Beretta Brigadier Slide?

T

tfljlc

New member
I know Beretta 92's have a problem with their locking block breaking even after they incorporated the stress relief cuts on the block but do the "beefier" slides help this problem or does this address a different problem.

I work at a range part time and see all sorts of failures in all manufactures guns but I'm not sure if the brigadier slide helps this known problem. Can you tell me what problem it solves and how? If the brigadier slide is supposed to fix the locking block failures I don't see why. The locking block in both versions seems to be the same size and would therfore see about the same stress. If the higher mass is considered in the brigadier slide this may reduce stress but so would putting in a heavier recoil spring (much cheaper fix).

Thanks
 
The Brigadier slide does nothing to protect the locking block that a regular slide doesn't do as well. Personally, I think the Brigadier slides are mainly for peace of mind when shooting +P+ or other hot loads. The standard model will also take +P+ though.
 
The big slide probably does something to buffer the locking block, due to the extra mass, but who knows how much. Spring changes can affect timing, mass is often a better fix. High mass slides unlock later, which is generally positive.

There has been enough press about "slide seperations" that Beretta may have done it for public piece of mind, rather than necessicity.

If you don't mind making a big gun bigger, it's probably a nice option.
 
The heavier slide on the Brigadier adresses two problems. First, it makes the slide stronger to help prevent slid fractures, and second, it helps make the gun more accurate. The more mass, the recoil energy is absorbed, less recoil, higher accuracy. But not much...

If you don't mind making a big gun bigger, it's probably a nice option.
Click to expand...

Huh? Its not that big! I stand 5' 6", 150 lbs, and have very small hands. I can hold this gun just fine, and have a concealed carry permit. I have no trouble hiding this gun very easily. And besides, they named the gun with FS at the end, for Full Size I beleive, I'm not sure, but it would make sense. So at least you can't say you were not warned... :D

BTW, I have the 96, shoots .40 S&W.... Do they make a 92 Brigadier?
 
ZTN-

Increased slide mass usually increases muzzle flip, because you have more mass moving above your hand, so I'm not buying that particular accuracy argument.

Also, congratulations! You're the first short, small handed (carny workers) person ever to insist that the 92 is nicely sized. It might not be "way too big", but it's big enough that the military started buying 228 to offer another option.

As a person with medium hands, I can't reach the slide release or mag release without majorly changing my grip. The 92 uses a barrel 1/2" longer than most every other full sized 9mm and a locking system that necessitates a wider slide.

Actually, the only comparable gun I can think of for it's size is a Steyr GB.

It's nice to like the things you own, but reality is nice too.
 
i have somewhat small hands and have been saying how much i love the feel of the 92FS for years. :D luckily (normally it isn't a plus though) i'm a lefty so i don't have to worry about my thumb reaching the mag and slide release; my trigger finger does a nice job activating them.

the FS in 92FS does not stand for Full Sized. The F stands for the type of safety system (manual safety/decocker). a 92G is a decocker only and the 92D is DAO with no safety. the S stands for slide stop and refers to the circular disc on the back of the frame that prevents the slide from flying off the frame like what happened with a few older 92F's with a lot of +P+ ammo.

the invention of the Brigadier slide was not to reduce recoil, increase the mass of the gun or anything like that. It's main reason for invention was to allow for a dovetailed front sight. the beefier slide puts more metal around the area near the frontsight allowing for a dovetail to be cut without making that area too fragile. also the area that's built up around the locking block helps increase the strength of the slide, not the locking block.

the locking block is actually designed to last well over 15,000 rounds. sure there are cases where it broke after several 1,000 but that's not all that common, especially with the newer locking block design.
 
Yes, the lockblock takes a beating.
But after many thousands of rounds fired , it is the part to be checked
when the gun is cleaned.If the round
count is very high, and it's a carry
gun the owner may elect to change it out,and put in a new one for maybe
$50. If it's not a carry gun he may
elect to shoot it till it breaks.
When it breaks, it will fail on the right side of the block.It's no big
deal,and has no effect on the slide.
The shooter (anticipated it) simple
pulls a new one out of his range bag
replaces it and continues shooting.
The lock-up of a 1911 are the
barrel lugs and the slide lugs.
When they need replacing you must
spend hundreds of $$$.
 
