Beretta 92

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The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. It was designed in 1975 and production of many variants in different calibers continues to the present day. It is most famous for replacing the M1911 .45 ACP pistol as the standard sidearms of the US armed forces in 1985 with the designation of M9.

Although only 5000 copies of the original design was manufactured from 1975 to 1976 the design is currently produced in four different configurations (FS, G, D an DS) and 3 calibers:

92 series in 9 x 19 Parabellum,
96 series in .40 S&W and
98 series in 9 x 21 mm IMI

Contents

History

The Beretta 92 pistol evolved from earlier Beretta designs, most notably the M1922 and M1951. From the M1922 comes the open slide design, while the the alloy frame and locking block barrel (originally from Walther P38) were fist used in the M1951. The grip angle and the front sight integrated with the slide were also common to earlier Beretta pistols.

The Beretta 92 first appeared in 1976 and was designed by Carlo Beretta, Giuseppe Mazzetti and Vittorio Valle, all experienced firearms designers on the Beretta design team.

92

About 5000 copies of the first design were manufactured from 1975 to 1976.

92S

In order to meet requirements of some law enforcement agencies, Beretta modified the Beretta 92 by adding a slide mounted combined safety and decocking lever replacing the frame mounted manual thumb safety. This result in the 92S which was adopted by several Italian law enforcement and military units.

92SB (92S-1)

Innitially called the 92S-1 when it was specifically designed for US Air Force trials (which it won), the officialy model name adopted was the 92SB. It include the changes of the 92S and added a firing pin safety and relocated the magazine release catch from the bottom of the grip to the lower bottom of the trigger guard.

92SB Compact (1981 – 1991), shorted barrel and slide (13 round magazine capacity). It was replaced by the "92 Compact L".

92F (92SB-F)

Beretta modified model 92SB slightly to create the 92F (and 92G) by making the following changes:

Redesigned all the parts to make them interchangeable between 92 variants to simplify maintenance for large government organisations.
Modified the front of the trigger guard so that one could use finger support for easier aiming.
Modified front angle of the grip to allow for better instinctive aiming.
Hard chromed the barrel bore to protect it from corrosion and to reduce wear.
New patented surface coating on the frame called Bruniton which provides better corrosion resistance than the previous plain blued finish.

US Military use

Marine Security Guard students perform rapid-fire exercises on the Department of State pistol qualification course Feb. 4 as part of their MSG graduation requirement

When the US Air Force (USAF) began the Joint Service Small Arms Program, Beretta entered the competition. The Beretta 92SB (92S-1) won, but the Army contested the Air Force's methods. There would be several more competitions, and Beretta refined the design of the Beretta 92SB into the Beretta 92SB-F and in slightly modified form the Beretta 92G. These designs were ultimately selected in the United States (Beretta 92F, U.S. Military designation of "M9") and France (Beretta 92G, French military designation of "PAMAS"). The M9 Pistol was intended to replace the M1911A1 and .38 caliber revolvers and pistols. Over 500,000 M9 pistols were made and the switch-over was largely achieved.

The USAF has scheduled switching over from the early model M9 (92F) to the 92FS standard, according to planning documents. In May 2005, the US Marine Corps (USMC) posted its intent to award a sole-source contract to Beretta for 3,480 "M9A1" pistols (M9 with an accessory rail, also available to the public from June 2006). In the U.S. Army, selected M9s were scheduled to be replaced by XM8 compact carbine variants. However, XM8 and the entire OICW Increment 1 program was suspended in July of 2005. Current model M9s are scheduled for replacement under the Future Handgun System, which was merged with USSOCOM's SOF Combat Pistol program to create the Joint Combat Pistol (JCP) program. The JCP winner is specified as having a number of new features; chambered for .45 ACP, an integrated rail, Day/Night sights, and capable of accepting a sound suppressor. In early 2006, the JCP program was renamed Combat Pistol and seemingly split from the Army program.

Confusing matters, the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) purchased 5,000 Ruger P95 and 5,000 SIG SP2022 (SIGPro) pistols in December 2004. It is unclear to whom these pistols will be issued as TACOM handles Foreign Military Sales (FMS) in addition to its domestic military procurement duties- these pistol are though to have gone to Iraqi secuity forces.

