Tag Archives: Beretta

Weapons

Beretta 92FS change?

24 Comments

die-hard-with-a-vengeance-beretta-john-mcclane-03

I love shooting my Beretta.  I just do.   But I’ve had a “Wake up” moment about it.   Let me explain…
I’ve never had a problem with the safety.  In fact, I rather like the safety mechanism as I consider it to be one of the safest safeties in the industry.  Now, when I carry my Beretta, my routine is to safe the gun, holster, and then flick it off safe.   This allows the first trigger pull to be unhindered.  More like a SIG.  I like that.

Friday the 30th, I participated in PointBlankRange.com’s Zombie Shoot.  It was a blast!   However in one stage, at two different points, I ran into some thorns.   From the first position of 3, you fire your string and safe your weapon and move to the second position to engage.   So I hit the safety, scooted to pos-2, and tried to engage.  Trigger was nothing but slack.  Two pulls, “Oh”, *flick*, bang bang bang… And then it happened again, exactly the same going into pos-3.

This was all me.  I recognize and own this.   It was not the gun – it was me.  Normally, the safety never “gets me” because I almost never keep it engaged.  I just don’t.  But because I did – broke from my routine – it got me.  twice in a row.   And I really really don’t like that.

Also, I’d normally have run my 1911… I just don’t run the Beretta enough.  Again – this is all me and my Ogreish habits.  How I do things.  And I was tasked to do things outside of my operating procedures – and evidently I don’t do that well.   I’m not making excuses here, I’m recognizing my malfunctions.

I think it’s time to look at doing “The G-Mod” on my Beretta.  Converting my 92 FS to a 92 G.   This changes the safety mechanism to a De-Cock Only.  So the lever will automatically spring back to the Fire Position.  This is evidently something that is so much of an issue for enough folks that Beretta even HAS a G model.

So now the question that I must ask myself… and only I can answer this for me.  Is do I get the G-Mod done, or do I train on this safety more so I don’t have those stumbles again?

Weapons

Glock’s dominance

34 Comments

Police One put out an interesting survey.  “What do you think of your Police Sidearm?”

Glock’s dominance in the LEO market is epic.  Over 68% of the market is staggering.  But that’s actually not that surprising to me.
What is, well, not so surprising, but disappointing… is the complete falling of SIG and Beretta.   22.6% and 8.5% respectively.  As bad as that is… is the results of the question “What would you like to carry?”  Those numbers being only 21.3% and 4.6%.

No longer the Choice of Professionals.
No longer the Choice of Professionals.

This very clearly tells us that the time of metal framed guns fired with hammers is going the way of the Flint Lock.   This saddens me.   I prefer the metal-hammer guns over poly-striker guns.  The feel, the weight, the superior single action pull… and that I can pull more accuracy out of a hammer fired gun.

j6k1g7
As unpopular as Cream of Wheat.

What saddens me the most about this though – is that it tells me that Law Enforcement is no longer a Profession of Shootists.  Like the FBI, Municipal Law Enforcement isn’t a Gun Culture anymore.  They no longer want fine guns of refinement and craftsmanship… they only want Shooting Appliances.   They want guns – and this is the secret to Glock’s success – that are simplified down to the lowest common denominator.   Yes, I’ll say it.

Glock is the Common Core of handguns.

Most LE Agencies are not hiring shooters anymore.  They want guys with education in Psychology and Human Development… They want Councilors.  We saw this trend starting 20 years ago.   I think this is why we see so many questionable police shootings… so many cops shooting dogs.   I think a lot of these COP 2.0 guys may be power tripping… because the guys that come from the Gun Culture don’t get worked up or feel the need to power trip and flex their authority so much as these C2.0 guys and gals.

Huh… Oddly enough, all my LEO friends are from the Classic Old School variety.  Good Cops that use Common Sense before using Ego.  Damn good Cops.   Many of them carry Glocks, because of Policy, not by choice.  Some choose the Glocks… and that’s fine.  They can’t shoot that well anyways.  (j/k)

The Sidearms used by the most astute of shooting professionals remain hammer fired, metal framed guns.  The US Navy SEALs, I must point out – having the freedom of using anything they want, use SIG 226’s.  I don’t know any single group that personifies a Gun Culture more than the SEALS.  They take Pistol Craft more seriously than any other group… with US Air Marshals being a close second.  And they want that SIG.   They want a stable shooting platform with as much accuracy as you can have in a Semi-Auto handgun.

