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  #1  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:18 AM
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Default 1911 vs. berretta 92 SALES and POPULARITY

hey guys,

so im a rifle guy, and my knowledge on handguns, while fairly expansive is limited compared to my rifle knowledge. so i pose this question: between the 1911 and the Beretta 92, which is more common, i know that both of them are very popular and common in the shooting world. based on my limited knowledge id like to think that 1911's are more common (between all the different makes) than 92's, but i just dont know. the reason why i ask is that i am picking up a new line of custom grips for my shop, and they are made both for the 1911s and the Beretta 92s, and knowing which handgun is more common will help me with ordering the proper number.
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  #2  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:24 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jessegpresley View Post
How many companies make a 92/clone, how many companies make a 1911 clone. There's your answer.
This is what I'd assume as well. That said I don't own a 1911 but do have an M9A1 in jail
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  #3  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:26 AM
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I would add that 1911 owners would seem more likely to customize and use lots of different grips. I know I own both weapons, and have multiple "pairs of shoes" for 1911's, and run the Beretta stock.
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  #4  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:27 AM
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Compare the number of aftermarket grips available for the 1911 and 92FS in a Brownells or Midway catalog.
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  #5  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:31 AM
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I think that with the current political environment regarding magazine capacity, two recent trends will continue that give the 1911 a leg up on the Berreta:

Smaller guns holding fewer small bullets
Big guns holding few large bullets
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  #6  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:31 AM
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Thanks for the responses fellas. I guess i'm going with the 92s
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  #7  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:32 AM
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1911 has been our main service sidearm since 1911 and has been fielded in 3 massive wars

the M92 was adopted in the 80s as a replacement for the 1911 so just on head start and conflict alone the 1911s have got to be more prevalent
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  #8  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:36 AM
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Sort of an unfair comparison though

1911 - been around for 100+ years AND has dozens of manufacturers as it's not tied to any particular company (anymore, probably due to patent expiration)

Beretta 92 - not sure when it was developed, but used by the US Army since some time in the 80's, made by Beretta only.

So of course there will be way more 1911's around, just from sheer time (let's face it, a well made gun can easily last 100 years) and manufacturer.

Also the 1911 is awesome, the Beretta 92 is good but there is nothing awesome about it.
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  #9  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:42 AM
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To each his own; all my 1911's(4) are gone but I still have my Beretta's(5).
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Old 01-21-2013, 10:43 AM
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Some Taurus pistols were made from Beretta's machinery as well. (92 model).

But yeah, unfair comparison as Lead Waster already mentioned above.
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  #11  
Old 01-21-2013, 10:47 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lead Waster View Post
Sort of an unfair comparison though

1911 - been around for 100+ years AND has dozens of manufacturers as it's not tied to any particular company (anymore, probably due to patent expiration)

Beretta 92 - not sure when it was developed, but used by the US Army since some time in the 80's, made by Beretta only.

So of course there will be way more 1911's around, just from sheer time (let's face it, a well made gun can easily last 100 years) and manufacturer.

Also the 1911 is awesome, the Beretta 92 is good but there is nothing awesome about it.

In my estimation, the OP should order accessories for the 1911.

The 92 Series has only been around since the early 1972. The 1911 at that point was in service for 61 years. In addition the 1911 is an American cultural icon, whereas the Beretta 92FS is burdened with the unfortunate legacy of being the Eye-Talian 9mm tasked with replacing it. All things considered, the 92FS was an excellent replacement for the 1911 and in my estimation does some things better then John Moses Browning's .45.

