Comparison: Beretta 92FS vs. Taurus PT92

One of the most popular handguns was a former U.S military sidearm (they switched to the Sig Sauer in 2017), the Beretta 92FS/M9 and related variants.

The Beretta 92 has firmly established itself as an accurate and reliable pistol that serves well in hostile environments.

The Beretta is a great choice as a home defense weapon or as a SHTF sidearm. The Beretta 92FS can be price prohibitive for some.

Fortunately, there is a less expensive clone of the Beretta 92-series called the Taurus PT92, which has been around since the 1980s and uses the same profile. Is it wise spending less money on a PT92, or should you save up your money and get the Beretta?

While we won’t tell you what to do, we will list the differences between the two so you can make that decision.

History and Development

Many people believe that the Taurus PT92 is a recreation of the modern day Beretta 92FS, when it is in fact a clone of the earlier Beretta 92 pistols.

In the mid-1970s, Beretta released the very first Beretta 92 pistol that utilized a heel magazine release, and a framed mounted safety similar to a 1911.

Brazil decided to use the new 92 as the official sidearm of the Brazilian Army, so Beretta set up a factory in Brazil to begin producing the 92.

Taurus was an incredibly small Brazilian gun manufacturer that had been most well known for making economic revolvers.

When Beretta’s contract for the Brazilian military ended in 1980, they sold the factory (including the blueprints, machines, and workers) to Taurus.

It’s a decision Beretta has probably regretted, as in a few years, Taurus went from a small gun company into a major competitor.

The Beretta 92 later evolved into the Beretta 92S, which placed the frame mounted safety to the slide like we see in today’s modern Berettas.

The 92S evolved into the 92SB, which moved the magazine release from the heel to the traditional position behind the trigger guard.

The 92SB developed into the 92F and then the 92FS, which squared off the trigger guard and replaced the blued finish with Beretta’s tough Bruniton finish.

The Beretta 92FS serves in the U.S Army designated as the M9.  Beretta has since developed many more variants of the Beretta 92FS since then, such as the 92A1 and the M9A1, but the 92FS has remained the mainstay in their 92-line.

The Taurus PT92 has undergone many developments in its history. Unlike Beretta, Taurus kept the frame mounted safety but moved the heel magazine release to the traditional location behind the trigger guard.

Later, a decocker was added to the PT92 that allowed you to decock the gun without engaging the safety.

PT92 pistols remained in this configuration until 1997, when the cocking serrations on the slide were widened and an internal trigger lock was installed into the gun (all Taurus guns have this).

The next major change came in 2005, when Taurus added rails to the PT92 increasing the magazine capacity from 15 to 17 rounds.

Today, the new Taurus PT92 pistols are sold with rails and available in either a matte bluing or polished stainless steel finish.  They are consistently available for $150 to $250 less than the Beretta 92FS.

Here is an actual demonstration of the Beretta vs. Taurus:

Taurus vs Beretta 9mm

Advantages and Disadvantages

While the Beretta 92 and Taurus 92 are definitely in the same family of guns, significant differences exist between the two.

Safety location

The most significant advantage to the PT92 is the location of the safety. Granted, if you prefer the Beretta’s slide mounted safety, you may disagree.

The safety of the PT92 is located on the frame like a 1911, making it more accessible than the Beretta’s slide safety.

Decocking and safety

The decocking and safety are separate on the PT92.  Press the lever down to decock the pistol, and press it up to engage the safety. This means it is possible to carry the PT92 ‘cocked and locked’ like you do with a 1911.

The decocking and safety lever on the Beretta are the same: press the lever down, and the gun decocks and engages the safety simultaneously. The Beretta cannot be carried cocked and locked like the PT92.

Finishes

Both can have the corrosion and rust resistant Bruniton finish, of have one of several finishes including stainless steel,

Frame construction

Both use aluminum alloys in the frame construction. While the PT92 is slightly more lightweight in build, the Beretta’s is still slightly longer (though both pistols will probably last longer than you can shoot them).

Grip

The two pistols have minor differences. The forward part of the grip frame on the PT92 is straight, whereas the Beretta’s is curved at the end (it’s been that way since the U.S military requested it) for a fuller grip.

While the Beretta 92FS is not railed like the PT92, Beretta does sell a railed option called the M9A1.

Mags

The 92FS also ships with 15 round magazines out of the box, in contrast to the PT92’s 17 round mags. Factory Beretta 17-round magazines are available for purchase separately.

Mec-Gar (an aftermarket supplier of pistol magazines) manufactures 18 round magazines for both pistols. Firepower between the two pistols is equal.

Which is more reliable: the Beretta 92FS or the Taurus PT92?

In terms of reliability and accuracy, the Beretta and Taurus seem to be on equal footing. The Beretta definitely has a superior track record having served the U.S military servicemen and law enforcement officers, and military units all over the globe.

The PT92 has seen military and law enforcement service across the world, but not nearly as much as the Beretta.

Quality and accuracy

This isn’t to say that the Taurus is a worse gun than the Beretta. The two pistols are nearly identical in basic design. After all, the PT92 was constructed based on Beretta 92 blueprints with the same machinery and workers, and what they perfected Taurus went back and added details to their newer ones.

In that regard, overall quality and accuracy between the Beretta and the Taurus should be considered on equal ground as they used one another to improve the original design.

Optimizing the Beretta 92 for Self-Defense:

Optimizing the Beretta 92 for Self-Defense

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, if you’re on a budget or have been trained to use a 1911, you’ll probably prefer the Taurus due to its lower price and safety position respectively.

If you want the original manufacturer of the 92-series, prefer the slide mounted safety, or feel more comfortable with Beretta’s track record go with the Beretta 92FS or one of its variants.


