Sidearms & Scatterguns U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

[kraigWY]

Army awards Beretta contract for another 100K M9s.

Guess the M9 will be around for a while yet.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/2012/09/17/u-s-army-awards-new-contract-for-beretta-m9/

I know there is going to be a lot of "Brand X, cal. Y is much better" comments but regardless, looks like the Beretta is here to stay.

As a 1911a1 guy, to be honest, the Beretta is easier to get non-shooters to qualify.

Last summer I took a bunch of pistols to Oregon taking my Daughter out shooting. She shoots, and does well with her Ruger 9 and 380. My 19 year old granddaughter went with us. She hadn't shot any thing since I had her shooting 22 rifles when she was about 8.

She tried several guns, not liking them or doing well....until she shot my 92 FS, not only did she like it, but she shot it quite well.

She's not a big girl by a long shot, has small hands and still had no problems with the Beretta.

Maybe the army is on to something.

 

[NorthernBorn]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

I own an M9 for both nostalgia and the fact that the three different beat to all hell poorly maintained M9s I was issued in the Army all functioned flawlessly if they had good magazines. The Army needs to get rid of the contract with Check-Mate Industries.

 

[Aces&Eights]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Army awards Beretta contract for another 100K M9s.

the Beretta is easier to get non-shooters to qualify.
</div></div>

No this is achieved with highly skilled instructors... standing in the lane next to you.. just ask my wife.

On a serious note, good for Beretta. It is a fine pistol and I'm not sure if we would ever deviate too far from it. It serves its purpose just fine and IMHO is more reliable relative to <span style="text-decoration: underline">mass produced</span> versions of that other pistol, the one that was made on the eighth day.

 

[KM375]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

I never had any issue with the Beretta functioning while I was in, my only gripe was the safety on the slide.

The old pre us army Beretta 92 with frame mounted safety.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">my only gripe was the safety on the slide.</div></div>

I was worried about the safety at first. I've only been using my 92FS a couple years.

They came out while I was still in, but I was a groumpy SOB hold out. I have a USGI 1911a1 I carried every time I had to have a weapon. I was in a posiition where no one questioned me.

But when I finely got a Beretta I found out I was cutting off my nose to spite my face.

As I said, I was worried about the safety going the wrong way, pushing up instead of down to get it off safety. Figured I'd muff it when under pressure.

But I've been shooting a lot of copetition with the Berretta and the only time I worry about the safety is when I'm setting around thinking about it. When shooting under stress I always get the safety off without a hitch.

I like the, maybe not as much as my 1911s, which doesn't matter since I'm a revolver guy anyway.

 

[fred650]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

For how much longer I wonder.....

 

[gimpy]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

I have one, carried one, and appreciate its design. I also love the 1911. If they would only make the M9 in .45 and with a slightly narrower grip...

 

[yelton66]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

Not to discredit gunsandammo and take this with a grain of salt but army times released last month that the army was switching over to .45. They did not however mention a make and model. I also heard rumor that the USMC has already started a 1911 contract.

The military realizes its mistake, it's not the berretta, it's the shitty 9mm jacketed ammo. It runs way to hot and has a really bad tendency to go through people instead of just into them.

 

[cwatson308]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

So thought that they were bringing back the 1911?

 

[leprechaun]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

The Marine contract is a MARSOC contract not a Corps one. I can only hope the ARMY will one day see the light

 

[Alaskan Troll]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

Can't stand the Beretta, it gets dirty so easy with that exposed barrel. Plus after firing 3000-5000 rounds through it the lugs start to break, locking up the slide. Then you have the trigger 13 pounds on DA, and 5-6 on SA. There are just to many available handguns out there that are far superior to the Beretta to be staying with it, or renewing any contract.

 

[Ledzep]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

I was the unit armorer for a small detachment that got quite a bit of trigger time in with M9's. I am not a fan of the pistol.

It became a running joke on who's recoil lug was going to break next. Not to mention the trigger pull.. bleh

I'm not saying that the 1911 is the best choice, but I would almost certainly rather have one than an M9.

 

[SuckitTrebek]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

Great pistol. Easy to train on, easy to shoot accurately.

Yeah there are problems here and there with a locking block or two. What isn't said is how many of those pistols weren't being maintained properly for thousands of rounds. A little lube on the locking block and good to go, even though yes it is a high wear part.

But lets face it, it's a dated design. There are better choices out there now for a combat pistol.