In the Consumer Market – sales of SIG’s and Beretta’s are down.  Regardless of quality, and regardless of special offers and marketing efforts, you just can’t sell them like you used to.  The first choice is Glock… followed by the S&W M&P and the Springfield XDM series guns.

I’m not counting 1911’s – that is a market unique to it’s own, and I’ll talk about that in more detail at another time.

For me – I will remain a fan of the SIG’s and the Beretta’s.  I prefer the triggers.  I prefer the safeties.  Now, if you are going to go Glock – get a new trigger system from Lone Wolf.  Get some new sights from Lone Wolf.  And you can make the most out of that Glock, if that’s what you prefer or have to live with.   And I do appreciate the Glock for what it is… and do like them with LWD triggers.  But given my druthers, I’ll take my Beretta over any Glock.

Oddly enough, the guns I want the most are all metal framed, hammer guns of the Revolving variety.  With only a couple automatics.  A SIG M11A1 is one the autos.  The other are Browning/FN Hi-Powers and a SIG P210.  But my beard is grey and I don’t like the music these kids listen to these days.   Oh… and get off my lawn.

Weapons

Beretta Px4 Storm .45

3 Comments

I like this gun.  It felt very good in my hands, shot very accurately… Much closer to point of aim, point of impact for me… just ran “Good“.

20150501_155841

Good isn’t really the right word… Freaking Awesome is about right.  It felt freaking awesome.   I know the Storm isn’t a SIG or a 1911… But it’s a wonderful shooting gun.  10 rounds in the mag isn’t all that impressive, but the mag is smooth and easy to load and feels like its a higher quality piece than most other mags.
I don’t mind the Beretta Safety.  I even like it.  I don’t mind the DA/SA trigger.  I even like it.  I don’t mind the funky action – I really like it.  I’m weird that way.  But when you have a .45 that shoots like it’s launching Nerfs instead of 230 grain slugs… that’s something.  When you have a gun that puts the first 5 rounds into the same bloody hole, right where you wanted it to go – That’s awesome.  I know this group doesn’t look like its really all that much better than the Glock 30s’s group.  But the gun felt like I had much more control, and that I was placing my shots better…. It felt like that.  I knew where the bullet was going to go before I looked at the target.  I could call the shots with it.  Normally I can only really do that with a 220 or 1911… but I could with the Storm.
Now, the Storm is not up there like a SIG P220 is, or a nice 1911 is… But it’s right up there, real close.  I like this gun.  A lot.
The trigger pull could use some work.  It’s not all that smooth on the example I fired.  Which was a Range Rental Gun, that I think I was the first guy to try it out.

Five Stars, Beretta.  Five bloody Stars!

 

Weapons

SHOT 2015 was rather lackluster.

