Beretta 92FS: Still a Popular Pistol Option

by
posted on October 24, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
beretta-92fs.jpg

It’s more affectionately known as the Beretta M9, the semi-automatic 9 mm pistol that the U.S. military officially adopted in 1985. The Army may be close to retiring the entire aging fleet of these handguns, replacing them with a version of the SIG Sauer P320 as deliveries are made, but the trusted Beretta remains a popular choice among civilian enthusiasts.

The Beretta 92FS is consumer model’s name. American Rifleman ran it as its gun of the week in 2012 and the statements still hold true. “Beretta’s 92 series has been the standard pistol of the Army, Navy and Air Force since 1985, and the FS remains one of the most respected firearms in the world,” the article states. “It’s accurate, reliable and incorporates some of the most time-tested design features in the industry.”

The Beretta 92FS, which is made in Italy, currently has an MSRP of either $675 or $682, depending on whether you go with the 15- or 10-round magazines. The higher round count is the less expensive option. It’s chambered in 9 mm and is a double-action/single action pistol.

It has a 4.9-inch barrel and overall length is 8.5 inches. Height comes in at 5.4 and width is 1.5 inches. Empty it weighs 33.3 ounces.

The pistol employs an open-slide, short-recoil delayed locking-block system for faster lock time and reliability. The design has a track record of surviving some of the toughest combat conditions imaginable. Its magazine release is reversible for left- or right-handed use and the safety/de-cocker is ambidextrous. A Bruniton finish shrugs off sweat and corrosion, ensuring years of service. As for accuracy, when the handgun qualified for the military contract it beat the requirement of 3-inch groups at 50 meters.

For all the above reasons it placed sixth in GunBroker.com’s sales rankings for semi-auto handguns in 2019.

Latest

Armed Citizen Podcast John Lott 1
Armed Citizen Podcast John Lott 1

Why the Murder Rate Quickly Fell to a Likely Historic Low

If the gun-control Left is to be believed, then the murder rate in the U.S. should be going up. After all, gun sales and ownership rates have been rising for the last few decades and anti-gun groups claim that gun ownership is the cause of violent crime. This, of course, is nonsense.

16 New Bolt-Action Rifles for 2026

From cutting-edge precision rifles designed for competition or hunting to traditionally styled guns that emulate designs from yesteryear, 2026 saw the introduction of an incredible array of bolt-action rifles.

Review: Chiappa Rhino 60DS 10 mm Auto

The Italian-designed-and-manufactured Chiappa Rhino remains unique today as the only current revolver with the barrel mounted at the bottom of the frame, firing from the chamber at the 6-o’clock position.

5 New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

There's been a huge surge in the large-format pistol category, and 2026 continues to showcase new models answering the wants and needs of today's firearm owners.

Short & Powerful: The EOTech Vudu 4-12x36 mm Super Short Riflescope

EOTech's ultra-compact 3-9x32 mm Vudu was a popular addition to the company's variable-powered riflescope line, and the new 4-12x36 mm Vudu ups the ante with new features in a still-compact package.

The Armed Citizen® May 11, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.