Glock or Beretta

[bugman]

I found a used Glock 17for $399 the other day. It looked and felt good. I had decided to go buy it Monday. Tonight a cousin offered me a Beretta 92fs Compact for $300.Each gun has its pros and cons and either would be acceptable. Does anyone have any experience with these guns as far as reliability, accuracy,shootability, ect. I'm interested in real world experience based opinions. Not what your uncle's girlfriend's baby sister's parole officer heard from somebody.

[isaidme]

Go with the Glock!

[isaidme]

You really should try a Glock19 first though!

[NUTZ]

bugman,

it depends on what you intend to do with each these guns. Both are somewhat large to carry concealed, at least for me, but both are good weapons. I have owned 3 beretta's, 1 92 FS standard model, 1 SS 92 FS and 1 92 Brigadeer model. As for problems I encountered with Beretta, the SS 92 FS, has a broken firing pin, broke in 3 peices, but when it was fixed it shot fine, as did all other Beretta models I have owned. I have oned several Glock models, 19, 27, 22 and 21C all 2nd Gen. guns but the 21C. The Glocks have all worked flawlessly and were, like the Beretta models, accurate and fun to shoot. I personally would look for a Glock 19 or 26 or a compact Beretta for carry.

Really the choice is yours, which one fits you best and which one do you shoot better.

[Rob96]

I chose the 19 over the 17. Felt different enough that it felt better. JMHO.

[Mus]

I personally dislike the Glocks lack of external safety. I cut my teeth growing up with my dads Glock 19 and 23. They are nice handling guns beyond that. Best thing I could suggest is to take your cousin to a range that rents guns and put both weapons (and maybe other selections as well) through their paces and make your own choice.

[BGPD]

Owning several examples of each and carried both for years I would say get the Beretta. My 92G Elite(among other models) is the single most accurate 9mm semi-auto I have. My Compact Type L(13round) is my most favorite. It shoots like it has shock absorbers. My Compact Type M(8round) is second to the Elite in accuracy. I have 6 Glocks(17,19,21,22,23,27) and while a good basic combat auto they are nowhere near the Berettas. Also, the Beretta's feed is "in line" which means from the top round in the mag to the chamber is almost a straight line. Don't get me wrong, I like Glocks too. I just like Berettas better.

[Catbird33]

I have nothing against Berettas, I have a Beretta 96 FS.

I also have 10 Glocks, a G19, G20, G21, G22, G23, G26, G30, G32, G33 and a G35.

Definitely, get the Glock; I would.

[Adam Thiel]

I think a big advantage of the Beretta over the Glock is the luxury of being able to stick the gun down the front of your waistband, without a holster, for concealed carry. This is a big advantage. Over the years I have carried either a Sig P220 or Colt .45 down my waistband without having to use a holster. The best holster is no holster. The gun conceals better and comes out easier. I use a cheap web belt w/ brass buckle and it cinches the gun in tight enough. Usually the holsters I've experimented with create some sort of drag on the gun when you pull it; or they sit the gun too high on your waist and thus make the gun print through your shirt; not to mention the added thickness of the holster. I had a Glock 21 for a long time, and I never carried it down the front of my waistband; there's just no way I want it pointing at my crotch. As a result, I found myself using the P220 a heck of a lot more.

[bugman]

As I said both guns would be acceptable for their intended purposes.But I'm leaning towards the Beretta. I have more knowledge of that particular gun (I went with her to sign the adoption papers) and I know that it has had about 20 rounds thru it .It sounds like even the Glock lovers dont care for the 17.

[peepaw]

I don't advise carrying without a holster. For one reason it is illegle in my state. If I were going to carry stuffed in my pants I would have no problem with the Glock. The Glock is a very safe weapon in trained hands, in untrained hands they are all unsafe.
Back to the point of this thread I would go with the Glock mainly because I never liked the looks of a Beretta. I own 2 Glocks and they are utterly reliable and safe.

Peepaw

[bugman]

Good point Adam I use Mexican carry alot and that was one of my concerns But I also have other store run guns so it would not be total deciding factor.

[Norm.45]

No experience with Glocks and like was mentioned, in the hands of a trained hands is preferable... But I do have a Beretta 92FS LE and it shoots great... Too large for carry though...

[Adam Thiel]

I'd wager, then, that the Glock would go longer without any breakages (is that a word?). I talked to some guys in a firing range a year or so ago and they said that, by far, the guns that go the longest without breaking are the Glocks.

The only downside I found with my G21 was that I had to be careful re-assembling it after cleaning. One time, I did not put the slide back on the frame perfectly, and it went onto the frame a little lopsided. The gun completely froze up, and I had to VERY FORCEFULLY pull the slide off the frame. This screwed up the trigger mechanism, and I had to send it back to Glock for repair (which they did free of charge).

