Help me choose my gun outside the US part 2

B

Bachá

New member
Sorry... I asked the moderators to delete the other thread. Lets just say I had my reasons :-)

So I narrowed down my options to two.

Beretta M9A1 for $1256
Or HS9 (same as XD9 4" service model) for $1000

Almost decided for the beretta for all the points we talked in the other forum.

In the shop they have two beretta m9a1 a black one http://www.beretta.com/en-us/m9a1/, and one that appears to be the INOX finish. I know there is a 92FS compact with rail, but I can't find anywhere on the internet reference to an m9a1 inox. Pistols are the same size, same sights (green dots in the "inox" instead of white dots in the black), but other than that same frame an slide marking same everything... except the m9a1 INOX doesn't exist anywhere on the internet. Any idea? I mean, is it possible that just the color is different and nothing else? and why is no reference to it anywhere on the internet? In the beretta site you can find that the compact model is in both finishes. I thought it could be the Vertec model which is a full size with rail INOX model, but it isn't, the guy from the store just sent me pictures.

Where I live is very humid, and cold, with very hot days now and then and I sweat a lot. What finish would be most durable?

To the other guy from Guatemala, you said that if you found Glock 19 you would be happy. Kodiak have G19s. I just tossed Glock as an option when realized how grossly overvalued they are here.
 
The whole point of the M9 sold to civilians is to be a copy of the actual M9...

One in a different finish wouldn't really be an M9.
 
The whole point of the M9 sold to civilians is to be a copy of the actual M9...

One in a different finish wouldn't really be an M9.
Click to expand...

I am being ultra careful with this purchase... And that seems a little strange. I can't find a single photo of an M9A1 with rail in INOX finish. Certainly not in beretta site.

Dos gun copies exist? is it possible that this could be a copy?

In fact I can't find any photo of a full size beretta with rails and with INOX finish... With the exception of the vertec which this is not.

2815278_18_beretta_inox_stainless_92fs_co_640.jpg


The gun is just like the one in the right side, but with rails like the one on the left side.
 
I want to say that I've seen 92FS INOX in the past, whether or not it had a rail I cannot recall. However, if you are in a humid environment stainless steel would be my preference unless you are looking at guns with nitride treatments like a Glock. As lovely as a blued gun may be, the humidity will lay hell to it. Good luck!
 
I have not seen an Inox M9A1 but I am not a real Beretta expert. I would post your question over on the berettaforum dot net. If it was made there are guys over there who will know.
 
I won't call myself an expert, but I follow Beretta a bit and I am not familiar with an M9 Inox, either.

As far as the durability of the finish, keep in mind that Beretta's Inox consists of a stainless steel slide and a frame painted to match. There was a stretch where the paint job was not very durable at all, but the problem seems to be resolved at least to the point where the paint does not scratch and mar under normal use and handling. Whether it is durable to sweat and humidity I could not answer, but the Bruniton finish has a pretty good track record.

I have an Inox 92FS with walnut grips that is kind of a show-off pistol. If I was going to carry it every day I would go with the black Bruniton, myself.
 
INOX just means stainless steel. In your climate I'd choose that.

I've never heard of Beretta knockoffs. Taurus makes a clone of the Beretta 92, their PT 92, but it is branded as a Taurus and has a frame-mounted as opposed to the slide-mounted safety.
 
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I would imagine the standard M9 finish to be durable and able to stand up to the elements... it is a military service weapon after all.

It won't be impervious, but I would think it tougher than standard bluing.

It may even be a nitride type finish, and those are very tough.
 
Is there any chance you will carry this pistol concealed in your country?
If so I'd go with something else - lighter weight. The 92 is big overly heavy pistol for what it is - a double stack 9mm. They shoot nice but the weight and size just isn't justified IMHO these days - given the choice of the 2, I'd go with the Inox.

I like Glocks - the G19 is my go to carry gun for the following reasons:
Lightweight, reliable, accurate, w/ high capacity.

