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Old March 28, 2013, 08:13 AM   #1
7n6
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Beretta vs Taurus

I've always been a fan of the beretta M9, the looks durablitity and reliablility and mag capacity. And im reminded every morning by security forces that I dont have one and I really want one.

That being said at the last gun show I was looking at all the handguns and came across a Beretta m9 and a Beretta 92, I was a little offset by the price. Then I saw the Taurus model 92 for a little more reasonable price, but I havnt heard much about it so I decided to come here to ask.

My question, are you pretty much just buying the name Beretta? Or is taurus just that much less dependable. So if anyone has any information about either guns and why I should or shouldnt get either would be much appreciated.
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Old March 28, 2013, 08:47 AM   #2
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Well the Beretta comes with a slide mounted thumb safety which moves up to fire, and the Taurus comes with a frame mounted thumb safety which moves down to fire.

Anytime you shake hands, grab a fork, turn a door-knob, etc. the thumb moves in a downward direction, a natural movement, which makes the Taurus system better. It is also similar to the 1911 system.

The first 5,000 Beretta 92s made came with a frame mounted safety that moved down to fire, why they changed I do not know.

But since I carry a 1911 on occasion, and am used to the frame mounted down to fire safety system, I would have to go with the Taurus.
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Old March 28, 2013, 08:57 AM   #3
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Well actually there something else you might notice there are 2 different sources for the Beretta 92 I believe 1 is made in the US and 1 is made in Italy the 1 in Italy cost more than the 1 in the US.
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Old March 28, 2013, 09:14 AM   #4
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The Beretta is by far the better choice.The US Army thought so.
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Old March 28, 2013, 09:25 AM   #5
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The Taurus 92 is what built the U.S. market in the 80s and early 90s. Beretta had a manufacturing plant in Brazil. They closed it and sold the machinery and manufacturing rights to Taurus. I had one for many years. The only thing I didn't like were the thick grips because I have smallish hands. This is one model that even Taurus bashers don't bash. Is it as good as the Berretta? Maybe not quite as good but it is a solid and reliable gun that will serve almost everyone well.
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Old March 28, 2013, 09:45 AM   #6
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I don't know where you are seeing high price for Beretta 92's. You can buy them in my area, new in box for $550. These are Italian made guns also which seem to command a bit of a premium over the U.S. made Berettas.

I would stick with the Berettas over the Taurus. The 92FS is essentially the same as the M9 except for the roll marks, dust cover shape and slight difference in the grip shape. I actually prefer the 92FS over the M9, but again they are so similar just buy whichever you can get for less.

While I do not like the slide mounted safety on the Beretta, I have dealt with it by essentially using it as a decocker, and not engaging the safety as I see no need for it being a DA/SA pistol. I feel perfectly safe with it hammer down, safety OFF.
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Old March 28, 2013, 09:50 AM   #7
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i'm definitely a taurus basher. while this model is a great deal better than their other models, it still doesn't hold to the standard of beretta. the accuracy just isn't there. a taurus is all over the paper. a beretta pulls off a much tighter group. i owned a taurus pt917c for awhile. it's essentially a railed version of the pt92. they are very reliable to fire every time you pull the trigger, and the feeding is fine. only the accuracy suffers.
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Old March 28, 2013, 10:11 AM   #8
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The PT92 started as a licensed copy of the Beretta pistol for the Brazilian military. Like the US, Brazil stipulated that the pistols be made in-country. When the contract was filled, Beretta sold the plant to Taurus, literally 'lock, stock & barrel.
The slide-mounted hammer-drop safety was developed to meet US specs, for a decocking system that did not require trigger manipulation.
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Old March 28, 2013, 10:25 AM   #9
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Thanks for all the posts and info it is much appreciated. I like the point about the saftey and it seems like its made well, also I can go over to the BX and buy one for $500 right now and I can live with that price.

Quote:
I don't know where you are seeing high price for Beretta 92's. You can buy them in my area, new in box for $550.
If I saw one for this price I would buy one, but all the ones Ive seen are in the upper 700's

I would pay that high gladly if the difference was that substantial, but for right now I might have to go with the taurus until I see better prices.
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Old March 28, 2013, 10:29 AM   #10
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I've owned both, but when a crunch came, I let go of the Beretta, on account of the safety.
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Old March 28, 2013, 11:00 AM   #11
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One for Taurus PT92

I have owned both, and traded both away so I don't have an ax to grind or sell.

I found the PT92 every bit as good and as reliable as the Beretta and being a couple of hundreds of dollars cheaper it is a far better value.

