If there’s a 9mm pistol that never goes out of style, it’s the Beretta 92. Not only has Beretta been breathing new life into them over the past few years, but many shooters still enjoy shooting their older models of this pistol. Even in 2025, a standard Beretta 92FS can be a perfectly serviceable pistol. However, with a few upgrades, these classics can become even sweeter shooters despite some of their “limitations.” Naturally, the smattering of different upgrades listed below isn’t comprehensive, but they do apply to most Beretta 92 pistols out there.
Langdon Tactical “Trigger Job In A Bag” (MSRP: $215)
Langdon Tactical Technologies (LTT) has a good idea about the Beretta 92 and its ignition parts and so created the “Trigger Job In A Bag” (TJIAB). The TJIAB is a collection of worked-over ignition parts that are sent to the customer with the idea that he or she can swap them out on their Beretta 92 frame at home. According to LTT, the worked-over parts in the TJIAB are the equivalent to 80 percent of the work done on pistols that are on the benches in the LTT shop
The LTT TJIAB includes:
- Worked-over trigger bar
- Beretta Elite 2 style hammer
- Worked-over sear and sear spring
- Trigger spring
- Polished hammer strut
- Reduced power hammer spring which smoothens the first double-action trigger pull to 7 or less pounds depending on option. This also changes all single-action trigger pulls to 4 pounds.
Wilson Combat Rear Battlesights For Beretta 92 (MSRP: $51.95)
Although older Beretta 92 slides include fixed front sights, which is a very old school vestigial feature from the earlier days of semi-automatic pistols, all Beretta 92 slides have a dovetail for a rear sight. You might recall that Wilson Combat launched its Brigadier Tactical model in 2014. A unique feature of this pistol was the Wilson Combat Battlesight that fit the 92’s dovetail. Battlesights are available with both U-shape and square rear sight notches. Wilson Combat also offers several models with differing notch widths to accommodate customer preference.
LOK Grips Thin Veloce (MSRP: $67.95)
One of the biggest complaints about the standard Beretta 92 has always been that it has a “chunky” grip circumference. Beretta 92 frames can accept different grip panels, so adding thinner grips to these pistols is one way to alleviate the problem and improve the control and feel of the gun in your hand. LOK Grips offers Thin Veloce grip panels for the Beretta 92. These panels are manufactured from G10 and include moderate texturing that’s an improvement over the OEM plastic grip panels. Installed, they reduce the width of the grip by approximately 3/16ths of an inch. Since they’re made to order, customers can have them cut for standard and Vertec frames. LOK even offers the option to have them cut for the old-school heel mag release of the original Beretta 92S.
Beretta Billenium “Oversize” Magazine Release (MSRP: $45.00)
Simply known as the “Oversize” magazine release, this magazine release button originates from the collectible full-steel single-action Beretta 92 Billenium. Compared to the standard 92FS/M9 magazine release, the Beretta Billenium style magazine release juts out slightly further and has a slightly larger, oval-shaped checkered surface.
Even though appeal to authority is a “logical fallacy,” take a look at all current-production factory Beretta options, from the M9A4, Beretta 92X Performance, Beretta 92 GTS et al: all come with the Billenium style magazine release by default, and both Wilson Combat and Langdon Tactical have added this magazine release as a feature before the 92 ship’s sails started catching wind again, making this upgrade is a no-brainer for older pistols.
Beretta M9 G Decock Conversion Kit (MSRP: $67.00)
The factory-produced Beretta M9 G Decock Conversion Kit is another worthwhile upgrade for older Beretta 92 pistols, particularly those that are set up as “FS” models.
In Beretta parlance, “G” indicates “decock-only” which means that the slide-mounted levers will only decock the hammer and spring back immediately to their default positions. Safety-wise, “G” pistols rely on the extra trigger-weight and travel of the double-action pull, just like virtually every double-action revolver or double action/single action semi-automatic in existence.
The “F/FS” configuration dates back to US military requirements during the XM9 pistol trial. The government stipulated that the pistol needed to have a specific “safe” position, so Beretta designed the M9/92FS slide levers to “stay on safe” every time they get depressed.
Like “G” pistols, it is fine to carry an “FS” model with the levers forward, using the longer, stiffer double-action trigger pull as a safety measure as you would on a revolver or DA/SA pistol. The issue is that “FS” levers tend to inadvertently work themselves into the down “on-safe” position and can fumble and otherwise clean draw and target presentation. I’ve experienced many times at matches with my personal M9 personally it’s quite annoying. Beretta’s conversion kit is a non-invasive method that solves this pesky issue without having to send the slide to a gunsmith.
Read the full article here