Ponty,

While it's true that replacing the locking surfaces on a Browning action would cost more than $50, these surfaces virtually never brake. Even if they did, the manufactorer would likely fix the gun for free. There is no real world relevance in your post. The only parts one would replace on any other modern auto are springs and small parts, usually less than $20 for an entire rebuild kit, and many guns will go a lifetime without even needing that.
 
Thanks everyone.

BTW I have seen 1911's slide stop break. Drop in a new one and keep going much like a Beretta's locking block. I've seen Glocks break several different ways - Slide cracked, disconnector break, famous trigger return spring of course and finally the front of the slide that holds the recoil spring broke off. I'd still use one though since I've seen every major manufactures gun break one way or another.
 
Handy,
I must beg to differ with you.
The heavier mass of the Brig slide
does help reduce both muzzle flip
and recoil.
Thats why the all steel HP's
and CZ's are such good shooters.
I'm told the Army's Sniper
rifle clocks in at 16 pounds .
A lighter rifle is easier to carry,
but the heavier one is easier to
shoot and much more accurate.

Also, I doubt very much you'd
get a free slide or barrel as a replacement, if it was badly worn and causing the gun to malfuntion .
Ponty
 
Ponty,

I beg to differ with your differing.

I said that a heavier slide will cause more rocking movement in recoil. You rebutted by talking about two pistols, the CZ and BHP, that have heavy FRAMES and relatively light SLIDES. That combination is excellent for reduced flip. The total opposite is not. Virtually all autos have steel slides-the slide and is the only part moving much after firing.

I think you'd find if you broke the locking lugs off the slide or barrel on a SIG, Glock, Ruger, HK, Colt, Star, CZ, Witness, Browning and others that the manufactorer would be quick to respond and would replace all affected parts. Especially if the weapon only had 15,000 rounds through it. (Or is 15,000 "badly worn"?) I think Beretta would be quick to replace a broken slide or barrel as well. But apparently not the replaceable locking surface the 92 comes with.

Finally, no auto out there has a suggested barrel or slide replacement points that are a fraction of the weapon's total round life.
 
Beretta Failures?

Hello all, I'm not real positive all the comments on the thread are from Beretta owners?
Range rental guns have a very hard life, I've seen customers shooting surplus SMG ammo with no regard for someone elses property. The Beretta can live a long and reliable life shooting even the hot SMG ammo if the owner would install a Wolf 19lb. recoil spring and a common O ring as a shock buff.
I recall reading that Ted Nugent ran a documented destruction test on one of his 92s and reached 100K rounds before replacing the barrel & block!
The often told story of breaking 92 slides came about from a bad lot of over hardened slides (brittle) made for the military that are all long gone.
To my knowlege no commercial slides have ever failed, imagine the law suits and attendent publicity!
For the best of breed I believe the Beretta Elite takes the honors, dovetailed sights fore and aft with a slightly narrower grip and the now famous Brigideer slide all are improvements on the 92. Hicaps are still available at reasonable prices, where are all those military mags coming from?
BTW, anyone that claims 1911s don't break (not brake!) hasn't shot them much. Consult with any IPSC competitor about bushings, slide locks, barrel links and the lower barrel locking lugs. I love my 1911s as mich as the next fellow but I always double check my extractor!
 
The standard Beretta 92fs (yes I own one) is one of the finest handguns ever. Yes the military had some slide failures very early after it replaced the 1911. These failures were very few and it was determined that they were caused by extreemly high pressure SMG loads. Because of this some people still think the 92fs is a sub-standard pistol. The problem (if you want to call it that) was addressed a very long time ago and the 92 fs is one of the finest military arms in the world. Do not let anyone tell you diffrent, you may not like them but it is one heck of a sidearm.
 
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