It seems I can’t throw a rock these days without hitting someone who swears up and down that the Beretta 93R is the best gun ever created…because they’ve used it in a video game. Despite the limited use of the firearm in the wild, its unique design and ubiquitous inclusion in first person shooter games have made it one of the more commonly used and discussed machine pistols ever designed. Hype aside, though, is it any good? I mean in real life. Ardent fanboy testimonials aside, I had to find out for myself . . .
Let’s get this out of the way up front: yes, the 93R in question really is nickel plated. I know, it’s positively pimp-tastic. Apparently this gun came into Kevin Brittingham’s posession after it was used as a prop in a movie, hence the blinged-out color scheme. But the internal parts are all original, and that’s what really matters.
The 93R (R for “raffica” or “burst”) was Italy’s answer to the need for a concealable firearm that could put a whole lot of lead downrange very quickly. When the 93R came along, the MP5 was a still recent invention and apparently despite the H&K’s cool design, the Italians needed something less controllable and more concealable. So Beretta took their then-relatively new model 92 handgun, added a few bells and whistles and called it the 93R.
The safety for the gun is mounted on the same pin as the mode selector (and mounted to the frame instead of the slide, for once). but the two look and feel very different to keep possible confusion to a minimum. The safety is rounded and the mode selector is a flat switch. The gun is available in only a 3-round burst option, not the traditional full auto. The switch is slightly difficult to engage on a flat range, so I’m guessing that trying to switch from semi to burst under pressure would be downright impossible.
First on the list of unique features is the skeletonized stock. In order to make the gun more controllable in full auto mode, Beretta added an optional stock that attached to the toe of the grip. The stock itself folds up into a package roughly as long as the barrel of the gun and not much thicker. It’s a nifty design and actually works pretty well. Then again, the shape and location of the stock make getting a cheek weld damn near impossible. It’s more of a brace than a stock, really.
Another change to the external design is the elongated triggerguard and angled foregrip. Long before Magpul made them cool, the 93R sported a folding angled foregrip that allowed the shooter to apply some downward pressure on the muzzle and keep it from rising too fast in burst mode. The triggerguard was also elongated to allow the shooter to hook his support-hand thumb in there, providing a little more stability.
The 93R’s barrel was also extended to allow for the addition of a compensator to re-direct the gasses in an upward direction. The idea is to help reduce barrel climb. Unfortunately, despite all of those changes, none of them really help much. The gun is still the least controllable full-auto firearm I have ever fired.
The 93R near impossible to keep on target. Anything over 10 yards and all bets were off after the first round. In a close quarters environment, especially where stealth is required, I could see it being an effective firearm and a good choice. But if there is any other option available — and I mean ANY other option — I’d take it. Given how hard it is to control, I might actually prefer a Smith J-frame over this thing in full-auto.
The ergonomics of the gun itself are actually pretty good, especially the angled foregrip. It’s a very well thought out design and the fit and finish on the gun are excellent. It looks like the slide was milled with a little more meat left on the gun, probably in an effort to increase durability. Machine pistols have a nasty tendency for the slide to snap in half while firing and cause serious injury to the operator, so extra material there is much appreciated.
Overall, the Beretta 93R is a good gun for what it is. It’s nicely designed, works well enough and is downright pretty to look at. But when you actually get a chance to get your hands on one, you find out pretty quickly that it’s more trouble than its worth. Which, strangely enough, describes Italian women pretty well, too.
Let me put it this way: I had the 93R on a range for a couple hours with a practically inexhaustible ammo supply and after two magazines, I didn’t feel the need to shoot it anymore. It’s a nifty design and a great looking gun, but when you’re actually shooting it the novelty wears off fast. It may be the king of the machine pistols, but it’s not something that I’d use in combat except as an extreme last resort.
Beretta 93R
Specifications
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 125mm
Size: 240mm
Weight: 2.5 lbs. empty
Capacity: 20 round magazine
MSRP: $65,000
Ratings (Out of Five Stars):
All ratings are relative compared to the other weapons in the gun’s category.
Accuracy: *
Accurate at “bad breath” distance, but not much further.
Ergonomics: * * * *
The stock sucks, but the handgun is golden otherwise.
Ergonomics Firing: * *
Did I mention that the stock sucks?
Customization: N/A
Uh…no.
Overall Rating: * *
It’s pretty…and that’s about all it has going for it. There’s a reason that the 93R never went into widespread usage, namely, it sucks. Except when used in video games, apparently.
It is a futile exercise of EGO to attempt to engage any Progressive in any type of dialog (please read Rules For Radicals). any attempt at “dialog” is a violation of all rules of warfare, it is pointless and will result in the one sided communication being turned against the petitioners position.
There is NO desire on the Left for communication only sociopathic dictation, gun control is all about Control, do not feed the beast.
I think part of it is that it is a cool looking piece of kit. I’m aware of the limitations, but even before the Robocop “Auto-9” was introduced, the 93R looked badass and artisitc all at once. Typical Beretta.
What is it good for? It’s a supermodel. Nothing useful about it but it looks pretty.
Mini-Uzi
Just sayin
For when you really, really need to clear that broom closet immediately.
Come on nick you’re supposed to dolphin dive to a prone position every noob knows that’s what you gotta do to be accurate.
Moms Demand Action – Def: Greedy oportunistic uninformed zealot sheeple being pimped by MAIG, Bloomberg, Feinstein, Watts, and other assorted anti gun, anti Second Amendment fanatics. Their primary focus is on creating the feeling amongst other sheeple that gun control is somehow (not specifically enumerated) a benefit to their utopian well being.
Excellent post, Max, but you need to remember the first principle of trying to reason with people like the Bloomberg Mommies:
You can’t cure stupid.
