The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: Texas_Bryan on April 20, 2009, 01:45:49 PM
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Just got back from the range and I took out the little brothers new Taurus PT92. Its his first pistol and we scored a pretty good deal on it, in in box from a big Texas retailer for $400. It looks like a strait Beretta clone, other than the frame mounted safety, as opposed to the slide mounted one. In fact, after some research, I found that they're made in an old Beretta factory in Brazil. Its stainless and aluminum with black plastic grips, 17 round mag, opposed to 92FS 15 round. And it also weighs ten thousand pounds, more than my Sig P220. I was a little put off by the tactical rail, the smooth trigger, and the open slide but the little bro liked it and it was a good price. The grips are absolutely horrible, as soon as I started sweating things got worse, he will be investing in some Hogues soon, and I'm researching the trigger problem.
At the range we put 200 rounds through it, no failures at all, and the 60 I put through at 15 yards were all X and 9 with three in the 8, not bad for me. The sights a dot contrast, white dots on the rear and red on the front. Overall I found it to be a good weapon, more time well time how good, and the small issues I have can be worked around, except for the weight. I'd did find that loading the double stack mags was much more difficult than a single stack, no biggy. But more importantly the little brother likes it and finds it more easy to manage than a .45, he's not really a gun person, but I'm working on that. I've never owned a Taurus or 92FS but I'm impressed with the gun's quality, and I didn't know that they made guns fatter than my P220 that has Hogue grips on it.
If anyone has any 92FS experience, all you army guys, and can let me know about any future problems or issues I should expect and any spare parts I should keep on hand let me know.
P.S. I found out why you wear glasses at the range, while shooting a Marlin 60 I figure, I need to practice my off hand. As soon as the bolt opened and the round flew by my face it threw out a bunch of hot residue every where. Probably wouldn't have blinded my, but I've got no intention of pushing my luck with my eyesight on the line.
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Amen on the eye wear. I never used to mess with it. This was stupid as a lefty shooting semi-auto .22s as a kid but there it was. When I hit ROTC and we went to the range, they didn't have brass deflectors for the old NG M-16 A1s or A1As (I forget which) and and also didn't give out sissy stuff like glasses. About round 14 I forgot to close my right eye and got enough powder residue in my eye that I got to spend the rest of the afternoon flushing it out with saline. Lesson learned.
FQ!3
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looks cool ta for the report
can someone correct me ( this may be different with what we have available here in Aust.)
the PT92 is normally All black and has fixed rear sights where the PT99 is nickel ( like pictured) and has adjustable rear sights
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I owned an early eighties model 92FS, ran thousands of rounds through it with no problems at all. There easy to field strip and clean and very accurate, IMO.... There are plenty of resources out there to study up on, it's been around for nearly forty years in one form or another.
The M9 and the 92FS are identical in design and the M9A1 added a picatiny rail. I think I read somewhere that Beretta began using some polymer parts like the guide rod, safety lever, trigger and mainspring cap to save a few ounces of weight. I can't attest to their sturdyness as mine was all original and about 40 ounces empty. Add the weight of 16 rounds of 9mm and it's over three pounds loaded.
People will bash the Beretta but the Pentagon just ordered 450,000 more of them so their gonna be around for a while. I know they disappointed a lot of other gun makers when they decided to stay with a 9mm but that's life in government contracting!
Good luck, be safe.
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looks cool ta for the report
can someone correct me ( this may be different with what we have available here in Aust.)
the PT92 is normally All black and has fixed rear sights where the PT99 is nickel ( like pictured) and has adjustable rear sights
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=138&category=Pistol
And if one wan interested in a 92 in a larger caliber, Taurus produces on in .40 cal.
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I have the Taurus 92 AFS Stainless like the one pictured. Shoots like a dream and very accurate. Had a hard time finding a holster due to the rail. Ended up with a Fobus holster for it. Great gun and never had a issue with it. Fired all 9 mm rounds I have fed into it, including Hornady TAP.
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In answer to your question about the Taurus 92 ,I can think of only one part in the gun that may ever need replacing, the locking block, that is ,if you were a competition shooter. But in my own 92 this part under the barrel called the locking block is still like brand new after untold numbers of rounds after many years of shooting. I don't think you or I will ever shoot enough rounds to wear out this part. Every time I clean it I check all the visible parts and lube the parts that need it.
