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

SDS Arms MAC-5K
SDS Arms MAC-5K

Review: Military Armament Corporation MAC-5K

SDS Arms, under its Military Armament Corporation (MAC) brand, imports Turkish-made roller-delayed handguns of the H&K MP5 pattern called the MAC-5K.

8 New Revolvers for 2026

Despite the incredible array of polymer-frame, striker-fired, semi-automatic handguns on the market, the classic revolver not only refuses to die, it has seen something of a resurgence in recent years.

The Armed Citizen® May 18, 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.

8 New Semi-Auto Shotguns for 2026

For 2026, the semi-automatic shotgun market has seen even more growth, with some manufacturers expanding their current offerings and other makers entering the marketplace with novel designs.

SAAMI Celebrates 100th Anniversary

For the past 100 years, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) has established the standards that ensure our safety when using modern shotshells, cartridges, firearms and more.

Shooting Is Fun: How I Rediscovered the Benefits of Rimfire

A recent event at Range Ready in Robert, La., reminded us how much fun the simple rimfire firearm can be, whether in handgun, carbine or rifle form.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.