Beretta M9A3 30,000k review
For me, the Beretta was what I like to call a "checkbox gun". A gun purchased for the sole reason of having one. A few too many viewings of the matrix, die hard, boondock saints, leon the professional, terminator 2, lethal weapon... I had to have one, but I didn't want a regular 92 or M9. After some soul searching, the M9A3 stood above all the other options. Rail, extra backstrap to change the vertec style grip to an M9A1 style, accessory rail, slide is cut to allow removal of the front sight, D-spring and improved sear.
It also had a threaded barrel, which I really don't care about
I got the black model, purely for aesthetic reasons.
While the Beretta was just initially a toy, at some point i decided i just really like DA/SA, and decided to sell my glocks. The Beretta then became my primary carry gun. With that, a few new parts got installed with an eye towards increasing the M9A3's rust resistance. The barrel was swapped with a shorter stainless-steel one, grip screws were replaced with stainless-steel slot heads, the decocker assembly, mag release, trigger, guide rod, and trigger bar were replaced with NP3 coated versions from langdon tactical, and the hammer axis pin was swapped out with a stainless-steel version. The factory night sights were also swapped with a set of Ameriglo spartans.
The trigger is quite nice, it was nice before the LTT NP3 upgrades, but they helped drop the weight and make ot a bit smoother. Reset is also nicer.
DA pull is a smooth 8lbs, SA is a hair over 3. reset into SA is very short. Audible, and tactile, though not as much as a glock. On SA, when not pulling from the reset, you will have a bit of takeup.
Reliability, very good. In 30,000 rounds, the only issues have been user induced, caused by me trying to learn the secrets behind the vertec grip. The secret is to use the backstrap. No parts breakages to report
There were also some issues trying to see if some ammo that had gone underwater during Harvey was any good. 2 glocks, a sig 320 and a USP couldn't get that junk to go off either.
Accuracy. Great. Back when I wasn't out of practice, i could put 50 rounds into a group about this size. 7 yards. Thats 50 rounds in 3". Not bad for a service pistol. For me anyways.
Popping clays at 15 yards is not even a challenge, nor are mice at 5 yards
None of these are exactly stunning feats, but I am still able to stay up on my skill easier with this gun than i am with my glocks, which is good these days.
The finish has worn a good bit, all from holstering/unholstering. I blame most of it on the SAFARILAND holster i use, a 3280. The pistol rattles around a lot. Unfortunately its the only real option for light bearing and retention. It sucks and I hate it. But it does work.
Before I started writing this, I did a deep clean, and was amazed to see all the crud under the extractor. The gun has had zero FTEx, but man.. I wish I had a picture. Had I known, I would have made it a point to clean it every 5-10k rounds
I am extremely happy with this pistol, its done everything I've asked. Now, however I think the 92X series (not the steel competition model) is a better value of you plan on changing parts.
For me, the Beretta was what I like to call a "checkbox gun". A gun purchased for the sole reason of having one. A few too many viewings of the matrix, die hard, boondock saints, leon the professional, terminator 2, lethal weapon... I had to have one, but I didn't want a regular 92 or M9. After some soul searching, the M9A3 stood above all the other options. Rail, extra backstrap to change the vertec style grip to an M9A1 style, accessory rail, slide is cut to allow removal of the front sight, D-spring and improved sear.
It also had a threaded barrel, which I really don't care about
I got the black model, purely for aesthetic reasons.
While the Beretta was just initially a toy, at some point i decided i just really like DA/SA, and decided to sell my glocks. The Beretta then became my primary carry gun. With that, a few new parts got installed with an eye towards increasing the M9A3's rust resistance. The barrel was swapped with a shorter stainless-steel one, grip screws were replaced with stainless-steel slot heads, the decocker assembly, mag release, trigger, guide rod, and trigger bar were replaced with NP3 coated versions from langdon tactical, and the hammer axis pin was swapped out with a stainless-steel version. The factory night sights were also swapped with a set of Ameriglo spartans.
The trigger is quite nice, it was nice before the LTT NP3 upgrades, but they helped drop the weight and make ot a bit smoother. Reset is also nicer.
DA pull is a smooth 8lbs, SA is a hair over 3. reset into SA is very short. Audible, and tactile, though not as much as a glock. On SA, when not pulling from the reset, you will have a bit of takeup.
Reliability, very good. In 30,000 rounds, the only issues have been user induced, caused by me trying to learn the secrets behind the vertec grip. The secret is to use the backstrap. No parts breakages to report
There were also some issues trying to see if some ammo that had gone underwater during Harvey was any good. 2 glocks, a sig 320 and a USP couldn't get that junk to go off either.
Accuracy. Great. Back when I wasn't out of practice, i could put 50 rounds into a group about this size. 7 yards. Thats 50 rounds in 3". Not bad for a service pistol. For me anyways.
Popping clays at 15 yards is not even a challenge, nor are mice at 5 yards
None of these are exactly stunning feats, but I am still able to stay up on my skill easier with this gun than i am with my glocks, which is good these days.
The finish has worn a good bit, all from holstering/unholstering. I blame most of it on the SAFARILAND holster i use, a 3280. The pistol rattles around a lot. Unfortunately its the only real option for light bearing and retention. It sucks and I hate it. But it does work.
Before I started writing this, I did a deep clean, and was amazed to see all the crud under the extractor. The gun has had zero FTEx, but man.. I wish I had a picture. Had I known, I would have made it a point to clean it every 5-10k rounds
I am extremely happy with this pistol, its done everything I've asked. Now, however I think the 92X series (not the steel competition model) is a better value of you plan on changing parts.
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