Handguns – Bob's Bunker

Ever since I got back into shooting in 2018, I’ve been wanting a Beretta 92/M9. Being a part of the generation where we saw Martin Riggs and John McClane toting them, I just had to have one. About a year ago, as the Pandemic Panic buying subsided, I finally found an M9 model. Although it wasn’t my first choice, choices and inventory were limited in Cali. However, this was the first purchase I had buyer’s remorse over because I hated the trigger. It was mushy, had too long of a pull, and the trigger pull was over 11lbs double and 7lbs single action.

So recently, I bought the M’Carbo Beretta spring kit, as well as a stainless steel guide rod. I also added a Factory Aluminum trigger to the parts and sat down last week to attempt to put it all in.

Although I’ve tinkered with small replacements in my guns and built a stripped lower for my AR, I hadn’t attempted breaking down a handgun this much previously. I broke out my Dremel, Flitz, and a punch set, and set to work. Just over three hours later, everything was back together, and the trigger went from over 11lbs to just over 6 double, and a shade over 3 lbs single. It was also much smoother and less spongey.

I took it to the range last weekend, and it was a night and day difference from the previous experience. I went from struggling to keep shots in a silhouette torso at 10 yds to making hits on 4″ plates at 35 yds. I highly recommend the Trigger/Spring kit. I could have shaved an hour off the time, but that seer spring is a pain in the ***!

I think my next improvement may be the Langdon Tactical Trigger transfer bar to shorten up the trigger pull/reset a bit.

– English Bob

I moved to the US in 2001, becoming a citizen in late 2014. Almost immediately my wife told me I was American now, I should buy a gun! I had shot in the UK, while a member of the Army cadet’s and on the battalion shooting team.

I thought about it on and off for the next couple of years finally deciding in late 2017 it was time. My research led me to decide I would most likely get a Compact handgun, most likely in 9mm. This was due to the cost of ammunition, I wanted to be able to afford to shoot it and didn’t want my first handgun to be a 22.

I went to the indoor range near home and rented 5 9mm Handguns, shooting 10 rounds through each. Those initial rentals were:

Glock 19
S&W M&P Shield 9mm
A CZ (don’t remember which)
Springfield XD9
Beretta PX4

I ended up going back and putting 20-30 rounds through both the XD and the Glock 19, finally deciding the Springfield XD9 was the one I liked and shot the best.

January 2nd, 2018 I ventured into my local Sportsman’s warehouse to find out what I needed to do to buy my first gun. The associate behind the counter told me I’d need 2 forms of ID and a Handgun Safety Certificate (Yay California!). Asking how difficult the test was for the Certificate she looked at me and said “Have you handled a gun, and do you have common sense?” after I answered yes to both, she said the test was easy, and I would get two chances.

I went back that evening after work, and left with my 10-day wait underway on the soon-to-be mine XD9!

– English Bob

Category Archives: Handguns

Beretta M9 – it’s a Love / Hate Relationship!

My First Firearm.