This is the SR92 M9 Replica Tactical Airsoft Pistol Review – the SR92 is SRC’s replica of the M9, specifically the A1 vision, which itself was a specialised tactical edition of one of the world’s most trusted military and personal defence sidearms. The real world M92 has evolved numerous times throughout the years, so much so that there are variants to suit almost every preference, and having been adopted the world over by various military and police units, it’s no surprise that this popular sidearm has been replicated time and time again by various airsoft manufacturers. You can see all our SRC M9 Airsoft Pistols and Airsoft Guns, plus BB Guns, on the JBBG website. Let’s find out if SRC’s SR92 is what we’ve come to expect from this model over the years or whether it’s a poor attempt at mimicking a classic.
The first thing you notice when you pick up the SR92 is the weight. The full metal construction gives this little monster a hefty and robust feel, but even though she’s on the heavy side, it’s a comfortable weight, and that little bit of extra bulk just adds to the authenticity. In disassembling the slide from the frame, the two halves are unusually similar in weight, which is odd given the 92’s classic open bore slide, which in itself is supposed to save weight. The heavier slide does have an effect on the pistol’s cyclic rate, but we’ll cover that later, for now though, we’ll stick with the aesthetics, and who knew matte black could be so pretty?? Maybe it’s just the iconic styling of the M9, but the overall appearance definitely can’t be overlooked. With the exception of the exposed outer barrel, the matte black finish that garnishes the SR92 from head to toe, is a perfect match for the gruff and mean looking exterior and gives it that ‘ready to fight’ look. The slightly serrated grip plates are mounted to each side of the pistol grip, adding that little bit of security when you grip the pistol. A testament to the ‘tried and tested’ genetics of the M92, the A1 feels so comfortable to hold, and the chunky pistol grip, coupled with the marginal texture on both the front and rear of the grip, adds up to one of the most comfortable pistols I’ve ever held. The beavertail finish at the top of the pistol grip acts as a rest that fits into the groove of your hand and obviously stops you from getting bitten by the hammer. It also means you find a repeatable grip position every time you pick her up, which is not only essential for consistent shot placement, but also for operating the controls reliably under muscle memory.
The controls themselves are very well placed, and again, with a pistol as popular as this, why wouldn’t they be? The magazine release button is relatively small, yet with the way I grip the pistol at least, my thumb naturally rests over the magazine release, so it’s right there when I need it. One small observation is that on a lot of pistols I’ve either handled or owned, the magazine release button sits proud of the pistol grip, in some cases by the smallest amount. While this doesn’t cause an issue with my current setup, I have been known to lose magazines in the past, as a fabric, or poorly fitted ‘universal’ holster would engage the magazine release button while moving about or throwing myself into a ditch. Luckily, this shouldn’t be the case with the SR92, as any such holster surface should ‘bottom out’ against the pistol grip. The slide release is also very quick and easy to reach; interestingly; however, you can feel the weight of the slide when operating the lever. There’s something in the initial resistance of the slide release, and the vibration that follows as the slide slams forward, where you recognise just how heavy this thing is. I must stress once again though, it adds to the authenticity rather than discomfort, and it’s actually quite a nice feature, intended or otherwise.
Perhaps the only control I’m not too keen on is the safety, which is slightly cumbersome to operate. It’s easy enough to reach with your thumb, but the direction in which it swivels is slightly unnatural in relation to where your thumb hinges. It’s also worth noting that the safety lever is ambidextrous; however, I was unable to move the selector to the ‘safe’ position using the control with my left hand (on the right-hand side of the pistol). Thinking that maybe it’s just because I’m not used to it, I tried flipping the gun over and using my right hand, but unfortunately, the safety just wouldn’t engage using that particular control. If this were a turn-off for anyone who’s considering purchasing an SR92, I wouldn’t let it bother you too much. Firstly, I’d never used the control on that side being a right-handed shooter, but also, the grub screw to alter the roller’s pressure is easily accessible, and altering it to suit is an easy task. The trigger guard is nice and wide, so using the A1 with gloves simply wouldn’t be a problem. I did, however, find the trigger position to be slightly too far forward for my liking. I’m knit-picking if I’m honest, but the position of the trigger means that your index finger cannot sit completely flat, which results in pulling the trigger with the edge of your index finger rather than the pad of your finger. This is more of an issue in the real steel world affecting accuracy and consistency between shots, but nonetheless, it’s the small considerations that add up to the bigger picture. It’s a two-stage trigger system, and the triggers breakpoint means the pull on the trigger during the first shot is slightly longer than average, although it’s nothing drastic and being a two-stage trigger, the reset point is actually very short, so follow up shots are pretty rapid. The short trigger reset also means that follow up shots tend to be more accurate, as less movement is needed to operate it.
Stripping the SR92A1 down to adjust the hop up or for basic maintenance is very easy and uses the pin and swivel lever system, which is non-removable, so you won’t lose any parts during a basic field strip. I must note that the slide is removed from the frame very smoothly and equally as smooth when reattaching it, whereas a lot of pistols I’ve handled over the years can bind and catch during this action. I was slightly disappointed with the amount of lubrication applied to the internals as standard. In fact, there was barely any at all. That being said, applying further lubrication to the internals should be one of the first things you do when buying a new pistol, as this is quite a common issue, so I can’t rant about it too much. Access to the hop wheel is plentiful, and the wheel has a good amount of resistance to it, so it shouldn’t move or relocate during gameplay. The recoil spring looks quite unassuming, but it’s actually stronger than it seems, and the spring guide is metal and very robust, which instils confidence over its reliability, although it does add further weight to the slide assembly. And lastly, after putting nearly two hundred rounds through the A1, the only sign of wear and tear on the internals was a slight bit of ‘scuffing’ where the slide hits the hammer during its cycle. Other than that, the internals look extremely rigid and there’s nothing to make me suspect that it would fail prematurely. All in all, pretty good so far.
The SR92A1 has the advantage of an integrated rail in front of the trigger guard, for adding your choice of tactical goodies up front. The standard SR92 doesn’t have this, and personally, I don’t see many reasons to cut the option of being able to add accessories out, even if you don’t have any at the point of purchase. Surely, it’s still good to have the option at a later date if you wish to add them in the future. Both options do come with a mock suppressor too, but I must stress that this is an aesthetical option only, and does absolutely squat towards dampening the noise, which is painfully loud given the weight of the slide. Attaching the suppressor does introduce a slight problem to the SR92A1, namely excessive wobbling. Without the suppressor attached, there’s very little noise that comes from the pistol when you shake it about, at least nothing out of the ordinary, and that little bit of play between the slide and frame ensure the two parts cycle operate freely. Adding the suppressor, however, essentially extends and adds weight to the outer barrel, which in itself wobbles slightly within the slide. Shaking it about with the suppressor attached brings a whole new meaning to the term battle maraca, and honestly, given that it has zero effect on sound suppression, and makes the pistol more cumbersome to manoeuvre and operate, I don’t really see the need for it. One of my biggest gripes with manufacturers and sellers is providing the customer with something useless, which ultimately adds to the cost of the package. I personally would much rather see the suppressor as an aftermarket addition, and the cost of the pistol being reduced further, but again, I’m perhaps knit-picking a little.
The SR92A1 is a dual-powered system, meaning it operates on gas, or if you wish to buy additional magazines for it, you could use CO2. Using standard green gas, the A1 spits out BB’s at a steady average of 334 feet per second. I would say the recoil is fairly average, nothing to scream about, but surprisingly not as slow as it could have been given the hefty slide. Using CO2 magazines will give somewhat of a boost to the recoil you get, although it may also increase the FPS too. Personally, I’m quite taken with the A1. I generally like loud and ‘shouty’ pistols, so admittedly I was already slightly biased from the start as the SR92 really does make a noisy entrance. In terms of functionality, the A1 is pretty much a complete package. The controls are ergonomic, and well placed through years of tried and tested evolution. She’s very robust, and I suspect reliable too, and lastly, I think it looks iconic, stylish, and just a little bit mean. I’d give her an 8 out of 10; you?
Features of this pistol are:
- 24-Round Gas or Co2 Magazine
- Tactical Rail for Other Accessories
- Full Metal Construction
- Anodised Aluminium Finish
- Field Strippable
- Hard Carry Case
Available from Just BB Guns:
About this blog:
Address: Just BB Guns, Trimex House, Pier Road, Feltham, TW14 0TW
Call: 0330 900 5224
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.justbbguns.co.uk
Blog Title: SR92 M9 Replica Tactical Airsoft Pistol Review
Blog Author: Mark Watts and Airsoft International