 

[Ledzep]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

When I got to that unit the pistols were new. The one I got had been issued to another guy for a month and made it to one range. Over a year and a half there my locking block broke twice. Lubed every range and cleaned afterwards.

Each time one broke, we replaced the block (tried to get the new model block/barrel if we could) and recoil spring. There were several that still broke twice.

I know it's anecdotal, but I've shot more rounds in my personal GI-45 1911a1 than I did with that M9, and I've yet to have something break.

 

[Anvil_X]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

I'm not much of a pistol guy, but it was comforting to have that thing hanging on my rig when my M-4's name was "Failure to Extract". Plus, it only took a few hours with a gerber to fix the full metal jacket problem that we had with our ammo.

 

[SFC Carpentier jr]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

When I first when in the Army of course the pistol issued was the 1911. Shot, carried and trained with one. I remember when the M9 first came to our unit and we had to turn in our 1911's. As many people have posted the M9 was easier for someone to shoot and train with. Many of the female soliders that I trained had no problems shooting and getting us to the M9, but like anything else there were problems with the pistol. As many people have posted the locking block was a problem. I had seen a few locking blocks fail. I remember going to a school in which we trained and shot a lot of round through our M9 and one pistol locked up so bad we could not get it open to unload.

There are a lot of good quailty pistol out there that the army could have gone with, but it looks like M9 might be around for a while.

 

[K_4c]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

Sad to see this news...

 

[Redman797]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

WHY!!!

When I was deployed we had several lock up condition 1...

Thank god we went to Glock 19's. Rather of had a 17 though..

 

[BravoSector1]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

Intersting. I know basic fireams maintenance is "hard"...but. M9 issued to USAF, round chamberd and selector place on fire. Fewest number of accidental dischargs amongst the services (and how are they configured?) It has served us VERY well. I can't speak for our pilots, they place the sidearm on safe, but for Security Forces, it has been a loyal, accurate, and stable sidearm.

Oh, I have a Beretta, as a suppressor host, but my "girl" sized hands prefer the Glock 19...just say'in.

 

[Redman797]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

HEY! I don't have girl sized hands....

if your not getting bitten, your hands aren't high enough!

 

[Devious6]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

I, too, started out with the M1911A1s - loved that pistol and still do. I've got an early 1944 Remington Rand and my concealed carry is a Kimber Ultra CDPII 3".

I never took to the M9 like the 1911. I always qualified but my scores with the M9 were typically lower than when I qualified with the 1911. Probably mental - but I just didn't like the feel of the M9.

 

[dbateman]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

<<-

That is all.

 

[TallShot]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ledzep</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was the unit armorer for a small detachment that got quite a bit of trigger time in with M9's. I am not a fan of the pistol.

It became a running joke on who's recoil lug was going to break next. Not to mention the trigger pull.. bleh

I'm not saying that the 1911 is the best choice, but I would almost certainly rather have one than an M9.</div></div>


What is this "recoil lug" you refer to..?

Did you mean "locking block"?

 

[grunt0311]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: K_4c</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sad to see this news...

</div></div>

I agree on this one. Seriously though, I hate talking about this damn pistol and getitng involved in these topics. I really hate the army for choosing this pistol (not really just hate the pistol more). IMO the only ones that got it right was the SEALs when they chose to go with the Sig p226.

 

[HOGTOOTH5R]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: trailbound</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not to discredit gunsandammo and take this with a grain of salt but army times released last month that the army was switching over to .45. They did not however mention a make and model. I also heard rumor that the USMC has already started a 1911 contract.

The military realizes its mistake, it's not the berretta, it's the shitty 9mm jacketed ammo. It runs way to hot and has a really bad tendency to go through people instead of just into them.</div></div>

Yes, I saw the Same Article in a different magazine. I believe they're going with COLT Railed 1911s if I'm not mistaken. But After over 100 years the 1911 .45 ACP is still a VERY Combat Effective Weapon.

 

[AzNooB]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

I don't know why we don't use Glocks like half of our allies and the majority of LE.

 

[HawkDriver]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

It's an excellent platform for the masses, some may not like it, mainly the operators that are carrying .40S&W or .45ACP and even then it is still fine just more of an inferior status symbol than anything.
On a side note, the army needs to start issuing hollow point ammo. It is illegal under the laws of war for offensive weapons but is the M9 really an offensive weapon?

 

[jake6547]

Re: U.S. Army Awards New Contract for Beretta M9

i was at the beretta plant installing some machines in a fanuc robot cell. pretty cool place.