As a fan of Berettas in general, I was over the moon to finally get my hands on the 92FS. However, I must admit that once I got it in my hands and fire my first shot, I was quite impressed. This is one classy looking Beretta, and it's sure to make an excellent addition to your arsenal. Of course, as we are all well aware, looks aren't what makes a gun great.
In this review, I'm going to share my experience shooting the Beretta 92FS, its build quality, and how well it works as a concealed carry pistol. Let's get started!
I already have plenty of experience with the M9A1, as well as a more dated 92FS. So needless to say, I was well aware of what I was investing in. That being said, I can't say I wasn't surprised when I finally got to handle the Beretta 92FS. It is definitely on par with these top-shelf 9mm handguns and we would go on to recommend it as your home defense gun, as well.
The INOX finish is absolutely stunning thanks to its stainless steel construction. The rubber grips are a nice touch that I really appreciated seeing. None of my other Berettas have these kinds of grips, so it was certainly a welcome addition.
I cannot stress the difference this makes in handling this compact pistol. Your hands wrap around the grips with authority, giving you both confidence and comfort. Another notable addition is the removable sights. Why Beretta would go this route on the 92FS and not some of its other popular pistols left me scratching my head, but I digress. It's here, and it is welcomed.
All is not superior in my opinion, however. Most notably, the plastic components. The magazine release, trigger, and guide rod could have been made using better materials. Be that as it may, I couldn't find any immediate drawbacks to the use of plastic. In fact, research led me to learn that plastic guide rods are favored by many gun owners.
From what I can tell, the trigger at least has metal inside of the plastic overlay, so all is not lost. Being a plastic polymer, though, I have to trust that it will stand the test of time.
To my surprise, I came across other owners living in the USA of this Beretta who didn't have plastic controls. from the slide-mounted safety to the decocker, their's were all made of metal materials. Perhaps they bought their firearm from someone who customized the gun with better features.
In my research, I couldn't determine if Beretta released more than one style of the 92FS. If you know the answer to this, please feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Before we get too deep, let's take a moment to observe the specs that make up the INOX. As you can see, it's a fairly sizable gun, so think twice if you are buying it as your first handgun. You'll want to be sure that you can comfortably handle its girth before you commit to an investment.
Beretta 92FS INOX Specifications | Header |
|---|---|
Weight | 2.03 pounds (unloaded) |
Overall height | 5.4 inches |
Overall length | 8.5 inches |
Barrel length | 4.9 inches |
Overall width | 1.5 inches |
Sight radius | 6.1 inches |
Action | Single/Double |
Magazine | 15 rounds |
Caliber | 9mm |
Look and Feel
The Beretta 92 FS INOX is inarguably one of Beretta's sexiest looking guns. Everything from top to bottom reeks of stellar craftsmanship. This extends to its performance, too. I like every part of the handgun, moves cleanly and smoothly. Action is superb throughout, with no noticeable resistance.
The INOX frame and slide are largely responsible for giving this big gun its character and appeal. The plastic parts do throw it off a bit, but only when you touch them. Just looking at the Beretta 92 FS, it appears to be a solid, sturdy, and smartly-designed weapon.
And it is.
This fact is further cemented when you grab ahold of it. For a pistol, it's a fairly weighty piece of weaponry. At just a fuzz over 2 pounds, you know you've got a serious weapon in your hands. And that's unloaded. With that being said, it may not be the best choice for beginners.
Generally speaking, first-time gun owners are better off going with something they can comfortably - and safely - handle. I'm not so sure this 2-pound pistol is the wisest investment for someone who has yet to learn the ropes of shooting a handgun.
For me personally, though, I rather enjoyed the added ounces. This comes in especially handy when you fire the 92FS, but I'll touch more on that momentarily.
It's worth mentioning that one of the most common complaints as it relates to this Beretta is its grip. Admittedly, it is a bit on the bulky side. I can see where having smaller hands could make the thing difficult to manage effectively.
I found the 92 Series Beretta to provide the perfect grip, with its added weight serving to balance out the handgun nicely.
Range Time
Shooting the 92FS proved to be an enjoyable experience. And on top of that, I'm happy to report that not once did the pistol fail to fire. No jamming; no misfires; no loading issues. What's more, I was thoroughly impressed by the recoil.
By my estimation, the added weight helps to minimize the effects of the short recoil, delayed by the heavy construction. Shooting is therefore very responsive and comfortable. I would imagine that some people will have trouble with the long trigger, especially if their hands are small.
Combined with the wider grip, it may be difficult for small hands to effectively engage the trigger pull. On that note, you'll need to moderate amount of strength to pull the trigger. At more than 5 pounds, it's not exactly a walk in the park, especially in double-action.
I found it to be serviceable, but you're talking about someone with bigger hands. Single-action is more than capable and feels nice and light. Years ago, before I was acclimated to firing pistols and other weaponry, I probably would have struggled with the double-action.
Even now, it gives me some hesitation. You will likely feel this pull when the hammer is pulled back. It's fleeting, but it's there.
In action, I'm very pleased with the accurate results from this gun. I fired several rounds, with each improving the more I stayed with it. There are two 15-round magazines that come with the Beretta. I successfully went through both in short order.
Again, accuracy is most impressive. It helps that you can adjust the front and rear sight. On a related note, you'll appreciate the 3-dot sights when you're in a low-light environment. It's much easier to line up your rounds, which is always a great bonus.
On a side note, I have to admit that I'm a bit disappointed in the positioning of the safety decocker. Its placement is annoyingly out of line. Unlike the magazine release and open slide barrel lock, which are a pleasure to get to, the decocker is just a pain. A small price to pay for a great gun, I suppose.
I can live with this one caveat, though, as the rest of the Beretta is a homerun. I can't stress how nicely this one shoots. I have fired my fair share of 9mm guns in my time, and very few come close to the excellence that is the INOX.
Even at great distances - we're talking 50 yards - I could still nail my targets with accuracy and precision. This brings me to personal defense and combat.
Concealed Carrying the INOX
Yes, it is a heavy handgun. But I had no problems using this as a concealed. Obviously, you are going to want to invest in a supportive holster. It may take you some getting used to the weight. But by and large, it feels good to have on your person.
For home defense, I can think of very few guns that will match the precision and reliability of this weapon. As long as you are comfortable handling it and don't mind your guns being a bit bulky, I think you'll do just fine with the 92FS.
Many people rely on this gun for a wide range of purposes. You should find it to fit your needs in just about capacity while making a great companion if you ever require its assistance.
Wrap Up
From the beautiful stainless steel slide design to the comfortable grips, the Beretta 92FS is a work of art that lives up to the hype. If you've been using guns for several years and just want a reliable addition to your collection, you can't go wrong with the INOX.
Newcomers may have a hard time with it, but seasoned shooters will feel right at home. It's no wonder that law enforcement and our US military have a history with this model. It is a 9mm pistol that is sure to satisfy even the most ardent gun owner.