Beretta M9 Review: Old Italian Warhorse By: Travis Pike

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The Beretta M9 served the United States military for decades. While the SIG M17/18 might be replacing the old Italian warhorse, it’s still likely to serve for many years to come. Today we are taking the Italian stallion for a run to discuss what made the M9 such an awesome service sidearm. 

Introducing the M9 

In 1985 the United States military went shopping for a new handgun. The Italian firm Beretta threw their hat in the ring with the Beretta 92 series pistol. The 92 won two trials but required some updates to become the M9, with the commercial model being known as the 92FS. The pistol is a semi-automatic, short recoil-operated, DA/SA, 9mm pistol. 

The M9 featured a very interesting design. The open-top slide design had been a staple of Beretta’s pistol since the Beretta 1915, 70 years before the M9 won the military trials. This open slide design presents a massive ejection port to help enhance reliability. This fascinating slide design also reduced weight and helped cut recoil by reducing rearward weight as the slide reciprocates. 

The M9 also embodies the wonder 9 generations. This generation of firearms and 9mm pistols encompassed double stack magazines, DA/SA firing mechanisms, and all-metal frames. These would give way to the polymer frame fantastic, but the Wonder 9s ruled in their heyday. The M9 carried a 15-round magazine, but various capacities have been released over time. 

Beretta built the M9 specifically for the military, and it’s a fairly spartan pistol. It had a dark black Bruniton finish, simple plastic grips, and standard three-dot iron sights. It met the needs of the DoD and ended up serving the Armed Forces exceptionally well. 

I can speak to that service. As a Marine Machine Gunner, I carried an M240 and a Beretta M9 as my issued weapons. I toted the M9 around the world a time or two, and it was a constant companion in my many adventures. 

Beretta M9A1

Railed Model

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Beretta M9A3

Modern model with extensive changes

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Beretta M9A4

A3 Model with Optics Compatibility

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I’ve put a ton of rounds through the M9. I certainly shot it a fair bit while I served, and I even picked up one of my own after my time in the Marine Corps. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite pistols. Part of that love is pure nostalgia, it takes me right back to my service, but the other part is that, despite its age, it’s a damn fine pistol. I’ll be the first to admit that it often isn’t a cheap gun, and it is definitely dated. In a world where weapon-mounted lights and red dot optics rule the market, the M9 feels exactly like a classic 1985 workhorse rolled into a 9mm handgun.

My standard M9 lacks a rail, and I certainly can’t easily toss an optic on it, which is a big drawback for modern shooters. Even the capacity is a little low by current standards, though I managed to find aftermarket magazines that squeeze an extra two rounds into a flush-fitting baseplate. Compared to modern polymer firearms, I feel the M9 is showing its age, and because of that, the comparatively high price can make it a really tough sell when I look at more affordable, more modern options.

Part of what makes the weapon feel so old is its ergonomics. The M9 features what I’d call a massive grip; it’s wide and meaty. You won’t mistake this for a compact pistol. It’s huge and simply won’t fit a lot of hands well. On top of that, the double-action trigger presents a pretty long reach, which makes the initial pull a tricky one for me and anyone else with smaller hands.

It’s a heavy beast, too, weighing in at 33.3 ounces unloaded. Trust me, you won’t want to carry it inside the waistband (IWB) by any means. I also find that the slide-mounted safety and decocker take some serious practice to use efficiently; it’s just not as intuitive as the decocker on a P226 or the safety on an M1911.

One thing I absolutely love, though, is the slide lock and release. They’re incredibly easy to manipulate. Popping a magazine out takes no effort at all; the button is huge and easy to press. Unfortunately, that wide grip I mentioned sometimes makes it tough for me to comfortably engage that button without shifting my hand.

Slinging Lead 

IThe Beretta M9 is a genuinely satisfying pistol to shoot. While some critics point to the design’s unique ergonomics, factors like the substantial weight and thicker grip profile translate directly to low recoil and muzzle rise. A full sized gun in 9mm means low recoil, but it’s even lower in the M9. The M9 one of the most comfortable service pistols available. This minimal resistance allows shooters to maintain absolute control, ensuring that rapid, accurate fire is achievable with little difficulty.

