Beretta, HK, or Walther?

S

sundance43.5

New member
I've taken the Glock out of the running (as I'll be getting one shortly anyway) for my first handgun, but I still haven't decided. What's everyone think:

Beretta 92FS

Walther P99

HK USP series

What's everyone think? This gun would be used for home defense and a backup sidearm for hunting.

Also, if I get the Beretta, how do I get the Italian version?

Thanks
 
I was in the same line as you are know a little over a year back, i was look at P99, the P226, and the 92FS, in the end i go the Walther P99 and i love it.
So i say go with the Walther.
 
The Walther P99 is my carry pistol. The interchangable grip inserts are what sold me. I have small hands. Ergonomics is important to me. Getting one with two of the original 16rd mags was the other. ;) Now, go do the right thing, and buy that P99!!! :D
 
I've heard some really weird reliability issues with the 99. I know for a fact that the nearly identical and partially Walther made SW99 were recalled from police use.

Beretta's are very reliable, but a handful. Long term durability is not so good, locking blocks tend to crack over time. Lots of hi-caps still available.

HK's are super, but a little pricey. Light, low recoil, accurate and ergonomic.

Consider SIG's, too.
 
I too use the P99 as my carry pistol. Its got one of the best grips Ive ever held. Its also accurate, light and in my experience reliable. I cant pick out one flaw on it.
The USP is just as good of a choice. Its also accurate, reliable and durable. My only gripe with it was the grip. It was too sharp and would get painful after a long shooting session. Many love it though, so I imagine its just personal preference.
Both the USP and the P99 are in the same class. Either one is a great choice. Even though the Beretta is a great pistol, Ive have to say its slightly inferior to the others.
 
Beretta's are very reliable, but a handful. Long term durability is not so good, locking blocks tend to crack over time.
Click to expand...


The locking block issue was addressed by Beretta ages ago. As far as I know, this is a nonissue on anything but early Military 92s.

Another oft-repeated Beretta critique is slide fractures. Beretta has addressed this via the Brigadier/Elite slides, which are heavier than the standard slides for those anticipating extremely heavy use.

Frame cracking is most likely an issue over the long term, but this will be true of any aluminum framed handgun. Aluminum just doesn't hold up as well as steel or a top-notch polymer frame.

I do agree that they require large hands, though.
 
The locking block is the part that hangs below the barrel. The military had problems with the frame where the locking block contacts. The blocks were never changed. Instead, the frame was changed to keep the slide from flying off. Go to a rental range-that's the part they've replaced, often more than once. I have a close friend who's barrel cracked in half as well, but I wouldn't say that's common. The point is that stuff related to the cycling of the Beretta fracture over time. That wouldn't matter if you're an armorer, but as a private owner hoping to keep the gun for your kids, a little bothersome. Plenty of other designs don't fail with lots of shooting, so why ever recommend a 92?

CZ's, Ruger's, Glock's, HK's and Sig's have all shown the ability to fire tens of thousands of rounds without major component failure. Others should be similar. Your choice.
 
I like the P99 so much, that I've got six of them. All in .40. I carry it everywhere and use it in IDPA competition. It has served me well in all aspects.

Needless to say, it's my first choice. My second choice would be a SIG.

P99
 
You can't really go wrong with any of them. The P99, however, is the most versatile as it's the smallest and easiest to carry (unless you're considering the USP compact). It also has the highest capacity clips (16 rounds vs. the Beretta's 15 and USP's 15).

It's my understanding that the problem with the Beretta's cracking slides was with old guns, and has since been fixed. I bought mine about 7 years ago (my first gun) and it's still running strong. Beware that it's heavier than the others because it's not polymer framed, and hi-caps are much more readily available and cheaper.

The USP is excellent too. Mine is the 9mm compact. Good all around gun. It's funny that my first gun was the Beretta, but it was almost the USP. The P99 wasn't made at the time.
 
Any of the handguns that you mentioned will do fine, it all boils down to what fits you better. All three have a different feel and different recoil characteristics.

