Beretta M9 Background
The Beretta M9 was adopted in 1985, dethroning the iconic 1911 in military service. The United States needed a higher-capacity 9mm handgun with updated controls. Many 9mm handguns were submitted for trials, and ultimately the Beretta M9 was selected as the main service handgun for all branches of the military.
Over the years, the Beretta M9 has seen some minor changes, with variants like the A1, A2, A3, and now A4. In 2017, the U.S. Army officially adopted the SIG Sauer M17 to replace the Beretta in service. This change would lead to the other branches of the military also holding trials and adopting a version of the new SIG handgun, ending the Beretta’s official designation as the service handgun for the armed forces. As it takes years to fully replace a service handgun, the M9 can still be found in service today.
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The Latest Edition
Beretta continues to innovate on the M9 platform, which is still one of the company’s most popular handgun designs. The M9A4 has the same smooth 9mm Beretta action based on Beretta’s hinged breechblock; however, the A4 variant adds an optic cut with an optic plate, along with the thinner grip, threaded barrel, and tactical rail from the A3 model.
The M9A4 also features a threaded barrel that allows the addition of a compensator. Compensated handguns seem to be the way of the future, as more and more companies are adding threaded options to their popular models. The compensator flattens the shooting experience for a smoother recoil impulse.
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The final upgrade from the original Beretta M9 comes in the way of magazine capacity. The Beretta M9A4 features an 18-round flush-fit magazine while remaining compatible with the original 15-round magazines.
On the range
The Beretta M9 is one of the smoothest handguns on the market. If you ever get a chance to shoot one, take advantage.
Sadly, some folks formed a negative opinion of the Beretta during their time in the military, but most of those issues can be attributed to poor maintenance, overuse, and the United States not stocking the correct magazines. As with any military service firearm, many of the M9s in service are poorly maintained, rarely get replacement parts, and serve well past their life expectancy.
The Beretta M9A4 is an improved version of the already smooth Beretta design. On the range, it is easy to feel the improved ergonomics with the thinner grip module and the aggressive texturing on the G10-style grips. The slide feels polished and pulls back with little effort. The optic plate is mounted with a Holosun 507 red dot sight, which provides a clean and quick sight picture.
The single-action trigger is crisp with a short reset, while the double-action pull is smooth and consistent. When you squeeze the trigger, your sight picture returns immediately. The thin grip, smooth recoil impulse, and compensation from the muzzle device all work to ease the stress of recoil. This allows for rapid follow-up shots and a more stable sight picture through the course of fire. With 18 rounds at your disposal, each magazine feels like it lasts forever, building confidence in every shot.
Pros & Cons
I already loved the Beretta M9, but it’s easy to see why the A4 variant is an improvement. The smooth recoil, low muzzle rise, 18-round magazines, thin and ergonomic grip, and compensator all make for an incredible shooting experience. Overall, it is one of my favorite full-sized handguns, and I understand why so many people love the design.
The only complaint I have is with the optic cut and mount. The M9 slide was not designed with optics in mind, and I think the shallow cut leads to the screws walking out on your optic over time. In fact, I had this issue at Beretta’s range event at SHOT Show 2025. At the same event, I had a chance to shoot some Langdon Tactical Berettas, and it seems that LT has worked out all the issues with the mounting plate. I think Beretta should let Langdon take care of all its optic cuts.
Related: Beretta Rolls Out Fleet of New Guns, Tactical Additions for 2025
Outside of the issue with the optic, the Beretta M9A4 shoots like a dream.
Summary
Beretta is the world's oldest firearms manufacturer, and the company’s expertise and skill show in the M9A4 design. The brand is trusted, and its products are high quality and reliable. You can’t go wrong with a classic design from this historical company, with all the modern features and amenities that one would expect from a quality handgun.
