The legality of stockless shotguns varies by jurisdiction. In the United States, many stockless shotguns, often classified as “pistol grip” shotguns, do not fall under the same regulatory requirements as traditional shotguns because they lack a shoulder stock. However, it’s essential to check local laws and regulations, as some states may impose restrictions or requirements related to firearm ownership, including stockless designs.

Modern Variants of the 92FS and M9

Since the 92FS was introduced, Beretta has rolled out tons of different models. Some were specifically made for law enforcement, like the 92G for the French police, which skips the manual safety and uses a decocker lever instead. Even though the original 92G was discontinued, its slide design lives on in models like the M9A4.

Then there’s the 92D, a model that gets rid of both the safety and decocker lever, relying solely on a double-action trigger. In the ’90s, Beretta also introduced the 96 series chambered in .40 S&W to keep up with law enforcement trends.

Brigadier slide

In 1993, the Brigadier-style slide came out with reinforced locking lugs for added durability and a unique “hump” in the slide’s contour. Although the extended lifespan due to this design is up for debate, many users have noted it reduces recoil and muzzle rise. Because of this, the Brigadier slide is popular in 92 variants used in action pistol competitions.

Come early 2000s, Beretta introduced the 92 Vertec. This model was designed for law enforcement and shooters with smaller hands, featuring a slim backstrap and a shorter reach trigger. It also had an accessory rail, beveled magazine well, and interchangeable front sights. Plus, it ditched the traditional barrel protrusion by shortening the barrel to 4.7 inches but kept the slide the same length.

Beretta 92 Vertec

Many modern 92 series variants blend features from both the Brigadier and Vertec models. Examples include the 92FS Brigadier, 92X, M9A3, and M9A4.

The Beretta 92X, introduced in 2019, standardizes the Vertec platform and adds the “Xtreme-S” trigger system, which cuts trigger reset by 40% and offers adjustability for pre-travel (in SAO models) and overtravel. Other highlights include a 3-slot Picatinny rail, a slimmer vertical grip, removable wrap-around grips to switch between Vertec-style and the classic M9 feel, fully removable high-visibility sights, and a universal slide allowing conversion from decocker-safety to decocker-only mode.

The series also includes the 92X Centurion (18 rd), 92X RDO Compact (15 rd) pistols, 92X Performance Carry Optic featuring an optic cut for USPSA competitors, and the lightweight 92X Performance Defensive for IDPA competitions.

New additions to the 92 family are the 92XI and 92GTS pistols. The 92XI is an SAO pistol with a 1911-style frame-mounted safety and comes in a base model, a Tactical model with a threaded barrel and DLC-coated trigger components, and a flashy Squalo edition. Meanwhile, the 92GTS is DA/SA with a twin sear and a decocker-only configuration.

Now, let’s get back to the M9. Around the mid-2000s, the US military requested some tweaks to the original design. Beretta responded with the M9A1, which borrowed features from the 92G-SD like a railed frame, standard 92 grip contour, beveled mag well, and textured grip while keeping the original M9 slide mostly the same.

Almost a decade later, Beretta rolled out the M9A3, featuring a replaceable front sight, a railed frame, and a Vertec-style backstrap with an aggressive grip texture. It also includes a wraparound rubber grip to replicate the feel of the standard M9A1 backstrap. The standout feature of the M9A3 is a redesigned slide that allows the gun to switch between FS and G configurations using a conversion kit, something that previously required an expensive and permanent modification by a gunsmith.

The latest iteration, the Beretta M9A4, boasts a red-dot optic compatible slide, dovetailed tritium night sights, an enhanced short-reset Xtreme Trigger System, 18-round sand-resistant magazines, and textured Vertec-style thin grips.