I have been a fan of Wilson Combat firearms for many years. Their innovation and high-level quality set a standard few can match. From handguns to rifles to shotguns, Wilson builds top-tier guns for competition, self-defense, duty use and hunting.

The only problem is that Wilson Combat quality comes at a price. Wilson doesn’t add anything superfluous, and their pistols are worth every penny, but a Wilson handgun has often been out of reach for the average shooter. Until now.

Something for Everyone: Beretta 92G Centurion Tactical

While browsing Wilson’s online catalog recently, I spotted something unexpected: a slick, new defensive 9mm handgun, priced at only $1,288. That put it in line with several higher-end pistols on the market.

That pistol is the Beretta/Wilson Combat 92G Centurion Tactical: a collaboration that combines the proven Beretta 92G Centurion platform with Wilson Combat enhancements. I immediately requested a sample, and they shipped it out the next day.

Designed with concealed carry in mind, the Beretta/Wilson Combat 92G mates the Brigadier Tactical frame with a shorter 4.25-inch Centurion slide. This carry-friendly version of the Beretta 92 is slimmer, easier to conceal and more user-friendly.

I’ve long-admired the 92 series of 9mm pistols and logged countless rounds through the standard Beretta 92 in training as well as duty and off-duty carry without failure. But I’ve also thought more than once that the Beretta 92 could use some slimming down.

The Beretta/Wilson Combat Centurion Tactical is still a substantial gun, not a micro-pistol, that strikes a balance between full-sized firepower and practical carry. And it delivers the same reliability I’ve come to expect from Beretta, now with refinements that make it more appealing for everyday carry.

About the Wilson Combat Beretta 92G Centurion Tactical

The Beretta/Wilson Combat 92G blends Beretta’s classic 92 platform with the shorter-than-standard Centurion slide and Wilson Combat upgrades, tuning this pistol for everyday carry while still offering full-size performance.

Varying from the standard Beretta 92s that use the safety/decocker mechanism, the 92G Centurion uses an ambidextrous decocker-only system. Simply pressing down on the decocking lever safely drops the hammer in single-action mode. Releasing the lever returns it to the ready-to-fire position. The red “danger dot” is always visible as a permanent reminder that guns have the potential to be dangerous. It’s a faster, cleaner setup designed for defensive use.

Key Features of the Beretta/Wilson Combat 92G Centurion Tactical:

  • Wilson Brigadier Tactical frame with Centurion slide
  • Ambidextrous decocker-only system (no manual safety)
  • Full-size magazine capacity in a more compact frame
  • Wilson Combat signature grips, mag guide and mag release

Basic 92G Centurion Specifications

Caliber: 9mm Luger+P
Manufacturer: Beretta with additional upgrades by Wilson Combat
Magazine capacities: Two 17-round magazines and one 20-round magazine included
Barrel length: 4.25 inches
Overall length: .75 inches
Thickest width: 1.5 inches
Empty weight: 33.2 ounces
Frame: Aluminum M9A1 frame with round M92A1 round trigger guard and front rail
Slide: Stainless steel/black Bruniton finish/Wilson Combat emblem stamped on slide
Optics: Not optics ready
Hammer: Skeletonized Elite II hammer
Barrel: Match-grade stainless steel/recessed target crown
Sights: High visibility dovetailed Ameriglo tritium front sight with an orange outline paired with a Wilson Combat Black Battlesight rear
Trigger pull weight: 7.21 pounds double-action/4.45 pounds single-action measured on Wheeler gauge
Grips/Frame: Gray/black Wilson Combat Ultra-Thin G-10 grips/Wilson Combat mag guide/oversize mag release
MSRP: $1,288

As with all their Beretta collaborations, Wilson Combat uses factory-optimized action parts and improved slide-to-frame fit in the manufacturing of the 92G Centurion. Additional custom services are also available.

Wilson Combat Enhancements:

  • Factory-optimized action parts
  • Improved slide-to-frame fit
  • Skeletonized Elite II hammer
  • Oversized mag release & mag guide
  • Additional custom services available for further upgrades

Testing the Wilson Combat Centurion

Unloaded, the 92G Centurion Tactical is almost 10 ounces heavier than an unloaded Glock 17. That extra heft is immediately noticeable, especially if you’re used to carrying polymer-framed pistols. However, those ounces lead to steadier shooting and quicker shot-to-shot recovery.

The Beretta/Wilson Combat 92G Centurion Tactical has one of the smoothest DA/SA triggers I’ve felt. It was consistent, light and crisp in both modes. The sight picture with the Ameriglo/Wilson setup was excellent, easy to acquire, and perfect for defensive shooting.

I tested the 92G Centurion Tactical with my neighbor in his backyard with 124-grain FMJ PMC Bronze ammo, which has a muzzle velocity of 1,110 feet per second. Starting at 30 feet, his group landed dead-center in the cardboard silhouette, measuring 4 inches plus one flyer. My group from the same distance measured 4.5 inches, also with one flyer.

My 11-year-old son fired 10 rounds from 15 feet, resulting in a tight 4-inch group, and my neighbor’s last group measured 3.5 inches for 12 shots. He had carried a full-sized Beretta 92 on deployment and found this customized version extremely comfortable to shoot. For a large-frame pistol, it was remarkably controllable.

By the end of our session, the consensus was clear: The Beretta/Wilson Combat 92G Centurion Tactical is exceptionally accurate, reliable and enjoyable to shoot.

Wilson Combat Centurion Review: The Best of Both Worlds

The Beretta/Wilson Combat 92G Centurion Tactical brings the reliability the Beretta 92 series is known for to a reasonable price point for concealed carriers and adds the professional precision tuning of Wilson Combat along. For those looking for something outside the plastic pistol revolution, this new joint offering might be just the ticket.

Source:

Wilson Combat: WilsonCombat.com