{"id":29172,"date":"2014-12-21T13:54:17","date_gmt":"2014-12-21T18:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=29172"},"modified":"2014-12-21T13:54:17","modified_gmt":"2023-08-18T07:48:50","slug":"inside-scoop-new-beretta-m9a3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/inside-scoop-new-beretta-m9a3\/","title":{"rendered":"The Inside Scoop on the New Beretta M9A3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, I was waxing poetic about the upcoming Modular Handgun System trials, and I’d put together my list of logical entrants<\/a>. In that piece, I went on record in defense of Beretta. It’s no secret that I respect the M9 platform, but that wasn’t the reason I included them in the list. Beretta has 30 years of experience with the M9. They know the proverbial ropes. This history isn’t a guarantee that they’ll be awarded the new contract (just ask Colt–they’ll tell you). Still, don’t count Beretta out. They can play this game. Take this week’s announcement of the M9A3<\/a><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Beretta<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The M9A3 is suppressor ready, and the frame has a rail.<\/p><\/div>\n

A break down of the M9A3.<\/h2>\n

The M9A3 is still a 9mm. That part isn’t easily changed for a contract that had, as one of its core stipulations, use of the 9mm round. The operating system hasn’t changed. It is still a short recoil, semiautomic, double\/single action. The tilting locking block, though, is a 3rd generation of the\u00a0 design, and increases service life.<\/p>\n

The M9A3 offers an increase in magazine capacity from 15 to 17 rounds. For continuity purposes, 15 round mags are available, as are 20 round and 30 round magazines. Magazines will be built with a sand-resistant PVD coating, and will have channels inside that move sand away from the walls of the magazine and the rounds inside, which will prevent binding.<\/p>\n

\"xx\"<\/a>

The M9A3 makes significant changes to the M9A1 pistol, but it is still an M9 at heart.<\/p><\/div>\n

The front sight blade will be dovetailed, and have a tritium dot. This will allow for adjustments, or use of suppressor height sights. The rear sight will be a dovetailed notched bar, tritium 2-dot.<\/p>\n

The safeties will still be comprised of a decocking\/safety lever, automatic firing pin block, loaded chamber indicator, external hammer, half-cock notch, double action first trigger pull.<\/p>\n

Beretta has also moved the safety\/decocker up on the slide, out of line with center, and given it a slightly different angle. This prevents the accidental engagement during slide manipulation. Beretta’s new “Universal” slide design allow armorers to convert the “F” style pistols to “G” configurations. This makes the safety\/ decocker a decocker only.<\/p>\n

As with the M9, the “external hammer provides the energy to the firing pin, virtually eliminating the possibility of misfires due to light primer strikes, even in adverse conditions. As with the other M9 variants, this hammer provides an immediate visual and tactile indicator as to the cocked\/uncocked status of the pistol.”<\/p>\n

The new M9A3 will be finished in Flat Dark Earth. The whole gun will have a mix of Cerakote, anodizing, Bruniton, black oxide, and PVD finishes and coatings. These “advanced coatings provide high lubricity, corrosion resistance and excellent wear resistance. Reduced visual and IR signature.”<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The SERPA holster in use by the Marines will hold the new M9A3.<\/p><\/div>\n

The barrel will be chrome lined, and threaded to 1\/2″ x28 on an extension. It will also come with a thread protector. This will allow for suppressors for the lucky few. Like the M9A1, the A3 has a 3 slot MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail.<\/p>\n

Shooters with larger hands will have a choice of a wrap around backstrap grip, while shooters with smaller hands can use a “Vertec” grip with a straight backstrap and thinner grip panels. Beneath the grip, the mag well has a more pronounced bevel to allow for faster, easier magazine changes.<\/p>\n