I just recently purchased a pre-ban Italian-made Beretta 92 9mm handgun. It is one of the older models that came with the two 15 round Italian Beretta-made magazines and the wooden grips. But my question is this: what is the difference between my version, which is the 92F, and the 92FS? I was told mine is the older, *better* version. Does the "S" designation have anything to do with some internal safety device designed by Beretta USA to comply with the Nazi-throwback American political gun laws?
Beretta Types
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I would check up on that....there were a whole lot of berretas that were recalled about 10 years ago because of a slide malfunction and it injured alot of people....I would contact berretta just to make sure before you keep shooting ....I hope for you sake it is not one of them.
I would check up on that....there were a whole lot of berretas that were recalled about 10 years ago because of a slide malfunction and it injured alot of people....I would contact berretta just to make sure before you keep shooting ....I hope for you sake it is not one of them.
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Around 1985 a problem was reported predominantly here in the US with Beretta 92F's slides. The most alarming were reports of slides breaking around the recess for the ears of the locking lug. This resulted in the rear end of the slide coming off the pistol and hitting the firer in the face.
The official reason is that the ammunition Americans were using was over-pressured. Beretta proved this and was compensated for all the money they had poured into getting the pistol to work.
The number of slide breakages was actually quite small, but because of all the hoopla about the US Armed Forces new sidearm adoption of the pistol in the first place, there were many people adding to the publicity of discontent about the new pistol and Beretta was forced to redesign the pistol to solve the problem. This created the new hammer pivot pin. This and other changes were made and was later named the 92FS.
Anyways, get it checked. My sincere advice is have it looked at.
The official reason is that the ammunition Americans were using was over-pressured. Beretta proved this and was compensated for all the money they had poured into getting the pistol to work.
The number of slide breakages was actually quite small, but because of all the hoopla about the US Armed Forces new sidearm adoption of the pistol in the first place, there were many people adding to the publicity of discontent about the new pistol and Beretta was forced to redesign the pistol to solve the problem. This created the new hammer pivot pin. This and other changes were made and was later named the 92FS.
Anyways, get it checked. My sincere advice is have it looked at.
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Thanks for that Spector.....I was trying to dig up the info for him but was looking 10 years ago....Boy how time flys...now Im feeling old now.
But now I remember because that was about the time Leathel Weapon came out and every one went to gun stores to get a berretta.
So yeah get it check out...better safe then sorry.
Thanks for that Spector.....I was trying to dig up the info for him but was looking 10 years ago....Boy how time flys...now Im feeling old now.
But now I remember because that was about the time Leathel Weapon came out and every one went to gun stores to get a berretta.
So yeah get it check out...better safe then sorry.
Thanks all for the input. I'll definitely have my 'smith check it out. As far as I can tell the gun I got was made around 1992-93, do you think the problem would have been rectified by then? Like I said, I will still get someone to look at it, but am just curious.
Also, what would they look for? What would tell me if the pistol was one of the ones that had a possibility of smacking me in the face with the slide?
And I wonder, was this malfunction actually rather minor, and traced back to operator error, but was blown out of proportion due to the fact that it happened after the reluctant switch over from the very dear to all of our hearts 1911? Could it have been fabricated from an out of the ordinary malfunction to try to prove there was no reason to get rid of John Browning's design?Maybe?
thanks,
Jake
Also, what would they look for? What would tell me if the pistol was one of the ones that had a possibility of smacking me in the face with the slide?
And I wonder, was this malfunction actually rather minor, and traced back to operator error, but was blown out of proportion due to the fact that it happened after the reluctant switch over from the very dear to all of our hearts 1911? Could it have been fabricated from an out of the ordinary malfunction to try to prove there was no reason to get rid of John Browning's design?Maybe?
thanks,
Jake
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It has to do with the slide lock messing up. If you gun smith has been around for a while he might know......otherwise contact berretta directly.
As far as operator error this is very doubtful being that me and NEK were talking about this a while ago and we are pretty sure a Seal Team was the first to discover the problem. This wasn't just a case of some dummy shooting only hot loads out of his gun for weeks.
It has to do with the slide lock messing up. If you gun smith has been around for a while he might know......otherwise contact berretta directly.
As far as operator error this is very doubtful being that me and NEK were talking about this a while ago and we are pretty sure a Seal Team was the first to discover the problem. This wasn't just a case of some dummy shooting only hot loads out of his gun for weeks.
I understand, I have heard it too. But I still wonder if it was a small flaw made much bigger than it was in reality because of resentment over the loss of the good 'ol .45.
In any event, I am still going to get it thoroughly looked at to ensure my safety.
Thanks for the input, and warning!
In any event, I am still going to get it thoroughly looked at to ensure my safety.
Thanks for the input, and warning!
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471 Posts
Jake s,
You should look for the new hammer pivot pin which would hold the back part of the slide in the event that it would break in half. In reality the problem in early made US pistols was that the metallurgy of the locking lugs was weak causing the slide to fracture and eventually break off from the locking lug. This was later solved by using better metal. I do however know that Italian made 92Fs were made out of different lots of metal and have been said to be stronger. I would still have it checked however, Italian made 92Fs from that era have not shown the same common problem as other US or French MAS clone pistols.
You should look for the new hammer pivot pin which would hold the back part of the slide in the event that it would break in half. In reality the problem in early made US pistols was that the metallurgy of the locking lugs was weak causing the slide to fracture and eventually break off from the locking lug. This was later solved by using better metal. I do however know that Italian made 92Fs were made out of different lots of metal and have been said to be stronger. I would still have it checked however, Italian made 92Fs from that era have not shown the same common problem as other US or French MAS clone pistols.
