Solar Flare is the color name, and the black-and-yellow grip makes it stand out on the firing line. The slide and frame carry a Graphite Gray Tinitec finish, and both are steel. The slide is serrated and cut for an optic, and the frame has a beavertail and a Picatinny rail.

The 92X PCO was developed with top competitive shooters so it works well straight from the box. The sights are a fiber optic front and an adjustable rear. Wipe it down, put a drop of oil on the rails, and it should give you years of steady service. Eye and ear protection cost little compared with the range days they make possible.

Steel adds weight, and weight is what keeps a pistol flat during rapid fire. The PCO designation points to a pistol built for pistol caliber optic divisions, but it works equally well as a heavy range pistol. The rail is useful for a light, too.

If you want a Beretta that looks sharp and is ready for competition, this is a good place to start. It is new. It ships to your FFL dealer, and the background check is completed there.