The Beretta 92 Centurion

[AJMD429]

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Just got one, and it is likely going to replace my trusty Taurus 92.

Ayoob likes it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX9OuWsdUv8

(...and likes the 92 in general - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN--QZp8S0U...)

My goal is/was to find a 92-like design without the slide-mounted safety (I prefer the 1911-style). That's why I went with the Taurus, and it has functioned flawlessly for 30 years or so as my primary carry gun.

However my ageing eyes don't do well with 'stock' handgun sights, so I have put 'ghost ring' sights on my Ruger revolvers where possible, and a Glock, and a couple 22 LR target/hunting pistols. I tried a red-dot on a Ruger RXM, but cannot get fast acquisition of the dot, no matter how much I practice 'presentation' - PLUS I have to think that in a crisis, the 'presentation' may be left-handed with a bloody eye and from on the ground, and have to be FAST. I can see the red-dot as fun for range competitions but just not for a real-world CCW gun.

So now the latest experiment was to put a Marble's Bullseye on a 1911 I have in 9mm, just because I still do like 1911's, and 9mm, and that particular gun had a rear sight dovetail close to the Marble's Bullseye dimensions.

The sight picture on my Marble's-1911 versus Red-dot-Ruger for comparison...(note the front was not fully drifted to center yet as I was still testing sight height).



viewtopic.php?p=1014043#p1014043

The red-dot in the Marble's setup is not only visible BEFORE it is lined up within the rear opening (unlike the red-dot), there is also much less obstruction of view with the setup than most red dots (even without cowitnessed sights), and WAY less obstruction than regular 'open iron' sights. With regular irons, you cannot really see anything below or closer to the point of aim, unlike with the Marble's Bullseye.

Here's a markup on a Marble's Bullseye view to show how much is blocked (the lower half of the potential sight picture) with a 'regular' iron sight:



I really LOVE that setup - WAY faster for me than the red-dot, and no batteries to die, far less bulky, more durable, and inexpensive (other than I may need to hire a gunsmith to fit it if I chicken out).

Anyway, the Centurion from Beretta, unlike the Taurus, allows replacement of the front and rear sights, and it appears a 'suppressor height' front will fit with tne Marble's rear, so I'm psyched and fIngers crossed.

[Ysabel Kid]

That's why I bought the Taurus 30+ years ago as well. It has a frame-mounted, non-decocker safety. Plus it was a lot more affordable when I started out!

[Sarge]

I've owned two 9mms my whole life. The only one I regret parting with was a 92G (decocker) Centurion, one the most accurate pistols I ever owned.

[AJMD429]

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I dropped the baby off at the gunsmith today - they said two week turnaround - they work with a machine shop that will re-mill the dovetail of the fixed (there is a ramp-kind) Marbles Bullseye sight to fit my Centurion and install that, and loosen the 'staked' front sight for me, so I can shoot a group with it, a group with the 'suppressor height' fiberoptic front I have already purchased, and then by seeing where those groups hit I can decide on what height front sight to order for it for the final results.

I haven't had a good gunsmith experience since 1975 when a guy was willing to humor me and remove the front ramp and sight from my Super Blackhawk '200th Year Commemorative' and replace it with a ramped 1/16" gold-bead. I made my own 'v' notch rear sight blade insert from a hacksaw blade.

Of course I think the only other gunsmith experience was getting a one-piece rail mounted on a breakopen shotgun in around 1995 or so and that's when another gunsmith drilled and tapped the chamber area, and the tapered area just forward of it, and very snugly screwed down the rail section, nicely FOLLOWING the contour of the tapered barrel It was about a five degree bend...!

Hopefully this one will go well - the shop I'm using has an excellent reputation, and they do work with a machine shop if there are parts needing modified or fabricated.

Now I'm tempted to see if they'll mill out a Marble's Bullseye to have it threaded and shaped to ride in the rear-sight channel of a Williams FP sight...

The end result would be really cool on a levergun - the speed of a Marbles Bullseye but the adjustability of a Williams FP. I think any machinist could do it pretty well.

[Streetstar]

Ken HAckathorn was on the GunTalk show a bit ago ----

He feels the red dot on a defensive pistol is fine for a guy who puts 3 or 4000 rounds a year downrange , --(and there are likely a few of these guys' and gals among the Leverguns collective who do that ) -- but -- for the rest of us having good open sights is still a better approach

Dont know - i only have one red dot equipped pistol right now - its a Trijicon RMR, so not a cheap one, --- but i'd rather not carry that one -- i just dont have enough rounds downrange to trust being able to instantly find the dot like a competition shooter

[Paladin]

Even many duty weapons issued now have red dot sights. It is a massive step up in accuracy and ability in low light. As most predators (both four and two-legged) prefer the dark. I have a few and really like them. The rifle was set up this way after my first Grizzly in the camp experience at 0200.

As issued

DPS Shadow Systems.jpg

Co Pilot.jpg

[Streetstar]

Even many duty weapons issued now have red dot sights. It is a massive step up in accuracy and ability in low light. As most predators (both four and two-legged) prefer the dark. I have a few and really like them. The rifle was set up this way after my first Grizzly in the camp experience at 0200.

As issued
DPS Shadow Systems.jpg
Co Pilot.jpg

Paladin --- i get this on a primary weapon , but don't on a sidearm -- I will concede that although i have a bit of downrange experience in ugly places --- it is not what you have --- not even close

But on the handgun where you are only carrying 2-3 spare mags if that -- the use in a military application is "last resort only" and at 5 yards or less does it matter? If i have lost my primary the need to pull the secondary is a ---"bohica" situation and a --- get the heck out of there

Grizzly in camp when you have a sight picture on a long gun, sure -- would be faster than an LPVO in low or no light for sure

Sidearms in military applications now kind of remind me of knives when i first deployed ---- a lot of us were issued sheath knives (mine was a MK 2 ) that we hung upside down on the LBE (87-92 -- long time ago but not stone age yet) -- and were given a bit of leeway for civilian stuff too -- Chris Reeves , early Essee stuff - etc etc , even Randalls for those who didnt spend their enlisted paychecks on IROC-Z's ) ---

After a couple of trips out those got left back at camp --- stupid Spyderco in the pocket or the Camillus 4 blade folder got most things done -- when 2 pounds mattered it was better spent on an extra M16 magazine and this was learned fairly early


I am trying like heck to get the hang of the pistol pictured below as it cost me enough for that package --- but i keep coming back to my non red dot equipped Model 20 as a faster gun for me --