I do own a 92FS Beretta. Had to buy one after seeing them everyday for 3 years in Iraq. Doesn't really do anything better than any other 9mm pistol.
 
Personally, between the two, I would go with the HS9. I have not shot the Berettas, but have handled them often and everything about them fits wrong in my hands. Normally, I prefer the DA/SA hammer fired gun to striker fired, but in this case the XD would win it for me.
 
Having the limited budget/options that I have this is where I am:

My rational brain says HS9... lighter, easier to carry. But my "artist" brain says beretta, the HS9 seem "too utilitarian" in comparison :confused:

Knowing that I can't trade easily and I don't have the money to own several guns I am having a hard time deciding?
 
Let's do this.

Why don't you give us a list of the other pistols available so we can recommend something else.

I personally don't care for the 92, chunky and weird safety/decocker arrangement. If you had a CZ P01 at the store I'd be screaming for that one.:p
 
Let's do this.

Why don't you give us a list of the other pistols available so we can recommend something else.
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Thanks... I don't want to overwhelm anybody, but options in my country are limited and prices reaaaally out of whack. The other only option I was considering was the glock 26 Gen 4 and glock 23 Gen 3.

The G23 I can get for a really good price (for my country) but I don't really have to go .40

The G26 I discarded as an option for the price and fears of being my first handgun I would not be able to shoot it well. But today 2 things happened: I found one for a really good price too, and I am kind of kidding myself about conceivability of larger guns. I can't go into details, but while it is not ilegal in my country to open carry and everybody does it, not only I don't want to, but something happened today that remind me that I really need "deep concealment" carry.

So regarding the glock 26 I have a couple of questions if you guys could help me:

1. Being my first firearm should I worry about not being able to handle/shoot it well? We have pretty good gun laws in my country, but some stupid bits of it forbid ranges to have rental guns, and I don't have any friend with a g26.

2. I see mag sleeves and extension plates that improve the grip. Does this add ons affect in any way the reliability of the 26?

3. Do you think that handling such a small firearm isn't a problem in a stressful situation?
 
1. With the shorter grip, subcompacts don't allow for a full, three-finger grip, and, thus, are more challenging to shoot well.

2. Mag sleeves made for a particular gun and mag extension base plates that offer a grip for your little finger (or extra round capacity) do not degrade reliability of the firearm.

3. I chose to buy compact pistols for concealed carry, because I am recoil sensitive (peripheral neuropathy has weakened my grip) and could get a three-finger grip on a pistol of that height. I have replaced the stock metal mag base plates on all my magazines to make for a more comfortable grip for my little finger. I have close to zero mechanical aptitude, so if I can do such a replacement on nine mags without screwing up, virtually anyone can.

Everything is a tradeoff:

- A light, subcompact pistol, such as the G26, is easier to conceal and carry, but harder to grip comfortably, less comfortable to shoot, harder to shoot accurately, and has less capacity.

- A heavy, full-size pistol, such as the M9, is harder to conceal and carry, but easier to grip comfortably, more comfortable to shoot, easier to shoot accurately, with greater capacity.

A carry pistol spends a lot more time being carried than being fired, so optimizing for carry by choosing a subcompact makes sense. But, when a carry pistol is needed, shootability and capacity trump convenience of compactness at that moment. And, it's nice to have a shootable gun to take to the range. Take your pick as to which strategy you prefer (or compromise by choosing a compact), then live with and adapt to your choice.
 
You won't go wrong with a Glock 26. One of my favorites. I find that smaller grip forces me to use the perfect thumbs forward Glock grip every time.


Here's mine:
7084723451_7f37de7093.jpg


Plus an old target when I 1st got the gun:
6235912092_94fc0df457.jpg
 
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Well good grief...you can get a 26? By all means take it! Many people report they shoot the 26 more accurately than the bigger 17 or 19.

I would certainly get the 26 over the other two listed, and yes I had an XD9.
 
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