But in approx. 4-5,000 rounds, my Glock never once had any malfunctions of any kind. Then, again, my friend has a Beretta 96 Brigadier, and after several thousand rounds, it has not experienced any malfunctions of any kind.

[Brian Dover]

Having a little trigger time with both, the Glock just edges out the Beretta for me. Just shoot the tupperware better, that's all. Both are good quality, and the chances of either breaking down are relatively small, given a bit of care on your part. Peepaw, I think that most of us are with ya about using a holster as often as possible, and a decent belt besides. Adam, no flame meant, but please be extra careful with the holsterless carry.

[AUG]

Just to be clear I am a Glock owner and think the G17 is the Glock to have. The sub compact feels goofy to me and is too thick. I like the G19 but I think the G17 shoots better and is the most reliable of all the Glock models. They are all ultra reliable but the G17 is even more so.

In your shoes I would go with the beretta because of the price and the lower price of preban mags. Both are great reliable guns so pick which ever you like the best. With proper care they will both out live your grandkids.

[tat2u]

GO GLOCK!!!!!! you wont regret it

[jedibrain]

I have a G21 and a Beretta 92. Its like comparing apples to oranges though.

Sounds like a great deal on that 17, new ones around here are $550, and used, very used, don't go much below $450.

I'd grab it up, and talk the cousin into holding on to that beretta until you've got the money.

Brian

[bugman]

I considered that Jedi however I'm not a 9mm fan and just don't see the point in owning more than one.I really don't need either I have enough handguns to fill any need that may come up.I was actually done with handguns until this came up. so this is a one or the other situation.I had thought of buying the Beretta and putting the clock on lay a way. But I'd rather get a Thompson or a Quigley Sharps

[bugman]

Thanks for all the replies. Charles has hit on one of the issues I'v heard of. The slide to teeth problem with Berettas .The KBs and jams with Glocks are another Again these are things I have only heard or read about and have no real knowledge of. Neither first hand or second hand from anyone who has actual experience.

[Dieselman]

BERETTA

[Powernoodle]

I'm astonished that no one has given you the correct answer. Get both. The G17 first, of course.

[Adam Thiel]

I like Glocks a lot, but do they really have half the parts as the other guns? I was curious about this and compared a Glock parts diagram against one for a Colt 1911. It looked to me like they had about the same amount of parts. So I'm not so sure about the less-moving-parts argument. Glocks are great guns, but I think there's a lot of unproven hype that goes into them.

I think that all the leading gun designs - Sig, Glock, H&K, Colt 1911, Beretta, etc. - are all probably about equally reliable. Once in a while you'll see a lemon from any one of the above. I used to be diehard this or diehard that, but I think the bottom line is to grab the one that feels best in your hand and offers you the best design for your purpose.

My friend asked me to ride shotgun for him a few weeks back to a court hearing. He was supposed to testify against a purse snatching gangbanger. He was worried about the guy's friends at the courthouse steps. This appearance cancelled, and I didn't have to go, but it got me to thinking. If I was confronted by a pissed off group of gangbangers, and the fight was in my face, I'd feel most comfrotable pulling my P220 and just pulling the trigger. No holsters, no safeties, etc. I saw a pawnbroker from L.A. years ago on TV who survived several shootouts with the Crips. His theory was the same - only use guns that allow you to just pull the trigger to get them into action. As much as I love the 1911 design, there's a lot to be said for this. It's a simple, streamlined way to go. Unfortunately, our laws are such that to use deadly force your attacker practically has to be in your face; the escalation from non-deadly to deadly can, at times, mean a split second.

[Powernoodle]

Originally posted by Adam Thiel
I like Glocks a lot, but do they really have half the parts as the other guns?

I had this assertion in my post above, and edited it out for the sake of brevity. I believe that all Glocks have either 34 or 35 parts, depending on the model. Perhaps someone familiar w/ the 92 knows how many parts it has. Fewer parts means fewer things to break. This won't convince anyone one way or the other, but I guess it is something to consider.

[Drago]

Originally posted by Adam Thiel
I saw a pawnbroker from L.A. years ago on TV who survived several shootouts with the Crips. His theory was the same - only use guns that allow you to just pull the trigger to get them into action.

You are probably alluding to the case of Lance Thomas who was a Rolex watch dealer in West L.A. His story can be read in a book called "The Deadliest Men," which is published by Paladin Press. The story of what happened to Thomas should give us pause regarding the consequences of using lethal force.

As for the question, I vote for the Beretta because, to me, it is a cross between the Walther P-38 and the 1911. The ergonomics of the 92FS remind me of a 1911 with the curved or arched backstrap and long trigger reach. The controls, slide and action are, of course, are a refined Walther system. I also like the barrel length of the 92FS because it is only a tenth of an inch shorter than the Gov't Model. This set up gives me a similar sight radius in both pistols.

Whatever your choice, you cannot go wrong.