Beretta M9A4
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 3 months ago
Beretta has worked hard to deliver pistols to the U.S. military, but it has come to an end.
The first week of September closed a chapter on small arms for the United States military. Beretta USA marked the occasion with a simple note on its Facebook page with little fanfare, no press release scheduled and characteristic modesty when asked for more details.
“Last week marked an end of an era for Beretta USA,” the company posted on Sept. 7. “The Beretta USA team in Gallatin, TN, packed and shipped the last Beretta M9 pistol for the U.S. Armed Forces contract. Thank you to every Beretta USA team member who, over the last 36 years, has proudly manufactured the M9, and especially to all our brave servicewomen and men who have carried the M9 in their service to the United States of America.”
Unlike some manufacturers, rather than continuing to seek DoD contracts, Beretta has repackaged the M9 into the M9A4.
Beretta USA has announced the new M9A4, the latest model in the M9 series of pistols. As such, the M9A4 boasts new features such as a red-dot ready slide, an enhanced short reset Xtreme Trigger System, along with a higher capacity magazine.
Says Beretta: “Built to exceed the standards of even the most demanding tactical shooters, the M9A4 blends the proven design of the M9 with modern features such as a red-dot optic compatible slide and dovetailed tritium night sights for optimal sight options, an enhanced short reset Xtreme Trigger System, an 18-round magazine, and a Beretta Vertec frame with included aggressively textured Vertec-style thin grips that ensure a more natural fit for all shooters.”
The red-dot ready M9A4 includes integral slide cuts to allow for the mounting of different optic plate styles. Beretta will provide a free optic plate when buyers register their purchased firearms, or they can purchase an aftermarket one. Shipping with blanking covers, there are five different plates available for the M9A4 to mount the most popular optics.
The M9A4 also sports a removable front sight for shooters with distinct preferences in terms of sight picture. In addition, a variety of accessory options are possible thanks to the Picatinny rail located in front of the trigger guard.
As for magazines, the M9A4 has ones with 10- and 15-round capacities, plus a new 18-round magazine.
MSRP is $1,099. Built in the U.S., the Beretta M9A4 available for purchase now in a wear-resistant FDE finish.
It has a nice look and a decent price point. It appears to be the companion of what Langdon Tactical does to this firearm (without a few features). The slide looks like it has been lightened (no doubt to compensate for the weight of the optic), it is optics ready, and they apparently are selling this in FDE. I think Ernest Langdon partnered with them on this.
But then, I like hammer fired guns and classic safeties.
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On September 21, 2021 at 11:21 pm, RHT447 said:
The M9 always struck me as just another heavy, bulky 9mm. I will allow that they are very comfortable to shoot.
I’m curious to check out this line pistols–
https://www.canikusa.com/canik-firearms
I will always be a 1911 fan, even though I’m now old and wrinkly enough that I get hammer bite with a standard A1 grip safety. I either wear a glove or use a strip of duct tape. Or shoot my Springfield Range Officer.
On September 22, 2021 at 8:27 am, Joe Blow said:
Thousand smackers for tge barebones version…
I can get a Glock, S&W, or Sig, WITH an optic, trigger job, and a handful of extra mags for that price.
Why would I buy that ugly ass FDE pistola?
On September 22, 2021 at 8:31 am, Factions Speak Louder Than Herds said:
It should come with optics, night sights, spare mags and a box of ammo at that price.
Maybe they went with something else due to the high cost?
The Milley Vanilli faculty lounge military probably couldn’t handle the 1911 other than the USMC.
Does it say if it will shoot with a round in the chamber and the magazine out?
Most Beretta models will except for the Model 84 Cheetah .380 or 9mmKurz (short).
On September 22, 2021 at 8:59 am, Frank Clarke said:
It looks like the barrel is threaded. That’s what that extension is for, right?
On September 22, 2021 at 1:13 pm, Red Man said:
Compound bows are legal in Australia. Recall the Liberator Pistol used by the French Resistance in WWII.
On September 22, 2021 at 4:21 pm, Ohio Guy said:
I’d certainly give it a try.
On September 22, 2021 at 7:11 pm, Drew said:
Don’t cry for beretta. They lived high off the hog for two generations of .gov contracts producing a subpar sidearm. On one usmc deployment to SW Asia, this boat anchor rusted out on me, yes even with pm. Zero updates were made until their necks were on the chopping block.
On September 22, 2021 at 8:02 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ Drew
Re: “Don’t cry for beretta. They lived high off the hog for two generations of .gov contracts producing a subpar sidearm. On one usmc deployment to SW Asia, this boat anchor rusted out on me, yes even with pm. Zero updates were made until their necks were on the chopping block.”
It has been more-or-less common knowledge that the fix was in regarding Beretta getting the service pistol contract in the first place, supplanting the finest combat handgun ever fielded, the Browning/Colt M1911 .45 ACP.
NATO members were understandably upset that the U.S. – after less than three decades previously arm-twisting the new alliance into adopting the 7.62×51 mm (.308) as its standard rifle and GPMG cartridge – had abruptly switched again, now pushing for the adoption of 5.56x45mm (.224) as the ‘new’ standard rifle and LMG round. This time, European members put their foot down, demanding a concession or two in return for their cooperation.
That concession took the form of standardization of pistol/SMG ammunition around the 9x19mm/9mm Parabellum round, then heavily-used by the alliance, but not yet by the U.S., which was still using .45 ACP M1911 pistols.
To be fair to Beretta, they are one of the oldest and most-respected FA manufacturers in the world. We could have done a lot worse for the designer/manufacturer of the new sidearm.
On September 23, 2021 at 9:45 pm, Paul B said:
I have a stainless beretta with a threaded barrel and a Langdon trigger job. Shoots really well and very accurate. I have shot glocks and can’t hit shit with one. They are lighter to carry and if you want to miss have at it. I intend to hit what I am aiming at.
On September 23, 2021 at 9:57 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@Paul B,
That’s why I won’t shoot any handgun that is striker-fired.
The trigger feels like crinkly spongiform packed with springs, washers, and broken glass, with way too much travel, waiting to fly apart on me.
A good hammer-fired trigger (with no takeup) with a light pull is what I need to hit my targets.
And I’m accurate with such a gun. So why change?