In the world of USPSA, every advantage matters. Competitive shooters constantly seek ways to boost their performance and gain an edge over their opponents, and upgrading their guns is an important part of that process. Personally, I began my USPSA journey with a Glock 34 and a few aftermarket parts to include a 15lb. recoil spring/tungsten guide rod, a Timney Alpha competition trigger, a Holosun 507c optic, and a stippled frame. The G34 shot great during my first matches, and I was content with what I had at the time. I then had a chance to talk to an Master class Carry Optics shooter, which got the gears turning: he mentioned that a lot of A/M/GM shooters shoot metal frame guns for a reason. I thought about what he said, and remembered that I owned a Beretta M9A1 that had been sitting in my safe for the past four years… with less than 400 rounds through it. I decided that instead of buying the new CZ that’s has become very popular with competitors, I was going start shooting my M9 and “save” some money. In order to make it Carry Optics ready, I decided to upgrade some things at the same time; I had no idea that that decision would turn this pistol into the most expensive, flat-shooting, and reliable handgun I own.
Trigger
A high-quality trigger package is a sensible upgrade for a competition gun. Langdon Tactical offers a range of trigger enhancements that significantly improve the M9A1’s trigger pull. I opted to buy the “Trigger in a Bag” with the NP3 coating; the options I chose for this kit included the following:
– Beretta Elite II Hammer
– LTT optimized Performance Trigger Bar
– 12lb. hammer spring
These parts are meant to reduce pre-travel and over-travel, with ~3lb. SA and ~5.5lb. DA trigger pulls, and provide a crisper reset. I also added a Volker Precision Flat Faced Trigger, which offers a substantial improvement in trigger control compared to the stock Beretta part. The wider and flatter surface area of this design ensures consistent finger placement shot after shot. With these two upgrades combined, I’ve experienced a more intuitive and precise trigger pull, resulting in improved accuracy and less flinching; all of this creates a smoother and more predictable trigger that ensures more precise shots, quicker follow-ups, and ultimately, faster stages. Compared to the Timney trigger in my G34, the Langdon trigger has a better reset, virtually zero take up in SA, and no over travel. Essentially the SA feels like a nice 1911 trigger.
Ergonomics
In a fast-paced match environment, it’s essential to have a firearm that fits the shooter’s hand comfortably and allows for quick target acquisition. I have smaller hands, so I decided to go with the thin checkered grips from LOK Grips. I also installed the Beretta Competition Self-Locking Disassembly Lever for my support hand thumb, and a Wilson Combat Steel guide rod with a 12.5-pound recoil spring. By reducing grip size, having a place to allow my support thumb to provide extra support, and a lighter recoil spring, I have experienced better control and improved overall handling. This is the one area I think my G34 is slightly better. Having an all plastic frame allows me to have it fully stippled so I have grip pretty much everywhere my skin touches the frame, on the Beretta I only have grip on the Lok grips and the disassemblely lever. With that being said I have be training more with the Beretta and it has become less of an issue the more I shoot with the Beretta.
Sights
USPSA stages often feature multiple targets at varying distances and lighting conditions, making it essential to have clear and visible sights. Upgrading to a Langdon Tactical’s 92 Elite Red Dot Ready Slide enhances target acquisition by allowing me the option to mount any red dot that I want, while keeping the optic as low as possible with their patented Optic cut on the M9 series. Currently I have the new Holosun 507COMP, which has been a pretty substantial improvement over the optics I’ve used recently. My initial thoughts on the 507COMP can be found HERE. One thing I will say that I had a big issue with the Beretta is the higher bore axis and the higher optic position on the slide compared to my G34. When I first started competing with my Beretta, I couldn’t find the dot on my draw due to the differences of optic heights between the two platforms. And again, since I have been getting more range time behind the Beretta the less it becomes an issue for me.
There are a lot of other companies that make great parts for the Beretta, but a big reason behind choosing these parts was that 90% of them could be found on one website, Langdon’s; I hate having to buy different parts from different stores, along with the shipping and tax for each one. These parts were also reasonably priced (Langdon also offers a Mil/LE discount) Other than the grips and the competition disassembly lever, everything was purchased from LTT.
The enhanced trigger system, improved ergonomics, and increased sight visibility have all contributed to a huge boost in my performance on the range. I have noticed that I am more confident taking longer shots at speed, and having faster split times up close with tighter hits then I did with my Glock 34. Upgrading my Beretta M9A1 has proven to be a wise choice.
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