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Beretta 92 ?'s

mauer@mindspring.commauer@mindspring.com Member Posts: 37 ✭✭
edited May 2002 in Ask the Experts
Hey,

I'm looking to purchase a Beretta 92...

What's the difference between the 92F and the 92FS

What's the difference between the "Preban" and "Postban" or is there such a thing

I would like the find something as close to the Military M9 itself

I am an avid Glock user... Can I expect the same or better ( if possible ) performance this non-Tupperware 9mm.

Thanks a lot.

Ron Mauer Jr.
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Comments

  • mauer@mindspring.commauer@mindspring.com Member Posts: 37 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey,

    I'm looking to purchase a Beretta 92...

    What's the difference between the 92F and the 92FS

    What's the difference between the "Preban" and "Postban" or is there such a thing

    I would like the find something as close to the Military M9 itself

    I am an avid Glock user... Can I expect the same or better ( if possible ) performance this non-Tupperware 9mm.

    Thanks a lot.

    Ron Mauer Jr.
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  • ref44ref44 Member Posts: 251 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Having five Glocks, I can identify with your likes. I would say the Beretta 9mm is as good as any 9mm on the market; but it is also the largest. With a loaded 15-round mag, it is a handful to carry and shoot. With the open-top design, a jam is extremely unlikely.
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Beretta 92F and the 92FS are the same gun. Some just label it differently. I don't know why people just don't call it a 92FS. 92F IS 92FS. As far as the Beretta is concerned, there is no difference between pre and post ban. Some sellers here on GB are under the mistaken notion that you can't insert pre-ban hi-cap magazines in a post-ban gun that accepts them. This is a fallacy. If the gun accepts pre-ban magazines, you can use them provided the magazines are legal in your state.

    With regards to Glock vs. Beretta. This will be a heated debate and will be based completely on personal preference and experience. I own a Glock and prefer it to the Beretta. I just like the way it feels in my hand. Both are good products but this is a subjective analysis. You need to hold and shoot both before you draw your own conclusions. There are some that will say Glock is junk and there are some that will say Beretta is junk. Both are good guns if maintained properly (as with almost any firearm of high quality).

    I would LOVE to own the new Beretta Vertec with the straight-back grip and the accessory rail:



    Edited by - idsman75 on 05/11/2002 21:37:43
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I must disagree with my good friend idsman. The M92F and the M92FS are NOT the same gun.

    The M92F is the original pistol inroduced to the civilian market as a duplicate of the pistol that won the service pistol trials and was adopted as the M9.

    The M92FS is a modification of the M92F that came about because of slide failures on the M9. The "S" stands for "safety" and designates a disc that is attached to the frame so that a protion of it protrudes into a slot cut in the bottom of the left rear of the slide rail. If the slide breaks in two, the disc catches the rear half of the slide to prevent it from hitting the shooter in the face.

    I much prefer the Beretta to the Glock for several reasons, with the grip angle being the main dislike of the Glock. It does not point right for me. I also prefer an active safety, which the Glock does not have. High capacity magazines are much cheaper for the Beretta than the Glock.

    As idsman says, there is no such thing as a pre-ban Beretta or Glock. Neither pistol meets the definition of an "assault weapon" so the designation can not apply.
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    From what I understand, looking in the book, there were many variations of the Beretta before it became the current 92FS. Some of it has to with minor modifications such as flaring of the magazine well, some were changes to the internal safety mechanism. Some of the earlier models had the safety on the bottom of the frame.

    Here we go, the evolution of the Beretta:

    It all started with the Beretta M951. Picture the current 92, but single action, single stack magazine, and a cross bolt safety on the back of the frame, with the magazine release on the bottom left of the frame in the grip.

    In 1973 the Beretta M-92 was born. It was a modernized version of the M951. Sharing the recoil operaction and breech lock adapter of the Walther P38. Unlike the 951, a double stack 15rd magazine, and double action trigger were added. Also the saftey catch was now a lever on the left side of the frame (not the slide) similar to that of the modern Taurus pistol. The magazine catch still on the lower part of the grip like the 951.

    Beretta M-92S. The saftey lever was moved to the slide from the frame. Made 1980-85. This was the model that the US first started testing with.