SpEcTeR,
THanks, thats what I thought (about the different grades of steel) That would also probably be one of the reasons most people agree that the Italian made 92f's are better. Though that just seems to be an opinion.
Also, I ealized that the malfunctions only seemed to occur with the military issue Berettas, not the civilian ones. This corresponds with the reliability reports of the military M9 versus the civilian M92. Nearly unanimously, veterans who were issued M9 pistols commented on the lack of reliability with these handguns. They also complained that it would not feed certain types of ammunition, making it a very finicky pistol to have in combat. And yet, the civilian M92 has a stellar reputation for reliability. In fact, many of these veterans purchased a civilian Beretta and commented on the differences, being somewhat surprised, as the M9 and M92 are supposed to be the same pistol, but reliability is much different. Interesting...
Okay, i have one more question. In Italy, as with many countries in Europe, civilians are not allowed to own firearms in LE/military calibers, like 5.56x45mm and 9x19. So many of the Italian Beretta handguns still privately owned in Europe are chambered for the European 9x21mm round. Yet many of the Italian made Berettas are in 9x19. My question is: were these handguns produced for law enforcement use in Italy, or specifically for export to the US? Remember, this stopped about 10 years ago.
Jake
THanks, thats what I thought (about the different grades of steel) That would also probably be one of the reasons most people agree that the Italian made 92f's are better. Though that just seems to be an opinion.
Also, I ealized that the malfunctions only seemed to occur with the military issue Berettas, not the civilian ones. This corresponds with the reliability reports of the military M9 versus the civilian M92. Nearly unanimously, veterans who were issued M9 pistols commented on the lack of reliability with these handguns. They also complained that it would not feed certain types of ammunition, making it a very finicky pistol to have in combat. And yet, the civilian M92 has a stellar reputation for reliability. In fact, many of these veterans purchased a civilian Beretta and commented on the differences, being somewhat surprised, as the M9 and M92 are supposed to be the same pistol, but reliability is much different. Interesting...
Okay, i have one more question. In Italy, as with many countries in Europe, civilians are not allowed to own firearms in LE/military calibers, like 5.56x45mm and 9x19. So many of the Italian Beretta handguns still privately owned in Europe are chambered for the European 9x21mm round. Yet many of the Italian made Berettas are in 9x19. My question is: were these handguns produced for law enforcement use in Italy, or specifically for export to the US? Remember, this stopped about 10 years ago.
Jake
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Jake S
As for 9x21....i really wish is could find some handguns chanmbered in this size.....then I could get some armor peircing steel core SP-10 rounds that the russian military used to use.
Unfortunatly those SP-10 rounds put alot of abuse on the handgun and to find one strong enough to handle it would be difficult. I havnt really heard of alot of 9x21 guns out there though.
The only info I had on9x21 is russian military used to use it for its armor peicing ability and I can't speak for any italian stuff.
Jake S
As for 9x21....i really wish is could find some handguns chanmbered in this size.....then I could get some armor peircing steel core SP-10 rounds that the russian military used to use.
Unfortunatly those SP-10 rounds put alot of abuse on the handgun and to find one strong enough to handle it would be difficult. I havnt really heard of alot of 9x21 guns out there though.
The only info I had on9x21 is russian military used to use it for its armor peicing ability and I can't speak for any italian stuff.
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Bereta Types
I thought I would share this with you all. I was never really satisfied with the double action, or single action trigger pull of my Beretta 92's. I was talking with a man one night discussing sidearms and he gave me a nice tid bit of info. In order to lighten up the trigger pull a Colt 1911 match grade main spring should be put into the pistol grip of a Beretta 92. I realized my groups from 7-15 yards shrank a little. Now this willl not give a match grade trigger pull, but it will make the heavy trigger pull on these pistols much lighter.
Respectully,
Tyler Consugar
I thought I would share this with you all. I was never really satisfied with the double action, or single action trigger pull of my Beretta 92's. I was talking with a man one night discussing sidearms and he gave me a nice tid bit of info. In order to lighten up the trigger pull a Colt 1911 match grade main spring should be put into the pistol grip of a Beretta 92. I realized my groups from 7-15 yards shrank a little. Now this willl not give a match grade trigger pull, but it will make the heavy trigger pull on these pistols much lighter.
Respectully,
Tyler Consugar
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if you need a newer beretta, I have an Elite 2 92G for sale on the board. 
need the money.
need the money.
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Your pistol is faulty. So to ensure your own safety, just send it to me.
I'll accept it at no charge.......
Mad
I'll accept it at no charge.......
Mad
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think i'd just get a 1911....
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I have a Beretta 92 I inherited from my brother. I thought it was a 92FS, but he had the slide thing happen to him when he was down at the range one day. The side of the slide seperated from the guide on the frame. A friend of his stripped it down, looked it over and reassembled it after not finding anything wrong. He thought it may have just been too many rounds through the weapon too fast, but somehow I don't feel so comfortable about his diagnosis now.
Is there something specific I should look for to see if my 92 has the same issue as yall are discussing?
Is there something specific I should look for to see if my 92 has the same issue as yall are discussing?
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Take it to a gunsmith and tell them what happened. He should look it over. DO NOT FIRE IT. What the story was that SEALS were using ammo for sub machine guns and shooting way more than the average person, so the slide craced and broke on some. Yours is probably OK, but get it checked by a pro to be sure. Safety first.AZRaptor said:
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