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After our recent review of the Rock Island imported Derya Arms DY9 I was presented the opportunity to review the Melik.
Fifteen years on active duty in the United States Army had lead me to dislike the Beretta 92 FS, known in the military as the "M9". That opinion however was born of ignorance. Poor training and maintenance in the Army on an ancillary firearm (as Soldiers a handgun was a backup or reserved for rear-echelon troops who need to be armed, but are unlikely to be involved in serious engagements) had soured my opinion before I had obtained quality training after the service.
It wasn't until I met Ernest Langdon of Langdon Tactical Technologies at an event that my opinion changed. I didn't know who he was at the time, but he insisted I try his pistol despite my resistance. By then I had gained some quality training, better understanding of handguns and shooting, and the 92 Elite LTT forever changed the way I saw the platform.
What Is It? The Derya Arms Melik is a Beretta 92-based build. DA/SA with a decocker and safety, packing 17 rounds into a full-size grip, and with a 4.9" barrel for excellent muzzle energy. My exmaple is one of seven color schemes currently listed by Derya Arms.
Who's It For? The Beretta 92 FS was the US military's service pistol for a variety of reasons, including excellent performance. While the Italian-made version is relatively expensive, the Derya Arms Melik offers consumers the chance to have something nearly identical for considerably less money.
With a 4.9" barrel and weighing 33oz the Melik is not a small pistol. That, a fixed front sight and no accessory rail may mean this isn't an ideal carry gun. It is, however, an excellent range gun that I found to be a real joy to shoot. I've shot other Beretta 92 clones and don't recall them having as nice of a trigger and such soft recoil. The trigger isn't like a custom trigger job, but is very nice in both double and single action.
DA/SA/Safety? Those who learned on simple striker-fired pistols may want to know about this. The Derya Arms Melik is a hammer-fired gun that features a decocker and safety. Decocking lowers the hammer; making for a longer and heavier first-shot in double action. Every shot thereafter is single action witha shorter and ligher pull. If the decocker lever is left in the down position the pistol will also be on safe with the trigger disabled. There is no option for "cocked and locked" safety on single action like a 1911.
Take a look at the Derya Arms Melik in the tabletop video below. I appreciate that the slide is finished in a melonite-type finish and not Cerakoted. Cerakote adds to the dimensions and can lead to a gummy feel of the action. Melonite is a true metal treatment that does not chance parts dimensions and can not be removed or worn off without removal of surface metal.
It is common that Turkish-made pistols come with plenty of accessories and magazines. Rock Island has chosen to lighten the case, perhaps to help keep cost down. Only one magazine was included, but fortunately Beretta 92 magazines are plentiful and affordable. (Found here from $14.59)
Specifications:
Model Shown: Derya Arms Melik C112/01 (note my sample is slightly different than what is shown on the website)
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 17+1
Barrel Length: 4.9"
Overall Length: 8.4"
Weight: 33.5oz
Importer's MSRP: $599
Prices Around the Web As of date article was written
Click links to check current pricing
Including other trims, from $315.99 at Bud's Gun Shop
Including other trims, from $324.80 at Firearms Depot
Including other trims, from $309.99 at GrabaGun
Base model $411.99 at Guns.com
GBGuns readers and viewers know a "review" isn't objective unless commentary is formed only after repeating the same experiences done with other guns. For that reason we have the set of GBGuns range protocols to create a fair review; both my commentary and what you see in videos.
Cold Shots: Truly the first rounds through the gun. No warm up, no practice.
Full Magazine +1: Suprisingly some modern guns still struggle with this. It's a test of how much play is in the magazine as well as how the slide cycles with pressure. This is also when I do my best to learn the trigger.
What's For Dinner™: A test to see what ammunition the gun will eat. Does the gun feed the round from slide lock, will it cycle and feed another round of the same type, does the slide lock to the rear on empty, and is there any notable point of impact change with different loads.
For this gun we used the following ammunition:
Priced and linked where found at the time this article was written
50gr Liberty Ammunition Civil Defense $32.99 / 20 at Sportsman's Guide
65gr Norma Frangible
90gr Winchester Super Clean $20.49 / 50 at Bud's Gun Shop
115gr Speed Gold Dot $33.99 / 50 at Target Sports USA
115gr Blazer Aluminum-cased FMJ $11.99 / 50 at True Shot
124gr PMC SFX JHP $22.99 / 20 at Bud's Gun Shop
124gr Federal Premium Tactical HST $39.99 / 50 at Target Sports USA
147gr Sig Elite Defense $22.99 / 20 direct from Sig
147gr PPU Defense Line JHP $23.74 / 50 at Sportsman's Guide
165gr AMMO, Inc /stelTH $24.99 / 50 at Palmetto State Armory
Range Ammo Belom124gr $12.99/50 at TrueShot
Sights & Trigger Control: on a 6" spinner target at a distance of 12 yards. We got this from Titan Great Outdoors and use it to gauge how learnable the trigger is and usable the sights are for forced, timed, precise shots.
Practical Accuracy: Five shots from a distance of seven yards at a one inch target. This isn't so much about printing a tight group as it is a culmination of our shooting experience and time for us to collect thoughts prior to making a conclusion.
After Shots: Final impressions and reflections from the range session.
Watch the Process and hear the feedback in the Derya Arms Melik Shooting Impressions video below:
Ammunition seen in our Shooting Impressions video was made possible by our Patrons and supporters of our ammunition savings account through Ammo Squared.
On the Range I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd had mediocre experiences with other Beretta 92 clones, but this one felt nice during the tabletop evaluation. Additionally, the contours of the traditional frame shape have never felt great in my hands. All of that hesitation was thrown out the window with the first shots. I'm not sure if it's slide mass, recoil assemble, or maybe just that I've been shooting a lot of smaller and lighter pistols lately, but the Derya Arms Melik's recoil and handling were excellent! This pistol is fun to shoot!
While there were no malfunctions, I did notice the roll pin on the right-side safety lever appears to have walked out some during my first session. This was an easy fix with my Real Avid punch set which had a roll pin punch that fit perfectly. Will it walk out again in the future? I don't know, but it is something I'll keep an eye on.
Another note is that after just this first range session is appears the trigger bar has worn some on the frame. It's logical wear, but I do not see such wear on the 92 Elite LTT which has many more rounds through it. The difference could be in the parts coatings, or in fitment. It does not cause any functional problems and is purely aesthetic, but also a reminder of some of what the price difference gets you. Considering the Derya Arms Melik can be found for around half the price of a Beretta 92 or 1/3 the price of a 92 Elite LTT I find these minor tradeoffs acceptable for anyone looking to get into the platform.