The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. It was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues to the present day. It is most famous for replacing the M1911 .45 ACP pistol as the standard sidearm of the United States armed forces in 1985 as the M9 pistol. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9mm pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. ... PAMAS can refer to: GIAT BM92-G1 (PAMAS-G1), a weapon PAMAS (Networking) (Power Aware Multi-Access Protocol with Signaling Ad Hoc Networks), a low level network protocol This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Logo of Pietro Beretta This article is about a firearm manufacturer; for the car, see Chevrolet Beretta. ... The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. ... The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. ... BIC pen cap, about 1 gram. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 10-3 m and 10-2 m (1 mm and 1 cm). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The . ... The 9 x 21 mm IMI pistol cartridge was designed by Israel Military Industries for those markets where the 9 mm Luger cartridge cannot be purchased by civilian users, notably Italy. ... A 30-round STANAG magazine. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Logo of Pietro Beretta This article is about a firearm manufacturer; for the car, see Chevrolet Beretta. ... The M1911 is a single-action, semiautomatic handgun chambered for the . ... A side arm is a small personal weapon that is typically worn on the body in a holster in such a way to permit immediate access and use. ... The Military of the United States, also known as the United States Armed Forces, is structured into five branches consisting of the: United States Army United States Marine Corps United States Navy United States Air Force United States Coast Guard Reserves United States National Guard United States Army Reserve United... The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9mm pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. ...

Although only 5000 copies of the original design were manufactured from 1975 to 1976, the design is currently produced in four different configurations (FS, G, D and DS) and three calibers:

• 92 series in 9 x 19 Parabellum
• 96 series in .40 S&W
• 98 series in 9 x 21 mm IMI

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The . ... The 9 x 21 mm IMI pistol cartridge was designed by Israel Military Industries for those markets where the 9 mm Luger cartridge cannot be purchased by civilian users, notably Italy. ...

History

The Beretta 92 pistol evolved from earlier Beretta designs, most notably the M1922 and M1951. From the M922 comes the open slide design, while the alloy frame and locking block barrel (originally from Walther P38) were first used in the M1951. The grip angle and the front sight integrated with the slide were also common to earlier Beretta pistols. The Beretta M1951 (M951, 951, Brigadier, Mod. ... In firearms the slide is the upper half of a semi-automatic pistol. ... In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of the firearm that houses the operating parts of the gun. ... The barrel of a firearm is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion is released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at great speed. ... The Walther P38 was a 9 mm pistol that was developed by Walther as the service pistol of the Wehrmacht at the beginning of World War II. It was intended to replace the costly Luger P08, the production of which was scheduled to end in 1942. ...

The Beretta 92 first appeared in 1976 and was designed by Carlo Beretta, Giuseppe Mazzetti and Vittorio Valle, all experienced firearms designers on the Beretta design team. A firearm is a kinetic energy weapon that fires either a single or multiple projectiles propelled at high velocity by the gases produced by action of the rapid confined burning of a propellant. ...

92

About 5000 copies of the first design were manufactured from 1975 to 1976.

92S

In order to meet requirements of some law enforcement agencies, Beretta modified the Beretta 92 by adding a slide-mounted combined safety and decocking lever, replacing the frame mounted manual thumb safety. This resulted in the 92S which was adopted by several Italian law enforcement and military units. The later relocation of the magazine release button means these models (92 & 92S) cannot necessarily use later magazines, unless they have notches in both areas.

92SB (92S-1)

Initially called the 92S-1 when it was specifically designed for US Air Force trials (which it won), the model name officially adopted was the 92SB. It included the changes of the 92S, added a firing pin block (thus the addition of the "B" to the name), and relocated the magazine release catch from the bottom of the grip to the lower bottom of the trigger guard. Seal of the Air Force. ...

• 92SB Compact (1981 – 1991), shortened barrel and slide (13-round magazine capacity). It was replaced by the "92 Compact L".

92F (92SB-F)

Beretta modified the model 92SB slightly to create the 92SB-F (the "F" added to denote entry of the model in U.S. Government federal testing) and, later, the 92G for French Government testing, by making the following changes:

• Design of all the parts to make them 100% interchangeable to simplify maintenance for large government organizations.
• Modified the front of the trigger guard so that one could use finger support for easier aiming.
• Recurved the forward base of the grip to aid aiming.
• Hard chromed the barrel bore to protect it from corrosion and to reduce wear.
• New surface coating on the slide called Bruniton, which allegedly provides better corrosion resistance than the previous plain blued finish.

