OMG Metal Gear

The Beretta 92 has seen a lot of variants over the years, over fifty different configurations. While I'm not going to list them, I will talk about their differences.

The variants are all broken down by their operation (F/G/D), operation caliber (92/96/98), and combination of optional items.

The model names all start with two digits that identify the caliber of the variant. 92, like the Beretta 92, means the weapon is chambered for 9x19mm Parabellum rounds. 96 signifies the .40 S&W rounds, which were introduced in 1990. And 98 models are chambered for 9x21mm IMI. This option is available for markets where it's illegal to own a firearm chambered for a military cartridge, which is exactly what 9x19mm is.

F models feature a reshaped grip, plastic grip panels, and a more durable finish. The current version of the 92 F variant has a double-action first trigger pull, which is followed by a single-action trigger pull for all subsequent rounds.

I'm going to go on a separate tangent for a second to explain what that means. A double-action trigger performs two actions: it cocks the hammer and then releases it. A single-action trigger simply releases the hammer. The Beretta F models feature a double-action trigger, which means the first shot can be fired without manually cocking the hammer. After firing that first shot, the firing mechanism automatically cocks the hammer again, so that the next trigger pull only needs to bring the hammer down, which is how a single-action trigger works.

Next week I'll go over more of the models.

Weapon Wednesdays: Metal Gear - Beretta 92 - Part One
Weapon Wednesdays: Metal Gear - Beretta 92 - Part Two
Weapon Wednesdays: Metal Gear - Beretta 92 - Part Three
Weapon Wednesdays: Metal Gear - Beretta 92 - Part Four