Early problems

Disassembled Beretta M9

Beretta now had two major contracts, about 500,000 units for the US Armed forces and around 230,000 units for the French armed forces. In the case of the Beretta 92G, the French would supply the slide steel to Italy, until GIAT would start licensed production. Beretta decided to use 5,000 semi finished slides intended for the French to build pistols for the US military contract and soon after the US Armed forces accepted these pistols, a few slides of Beretta 92Fs (less than 10 total) and some older Beretta 92SBs started to crack and fly off. An investigation would later identify the lot that had been made with metallurgically inferior French steel slides as well as US manufactured 9 mm Luger ammunition that was extremely overpressured and not within specifications. Both parties were placing blame on each other without fully admitting their oversight. It was also discovered that the locking block required a design change to increase its service life. Military then has decided to exchange locking blocks after 5000 rounds giving a bad reputation to Beretta on the civilian market as a gun with a short life span. When a new version of a locking block appeared, it was a success. The locking block now is rated for 25,000 rounds, minimum. Yet, something had to be done to reduce the risk for the user of being struck by the rear half of the slide. The solution was the addition of a slide retention device in form of an enlarged hammer axis pin, the result was the Beretta 92FS. Since then, near all modern Beretta pistols are fitted with this simple means of user protection.

During this time, tests were also carried out using a closed slide (slide that lacks a cut which exposes a barrel), but this reduced the reliability of the pistol. Beretta eventually designed a new slide, one that contained more steel in the area prone to breakage, basically, thickening the slide walls. Later this slide became known as the Brigadier type slide. And, although the causes of the initial slide breakages had already been remedied, the Brigadier is currently offered to consumers as a variant in addition to the original design, because it's heavier weight helps to control the pistol when a series of shots is fired in quick succession. The Brigadier slide also offers the ability to adjust or replace the front sight in a dove-tail groove. Previously, on non-Brigadier slide, it was impossible because the front sight was a part of the slide and prevented any manipulation.

The trigger spring is another aspect that has been improved. It is responsible for resetting a trigger to its original position after each trigger pull. There had been cases where this spring would snap leaving a person with half functioning handgun, that would require the shooter to manually reset the trigger to its forward position. Beretta remedied the situation by change the spring's design so that each leg is similar allowing it to be inverted in case one leg fails until a replacement can be fitted. The best practice is to change the trigger spring at regular intervals..

Design advantages

The Beretta 92's open slide design ensures very reliable feeding and ejection of ammunition and allows the barrel to cool down quickly. The locking block barrel lockup provides good accuracy without the need for tight tolerances. The high capacity magazine reduces the need to swap magazines often. The alloy frame reduces the overall weight of the pistol.

The open slide design is believed by some to increase the amount of dirt and dust that enter the pistol; however, precisely the opposite is true. The open slide design actually allows more foreign matter to pass out of the pistol's action, thereby enhancing the design's field reliability.

The magazine release button is reversible, making use by left handed shooters easier.

The hard-chromed barrel bore reduces wear and protects from corrosion.

Nowadays it is popular to reduce handgun weight using light alloys or polymer. While handgun owners are yet to accustom to an idea of polymer guns, aluminum seemed like a right choice at the design time. Recently, polymer started to enter Beretta 92/96 models. We are not counting the fact that the grips were always plastic except some models that have Hogue rubber grips. In 2004, first introduced internal polymer part was a recoil spring guide. Many Beretta owners were displeased with said polymer part just because it is "plastic." The polymer recoil spring guide does, in fact, work as well as its steel counterpart. However, it is possible that weight of a steel part helps with follow up shots by reducing muzzle flip. Moreover, in the middle of 2005 new polymer parts started to appear in Beretta 92/96 guns. New polymer parts include safety levers, trigger, slide release, disassembly latch. Since they are black in color they detract from the all silver appearance of Inox models, but not so on "black" models.

