Confederate
Member
We've all read about it, I guess. The military had some problems with the slide coming off the frame and zapping some guy in the face. After denying the problem for the longest time, Beretta finally beefed up a part of the frame. Then the problem stopped. Or at least it ceased being an issue.
Now what I've wondered is: was this design problem...flaw, whatever...found on the original Italian 92s -- the ones with the magazine releases on the bottom and the subsequent ones by the trigger?
Some people have said since the designs were identical, the older Berettas should have the same flaw. Others disagree and said the Italian models were better made and made from slightly different materials.
Also, what about the Taurus pistols? Were there any problems with them? Well, other than they're Tauruses?
I once talked to the fellow at the Naval Sea Systems Command who told me about the Beretta problems some time before it all hit the media. He insisted that the damn slides could come off any time after about 6,500 rounds. He maintained that they had subjected them to microscopic inspections and that the ones that subsequently failed showed absolutely no signs of excess stress -- no hairline fractures, nothing. They just failed. That got me wondering about the old Italian pistols, since a friend of mine has one and asked. I'd never really though about it. The NAVSEA fellow said none of the guns failed before 6,500 rounds...not one...but all the ones that did fail failed after that number and with no prior signs of stress. At the time, he said he wouldn't give a plug nickel for a 92, and it made an impression on me.
Anyone know the story on these?
Thanks!
Now what I've wondered is: was this design problem...flaw, whatever...found on the original Italian 92s -- the ones with the magazine releases on the bottom and the subsequent ones by the trigger?
Some people have said since the designs were identical, the older Berettas should have the same flaw. Others disagree and said the Italian models were better made and made from slightly different materials.
Also, what about the Taurus pistols? Were there any problems with them? Well, other than they're Tauruses?
I once talked to the fellow at the Naval Sea Systems Command who told me about the Beretta problems some time before it all hit the media. He insisted that the damn slides could come off any time after about 6,500 rounds. He maintained that they had subjected them to microscopic inspections and that the ones that subsequently failed showed absolutely no signs of excess stress -- no hairline fractures, nothing. They just failed. That got me wondering about the old Italian pistols, since a friend of mine has one and asked. I'd never really though about it. The NAVSEA fellow said none of the guns failed before 6,500 rounds...not one...but all the ones that did fail failed after that number and with no prior signs of stress. At the time, he said he wouldn't give a plug nickel for a 92, and it made an impression on me.
Anyone know the story on these?
Thanks!