If I could only own one pistol for the rest of my life (and I mean just one, no safe full of options, no weekly trades, no “what ifs” or other scenarios), the Beretta 92 would be very close to the top of that very short list.
It’s not just a personal favorite of mine either. It’s a gun that makes sense. It’s reliable and rugged and ready for hardcore tactical situations…and yet it’s also so elegant and refined that it’s beautiful to look at.
It’s also just plain fun to shoot.
And here’s the thing: it’s not just great for me. If you’re the kind of shooter who appreciates the old-school feel of DA/SA pistols, and who also loves the weight and balance of a full-size metal frame (and if, like me, you also want something with both soul and performance)… then the Beretta 92 might just be the gun that you’re looking for.
The Beretta 92FS (or M9, which is the military version like you see above) is smooth and elegant, and yet rugged and built like a tank. It’s one of the best 9mm DA/SA pistols ever made.
The Beretta 92FS (or M9, if you get the military version like I did) is a semi-automatic pistol with roots and pedigree and purpose all at the same time.
And once you get one in your hand, you might wonder why you waited so long.
Why the Beretta?
My first real exposure to the Beretta 92 platform was when I was 19, still a couple years away from being able to buy a handgun, but still definitely old enough to tag along with buddies to the range so I could shoot their guns.
One such friend brought his Beretta 92FS, handed it over at the range like he was offering me a fine wine, and said, “Try this.”
It was love at first shot…if there is such a thing that is.
The recoil was soft, the trigger was smooth, and it felt like the gun was helping me shoot better. It didn’t just go bang. It was refined. I ended up firing multiple magazines out of that 92 that day and I walked away from that range knowing one thing for sure: the second I turned 21, I’d be buying one.
And sure enough, in 2017, the day I became legal, I picked up my brand new Beretta M9. The M9, as we’ll explore below, is identical to the 92FS (other than the military designation on the markings)
It was the very first pistol I ever bought, and years later, it’s still with me. Through all the buying, selling, and swapping with other firearms I’ve done over time, that M9 hasn’t gone anywhere. It earned its spot.
M9 vs 92FS: Same Soul, Different Uniform
Let’s clear this up while we’re here. The Beretta 92FS and the M9? Yep, they’re the same gun, just different names.
The U.S. military adopted the 92FS and slapped “M9” on it because they felt like it. You see, whenever the military adopts a new firearm, they have to give it a new designation and then the company that produces the firearm has to produce it for the military with that designation.
Standard factory magazines of the Beretta 92 hold 15 (+1) rounds, but aftermarket magazines made by Mec-Gar push the round count to 18 (+1). That’s a lot of firepower and more than a Glock 17!
So an M9 is just a 92FS that has the ‘92FS’ designation replaced by the ‘M9’ designation on the side of the slide.
So yes, a few minor markings might differ, but functionally and mechanically, they’re the same beast. If you’ve got one, you’ve got the other. So whether it says M9 on the slide or 92FS, you’ve got the same thing.
The Beretta 92: Big, Bold, and Built Right
The Beretta 92 doesn’t try to be small, light, or trendy…and thank God for that!
It’s big. It’s heavy. It makes a statement just by its pure existence alone. And I love that. That full-size metal frame gives it a kind of presence you just don’t get from polymer pistols, and it also helps to really tame recoil when you’re at the range. It’s like holding a classic revolver or a lever-action rifle. There’s a weight that tells you you’re working with something real.
And like I just mentioned, that extra weight really absorbs recoil like a sponge. Shooting the 92 is a smooth and stable experience, and in my opinion it’s a greater pleasure to shoot than say a Glock or a Smith & Wesson M&P. The Beretta stays planted and it lets you get back on target fast.
When I hand it to someone new, they always expect it to kick more. Then they shoot it and go, “Wait, that’s it?” And then they end up shooting multiple magazines out of it in pure joy like I did with my friend’s Beretta all those years ago.
And let’s be honest. The Beretta 92 is flat out one of the best-looking pistols ever made! No wonder it’s a favorite pistol by so many heroes in action films. The Beretta 92 is a big and bold pistol that looks cool and carries a lot of bullets (up to 18 rounds, depending on the magazine). No wonder John McClane and Martin Riggs swore by it.
That open-slide design, those clean lines, and the way it fills your hand just right? It’s like the 1911 of the DA/SA world: old-school cool and with modern performance.