Variants

The Beretta 92 is available in many configurations each with a distinct model name. Combining the various options results in more than 50 different configurations, but the major variants are defined by their operation caliber (92/96/98), operation (FS/G/D/DS) and combination of optional items (Inox/Brigadier slide/Compact lenght):

Caliber

Each model name starts with two digits identifying the caliber:

92: Chambered for the 9 x 19 mm Parabellum.
96: Chambered for the .40 S&W, introduced in 1983.
98: Chambered for 9 x 21 mm IMI. This option was introduced in 1991 for markets where it is illegal to own a weapon chambered for a military cartridge like 9 x 19 mm.

Operation

FS (standard): The current production version of the 92F with the only change being the edition of a slide-mounted ambidextrous safety (also acts as decocking lever). It is this version that was adopted by the US Army as the M9.
G (no safety): This version was created for and adopted by the French Military and is simply a model 92F with a decocking lever that does not also act as safety lever.
D (double-action, no safety): The double-action only variant of the 92F.
DS (double-action with safety): The double-action only variant of the 92F that includes a safety.

Options

Vertec: (1993 –); *New vertical grip.; *Short reach trigger.; *Thinner grip panels.; *Integral accessory rail.; *Removeable front sight (can be replaced with Tritium sight).; *Bevelled magazine well (to enable easier/faster reloading).
Brigadier: (1993 –); 60 g heavier slide (and 1 mm wider) to improve control when firing multiple shots in quick succession. It also includes removeable front and rear Novak type sights.
Elite I: (1999 – 2001); Pistols with this option includes the heavier Brigadier slide and includes some modifications to the grip and bevel of the magazine well. It was introduced in 1999 and replaced by the Elite II option in 2001.

92G Elite II

Elite II: (2001 –); This option replaced the Elite I option in 2001 and includes the same features of the heavier Brigadier slide, removeable Novak type sights, but also an extended magazine release catch and skeletonized hammer. This option is only available with the stainless steel slide.
Inox: (present); Stainless barrel, slide (frame anodised to match color).
Compact L: (1992 –); Shorter barrel, slide and more compact frame (13 round magazine capacity).
Compact Type M: (1992 –); Similar to the Compact L, but it has a slimmer grip that only accepts a single stacked 8-round magazine.

Shorter Beretta 92 Centurion

Centurion: (1992 – 1996); Shorter barrel and slide of (like "Compact"), but with standard sized frame.
CB: (1992 – 1993); Single action only. It is designed for sport shooting and included a front barrel bushing for improved accuracy.
Stock: (1994 –); Heavier Brigadier slide. It is also designed for sport shooting and included a front barrel bushing for improved accuracy.
Combat: (1994 – 2001); Heavier Brigadier slide, single-action only and also designed for sport shooting including a front barrel bushing for improved accuracy. It also came with en additional longer barrel.
Billennium: (2001 only); A limited edition (2000 copies) commemoritive (of the year 2000) model manufactured in the 2001 featuring the heavier Brigadier slide.
Steel I: (2004 –); Nickel plated single-action only collector's model.

93R

Some consider Beretta 93R a separate firearm and not a simple variant of the 92 series of pistols, because it has been modified quite considerably to provide the option of firing in 3-round bursts. It has a longer barrel, fitting to attach a stock, extra grip device attached to front trigger guard and extended magazine.

Taurus

The Beretta 92 was designed for sports and law enforcement use and due to its reliability it was accepted by military users in South America. The first large contract for the Beretta 92 was a with the Brazilian army for which Beretta set up a factory in Brazil. It later sold this factory to the Brazilian gun maker Taurus.

Taurus still makes pistols based on the original Beretta 92 calling it the PT-92 the barrel of which is still interchangeable with a Beretta 92. Taurus improved the original Beretta 92 design and its recent pistols have the magazine release located behind the trigger guard, and much improved safeties, which act as decocking levers when pulled down, and trigger locks when pushed up—arguably a better design than the current Beretta 92 models, as it offers more options to the user and is more accessible to the shooter.