Here's what Wikipedia says http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurus_PT92

In case you're wondering why I traded them away is because I found that getting to the extractor and the firing pin to clean it was very difficult. I'm a little OCD and I learned in the Army (pre-Beretta days) that a gun is not clean until you clean the firing pin and the extractor.
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Old March 28, 2013, 02:03 PM   #12
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The Berettas are nice firearms but i found good deals on my pt917 and pt92 for alot less cash.I just got the 92 but have had my 917 for awhile and it is a sweet shooter and eats anything i feed it.Thats why i picked up the 92 for $379 at Academy.
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Old March 28, 2013, 02:10 PM   #13
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in theory I like the taurus more, the frame mounted safety gets rid of my largest gripe with berettas but in reality...
you are comparing a gun made in a brazilian factory with known QC issues and very bad reputation for reliability and a gun made in Italy/USA with a lifetime warranty that goes along with a reputation for excellence.

the M9 is just a much better gun.
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Old March 28, 2013, 02:56 PM   #14
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Quote:
a gun made in a brazilian factory with known QC issues and very bad reputation for reliability
I very much disagree with the statement about the PT92/99 having known QC issues or a questionable reputation for reliability. I'm speaking about this particular model and not other Taurus models. Why do you say this?
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Old March 28, 2013, 03:41 PM   #15
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I have not owned the Taurus, but the few that I have run across in the hands of friends and at the range have appeared to be reliable but not as good in fit and finish as the Beretta.

The slide-mounted safety of the Beretta sure seems to bother some people, but I found it easy to adapt to. I was not a real big 1911 guy, so maybe that is the difference.
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Old March 28, 2013, 04:02 PM   #16
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I have a Beretta 92fs that is a great shooter. The safety is of no concern to me. I have semi auto handguns with safetys that go up, down, or none at all. Even a revolver with a safety that swings out to fire. I adapt!
While Taurus gets a lot of criticism of it's QC, I've heard that the 92 is one of their more reliable models. Can't say on a personal basis because I haven't had any problems with other Taurus models that I own
I'd say if the safety is an issue with you, go for the Taurus.
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Old March 28, 2013, 04:55 PM   #17
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The reason the safety on the Beretta pushes down for safe is that it is also a de-cocker. It requires slightly more pressure. Personally, I love it. I wish all my DA/SA pistols with external hammer were that way.
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Old March 28, 2013, 04:58 PM   #18
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And the nonsense about the Taurus being "all over the paper" is blatantly FALSE.
I've shot that Taurus, I've also shot the Beretta 92 and M9....there's a not a nickles worth of diff in accuracy between any of them.
I've also got a PT709. 100% reliable and I will put this gun against a Shield,
or an LC9, any day of the week. Same with my TCP...best little gun a guy could ask for.
Now I will concede that part of the cost diff from a Taurus to something else is sometimes fit and finish. They are not always chock full of refinement and attention to detail, but for the price I don't complain about that.
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Old March 28, 2013, 06:04 PM   #19
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Quote:
I don't know where you are seeing high price for Beretta 92's. You can buy them in my area, new in box for $550. These are Italian made guns also which seem to command a bit of a premium over the U.S. made Berettas.
I was going by Beretta's web site

http://www.berettausa.com/shop-by-de...uns/full-size/
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Old March 28, 2013, 06:12 PM   #20
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Quote:
And the nonsense about the Taurus being "all over the paper" is blatantly FALSE.
He was probably speaking of one particular pistol. Of course, if so, then his statement has limited value for the OP.

IME, the Beretta is finished a bit better, but I don't believe there's much, if any, difference in reliabiluity.
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Old March 28, 2013, 09:59 PM   #21
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Quote:
I was going by Beretta's web site
MSRP is usually higher than actual retail price.

MSRP on just about every ruger out there is $100-350 higher than average price.
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Old March 28, 2013, 10:37 PM   #22
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I have a 92fs that I love. My Uncle has a PT99 that he has had for probably 20 years. His only complaint is the adjustable sights come loose.

I'd say they are both a good buy, but I went with the Beretta and no regrets.
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Old March 28, 2013, 10:47 PM   #23
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Isn't the Taurus safety 3 position and the Berreta only 2?

Yes. Yes it is.
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Old March 28, 2013, 10:51 PM   #24
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I once nearly got to buy an early Beretta 92, with the frame safety on the left side only and mag release down on the left side of the grip, close to the butt.

Taurus introduced the Tri-Action decocking safety in the early '90s, I believe. Before that, the hammer had to be lowered with thumb or fingers after pressing the trigger. I've read complaints about the Tri-Action safety where shooters carrying Condition 1 have accidentally dropped the hammer to DA mode when wiping the safety off forcefully.
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Old March 29, 2013, 12:13 PM   #25
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I've got both a Taurus PT92 stainless and a Beretta 92A1. While the Beretta has better fit and finish, I love the stainless finish of the PT92 and the frame mounted safety/decocker. That one feature is what always keeps me loving my Taurus. I recently acquired a Ciener .22 conversion for the Taurus. It's making me seriously consider selling the Beretta. My Beretta is brand new and is very tight, but the Taurus still shoots as accurately as you can shoot it. Plus, you can probably buy the Taurus for approximately $100 less than a Beretta.
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