View Full Version : New Beretta M9
Picked this up the other day. Gallatin-manufactured M9 (LE version with three 15-round mags). I was a little bit apprehensive when I ordered it, given the reports of spotty QC from the Tennessee factory. But (at least in the fit and finish department) it seems well executed. The "GALLATIN TN" marking is so tiny that I first thought it was missing, but it's next to the serial number on the forward left part of the frame. Serial number is "M9-221xxx" which puts it as 2019 manufacture.
Most folks that have reported issues with these seem to mention poor machining and/or sloppy finish problems. They all seem to function normally. Hopefully, Gallatin has a handle on most of their bugs.
I note that the included mags are 15 rounders. Did the US Military ever buy any of the 17 rounders?
https://i.imgur.com/WaKKaXRl.jpg
hotrodder636
02-15-20, 16:40
My LTT Eliite was made in the Gallatin factory. Only ‘issue’ I found on mine was that the LTT Elite rollmark started light, gets deeper, then back light again (left, center, right). This in no way impacts function.
I saw a couple in a shop here that had blackened stainless barrels.
Don't know why.
Did the US Military ever buy any of the 17 rounders?
I don't think so, they like multiples of 5 for some reason.
Our squadron Gunner wanted to only issue 10rds for our 13rd M11 magazines because it made the 'math' either for the inventory.
Yeah, we vetoed that pretty quick.
OT, nice M9. I have several Beretta 92s of various makes. Big, but I like them all.
As I recall, one of the knocks against the M9 during the heyday of it's service was "It's just too damn big for a 9mm". You don't seem to hear that as much nowadays.
Unreliable was all I heard from my armorer who basically did nothing on maintenance for them not even springs and basic cleaning.
Army reserve for you..
[emoji849]
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Yeah, just going from memory on the comments that I've heard down through the years:
"Locking blocks break too often"
"It's very inaccurate"
"Too sensitive to adverse environments"
"Too heavy"
"Mags suck"
"Bruniton finish sucks"
"Rear sight is not user friendly"
(not necessarily a defect) "Why put a chrome-lined barrel on a pistol?"
It's too big and heavy for concealed carry in Florida. That's my only knock against it.
So I carry its little brother the 80-series Cheetah.
I want a 92XG Centurion, but I'm not sure I'd have a practical use for it. Every full size pistol I've had ends up a range toy and now I only have one full-size pistol. Well, two if you count a G19.
ramairthree
02-17-20, 15:27
I have dozens of 92/96 Berettas from the 1980s to recent.
The only real thing I have noticed are some finish issues from TN when they first started up,
And the 92Cs that were showing up a couple of years ago all felt gritty instead of the classic slick like ball bearings slide action.
I finally got on the Beretta wagon last year. First one being a MD mfr M9, dated at 2019. 10k down the pipe and it's stellar. However, it's largely set up like the LTT pistols out of the box. G10's, G kit, oversized mag catch, steel trigger, TJIB, etc. It's a hell of a shooter.
Military never did buy an 17 rounders that I know of. They used the not so stellar finished Checkmate mags for some time. I was never issued an M9, so I can't attest to the issues with them, however I've got a heaping pile of them now that I picked up for a song. The springs in them suck, but a $5 Wolf 10% extra power spring solves that in a hurry. Beretta mags are good to go, I snagged a bunch of their 15 rounders when Beretta USA ran 35-40% off sales around Christmas for $15/each. The Mecgar 18's are great, too, but they're not quite as cheap.
I got an LTT Centurion not long ago for a nice price, and it's finish is good, which I was glad to see since I didn't get to see the pistol before I picked it up. It seems that Beretta has gone away from the military markings on the slides from the MD made pistols, the TN made guns have a whole different stamping to them. That would take away a bit of the allure to an "M9" vs a standard 92, IMO.
SeriousStudent
02-18-20, 18:51
I had to go open the pistol safe and count.
Three Vertecs, three 92FS models, a 96D converted from 40 to 9mm, three PX4 Compacts, a PX4 full-size, a PX4 full-size DAO, a PX4 Sub-Compact, and a Beretta 21A and Beretta 70 in 22.