That said, in terms of popularity in the gun market people think with their hearts, not their minds. Most gun shop buyers still think the 92FS will break in half if you shoot it too often. The 92FS will gain popularity like all good things, when its been discontinued and people start missing the goodness they ignored all these years.
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The 1911 may have been in wars for 100 years, but Masetro Bartolomeo Beretta was arming the world 400 years before John Browning was ever a wet dream.
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  #12  
Old 01-21-2013, 11:53 AM
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You own a gun shop and you're planning your inventory decisions by conducting an informal poll on Calguns?
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  #13  
Old 01-21-2013, 1:06 PM
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While all are great designs, I would say 1911s outsell Beretta 92 and Sigs and Glocks.
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  #14  
Old 01-21-2013, 1:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beretta929mm View Post
While all are great designs, I would say 1911s outsell Beretta 92 and Sigs and Glocks.
You think so? Glocks are so common and cheap, it's hard for me to think they outsell the 1911
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  #15  
Old 01-21-2013, 1:18 PM
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I think a lot of the Beretta hate stems from it replacing the 1911 as the Army's sidearm. The 92 is a terrific gun in its own right, but nobody is going to be happy with a legend getting replaced. To put it in sports terms, the Beretta 92 is the Steve Young to the 1911's Joe Montana. I know some Niner fans that are still pretty steamed about that.
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  #16  
Old 01-21-2013, 1:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blockfort View Post
You own a gun shop and you're planning your inventory decisions by conducting an informal poll on Calguns?
who said i own a gun shop......... all i said was that i have a "shop", i sell some firearms accessories, but i do not have an ffl, nor am i conducting a poll, merely asking which is a larger market, and my own thoughts have been confirmed by the populace here on calguns.

i agree with the rest of you that the 1911 crowd is more likely to customize, i plan on carrying both but will stock more heavily on the 1911s.

thanx to all of you for your input
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  #17  
Old 01-21-2013, 1:51 PM
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As far as handgun shooters that repalce the grips on thier piece, several times as many replace grips on a 1911 over the 92.
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  #18  
Old 01-21-2013, 2:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Ridge Reef View Post
I would add that 1911 owners would seem more likely to customize and use lots of different grips. I know I own both weapons, and have multiple "pairs of shoes" for 1911's, and run the Beretta stock.
This ^^^
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  #19  
Old 01-21-2013, 5:44 PM
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I own and shoot both. I carry 92G off duty sometimes. 92's are more reliable. Tuned 1911's win BE matches. I would never compare a 92 to a 1911
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  #20  
Old 01-21-2013, 5:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blockfort View Post
You own a gun shop and you're planning your inventory decisions by conducting an informal poll on Calguns?

You should know by now we don't make any decisions without Calgun member's approval.
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  #21  
Old 01-21-2013, 6:02 PM
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The overwhelming support for the 1911 is skewed, and here's why:

http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_...09361-949.html

As Grant points out, the simple fact of the matter is economics and manufacturing, the 1911 is 'open source' and free to manufacture without paying royalties or obtaining permission. The Beretta is a newer design and is not open for anyone to just start machining. And the fact of the matter is that the 1911, while venerable, is an old and obsolete design. It doesn't hold up in any sustained usage without malfunctions, which can be verified by any serious armorer or gunsmith, and this is consistently repeated by Tactical Instructors and Tactical Schools which run thousands of rounds every day with hundreds of students. It never fails that the one who show with their pet 1911's rarely make it past their first day without failure or resorting to a backup gun.

There's a level of nostalgia for which I am willing to subscribe, but to buy into the Kool-Aid and claim because there's more 1911's out there being made means that it's the better handgun is...specious and ill-informed.
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  #22  
Old 01-21-2013, 6:12 PM
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I'm surprised nobody has made mention of caliber. Can't beat the thumper at knocking people down,
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  #23  
Old 01-21-2013, 6:22 PM
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I have shot the 1911 for 22 yrs and have become very proficient with the system. I take a LOT of professional training classes and I have seen a LOT of very expensive gunsmith tuned 1911's give their owners countless stoppages and malfunctions.

I have never seen a student with a Berretta 92 have any stoppage but shooting dry!

