Introduced into the market in 2001, the Beretta 9000S pistol was a number of “firsts” for Beretta. It was the first pistol that they had specifically designed for the U.S. concealed carry market. It was also the first polymer frame pistol that Beretta had ever produced. Finally, it was the first pistol that Beretta had ever designed that would operate and fire as a single or double action weapon.
In order to compete in the concealed carry and civilian protection market in the U.S., Beretta knew that the 9000S frame would have to be very compact and light. In order to reduce the overall weight, Beretta elected to use a fiberglass reinforced technopolymer as the frame. As a result, the 9000S weighs slightly under 28 ounces unloaded, but has enough magazine capacity to fulfill most needs.
In 2001, Beretta management believed that the S&W .40 caliber was an up and coming caliber, so they decided to release the 9000S in a .40 caliber version first. Once it’s popularity was established, Beretta released the 9mm model to the public in 2002. In both calibers, the 9000S offers a high round capacity in relation to the overall weapon size. The .40 caliber model holds 10 rounds plus 1 in the chamber, while the 9mm model holds 12 rounds plus one in the chamber. Having shot this weapon chambered in the .40, I can tell that it’s a bit of a beast with the light weight and small grip.
Since 2001, Beretta has released two variations of the 9000S series, a “D” model and an “F” model. The D model was the first to be released and only functioned in a double action capacity. The F model was released in 2004 and allowed the handgun to function as either a double action weapon or a single action weapon. The F model featured a decocker/safety lever that resembled one found on a Sig P series handgun.
As such there are only 4 versions of the Beretta 9000S handguns on the market, and they are as follows:
- 9000S D version in 9mm
- 9000S D version in .40 caliber
- 9000S F version in 9mm
- 9000S F in .40 caliber
Like many other handguns on the market, the 9000S is easy to field strip and breaks down into 4 components. All the components are large enough so the shooter won’t lose any parts or have to be concerned with any small springs. Reassembly takes a matter of seconds and the weapon is battle ready again.
Although the 9000S did fairly well in the market, Beretta decided to discontinue production of the 9000S series of handguns in 2006.
There are two known issues or concerns with the 9000S models:
(1) When Beretta stopped producing the 9000, they also stopped producing magazines for it. Should you be shopping for a per-owned 9000S on the market, be aware that spare magazines can be a challenge to come by.
(2) Owners of the 9000S found that magazines from the Beretta 92 and 96 could be used with the Beretta 9000S, but they require a special adapter (somewhat like a magazine sleeve). For some time, Beretta was the only company who offered the special 92 to 9000S magazine adapter, but they stopped producing them in 2009. You can still find some of the magazine adapter sleeves here and there.
There are a number of very nice Beretta 9000s pistols that are still available on the secondary market at very reasonable prices, making them a popular option for a low cost CCW pistol.
From a Beretta 9000 holster standpoint, the size and low weight of the 9000 make it a good choice for concealed carry. Although the Beretta 9000 didn’t “catch on” as well as Beretta had hoped, there are a number of holster manufacturers producing a Beretta 9000 holster.
FAQS
Here are some of the more common questions that I see regarding Beretta 9000S holster options:
Where can I find a nice Beretta 9000s shoulder holster?
Although the 9000S is no longer being produced, there are still a number of shoulder holster models that are still being produced for it. From a shoulder holster perspective, your options are typically going to be either ballistic nylon or leather. The ballistic nylon models are the most common, but there are a few places out there that still offer a leather shoulder holster for the 9000S.
The other choice you’ll have to make with shoulder holsters for the 9000S are a decision to go with either a horizontal shoulder holster style or a vertical shoulder holster style.
The horizontal models are designed so the holster rides in a horizontal position on under the weak side arm (so for a right handed shooter, the Beretta would be carried under the left hand arm. A vertical shoulder holster style is designed so the holster rides in a vertical position under the weak side arm.
Here are a few of my favorite horizontal shoulder holster models on the market for the 9000S:
Here are a few of the more popular vertical style shoulder holsters for the Beretta 9000S:
Any idea where I can find a Beretta 9000s paddle holster?
While there are still plenty of holsters on the market for a Beretta 9000S, finding a paddle for one might be tricky. While I’ve seen one or two here or there, I haven’t seen one in quite awhile.
Let me do some more digging on that and I’ll see if I can come up with something.
Will a holster made for a 9000S in 9mm also fit one chambered in the S&W .40 caliber?
Yes it will. The 9mm and .40 caliber versions of the 9000S are so close in size that a .40 caliber version will fit just fine in a holster made for a 9mm Beretta 9000.
Do you know where I can find a kydex holster for a Beretta 9000S?
Look down at the bottom of this page as I’ve posted some links to kydex holster models specifically made for the Beretta 9000 series.
Any of the holster options listed below are available in a version to fit a Beretta 9000S pistol in either 9mm or .40 caliber:
