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Figure 3-1 M9 Pistol

The Beretta M9/92FS was first adopted by the United States military in 1985 after winning the competition to replace the M1911A1. It was controversial at the time because it transitioned from the American .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) cartridge to the more common 9x19mm NATO cartridge. The M9 was also a foreign designed and produced pistol which once adopted was produced domestically.

The M9 is a short recoil, semi-automatic, single-action / double-action pistol which uses a 15-round staggered box magazine with a reversible magazine release button.

A modernized version designated the M9A1 in 2006.It added a Picatinny rail for the attachment of lights, lasers, a slightly beveled magazine well to aid rapid reloads, more aggressive front and back-strap checkering. M9A1 pistols are sold with specially coated magazines to enhance reliability based on experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Several thousand (approximately 7500) were reported to have been ordered by the United States Marine Corps.

The M9 features multiple internal safeties, including a firing pin block that prevents the firing pin from moving without the trigger being pulled fully to the rear, and a firing pin striker that rotates when the safety lever is engaged preventing the firing pin from being hit even if the hammer falls. The M9 has an ambidextrous external safety lever allowing both left and right handed users to engage the safety mechanism.

AUTHORS NOTE

Having fired literally 100’s of thousands of rounds through multiple M9 platforms; aside from (military OEM) magazine issues I have found the pistol to be extremely accurate, reliable and durable. With minor modifications (hammer spring, trigger spring, recoil buffer and extended magazine release). I have fired over 100,000 rounds through my own personal M9 for training in the last 11 years without parts breakage. I’m sure somewhere along the way I have had some sort of malfunction but honestly I cannot remember any other than magazines.