new to Berettas...

[eric1182]

I'm in the market for my first handgun and have narrowed my interest to 9mm and .40 s&w. Initially I was completely set on buying a glock, but lately the berettas have been catching my eye. I've done my research on glocks and feel very familiar with all the differences among the various models. I'm looking to gain that same kind of general knowledge about berettas so I can make an informed decision on which to go with. Any info. that would be helpful to a beretta newcomer will be greatly appreciated.

[splashdown]

Originally posted by eric1182
I'm in the market for my first handgun and have narrowed my interest to 9mm and .40 s&w. Initially I was completely set on buying a glock, but lately the berettas have been catching my eye. I've done my research on glocks and feel very familiar with all the differences among the various models. I'm looking to gain that same kind of general knowledge about berettas so I can make an informed decision on which to go with. Any info. that would be helpful to a beretta newcomer will be greatly appreciated.

It's hard not to be familiar with the Glock models. It's almost like one of those build your own burrito places. First you choose a caliber, then a grip length, then a barrel length and voila, there's more than likely a model for you.

I'm assuming you're talking about the 9X series of Berettas.
92=9mm
96=.40

92FS - lever functions as a decocker and safety
92G - lever functions only as a decocker, no safety
92D - no lever. double action only. "slick slide"
92GSD - G (as above) special duty (accessory rail up front)
Anything with Vertec in the name is the grip frame with straight backstrap and accessory rail.
Anything with Elite in the name has factory custom features for competition use.
Brigadier models have a slightly thicker slide that is contoured around the locking block (top rear of the open top slide). Elite, GSD, Stock, Combat, Border Marshall, and others have the Brig slide. Finding a holster is a little more difficult, but you have the bonus of a dovetailed front sight that you can change to whatever you like.

Those are the basics.

[Alexii]

Just additional info on the excellent post of splashdown--

Milt Sparks (www.miltsparks.com) and Orca Custom (www.orcacustom.com) both make holsters for the Beretta Brigadiers. I'm sure other holstermakers make them too, but I've had positive experience with these two manufacturers

[Navy87Guy]

I bought a Comp-Tac paddle that's made for the Vertec frame. It fits my 92G Vertec like a glove!

Jim

[splashdown]

Oh, there are plenty of holsters that will fit the Brig. I'm just saying, don't assume that every 92 holster will work for your Brig. The opposite is true though, all Brig holsters will work for the standard slide guns. The GSD and Vertec are whole different animals with the accessory rail.