half stars. The pistol accepts all Beretta magazines, including the 20-round extended version. All Rights Reserved. The latest update to the 92 series is the M9A3, and it may be the most feature-rich 92 model yet. Next, was drawing and firing the first-shot double-action and continuing to address targets with the single-action trigger press. I like the Beretta 92 Compact very much. Not everyone, and I understand the choir here ought to be more knowledgeable than that, but its a big problem. If that does not make it reliable I dont know what to tell you. The Beretta 92 is an excellent hand gun. As stated in the review, what if that had gone somewhere where it had impeded the function of the firearm? There is also a rare variation that is a single-column magazine type. If your gonna be a criminal you might as well have a fifty round drum. In place of the slide-mounted safety/decocking lever that has become one of the trademarks of the series, it had a frame-mounted safety similar in appearance to the thumb safety found on the M1911. During that first decade of its existence, the Beretta 92 underwent many critical changes to its design before it eventually became the iconic 92FS that were so familiar with today. Ive also been teaching with the same M9 compact for over 30 years and I cannot even estimate how many thousands of rounds Ive fire through it. Reliability: * * * * * Additionally, we do intro, secondary, and intermediate classes of several kinds. The Beretta 92D has no safety/decocking lever at all and, instead, relies on a double action only trigger for safety, which is what most cops at the time were already accustomed to. Beretta offered the 92G, which is identical to the 92FS except the slide-mounted safety lever functions only as a decocker. I would have likely been harsher if the pistol didnt still function after the hammer release broke. The geometry of the grip angle results in an S-curve that seems to give better purchase than the full-size service pistol grip. As a result, the Brigadier design has been used in many 92 variants designed with high-performance action pistol competition in mind. Beretta 92FS DA/SA Full-Sized Pistol Chambered in 9mm Luger Check Price vs Beretta 92X Centurion DA/SA Full-Sized Pistol Chambered in 9mm Luger Check Price Dimensions Details Capacity Dimensions Customary Metric Want to sell a firearm? A lot of people are only aware of the 92FS version, and many of the criticisms and complaints about the 92 revolvearound this particular model. What I do know is that it broke, and that it probably wasnt supposed to. This goes to show that one should put their firearm through its paces before trusting it as a defensive weapon. After the Landon trigger and other upgrades, perhaps that will change. Flipping a poorly-located lever with the pivot point in the wrong place, upwards against the natural operation of the hand during a draw and gripping, is just ergonomically wrong. Eventually, the 92SB Compact L was replaced by a compact version of the 92F and then the 92FS in 1990. FMJ loads are predictably ineffective, producing ice-pick-like wounds. The INOX finish is absolutely stunning thanks to its stainless steel construction. We can also testify to the results we see on the targets: in these holster classes, the worst hits on the targets when under time pressure come from the 92s, along with the old Ruger clunkers. Occasionally, an exceptional shooter will perform beyond expectation with the Beretta, others just dont get the hang of it. Many of these features were added as the result of special requests from law enforcement contracts while others were influenced by target and action pistol competitors. As soon as I can replace the hammer spring and polish a few parts Im hoping the trigger will be a little lighter, Ill stick with the HK p30. . Home Firearms Handguns Review: Beretta 92 Compact Pistol. Despite the hammer release hiccup, this 92FS Compact L is quickly becoming one of my favorite handguns. It's just a tiny bit smaller and shorter than a standard 92FS. Well, of the Compact-sized handguns I own and have used, I feel it is one of the better ones. But, I really wasnt looking for a project. The complaints from those who felt they had reliability issues back in the day in the military are largely because of poor magazine selection by the DoD. We do holster-oriented action shooting class and get to see a lot of stuff. Just picked up my 92fs compact L stainless. I trained to carry the m9 with the safety off and to use it as a decocker, and in that context, keeping the safety out of the way makes perfect sense. Tisas PX9 Gen3 Nightstalker: A Clone Worth the Money. Caliber: 9x19mm Luger Vondelpark is a well-known park located in the heart of Amsterdam and a popular place for locals to walk, cycle, run or gather. The pistol comes equipped with the standard 92FS steel 3-dot sights. The following model 92SB went into production with the mag release moved to its more accessible location behind the trigger guard. Drag/drop and reorder the handguns to compare on top of eachother, New handguns and the best gun and ammo deals straight to your inbox, DA/SA Full-Sized Pistol Chambered in 9mm Luger, DA/SA Compact Pistol Chambered in 9mm Luger. The slide recoils and cocks the hammer for subsequent single-action shots. Would you like to log into Beretta using your logged in facebook information? Having larger hands, I find the grip length to be just right with the magazine in place; no pinky left dangling off in space. Sure enough, It suffered in its score in this department. If you are used to DA/SA guns, first shot on target is no problem with the snag-free DA. Its incredibly long and heavy, and also different than follow up shots. carry, plainclothes work, or everyday concealment. Customization: * * * The checkering is not too aggressive and does not aggravate the hand after prolonged shooting. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. 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