    The M92SB had the magazine release repositioned to where it is now on current models of the 92. This one was made 1981-85

    Beretta M-92SB-C. This was the compact version of the 92SB had a 14rd magazine capacity. Also was the M-92SB-CM with was the same as the compact, but utilized a single stack 8rd magazine for a smaller grip frame.

    Beretta M-92SB-F Was developed to satisfy the demands of the US Armed forces. Featured a broader trigger, a recurved trigger guard, matted finish. The actual military model is the M-92S-1.
    The civilian sold model was called the Beretta M92F, they took out the SB. But its all the same pistol.

    The M92FS had some minor modifications, you probably wouldn't notice unless your were a gunsmith, but also available when the 92FS came out was the Brigadier model with a heavier slide. The one thing you would notice is that the 92FS has a Ambidextrous safety/decocker instead of just a safety.


    This data is according to Illustraded Encyclopedia of Handguns: Pistols and Revolvers of the World 1870 to the Present by A.B. Zhuk
    and Gun Trader's Guide 24th edition.


    I just wish I had a dollar for every gun I wanted, then I'd be a rich man.
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JudgeColt--I guess I should have picked up one of my old M-9 manuals that I've grabbed over the years. You are correct. I made my previous comments based on experience and not knowledge. I have never seen nor have I met anyone that has owned the "92F".

    SSG idsman75, U.S. ARMY
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JudgeColt--I guess I should have picked up one of my old M-9 manuals that I've grabbed over the years. You are correct. I made my previous comments based on experience and not knowledge. I have never seen nor have I met anyone that has owned the "92F".

    SSG idsman75, U.S. ARMY
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  • OskiOski Member Posts: 30 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I own a Beretta 92FS and a Glock 36. My opinion is Berettas and Glocks are really very different guns. However, they are both very fine firearms. As a result, I'd suggest that your decision doesn't need to be based on a question of relative quality. Since both are very good, look at what you want to use the gun for, how it fits in your hand, which sites you like better, etc, and go from there.
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Idsman, you are batting zero here! You have met me, and I own a Beretta M92F bought in 1985. If you would like to see it, just ask. I also have a M92FS to show you the difference. The FS has a LaserMax installed, which I think you may have seen already.
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I know the difference. The difference was made very clear to me when I attended the Army's Unit Armorer course in 1998. Like I said, it completely slipped my memory. I didn't know you owned a 92F. When I received my training the 92F and the 92FS were both referred to as the M-9. I don't think I have ever heard it referred to as the "Beretta 92" so long as I have been in the military. Everyone I know that has carried it in the line of duty has always referred to it as the M-9. This is why it slipped my memory.

    I should have qualified my previous statement by saying that I have never seen one nor have I ever known anyone that has shown me their 92F. We'll have to change all that when I visit next.

    SSG idsman75, U.S. ARMY

    Edited by - idsman75 on 05/14/2002 12:16:52
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  • Laredo LeftyLaredo Lefty Member Posts: 13,451 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I own both Glocks and Beretta's and they are both fine guns. I've carried Glock at work for the last 10 yrs, and I use them in competition. One thing you can do to a Glock that you cannot do to a Beretta without damage is park your car on it, if your so inclined. When we switched from Sig to Glock, I had to adjust to the change in grip angle, which took all of about 2 days - not a problem. As the judge mentioned , he liked a positive safety over the passive Glock system, but its just a matter of preference. I prefer keeping my finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
    Happy shootin-- Joe
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  • gundummygundummy Member Posts: 254 ✭
    edited November -1
    Ron, both are fine guns so really depends on preference. I don't own either but shoot them alot because my buddies have em both. I don't own any of them because they are not on my desired list, but if I was to choose, the Beretta would get the nod based on the amount of range time I had with both of them. Just feels better and is much smoother than the Glock. I prefer Sigs and the only plastic gun I have is the Kel-tec P11 which I bought strictly for carry during the warmer months. If it's for carry, I really would not go with the much larger Beretta. If I carry something that large, it's only gonna be a .45acp (Sig for me). Judge and Lee already took care of the other specifics. GD
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