New Release Beretta 92Xi

[D.B. Cooper]

What are your thoughts on this single action only Beretta 92 that just released at SHOT Show '23? The Beretta rep jokingly referred to it as the "92-11" (as in: it's a 92, but it's SAO, so it's like a 1911.)

I've been a huge fan of the 92 since I was in the Air Force and shot one on my squadron's pistol team. I currently run a stock 92FS (Actually, it's an M9) in USPSA, and I love it.

What I like about this new 92Xi is the frame mounted safety. Even the beretta rep acknowledges that people have been wanting that a for a long time. I don't understand why Beretta never made a 92 with a frame-mounted safety, like the Taurus.

What I don't like it about: pretty much everything else, including the $950 price tag. As I said in another post, I don't like the Vertex grip. I don't mind the light rails or optic mounts so much anymore; I just don't use them.

I get it. SAO is easier to shoot accurately. People don't like the DA trigger pull or the transition to SA, and Beretta needed to address that. This gun will let Beretta compete in the market for a gun with a consistent trigger pull. I think the eighteen-round, 9mm mag, puts it ahead of some of the 9mm 1911s, but in other ways, it seems to be a solution in search of a problem. Are die-hard 1911 fans going to switch to this gun? Are die-hard Beretta and/or DA/SA fans going to switch to this gun? I'm not sure this gun is going to find its niche.

 

[JTQ]

I don't understand why Beretta never made a 92 with a frame-mounted safety, like the Taurus.

They did. That was the original design. Taurus used Beretta machinery to produce their original 92's.

The US Military asked for the safety/decocker on the slide since that is where the Walther P38, and S&W auto pistols put their safety/decocker and they wanted a DA/SA gun that could be decocked with a lever and not by thumbing down the hammer.

Evolution of the Beretta 92 https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/guide-beretta-92/

 

[Mars5l]

Just reminds me of a cheaper version of the 92x Performance.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Just reminds me of a cheaper version of the 92x Performance.

LOL. $950 is "cheaper." (I mean yes, it is cheap-er, but it's not cheap.)

 

[D.B. Cooper]

They did. That was the original design. Taurus used Beretta machinery to produce their original 92's.

I've heard that a lot of times over the years, but never, in my entire life, have I ever seen a Beretta with a frame mounted safety. Then again, I've never seen a unicorn, either.

 

[chicharrones]

I like this 92XI a lot. If my ol' 92FS would've had a frame mounted safety, I would have probably kept it.

 

[Mars5l]

LOL. $950 is "cheaper." (I mean yes, it is cheap-er, but it's not cheap.)

Yea not cheap, but I think the 92x Performances are up around $1600+ now. So it's quite a bit cheaper. Last new Beretta I bought recently was a 96A1 and that was around $750. If they make the 96 the same as the 92XI, I'd buy one

 

[sevt_chevelle]

A hard nope from me.
I've got a 92x performance, one of the biggest let downs.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I love the idea, just hope the TN factory is up to speed with QC. I wasn't thrilled with my 92X

 

[Mark_Mark]

Yea not cheap, but I think the 92x Performances are up around $1600+ now. So it's quite a bit cheaper. Last new Beretta I bought recently was a 96A1 and that was around $750. If they make the 96 the same as the 92XI, I'd buy one

Remember when the 92X was $1200 new OTD!!!???

 

[JTQ]

I've heard that a lot of times over the years, but never, in my entire life, have I ever seen a Beretta with a frame mounted safety. Then again, I've never seen a unicorn, either.

Probably because your memory only goes as far back as a 92FS.

 

[AlexanderA]

What I like about this new 92Xi is the frame mounted safety. Even the Beretta rep acknowledges that people have been wanting that a for a long time. I don't understand why Beretta never made a 92 with a frame-mounted safety, like the Taurus.

They're a little late to the party. I just bought a 1990's vintage Taurus PT92AF-D, in new condition, for $500. It has a frame mounted safety (plus decocker) and it's otherwise the equal of the Beretta. I'll post comparison pictures when I get it squared away.

Beretta and Taurus magazines are interchangeable if you do a tiny bit of surgery on the locking notches. (The Beretta notches are longer and thinner, while the Taurus notches are shorter and fatter. It's a bit easier to modify a Taurus magazine to fit in a Beretta, than the other way around. A few strokes of a square needle file will do it.) Speaking of Taurus magazines, there are $18 Taiwan-made aftermarket magazines that are exactly the same as the Brazilian ones, except for not having the "Made in Brazil" markings.

The automatic decocking feature (dropping the hammer when you put on the safety) of the Beretta bothered me so much that I removed it from mine. It's a simple job to remove the hammer release lever and replace it with the "D' spacer. You can then carry it "safe" but cocked. But this won't lock the trigger. A deliberate pull of the trigger, in that condition, will decock it safely.

