Beretta Question...

R

Rainbow Six

New member
I almost bought my first Beretta today. I ran across a Beretta Advanced Tactical System 92 with the knife and aluminum case for $650.00 NIB. I really loved the feel of the 92 with the grips that come on the B.A.T.S. version. I think this is the second Beretta 9mm I have ever even held in my hand. The other one was back in 1992 in police academy. I still haven't shot one.

However... (who saw that coming?:D) What turned me off to it was the slide mounted safety/decocker lever. It was not within the reach of my thumb and it required shifting my grip to de-activate/operate it. It also looks and feels cheap when compared to the rest of this pistol.

Now for my question. Does Beretta make a B.A.T.S. version of this pistol without a slide mounted safety/decocker in maybe a DAO model? I would have walked out the door with this gun if it hadn't had that wart of a safety.

R6
 
Hopefully, I can answer all your questions.

Yes, the Beretta does come in a DAO version. I want to say it's the 92D, but don't quote me on that. It's a long trigger, but very light and smooth. It does not have a hammer spur, and where the safety was there is just smooth metal (they don't leave plugs like S&W).

No, Beretta does not make a frame mounted safety anymore. They used to, and you might be able to find a used one, but they do not make them anymore. Taurus, on the other hand, makes basically the same gun, with the biggest exception being a frame mounted safety. I haven't shot any Tauruses in a while, and I'm told their quality has gotten better, but I don't remember liking them when I used to rent guns.

I suggest you give the regular Beretta another look. You can actually flip off the safety very easily without moving your hand much with the tip of your thumb. Reingaging the safety is a little more difficult, and I usually use both hands to do it, but reingaging is obviously not as important.

Finally, the Beretta is a great gun. Plenty of firepower, nice aesthetics, cheap 15 round factory mags, plenty of options, and it WILL NOT JAM! I've shot rounds through it with no problem that jammed my friend's Glock 17 and my Walther P99.

BTW, my Beretta is a stainless Italian 9mm SA/DA version. It was my first gun, and I still love it.
 
Thanks for the reply. I think the 92D without a safety is the one I would want. I don't like external safeties, hence my affection for Glocks. Even a beretta with a frame mounted safety would be passed over if I could get one without any external safety.

I went through some of my old gun mags today and found a picture in an ad of a 92 "Brigadier D" (I think) that has no decocker/safety. This looks like the Beretta I might want. I may see if I can find one of these or have one ordered if I can get it in the B.A.T.S. kit and get a fair price on it. Although I find them very aesthetically pleasing (except for the safety wart) I never wanted a Beretta until I held that one yesterday. Hmmmmmphhhh! I should have left the dadgum thing in the display case!! :D

R6
 
Hmmm. I just remembered that one of the Georgia police supply distributors usually has good prices on Berettas and if anyone would have the B.A.T.S. they certainly should. I might have to make a phone call this week. :)

R6
 
As branrot says, it's real easy to flip the safety off with the tip of your thumb. As far as placing the safety on or off, I usually just reach over with the off hand thumb and forefinger. How often do you actually do that anyway?
 
I agree, I actually like the way the safety is on my 92FS. Once it is gotten used to, it is very easy to engage and disengage. But if you can find a 92 without the safety than by all means get it. The 92 is a great gun, mine has never jammed and I have been known to shoot some cheap bullets now and then.... :)

my92fsss.jpg


P.S. Try Adventure Outdoors on WindyHill and South Cobb.
 
Another option is one of the 92 G guns. These have a slide mounted decocker, but no safety. The lever has a spring and no catch in the down position. It can be pushed down to decock but then springs back to the fire position when pressure is released.

The Elite II pistols feature this system.

IMO, the double action trigger on the Beretta is sufficiently long and heavy to prevent negligent discharges.

That said, I've had one of the 92s with a standard safety and found that it was very easy to disengage the safety by bumping it forward with knuckle of my right thumb.
 