Sport use

Because of the acceptance of the Beretta 92FS by the US Armed Forces, even more civilians have purchased Beretta pistols. As this market turned out to be more demanding concerning durability and corrosion resistance, Beretta made the Beretta 92FS Inox (discontinued as of 2006), which has its slide and barrel made out of stainless steel and has far less corrosion problems. The Beretta 92 has evolved into high volume shooting sports pistols such as the Beretta 92G Elite II, Beretta 92 Combat, Beretta 92 Stock, Beretta 92FS Brigadier and many other types. The 92 and its many variants are used quite frequently in practical shooting competitions worldwide.

Modifications for sport use

Although the Beretta 92 was designed primarily as a military weapon it has gained popularity in civilian competitive shooting. As with most factory standard firearms used in sport shooting, shooters modify them to improve accuracy and as with most firearms such modifications improve accuracy to the detriment of reliability. As such these modifications are not often done for pistols intended for law inforcement or self defense and aren not endorsed by the Beretta corporation.

Grips

This is the most basic modification with many options available that include wrap-around rubber grips from manufacturers like Hogue and attractive wooden grips and simply other plastic grips offering different shapes or surface finishes.

Skeletonized hammer

Another simple modification is changing a factory hammer for the skeletonized hammer of the Elite models. This is purely a cosmetic change although it does decrease the gun's weight slightly.

Mainspring

The most popular modification is to the mainspring. The mainspring affects the weight (or pull strength) of the trigger. With competitive shooting a lighter trigger is always preferred. The first options is to buy a new mainspring from the 92D (double action only) model, which offers a lighter trigger pull. This spring is three "rings" shorter than the stock spring. Some try to achive the same effect by simply cutting a regular main spring down to the same length. Another option is to replace it with an aftermarket (for instace by Wolff).

Sights

For target shooting larger adjustable sights are preferred. On standard (non-Brigadier) slides only the rear sights can be changed. Options include night-sights (ones that can be seen in the dark or poor light conditions) or special oversized match sights that can be easily adjusted for windage.

Trigger

The next modification is called a "trigger job". Basically, it consists of smoothing factory rough surfaces to obtain a smoother trigger pull (best to be done by a professional gunsmith). A smoother trigger pull adds to the accuracy by creating a more uniform parts movement and cleaner sear snap. Generally, a basic trigger job includes polishing a trigger bar, sear and a hammer.

Barrel

The most expensive modification is to replace the barrel with an aftermarker one which offer more accuracy. Care should be taken to fit the barrel properly (again, best done by a professional gunsmith) otherwise malfunctions such as with failure to feed or extract a round could occur.

Altough the standard barrel is already crowned, it can be modified or sometimes just needs to be restored. Crowning is the convex shape on the bore’s edge. It helps the gas to exit more evenly after the bullet leaves the barrel. The gas then applies equal pressure on the base of the bullet without tilting it or affecting its balance.

A metal block, called a "barrel shroud" can also be fittedto increase the weight and help reduce the recoil induced "muzzle flip". This is especially useful for acquiring a target faster with follow up shots.

Recoil spring guides

To help reduce felt recoil, the recoil spring guides can be modified. Some replacements are made from a heavier alloy, others contain an intricate assembly of springs, another has a liquid that flows against recoil force. Rubber inserts can also be added to the recoil spring guide for cushioning the slide when hitting the frame.

.22 Long

Beretta manufactures a kit to convert an FS model to shoot .22 LR, because it is easier to shoot and the ammunitions is cheaper. The kit includes a new slide, a barrel and a magazine. Cenier also make a similar kit.

In Popular Culture

Lethal Weapon 3 (Beretta 92 on the left, held by Mel Gibson, holding the Smith and Wesson Model 29 is Danny Glover, and standing behind both of them is Joe Pesci)

One can attribute some of the Beretta 92's fame to the Lethal Weapon movie series from 1987 - 1998, where Mel Gibson played a disturbed policeman with a Beretta. The movie contains many close-up images of the gun and could be considered something of a marketing campaign. See list of firearms in films and list of firearms in video games for additional appearances.

External links

References

Blue Book of Gun Values, 26th Edition, S. P. Fjestad ISBN 1-886768-55-2

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