The 1990's Taurus is better than the current ones. It has much nicer finish, finer slide serrations, no accessory rail, and no pesky action lock behind the grip.

ETA: As promised, here's a picture of my newly-acquired Taurus PT92AF-D, along with its cousin the Beretta 92FS (top). The Taurus is from 1994-95 production, which is the "sweet spot" for this model gun. It has the decocker, but was made before the cost-saving measures, such as the elimination of the grip screw bushings (which took place in 1997).

 

[Plan2Live]

What are your thoughts on this single action only Beretta 92

While I'm not a fan of the 92 in general, I'm pleased to see Beretta sticking with metal frame, hammer fired pistols and I hope other manufacturers take note. Some of us don't want a polymer, striker fired pistol as our only option. I think the 92 is a high quality, reliable pistol, it's just not my cup of tea, I prefer the Sig P Series configuration. But again, I'm glad to see Beretta continuing to produce this pistol.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I have no use for this, and I have many 92s.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I think they're handsome, but I have an LTT Beretta incoming already.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

They're a little late to the party. I just bought a 1990's vintage Taurus PT92AF-D, in new condition, for $500. It has a frame mounted safety (plus decocker) and it's otherwise the equal of the Beretta. I'll post comparison pictures when I get it squared away.

Yep. I had a Taurus 92AF as well Great gun. Regret selling it. Only reason I didn't buy another is the Taurus reputation; I figured my luck would run out, and I'd get a lemon.

You can then carry it "safe" but cocked...

Can't imagine why you want to on a DA/SA gun. Defeats the entire purpose of the design. Might as well run a 1911 or a striker-fired gun at that point. You're basically carrying stored energy just waiting to be dropped on a live round.

The 1990's Taurus is better than the current ones. It has much nicer finish, finer slide serrations, no accessory rail, and no pesky action lock behind the grip.

Another reason I didn't buy another Taurus. But, tbh, I think about it every now and then. Like every time I draw the Beretta and push the safety off. (Gunsite teaches to just leave the safety off all the time anyway.)

 

[JB111]

I did not see anything in that video that makes me want to run out and buy one. It is nice, and having a slide mounted safety and it being sao is nice but not thousand dollar nice. If I did not already own several models of the M9 then maybe but as it currently stands, it will be a hard no from me.

Edit: Meant to say frame safety.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've heard that a lot of times over the years, but never, in my entire life, have I ever seen a Beretta with a frame mounted safety. Then again, I've never seen a unicorn, either.

Really, you've never seen a Beretta 92?

I think I got my first at a local chain sporting goods store...Oshman's. They were very popular until they changed over to the 92F and then the 92FS



When they completed their Brazilian contract, they sold the tooling to Taurus...who just keep production going

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Really, you've never seen a Beretta 92?View attachment 1127954

Is that the 92S that AIM Surplus was selling for like $350 a couple years back? The heel-mounted mag release put me off, and I never bought one.

But no, I've never seen a Beretta 92 with a frame mounted safety in real life.

I think I got my first at a local chain sporting goods store...Oshman's.

There's a blast from the past!! Have't heard the name Oshman's in forever. Back in the late 70s, the local shopping mall had one. As a young kid (age 7 or 8) I would go in there and look at guns while my mom shopped. Of course, they never let me handle one, but I would stare through the glass lol.

 

[Mark_Mark]

So many Gun, not enough money or time

they have a 92X Pro, used at my local for $1050… might do it!

 

[js8588]

SAO = 0 interest. Pass.

 

[Mark_Mark]

SAO = 0 interest. Pass.

I get the Lighter 1911 style trigger on a SAO… but why not just get a 1911 2X stack?

probably reliable of 2011 Mags

 

[AlexanderA]

There's a blast from the past!! Have't heard the name Oshman's in forever.

I bought my first AR-15, from Oshman's in Austin, Texas, in 1968. I went by there again some years later, and it was gone.

 

[AlexanderA]

Can't imagine why you want to [cocked and locked] on a DA/SA gun.

The feel is completely different on the first shot versus subsequent shots. And on the Beretta, because of the fat grip, the trigger position in DA mode is nearly unreachable for me. The SA mode is not only consistent from shot to shot, but is more accurate.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I could be interested; really prefer the Vertec grip.
Have an M9, since it was the service pistol, and presume this model takes the same magazines, which is a real selling point.
But as a PP noted, the trigger reach, for double action, is just too much for my hands. Even though the double action pull is pretty reasonable.
The Vertec grip solves some of that problem.
Sure they will be made of unobtanium for awhile, especially if they get some positive reviews.
Moon