25. To remove the magazine catch, use a small screwdriver to pry the longer of its two internal blocks, the one of the left, toward the right while pushing on the right end of the magazine catch. When the right end of the catch will clear the internal shoulders of the frame, swing it back into the magazine well and remove it.
Reassembly Tips:
1. The trigger, trigger spring, trigger bar, slide latch, and takedown release are shown in the positions they occupy in the frame. When installing the trigger bar, be sure the rear arm of the trigger spring is lifted to bear on the internal pivot of the bar. Also, be sure the forward tip of the trigger spring enters its hole in the takedown release. Unfortunately, the parts cannot be pre-assembled as shown. They must be put into the frame separately.
When replacing the left safety-lever on the frame, use a small screwdriver to depress the spring and plunger until they can bear on the post. Take care that they don’t escape.
When replacing the magazine catch, put the left end back into the recess, with the inner shoulder of the left spring block bearing on its recess in the frame. Push the catch toward the left, compressing the spring, and swing the right left-handed operation, reverse the direction of the catch, and install it from the opposite side.
Beretta Model 90
| Data: | Beretta 90 |
| Origin: | Italy |
| Manufacturer: | Armi Beretta S.p.A., |
| Rome | |
| Cartridge: | 7.65mm Browning |
| (32 ACP) | |
| Magazine capacity: | 8 rounds |
| Overall length: |
6 |
| Height: |
4 |
| Barrel length: |
3 |
| Weight: |
19 |
The first double-action pistol made by Beretta, the Model 90, was produced at a new facility in Rome, not at the main factory in Gardone. In regular production it was made only in the 32 ACP chambering, a fact which limited sales in the United States. It fared better in Europe, where 32 ACP is considered an adequate caliber for police and personal defense use. Mechanically, the Model 90 is a total departure from traditional Beretta design. The internal mechanism is close to the Walther/Sauer pattern but has notable Beretta differences.
Field Strip:
1. With the empty magazine in place to operate the slide hold-open catch, lock the slide open, then remove magazine. The takedown-latch is located at the front of the frame, just below the end of the locked-open slide. Pull the serrated ears of the takedown-latch forward and tilt it up toward the slide. It will stay in that position.
2. Draw the slide back as far as it will go, and lift it clear of the frame at the rear.
3. With the slide lifted at the rear to clear the barrel housing, run it forward off the barrel and frame. The recoil spring can now be removed from the barrel. Gun is now field-stripped.
Beretta 90 field-stripped
Detail Strip:
4. A single cross-pin holds the firing pin and its spring in the slide, and this should be driven out from left to right. The extractor can be removed by depressing its spring and follower with a small screwdriver, and tipping the extractor out toward the front.
5. The grips are wrap-around type, seamed at the rear, and are usually tightly fitted. Also, there is a bracing pin of rolled steel at the lower rear edge. After taking out the screws, pry the grips apart carefully with the edge of a knife, and remove the right grip first. When taking off the left grip, set the safety to the on-safe position, and after lifting the lower edge of the grip, move the grip downward and off.
6. A rolled steel cross-pin retains the takedown-latch and its spring (left arrow). The ejector/hold-open is removed by prying the round-wire spring (center arrow) out of its shelf, and lifting the part off toward the left. The magazine release system is held by a screw on the left side (right arrow) beside the release button.
7. The barrel is retained in the frame by a hexagonal nut (arrow) which surrounds it, but removal requires a metric wrench of the proper size. The trigger cross-pin is drifted out from right to left, as are the sear and hammer pivot pins. When the hammer is cocked, the tip of the hammer strut appears in a hole at the lower rear of the grip frame (arrow), and the strut has a hole for insertion of small drift or paper clip, to trap the hammer spring. After inserting a tool in the strut, pull the trigger, ease the hammer down, then remove it. CAUTION:When releasing the trapped mainspring, insert a tool from the top of the frame to bear on the hammer strut, then release the strut and ease it out. The trigger bar/disconnector is released in much the same manner as the ejector/ hold-open, by gently prying its spring from the slot in its underside, and lifting it off toward the right. The very small cross-pin at the top of the frame holds no part—it is a hammer stop. The safety-lever can be removed in either the on-safe or off-safe position by simply pushing it out toward the left, but proceed with caution, as the tiny plunger and spring below will be released from the frame. When taking off the safety, cover the entire rear of the gun with a shop cloth to catch these small parts.