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Beretta 92/M9 Magazine Buying Guide
Being one of the longest-serving military sidearms takes a lot of hard work. Love it or hate it, the Beretta 92/M9 platform is one of the most successful of all time, and still a formidable contender in the world of service pistols.
Note: The Beretta M9 is just the military variant of the Beretta 92.
When the Beretta M9A1 came around to replace the M1911 in the 1970s, it had an impressive capacity of 15 rounds–incredible at the time. With the most recent model, the M9A4 had a flush-fit 18 round magazine.
Nothing crazy, but that’s before you get to the extended mags.
M9 and M81. Traditional. Source
All in all, the Beretta M9 is an icon, and if you just so happened to get your hands on one, then your next best bet is to get some spare magazines. You’re in the right spot.
We have OEM and aftermarket magazines, and we’ll divide them up to give you the best and recommend which ones you should use for what.
Self Defense (Home/Personal)
Whenever we recommend magazines for you to use in a personal defense situation, we like to put reliability first and foremost. For that reason, you’ll only find factory magazines in this section.
We aren’t saying aftermarket mags can’t be trusted, nor are we saying factory mags can’t fail, but we have seen better success from factory. So that’s much of what you’ll find here.
There are some exceptions to this rule. Keep reading.
Beretta 92FS 15-Round Magazine
When Beretta started producing these, the pistols came from the factory with 15-round magazines, the standard across the board, from the 92FS to the M9A1.
A steel-bodied magazine with a polymer baseplate and anti-tilt follower was built to Beretta standards. These magazines will last thousands of rounds, which is more than many shooters will send down range in a lifetime.
And with precision-cut rear-facing witness holes, you have a nice little view of your remaining rounds. Not much else to ask for.
Fits: 92S – 92SB – 92F – 92FS – 92A1 – M9 – M9A1 – 90-Two – Billennium – Vertec – Brigadier – Centurion – Elite.
Beretta 92FS 18-Round Magazine
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Beretta 92FS 9mm 18 Round Magazine
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Without changing the overall size of the magazine too much, Beretta squeezed three extra rounds into the 92FS/M9 platform. If you bought an M9 or 92 over the past few years, you may have received one or two of these with your pistol.
Like the magazine above, this one is constructed of steel and features an anti-tilt follower and rear-facing witness holes. It’s a winner without debate.
Fits: 92S – 92SB – 92F – 92FS – 92A1 – M9 – M9A1 – 90-Two – Billennium – Vertec – Brigadier – Centurion – Elite.
Beretta 92FS 20-Round Extended Magazine
Nowadays, factory pistol capacities are higher than ever. Sig, Glock, and FN have pistols with 19-round magazines or above, while Beretta is lacking.
But with this 20-Round extended magazine, you get one up, giving you an extra five or two rounds over the standard Beretta factory mags. Carrying it can be challenging due to the extra protrusion past the grip, but you can get away with it at home or if it’s cold outside and you’re wearing extra layers.
Like the other Beretta magazines, you get all the durability from the steel construction and the reliability from the anti-tilt polymer follower. The steel is blued, and the anti-tilt follower remains black.
Fits: 92SB, 92F, 92A1, M9, M9A1, 90-Two, Billennium, Vertec, Brigadier, Centurion, Elite, CX4 with 90 series Magazine Well Insert/Magazine Release, 92D, 92G, 92G-SD, 92, Combat, 92 Combat Combo,92 Stock, 92 Steel I, 92 Vertec (ALL), 92SB, 93R, 92FS, Compact type L, 92 FS Compact Inox, 92SB Compact, 92 Compact Cary Type L
Beretta M9A3 10-Round Magazine
If you live in a state with magazine restrictions, you’re typically limited to 10 rounds. I know, it sucks, but if you must comply, then these 10-round M9A3 magazines are great for spares or replacements.
The magazine’s construction remains the same outside the limiter inside, which caps at 10. However, the polymer baseplate is FDE instead of black.