If my fingers and toes are correct, that's 15. All run fine when lubed and cared for. Like spence, I stock up on mags, mag springs and locking blocks when they go on sale. Beretta USA just had a 25% off sale for President's Day. I run chrome silicon springs for the recoil, trigger return, firing pin and hammer springs. They get replaced every 20K per gun, which has not happened yet. Yes - I do keep round counts.
Ernest Langdon is The Man for tuning a Beretta. I've had five guns wrenched on by him, and he and his team do an excellent job. The Trigger Job in a Bag that spence mentioned is also an excellent value. It gets you to about 80 percent of what Ernest can do with the gun in his shop.
The G decocker lever set can be a bit challenging to install the first time, but you will get the hang of it. Most of my guns have been converted from the "F" or manual safety model to the decocker. I do keep a couple DA/SA guns just for trainers for other shooters. I also have a pair of DAO pistols just to practice that DA first shot, and for dry practice.
I'm going to grab a 92X Compact no-rail decocker when they finally ship. I'll send it off to Mr Langdon, and rejoice at it's smoothness when it returns home. If it's reliable after a couple of thousand rounds, it will be my new EDC.
They finally made one that had enough features: Vertec, G, checkering front and back AND replaceable sights - the 92X - so I picked it up. Shot it recently, but the jury is still out.
SeriousStudent
02-18-20, 21:49
They finally made one that had enough features: Vertec, G, checkering front and back AND replaceable sights - the 92X - so I picked it up. Shot it recently, but the jury is still out.
I'd be very interested in your feedback after you've run it for a while.
If my fingers and toes are correct, that's 15. All run fine when lubed and cared for. Like spence, I stock up on mags, mag springs and locking blocks when they go on sale. Beretta USA just had a 25% off sale for President's Day. I run chrome silicon springs for the recoil, trigger return, firing pin and hammer springs. They get replaced every 20K per gun, which has not happened yet. Yes - I do keep round counts.
Ernest Langdon is The Man for tuning a Beretta. I've had five guns wrenched on by him, and he and his team do an excellent job. The Trigger Job in a Bag that spence mentioned is also an excellent value. It gets you to about 80 percent of what Ernest can do with the gun in his shop.
The G decocker lever set can be a bit challenging to install the first time, but you will get the hang of it.
Another thing I've noticed is just adding a steel trigger vs the polymer one a lot of 92's come with these days really improves the feel of the gun. I also concur that chrome silicone springs are the way to go, even if no other modification is made.
Ernest is absolutely the man. I've gone the TJIB route simply because it's very cost effective, and the parts come to me. I am not entirely sold on the NP3 parts to it, yet. I haven't seen anyone who's gone that route that said it was not worth the extra bones for it, though.
Mr Guns n Gear has a G kit install video. It is absolute gold in installation of a G kit. The first one took maybe half an hour to put in. Put a couple other in since then, and it took much less effort.
ramairthree
02-19-20, 23:47
This is about 1/2 to 2/3 of my Beretta pistols.
With the exception of the 9000 series, all run great.
92/M9 series specific, and this includes high volume unit training over years-
The only cracked frames I ever saw were damage from a broken locking block.
And this handful of times was only with first gen locking blocks. On guns I think never had new recoil springs despite being five or ten times past the round count they should have.
https://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu220/ramairfour/IMG_0253_zpswz65ld0v.jpg (https://s649.photobucket.com/user/ramairfour/media/IMG_0253_zpswz65ld0v.jpg.html)
Remember the 90Two? Kind of the unwanted stepchild of the 92 family. Although I think the recoil buffer found it's way into the 92A1.
Remember the 90Two? Kind of the unwanted stepchild of the 92 family. Although I think the recoil buffer found it's way into the 92A1.
It did, along with 17rnd mags. I think the sights, also; not certain. The 96a1 got some 90two features, also.
ramairthree
02-20-20, 10:18
The 90-two was a perfect example of Beretta’s inability to truly understand the world and US handgun market.
The M9 did not really need an improved recoil system. While 40 cal may have, the market was already experience waning interest in this caliber. And it screwed up legacy upper and lower compatibility. What the market really wanted was some slimming of the M9 grip, better checkering, a light rail, and some magwell flaring. As seen with the SD or Vertec. Gun game SSP and Production type guys wanted a steel instead of aluminum frame. Service gun guys may have been ammenable to a polymer frame, but were fine with aluminum.
