Beretta 92FS Reliability...

J

jbetz

New member
I have a beretta 92FS on its way and have been doing a lot of reading online about Berettas. I have come across numerous glowing reviews of the 9mm but I have also encountered several worrysome accounts of injured shooters from locking block failures and slide malfunctions.

In my case this will not be a gun that will end up with thousands and thousands of rounds through it in its lifetime so should I be less concerned about locking block or other dangerous malfunctions? What is the best way to prevent these unfortunate mishaps?

Any and all comments are appreciated!
 
Don't shoot submachinegun ammo (+P+) in it, is the easy answer to all your questions.

Don't worry, all you hear about safety has been rectified in the FS model and would've been of little concern to you anyway.

The locking block can and does break, but that is of little consequence to your safety and shouldn't happen until 35,000 rounds, roughly.

If you want durability AND reliability, buy a Glock. The Beretta only has the latter in its corner.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>If you want durability AND reliability, buy a Glock. The Beretta only has the latter in its corner[/quote] But experince Berettas are more reliable than Glocks. I have owned 5 glocks in the past two years, a, G17, G34, G21, G31, and a G30. All of which has malfunctioned atleast once. My Beretta 96 Brigadier has almost 2000rds. with out a hicup.

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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>If you want durability AND reliability, buy a Glock. The Beretta only has the latter in its corner.[/B][/quote]

As far that goes, I've seen nothing that would make me believe the Glock is any more durable than any top of the line pistol. They have add their trouble with guide rods/springs, trigger springs and magazines . The G22/23 can be downright "undurable" sometimes. To be fair, the Glock has only been generally available for about 15 years (and that in the full-size 9 mm). When they have been around for 90 to 100 years and are still working (like say the Colt Model M, Government Model and almost every S&W revolver ever made) THEN and ONLY THEN can you call them durable.

If you really want durability and reliability, buy a good revolver--my Model 28 is 45-46 years old, it still has all the factory original springs (let's see a pistol do that), the original "magazine" (cylinder) and shot nothing less than full power .357 magnums its entire life (without a single malfunction). Now that is durable and reliable.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jbetz:
I have a beretta 92FS on its way and have been doing a lot of reading online about Berettas. I have come across numerous glowing reviews of the 9mm but I have also encountered several worrysome accounts of injured shooters from locking block failures and slide malfunctions.

In my case this will not be a gun that will end up with thousands and thousands of rounds through it in its lifetime so should I be less concerned about locking block or other dangerous malfunctions? What is the best way to prevent these unfortunate mishaps?

Any and all comments are appreciated![/quote]

Your fine. Just don't shoot heavy loads in it and keep the total rounds down and you'll be safe.
 
jbetz; I have the utmost respect for Beretta's. I've owned several and of all the thousands of rounds I've shot I can't remember one malfunction. Reliability? Ask any cop or professional or somebody who owns one. The pistol doesn't suffer from the KB syndrome, as Glock's do. The pistol also doesn't suffer from the bad mag syndrome as Glock's do. Hey, I own a Glock 21 and I think it's one fine pistol but I also know how good Beretta's are. Durability? With their "special" finish on them Beretta's are extremely rugged and durable. Packability? I can live with 33 oz. Locking block failure? Forget it. Unless your going to shoot or have access to +P++ ammo don't worry about it. The "old" locking blocks failed when the military was experimenting with very hot ammo. If your Beretta is new it has the new locking block. No worries mate! Buy some factory hi-caps before they're gone forever and enjoy that fine pistol! Best, J. Parker
 
Seems like there is a lot of owner loyalty between glock and beretta owners. I can see how similar topics comparing the two can get pretty heated. I appreciate everyone's comments. So far they have all been very reassuring and comforting. Keep em coming though, I want to hear all the good and bad!

Thanks!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jbetz:
I have a beretta 92FS on its way and have been doing a lot of reading online about Berettas. I have come across numerous glowing reviews of the 9mm but I have also encountered several worrysome accounts of injured shooters from locking block failures and slide malfunctions.

In my case this will not be a gun that will end up with thousands and thousands of rounds through it in its lifetime so should I be less concerned about locking block or other dangerous malfunctions? What is the best way to prevent these unfortunate mishaps?

Any and all comments are appreciated![/quote]

Berettas are probably the most reliable pistol made (tied with Sig Sauer). If you keep the round count under 10,000 and shoot mild to normal loads durability shouldn't be a problem. They are well made in general. My main problem with Beretta is the accuracy. I have not found a full sized model that can group under 3.5" @ 25 yards. In my experience: in fact, 4" plus groups @ 25 yards groups has been the norm with most Beretta models. Even my Glock 17 (which I think is inaccurate) will group at 3.1 " @25 yards. If accuracy is an issue (as it is with me) get either a 9mm Sig Sauer or a .45 Glock. If you just need an ultra reliable defensive workhorse, a Beretta will do just fine.
 
