what else do you prefer about the A3? I just shot a 92FS Brig back to back with my standard FS and I prefer the standard. I like the lighter, slimmer slide and the less topheavy feel. I also found the brig to shoot quite a bit lower than POA with same ammo (124 ball) from same distance. Holding center of torso my 92FS hits pretty much right on while the Brig is several inches low. Maybe due to the heavier trigger of the brig (my FS has a D spring and a couple thousand rounds through it) but I doubt it's completely that. The brig also shot brass in my face about 7 rounds out of 15. My FS puts them at about 4 oclock. I tried swapping uppers with the same result so it must be an extractor/tension issue.
Plus I HATE the wraparound grips.
15 shot groups offhand about 18 yards.
Yes, the wrap around grips suck. I use just the plain Hogue grip panels.
However, my Brig shoots the same POA/POI as my regular 92FS models. But, I don't like the Brig slides as much, because of a slight difference in the sight picture (the brig slide is squared off under neath the front sight)...
I'll explain below - this is a copy and past of what I typed on another forum a few months ago... Explaining why I like the M9A3 more than the Wilson. In part of my post, I explain the difference in the front sights between the Wilson Brigadier slide and the M9A3 slide, and why I like 1 over the other...
<copy and paste>
1. As I stated earlier in the thread - I like the sight picture of a standard type 92 slide the most, which the M9A3 also has. The squareness of the front sight area on the Brigadier slides makes the front sight not as quick to pick up. The base where the front sight sits at is squared off on the Brig slide. Also, the front sight seems to be a little bit
shorter on the Brig slide.
It is much easier to see the front sight on a standard 92FS slide, with the curved area under the front sight... (this is 1 thing I like about a 1911 - the top of the slide is curved, and it makes it so quick to pick up the front sight). On this M9A3, the Vertec style slide (dovetailed front sight) still has the curve of a regular 92FS. I like this much more.
2. Also, the front sight (facing the shooter) on the M9A3 has about a 45 degree cut to it. The Wilson front sight has a 90 degree cut. The white circle around the tritium on the M9A3 pops out more - because of the 45 degree angle facing the shooter. It picks up more light.
3. I REALLY like the different angle of the safety levers on the m9A3. By raising it, it does cause less issues when tying to clear a jam (if need be). I've messed around with this, and the levers do what is intended by that slight change. This totally resolves any concern someone might have about accidentally activating the safety levers while working the slide. No need for G really because of that, IMHO.
4. The grip of the M9A3 feels better to me. Generally, I prefer standard serrations over the checkering Beretta uses. I really don't like Beretta's checkering - it's not sharp enough. But this is usually done this way because the frame is aluminum and not steel (it could be damaged easier if they did it like a 1911 checkering style). But, with the rear strap of the M9A3 being covered by that Hogue grip on the M9A3 (covering the rear strap checkering and making the grip "stickier") - I don't mind the front strap checkering at all.
When I hold both guns (either with a loaded mag in each or no mag in each), I prefer the feel of the M9A3 in my hand more than I do the Wilson. And, I have just put Hogue grip panels on the Wilson this evening - to make the feel of the two more comparable. But, the M9A3 feels much better to me in the hand.
5. The rear sight of the M9A3 is just perfect. I didn't think I'd like the lack of white circles on the rear tritium. But the silver rings work great. The eyes still gets drawn to the white around the front dot - but you still have 2 rear dots.
I'd never use the Wilson as a home defense gun - as you have absolutely no way to see the rear sight in low/no light.
I like straight 8 style sights the most. I have them on my Dan Wesson 1911, and I had similar style sights on a Glock 17 I just sold. So, I appreciate that a black rear sight brings your eye to the front sight dot easier. But, I just don't care for that all black rear Wilson sight that much. I really wish it had a small single tritium dot in the middle, like straight 8 sights have.
Also, I wish the rear Wilson sight had a square cut instead of a curved cut (in the sight channel). I plan to send my Wilson slide off to Trijicon next month and get a standard rear sight put on (for a Brig slide). I have given the rear sight a chance after several months - I just don't like it.
6. I shoot the M9A3 a little better than I do the Wilson - especially at 15 yards. I think this may because of that rear sight - with the curve in the sight picture. Once I get the new rear sight, we'll see how it shoots then.
Now, do I like the Wilson - yes. I will admit that the Wilson does look sweet with those green Wilson grips and the Brig slide... But still....
If I was offered a choice of just 1 of them... Between the 2.... I'd choose the M9A3, hands down... No real hard decision for me...
). Since then Beretta has introduced other non-Brigadier offerings with the dovetailed front sight, but are compatible with other guns. I expect the 92A1's remaining life span to be relatively short.
