Review of Beretta M92FS Vertec

Today I will be reviewing the Beretta M92FS Vertec this is the same gun as the M92F but with the addition of an accessory rail machined into the frame and other features ill explain below. This is also the gun chosen for our troops as their primary sidearm. I will also talk about the TLR1 weapon light that I use on this gun. And discuss a flaw in the M92F design and fixes for that flaw.

The Beretta M92F is a DA/SA w/Decocker 9mm blowback design with a falling lock that keeps the barrel inline. It’s an all steel gun and quite hefty at 34oz but does balance well in the hand. It’s distinguished by the exposed top of the barrel where the slide is machined away telling you this is a Beretta. This feature also aids in ejection as there is less of a chance an empty case will get kicked back in the action.
“FS”
This design change address a few concerns and improved the gun overall. These included a more vertical grip with thinner grip panels, a shorter reach trigger, a beveled mag well to aid in mag changes, an integral accessory rail and removable front sight. Also they enlarged the hammer pin that will prevent the slide from flying off to the rear incase the slide cracked. This pin sits in a groove on the slide. Ive never seen this kind of failure before but apparently the military has thus the change.
“On the Range”
You will get two 16 round mags with the gun if you live in one of the free states otherwise you get two neutered 10 round mags. This gun shoots well and accurate. Perceived recoil is much less than my other polymer framed guns again due to the weight. I’ve fed lots of ammo through this gun and have never had a FF or FE. The DA is a nice feature for a combat weapon as it gives you a second strike option if a round fails to fire. It is a great gun on the range that wont beat you up with recoil but what 9mm will…
“TRL1 weapon Light”
I included this in the review because I have this mounted on this gun when it serves night stand duty which is pretty much all the time. The TLR1 is a nice fit for this gun and the switch is easily within reach for either on or momentary on. This light is very bright and uses CR123 batteries. It comes with all the parts needed to mount on various guns to get it as far back as you can, I believe the HK USP is not one of them as you will need an adapter for that. All in all if you need a rather inexpensive but quality weapon light this would fit the bill.
“The Bad”
I mentioned that the M92 series has a flaw and here’s what it is. To field strip the gun you grab the top of the slide push a button on one side and slide a lever down on the other. Now that sounds like no big deal but this can be done while loaded with the hammer cocked or uncocked and the slide in the firing position. With a little practice you can grab the gun from the front top and remove the slide therefore essentially disarming the user and rather quickly too. Im surprised this hasn’t been addressed in newer versions. There is a fix out there for this but I have not been able to find the site and I will post it here when I do.
“Final Thoughts”
If you’re looking for a rugged reliable weapon that can take a beating then this would be the gun for you. I would be hesitant to carry this as a service weapon but if it works for you it certainly will hold up to that environment. Again it’s a bit heavy but it was designed that way so as a carry gun you would know it’s there and I would recommend against that especially with all the other options available to you today.

Thanks for reading
Kzguns

Coming up this weekend a review of the beretta m92fs

Stay tuned this weekend for my review of our military's not so preferred sidearm. I'll also discuss a huge flaw in its design and the remedies for that flaw. I'll also discuss the TLR1 weapon light.
Kzguns

Review of the Springfield Armory XDm 5.25 competition

Today I will be reviewing the Springfield Armory XDm 5.25 competition. I've always been a big fan of SA guns. I own several 1911's and the original XDM 9mm (sa-9). So when the opportunity to purchase an XDm 5.25 in 9mm came along, I didn't hesitate. At $740.00, it's not a cheap gun but read on and see if you think its worth the price. It is also available in .40 and .45ACP.

FIRST IMPRESSION
When I picked it up from the dealer the first thing I noticed was "wow what a nice case!" Then I opened it and "wow" again! The XDm line is very swag heavy; included with the firearm is an XDm gear holster, two mag holster, mag loader, three different size grip panels, and not two but three hicap mags. And by hicap I'm talkin 19 rounds. That's 20 with one in the pipe!! The gun itself is very well balanced and not as heavy as it looks. SA milled out the top of the slide to maintain the same weight as the full size XDm and upon further inspection parts of the underside of the slide are milled out as well. The barrel is match grade and stamped match right on it. In comparison to my other XD the button rifling appears much deeper and much smoother. The rear sight is fully adjustable and the truglo front sight is very easy to see. Clearly, factory shooter Rob Leatham covered all bases when he helped design this gun. Also included are extra inserts for the front sight in red and green. Read on to see why that's a big deal.

AT THE RANGE
So I took a ride up the the local indoor range and let me tell you not only are gun sales up but so is gun use! It was packed and if the weather didn't suck I would have gone to my club. After a 15 minute wait a lane opened up for me. I just grabbed some of my reloaded 9mm 115g FMJ and some sight in targets, you know the RED ones with the the four small bulls and a big one in the middle. Well the red truglo in the front sight made it very difficult to see, but I proceeded anyhow. So I loaded up a mag with 19rnds. You will need the loader as the mag fills up. I advanced the target out to 7 yards and fired 10 rounds at the center target. I was surprised how accurate it was for a first firing. I continued shooting another 100 or so rounds and got more comfortable even though I was struggling to see the front sight. It is very smooth but the slide is much faster than my other XD but recoil feels much more tame. I think as it breaks in more the groups will tighten up and I will install the green truglo before going out again. The trigger is typical to an XD. Its smooth but somewhat heavy. But who doesn't upgrade their trigger anyhow? I know i will very soon. All in all, Rob Leatham designed a superb gun that will not only let you compete right out of the box, but also make you a much better shooter than you really are.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
I will preface this with "I think it's a great gun well worth the money." That being said, I wish they had gone with polygonal rifling like the HK and Glock pistols. Not because they are more accurate. I've never noticed that, but they are much easier to clean. Like I noted earlier, the trigger could be better but us gun guys love to mod our weapons. Maybe they had that in mind. And a 3lb trigger is not for the first time shooter anyway. Below you can look at the pics. I took some with my XD 9mm for comparison purposes.

THANKS FOR READING!!!!
KZ