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In answer to your question about the Taurus 92 ,I can think of only one part in the gun that may ever need replacing, the locking block, that is ,if you were a competition shooter. But in my own 92 this part under the barrel called the locking block is still like brand new after untold numbers of rounds after many years of shooting. I don't think you or I will ever shoot enough rounds to wear out this part. Every time I clean it I check all the visible parts and lube the parts that need it.
After cleaning from the range, I noticed that that part seem to endure the most noticeable wear, nothing like breaking in a new gun.
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Nice piece but do you own a 92fs and if so how do they compare? :)
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Nice piece but do you own a 92fs and if so how do they compare? :)
No I don't own a Beretta, but if I get a chance to take one to the range, friends got one, then I'll post a comparison.
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looking foward to 411. :)
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I've always liked the PT92, due to the frame mounted decoker/safety. I think the TAC-Rail is bogus, but that seems to be the "in" thing with firearms now, so I just have to deal. ::)
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I have the Taurus PT 92 like the one pictured. I like it a lot, except for the rail on the frame, but that is what I found for the right price. I also paid $400.00 plus transfer fee, 6 months ago. Got free shipping so about what you paid (including tax). Only have about 500 rounds through it, and the only problem came up when I tried shooting reloads with lead bullets. As you know, 9mm has a semi pointed bullet, even though they're called round nose. Well round nose lead is just that, round nose. Loading them to exacting specs, when they were attempted to feed, would cause the slide to not go into battery. Tried several rounds, no luck, same results. After inspecting the extracted cartridges, I observed marks on the bullet, like scrapes all around it. After research, I discovered that the bullets were contacting the rifling of the barrel. In order to use the lead bullets, I had to seat them so deep, the brass almost passed the ogee of the bullet. I shot the culprit bullets out of a Glock and a Hi Point with no problems. I didn't feel comfortable seating the bullets so deep so I only shoot jacketed bullets out of the gun, until I can find lead bullets similar in shape. Good luck with your purchase, and enjoy it.
Brian
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I have the Taurus PT 92 like the one pictured. I like it a lot, except for the rail on the frame, but that is what I found for the right price. I also paid $400.00 plus transfer fee, 6 months ago. Got free shipping so about what you paid (including tax). Only have about 500 rounds through it, and the only problem came up when I tried shooting reloads with lead bullets. As you know, 9mm has a semi pointed bullet, even though they're called round nose. Well round nose lead is just that, round nose. Loading them to exacting specs, when they were attempted to feed, would cause the slide to not go into battery. Tried several rounds, no luck, same results. After inspecting the extracted cartridges, I observed marks on the bullet, like scrapes all around it. After research, I discovered that the bullets were contacting the rifling of the barrel. In order to use the lead bullets, I had to seat them so deep, the brass almost passed the ogee of the bullet. I shot the culprit bullets out of a Glock and a Hi Point with no problems. I didn't feel comfortable seating the bullets so deep so I only shoot jacketed bullets out of the gun, until I can find lead bullets similar in shape. Good luck with your purchase, and enjoy it.
Brian
Right now I don't reload, so I've not come across that problem, but I've had bad luck with strait lead bullets in other pistols, so I try to steer clear. Have you tried any exotic ammo, self defense and what not? This is the first 9mm I've ever shot but I was surprised at how sharp the bullets are, it looks like it could be a standardization nightmare. I guess I can't shoot wadcutters out of this one. :'( And with that, does anyone have a recommendation towards a self defense round in 9mm, because I'd just soon buy a box of Winchester Rangers, but if there's any thing better... And I just had an insane thought, could the lead 9mm you were shooting, could they be from 9x18 Makarov, they're round like a .45...hmm? Could a person accidentally reload Makarov bullets into 9mm para brass?
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BJ, I can better you on price. I went into my local Gander Mountain about 3 months ago and bought a used PT92 (blued and wood grips) for $270. No box and one mag but it is a heck of a pistol. It almost shoots as good as my Hi-power.