They put a ton of time and effort into futuriZing and styling the looks of the gun. Equipped it with slick grips held in place by a little nub of plastic, and gave it a completely stupid and confusing name.
It was, much like their efforts with the Cougar, 9000, and PX series. Oh, and APX series now, a failure.
To recoup losses in development, they made the 96A1 and incorporated the recoil system. At a time when no department had interest in new DA SA guns and everyone was on the verge of replacing 40. So they made the 92A1.
It’s like they New Coke or Zune themselves over and over.
What the market really wanted was some slimming of the M9 grip, better checkering, a light rail, and some magwell flaring.
Don’t forget that we wanted a dovetailed front sight, also. Langdon finally got them to make the right gun. Of course, if remove-able sights are not desired, a M9a1 with a few Langdon goodies gets you there.
ramairthree
02-20-20, 14:05
Absolutely. A dove tail front sight should have been on my list.
I had to go open the pistol safe and count.
Three Vertecs, three 92FS models, a 96D converted from 40 to 9mm, three PX4 Compacts, a PX4 full-size, a PX4 full-size DAO, a PX4 Sub-Compact, and a Beretta 21A and Beretta 70 in 22.
.
Not one 80-series! Big hole in your collection!
Get an FS 80-series. Frame-mounted decocker / safety. They are very firm. I've never engaged the safety accidentally. If I did I wouldn't carry it. 26 - 28 oz loaded.
Allegheny Arms makes G10 slim grip panels and threaded barrels in .32 and .380.
Swap the barrel (drop-in) and mag in a 81 or 84 ( double stack) and you're shooting the other caliber. 82 and 85 (single stack) is just a barrel swap. Same recoil springs, extractors, and ejectors.
Of course I'm sure you know about the .22 87's and collectable 86.
SeriousStudent
02-21-20, 20:08
I had an 84 for a while overseas. 'Twas a handy little beast, and concealed very well. I have thought about snagging one just for nostalgia's sake. But the .380 Gold Dots or HST's are not nearly as fun as their larger brethren in 9mm, so I lean heavily towards the more-efficient gun.
I do agree with the comments about an out of box PX4. Frankly, I am not really a fan until they have either a bunch of LTT parts, or have gone to Arizona for the full spa treatment. One thing I do like about them, is you can disassemble the safety and remove one ball bearing, and turn them into a G decocker model. Like all Beretta's, you need to use two mules and an ape to remove the sights.
I really do like a polymer hammer-fired DA/SA gun for AIWB. A PX4 Compact that has been tuned fits that niche well.
SeriousStudent
02-21-20, 20:12
This is about 1/2 to 2/3 of my Beretta pistols.
With the exception of the 9000 series, all run great.
92/M9 series specific, and this includes high volume unit training over years-
The only cracked frames I ever saw were damage from a broken locking block.
And this handful of times was only with first gen locking blocks. On guns I think never had new recoil springs despite being five or ten times past the round count they should have.
https://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu220/ramairfour/IMG_0253_zpswz65ld0v.jpg (https://s649.photobucket.com/user/ramairfour/media/IMG_0253_zpswz65ld0v.jpg.html)
Nice! :)
It's funny, I never really sought a "Beretta collection". I just ended up with a Vertec two years ago when a buddy wanted to sell it cheap, and it happened to have a set of LTT thin grips. That started me down the rabbit hole. It eventually replaced the Gen2 G19 I had carried for 20 years.
I'll still keep all the Glocks, 'cause I don't sell shit anymore.
ramairthree
02-22-20, 23:56
I only had one. A 92FS I bought in 1991.
After an injury, surgery, reinjury,
More casts,
I took an interest in a heavy minor 9mm again.
My son wanted to start competing and getting training.
I grabbed a used INOX 92FS so we had matching kit.
Then nine years of trying nicer models, never letting a cheap used one pass,
And a lot more disposable income with a civy job after retiring from the military,
And I ended up with a ton of Berettas.
The PX4s were just to try out. Same with the 9000s.
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