Shark in the Water: Beretta's New 92XI Squalo Shines at SHOT
Beretta came to the SHOT Show with something that any Selachimorphaphile, single-action handgun purist, model 92 fan, or budding USPSA competitor is sure to find of interest: the 92XI Squalo.
The Squalo – "shark" in Italian – earned its name, says Beretta, due to the "sleek and formidable nature" of the animal and its namesake 9mm pistol's inclination to "stand out in a sea of competition." Optics-ready with a Vertec-style frame and DLC-coated trigger internals, it has a single-action-only trigger with a manual frame-mounted safety lever. A gray overall finish and custom Hogue G10 grip panels help pull off the moniker.
The hammer-fired SAO 92XI series 9mm variant hits the scales at 33.3 ounces unloaded, while the overall length is 8.5 inches. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
It comes standard with a Toni Systems flared magwell and has superb texture on the grip, akin to that of a shark's skin, one could say. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
The Squalo ships with a trio of Mec-Gar 18+4 round extended magazines with Toni Systems base pads. Beretta says they fit within USPSA rules and regulations. Indeed, Team Beretta's Cameron Templin has been running one in competition for the past several weeks. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Note the extended takedown lever that acts as a gas pedal, oversized safety levers, and swappable (left to right) magazine release. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
It has a slim Vertec-style grip, as does the rest of the 92X series Beretta pistols. Note the extended surface controls. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
The gray-suited Squalo proved a hit on the range at an event the weekend before SHOT. Observe how bright the fiber optic front sight is as well as features such as the skeletonized hammer. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Meanwhile, at the show itself, Beretta had an example decked out with gold accents and a comp, the latter giving it a very "Professional" kind of vibe. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
The MSRP of the new Beretta 92XI Squalo is $1,299, and company officials tell us it is now shipping.
