Taurus PT92 and Taurus PT99 bear a considerable resemblance to two Beretta models with slight modifications and made under license in Brazil. Taurus company is located in the former Beretta factory. Those Taurus models are currently being offered on the commercial market in the United States and they have been adopted by Brazilian military and security forces.
Design
The Taurus PT92 and Taurus PT99 are virtually identical, the difference being that the PT92 uses fixed sights and is intended as a service or combat weapon, while PT99 has wooden grips and is intended for target shooting. The general form is that of the Beretta Model 92, a locked-breech pistol using a variation of the Walther P38 dropping block to lock barrel and receiver together during firing.
The principal change in addition to Beretta 92
The principal change is in the trigger guard, the front edge of which has a reverse curve which is serrated to provide a good grip for the popular two-handed grasp. The magazine is slightly different from the Beretta design, having a number of small holes in the rear face through which can the cartridge contents can be counted.
The workmanship and finish of the Taurus pistols are very good, and they are above-average accuracy for basic military pistols. The adjustable-sight model, once zeroed, is very good, being capable of off-hand two-inch groups at 25 yards in the hands of a moderately-practiced shooter.
User experience
I personally enjoy the more practical and beautiful older style handguns such as the Taurus PT92. Some time ago I was looking for the M9 (Beretta 92) for my personal collection and I stumbled across this thing called a Taurus, it looked like an M9, smelt like an M9, felt like an M9 and it had a very appealing price for me (around $400).
It wasn’t exactly like an M9, but it was close enough, that I didn’t mind. Once I took it to a range and started firing it, I loved it. The overall price-quality ratio is obvious.
Technical specifications: Taurus PT92
| Manufacturer: | Forjas Taurus SA, Estrada do Forte 511, CP 44, Porto Alegre RS, Brasil |
| Type: | locked breech, double-action, semi-automatic pistol |
| Caliber: | 9 mm Parabellum |
| Barrel: | 4.9 in (125 mm) |
| Weight (empty): | 34 oz (964 grams) |
| Magazine capacity: | 15 rounds |
The PT 99 is chambered in 40cal and that is the difference between the 2 not the sights and grips. I own both.
Jon Wiltberger: I own a PT-99, adjustable site and 9mm
there is no PT99 in 40. The 40 are PT 100 and 101.
The safety is the major difference between the two!
How is “the principle change” consist of the trigger guard when the biggest difference is the frame mounted safety with “up for safe” & “down for fire” as opposed to Beretta’s slide mounted safety with the opposite controls? This is because the original Berettas had a frame mounted safety but they changed it shortly after production.
I’ve owned a PT99 for years. The frame mounted safely ( that works in the proper direction) is the biggest difference. Magazines are not interchangeable with the M9. My PT99 has a pretty horrible DA trigger pull, but the SA trigger is great.
I HAVE AN ATTACHMENT ON THE END OF MY PT99 THAT IS SLOTTED LIKE MUZZLE BRAKE. IT CLAMPS ON THE SMALL PORTION OF THE BARRELL AT THE FRONT OF THE SLIDE; WHAT THE HELL IS IT REALLY?
I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN AN ANSWER.
I have the PT99 AF that I purchased new way back in 1983. I was in the US Marine Corps at the time and wanted to give myself some advance experience before we switched over to the Beretta M9. I couldn’t find one of the Beretta’s and knew this was almost an exact clone except for the safety lever location so I grabbed it. Have had a few hiccups with it ejecting straight back towards my face, but a little attention to the ejector took care of that. It has been phenomenally accurate and a pleasure to shoot! I was able to get it for over a hundred less than the Berretta, so it was a bargain. I have owned this longer than any other handgun and absolutely wouldn’t trade it! Taurus really did a bang up job on these before they started trying to cut costs. Haven’t had the opportunity to try out the more modern incarnation of the Taurus to compare it to. I also have the PT809 that I received as a result of the safety recall on the Millenium Pro I had in .40 and it has performed well too, but not to the level of my 99.