The old Timex锟?commercials featured a wristwatch being subjected to all kinds of abuse with the resultant watch still running and the announcer intoning that it "Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin.'" The Beretta 92/M9 is the pistol version of that watch.
In the early 1980s, the U.S. military began testing pistols for a 9mm replacement to the aging 1911 .45 autos in its inventory. The Beretta Model 92 was selected as the M9. This has served our nation's forces well. Early reports of metallurgy problems in the slides have been long been corrected. And Beretta manufactured magazines have proved to be far superior to other magazines. The M92/M9 pistol operates well in hostile conditions the world over, notably Afghanistan and Iraq.
Twenty years after its introduction to the military, Beretta USA has introduced the 90 Two with improvements and modifications. These include but are not limited to: new improved sights, trigger, grips, rounded frame and slide, integral frame rail system for light attachment, increased magazine capacity and more. With the new Beretta 90 Two in hand, we set out to wring out this new pistol.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is a term that means the application of scientific information concerning humans in the development of products and systems. Essentially it is applying human factors in design. In that, how do we rate the application of human factors by Beretta in the development of this pistol?
The Beretta 90 Two fits the hand well. Although its size is clearly a handful, the pistol fits in the hand comfortably. The Model 92 was steel rings not designed as a compact pistol and was never intended to be one. The new removable single-piece grip design is well designed with the option of a supplied slimmer grip to be installed for officers / soldiers with smaller hands.
My only ergonomic concern with this pistol is the small slide mounted decock lever. The Beretta 90 Two can be carried hammer down de-cock lever disengaged or with the lever down (engaged) for a more secure carry. This lever is a little on the small side for my tastes. This holds true when the lever is used to safely drop the hammer after the pistol has been fired.
Although I would prefer a larger lever, I did find that with practice, I was operating the de-cock lever much more smoothly. An officer of my acquaintance who carries a Model 92 on a daily basis uses the support hand thumb to run the lever and is as proficient as any other officer with his pistol.
The sights have been improved. The new pistol designed has increased the sight radius of the pistol by about Viinch. This change was immediately noticed by our veteran Beretta carrier. Unlike some of the "blockier" sights on current LE pistols, the Beretta lends itself well to precision work.
The new pistol has an integral frame rail for mounting accessories. Law enforcement and our nation's military are coming to understand the value of weapon-mounted lights. The new frame mounted rail is supplied with a plastic cover to protect it and to smooth out draws from the holster should a light not be attached. With the plastic cover removed a new generation light such as Insight Technologies SSL-I can be easily and securing affixed for normal patrol duties.
Fit and Finish
As evidence in its world-class shotguns, Beretta has gun-making down to a science. The company aught to Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A. (Pietro Beretta arms manufacturing company is the world's oldest arms maker. It has been doing this since 1526. That is almost 500 years.)
The fit and finish of this pistol is simply beautiful! Newly designed slide serrations, what Beretta calls "transversal," improve slide manipulations. I actually found the pistol more suitable for a "sling shot" style slide manipulation than a standard "over me top" type grip. This, for me, was based on the location of the de-cock lever and me open top design of me pistol. The new snagproof design assures a smooth draw and re-holstering in the field.
Although aesthetics don't improve performance, anyone who carries this pistol can be proud of its inherent good looks. Some fairly ugly pistols are around, and the Beretta is certainly not one of them.
Shooting the 90 Two
I received this pistol in time to attend the Ohio Peace Officer's Training Academy's excellent Combat Marksmanship class put on by certified instructor Chris Cerino, a former instructor for the Federal Air Marshals. Cerino, Parma Heights, OH Police officer Steve Lindh and I put the pistol through its paces. Both Cerino and I had limited contact with the pistol before this but appreciated the form, fit, function and accuracy of the pistol.
Steve Lindh, who carries a Beretta 92 daily as a patrol officer, appreciated the new design improvement of the pistol including the trigger, sights and the overall feel of the 90 Two. Officer Lindh's performance against other shooters armed with other pistol makes and models was impressive. LED Flexible Strip Ribbon Series Ribbon 5050 Although this is a testament to the shooter, pistol design and function certainly aid in shooter performance.