4 Comments

No, I didn’t go to SHOT.  And I really don’t think I missed out on much this year.  Looking at all the new Products that came out at the 2015 SHOT Show – very little impressed me.
SIG’s new Electro-Optics – Very cool. But damn, the market really doesn’t need another 1200 ACOG Alternative. Granted – this Bravo 4, is nicer. Better glass, better field of view, yada yada yada… But it’s 1200 bucks.  And then there is the Leupold D-EVO. Which is cool and different, but for hell’s sake it’s a 3 thousand dollar package.
What the Market really needs – are some new good, solid AR type Optics in the 200 to 400 dollar range that don’t suck and are not made in China. Is that too much to ask? Has the Gun Industry not realized that we’ve had a losing economy for the last decade?
You know what I’m sick of?
Teases. Companies that Show us something cool and here’s the next SHOT SHOW, and you are still pimping it – and still not taking orders because it’s Vapor Ware. Show us what we can order. I want to see what I can have. That being said – I’m also really sick of all that MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT ONLY crap. Stop making Fantasy Guns for Storm Troopers and make some Available Guns for the Sheepdogs. What can I buy that I can use to defend my Liberty with? So me THAT. That’s what I want to see. Something new and innovative and cool and not too expensive and something that I can place an actual damn order on. THAT’s what I want to see.
Glock’s new CORE MOS line is nice… Finally that Longslide 10mm we’ve been wanting.  That’s cool.   But not really cutting edge.
The SIG P220 10mm’s are awesome.  We’ve only been asking for that for a Decade and a Half.  FINALLY!  That’s almost the coolest thing at SHOT… but we’re not there yet.
That Taurus Curve – Stupid.  The TCP with Wings – Stupid.  The View – Stupid.  Taurus – instead of trying to come out with new stupid shit, how about you start making good, simple, solid guns?  How about you try that?
CZ I think has nailed it with that new Scorpion Evo pistol.  Make it a simple Carbine and it would be a real home run.  CZ remains a steady climber in quality and consistency and making guns I would be willing to spend my own money on.
Speaking of spending money… Beretta’s 92 Centennial looks amazing.  But it’s 3 grand.  Make a regular Bruniton finished version that’s… oh… say… Not more than 1200 bucks… make it a regular production item… WINNER.
You know what – That frame mounted safety would sure go a hell of a long way to help silence a fuckton of critics.   But it’s only on the Centennial and was on the Billenium.   The A3 should have had that.  That with a Vertec frame… Damn.  I’d buy two.  Seriously.

But you know what the coolest thing at SHOT show was?  For me that is…
This.  The Crye Precision Six12, with the Salvo Suppressor on it.

IMG_9207

I want that Six12.  That’s the coolest damn shotgun – but even then the thing came out last year.  But that Gun Muffler packaged like that… Damn.  That’s cool.  So there’s that.  The coolest thing at SHOT.

Weapons

Wilson Combat’s Beretta 92G Brigadier

6 Comments

10806363_10204743951852068_5343904235898778701_nThe #1 best thing I saw at the Ellott Brother’s show, was the Wilson Combat Beretta 92G Brigadier.
Wait, why would I say that?  The 92 is old school!  It’s out dated, it’s too big, it’s too heavy, blah blah blah…  Son, you don’t understand quality and refinement.  If this was a car, it would be a full sized luxury car from Mercedes, worked over by AMG and on the back of it would have the word “Kompressor”.   That’s what the 92G from Wilson is like.  The Trigger is as smooth as you can get, and much lighter than expected.  It breaks in both modes of fire very crisp and clean.  I have to say, it’s the best DA/SA pull I’ve felt on any handgun.   The Wilson sights are beautifully clear and visible – even with my poor eyesight.
These are pistols are – and I don’t say this lightly – the most astute choice for a DA/SA Semi Automatic 9mm that you could make if you appreciate the finer things in life.   A real working class gun, that cleaned up nice and is ready to go out to eat.   I must have one.

 

10898136_10204743952692089_8032036853834489508_nThis studd is Anothony, from Wilson Combat.   Surprise, Anthony!  Long time MadOgre.com reader.  (Sorry about that)  He’s also the guy that helped me get one of these fine pistols ordered.   One for a customer of mine – and one will be ordered for myself.   Because these handguns are exquisite.
He also had to show me another weakness of mine… 1911’s fit for EDC.
He had to put this little guy in my hand.
I’ve listed a Kidney on Craigslist.   Yeah, so that’s two from Wilson Combat.

10931436_10204743953332105_83957842980627955_nNow, if you already own a Beretta, I recommend this.
That’s a replacement spring that will improve your trigger pull.  I took a large enough photo of it so you can see the part number and order the right one.   It makes a huge difference.  I felt it.  By the time you’ve read this, I’ve already ordered one for my own use.  I need a set of their grips too.  Because they felt amazing.

I’ve always been a big fan of Wilson Combat.  I don’t see that changing.  They are still doing it right.

Weapons

Beretta Myth vs Fact

18 Comments

Myth:  The Beretta 92FS is inaccurate.
Fact:  No, you just can’t shoot.

Myth:  The Beretta 92FS is unreliable.
Fact:  No, it’s one of the most reliable… you need to stop reading Gun Forum Debates on the Internet.

Myth:  The open slide allows dirt to get in.
Truth:  It allows the dirt to get out too.