U.S. Military use

Marine Security Guard students perform rapid-fire exercises on the Department of State pistol qualification course Feb. 5 as part of their MSG graduation requirement

When the U.S. Air Force (USAF) began the Joint Service Small Arms Program, Beretta entered the competition. The Beretta 92SB (92S-1) won, but the Army contested the Air Force's methods. There would be several more competitions, and Beretta refined the design of the Beretta 92SB into the Beretta 92SB-F and in slightly modified form the Beretta 92G. These designs were ultimately selected by the United States (Beretta 92F, U.S. Military designation of M9 Pistol) and France (Beretta 92G, French military designation of "PAMAS"). The M9 Pistol was intended to replace the M1911A1 and .38-caliber revolvers and pistols. Over 500,000 M9 pistols were made and the switch-over was largely achieved. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x651, 108 KB) Summary http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x651, 108 KB) Summary http://www. ... A Marine Security Guard also known as a MSG or a Marine Embassy Guard is a U.S. Marine posted at an American Embassy for security purposes. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... The Joint Service Small Arms Program, usually just called JSSAP was a program run by the Air Force to select a 9mm Parabellum pistol in the late 1970s and the turn of the decade. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9mm pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. ... Organization The French armed forces are divided into four branches: French Army, including Chasseurs Alpins Foreign Legion Marine troops light aviation engineers Navy, including Naval Air naval fusiliers and naval commandos Air Force, including territorial Air Defense air fusiliers National Gendarmerie (military police force) Every year on Bastille Day, a... The PAMAS-G1 (Pistolet Automatique de la Manufacture dArmes de Saint-Étienne, Automatic Pistol of the Saint Etienne Manufacture) is a modified Beretta 92F pistol used by, and designed for, the French army. ... The M1911 is a single-action, semiautomatic handgun chambered for the . ...

The USAF has scheduled switching over from the early model M9 (92F) to the 92FS standard, according to planning documents. In May 2005, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) awarded a sole-source contract to Beretta for 3,480 "M9A1" pistols (M9 with an accessory rail, also available to the public from June 2006). In the U.S. Army, selected M9s were scheduled to be replaced by XM8 compact carbine variants. However, XM8 and the entire OICW Increment 1 program were suspended in July 2005. United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... A US Marine weapons instructor holds an XM8 Carbine during the Infantry Operations Chief Symposium in August 2005 The XM8 is a developmental U.S. military designation and project name for a lightweight assault rifle system that was under development by the United States Army from the late 1990s to...

Early problems

Disassembled Beretta M9

Beretta had two major contracts, about 500,000 units for the U.S. armed forces and about 230,000 units for the French armed forces. In the case of the Beretta 92G, it was agreed that the French would supply the slide steel to Italy until GIAT could start licensed production. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2400x3000, 1463 KB) Description Date 20 Oct 1987 Source http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2400x3000, 1463 KB) Description Date 20 Oct 1987 Source http://www. ...

After a year of flawless production and testing of M9 pistols in Italy under U.S. Government supervision, testing and later production was transferred to the Beretta U.S.A. factory in Accokeek, Maryland. At the same time, the U.S. Army became responsible for providing 9mm ammunition (called the M882 round) to support the testing. Using the new ammunition, problems with M9 test pistols began occurring. In some tests, the frames of the pistols showed microscopic cracks after being fired 5,000 rounds during durability testing. Durability tested barrels showed a concentric indentation inside the chamber and, later, reports of slides breaking during field and test usage were reported.

Early analysis of the breakages by the Army suggested that the problems experienced were due to problems with the pistols themselves. Beretta responded to these reports by requesting testing of the M882 ammunition. Dissatisfied with the progress and methodology of the Army's tests of its ammunition, Beretta obtained independent tests of the ammunition that disclosed excessive pressure levels in the rounds (average pressures exceeding 50,000 psi, compared with maximum NATO-allowed pressures of 35,000 psi).

After delays in delivery of M9 pistols while these issues were resolved, Beretta developed a safety mechanism that eliminated risk to the shooter should an M9 slide break. The U.S. Army also changed the propellant mix for the M882 round, after which no further pistol breakages of the types previously seen were reported.

During this same time and in years since, the U.S. Army conducted durability testing of M9 pistols at Aberdeen Proving Ground. These tests revealed an average life of the M9 frame at around 35,000 rounds, of the M9 locking block at around 22,000 rounds, and of the M9 slide at around 75,000 rounds, all well in excess of the contractually-required service life of 5,000 rounds for the pistol. In addition, Government-witnessed tests of the M9 pistol at the Beretta U.S.A. facility resulted in average reliability of the pistol at one malfunction every 17,500 rounds.

Design

The Beretta 92's open slide design ensures smooth feeding and ejection of ammunition and allows easy cleaning of obstructions. The hard-chromed barrel bore reduces barrel wear and protects it from corrosion. The locking block barrel lockup provides good accuracy and operability with suppressors due to the in-line travel of the barrel. This is in contrast to the complex travel of Browning designed barrels. The magazine release button is reversible with simple field tools. Reversing the magazine release makes left-handed operation much easier. John Moses Browning (January 21[1] or January 23,[2] 1855 – November 26, 1926), born in Ogden, Utah, was an American firearms designer who developed myriad varieties of weapons, cartridges, and gun mechanics, many of which are still in use around the world. ...

