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Beretta 92
Model: Beretta 92 An Italian design originating in the fifties, the 92 started off as the single stack, push safety 951 "Brigadier," evolving slowly as Beretta pushed the design towards military adoption. Falling short of the Sig P226 but offering better price per unit, Beretta won the contract with their 92SB-F, simply called the 92F, or the M9.
Complaints were universal, and the early service was rocky, including the infamous incident of slides breaking and striking the shooter in the face. The problem was discovered to be a combination of both overpowered ammo and improper alloying of the slide (Beretta managed to mix contracts with another non-military customer. How, is anybody's guess...), but the 92F was redesigned to incorporate a notch that prevented slide separation, the 92FS.
As it turned out, the 92 was a reliable, accurate, well designed platform. However, in the sandy conditions of the wars in the Middle East, the open slide only allowed the internals to be more easily clogged up. A number of problems were also created by lowest bidder magazines, contributing to the general disdain for the Beretta. However, as the Gulf War had proved, proper magazines and lubricant (or more accurately, one less prone to attracting particles) solved most of the reliability problems. Recently, the United States Marine Corps has ordered M9A1 sidearms, with integral light rails. The military use of the 92 has made it's variants extremely popular amongst civilian and law enforcement as both a duty piece and a somewhat large concealed carry pistol. It's weight, a liability for carry, helps control recoil, and it is quite a popular choice for production-class competition shooting.
Taurus makes a number of licensed Beretta clones,
Where to find:
The Beretta 92 is now one of the most common handguns in the US, and parts are also widely available. It has decent selection of aftermarket parts, and gunsmiths commonly do work on them. In addition, the Beretta is only second to the Glock in terms of available training material and gear.
Complexity:
In terms of usage, the 92 is a relatively simple sidearm. The decocker and double action trigger allows the shooter to carry the pistol safely hammer down, and the number of variants available allow a large degree of personalization. The internal design of the 92, while different, is not very complex to maintain. On top of this, a more direct shot to the chamber from the magazine mostly negates the need for reliability work for feeding.
Size and weight:
34 ounces unloaded. Length 217mm. Height 137mm. Barrel 125mm.
Action:
Semi-automatic, locking block operating system taken from the Walther P38.
Caliber(s):
9mm Parabellum (92),
.40 S&W (96),
9x21 IMI (98)
Magazine:
92: 10, 15, 18 or 20 rounds. 25 or 32 round extended mags also available.
96: 13 or 11 rounds. 9mm magazines may also be used at a slight capacity decease, generally two to three rounds.
Trigger:
A standard double action trigger with single action follow-up shots.
The double action pull is at 187.2 ounces (11.7 lbs), while the single action is slightly lighter 139.2 ounces (8.7lbs) . The D version is double action only. The long and fairly heavy pull has been criticized by many, and combined with the large grip, make for a fairly awkward handgun.Controls:
The pistol is fairly conventional in layout.
A 92 has a standard push button magazine release behind the triggerguard, reversible for ambidextrous use.
The safety is also ambidextrous, being located on both sides of the slide. However, this location has been noted is not quite as rapid or comfortable as most frame mounted designs, with the advantage of more readily displaying if the safety is applied or not.
Taurus models have a USP-style thumb safety, clicked upwards for safe, down to fire, and further down for decock.
The slide release is located directly above the grip, large enough to be comfortably reached by either hand.
Just above the front of the triggerguard is the dissembly catch.
Loading:
Condition One, or "Locked and Cocked." Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer cocked and safety applied.
1) Point in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges!
2) Insert the magazine into the the magazine well in the bottom of the frame, ensuring you can hear and feel the click of the magazine release.
3) Grasp the slide firmly and pull it completely to the rear, then release it. Be sure to allow it to slam shut by spring force. Riding it forward with your hand can cause a malfunction!
4) The standard 92F has a decocker, making it impossible to apply the safety and keep the pistol cocked. Taurus variants may have a frame-mounted thumb safety.
5) The pistol can be fired by simply pulling the trigger. Click off the safety on Taurus models.
Condition Two. Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.
1) Point in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges!
2) Insert the magazine into the the magazine well in the bottom of the frame, ensuring you can hear and feel the click of the magazine release.
3) Grasp the slide firmly and pull it completely to the rear, then release it. Be sure to allow it to slam shut by spring force. Riding it forward with your hand can cause a malfunction!
4) Push the safety / decocker downward until the hammer springs forward. The pistol may be fired by clicking the safety upwards on the draw.
Alternatively, Push the safety / decocker downward until the hammer springs forward. Click the safety upwards. The pistol may be fired immediately by pulling the trigger.
Condition Three. Chamber empty, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.
1) Point in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges!
2) Insert the magazine into the the magazine well in the bottom of the frame, ensuring you can hear and feel the click of the magazine release.
3) The pistol can be fired by racking the slide, chambering the first round and cocking the hammer.
Unloading:
1) Point in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges!
2) Depress the magazine release, removing the loaded magazine. Be sure to do this first, or else a round may accidentally be loaded in a later step.
3) Rack the slide firmly and lock it open with the slide release.
4) Through the ejection port, visually confirm that the chamber is empty, as well as the magazine well. Use your finger to feel for any rounds.
5) Release the slide and push down on the decocker.
Field Stripping:
As always, remove the mag and clear the pistol.
From the right side, push the dissembly catch to the left, and rotate it clockwise, so that it is now pointing downward. Pull the slide forward off of the frame. Turn it over, then carefully push forward the spring guide assembly, keeping a firm hold as you ease it out. Then, grab the barrel and pull it back until the locking block lines up with the cutouts in the slide, and pull it downwards and out. Reverse for assembly.
Design Quirks:
A big first is the aesthetics. Beretta's firearms are totally unique in appearance. Another fact that is oft mentioned is that the pistol is relatively unsuited to those with small hands, having a wide grip, long trigger and a somewhat far-off safety.
Jahadaz |
Latest page update: made by Jahadaz
, Nov 21 2010, 8:45 PM EST
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1259 words added 3 images added view changes - complete history) |
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Keyword tags:
92f
Autoloaders
beretta
handgun
pistol
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