Beretta 92FS

The Beretta 92FS is the civilian version of the US military M9, the service pistol that replaced the 1911 and served in every conflict from 1985 to 2017. Open slide design, DA/SA trigger, ambidextrous frame-mounted safety/decocker, and a 15-round capacity. The 92FS sold is not a sleek modern striker-fired pistol, but it has four decades of refinement, a military service record no striker platform can match, and the largest 9mm pistol aftermarket outside the Glock world.

The DA/SA trigger is the defining feature and the most common reason new owners send it back for an action tune. Double-action pull is 10-12 lb stock, single-action runs 5-6 lb with noticeable overtravel. A $139 LTT Trigger Job in a Bag cuts DA weight 20-30% and shortens reset to match any striker pistol. Factory sights are three-dot painted and should be replaced with Meprolight Tru-Dot tritium for any defensive use.

The grip is where the 92 gets polarizing. The double-stack frame measures 1.5 inches wide at the grip and feels slab-sided to most shooters. Factory plastic panels do nothing to help. LOK Bogies G10 or VZ Ultra-Thin LTT panels transform how the pistol fits the hand and are the first upgrade any 92 owner should make. The 33.3-ounce alloy frame absorbs recoil better than polymer 9mm pistols. Proven, serviceable, and upgradeable.