Dislosure: I personally do not like the Berretta, SIG is my modern wonder nine- DA/SA system of choice when I am not using the 1911.
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  #24  
Old 01-21-2013, 8:04 PM
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There is no clear answer. 92 is a fine weapon. 9mm is affordable (or used to be) for affordable practice. That said, there's got to be a pretty Damn good reason the Marines went back to a 1911.
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  #25  
Old 01-21-2013, 8:17 PM
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Have 2 1911's but only 1 beretta. If i had to choose one, id take the beretta. It feels better, im more acurate with it, its DA/SA, has a decocker, holds 2x rounds, easier to field strip, more reliable, easier and faster to operate, fires 9mm..... I could probably go on all day.
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  #26  
Old 01-21-2013, 8:17 PM
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if the cost of the gun is not the issue, go to to shooting range rent both and hold it in your hand, feel it than shot couple round see how you handle it then make decision. I have both i like them all. It only money. After all you have only one life to live, enjoy it while you can...
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Old 01-21-2013, 10:10 PM
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i just rec'd my fathers 1911 on Saturday, and I just DROS'd a 92FS on Friday...My first two handguns ever.
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Old 01-22-2013, 8:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexKintner View Post
There is no clear answer. 92 is a fine weapon. 9mm is affordable (or used to be) for affordable practice. That said, there's got to be a pretty Damn good reason the Marines went back to a 1911.
Only RECON went back to the 1911, the rest of the Corps carries the M9A1--designed with input from the USMC.
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Old 01-22-2013, 11:11 AM
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'OP the 1911 and 92FS are two different animals, with each platform having advantages and disadvantages over the other. I also had the same question you did and came to the conclusion that I wanted them both. As usual, try to find a way to rent or borrow both and shoot them; I have a feeling that unless you're strapped for cash you'll do what I did and buy both. If I could have done anything differently it would've been to buy the M9-A1 with the rail.

Get both!
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  #30  
Old 01-22-2013, 12:20 PM
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I definitely want both. I'm thinking a Kimber TLE. Should I get that or the Beretta 92FS first? Haha, gun hobbyist problems...
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  #31  
Old 01-22-2013, 1:21 PM
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1911's are more popular because it's like a disease, once you got it, it sticks to u. And not just that, it's obviously one of the MOST beautiful Iconic guns in American History like the garand/m1carbine/m14 family
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Old 01-22-2013, 1:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roland Deschain View Post
This is what I'd assume as well. That said I don't own a 1911 but do have an M9A1 in jail
My M9A1 is in jail to.
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Old 01-22-2013, 1:50 PM
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The 1911(Kimber Custom II) and Beretta 92FS/M9s are my two favorite handguns. I must have both, can't have one without the other!
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Old 01-22-2013, 2:53 PM
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I didn't realize the beretta was still popular, I don't know anybody personally that has one and haven't run into one at the range in years. I had one, and while I had no problems personally with it I just didn't shoot it well. I still remember it for that, all my friends that shot it shot it well, but I didn't. So I sold it (kick myself now, it was pre-ban with high cap mags).

I do shoot 1911's well and love the way they feel in the hand.

Red
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Old 01-22-2013, 7:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DArBad View Post
The 1911(Kimber Custom II) and Beretta 92FS/M9s are my two favorite handguns. I must have both, can't have one without the other!
Kicking myself for passing on the Kimber Custom II, especially when it was on sale. Maybe some other time...
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  #36  
Old 01-22-2013, 7:49 PM
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I have both and if I could have only one handgun, that handgun would be my old 1911 Colt. That said, if I could only have one 9mm, my early 92F would be a strong contender (my other choice would be he P226).

Both are fine platforms, but my nod would be towards the 1911 as here is no replacement for displacement from a straight shooting stance. I'm actually olld school where I'm aimed versus spray and pray.

Just my $0.02.
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Old 01-22-2013, 9:16 PM
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Buy them both. I have one of each and will never get rid of them. My 92fs was purchased Pre-1994 and I have 15 rounders for them. Will never get rid of them.
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Old 01-23-2013, 2:47 PM
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I was in the Navy when we switched over. I loved everything about the M9 except the caliber.
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Quote:
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I hope Ruger pays the extortion fees for the SR1911. I mean the gun is just as good if not better than a Les Baer.
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