Beretta 92FS

[Harley-madman]

Hello everyone. I just wanted to say hi and get a few opinions.
I am new to THR and new to the gun world. I've been wanting a gun for a while now, so for Christmas I decided to get one. I started looking at gun shops and went to a gun show to check out different guns. I really fell for the Beretta 92FS, so I decided to go to the local gun range and rent one. I talked to the guy behind the counter about different models and gun safety, then hit the range. I loved the way it shot and decided to get one.
I waited my three days, brought my new gun home and locked it up in the safe. Before I even shot it, I took the gun safety course and the conceal/carry permit class. I've been to the range with it a few times now and love this gun. I'm getting a pretty good grouping at 10 to 15 yards and I'm really happy with it.
Is there anything I should be aware of with this gun? I'm thinking about getting another one for conceal/carry, but not sure what to look at. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[swordsmn]

Cool! That was the gun that got me interested in the sport thanks to Lethal Weapon movie..lol
Good choice.
For concealed carry, apply the same methodology you used this time.
Become proficient with basic marksmanship, look into credible/multiple ccw classes and mid level classes. Read some good books. A few yrs old but " In the Gravest Extreme" by Massad Ayoob is a great education. He stresses your responsibility to Avoid confrontation even more now that you are armed. It's a sobering read and highly recommended. Find it.
As to what gun, well take ur time. lots of great choices. Your holster/belt is also an important choice...don't go cheap and don't buy in haste. your climate influences all the decisions. Think where you'll be carrying and how/where you will responsibly stow the gun when you need to enter restricted areas. So many variables, that's why you research/ask like ur doing here.
Mainly , I say, get lots of range time and comfort with that 92 before you grab another gun and start trotting around. You choices thus far seem very wise... keep it up and welcome to a very responsible fraternity.

 

[swordsmn]

oops i missed u took the ccw class... nevertheless one course would not necessarily make me all gung ho to hit the street packin. do that addn'l reading and DO consider medium to advanced training and tons o practice...
Vary that practice too as safety and range conditions permit.

 

[Nick5182]

a 92fs was my first purchase and i've never regretted it. i've ccw'd it countless times and have never had a single problem with it. good choice. it's also the handgun that piqued my interest.

 

[easyg]

Is there anything I should be aware of with this gun? I'm thinking about getting another one for conceal/carry, but not sure what to look at. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

It's a good gun to be sure, and very accurate too.

But in my humble opinion, it's just too darn big to use as a concealed carry pistol.
In fact, it's one of the largest 9mm pistols around.

Sure, you CAN conceal it if you try....heck, you can conceal a shotgun if you try....but it was never intended to be a concealed-carry handgun.
For concealed carry you would be much better served with a smaller pistol.

Just my 2 cent's worth,
Easy

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

great pistol.
Cheap ammo and cheap mags. good choice.

 

[brandon_mcg]

great choice. beretta makes very reliable guns in all categories. have fun and shoot often

 

[rhodco]

Amen

I agree with easyg. I love my 92FS but it's uncomfortable to carry around in a high and tight ccw rig all day. It can be manageable but it's not my first choice.

Also, Amen on the Gravest Extreme book by Ayoob. Just Google and I'm sure you can still find it. Great book to start with.

,

 

[TCB in TN]

The 92 is my second fav handgun and I have had a couple over the years. It was my fav gun when I first got my Carry permit and I used it for CC for a couple of years. It takes "planning" and extra layers to CC it well. What I found after a while was that I ended up carrying less because of the hassle. At that point I got a couple of smaller handguns and began to change my carry weapon depending upon what I wore.

A good smaller (more easily concealed) pistol or revolver is a good idea IMHO. A small snubbie 38, Ruger LCR/LCP, Keltec .380 or .32 auto are not the same gun, but will be a whole lot easier to carry (iwb, ankle holster, etc). As an old guy once told me, a pea shooter in the pocket beats a cannon in the car every time!

Good advice above, whatever you have, practice, practice, practice.

 

[mljdeckard]

If it works for you, use the heck out of it. Comfort and size are relative, and as this is your first carry gun, you have nothing to compare it to. The only opinion that really matters is yours.

