Beretta M9A3
Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A. · Pistol · In Production · 2015
Also known as: M9A3 Type G, M9A3 FDE
Overview
The Beretta M9A3 is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, produced by Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 947 g (33.4 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 1175 g (41.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 221 mm (8.70") |
| Barrel Length | 127 mm (5.00") |
| Height | 137 mm (5.39") |
| Width | 38 mm (1.50") |
| Sight Radius | 160 mm (6.30") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Trigger Pull | 53 N (11.9 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 17 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 381 m/s (1250 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 540 J (398 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1800 m (1968 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 250 mm (9.84") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Flat Dark Earth |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Ambidextrous Manual Safety, Decocking Lever, Firing Pin Block, Hammer Half Cock
- Features: Threaded Barrel, Picatinny Rail, Tritium Night Sights, Vertec Thin Grip, Interchangeable Backstraps, Sand Resistant Magazine, Beveled Mag Well, Front And Rear Slide Serrations, Suppressor Height Sights
Variants
- Beretta M9A3 Type G — Decocker Only
- Beretta M9A3 Black — Color Variant
- Beretta M9A4 — Optics Ready
Base model
Service history
Operators
- United States Armed Forces · adopted 1985 · as M9
- Italian Armed Forces
- French Armed Forces · as PAMAS G1
- Brazilian Armed Forces
- Egyptian Armed Forces
- Los Angeles Police Department
Production
Production years: 2015-present
Civilian and law enforcement sales. The U.S. Army rejected the M9A3 upgrade proposal in January 2015.
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Designer: Carlo Beretta
Notes
The M9A3 was originally proposed to the U.S. Army as an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) to upgrade existing M9 pistols, but was rejected in January 2015, leading to the MHS competition. The M9A3 uses the same Beretta 92 series magazines but includes upgraded sand-resistant variants. The Type G (decocker-only) variant eliminates the manual safety lever. The barrel is threaded 1/2x28 for suppressor attachment. The Beretta 92 series has been in production since 1975 and is one of the most widely issued military pistols in the world.
Background
The M9A3 was Beretta's last-ditch attempt to keep the M9 in U.S. military service. Proposed as an Engineering Change Proposal to upgrade existing M9 pistols, the Army rejected it in favor of launching the entirely new Modular Handgun System competition, which SIG Sauer ultimately won with the P320.