Greetings Serpent: I have posted or responded to similar threads on The High Road & The Firing Line firearms bulletin boards. Problems with my unit's M9s got me searching those internet boards for precisely your reasons a coupla years ago.
In a nutshell, you are not dreaming. The M9s are boat anchors. Mostly locking block failures; sometimes trigger return springs. During the late 80s / early 90s (when we didn't shoot them a lot), they held together. Once we turned up the round count, the emperor had no clothes. Seen 'em start to fail as early as 2500-4000 rounds.
Here is a representative response I wrote for a High Road thread. The original poster wanted to know who had ACTUALLY seen Beretta failures vs. passing around choking doberman stories. My reponse:
"Problems w/ My Beretta (M9):
I have had a locking block lug shear off in my weapon while firing (completely jammed the weapon; required trip to armorer's vise and hand tools to disassemble and remove). This occurred during CQB type training course in 2000.
I have had a trigger return spring break while firing, disabling trigger function. This occurred 2001.
I have replaced a second locking block on a second M9 after discovering crack (about 40% thru lug) while performing weapon maintenance after firing. 2001
Problems w/ Others' Berettas (also M9s):
I observed the trigger return spring on my boss's M9 break during range trainup for Afghanistan. He was amazed that the trigger no longer made the gun go boom. Occurred 2001.
I have had one of my team member's M9 go down due to broken locking block while standing in the middle of nowhere (expedient firing range) in Bosnia. This was disconcerting to him because he was now the only dude in sight without a working weapon. We laughed at him...but it wasn't really funny. 1998.
I have observed another team member's M9 drop the trigger return spring into the dirt while practicing transition drills. To be fair, his right grip panel had become loose and he didn't notice until he drew and weapon failed to fire. Occurred 1999. During the same range session, another NCO's M9 suffered from having the right decocking lever (an aluminum casting) shear off (probably from being chunked into a pile of LBV and other gear while holstered in the owner's assault vest).
I have seen 2 broken locking blocks at remote detachment firebases in Afghanistan (two different locations). 2002.
I once counted forty-seven (47) broken locking blocks (collected in a little pile) produced by the 83 assigned weapons in my unit during a 12 month period (Oct 99-Oct 00). We were using the pistols quite a bit...
On the Other Hand:
I recently watched about 20+ soldiers conduct M9 familiarization drills using the same four range weapons for everyone. Each man fired between 50 and 100 rds. All weapons functioned without a stutter.
I once deliberately put 850+ rds thru my M9 without benefit of additonal oil or cleaning (other than applying a shaving brush to knock of the sand) just to see if I could get that puppy to jam. It didn't...but it started to cycle sluggishly. At that point, I field stripped it on the range during lunch hour, did a modicum of cleaning with a brush and a rag, added some CLP, and was back to firing after lunch. This was a CQB type training course involving a lot of movement thru a range surface made of sand.
I carry a Beretta because I have to. It's issued. I also own one so that I can practice on my own time with the same type weapon I am issued.
Personally Observed Problems Other Pistols (Just to be Fair):
In 1978, the plunger tube on my GI 1911A1 started to work loose but never actually interfered with function. Armorer repaired it.
In 1983, I had the firing pin stop on another GI 1911A1 completely break in half while firing (which of course disabled the weapon). I dropped a new one in (spare parts in range kit) after re-seating the firing pin/firing pin spring and was good to go.
I also saw another 1911A1 dropped from the back of a moving 2.5 ton truck (out of an unfastened shoulder holster). The pistol landed on a clay tank trail and was promptly run over by the back set of wheels (the deuce and a half was backing up). The owner, a might bit concerned, policed up the weapon, knocked the clay and sand off, walked over to the firing line, and loaded her up. She fired without a hitch and continued to fire accurately for the next 2 weeks of training. If you ever plan on running over your weapon, I heartily endorse a steel frame over an aluminum one .
Not a Pistol, But:
I have had the operating rod break clean thru on an AK-47 (right behind the gas piston). Really."
__________________
Figure the Odds...
BTW: The 1911 vignettes happened out at Mott Lake (back in the day).
SFAUC sustainment will continue to kill our Berettas until we get what we need.
Have you read the message delineating requirements for the new SOF SCP/CCP? Ding Dong... the witch is dead (hopefully).
HK USP/C good. SIG 220 good. Custom 1911 very good. All good. M9 bad. Please God, don't let them screw this up...
I generally avoid Immediate Argument Drills concerning the M9 (but you're a Group guy and you asked
). Some people love theirs. I'm happy for them. Then again, some folks just don't know what they don't know...