 

[pikid89]

now save up your pennies for a good quality .22 pistol (ruger MKII, ruger 22/45, Browning Buckmark, Beretta Neos, etc...), for cheap trigger time

 

[Grunt Medic TXARNG]

Actually, for .22 practice you might consider getting the Beretta .22 conversion kit for your 92 - I have one for my M9 marked 92 and love it. That also allows me to practice live fire from the holster with rimfire (fortunately I live near a range that allows such), as well as use my pistol in my local match that specifies service pistol and service pistol rimfire.

 

[MidwestRookie]

dont listen to anyone who says it's too big...this is a world of who can carry the smallest gun in the biggest caliber that absolutely sucks to shoot...whatever they say, just remember the ones saying its too big are built like children...remember, it's your gun, you are the one carrying, not the internet voices telling you to buy a 12oz plastic gun in .40 or .45. if it works and you're comfortable with it, that's all that matters.

enjoy your 92, I know I love the 3 I have..check out mecgar for flush fit 18-round mags, best mags available for the 92 series, IMO..

 

[Jed Carter]

If you are looking for suggestions for a CCW to add to the collection then here are mine. I will keep it simple,and in order of preference, also compacts only, no sub-compacts, all 9mm. First a CZ 75D "PCR" as perfect as a CCW gets. Glock G19, may be Glock's best all around pistol. SIG P239, low capacity, high accuracy, reliability, may be the best pistol on my list. I own 3 Beretta pistols, but I do not use any for concealed carry, as good as the 92FS is there are better choices for a CCW.

 

[Shipwreck]

I have concealed carried my 92FS for about 14 months now. I was even going to switch to a different gun for the hot summer - but I found some NP3 covered grip screws at CDNN (I ordered a couple more sets last night in fact). And once I got those and jhad no more issues with rusting grip screws, I have carried my 92FS year long.

If I carry it at the 3 o'clock position, it is not hard. Even with a t-shirt... As long as the t-shirt is not super tight, it can be done. And, I'm not a huge guy - 180lbs, 6'1"

 

[Lobo_79]

...I am new to THR and new to the gun world. ...I really fell for the Beretta 92FS.... I'm getting a pretty good grouping at 10 to 15 yards and I'm really happy with it.
Is there anything I should be aware of with this gun? I'm thinking about getting another one for conceal/carry, but not sure what to look at. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Welcome to the forum. You have clearly followed the right process for acquiring the 92FS. I own two of them so my input here is probably a little biased. As others have pointed out: Beretta's are reliable, and they can be large and cumbersome for concealed carry. But I do it.

I bought a Galco Royal Guard INW holster. It turns out for me the one holster works well for my CZ75B .40 S&W and for my 92FS. It's comfortable and it doesn't slide around. Others would probably recommend their favorites as well but personally I've had really good luck with the Galco especially when I want to carry a full size handgun.

Since you indicated you were new to the gun world you can probably expect over time you will consider a smaller, form factor handgun for those carry situation where a full size gun is not ideal. I'd encourage you to stay true to your process and go rent one first especially if you're considering a semi-automatic. In general short actions means more critical action timing and more likelihood of a malfunction when you don't need mechanical problems. I don't want to generalize and say all small frame pistols are inherently unreliable but there is a tendency for reliability problems to go up when the pistol size gets smaller. Revolvers are in a different category since they have a simpler action and fewer moving parts that depend on a handful of springs or polished feed ramps.

So...I applaud your effort to carry the gun you are comfortable with. Good luck.

 

[TCB in TN]

Dont listen to anyone who says it's too big...this is a world of who can carry the smallest gun in the biggest caliber that absolutely sucks to shoot...whatever they say, just remember the ones saying its too big are built like children...remember, it's your gun, you are the one carrying, not the internet voices telling you to buy a 12oz plastic gun in .40 or .45. if it works and you're comfortable with it, that's all that matters.

I am hardly built like a child! and I have carried my 92, did so for quite some time so I do have a pretty good idea of what it is like.

The thing I agree with is that the OP needs to do what actually works for him, and he is smart enough to ask others who have already done it what their opinion is, to get ideas about what to try.

Try many things, find out what works for you and do it. This idea that people need to "man up" is a joke. Carry what you are comfortable, and proficient with!

