From: callison@essex.ecn.uoknor.edu (James P. Callison)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Problem with the Berettas?
Date: 12 Nov 92 14:56:12 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

In article <01GQU4M1R8BK003L99@VAX1.Mankato.MSUS.EDU> anthrax@vax1.mankato.msus.edu writes:
#In article <9211061819.AA17877@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>, jpchou@camelot.Eng.Sun.COM (Jeff Chou) writes:
## 
## I am thinking about getting a Beretta 92FS (9mm) or a Beretta 96FS 
## (the new .40 S&W), but I have heard that Beretta has had problems 
## with their metalurgy. Something about metal fatigue or something has 
## supposedly caused a couple of incidents where the slide has cracked
## or actually breaks during recoil.
## 
## Has anyone heard about this?  Are these stories true?
#
#Yes, there are similar stories abou the Glock products also.  It's been my
#understanding that the problems were not incident to the weapon, but rather the
#ammunition.  Extended use of "hot" loads will cause problems with the Beretta
#(like most any other weapon). 

The only stories that I'm aware of came out of the US Army trials, where
the slide of the test weapon was cracked by a combination of very hot
SEAL SMG rounds and bad shooting habits carried over from the 1911.
(Supposedly, the officers doing the testing squeezed the slide to get
a tighter slide-to-frame fit--normal practice on the Colt slide, but
fatiguing to the Beretta slide.)
All of the pistols in the trial showed cracks; the Beretta's were
on the slide, while the rest were on the frames--none survived
unscathed.
 
## I also heard that they have not fixed the problem.  Its been going
## on for a couple of years.
#
#They haven't "fixed" it because it really isn't a design problem on their part,
#but rather the effects of non-standard ammunition.

Errr...it wasn't a problem, but they did take precautions. The head
of the hammer pivot pin was enlarged, and rides in a groove on the 
slide, so that it acts as an emergency slide stop. (Sorry for the
inexact terminology, but my manual's at home.) This is the 
difference between the 92F and the 92FS, if I recall correctly.
 
## Should this be a factor in my decision making process?
#
#It depends on what you want the weapon to do.  If you are looking for a weapon
#that you wish to be able to fire a large amount of non-standard ammunition you
#might want to take this into consideration,but if you are buying the weapon for
#defensive or employment purposes. (ie law enforcement) you shouldn't worry
#about it.

It should definitely _NOT_ be a worry. If you're going to be firing the
kind of ammo that caused the aforementioned damage, you're going to
be looking for a serious custom job, not a production pistol. The
ammo in question wasn't designed to be used in pistols...

## Does Beretta has a lifetime warranty or such policy where if it
## happens, can I get it repaired or replaced?
#
#That's a good question.  I haven't had any problems with mine so I haven't had
#the need to look into that.  I can't recall if they have a lifetime warranty on
#their products or not.  The factory is, however, set up to deal with repair and
#replacments if something nasty were to happen.  

If you run across this problem, it most definitely will _NOT_ be
covered under the warranty, as it will require that you do something
which voids the warranty.

## Thanks in advance for all the info!
## 
## Jeff

I have a Beretta Model 92G, and the only other 9mm I'd trade it for is 
the one I bought first (a SIG P226). 

			James

James P. Callison       Microcomputer Coordinator        OU Law Library 
Callison@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu   /\    Callison@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu
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DISCLAIMER: I'm not an engineer, but I play one at work...
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