Weapons

Beretta Vertec

7 Comments

1.jpg_thumbnail0I don’t have a Vertec… But I do have a Blue Gun of the Beretta Vertec.  The weight is completely wrong, but the shape is right on.  I like it.  In fact, I think I’d really like to get a Vertec.    Unfortunately Beretta has long discontinued it.

This was a big mistake.  Not as big as discontinuing the 90-Two instead of just re-naming it.  Maybe bigger than the killing off the Cheetahs.  Word is that Beretta is bringing back the Cheetah.  The least of these three sins.  Beretta, BRING BACK THE OTHER TWO!
Bring back the 90-TWO.  Bring Back The Vertec.  Just do it.

Weapons

Dear Beretta, I want you to build me a gun.

10 Comments

Beretta, who loves  ya, Baby….
telly-savalas-who-loves-ya-baby
You know I do… Your curves, your lines, you’re a full figured Italian Goddess…. You’re Beautiful…
Can you do something special for me?  I’m wanting something a little different… some custom work.   Let me explain – please listen to me…
I want this gun, right here.   A 92FS Compact:
92FSc1
But with a Black finished Slide.  Two toned finish.  That’s the easy part.  Here’s where it gets tricky.
The most accurate semi auto pistol I’ve ever fired was the CZ 97B, which has a threaded barrel bushing to center the barrel in the slide perfectly.  That gun was telepathic.  The 92 is very accurate, but there is more accuracy in there that can still be found.
077
The 92 series has a bit of play there in the barrel, that a screw in bushing would remedy.   Not like how the AMU did it, with threading the barrel and putting a shaped nut on the barrel.  I want the slide threaded and a bushing that threads into the slide like the CZ97B.  I want this on my Beretta 92 Compact.  Okay, now just for pure looks… I want a recessed target crown like on a Nighthawk Custom T3.  Like this:
maxresdefault
I want that on my Beretta 92 FS Compact INOX with a black slide.
Can you make this for me?
I’ll give you all my best lollipops…

Weapons

Pick The Brand

20 Comments

SIG-P220-1-Courtesy-Ryan-Finn

DA/SA Service Grade Automatics.   Who’s your favorite?  Okay, we’re talking the Brand on the whole, considering all the related models and variations they make.  Who’s your Top Brand and why?

SIG?
Beretta?
CZ?
Other?

The Traditional DA/SA auto seems to be in the gold years with more and more trainers and advocating striker fired guns with uniform trigger pulls from first to second shots.  Glocks, M&P’s, an XDM’s being the Striker Triad.   But I think that the DA/SA platform still has its place, and I still love them.  Especially for Open Carry, Duty Service… They are big, menacing, sexy, and very stable and accurate.   Outside of 1911’s I shoot them them best.  A lot better than Safe actions or DAO guns.

I’m thinking the Holy Trinity for DA/SA’s is SIG, Beretta, and CZ.  Across the board, I think the Beretta Brand takes the lead for consistent quality.   From what I’ve seen and dealt with with 8+ years behind a Gun Counter and… ahem… a few more years of shooting… I’ve seen problems with all of them.  I’ve seen far fewer though with Beretta.  But that’s not just the thing. It’s also how good they’ve been.  How smooth the triggers and slides were.  How tight they locked up.  I don’t think any brand for any type of auto is nearly as smooth as Berettas.  SIG’s are second and CZ is 3rd overall for smoothness.

However, for an out of the box trigger – the very best DA/SA trigger I have ever felt was on a CZ 97B.   Just incredible!  But other CZ triggers left me disappointed.  Same with SIG, overall very good, but not quiet as good overall as SIG’s I’ve fired.  One SIG though, a 229 SAS…. Oh man.   That was truly a great trigger.   Flip side, the SIG’s have shown some triggers that were less than stellar.
Beretta though wins in the same way a Race Team wins the Championship overall without having actually taken first place.

My 92FS had a very good trigger to start out with.  I swapped the main spring for the “D Spring” and it got a lot better.  It’s not a GREAT trigger.  This makes me wonder, why doesn’t Beretta just use the D Springs as standard?  Because the difference was dramatic!

I love the 92.  I love the SIG 220/226/228/229.  I love the CZ P-01/SP-01.  Overall though, I think that Beretta takes it.

What are your thoughts?