Rifles

The M1911A1 & The M9

Beretta's 92SB-F has had much written about it of late, as has the M911A1 that has seen its share of publicity for a longer period.

By NRA Staff (RSS)

January 26, 2010

American Rifleman followed up on the Beretta 92's adoption as the new official personal defense weapon for the U.S. Armed Forces with a feature story by Pete Dickey. The following is an exerpt from the original article. To see a pdf of the full feature article from August 1985, please download below.

The M1911A1 is still the main handgun of the U.S. military and will remain so for some time to come.

Our latest approved, but as yet unissued, service pistol, Beretta's 92SB-F, has had much written about it of late, as has the M1911A1 that has seen its share of publicity for a longer period.

Reviewing some of the latest media accounts, we note, to our surprise, that the .45 Colt bas been with us since Civil War days without major change; that the 92SB-F was used by the Italians in World Wars I and II, and carried by James Bond thereafter; that the .45 kicks like a mule but will consistently knock either mules or Moros off their feet; that the 9 mm has no recoil but will penetrate a tank; that the Beretta's size and weight are far less than those of the Colt, etc., etc. A few less surprising but , we hope, more accurate bits of information can be presented here to make comparison of the two guns easier.....