Home Reviews Wa Beretta 92fspv WA Beretta 92FS “Perfect Version”

WA Beretta 92FS “Perfect Version”

by Arnie

WA
Beretta 92FS “Perfect Version”

review Brian
James aka Chimaera
(brian.james@flash.net)

Stock
Specifications
FPS
270-290FPS
HFC134a &.20gBB’s
Length: 217mm/8.55in
Weight: 960g/2.11lbs
Power
Source:
HFC134a
Only (Recommended)

Ammo
capacity:

25+1 Round
(Standard Mag)

Metal
Parts:
Trigger,
Safety, Hammer, Spring Guide, Hop-Up Assembly, Mag Release, Disassembly
Lever, Trigger Assembly, Rear Sight, Slide Catch, Magazine


Background
Information
If you have to own one Beretta, the best Beretta,
it has to be the WA Beretta 92FS “Perfect Version”. Western Arms
is pretty much the undisputed king when it comes to manufacturing high-quality,
realistic replicas of handguns, and the Perfect Version, or “PV”
is no exception. Tokyo Marui and KSC both make great replicas, but don’t come
very close authenticity-wise. The Marui M9 series lack a decocker and Beretta
trademarks. They also have a fixed-hop-up and visible seam lines. The KSC
M9 series have a better build quality and functioning decocker, but have huge
“KSC” markings on the grips where the Beretta triple-arrow logo
would be. If has to be the highest quality, most realistic Beretta, it’s got
to be a PV.

My personal
PV was purchased from the folks at Full Auto Airsoft in Hawaii, since it was
on sale at a very nice price (shipped, for $50 less than any Hong Kong retailers
after shipping). I had always wanted a Western Arms handgun, always
wanted a Beretta 92 series of some sorts, and always wanted to play LAPD =)
When this deal came buy, I jumped on it.

Build
Quality
This gun is the nicest gas-blowback pistol I’ve ever
held or fired. There are no visible seam lines, and the gun feels like a real
gun in your hand. At 960g, it’s no lightweight. You won’t be worried you’ll
accidentally throw it like you’d feel if you were holding a KSC Glock. The
sound the gun makes when you release the slide is worth the price tag alone.
Pure music, a “ka-CHINK” of metal on metal parts. Inserting the
metal magazine also gives a nice “k-schlink!” sound. The gun sports
an excellent matte black finish that makes it look even more convincing. The
grip feels nice and beefy in your hands, and of course the gun sports the
coveted Beretta trademarks, licensed straight from Pietro Beretta in Italy.
On the left side of the gun you’ll see:

PIETRO
BERETTA GARDONE V.T. – MADE IN JAPAN
BY WESTERN ARMS
D071516Z

And on
the right:
MOD.92FS – CAL.9 Parabellum – PATENTED
BERETTA USA CORP., ACKK, MD.
This product is made in JAPAN by WESTERN ARMS CO., LTD. and Beretta trademarks
are affixed under exclusive license of FABBRICA D’ARMI PIETRO BERETTA S.P.A.

These are
the exact markings one would find on a real Beretta 92FS, save for the “Made
in Japan” and licensing bits, and the “ASGK” marking. Some
dislike the having the licensing agreement on the slide, but I don’t notice
it. It’s on the frame of the gun, under the slide, so the top line is usually
masked by the shadow of the slide. Also, the text isn’t as bold as the “MOD.92FS”
markings above it.
As widely noted, the magazine does not perfectly fit inside the well, and
some noise is produced if you shake the gun back and forth. This can be inexpensively
remedied by placing some tape or a square of Velcro (the soft side, obviously)
inside the magazine well.

Power
and Blowback
The WA PV puts out a respectable 270-290FPS using
HFC134a. Western Arms recommends ONLY HFC134a for use in all of their products.
I will back them up on this. You don’t want to turn a $180 gun into a paperweight
because you want a little more punch. As evidenced below, the PV puts out
as much or more range and accuracy using HFC134a than a Marui M9 using HFC22.

Blowback
on the PV is outstanding, it feels like a nice chunk of metal recoiling into
your arm. Thanks to WA’s Magna Blowback system, you can fire the gun sideways
or upside down with no loss in power, and no gas leakage or frost-bitten fingers.

Range
and Accuracy
A WA PV with correctly set hop-up gets the same
or better accuracy using HFC134a than a Marui M9 using HFC22. No one has been
able to figure out why, but it just does it. Don’t ask, just enjoy watching
your Marui M9-toting friends scratch their heads in puzzlement. =) However,
for you power-mongers out there (you know who you are, HFC22 addicts), you
may find the PV lacking in that it is not built to tolerate the stresses that
accompany using HFC22 gas.

