Beretta M9A1 with a Langdon Tactical "California Special"...?

[keimuka080123]

able to reserve a on-roster Beretta M9A1 with my local shop.





after 10-days am thinking of having a "california special" done to it.

https://langdontactical.com/92-elite-ltt-california-special/

any1 done this before? thoughts? good? how does it make the stock one feel like an off-roster Beretta? option am thinking is "CA Upgrade NP3 Version with RDO Cut" for $1,395.

thanks

[MacDaddy]

Same question.

[xblax619]

I’m also interested in doing this. Waiting on the enablers to convince me why I should.

[symbology]

They have changed this pistol configuration over the years. LTT is out of their slides, so now they do not come with a LTT / Vertec slide. It sounds like they will not have any LTT slides available for at least a year. I would email them and confirm what comes with it. I do not think they cut a dovetail for the front site on the M9A1 slide. So, still cannot change the front sight.

If it was me, I would not bother with the LTT M9A1 CA Special. Just build your own. Just buy the full NP3 kit and buy a 92x take off slide, or have them modify your original slide.

Even if you send your M9A1 to LTT it will not be the same as an LTT Elite. The Elite frames are slightly different from a stock M9A1 frame. That sharp point at the trigger guard is rounded off on the LTT frames. That is the only difference and it is a comfort thing.

I have a brand new M9A1 frame, I sold off the OEM slide assembly and all the lower parts. I have a full NP3 kit to install as well as a Vertec slide assembly with a Stainless barrel. I just have not had the time to put it together. I may modify the frame rails and make it a centurion spec frame, so I may be putting the NP3 kit and slide for sale.

You can see one of my M9A1's that I built using a sniper grey LTT RDO slide (when they were still available). I modified the frame (full de-horning) and had it cerakoted using Elite Smoke (which is kind of slick) put a WAL stainless barrel on it and full NP3 kit. This thing is super nice and feels nothing like a stock 92. The NP3 controls feel just a little nicer, but that NP3 locking block, guide rod and slide parts make the slide cycle really smoothly. The Elite cerakote may be helping with the smooth slide action, so take that with a grain of salt.

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=27690688&postcount=603

[jayhuh]

I can't tell you why you should but here is what I did. I have bought a 92FS. I originally thought about sending it to LTT but when I considered the shipping to and from I decided to do it myself. Of course i wasn't interested is a red dot cut.

I bought their trigger job in a bag from LTT and installed it myself. They advertise that it is 80 percent of what they do when they do a trigger job. It is not that difficult, the sear installation being the most tricky. LTT and many others have YouTube videos showing the install. Mine came out very nice and I did not have to stone the trigger bar as they say happens to 5 percent of the guns. I believe I went with the 13 pound hammer spring and the Elite hammer. I did not opt for the NP3 stuff being that I didn't see the need. Others may disagree.

I also bought Wilson slim grips, fluted guide rod, silicone recoil spring and short reach trigger directly from Wilson Combat.

So these mods only cost me around $340.00 including tax/shipping. I was lucky to find them on sale when they went on sale around the holidays. Oh and you will have to factor in the cost of a punch set if you don't have them I got the Beretta set from Brownells for about $20.

Of course I did not get the barrel cut/recrowned and no red dot milling so you can compare what I paid against what LTT is asking.

I also see that they do not include a G De-cocker in the price. That is something you might want to consider. I bought the kit from Midwest Industries for something like $40.00. It is a kind of tricky install but not out of the capabilities of most folks. Again YouTube has several videos to assist.

I hope you find this informative. I opted to stay with the original 3 dot sights as there are not may options for the front, being it is part of the slide. I find my gun easy to shoot as is and the upgrades made it very nice. I believe the M9A1 has a dovetailed front which gives you options but I may be wrong.

One more thing. LTT is very good to deal with. Prior to commencing, I called them with a question about having to stone the trigger bar. They were super patient with me, answered all my questions and told me to call anytime if I ran into problems. Luckily I did not need to. Good luck.

[smittty]

Can they eliminate the “warning marking” on the frame?

[CJJohn]

They have changed this pistol configuration over the years. LTT is out of their slides, so now they do not come with a LTT / Vertec slide. It sounds like they will not have any LTT slides available for at least a year. I would email them and confirm what comes with it. I do not think they cut a dovetail for the front site on the M9A1 slide. So, still cannot change the front sight.

If it was me, I would not bother with the LTT M9A1 CA Special. Just build your own. Just buy the full NP3 kit and buy a 92x take off slide, or have them modify your original slide.

Even if you send your M9A1 to LTT it will not be the same as an LTT Elite. The Elite frames are slightly different from a stock M9A1 frame. That sharp point at the trigger guard is rounded off on the LTT frames. That is the only difference and it is a comfort thing.

I have a brand new M9A1 frame, I sold off the OEM slide assembly and all the lower parts. I have a full NP3 kit to install as well as a Vertec slide assembly with a Stainless barrel. I just have not had the time to put it together. I may modify the frame rails and make it a centurion spec frame, so I may be putting the NP3 kit and slide for sale.

You can see one of my M9A1's that I built using a sniper grey LTT RDO slide (when they were still available). I modified the frame (full de-horning) and had it cerakoted using Elite Smoke (which is kind of slick) put a WAL stainless barrel on it and full NP3 kit. This thing is super nice and feels nothing like a stock 92. The NP3 controls feel just a little nicer, but that NP3 locking block, guide rod and slide parts make the slide cycle really smoothly. The Elite cerakote may be helping with the smooth slide action, so take that with a grain of salt.