I also think the HK's are a bit oversized for the 9mm caliber. If I got an HK it would be .45..or at least a .40.

Good Shooting
RED
 
I'd go with the Beretta 92FS. very reliable and accurate; i wouldn't worry about the durability of them either. on berettas the locking block is designed to take the most stress and wear so it wears down the fastest. however they're designed to last over 20,000 rounds, the military shot tons of hot NATO ammo through them and that's why some of them broke sooner than they should. the part isn't that expensive to replace if you really do shoot the gun enough that it wears out but that won't be for a while. I'm not sure how you should go out finding an italian 92FS but i wouldn't worry about where it's from. the US made berettas are just as good as the italian ones.
 
Another Vote for Beretta 92

A moderator on the Beretta Forum
said his buddy has fired
125,000 rounds of +P ammo thru
his 92 .A Beretta Employee said
the Company would like very much
to see this gun for measurements .
I believe the lock block
was changed ONCE .
The gun is still AOK .
Hows that for endurence .
Ponty
 
Of the 3 choices, you won't go wrong w/ any of them. That said, get the one that fits your hand the best and costs you the least!
 
The locking block is the part that hangs below the barrel. The military had problems with the frame where the locking block contacts. The blocks were never changed. Instead, the frame was changed to keep the slide from flying off.
Click to expand...
I hate to be so blunt, but I don't know how to put it nicely, you're mistaken on this. The frame AND the locking blocks were changed. By the way, could you point out some documentation on where the military had problems with the frames cracking? That is the first I've heard of it.

Most will never put enough rounds through their Berettas to even worry about the locking block. And yes, you will be able to pass one on to your children if you take care of it. Changing a locking block is a piece of cake and not a task for an armorer.
Plenty of other designs don't fail with lots of shooting, so why ever recommend a 92?
Click to expand...
It is obvious that you don't have much experience with the 92 series, or you would know that they DON'T fail with lots of shooting. That is why people are recommending them.

Of the coices listed, I'd take the H&K because I shoot them the best of all three. However, I wouldn't hesitate to take either of the three. I'd say you can't go worng here and choose the one you like the best. All three are quality handguns.

Shake
 
The USP is more durable than the Beretta but the Berreta will have less muzzle flip and afordable preban mags I would go with the Beretta in this case. I had a P99 and if it were laying on the table next to me loaded with the best 40 ammo available and the Beretta 92 I own was also next to me with the best 9mm I would take the Beretta. The walther was ok but it had some reliability problems at first and it had alot of muzzle flip and it was not all that accurate. It was ok but not great.
PAT
 
Shake


Berettas are good guns but they do have a higher parts breakadge problem than other designs. Thier locking blocks go thier trigger return springs break. They are good guns but all guns seems to have a weakness. For example Glocks Trigger springs break and thier chambers are not as supported as I would like. Sigs frames crack. Hk's break firing pins. Just be aware of the problem and take preventative maintence steps.
PAT
 
355sigfan,

I agree to some extent. I don't think there is a handgun on the market that doesn't have a weakness. Some are stronger than others, but anyone can point out weaknesses of any design.

Do they have higher parts breakage? I'm not going to call you on that one :) (I'd like to keep things friendly), but how is it that you know? In my experience this hasn't been the case yet.

The Berettas get knocked around a lot on the net because of stories that get passed around (just like the GLOCK Kb thing). The Berettas are not my favorite gun (although I do like them a lot and have an Elite II which is a joy to shoot), but I think they get a bad rap.

I personally have shot a lot of Berettas, shot friends Berettas, shot rentals, seen a heck of a lot of rounds put through them and still haven't seen a failure. I have seen failures in other weapons (I won't name them, because I think that's beside the point). People jump to point out the perceived faults of the Beretta (again, I think more of it is rumors that people like to pass along) design, yet in real shooting very few people run into problems. I'm sure others will jump in soon and list all of the problems they've personally witnessed with the Berettas, but I just haven't seen them.

As long as I get the great results I've gotten from my Berettas, I'll keep buying and shooting them.

Shake
 
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