Increasingly, it has become popular to reduce handgun weight using light alloys or polymers, and polymer parts have started showing up in Beretta 92/96 models too. In 2004, the first internal polymer part to be introduced was a recoil spring guide. New polymer parts include safety lever, trigger, mainspring cap, magazine floorplate, and follower. In contrast some parts have been painted black to match the included polymer parts, these include; slide release, disassembly latch, and hammer.

Variants

The Beretta 92 is available in many configurations each with a distinct model name. Combining the various options results in more than 50 different configurations, but the major variants are defined by their operation caliber (92/96/98), operation (F/G/D) and combination of optional items (Inox/Brigadier slide/Compact length):

Calibers

Each model name starts with two digits identifying the caliber:

92

Chambered for the 9 x 19 mm Parabellum.

96

Chambered for the .40 S&W, introduced in 1990.

98

Chambered for 9 x 21 mm IMI. This option was introduced in 1991 for markets where it is illegal to own a weapon chambered for a military cartridge such as 9 x 19 mm.

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The . ... The 9 x 21 mm IMI pistol cartridge was designed by Israel Military Industries for those markets where the 9 mm Luger cartridge cannot be purchased by civilian users, notably Italy. ...

Operation

F (standard)

The current production version of the 92F has a double action first trigger pull, followed by a single action trigger pull for subsequent rounds. The "F" version has a safety lever that also functions as a decocking lever. It is this version that was adopted by the US Army as the M9 Pistol.

G (no safety)

This version was created for and adopted by the French Military as PAMAS ; it is simply a model 92 with a decocking lever that does not also act as safety lever.

D (double-action, no safety)

The double-action-only variant of the 92F or FS.

The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9mm pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. ... The Military of France has a very long history, greatly influential in World history, of serving its country. ... PAMAS can refer to: GIAT BM92-G1 (PAMAS-G1), a weapon PAMAS (Networking) (Power Aware Multi-Access Protocol with Signaling Ad Hoc Networks), a low level network protocol This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Options

Vertec

(2003 –)

• New vertical grip.
• Short-reach trigger.
• Thinner grip panels.
• Integral accessory rail.
• Removable front sight (can be replaced with Tritium sight).
• Beveled magazine well (to enable easier/faster reloading).

Brigadier

(1993 – 2006)

60 g heavier slide (and 1 mm wider) to improve control when firing multiple shots in quick succession. It also includes removable front and rear Novak type sights.

92G Elite IA

Elite I

(1999 – 2001)

Pistols with this option include the heavier Brigadier slide and some modifications to the grip and bevel of the magazine well. It was introduced in 1999 and replaced by the Elite II option in 2001.

Elite 1A

(2001-2006)

This option replaced the standard grip on the original Elite with the Vertec grip but retained the Brigadier slide. A flat hammer spring cap was standard as well as the stainless barrel, decock only feature and dovetailed front sight. This model also came with an integral rail located underneath the end of the barrel. This allows for mounting a flashlight, laser sight, or other accessory.

Elite II

(2001 – 2006)

This option replaced the Elite I option in 2001 and includes the same features of the heavier Brigadier slide and removable Novak type sights, but also an extended magazine release catch and skeletonized hammer. This option is available only with the stainless-steel slide.

Inox

(present)

Stainless barrel, slide (frame anodized to match color).

Compact L

(1992 –)

Shorter barrel, slide, and more compact frame (13-round magazine capacity).

Compact Type M

(1992 –)

Similar to the Compact L, but has a slimmer grip that accepts only a single stacked 8-round magazine.

Centurion

(1992 – 1996)

Shorter barrel and slide of (like "Compact"), but with standard-sized frame.

CB

(1992 – 1993)

Single action only. It is designed for sport shooting and includes a front barrel bushing for improved accuracy.

Stock

(1994 –)

Heavier Brigadier slide. It is also designed for sport shooting and includes a front barrel bushing for improved accuracy.

Combat

(1994 – 2001)

Heavier Brigadier slide, single-action only and also designed for sport shooting, including a front barrel bushing for improved accuracy. It also came with an additional longer barrel that was weighted.

Billennium

(2001 only)

A limited-edition (2000 copies) commemoritive (of the year 2000) model manufactured in the 2001, featuring the heavier Brigadier slide.

Steel I

(2004 – 2006)

Stainless steel, single-action-only, collector's model. [Edit: Both single-action-only and single/double-action variants exist. Also used and desirable for competitive shooting because of its steel frame (for added weight & strength), the frame-mounted safety and/or Vertec-style grip-frame that are all found to be desirable features in a competition gun.]

