I grew up on 1980’s action movies and one gun reigned supreme: the Beretta 92. The Die Hard movies, the Lethal Weapon series, every John Woo movie, and countless others. Glocks were still unknown and the 92 had an iconic, sexy look. The military had recently chosen it to replace the 1911, and it seemed like it was everywhere. Testing the LTT Beretta 92G Elite pistol felt like a walk down memory lane and shooting a modern combat weapon, all at the same time.
DA / SA vs Striker Fired
Today the DA/SA trigger systems have largely been replaced by striker fired guns with polymer frames that are cheaper to manufacture. I still own a lot of metal framed pistols, and new shooters are starting to look back at these guns as classics.
I like the ability to thumb back the hammer and have a crisp, clean trigger for a precise shot when needed. I also like the way they look and feel in in my hand. I recently toured the Langdon Tactical Technology factory in Mesa, Arizona, and just seeing the rows of Beretta pistols was enough to make me fall in love all over again.
When I got the assignment to review one of the LTT Beretta 92G Elite pistols, I was curious to see how LTT would transform this icon from my childhood to the modern standards of function and reliability.
The first thing you need to know if you are manufacturing a pistol today is that it has to be compatible with red-dot optics. Even if the buyer never intends to put one on it, they like having the option.
In 2019, Beretta announced the introduction of the RDO (Red Dot Optic) where they cut the slide of the 92 to mount an optic on a plate, however, they did not release them for sale until 2021. Langdon began cutting the 92 series for optics in 2020.
The Low RDO package from LTT is a little bit different than the Beretta RDO. LTT cuts deeper into the slide so it is closer to the bore axis. The cut also sits farther back so it is less likely to interfere with ejecting brass and catches less smoke and debris on the lens.
Cutting deeper into the slide interfered with some internal parts so Ernest had to redesign and beef up several components, including the firing pin, firing pin block, extractor pin, safety plunger, and de-cock lever. The result is his patented Low RDO cut is actually more robust than the one introduced by Beretta.
LTT Beretta 92G: The Test Gun
The test pistol I received had an Aimpoint ACRO P-2 mounted on the LTT’s proprietary plate that puts the rear sight in front of the optic AKA the RSF – Rear Sight Forward plate.
The ACRO P-2 is far from the cheapest red dot you could mount on your handgun, but it is certainly one of the most dependable. With a closed emitter, 5-year battery life, aluminum body, and submersible to 115 feet, this is an optic chosen by professionals who demand the very best when their life is on the line.
This top end optic, along with back up iron sights (remember two is one and one is none), shows LTT intended this gun to be a work gun, not just a plinker.
Other features include a stainless-steel barrel, enhanced trigger bar, Elite II skeletonized hammer, G Model decocker (not a safety), textured G10 ultra-thin grips, optional NP3 coating of all internal metal parts, and of course the famous LTT trigger job.
Another option is their bevel package that rounds all external sharp edges plus the magwell, and ends with a black Cerakote finish. Barrel porting as well as cutting and crowning the barrel are also optional.
My test gun had the NP3 upgrade which gave the gun more of a two-tone look which I love. Having a silver mag release button, takedown lever, slide catch, grip screws, and skeletonized hammer with everything else being black really looks sharp.
In addition, that NP3 coating makes the gun run better because of it built in lubricity and it is easier to clean because carbon doesn’t stick to it.
LTT Beretta 92G: Bullets Down Range
I got to test the gun on several different range trips. I tested for accuracy at a full 25 yards because this is a full-size pistol and, with the red dot, longer shots are easier because I can see the sight better.
Interestingly, my best group was one of my first, before I had even fully sighted in the pistol. As expected with any LTT firearm, it drilled tacks. The best group was under one inch and that is the kind of group you expect from a hand fitted, custom made competition gun.
Getting that type of accuracy from a personal defense gun is pretty unusual. No, you still could not print a smiley face on your target like Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, but nobody is accusing Hollywood of knowing anything about guns.
After the accuracy portion comes the fun part, running drills. My test gun only came with one magazine which slowed me down a bit, but I still got in some good drills using a shot timer.
The first trigger pull was longer than I am used to, but exceptionally smooth and even. Subsequent single action trigger presses were light and quick. I found it was very easy to have every shot “surprise me” with the trigger break being much cleaner than any striker fired pistol.
My EDC guns tend to be on the smaller side these days and shooting a full-size pistol simply points easier and recoils less in your hand.
One of my favorite drills these days was shown to me at a recent Gunsite visit. You set up three IDPA or USPSA style targets at 10 yards.
You can start at either end, but you do a head shot on one of the end targets, then chest shot on the middle target, then head on the last target. You then do a chest shot on that last target, then head on the middle, then chest on the last.
Each target has received one head and one chest shot, in rotating order. Balancing your speed while going from precise head shots to relatively easy chest shots is harder than it looks.
When I tape up the targets, I write down my time and how many rounds were out. First you should find a speed that you can run the drill without throwing any rounds, then work on gradually speeding up.
LTT’s Beretta 92G Elite with the ACRO P-2 sight worked great for this shooting drill and I quickly started shaving down my time. I’m recently moving back to shooting primarily red dots instead of iron sights and it is a great drill to get your focus on the target and let the dot simply appear in your field of view.
| Ammo | Avg. Velocity (fps) | Avg. Accuracy (inches) | Best Accuracy (inches) | |
| Black Hills 115 gr JHP EXP | 1,199 | 1.42 | .91 | |
| Black Hills 125 gr Honey Badger | 964 | 1.74 | 1.48 | |
| Federal 124 gr Hydra-Shock | 1,114 | 1.43 | 1.17 | |
| Federal 135 gr Hydra-Shok Deep | 1,043 | 1.45 | 1.12 |
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second 15 feet from the muzzle by a Doppler radar and accuracy in inches for 3, five shot groups at 25 yards.
Reviving the Past
The resurged interest in classic guns can be seen in many military firearms and the U.S. military M9A1 is no exception. Beretta just re-released this classic. While I appreciate the traditional guns, I am primarily a shooter, not a collector. LTT takes this archetypal weapon and updates it until you have a mix of classic looks and modern performance.
Ultimately, testing the LTT Beretta 92G Elite was a trip down memory lane. My first issued gun when I joined the U.S. Border Patrol was a Beretta.
It was DAO and had a terrible trigger, but I dry fired that gun until I mastered it and nearly always scored a perfect 360 at qualifications. That old .40 caliber 96 Brigadier could never hold a candle to LTT’s 92 Elite.
LTT’s pistol has a phenomenal trigger and, as expected, it had zero malfunctions. It is easy to see why there is a revival of people returning to the classic, metal framed pistols. Now I think it is time for me to put a snap cap in the gun and go put on Lethal Weapon for some quality dry fire time. I’ll save Die Hard for Christmas.
LTT Beretta 92G Elite Package Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Action: DA/SA
Magazine Capacity: 18+1 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.7 inches
Overall Length: 8.38 inches
Weight Empty: 2.17 pounds
Trigger Weight: DA: 7 pounds, SA: 4 pounds, 0.7 ounces (Trigger weight average of 10 pulls on Lyman electronic scale)
Sights: Aimpoint ACRO with BUIS
Base MSRP: $1,590 as tested
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