This gun replaced the 1911 in 1986 as the sidearm of choice of the United States Military and was designated the M9. Chambered in 9mm Parabellum, this semi-automatic pistol is used by police forces around the world.
Many military members, like myself, complained about having our rugged and powerful .45 ACP 1911s replaced by the 9mm, however, over time, we found the weapon easy to shoot, clean and highly reliable. The 9mm round is the most ubiquitous and affordable round out there, providing for cheap range time and a respectable defense round. The movies Lethal Weapon and Die Hard introduced Americans to these reliable handguns and subsequently the Beretta’s popularity took off like a rocket in the civilian market.