I've seen a few KB'd Glocks, but I've not seen any broken Beretta slides. Not that that proves anything. Just replace your springs at sensible intervals (which you should do anyway) and inspect your pistol's locking block when you clean it. As long as it's OK, so's your slide. When the locking block cracks, then you'd better stop shooting. The 92FS locking block is rated to between 17,000 and 22,000 rounds of NATO ammo. Most people never shoot that much anyway. If you do, you replace the block. It's simple and inexpensive. Also, keep spare trigger springs on hand. They tend to break. It would be a shame to deprive yourself of such a fine pistol because of a few poorly documented and long-past incidents of slide breakage. It happened, so it's not an urban myth, but it's so blown out of proportion as to approach that status. Quoting BrokenArrow from another thread "The SEALs got over it, (referring to their acquisition of 1500 92FS Brigadiers) maybe everyone else should too."

Glocks suffer from parts breakage, too. They don't rust, and the major components, slide, frame and barrel, are close to indestructible, but all the little unimportant parts are as failure prone as anybody elses. Locking blocks, sights, trigger springs, and trigger bars, to name a few.
 
Every handgun has it good and bad points.

It is possible to have the locking block break but you would have to put a few rounds through it before you do that.

Like any other handgun, I recommend changing the recoil spring in the gun at least every 5,000 rounds. It's cheap insurance.

Keep your Beretta properly maintained and it will work fine. Mine does....
 
Pls do not dry fire so often your 92FS as it will not go back to its former alignment of the Frame and the slide. I experienced it with my Beretta 92FS stainless.
 
My Beretta 92FS has been 100% reliable (same as Glock 17) and more comfortable to fire. However, it is less accurate than the Glock and SA/DA transition is annoying. I'd pick a Glock for combat but will keep the 92 (got int in trade, won't let go of reliable guns)
 
Can you expand on this a little? I'm not sure I understand what you are saying.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Observer:
Pls do not dry fire so often your 92FS as it will not go back to its former alignment of the Frame and the slide. I experienced it with my Beretta 92FS stainless.[/quote]
 
Damn, can't there ever been a simple questioned answered without the Glock perfection mentality? jbetz asked about his 92FS, not what's better or worse.

To answer your question, Berettas make some very fine pistols. My 92FS has around 6000 rounds through it with 1 malfunction. Finish is still 98%. It boils down to how you take care of the gun and what ammo you put through it. I feed mine factory ammo and reloads. 1 jam and that was with factory ammo.
 
Make sure you keep your Beretta clean and well lubricated. I've seen three 92FS lock up at my local range because of poor maintenance. This is no fault of the pistol, but rather the result of poor maintenance. Use a quality lubricant like CLP and you should be fine.

Make sure you don't subject your Beretta to heavy use with hot ammo. I know, everyone has an uncle or buddy who's fired 10,000 rounds of +p+ with no problem, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. The locking block will wear out quickly. This doesn't mean you can't use +p+ and it doesn't mean your pistol won't hold up well to heavy use with non +p+.

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"Get yourself a Lorcin and lose that nickel plated sissy pistol."
 
It is all the same tone of everyone opinion. Why do some people who hears a negative things on a particular gun is easily upset. If those claims are really genuine and was experienced by somebody and he just brought it out, then it should be something to think of and be inquired how did it occur and we can remedied or refrain of purchasing that kind of gun. Everyone has different taste on what made of a gun they need but there is a certain acid test to the reliability, toughness, appearance of any gun for all guns will have a malfunction. But reading such writings that out of 1000 rounds only 1 malfunctioned had occured can be believable or not, for there are many causes of malfunctioned that every body knows.

Tecolote thanks for the advise:

This is what had happened, I keep ramming the slide of my 92FS and dry fire, just to look at the hammer when it falls back for I just want to learn how it works (for it is so different from my 1911 cocked and locked). I did just want to be familiar and get used t it. I cannot count how many times I did it, then later on the slide and the frame will not locked properly or the slide will not go back to its former position (there is a little protrosion of the slide to the rear. I opened it and reassembled and there it goes fine. that is why I said don't dry fire so much, of course if I dry fire a pistol I will always rammed the slide as we are loading a bullet.

thanks
 
ArmySon; There's bound to be a comparision sooner or later. What's wrong with expanding the post a bit? Oleg; Double tapping with a Beretta in double action is nooooo problem..practice, practice, practice. A Glock for combat and a Beretta for whatever? Ahhh..Ok. Best, :) :) J. Parker
 
jbetz; One more thing I forgot to mention- Factory hi-caps for Beretta's are still "fairly" reasonable. OR, Mec-gar hi-caps are excellent also. Mec-gars are just as good as factories. Best Regards, J. Parker
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>What's wrong with expanding the post a bit? [/quote]

The guy never asked anyone's opinion about a Glock or anything other than the 92FS. If he wanted to hear these opinions, he would have asked for them.
 
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