That Slide, Though
You want smooth? Rack the slide on a Beretta 92. It’s like silk on rails. I’ve shot just about everything out there (Glocks, HKs, Rugers, SIGs, Springfields, S&Ws, Walthers, etc.) and none of them come close to the feel of the Beretta slide.
One of the standout features of the Beretta 92 is the open slide design, which helps to prevent stovepipes. Racking the slide is also insanely smooth and the smoothest of any production pistol I’ve used.
It glides. There’s no grit and no hesitation. It’s the kind of mechanical smoothness that spoils you every time.
That open-top design isn’t just for looks either. It helps prevent stovepipes and keeps the cycling clean and reliable. I’ve put thousands of rounds through mine over the last 8 years, and the thing runs like a champ. It’s like a well-oiled machine that never quits.
The DA/SA
Let’s talk about the trigger for a second. The Beretta 92 is a DA/SA pistol, which means the first shot is a longer and heavier double-action pull, and the rest are shorter and crisper single-action (until the gun either runs empty or until you decock it by engaging the safety, which safely reverts the weapon back to double action).
A lot of folks raised on striker-fired guns aren’t used to it, but once you get the hang of it, you might find yourself preferring it.
That first long pull? It’s like a built-in safety, sorta like a revolver. It takes intention to fire that first shot. And then once you’re into single-action territory, the Beretta’s trigger becomes a dream (light, clean, and quick).
And again, that metal frame makes a difference. That extra weight helps keep everything steady. It makes follow-up shots smoother, makes the gun easier to control, and it takes some of the snappiness out of 9mm. I’ve shot lightweight guns that jump around like a cat on a hot tin roof. Not this one. The 92 just sits and that’s why I can consistently shoot it better than any other 9mm pistol I’ve ever shot. That’s why it can actually be a good pistol for beginners to shoot as well.
So if you’re someone who wants more control, more refinement, and just plain more gun, give a full-size metal DA/SA pistol a shot. And if you’re going that route, the Beretta 92 should absolutely be on your radar.
It Will Survive Anything
I’m not a prepper, but I do believe in being prepared. And when I think about a go-to pistol for an emergency (whether it’s a bad storm, a power outage, or something bigger) I want something I know will run, and run forever.
To me, that’s the Beretta 92.
The Beretta 92 would make for a great SHTF firearm. It’s great to shoot, is very rugged and reliable, has plenty of spare parts and magazines floating around, and carries a lot of 9mm bullets!
It’s one of the most common and well-supported pistols in the world too. Mags are everywhere. Spare parts are cheap. It’s been around long enough that just about every gun shop in the country knows how to work on it.
If the stuff ever hits the fan and I have to bug out, the Beretta is coming with me.
How I Carry It
Most days, I carry my Beretta 92 in a nice black leather OWB holster on a sturdy belt. There’s something timeless about that combo. Leather and steel. It rides close and draws smooth, and it feels secure. Doesn’t get better than that for me.
I also have a leather shoulder holster for it. I picked it up mostly because I wanted to channel my inner John McClane. Two mags on one side, the Beretta on the other, with a light jacket thrown over it like I’m walking into Nakatomi Plaza. It looks awesome and feels cool for about an hour.
But let me tell you…after a couple hours, that weight starts to wear on you. Two loaded mags and a big hunk of steel under each arm isn’t exactly “lightweight carry.”
Fun? Yes.
Practical? Eh, not for long walks.
The Beretta 92: The Italian Stallion of Pistols
I’ve handled and shot a lot of pistols. Some are flashy. Some are simple. Most are here today and gone tomorrow.
The Beretta M9 next to a SIG Sauer M11-A1 in 9mm. The M9 and the M11 served faithfully side-by-side in the United States military for a number of years, though the M9 was definitely issued in far larger numbers.
But the Beretta 92? It’s the gun that’s always stayed with me. It was my first, and it’s still one of my most trusted. It just works. And it works well.
If you like striker-fired guns and polymer frames, then the Beretta 92 isn’t going to be up your alley. Look for a Glock, HK VP9, a S&W M&P, Springfield XD, or a Walther PDP in that case.
But if you’ve never tried a full-size metal DA/SA pistol, you owe it to yourself to give one a shot. And the Beretta 92 (along with the SIG Sauer P-series) is basically like the gold standard. It’s as reliable as they come and it shoots like a dream, and it just so happens to be beautiful to look at too.