Fits: 92S – 92SB – 92F – 92FS – 92A1 – M9 – M9A1 – 90-Two – Billennium – Vertec – Brigadier – Centurion – Elite.
It is perfect. That is all. Source
Range Magazines (That You Can Trust)
There is more margin for error on a flat range. You’re not being attacked, so a malfunction won’t end your life. And it can be considered a good way to practice remedial action.
Typically, I recommend only aftermarket magazines for the range. In this article, though, most of the “aftermarket” magazines come from Mec-Gar, which makes some of the best.
Fun Fact: Mec-Gar made Beretta’s magazines early before Beretta switched to MDS.
So, I would be wrong to say, “Keep them strictly for the range.” I trust them like I trust the factory magazines, so full send. If you want to save money on magazines, these are for you.
Mec-Gar Beretta 92FS 18-Round Magazine
Mec-Gar is not just another aftermarket magazine. These guys have been around since 1965 and have been tasked with making many factory magazines for different pistol manufacturers. So it’s fair to say they know what they are doing.
This 18-round magazine is similar to the factory mag in almost every way aside from price. It’s all black, with a black stainless steel magazine tower and black anti-tilt polymer baseplate.
You likely can’t tell the difference. Other than the missing Beretta logo.
Fits: 92S – 92SB – 92F – 92FS – 92A1 – M9 – M9A1 – 90-Two – Billennium – Vertec – Brigadier – Centurion – Elite.
Mec-Gar Beretta 92FS 20-Round Magazine
One of the most obvious physical differences between the Mec-Gar 20-round magazine and the Beretta 20-round mag is the size of the polymer baseplate. The former is much smaller, making it a better option for carrying.
This baseplate, however, features a drop protection system that enhances its overall durability. So yes, it’s bulkier but provides superior drop protection.
Fits: 92S – 92SB – 92F – 92FS – 92A1 – M9 – M9A1 – 90-Two – Billennium – Vertec – Brigadier – Centurion – Elite.
Mec-Gar Beretta 92FS Competition 20-Round Magazine
This 20-round competition magazine from Mec-Gar is made of carbon steel with an anti-friction coating, which helps you rocket your magazine into orbit when necessary. The baseplate is slightly smaller than the standard Mec-Gar 20-round, giving it a more sleek and lightweight feel.
There is no better option if you’re running your Beretta for competition.
Fits: Beretta 92FS, 92G, 92X, and M9 pistols
Beretta 92FS 30-Round Magazine
This Beretta 30-round magazine is not an aftermarket magazine, but it is too big for concealed carry and would be a bit unwieldy at home. It is one hell of a time on the flat range, adding a ton of weight to the back of your firearm and making recoil management far more complicated than it has to be.
But how can you argue with 30 rounds of 9mm?
This mag is made of stainless steel with a large polymer baseplate to house those extra rounds. Not practical at all, but that’s alright.
Fits: 92SB – 92F – 92FS – 92A1 – M9 – M9A1 – 90-Two – Billennium – Vertec – Brigadier – Centurion – Elite. It is also compatible with: CX4 with 90 series Magazine Well Insert/Magazine Release, 92FS, 92D, 92F, 92G, 92 Brigadier, 92 Elite/EliteIA/Elite II, 92G-SD, 92 Combat, 92 Combat Combo, 92 Billennium, 92 Stock, 92 Steel I, 92 Deluxe M9A1, M9, 92A1, 90-Two in 9MM, 92 Vertec (ALL), 92F, 92SB, 93R. Will fit in 92FS Compact type L, 92 FS Compact Inox, 92SB Compact, 92 Compact Cary Type L, but will extend below the base of the grip.
Conclusion
The Beretta 92/M9 platform is an old GOAT. You can’t go wrong. Many men have carried it and relied on it until death, and it’s been there. So it’s safe to say it will be there for you too.