Ringing steel and printing small groups isn’t a problem with this gun. The trigger system is my personal favorite, it’s a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) setup. The initial double-action pull is long and heavy, and takes a little practice to master, but the M9’s roll so effortlessly. The switch to single-action drops the double action weight and length. It offers a clean break, a short pull, and a quick, tactile reset. This high-quality single-action performance means excellent accuracy. I can place five shots in a two-inch circle at seven yards.

The M9 excels at medium-range proficiency. Executing fast, clean double-taps and precise headshots at 25 yards feels intuitive. This reliability is why the M9 is perfectly suited for common defensive shooting tasks, such as the widely practiced failure-to-stop drill, allowing for both speed and accuracy.

The standard sighting system on the 9mm pistol utilizes robust, fixed sights. Specifically, the front sight is integrated into the slide and is neither adjustable nor replaceable—a definitive feature of the M9 platform. Despite this fixed configuration, the standard 3-dot iron sights are fine, and they better be becasue you can’t change the front sight.

If there is one gun in which I can speak to its reliability, it’s the M9. My issued model was ancient, beat up, and still went bang every time I pulled the trigger. It went to Spain, Italy, Africa, Romania, and more, and it went on numerous training ops, and from ship to shore, and in every situation in which it was tested, it never failed. 

The M9 delivers a high level of reliability and doesn’t fall apart when things get rough. After more than 25 years of service, the weapon certainly proved itself. 

Beretta M9 Pros and Cons

Report Card
Shootability	The Beretta M9 handles like a dream. Recoil is very minimal, and the weapon doesn’t buck much and has zero snap to it.	A
Reliability	The Beretta M9 and 92 series are rock solid shooters. They are incredibly well made and can soak up thousands of rounds without complaint.	A+
Ergonomics	For my big hands, it’s not a problem, but it’s not for everyone. The gun’s thick and heavy, and some of the controls are awkwardly placed.	C
Accuracy	There is a reason the armed services can take someone who has never fired a gun and have them qual with an M9. It’s quite accurate in both double and single-action modes.	A
Value	The M9’s MSRP of $649 is a tough sell in a world of cheaper, more modern polymer frame pistols. The M9 these days is for collectors and nostalgic old Marines like me. The M9A1, A3, and A4 might be a better choice for a modern handgun.	C

Beretta M9

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Our Grade

B+

Reviewed by
Travis Pike

Reader’s Grade

A

Based on

19 Reviews

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So, you’re planning on picking up a Beretta M9? If so, you’re going to need more than just the gun to make it safely go bang. You’re going to need proper protections, extra mags, and something to clean it with at the end of a long day at the range. Here are our recommendations:

• Gun Cleaning Kit: Otis All Caliber Elite Range Box on Amazon or build your own personalized cleaning kit with premium components.
• Shooting Glasses: All it takes is one piece of rogue hot brass, and you’ll learn the importance of shooting glasses. But not all glasses are built the same. See our recommendations for the Best Shooting Glasses.
• Hearing Protection: Firing a gun without wearing proper ear pro can be very dangerous and detrimental to your hearing. Find out the best hearing protection for you in our full-length review.
• Storage: Check out our article on the Best Biometric Gun Safes
• Targets – If you’re wanting a great resource for shooting practice or zeroing your optics on your optics rifle or pistol, download our FREE Sighting in Targets below.

If you’re going to pick up the Beretta M9 or another pistol that suits you more, you may also want a few accessories to complement your purchase. Here are our picks for some extras;

Beretta M9 Accessories

1. Streamlight TLR-7 Weapon Light		White LED produces 500 lumens IPX7 Waterproof Low Profile	Check Amazon
2. Pineworld Biometric Gun Safe		Reliable Biometric Scanner Sturdy and Well Built Cheaper Than Most Biometrics	Check Amazon
3. Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs		Great In-Ear option Custom molded – super easy and comfortable NRR: 31	Check Amazon
4. Beretta M9A1 9mm Magazine		Fits Beretta 92FS, M9A1 Chambered in 9mm 15-Round Capacity	Check Price

Below is a great video we’ve found for you showing the process to field strip your Beretta M9 ready for cleaning. Check it out below.

Looking for more info on the Beretta M9? Or did you lose your manual? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered. Check out our links below:

• Beretta Suite of User Manuals
• Beretta M9 Major Components

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