Combat handgun. What do you want?

[Magoo541]

The Brigadier was the single stack.
They could do like T/C did when it beefed up the original Contender design and add big lumps of steel to the weak area's..

As opposed to a proper redesign?

[bafsu92]

The Brigadier was the single stack.
They could do like T/C did when it beefed up the original Contender design and add big lumps of steel to the weak area's..

Not exactly, the old original Brigadier from the 60's I believe was a single stack but they built a double stack 92 model with beefed up sides called the 92FS-Brigadier. They've got 1/2 round material built up on either side of the chamber. You can google it or search gunbroker, pretty easy to find.

[jnevis]

If you don't like the trigger on the M9 you probably won't like the trigger on a Sig either since they are both DA/SA with a fairly stiff DA pull. 
Having trained plenty of non-shooters to qualify with either M9s or M11s (P228) I can say that the DA pull, while it may hit a little low if you haven't practiced it a little, will keep said noobs from putting a round in their foot when they draw it.  It hits about 4-6 feet down the range BTW.

The frame and locking block cracks were effectively operator induced.  The bulk of the cracked frames being reported came from the SpecWar community who, after much arm twisting and dodging the question, admitted that they had been using basically +p+ ammo that the weapon wasn't designed for.  The locking blocks were caused by over zealous armorers grabbing a new one and installing it without properly checking the gaps between the lugs and frame.  If they are not nearly identical the block torques and shears off, requiring ANOTHER block.  That's why for a long time Beretta had a mandate that any barrel or locking block replacement required the entire pistol be send back to the factory for the work to be completed.

As an aside, if you're used to a DAO trigger like a Glock's you REALLY won't like the DAO trigger on a 92/96D or PX4D.  It's got the DA pull of the F models but has a very distinct detent when resetting the trigger where the SA set point is.  I found that out using the PX4D.  I went to pull the trigger again and nothing happened until you let it all the way out.  I haven't shot a 92D to see if it's the ssame but probably is.

The Elite models also had Brigadier slides.

[tombogan03884]

Not exactly, the old original Brigadier from the 60's I believe was a single stack but they built a double stack 92 model with beefed up sides called the 92FS-Brigadier. They've got 1/2 round material built up on either side of the chamber. You can google it or search gunbroker, pretty easy to find.

They added a chunk of metal, just like T/C   

As opposed to a proper redesign?

With assholes like JD Jones shooting African game rounds out them they had to do something to cover their ass.
So they did a complete redesign of the pistol, so it would handle anything up to, and including, .50 BMG, .
It's called the Encore.

[Big Frank]

They added metal to the Contender to make the G2 version of it too. It beefs up the top of the frame on both sides.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

They added metal to the Contender to make the G2 version of it too. It beefs up the top of the frame on both sides.

Yes, but that came several years after the Encore.
They were just switching to the G-2 when I got done in 04.
Personally I like the old slab side model better with the Cougar etched on the side.

[Big Frank]

+1 on the old model. I have one in stainless. I thought it was odd that T/C and Beretta's fixes were to just add more metal.

[tombogan03884]

+1 on the old model. I have one in stainless. I thought it was odd that T/C and Beretta's fixes were to just add more metal.

There really isn't much else you can do with out scrapping the whole design and starting over.
In the case of the Contender / G - 2 I don't think it actually serves any purpose other than making it look more like a smaller Encore.
With the Encore they actually scaled up the whole frame, making all the dimensions larger .

[les snyder]

Franken Glock....Gen4 rough texture frame... replacable rear grip panel, ambi mag release, lanyard ring compatable, extend beaver tail 1/4 inch..... with Gen 3 G34 (9mm)upper... one piece stainless guide rod...one piece ISMI spring... butt plug...dovetailed front sight....  tritium inserts milled steel sights... no extended mag base pads....147grain bullets for increased accuracy

[MikeO]

The frame and locking block cracks were effectively operator induced.  The bulk of the cracked frames being reported came from the SpecWar community who, after much arm twisting and dodging the question, admitted that they had been using basically +p+ ammo that the weapon wasn't designed for.  The locking blocks were caused by over zealous armorers grabbing a new one and installing it without properly checking the gaps between the lugs and frame.  If they are not nearly identical the block torques and shears off, requiring ANOTHER block.  That's why for a long time Beretta had a mandate that any barrel or locking block replacement required the entire pistol be send back to the factory for the work to be completed.

Not 'zactly...

Too many early M9s cracked frames, blocks , and slides at low round counts having fired nothing but approved mil-spec US M882 ammo (which generates pressures above the SAAMI +P limit BTW). In the late 80s 12 Berettas were tested to slide failure w good M882 ammo and all 12 broke w round counts from just under 5K to just over 30K. By the late 90s M9 slides tested to failure were averaging 75K w a range from 55K - 95K. Somebody fixed sumthin' that wasn't broke: the guns, the ammo, or the testing?

M9s at the local base rarely break anything under 22K, and the most likely thing to go then is the block. Replaced blocks do not last as long if they are not fitted, and most are not fitted they are just dropped in. The contract specified parts would not require fitting and they don't. You can drop them in, so they do; they just don't last as long if you do fit them. The M9s would do better if recoil springs were changed every 5K rounds, but there is no requirement for that, so they don't unless a pistol comes in for something else.. Even so, many training M9s at the local base have over 50K through them, much of it w the Win +P+ frangible ammo.

BTW, the only part w a specified service life in the original M9 contract was the slide, and it was for just 5K rounds. IIRC, the specs for the next service pistol have a min service life of 25K.

The military has conducted numerous market surveys and limted field trials over the last few years to see what is available, what the troops like, and how what they like fits w what the military wants. What's best for a highly trained operator w big hands is rarely best for troops w small hands who shoot once a year... why you see things in the specs like a manual safety and adjustable grips, etc.