chewy
03-09-2009, 03:19 PM
Part I: Why
I have had a total of 5 Taurus Pt-92s and/or PT-99s during the last 12 years and here be what my experience has been with them.
First, a brief story of why I chose Taurus over a Beretta 92. I was in college at the time, back in 1997, I believe. And I had some left over cash from scholarship and Work (partial owner of a family Painting Co. [least paid family member]). I had about $350.00-400.00 and had already been reading and judging for myself the pros and cons of Beretta vs. Taurus. I initially WANTED a Beretta cuz I thought they were cool, which they are. But I didn’t have enough. I kept returning to the Gun Shop down the street on Central Ave. in Albuquerque and would bug the hell outta’ them guys at the counter every chance I had tryin’ to decide which one I should get. I never been one to just buy a gun, or guitar, without at least some info on it.
So back and forth I went with the pros and cons. The only thing I didn’t like about the Beretta was the decocker/safety on the slide. I kept tellin’ myself I’d get used to it. Then I’d handle the Taurus 92 and rackin’ the slide was smooth and un-awkward, as it was with the Beretta. I didn’t like the wooden grips too much as they made it a bit chunkier, but I really-really liked the pre-decocker safty on the slide, which enabled it to be carried “cocked and locked”. Something the Beretta 92’s left many moons ago. The chunky wooden grips were easy to deal with as I got a pair of Houge rubber grips for it, which my brother still has on it. It had a bit more slide frame wobble than I what I read was desirable, but it wasn’t that bad at all. Not any more than any of the other used Autos they had in the store. Oh, the Taurus also had adjustable sights, an option I have not seen on a Beretta 92. One other fact that was swaying my decision toward the Taurus, I could modify Beretta mags to fit a Taurus PT-92, but could not modify a Taurus mag to a Beretta. The finish on the Beretta looked way more superior than the Taurus. That was certain. The Taurus finish even had a blemish on it’s blued slide. The deal breaker for me was that the Taurus had a lifetime warranty, even if bought used. And I’d have almost $100.00 for then very affordable ammo (a little over 1000 rounds of Wolf 9mm) to shoot the up coming weekend! So I bought the Taurus PT-99, waited 10 minutes for the NICS check, then took it and some ammo back to my Apartment.
With adjustable sights, that pistol has always shot true. It’s been awhile, but I remember shootin’ about a 4 inch group with it freehand style standing up at around 20-ish yards. I’m sure it could do better than me. I remember when cleaning that barrel there was no rough spots where the cleaning patch would get slowed down by rough barreling as on my most recent PT-92. Who ever had that gun before me shot it often as the barrel looked well used but well taken care of, clean and nice and smooth. Here are some pics my bother sent me of my ‘ol college apartment guard. I’ll get him to bring this weekend on his visit for some group shootin’.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k298/chewybaca67/100_2289.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k298/chewybaca67/100_2292.jpg
I have had a total of 5 Taurus Pt-92s and/or PT-99s during the last 12 years and here be what my experience has been with them.
First, a brief story of why I chose Taurus over a Beretta 92. I was in college at the time, back in 1997, I believe. And I had some left over cash from scholarship and Work (partial owner of a family Painting Co. [least paid family member]). I had about $350.00-400.00 and had already been reading and judging for myself the pros and cons of Beretta vs. Taurus. I initially WANTED a Beretta cuz I thought they were cool, which they are. But I didn’t have enough. I kept returning to the Gun Shop down the street on Central Ave. in Albuquerque and would bug the hell outta’ them guys at the counter every chance I had tryin’ to decide which one I should get. I never been one to just buy a gun, or guitar, without at least some info on it.
So back and forth I went with the pros and cons. The only thing I didn’t like about the Beretta was the decocker/safety on the slide. I kept tellin’ myself I’d get used to it. Then I’d handle the Taurus 92 and rackin’ the slide was smooth and un-awkward, as it was with the Beretta. I didn’t like the wooden grips too much as they made it a bit chunkier, but I really-really liked the pre-decocker safty on the slide, which enabled it to be carried “cocked and locked”. Something the Beretta 92’s left many moons ago. The chunky wooden grips were easy to deal with as I got a pair of Houge rubber grips for it, which my brother still has on it. It had a bit more slide frame wobble than I what I read was desirable, but it wasn’t that bad at all. Not any more than any of the other used Autos they had in the store. Oh, the Taurus also had adjustable sights, an option I have not seen on a Beretta 92. One other fact that was swaying my decision toward the Taurus, I could modify Beretta mags to fit a Taurus PT-92, but could not modify a Taurus mag to a Beretta. The finish on the Beretta looked way more superior than the Taurus. That was certain. The Taurus finish even had a blemish on it’s blued slide. The deal breaker for me was that the Taurus had a lifetime warranty, even if bought used. And I’d have almost $100.00 for then very affordable ammo (a little over 1000 rounds of Wolf 9mm) to shoot the up coming weekend! So I bought the Taurus PT-99, waited 10 minutes for the NICS check, then took it and some ammo back to my Apartment.
With adjustable sights, that pistol has always shot true. It’s been awhile, but I remember shootin’ about a 4 inch group with it freehand style standing up at around 20-ish yards. I’m sure it could do better than me. I remember when cleaning that barrel there was no rough spots where the cleaning patch would get slowed down by rough barreling as on my most recent PT-92. Who ever had that gun before me shot it often as the barrel looked well used but well taken care of, clean and nice and smooth. Here are some pics my bother sent me of my ‘ol college apartment guard. I’ll get him to bring this weekend on his visit for some group shootin’.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k298/chewybaca67/100_2289.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k298/chewybaca67/100_2292.jpg