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Beretta M9A1 Gun Review: A Great 9mm or Just Old?

Beretta M9A1
Beretta M9A1. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

This is a review of the Beretta M9A1 9mm military pistol produced by the famous Italian firearms company Pietro Beretta.

Beretta has been in the arms manufacturing business for almost 500 years, making it one of the oldest firearm manufacturing companies in the world.

I purchased the M9A1 almost six months ago. After my first range session, firing over 1500 rounds from it, the M9A1 instantly became one of my favorite firearms. The full-frame gun is one of the most reliable and accurate guns available today, and it’s no surprise that it’s the weapon of choice for military and law enforcement, as well as for home or self-defense.

I found the Beretta M9A1 to be better than my expectations. Its durability is unmatched as it has a tough, corrosion-resistant pistol coating, making it a gun built to last. Secondly, the safety features of the M9A1 are second to none.

Let’s go over some of the distinctive features of the Beretta M9A1 and why you should consider buying one.

Keep reading to learn more about this versatile, iconic firearm.

Beretta M9A1: Product Overview

The Beretta M9A1 is a short-recoil-based semi-automatic pistol, available in military and civilian variants. The M9A1 base design is an evolution of the classic, battle-tested M9. Like any other upgrade, the Beretta M9A1 incorporates all the quality features of the M9 along with a few updates.

The Beretta M9A1 was introduced into the US military in the late 1980s, during the post-Cold War era. Since then, the M9A1 has been a staple part of the military’s arsenal.

Most critics, including myself, attribute the success of the M9A1 pistol to its reliability and smoothness of action on the field.

Simply put, the M9A1 is a high-quality firearm. It comes with extra-durable magazines that are sand resistant and have a capacity of 15 rounds. It’s also available in a smaller, more compact version.

Pros

  • Soft recoil and muzzle flip
  • 3 dot sight system
  • Lots of aftermarket accessories available
  • Easy to field strip and assemble

Cons

  • Slightly on the more expensive side.
  • Slightly large, which can make it difficult to carry for some people

M9A1 features

The M9A1 comes with an abundance of features. Let’s take a look at what makes the Beretta M9A1 pistol a superb choice for anyone.

Picatinny rail

The M9A1 comes equipped with a Picatinny rail system to mount accessories such as tactical flashlights or lasers. Soldiers love rail adapters since they add so much versatility to their firearms.

Grip

The M9A1 features fantastic ergonomics to assist in the overall comfort of the shooter. When designing the grip, manufacturers ensured that the handling of the M9A1 stays as comfortable as possible. The front and back straps of the frame are checkered to ensure that the grip remains firm in both wet and dry conditions.

Safety

Gun safety is an essential aspect to consider as a gun owner. In this regard, the M9A1 is far superior to its predecessors. The gun features a firing pin block and an ambidextrous safety/ decocker, whereby the user can load a round, decock, and simply push up the lever and fire the pistol in double-action mode.

Beretta M9A1 reviews

I scoured the internet and found some solid reviews, especially about the magazine and the overall reliability. Apart from the hammer spring and the large grip size, the M9A1 is loaded with features that every gun owner wants.

To get a deeper insight about this 9mm powerhouse and its reliability, check out the following video:

Beretta M9A1 alternatives

The Taurus PT92 is a Brazilian clone of the Beretta 92 series. It comes with a stainless steel finish, a 17-round magazine, and an attached Picatinny rail. If you’re on a budget, then the PT-92 is a viable, cheaper alternative to the Beretta M9A1 that will serve you right.

Another solid option is the Glock 17 Gen 4, which checks all the boxes of durability, accuracy, and reliability. This pistol is molded to fit all hand sizes, with a comparatively sleek design and interchangeable backstraps.

Final thoughts

The Beretta M9A1 is the upgraded version of the legendary M9, which enjoys the reputation of being a highly dependable pistol amongst civilians and the military worldwide. With great aesthetics, an abundance of safety features, impressive reliability, and accuracy in the most challenging conditions, the M9A1 is undoubtedly a pistol that should serve for years to come.

Beretta M9A1
Image: Creative Commons.

Overall, the Beretta M9A1 is the benchmark for modern combat pistols today. If you need a new handgun, the Beretta M9A1 is amongst the very best you can get for home defense or conceal carry purposes.

Brady Kirkpatrick is the Editor of Gun Made. Brady is a passionate firearm owner from Omaha, Nebraska. Gun Made has been featured in various publications such as Forbes, Officer.com, American Police Beat, and countless others.

Written By

Brady Kirkpatrick is the Editor of Gun Made. Brady is a passionate firearm owner from Omaha, Nebraska. Gun Made has been featured in various publications such as Forbes, Officer.com, American Police Beat, and countless others.