Baretta MOD 92 , 9mm Parabellum (bought 1983) :Tell me more about it???

[Gert Odendaal]

Good day Members, I believe all is well and good on your side ?? I received a Baretta MOD 92 , 9mm Parabellum as a gift. I already have a Colt 1911 Government Model 70 Mk 4 , should I take this pistol as well or is the Colt 1911 still the best pistol to own??

Please tell me more about the Baretta mod 92 ??

 

[WAB]

Great pistol, extremely accurate, needs to be kept clean. Put some adjustable tritium sights on it and have fun.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Great pistol, extremely accurate, needs to be kept clean. Put some adjustable tritium sights on it and have fun.

Thank you kindly, I will do that, but it really have to be very special if it shoots sweeter than my Colt .45 ACP MODEL 70 for sure

 

[JPmbogo]

Nothing wrong with owning both or many more for that matter! That said, the Colt 1911 was and remains the best defensive handgun ever designed and built, especially chambered in 45 ACP. The modern Model 70 version is one of the best. Nothing wrong with the Beretta, of course, other than the grip is a bit large for my hand.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Nothing wrong with owning both or many more for that matter! That said, the Colt 1911 was and remains the best defensive handgun ever designed and built, especially chambered in 45 ACP. The modern Model 70 version is one of the best. Nothing wrong with the Beretta, of course, other than the grip is a bit large for my hand.

I believe the Colt .45 ACP Government Model 70 mk 4 was replaced with the Baretta MOD 92 in the 1990 era USA Army issued ?? Still there are SEALS /Specialist groups that still choose to use the Colt 1911 .45 ACP?

 

[John Wasmuth]

I carried a Model 92 SB as a duty weapon for 10 out of 21 years. It never failed me and worked well when needed. Great pistol.

 

[mark-hunter]

Keep both.
But 1911, is the icon. One and only, most copied pistol ever.
Every decent fire arm factory today, makes 1911.

92 is famous, as it was us army service pistol, and popularized in movie lethal weapon (mel gibson) but in reality, 92 is much lesser icon in pistol world.

In any case, keep both pistols, you will not regret it.

 

[tombkeeper]

I would not modify that pistol in any way, it is collectible & quite different from the pistol that became the US military standard. Notice the safety arrangement & magazine release are mechanically different from the 92F…. as well as the frame having the original round triggerguard & not containing the slide catching disc that was added to catch slides flying into your face after catastrophic failure.
Shoot this pistol only with standard commercial 9x19 ammo & keep an eye on the barrel locking block for incipient failure (usually change out every 5000 rounds)….. the blocks are easy to change out & very available commercially.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I would not modify that pistol in any way, it is collectible & quite different from the pistol that became the US military standard. Notice the safety arrangement & magazine release are mechanically different from the 92F…. as well as the frame having the original round triggerguard & not containing the slide catching disc that was added to catch slides flying into your face after catastrophic failure.
Shoot this pistol only with standard commercial 9x19 ammo & keep an eye on the barrel locking block for incipient failure (usually change out every 5000 rounds)….. the blocks are easy to change out & very available commercially.

Tom, thank you, yes, this pistol was bought in 1981 , it never fired more than ten rounds ..so it will take a while to get to 5000 rounds

 

[tombkeeper]

pretty much every shooting range & 92f issuing law enforcement agency here in the US has experienced slide lock & slide failure (crack on left at locking seat). The pistols are well made but they do have an achilles heel.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Is this weakness in the MOD 92 as well ?? This old 1981 version??

 

[John Wasmuth]

It’s a good idea to keep the heavier duty locking block and a roll punch and small hammer in your kit. First thing I did was swap out the 9mm locking lug for the heavier M96 locking lug. Easy peasy.

 

[tombkeeper]

Yes, while they are very well made, the locking mechanism (swinging block like a german p38) eventually fails. when it fails, the pistol stops working, because the block changes shape slightly. Beretta began selling a beefier version of the standard pistol to rectify the problem. The slides are a different shape and add metal to the area that is known to fail.

 

[tombkeeper]

If you don’t put 10’s of thousands of rounds through the pistol you’ll probably never have a problem….just keep track of how much its digested & do a little preventative maintenance & you should enjoy it for years.

 

[John Wasmuth]

I still carry it during the late fall and winter months, it’s a bit bulky for concealed carry unless you are wearing a jacket. Warmer months I carry the Ruger Security 9.

 

[PARA45]

Keep them both, they are both great hand guns.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

It’s a good idea to keep the heavier duty locking block and a roll punch and small hammer in your kit. First thing I did was swap out the 9mm locking lug for the heavier M96 locking lug. Easy peasy.

John, please send me a link in the USA where my friend Tony can buy me the M96 locking lug so I can fit it..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Keep them both, they are both great hand guns.

PARA45, I am collecting /building rifles /hand guns at an alarming rate , or that is what my wife told me ...I do not know if she is concerned about this ..and you suggest I keep all of them????

 

[John Wasmuth]

John, please send me a link in the USA where my friend Tony can buy me the M96 locking lug so I can fit it..

I’ll see if I can find it.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I’ll see if I can find it.

Thank you kindly , it is much appreciated