 

[easyg]

dont listen to anyone who says it's too big...

Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you can't get around the math....
Check out the dimensions of the Beretta 92 and you will see that it is one of the largest 9mm pistols in production.

It's a full-sized service pistol, designed to be carried by soldiers wearing belt and harness support systems.

this is a world of who can carry the smallest gun in the biggest caliber that absolutely sucks to shoot...

While it's true that some small light-weight large calibers guns suck to shoot, this does not apply to all such guns.
Take the Glock 27 for example....
It's a small light-weight sub-compact, but it shoots just fine....unless you're built like a child.

whatever they say, just remember the ones saying its too big are built like children...

I wish I was built like a 17 year old child.
Unfortunately, I'm built just like your typical middle-aged working man....average height, average weight, and a little thicker in the middle than I was when I was 20-something (a testimony to my wife's great cooking).

remember, it's your gun, you are the one carrying, not the internet voices telling you to buy a 12oz plastic gun in .40 or .45. if it works and you're comfortable with it, that's all that matters.

Sure. But since he did come here asking opinions, then I reckon he wants to hear them.

My father once said "Learn from other people's mistakes. Life is too short to make them all on your own".

enjoy your 92, I know I love the 3 I have...

Perhaps having bought three of the same gun has left you a bit blind to their faults?

No one here has said that the Beretta 92 is a bad gun.
It just wasn't designed to be a concealed carry pistol.

 

[Fastcast]

But in my humble opinion, it's just too darn big to use as a concealed carry pistol.
In fact, it's one of the largest 9mm pistols around.

We agree for a change. lol

If you like the 92 platform, maybe look for a used 92 Centurion

Excellent pistol, just wish the safety was on the frame and swiped down/off like the Beretta 84.

 

[golden]

GOOD and BAD

HARLEY,

I have owned, shot or been issued about a dozen BERETTA 92/96 pistols. I think they are one of the most reliable and accurate pistols made. The newer ones have good sights with excellent sights on the Brigadier models and among the best double action triggers around.

On the negative side, the full size 92FS is BIG. I have carried the 96 (same gun in .40 S&W) for a number of years and I find it hard to conceal. I much prefer the Compact models for concealed carry. If you do not have a problem concealing it, then you are doing very well.

WEAK POINTS. The real weak point on a 92 is the magazine. The BERETTA factory and MEC GAR magazines are the only ones that I would buy. I tried some of the other ones and they would barely slide it (these were the ones advertised as government contract mags). I have NEVER had problem with a 92/96 unless the mags were worn out.

They are nearly impossible to jam or misfeed and the most accurate factory gun I know.

Jim

 

[Fastcast]

If you like the 92 platform, maybe look for a used 92 Centurion

Meant to say:....If you like the 92 platform, maybe look for a used 92 Centurion for CCW.

 

[golden]

Problem with centurion

The problem with the CENTURION is that the grip is just as long as the full size 92. It is only the barrel and slide that are shortened. I do not think they are really much more concealable than the full size gun.

It is the COLT Commander of the lineup.

On the other hand, they can shoot very well. I just bought a 92D Centurion used and it shot 150 out of 150 the first time at the range.

Jim

 

[GMHAYESUSN]

Get lots of range time with it and practice practice practice.....Ive got houge grips on my personell weapon and the ones we use on the ship are stock. The gun will take a lot of abuse and is pretty user friendly from what ive seen so far!

 

[DenaliPark]

Excellent pistol, not the best for CCW...

Congrats, in my estimation one of the two or three best 9mm pistols you can lay your hands on, the other's being the G17/19 & CZ75. If open carry is the law in your state you have a fine pistol, if ccw, you had best be a bigger(taller)specimen then most to pull it off, it's also heavy....Nonetheless, it's a superb 9mm, largely unmatched for smoothness of operation...

This is one of mine wearing Rosewood stocks with fancy brickwork checkering...

 

[Hatterasguy]

Fantastic pistols, I really like them. I have popped water jugs out to 75 yards with them, and with practice they can probably be accurate 100 yard pistols.

IMHO to big for CC, they are holster guns. Guys still do it, but I don't know how I guess they just deal with it.