Lightsped,

I was planning on riding over to Adventure Outdoors friday if nothing comes up. I'll see what they have. They get a good percentage of my yearly income anyway. I try to hit them at least a couple times a month and I have been known to make it over there three times in a week when they are supposed to be putting out some "new" used stuff. :D

R6
 
I'll second the recommendation of looking for a "slick-slide" 92D. It remains to this day the sweetest DA trigger I've ever felt on an auto. (If it weren't for a couple of PPC wheelguns I've sampled, it'd be the sweetest DA trigger I'd ever felt on any handgun. :eek: )
 
Just looked in the latest catalog from the distributor I mentioned above and they have a 92FS "Police Special" with 3 mags (probably high caps if it's like their Glock and SIGPRO Police Specials) and night sights for $534. I pretty much doubt that Adventure Outdoors can beat that price for a new 92 with night sights and three high caps. I think I'll give the distributor a call and see if they offer a "D" in this package. :)

R6
 
While the 92D's are very nice, you may want to look at the 'G' models. They can be found in the Elite and Elite II (and I believe LEO models). I have an Elite, and that was the main reason I bought it. Well, that, and the heavier Brig. slide.

Even though I prefer the decocker model, it's not because the regular safety is hard to do..... at least if your hands are big enought, just sweep your thumb forward and follow-through downward (picture an exagurated 1911 safety movement). Basically, think about pushing the safety 'forward', not 'up' and you'll be all set.

rvb
 
Rainbow Six.......

I just recently read an article on the BATS Beretta. It is considered the starting point for the Elite series pistols (they brought back the original Elite I this year to be sold along side the Elite II btw). The BATS is a G model like the other two Elite pistols, but it does not have the Brigadier slide. The slide and frame are matched together like the Elite II and all the internal working surfaces are polished and fitted. Other than what I listed above, the only difference is what you have already mentioned, it has the Hogue wraparound rubber grips with hex head grip screws. Oh, and it comes with the Beretta folding knife and the carrying case. Not a bad deal if you ask me, made me want to go to my local gun store and order one right away!

Well, I just went back and read your original post again and you said it had a safety, not the decocker. Are you sure? I know you have at least seen one and I just read an article, but I know thats what he said. That it was a G model that is. Just trying to be helpful, hope I didn't confuse you more.
 
glockjeeper,

The "wart" does decock, but it also puts the gun in "safety" mode, if I remember correctly. I think it disables the trigger as well as decocks the gun. In fact, I'm positive that it did.

I think the Hogue grips are the main thing that I liked. I don't remember the other Beretta back in '92 feeling near as nice as this one did. It sure didn't leave me wanting one. :)

Thanks for the info on the Elite series. I plan on doing some serious checking into this before I buy a Beretta to make sure I get what I want the first time.

R6
 
"I plan on doing some serious checking into this before I buy a Beretta to make sure I get what I want the first time. "

The problem with Beretta is that once you buy one, you want another...
I thought the Elite would be perfect and all that I would need... but now I want a 92FS INOX and a Cougar in .45, and a scattergun, and . . . . . .
 
R6,

>I almost bought my first Beretta today.

First the V-Comp, then the Ruger, now a Beretta.........did you recently hit lotto or something?:)

I share your feelings about the Beretta safety location and operation. It isw because of this that I only have one Beretta pistol, the Cougar .45 ACP. I just -had- to have the first .45 ever made by the company but if I could cut that safety lever off I'd do it and not look back.

Stop by sometime and I'll show you my Taurus PT92. It's a copy of the Beretta with the safety in the proper place. The safety lever on mine doesn't also act as a decocker but on the new ones they do.

Joe
 
Joe,

Actually I ended up buying the Service-Six instead of the Beretta after having problems with the "wart" on the slide. I'll have to save up now to buy the Beretta. :)

I'll stop by and take a look at the Taurus.

R6
 
R6,

>and no, I haven't hit Lotto. I just payed off some old debts.

Oh well, I guess asking for a loan is out of the question then.....:)

Joe
 
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