**Accuracy
testing to come soon.**

Balance,
Comfort, and Function
The PV is pretty much perfectly balance,
it doesn’t feel front- or rear-heavy at all. The gun itself is very comfortable,
with it’s textured grip providing a good gripping surface. The arch of the
backstrap creates “natural” feel when you grasp the gun, placing
the web between thumb and index finger as high as possible on the gun, the
ideal shooting grip. The slide release is easily manipulated, and the safety/decocker
is easily applied. Disengaging the safety may take a little movement, but
is not excessive like on a Smith and Wesson automatic. The hammer is easily
cocked, although I recommend doing this with a two-handed grip, as using only
one hand repositions your grip on the pistol. Engaging the safety and using
the slide release are very natural motions and can be accomplished without
shifting your grip on the pistol. The slide is also easy to manipulate thanks
to it’s grooves.

This gun
is a natural pointer, thanks to it’s great grip design and balance. The sights
are very good, no blocky Glock-type sights, just three clearly-visible white
dots on thin posts.

The gun features
a Double Action/Single Action trigger with a decocker. When the slide is racked,
the hammer is automatically cocked. By pushing the safety lever downwards,
the hammer is lowered and the safety activated. By pushing the lever back
up, the hammer remains down but the trigger can be pulled, cocking and releasing
the hammer in one motion. When the safety is activated, a piece of metal actually
protrudes, physically blocking the hammer.

Disassembly
The WA PV is a breeze to disassemble, using the familiar Beretta field-stripping
system. Eject the magazine, turn off the safety, then, while pressing in a
button on the right side of the frame, turn a lever on the left side 90 degrees
downward, and the slide comes forward a few millimetres off the frame. From
here the hop-up can be adjusted, a word on that later. Disassembly can be
a tad tricky if you haven’t done it before. The first time I tried, the lever
would *not* flip back up. After 5-6 attempts I consulted the WA manual, and
found that you have to be pushing the barrel back, then flip the lever up.
Voila, problem solved.
Hop-Up adjustment on this gun, like most WA guns, takes some time. You’ll
need a very small hex wrench, and you have to field-strip the gun to adjust
the hop-up. Adjust, shoot, field strip, Adjust, shoot, field strip. Lather,
rinse, repeat. Gets old after a while, if you can imagine. However, it’s worth
it, as stated above.

Comments
This gun really grows on you. I find myself babying this gun. My last AEG,
an MP5SD6, was a genuine piece of garbage after I had owned it for about three
months. The stock had fallen off, the suppressor was marred beyond recognition,
the paint that marked the fire selector’s positions was gone, it was a mess.
My KSC Glock 17 shared a similar fate. The front site was crooked and could
never be straightened, the slide was scratched, rear sight misaligned, slide
catch worn, you name it. I’ve sold both, but I actually baby this gun, an
unusual thing for me. I have a reputation of one who is never satisfied. I’ve
gone through 3 AEG’s and a GBB in a year and a half, and have never owned
an AEG or GBB more than six months. I plan on having this gun for a long,
long time. A WA gun is an investment, and I’m starting to be wiser in my ways.
Also, being a very popular model, there are a host of holsters, lanyards,
flashlights, lasers, magazine pouches, suppressors, you name it, it’s out
there, essentially.


Conclusion

Appearance/Build
Quality:


4.8/5 – Arguably “perfect”.

Power/Blowback:

4/5
– Doesn’t take HFC22, but neither do most Japanese GBB’s. Nice blowback,
average power.

Range/Accuracy:

4.5/5
– Shoots the same or better as a TM M9 with HFC22.

Balance/Comfort/Controls:

4.5/5
Safety and slide release are in natural positions and are easily
manipulated. Perfectly balanced, nice grip shape.

Value
for Money:

4/5
– You’ll get your money’s worth. The most expensive of all Berettas,
but if you have to have the best…

Upgrade
Potential:
2/5
– There are valve upgrades out there, and a few aftermarket WA items,
but they are few and far between.
Accessories:
4/5
– Not a Glock, but one of the most popular handguns out there.
Sights:
4/5
Nicely done. Better than most, but nothing to scream about.
Magazine
Changes:
4/5
– Magazines slide in smoothly.

Average
of all Scores:
4.0/5
Reviewer’s Score: 4.2/5


Review by Brian James aka
Chimaera
(brian.james@flash.net)

External
Links:
WesternArms
– the offical homepage of WesternArms

Comment
about this review in the forums


Last modified:
Sunday, March 10, 2002 7:19 PM
Copyright 2001 ArniesAirsoft




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