I Carry: LTT Beretta 92G Elite in a PHLster Floodlight Holster

Welcome to another episode of "I Carry," Shooting Illustrated's weekly video series covering the guns and gear needed to put together a potential everyday-carry kit. Today we have a Langdon Tactical Beretta 92G Elite in a PHLster holster. We also have a SureFire weaponlight, a Mec-Gar extended magazine and a Kershaw knife.

Beretta 92 G Elite LTT (MSRP: $999)

When it comes to double-action/single action semi-automatic handguns, few are as iconic as the Beretta 92. Adopted as the M9 as the U.S. military’s handgun in the 1980s, it also enjoyed a healthy run as co-star in numerous TV shows and movies. Yeah, the Walther PPK is pretty famous, but it is indelibly linked to James Bond. The 92, by contrast, has been carried by John McClane, Martin Riggs and the MacManus brothers, just to name a few. As perhaps best illustrated in “Lethal Weapon,” the 92’s open-top slide and double-stack magazine gave sharp contrast to the six-shot revolver that had been the film and law-enforcement staple for decades. It was hip, it was cool and naturally, this sparked interest in the 92.

Although it is being replaced as the Army’s sidearm, civilian interest in the 92 remains strong, and it’s natural that folks want to make it better. The double-action trigger has always been a matter of contention, especially in contrast to the smoother, lighter single-action pull once that first pesky shot is out of the way. Ernest Langdon of Landgon Tactical Technology, is one of the premiere handgun trainers and unabashed fans of the 92 out there, and offered up his take on the pistol in what he calls the “ultimate 92 package.”

Built on an M9A1 frame and using a Vertec M9A3 slide, the Elite LTT features front cocking serrations, fiber-optic front sight, solid steel guide rod and VZ grips to name just a few of the upgrades. The trigger is stainless steel and much smoother than the standard 92 version, even in double-action mode. Even the trigger guard gets a reduction and is radiused to allow more clearance for the middle finger underneath. There is a lot of work that goes into this custom pistol, and the most-amazing part is how little this work adds to the overall price. Barely more than $300 over a standard M9, the Elite LTT puts a pistol that has been highly customized by an expert in your hands. That’s a lot of value added for only a little premium.

PHLster Floodlight Holster (MSRP: $119)

PHLster’s Floodlight is designed to work with any handgun that has the SureFire X300U weaponlight attached, meaning it is fully adjustable for a wide variety of pistols. The attentive eye will note we’ve featured the Floodlight previously with a Smith & Wesson M&P; this is entirely intentional and speaks to the amazing utility of the Floodlight. Since retention is based on the SureFire weaponlight, any handgun with an accessory rail will work in the Floodlight. It doesn’t have to have a polymer frame or be a specific model to fit. To reiterate, it is quite comfortable and you can wear it all day long. If you like having a weapon-mounted light on your handgun, this is an excellent way to carry such a setup.

SureFire X300U Weaponlight (MSRP: $299)

Updated in 2018, the SureFireX300U packs 1,000 lumens available at the flip of a switch. Dimensions are one and an eighth inches in diameter, 3.6 inches long and four ounces with batteries. If you’ve been thinking of adding a light to your EDC handgun, the SureFire X300U has become one of the “go-to” lights as far as accessories. As noted above in our holster selection, a wide variety of fits center on the X300U, so whatever pistol the SureFire is attached to will fit in that holster.

Mec-Gar 20-round Beretta 92 Magazine (MSRP: $46.50)

Mec-Gar has been an OEM manufacturer for a number of firearm manufacturers for more than 50 years. The Beretta 92/M9 magazine, as simple as it may seem, has a dizzying array of options: 10-, 15-, 18- and 20-round variants are offered, along with nickel, blued or anti-friction finish. This particular model is the 20-round variant, which is only offered with the anti-friction finish. A plastic bumper on the floorplate offers some protection for the magazine extending out of the grip.

Kershaw Seguin (MSRP: $59.99)

When it comes to functional, useful knives that don’t break the bank, Kershaw is one of the standouts. New for 2019 is the Seguin (seh-geen), which features a flipper opening mechanism, frame lock and gray-PVD-coated, 8CR13MOV steel blade. It’s 4.9 ounces, has a 3.1 inch blade and utilizes Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening technology for instant deployment. Texturing on the stainless steel scales keeps it anchored in the hand, and the pocket clip attaches at the top of the knife to ride low in the pocket. As with the rest of today’s gear, it’s purpose-built and efficient.