Beretta 92 Full vs. Centurion?

[22lr]

Considering a Beretta 92 to finally fulfill my 1990s childhood dreams. I have little experience with the platform and am kind of overwhelmed by all of the options. 

It will primarily be a range gun. Any preference out there between the full size and the centurion slide sizes? 

[scatman]

Personally, if it's just a range toy, and you're not looking to add a bunch of stuff, get a plain 92. You won't be disappointed, from there you can figure out more of what you desire in the platform, and then down the line pick up one of the more "fancier" models.

[Frog4aday]

If primarily a range toy, go full size.

If you ever have visions of packing it on your person, then the Centurion makes more sense.

[ken_mays]

The slides are the same length but the Centurion has a barrel muzzle that's flush with the end of the slide, where the standard 92 has a slightly extended barrel.   The bigger difference is the straight backstrap Vertec style grip of the Centurion.

[Jayhawker]

You can't go wrong with the 92FS.  The only thing I have found is the Italian made ones seem a little more accurate than the Maryland made ones. 

[22lr]

Tha is all. Good to know about the slides being the same and the grip. I've been looking at the GTS model and they are running a rebate right now.. 

[ReddLTown]

My favorite has become my 92x. That and my M9a4 basically an upgraded 92FS with optic cuts and rails.They are probably one of the best and reliable guns to own. Pricey when you get into higher builds but worth it. I've sworn by Sig for years and haven't picked my sigs up much after getting into the Berettas. The 96A1 is a great gun as well if you prefer .40.  Never had one Beretta jam personally. Always accurate and smooth. But I've heard when a Beretta does screw up its usually costly. Can't go wrong

Edited April 10 by ReddLTown
Fat thumbs

[D B Cooper]

On 4/6/2025 at 11:44 PM, ken_mays said:

The slides are the same length but the Centurion has a barrel muzzle that's flush with the end of the slide, where the standard 92 has a slightly extended barrel.   The bigger difference is the straight backstrap Vertec style grip of the Centurion.

As Ken Mays accurately identified - The backstop is the biggest difference if you're used to one shape over the other. The Centurion is more akin to a 1911 straight grip.

Wilson Combat makes excellent ultra thin G-10 grips to measurably slim the grip if you prefer that as well.

[Sleep profit]

Have you shot a the gun of your childhood dreams if not I would find a friend with one or go to Buds in Sevierville and shoot  one. before buying one that may not live up to your dreams 

[Erich]

Late to this, but Just Fyi @22lr, some responses have a bit of misinformation.

Centurion sides are not the same length as full size. They are in fact shorter on top of the barrel having protrusion thru the muzzle. Also Centurion does not automatically mean you’ll have a Vertec backstrap. Those are independent features. There are rounded backstrap centurions as well as full size Vertecs. Beretta recently has been doing vertec frames with additional grips that’s can be swapped that mimic the rounded backstrap for those with medium to large hands if you are not sure.

There is also the 92 compact which is the centurion length slide on a reduced height frame. 

The beauty of a 92 series gun is the interchangeability of the slides among other things. The backstrap choice is mostly about hand size. If you have smaller hands Vertec may be a better choice. I personally prefer traditional rounded backstraps with thin grips and centurion length uppers. But due to open slide design, length on a 92 is less pronounced from a balance perspective than most.  I swap them in length and caliber.  I no longer own any vertecs, just too small of a grip circumference and the beavertail to thumb interface was uncomfortable for me.

The A1 buffered frames are preferable imo unless you really want the lowest profile possible. 

 

[ken_mays]

Let me show you where I was coming from.   92X Centurion on the left in both photos.  The slide is the same length as the 92FS, or near enough as makes no difference.  

The Compact slide is noticeably shorter than the Centurion as well.   If they are selling current Centurions with the traditional rounded backstraps, I guess I haven't come across any of those.

 

[22lr]

I think I need to get my hands on a few variants and see what I like regarding grip and balance. Thank you for the info 

[tercel89]

I'd go with the Compact 92FS. I have one and love it. 

[Erich]

22 hours ago, ken_mays said:

Let me show you where I was coming from.   92X Centurion on the left in both photos.  The slide is the same length as the 92FS, or near enough as makes no difference.  

The Compact slide is noticeably shorter than the Centurion as well.   If they are selling current Centurions with the traditional rounded backstraps, I guess I haven't come across any of those.

 

The tell on a Centurion slide is how far the slide extends past the frame dust cover. They use the same frames, so its obvious when you see one as its a quarter inch shorter. Similar to how you can tell a full size 1911 from a Commander length. 

Outside the obvious rollmarking of course. I would like to see the right side roll mark because that appears to be a full size slide with a shorter barrel. Or you have a unicorn misprint. I have multiple centurions and all are shorter than full size by 1/4". And same as my Compact L

Are those pics yours, or from the intergoogle?

[Erich]

So there is zero question or obfuscation of rollmarks to establish which slide is which. Just grabbed the first 3 I could lay hands on.

In the following order, top to bottom

• 96G-SD which is a full size, same as any 92FS
• 92G Centurion
• 92FS Compact

As you can see, (legitimate) Centurions are the same as the Compact and shorter than the full size. Period.

As far as current production non vertec versions of Centurions, Both the Langdon and Wilson have rounded backstraps. And Langdon just dropped the price by a large margin so great choice. What I would grab if I was looking to buy a new one.

 

[ken_mays]

1 hour ago, Erich said:

The tell on a Centurion slide is how far the slide extends past the frame dust cover. They use the same frames, so its obvious when you see one as its a quarter inch shorter. Similar to how you can tell a full size 1911 from a Commander length. 

Outside the obvious rollmarking of course. I would like to see the right side roll mark because that appears to be a full size slide with a shorter barrel. Or you have a unicorn misprint. I have multiple centurions and all are shorter than full size by 1/4". And same as my Compact L

Are those pics yours, or from the intergoogle?

Those are my photos.   I think you're right and I'm wrong, what I thought was a 92X Centurion doesn't seem to have any Centurion markings on it, so it's just a 92X I guess.   Placed next to a 96D Centurion, the 96D's definitely shorter.

I recently had another actual 92X Centurion that I sold, and I suppose I assumed both these 92Xs were Centurions because of the trimmed down muzzle.  Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Erich]

You may have the same Beretta affliction I do  

[ken_mays]

22 minutes ago, Erich said:

You may have the same Beretta affliction I do  

Yes, it's a debilitating condition.  Symptoms include shrinking safe space, indecision when packing for the range, and an inability to drive past gun stores without stopping.