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9 thoughts on “Comparison: Beretta 92FS vs. Taurus PT92”

  1. Nice article. I already knew that Taurus had bought the factory and thus the PT92 was not some kind of copy or knock off, but a well made product. I own one with the wood pistol grips and it’s very nice looking. And the metal parts look just as good as other quality pistols. And it shoots very well.
    I went to a gun shop with a friend who casually and without much thought, referred to the Beretta as a copy of the Taurus because he had seen my Taurus PT92 beforehand.
    The guy behind the counter stated, “NO…. the Taurus is a copy of the Beretta.

    I have heard this kind of statement from many an idiot who had no idea of the history of either company or brand and the connection between these handguns. It’s pretty sad that people make assumptions and judgments without being informed.
    It’s not an uncommon for companies and production facilities to change hands. I have an old Terrada acoustic guitar. People look at and say it’s okay, never being too impressed. It was made in a factory in Japan, until the place was sold to Taylor… one of the best guitar brands on the market. Terrada’s are being bought and restored at the cost of thousands of dollars. I am a proud owner of a Taurus.

    Reply
    • I’ve wanted to get a taurus judge just simply because it can shoot .410 slugs and .45 colts. I used to own a glock 23 and loved it. Never jammed and was easy to conceal considering my job requires to walk in wooded areas with snakes everywhere, and also bad neighborhoods in the city, most of the time done at night under overpasses of the interstate and lots of , what I call, “hobo communities” and it’s just dangerous to be walking around those areas at 2-3:00 am. I really loved my glock, but I only felt safe carrying it in a holster with a locking mechanism when I had a round chambered because of not having a safety. I know the chances of it going of it going off on its own while in my pocket is very slim, but it still worried me. I also had a very scary bad mishap, where I had just cleaned the gun and had a live fire with the gun pointed in the direction of my face that almost took off my nose or done much worse, but that’s a story for another day. Let’s just chalk that incident up to poor gun ownership and handling, and thank the good Lord I only have an entrance hole in my ceiling and an exit hole out the side of my house. I decided I wanted an SA/DA .40 caliber pistol with a safety. I did some research and really liked be beretta 90two a1 but when I went to purchase one, I ended up talking myself into getting the full size Beretta PX4 Storm .40 cal instead, because they seemed very similar and the PX4 was $100 cheaper. I love my beretta and have never had any problems and only one jam, but the reason for the jam was from shooting self pressed rounds with less gunpowder because he shoots professionally in competitions and had pressed some with less (not sure if it was half or exactly how much less) powder for use with his 1911 and his glock 24 or 35, not sure which. The slides on his competition guns slide much much easier than my PX4, therefore there wasn’t enough powder to eject the empty shell. I still wanted a Taurus judge and started looking at other tauri models as well, but after doing research on them, I read many horror stories about Taurus, but people on here are singing their praises. I’m not knowledgeable enough to know, and I don’t know many tauri owners. I’d appreciate some info if anyone has any. Thank you and sorry for such a long comment. If you read it all, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, whether you comment or not. Take care and have a wonderful day!

      Reply
  2. I have a Taurus model PT 92 AFS that I carry everyday I also have a old Model Taurus model 66 6 shot. Both guns are in Stainless Steel. There my go to for personal and home protection. I carried a Glock for awhile but really didn’t like the only safety in the Trigger so went back to Taurus. I also love Taurus’s no questions asked lifetime warrenty.

    Reply
      • If someone shoots themselves with a Glock because it doesn’t have a safety, they have no business carrying a firearm. There is no need for a safety in most handguns. I am not a Glock fan, but the concept is no different than dozens of other polymer striker fired pistols available.

        I prefer hammer fired pistols with a decocker like some of the 92s and CZs

        Reply
        • I have watched to gun specialists on video shoot themselves withdrawing their Glocks from their holsters. One of them travels for a living from a police department and displays proper gun procedures to school kids. Now I have to assume he has earned the right to carry a handgun. In front of a packed class he drew his weapon from a leg holster and before the gun left the holster he shot himself in the leg. Keep your Glock I’ll keep my Taurus T92 and M&P Shield.

          Reply
          • Sounds like you’re talking about that DEA guy who shot himself with what he called his “Glock 40.” Yeah, that clown had his finger on the trigger while reholstering. Interestingly enough, the only way to make a quality striker-fire pistol go off is to pull the trigger. I’ve carried a variety of semi-auto pistols, both privately and professionally, for over 20 years. None of them went bang without the finger pulling the boom switch.

  3. I have two PT 92s, one of which dates to 1987 and has had a few thousand rounds through it. Both eat anything. Hard to argue with. The newer one has the decocker (useful) and rail, which I don’t hate, but am not crazy about because it’s tight in the Bianchi holster I already have for the older one. I think the rail was added in about 2005 because rails were all the rage then.
    FWIW, I don’t care for quad-rail AR 15s. Feels too much like grabbing a cheese grater.

    Reply
  4. I think the Taurus PT92 is a fantastic pistol. The design of the PT92/92fs leads to a very accurate, flat recoiling and smooth shooting pistol.
    Now, in my opinion and experience, there is one glaring issue with the PT92: the oem magazine.
    It struggles to keep the bullets at the correct angle for proper feeding. I have had multiple FTFs when shooting with the Taurus magazines, so often I would say it happens at least once per magazine, if not more. I have also had issues where the last round sticks straight up from the magazine, jamming up the action.
    Using MecGar magazines fixes this problem for me, but a firearm should be completely reliable with all of its parts, especially parts that dictate reliability.
    Nonetheless, I love the PT92 and will always keep her in the collection.

    Reply

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