I bought my Nano because of it’s size. I owned a Kel Tek P11 and it fit my needs well but it just flew apart after 60 rounds so I sent it back and they fixed it so I traded it off. I have had many CCW’s and this is so small and comfy in a DeSantis holster. I use the 8 round clip and find the gun very easy to hold and shoot. No it won’t win any beauty contest but that is not what I wanted, fiirst off all I was looking for a company that builds a good gun then it had to be small. I bought a Sig P250 sub compact but it was just too big. I love my Nano…
Miami had a plague of carjackings in the ’70s and ’80s. The high rate of carjackings was one of the factors leading the state to pass its shall-issue carry law in 1985, despite the resistance of that crone, Janet Reno, who was the Florida Attorney General at the time. Reno finally dropped her opposition, but only on the condition that open carry would remain prohibited.
Carjacking has declined, just as carry proponents predicted. It seems that carjackers don’t like being shot in the face.
Great letter and very well written except for the “point’s” at the end. That apostrophe should not be there.
To address the comments regarding the method of transport of rifles in crowds:
1. one does not “clip” a rifle to one’s chest. i’m not sure there is a clip large enough
2. slinging a rifle over your back in a crowd like this (or anywhere) would present a challenge. maintaining control of your weapon and of the trigger is difficult when it’s behind you. it’s also difficult to walk in a crowd with a rifle on your back and not have the muzzle pointing at someone’s head. that’s why the preferred method at our gatherings is in front, muzzle down.
Living in the Formerly Free state, I know what you’re trying to say. HOWEVER:
2a. maintaining control of your weapon and of the trigger is difficult when it’s behind you.
So what, as long as it’s unloaded and nothing is in the chamber.
2b. it’s also difficult to walk in a crowd with a rifle on your back and not have the muzzle pointing at someone’s head.
If you slung it over your back with the muzzle pointed down it’s not an issue at all.
* And pictures like this “going national” give the likes MDA, MAIG, the Brady Bunch, and the Space Cadet and his Meat Puppet a TON of fodder to frighten the dim with. You may think you don’t look threatening, but you so to someone somewhere.
Remember, because of the Internet all news is local.
Is it just me, or is the gun grabber lobby getting ever more alarmist, shrill, and ridiculous with comparisons like this? Terrorism? Does anyone, i mean anyone really believe background checks are going to stop determined fundamentalists like McVeigh or Al Qaeda? Can we just all roll our eyes in unison at the idea that background checks stop terrorists? Smells a lot like desperation.
“…140 character limits and witty little hashtags provide a nice safety net for your fatuous followers.”
The whole thing was great, but I believe this was my favorite sentence, by far.
So Gross, the political thought terrorist, is essentially calling our founding Constitution a terrorist document?
Amazing!
Forget the Beretta, I want to know where Nick scored “a practically inexhaustible ammo supply” in 9mm.
I don’t see how it matters. Maybe if he was in full riot gear with a ballistic shield and an M4, with a couple of pineapples dangling off the belt.
What video games is this in? I play a lot and have never seen this in a game or heard of it being in one. I have seen a Glock 18 though.
Half the comments to this article seem to be based around the idea “I’m pro-gun but if people open carry long guns at political rallies, it’s going to result in our rights being taken away.” Really? So where is this happening? It ranks up there with “Open carry will make you to first victim in a robbery.” and “I support concealed carry but people don’t need to carry in schools/churches/bars.”
I think people become so focused on a specific event or image that they’re inclined to make speculative arguments forgetting we live in a much bigger world where those arguments can be tested with factual evidence.
“I think people become so focused on a specific event or image…”
Bingo! Pro- and Anti-, OC and CCW all have their “poster” events, and exploit them to the max. At the risk of starting YAFlameWar, I feel like common ground has slipped away.
Now we have Pro-s calling other Pro-s “Fudds.” This advances the RKBA how exactly? We keep this up and the MADs and Bloomies have clearly won.
I love the “apology” in the article, including the “We’re sorry you took it this way”, which is actually not an apology, it’s a shift of blame. Maybe you should be sorry you asked him to not be in uniform. Maybe you should be sorry you paid any attention to the grown children upset because there was someone with a gun present. Instead you’re sorry someone called you on your crap publically.
I think I’d go with a full auto Broomhandle Mauser for its elegant steampunk look or a Czech Skorpion if I wanted to hit something. Funny that Mac Bolan AKA “the Executioner” never had a bit of trouble with his 93R. Bolan also put lots of rounds through his Automag with nary a jam and no problem finding ammunition for it.
I wonder if Biden or Obama will give this a try for a photo op?
$65,000? Seriously?
Spot on Nick. It is a very nice piece of hardware.
Once again. I’m jealous. Haven’t seen one since about 1988.
I’m pretty sure that most laws don’t apply to members of the U.S. Politburo and their immediate family members.
I could see having this in 9mm as a survival weapon, say for a sailboat or Aviator mostly used as single shot. In 10mm, it could be a effective deer gun, also in single shot. With a .22 upper as well as a 9mm and 10mm, it is the ultimate micro-hunter
Full auto in any caliber, I can see from videos both climbs and jumps around.
Ah, well.
I’ve never seen this weapon in a movie OR a video game. I was beginning to think that I was the only person who was interested, or even knew what this was. And the 93r, the one I fired anyway, was accurate at range, easily on par with most other handguns. Obviously no marksman pistol, but accurate enough to reliably hit what I want. The kickback is harsh, I’ll admit, but it’s a machine pistol. What did you expect? Easily my favorite handgun in the world. I don’t get the hate or criticism. I would also like to know what video games/movies have this weapon in them because I first discovered it on website, not in common media.
Very, very few in the registry. There are only two known fully auto Lugers. If anyone knows the number of 93R, let me know.