Tritium (symbol T or 3H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ...

Magazine Capacity

To keep in line with the introduction of laws in some locations restricting magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, Beretta now manufactures magazines that hold less than the factory standard 15 rounds. These magazines have heavier crimping (deeper indentations in the side) to reduce the available space while still keeping the same external dimensions and ensuring that these magazines can be used on existing firearms. Italian magazine manufacturer Mec-Gar now produces magazines in blue and nickel finishes with a 17 round capacity, which fit flush in the magazine well on the 92-series. Mec-Gar also produces an extended 20 round blued magazine that protrudes below the frame by a couple of inches. These magazines provide users in unrestricted states with an even higher capacity for sporting or self defense purposes.

93R

The Beretta 93R is a significantly redesigned 92 to provide the option of firing in three-round bursts. It also has a longer ported barrel, heavier slide, fitting for a shoulder stock, extra forward grip, and an extended magazine. Unlike the other Berettas in the 90 series it doesn't have a decocker and very few are around today. Beretta Model 93R is a selective-fire machine pistol. ...

Taurus

The Beretta 92 was designed for sports and law enforcement use and, due to its reliability, was accepted by military users in South America. A large contract for the Beretta 92 was with the Brazilian army, for which Beretta set up a factory in Brazil. This factory was later sold to the Brazilian gunmaker Taurus. Taurus made pistols under license from Beretta based on the original Beretta 92, calling it the PT92. Military branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval air and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (compulsory) Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 47,732,285 (2000 est. ... Taurus-PT24/7 (polymer-frame) Taurus Tracker PT111 9mm Forjas Taurus S/A (Taurus Forge) is a manufacturing conglomerate based in Porto Alegre, Brazil. ... The Taurus PT92 is a double action/single action, 9mm Luger, double column magazine, semi-automatic, short recoil action pistol manufactured by Taurus in the former Beretta factory in São Paulo, Brazil. ...

Users

•  Algeria — Police
•  France — French Military (92G)
•  Indonesia — Kopassus and Detachment 88
•  Italy — Military and police (Carabinieri)
•  Malaysia — 165 Intelligance Battalions Malaysian Armed Forces (92F)
•  Peru — Peruvian Navy (92F)
•  Philippines — Armed Forces and Philippine National Police
•  South Africa — Military (SANDF) and Police (SAPS) (Z88 licensed copy)
•  Spain — Civil Guard
•  Slovenia — Military
•  United States — U.S. Military (M9) and some federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies

Image File history File links Flag_of_Algeria. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Organization The French armed forces are divided into four branches: French Army, including Chasseurs Alpins Foreign Legion Marine troops light aviation engineers Navy, including Naval Air naval fusiliers and naval commandos Air Force, including territorial Air Defense air fusiliers National Gendarmerie (military police force) Every year on Bastille Day, a... PAMAS can refer to: GIAT BM92-G1 (PAMAS-G1), a weapon PAMAS (Networking) (Power Aware Multi-Access Protocol with Signaling Ad Hoc Networks), a low level network protocol This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia. ... Kopassus ,abbreviation for Komando Pasukan Khusus(Special Commando Force or as Special Forces Command) is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-terrorism, and intelligence. ... Special Detachment 88 (Detasemen Khusus 88), or Delta 88, is a nickname given to the newly anti-terror special force unit formed within Indonesian Police (Polri). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... The Carabinieri are the gendarmerie and military police of Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... This article concerns the Military of Malaysia The Malaysian military consists of three branches, the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Royal Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru. ... Peruvian Navy Jack The Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Perú) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the peruvian littoral. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... Seal of the Philippine Army Seal of the Philippine Navy Seal of the Philippine Air Force Seal of the Philippine Marine Corps The Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP (Filipino: Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) originated in the establishment of the Philippine Scouts in 1901. ... The PNP seal The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is the name of the armed forces of South Africa. ... The South African Police Service is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Río Nervión patrol boat, in Bilbao. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovenia. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9mm pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. ...

See also

• Beretta 92 Models
• PAMAS
• Beretta 93R

The Beretta 92s are full size pistols. ... PAMAS can refer to: GIAT BM92-G1 (PAMAS-G1), a weapon PAMAS (Networking) (Power Aware Multi-Access Protocol with Signaling Ad Hoc Networks), a low level network protocol This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Beretta Model 93R is a selective-fire machine pistol. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Beretta 92

• Details on the Beretta 92
• A short story of the 92 and its derivatives
• Free videos of Beretta 92/96 disassembly
• How To Make The 92FS 9mm Shoot, Performance Shooter, October 1997

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

References

Blue Book of Gun Values, 26th Edition, S. P. Fjestad ISBN 1-886768-55-2