Rate my HD Pistol!

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Model12Win

Moderator
Hello all. :)

I would like you to rate and comment on my home defense pistol build. It is a Beretta 92A1 with several modification that I believe tailor it to the job:

20180115_152331-1.jpg


It started as a base 92A1 and here are the upgrades I did to it:

1. Installed all metal parts (factory Beretta)
2. Installed G-Series decocker kit (no more accidental safety engagements)
3. Added factory D-spring (lighter DA first pull but still reliable)
4. Streamlight TLR-1 HL weapons light
5. Added Trijicon night sights
6. VZ tactical slant grips (much improved traction over factory grips)
7. Mec-Gar 18 round magazines (recommended by industry experts)
8. Speer Gold Dot 124 grain standard pressure ammo (tested 300 rounds, perfect reliability)

This is a fairly big and heavy gun as we all know. I went into it knowing that and consider it a bonus for dedicated home defense as it reduces muzzle flip for better follow up shots. With the added weight and weapons light, this is the smoothest and least recoiling 9mm handgun I have ever fired. It is also super reliable so far and I've tested 300 rounds of Speer Gold Dots in it that I keep for home defense, 0 failures at all so far.

What do you all think of the gun? Is there anything I should do to improve it? Do you think it would be an effective dedicated nightstand gun? I also have a Remington 870 Police but I keep this gun on my nightstand in case I don't have time to grab the shotgun.

Thoughts? Please rate my home defense handgun!
 
Last edited:
nice set up.

i wouldn't change anything else. my 92s all have G levers too. always ready to go. also sport 18 round Mec-Gars.
 
Great choice. There's nothing more reliable than a Beretta 92. Your set up seems about as close to perfect as it gets.
 
I think you did a great job, those grips look really nice. All the changes you made were well thought out and an improvement over the stock pistol. I would say this is the definition of a nightstand gun, I can't think of anymore improvement you could make.

p.s. You are not suppose to put up a pic of a Morakniv, these are an insider secret that should be only shared with deserving people ;)
 
I thought I was looking at a picture of my gun when I saw this haha

Biggest thing is can you hit anything with it!
 
I have been taken to task a number of times for saying this, but I will continue to do so. If I am entering or in a dark area where a armed bad guy may be lurking, the last place I want my flashlight (the target) is directly in front of my face where a shot at the light will deposit a nice neat hole in my forehead. But, if that turns you on, go with what you see in the ads.

Jim
 
How do you suggest solving that though? The majority of the handheld techniques involve the light near or around the pistol itself and you're essentially in the same boat. The only technique that doesn't involves holding the light in front of you involves holding it as far away from you body as possible. Then you have to independently aim both the light and the pistol in different hands at the same time and they're on different axes. When I've tried it it's been a royal pain in the butt. Then if you try to go through a door like that you're too wide and have to compress the light back into your body anyway. I also find that technique leaves my sights in shadow as opposed to a more central light hold where the spill tends to help contrast the front sights for aiming.

Lights, whether handheld or mounted, should not be left on. You illuminate, scan quickly, then relocate. I can agree with a separate light if you're worried about muzzling someone (though I'd add you can use the spill of a weapon mounted light at a low ready to scan too), but I've yet to try a handheld technique where the light isn't centralized and I felt I had good control for aiming both the light and the pistol. There is no free lunch.
 
Last edited:
James K said:
I have been taken to task a number of times for saying this, but I will continue to do so. If I am entering or in a dark area where a armed bad guy may be lurking, the last place I want my flashlight (the target) is directly in front of my face where a shot at the light will deposit a nice neat hole in my forehead. But, if that turns you on, go with what you see in the ads.

Jim
Click to expand...
Wow, kind of a tactless remark from a Staff member.
 
in addition to drawing attention to your face, it requires you to point your gun directly at anything you want to see... a separate flashlight gives you the ability to see something without requiring the gun to be pointed at it and gives you an extra split second to react and decide if that think you just saw really does need shot or not.
 
You don't want my opinion!
Over done with too many bells and whistles. Nothing wrong with a 92fs out of the box, and a good hand held light.
Everything else is pure Mall Ninja!
 
I like it. If I had a Beretta 92 set for home defense that is exactly the way I would want it. I have the same light on my Walther I keep around the house.
 
Very nice. The 92 is a great weapon. I dont care for weapon mounted lights for home defense but that is just personal preference.
 
it requires you to point your gun directly at anything you want to see
Click to expand...

When weapon mounted lights put out 500-800 lumens, you really don't have to shine straight on to identify a target. The spill off the floor can illuminate a whole room. But I do get the point. As a counter, there's no reason you can't have both a handheld and a mounted if you wanted. It doesn't add much weight to a pistol. As for why you'd want a weapon mounted light, having only the use of one hand is a thing that happens in conflicts. Not only injury, but in a home the need to carry a child, render assistance to a family member, any number of reasons. Of course shooting with both hands provides some stability too.
 
I like the setup. I'm a fan of weapon lights. I like having a free hand to be able to open doors, use a phone, carry a kid, anything you can think of. I'm also required by my department to have a weaponlight on my issued pistol, so it's what I know, and I've found it works very well for me.

I'm also a huge fan of the 92 series pistols, and very jealous of the 92A1. I've got an M9 currently and a 92A1 will be my next 92 series.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top