I have a 92X and it is a very nice handgun. Is the M9 better? Should I trade? Why?

TMX Mike

Not unless you want to.

The 92X is a good reliable handgun.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Michalski:
I have a 92X and it is a very nice handgun. Is the M9 better? Should I trade? Why?

TMX Mike

Based on what I read, the Beretta 92-X is a combat game pistol, whereas the M9 is a combat pistol. There is a difference.

I make a distinction on pistols optimized for winning “Combat Games”, versus actual service pistols. Combat games have created lots of impractical pistols that are only reliable in very limited environmental conditions and require tight ammunition tolerances. Such as the M52 S&W which would blow a case head of the powder charge was much more than 2.7 grs Bullseye with a 148 LWC. The M52 was an amazingly accurate auto pistol out to 50 yards.

Combat game pistols are often well made, have great triggers, very accurate, and expensive. Such pistols are fun to shoot at targets, or games.

Based on this:
https://www.beretta.com/en/fir...mily/92x-performance

the 92-X has a lighter hammer, “competition hammer spring”. I am automatically skeptical of modifications that make ignition less reliable, and one of those is a lighter hammer, and a reduced mainspring. I don’t know if the “competition hammer spring” is stronger, or weaker than the M9 mainspring. I have had ignition problems with old, weakened revolver and auto pistol mainsprings, so my skepticism is a learned behavior. I want the most ignition energy on the prime that a mechanism can give, having had, and seen misfires and failures to fire in cold weather, in old guns with ball powders, and gummed lubricants.

Beretta says the 92-X trigger is 3.3 lbs from the factory, which is fine for paper punching. I have one 2.5 lb revolver that is just wonderful to shoot against targets, but the thing is easy to touch off accidentally. CMP EIC rules for a 1911 is 4lbs, NRA Bullseye 3.5 lbs. It is easy to bump the trigger and send a round downrange with a 2.5 lb trigger, which is allowed for centerfire revolvers in NRA competition.

So is your 92-X a good gun?, no doubt it is a great gun to take to the range. I have no idea how one performs in other environments. The M9 is a combat gun, was tested in hot, cold, wet, dry, etc, and it functioned. An M9 met the minimum DoD requirements for function, reliability, and was the low bidder. A SIG pistol also met all the DoD performance requirements but lost out due to life cycle costs, primarily due to the sky high price of SIG repair parts.

Since I am not planning to parachute drop into some infinity war, I would keep the 92X and enjoy punching holes in paper at my local range.

quote:

SlamFire

Thanks for the response. Exactly what I was seeking. Since, at my age, paper is all I shoot at, and have real revolvers for the unlikely serious social intercourse event. I think your deduction is correct and I will keep and enjoy the 92X.

Thanks again, Mike