Beretta and the M9A3: Update

by
posted on February 3, 2015
berettahqaccokeek.jpg

Today American Rifleman's Mark Keefe is at Beretta USA in Accokeek, Md., doing something that no sitting governor of the state of Maryland has done: visit the plant that has manufactured the M9 pistol that has served the United States military since the 1980s.* 

The point of today's visit is to get a full briefing on the M9A3 pistol. As part of its current contract, Beretta submitted an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) to its current contract the company calls the M9A3, which fulfilled many of the requirements set out for the looming Modular Handgun project. While at present it is uncertain if the Army is terribly interested in an upgraded version of the M9, many civilian shooters most assuredly are. Changes in the new gun include a threaded muzzle with a protector, new thinner wrap-around grips, and sights that are dovetailed front and rear. There are also some small internal changes that Beretta says will reduce the cost of the pistol. undefined

When Beretta won the trial for the gun that became the M9 pistol, many observers were surprised. After all, the M9 replaced the venerable M1911, the John Moses Browning design that served the U.S. military for more than 70 years. The M1911 is still one of the most iconic handguns in history.

But now the M9 has served the U.S. military for three decades. Although some early guns came from Beretta’s plant in Italy, the vast majority of M9s have come from Beretta’s Accokeek, Md., manufacturing plant. But that era is coming to a close. As reported in “Anatomy of a Move,” Beretta is moving all of its manufacturing operations to a brand-new manufacturing facility in Gallatin, Tenn. The legislative climate in Maryland has not only been hostile to firearms freedom but also firearms manufacture.

The machines that have made the M9, and many of the workers who made them, are also moving to Tennessee. It is the end of an era for gun manufacturing in Maryland. But it is the start of a new chapter for a company that is been making guns since 1526.

Some corporate offices for Beretta will remain in Accokeek. That facility is the headquarters for Benelli and Stoeger in the United States. Those brands continue to expand in the U.S. But the manufacturing jobs, the jobs that are so important to the American economy, are moving. Those jobs are moving to a state that legislators say respect the Second Amendment.

*For the record, Maryland’s newly elected Gov. Larry Hogan visited the Beretta plant in May of 2014 as a candidate (the first gubernatorial candidate to do so), and made an official statement in late July after Beretta announced its plans to relocate to Tennessee. It read in part: 

"I am saddened to learn that the hard working women and men I met at Beretta’s factory in Accokeek in May will now lose their jobs as a direct result of the O’Malley-Brown administration’s high taxes and punitive regulations.

The dedicated workers at Beretta’s Accokeek factory proudly manufactured the primary sidearm carried by our nation’s servicemen and women around the world. The loss of these several hundred jobs will tear through the local community, as millions of dollars in economic activity and tax revenue evaporate and numerous small businesses that supported this factory and its employees also suffer.”…

 

 

 

 

 

Latest

Gun Grips
Gun Grips

All In The Grip: Angles, Contours & Texturing In Modern Handguns

After thousands of rounds sent downrange, the author has some insights on the nuances of handgun design and marksmanship, and it all revolves around the gun's grip.

In Memoriam: Richard Beebe—1941-2024

Richard Beebe, the driving force behind Redding Reloading Equipment for 50 years, passed away at his home in central New York on October 31 surrounded by his family.

Rifleman Review: Taurus Judge Executive Grade

Taurus added its popular Judge revolver to its Executive Grade series of guns, which means that this particular model has a better fit, finish and feel than most other guns you'll see from Taurus.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Double Dog

Thanks to the convertible cylinder in the new Charter Arms Double Dog design, revolver fans can have a gun chambered for multiple rounds, all for the price of one.

Ukraine Border Guards Discover Cache Of World War I Mosins

Ukraine’s Border Guard Service posted images on its Facebook page of a large cache of guns it discovered near the border with Poland. The decaying munitions were uncovered after officers began investigating what appeared to be outlines of several rifles on the surface of the ground.

New For 2025: Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C

With a shortened slide, barrel and frame, the new Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C is designed to be concealable and easily carried while still offering a host of features.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.