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/...&postcount=603

That is beautiful. I have an M9A4, and love it (hated the M9 BTW), but the Vertex grip changed me. I agree with you on the NP3, it does make a difference. I may take your lead on a Vertec build...... thanks for sharing.

[keimuka080123]

They have changed this pistol configuration over the years. LTT is out of their slides, so now they do not come with a LTT / Vertec slide. It sounds like they will not have any LTT slides available for at least a year. I would email them and confirm what comes with it. I do not think they cut a dovetail for the front site on the M9A1 slide. So, still cannot change the front sight.

ok. sounds like good idea. saw that they deburr some parts; not sure if it comes with this package.

based on responses below, i will email them.

thanks

[keimuka080123]

ok. sounds like good idea. saw that they deburr some parts; not sure if it comes with this package.

based on responses below, i will email them.

thanks

yeah. got response from LTT. i guess i will NOT go ahead with the package. unfortunately. the Roster sucks!

[symbology]

[QUOTE=keimuka080123;28061234]yeah. got response from LTT. i guess i will NOT go ahead with the package. unfortunately. the Roster sucks!


Do you have any tools and gunsmithing experience? It is not hard tearing these pistols down and rebuilding them. If you have the ability you can basically build the CA special yourself for less money.

I can help guide you if you are interested.

An option is getting a takeoff 92X or M9A4 RDO slide and using the RDO plate from https://www.dlahdesigns.com/

Best RDO solution other than the LTT machined slide. It is only about a 1.2mm difference in optic height. Pics of modified beretta suppressor height sights and a Holosun mounted to a M9A4 Centurion slide using the dlahdesigns plate.

[hambam105]

Rainbow on the box.

[saudadeii]

I went in a somewhat parallel path with my M9A1.

Bought a blem Vertec upper from Beretta a while back. Added the "G" mod kit (decocker only) myself. No optics cut.

Later, got the Beretta 92X Xtreme trigger kit (not the LTT) on sale and installed myself.

Finally, added the G10 grips, WC mag chute, extended mag release and spiral guide rod.

Point being, you can get the bulk of the features and functions you want if you do it yourself. It wasn't that difficult. The decocker kit has some small detents so you have to be careful when installing them.

Here's mine. When I bought the trigger kit I also got a .22LR kit. The only issue with it is I have to revert back to the stock hammer spring to prevent light strikes on the .22s.

IMG_3741.jpg

[Lonewhitestar620]

I have done it. But I just went with the normal California specials without all the np3. I didn't like the gun to be too flashy imo. The upgrade is definitely worth it. The gun is much more slick and the trigger is amazing. Compared to a stock 92

I have researched online that a difference in 20% better trigger pull from sending it to langdon than to drop in the trigger in the bag by yourself. I don't know how true that is, but I sent mines in to get it worked on.

All my friends who have shot my Beretta CA special from Langdon have said it's a great gun and very smooth.

[Oldmandan]

I looked at this before purchasing my Beretta

I decided it was not worth it, those same mods could be done locally for less $

Have you checked with Randall to see what he would charge to do it all for you?

I opted for a Brig because of the front sight, will one day pickup an M9a1 to get the rail

[symbology]

I have done it. But I just went with the normal California specials without all the np3. I didn't like the gun to be too flashy imo. The upgrade is definitely worth it. The gun is much more slick and the trigger is amazing. Compared to a stock 92

I have researched online that a difference in 20% better trigger pull from sending it to langdon than to drop in the trigger in the bag by yourself. I don't know how true that is, but I sent mines in to get it worked on.

All my friends who have shot my Beretta CA special from Langdon have said it's a great gun and very smooth.

The 20% thing is not true. I think early on, Langdon said 80-90% the same. Though, over the last few years there are many instances where Langdon has stated that it is basically the same. The only difference is that when they are putting the parts in and they function test it, if something feels a little off they can fix it right then and there. They either pull that part and either work on it, or swap it for another one. You can see in videos where people interview Langdon in his shop. You can see his smith in the background putting the pistols together. He literally has bins and/or piles of pre polished parts that he just grabs and installs. He then does a function test, test trigger pull weights etc. These are the same parts bins that they just grab and put in the TJIB kits. They state this in one of the videos as well. Order a TJIB kit and they literally pull the parts and put them in the package for your order. So, there is no difference in the outcome most of the time.

I purchased the Beretta 92X Match trigger kit and polished the parts myself. It feels great as well. I think I like the Langdon trigger bar with the standard elite hammer a little better than the Beretta Match stuff. LTT bar makes for a smoother pull and smoother reset. Beretta Match stuff offers a shorter reset and a more tactical feel. Both are great when polished up, just a little different.

For those that feel the full NP3 kit is not worth it, but are buying a TJIB anyway I think you are missing out. For many of the parts the difference in feel between NP3 coated parts and OEM is not much. However, for others it is more significant. Where the NP3 kit becomes worth it is when you are looking to get the G conversion kit, metal trigger, TJIB, extended mag release, fluted guid rod etc. Once you add all those other parts to the TJIB, the price for the full NP3 kit is not that big of a difference. Especially if your pistol is new, or newer and you can sell your OEM parts kit for $40-$60 and recoup that money.

Just my .02