Beretta Px4 Storm - Pros & Cons?

I just bought the full size in 9mm. I loved the way it felt and looked, and I've had good luck with Beretta's in the past. I have not shot this one yet, but almost every review I read spoke to top-flight reliability. Other than shootability, reliability was the number one thing people cited as a strength of this pistol. The compact felt great in the hand also.

Owning both the 9mm and .45, you would be happy with either. The rotating barrel does an awesome job at soaking up recoil. It is a very well built pistol.

To be honest, I've seen quite a few instances where the PX4 or Cougar (also uses the rotating barrel) have been said to be unreliable, but you always should look at the background of these claims. A friend of a friend, who knew someone that had a brother which had issues with that platform isn't a great claim to stand behind, nor people who never fired the gun. It is easy to see these arguments, since they usually lack information and quickly recommend a more "superior" design.

To answer your question, it is a design like any other. There is a point where it will fail, just as a S&W or Glock will. The PX4's failure point isn't any lower than any other handgun made by a quality manufacturer.

I don't have one but I put a few rounds through a friends' recently. I was impressed. I shot well with it (better than I was shooting with my gun). It seemed to have less recoil than my Stoeger Cougar even though it's lighter than the Cougar. I would get one but I can't shoot all of the pistols I already have.

I ran two range days where the Storm was a loner gun and had a bunch (over 1000 rnds) of low end WPA ammo ran through it, no cleaning and just some oiling the morning of the second day. The gun ran flawlessly and impressed most of those who tried it.

I don't like slide mounted safety's so I'm not pushing this gun, but it did well under some pretty tough conditions.

I ran 100 rounds through a rental.

Pros:

• It is a beretta.
• The rotating barrel seemed to soak up some recoil, but no more than a similar sized polymer with a dual recoil spring assembly. That's just me and IMHO, recoil is very subjective.
• I didn't experience any jams, but 100 trouble-free rounds out of a used range gun is hardly a reliability indicator.
• The range guy let me shoot it for free (with my own ammo) and it put a smile on my face.

Cons:

• Slide mounted safety isn't natural to me so I would be reluctant to carry it, or practice enough to carry it without completely switching to apx4's and only carrying px4's.
• Ugly as homemade sin (looks are subjective of course), but I like the looks of it.

I would love to have taken it home and went shooting in the rain, drop it in the mud or sand and give you a real reliability test. I would love to see how the mags feed after dropping them in the dirt or mud a few times, but I can't. All I can say is that the one I test drove gobbled up 100 rounds with ease.

Levers, F models or G-models

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Have owned a Px4 40 for 5yrs, just over 12k flawless rounds, any ammo, including good re-loads..

Thoughts about slide mounted safety/decocker levers -

They are a tad of a stretch and do stick out, however -

One can either buy a G model, or convert a F model, easily, no parts needed, just remove a tiny spring and ball bearing and one has a G-model, decocker - only vs the F's Safety/decocker lever/s in one.

Also, there are clean, flush fitting, stealth levers available for those that think the levers (Batwings..lol) stick out too far, for carry, or otherwise.. for all models






As mentioned, and I agree, they'll go any distance, any ammo (for the most part) and be it 9mm, 40cal, or 45cal, they all offer soft/balanced recoil along with excellent, on-going, accuracy.

My Px4 40 G and Sig P228 9mm (both decocker-only)



Ls

Hey Lonestar, are those some kind of optional sights or they add-ons?

ForumSurfer said:

Ugly as homemade sin (looks are subjective of course), but I like the looks of it.

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Ha! I think it's kinda awkward-looking, dare I say ugly, as well. But I too think it's growing on me

Great shots, Lonestar. I might have to look into both the stealth levers and the night sights once I get mine.

I like the PX4 a lot, but...

I have had both the F and the C (I converted the F to a G using the stealth leavers mentioned by lonestar above and the C is the constant action) (Read Glock ish like trigger pull).

Much preferred the C trigger but the gun has little in the way of trigger reset, it seems to require a full stroke of the trigger to reset.

Not an issue if you shoot that way but if you shoot using a reset (ala Glock and XD) the PX4 is not really the gun for you - even the C model.

Other than that little issue the rest of the gun is a flawless Beretta polymer pistol.

I really like the new compact model but wish it came in the C model.

My 9mm...







My .45...





If you don't like the slide mounted safety, convert it one way or another. My .45 has the Stealth controls while my 9mm has the standard controls (being my range gun).

Hey Lonestar, are those some kind of optional sights or they add-ons?

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In my case, yes they are add-ons, Trijicons, (after market) however, every now and then they come thru with 3-dot night sights on them, not that often, but sometimes.

So chk all the Px4's they might have in stock,


Ls

Was at the range yesterday the guy next to me had one that was FTFing. They took (RO and the shooter) neither could get it fixed. The group of guys I shoot with all have different 9mm. I have an M&P9, my buddy has an XDm and the other the Px4. I like the way the px4 fits my hand. I like the narrow profile. The grip is comfortable and I seem to shoot it well. However this scare me to death and I could be wrong but the spring under the barrel has a plastic recoil guide...at least it looks that way. I cleaned it and couldnt believe what I was looking at when I came across this. not sure if Beretta is still manufacturing it this way but not my cup of tea!

To be honest, I like them all. Did like the M&P over the other for how it fit my hand and the grip angle. The XDm sits high on the hand higher bore axis and the px4 is in between both the M&P and the XDm for bore axis. My M&P seems to recoil more then either..more muzzle climb as well. Have shot all three side by side same ammo same round count in the mags as a test. The Px4 was pretty smooth but all the controls drove me a little batty. So I passed on it. I still do like it and shoot it pretty well. Just my 2 cents but the plastic recoil guide scared me stupid! His is definitely plastic...still shaking my head! Steel and I really like this gun...plastic...hmmmmm?

Oh and beretta customer service is pretty fair at best. I have a beretta shotgun and it is not easy to deal with! I did forget to mention the beretta trigger is my least favorite of the bunch. The XDm was pretty nice and i did a trigger job on my M&P so it is quite nice but still like the XDm just as much but that is after 2500 round through it...solid feel, smooth and a clean break. It is a very good gun! Some additional things too. When I compared the 3 I noticed the barrel length on the standard full size 9mm models were all different. PX4: 4" M&P: 4.25" and the XDm: 4.5" I recently shot the XDm more accurately then the others...damn it! Barrel length plus match grade should equal my accuracy in the right hands just not mine but did on this day! HA

Have a full size px4...ran through 2 pistol training courses without issue (over 1000 rounds each course, in one day). Love it!!

One can either buy a G model, or convert a F model, easily, no parts needed, just remove a tiny spring and ball bearing and one has a G-model, decocker - only vs the F's Safety/decocker lever/s in one.

Also, there are clean, flush fitting, stealth levers available for those that think the levers (Batwings..lol) stick out too far, for carry, or otherwise.. for all models

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I wish I had known those handy bits of info when I was trading off my XDM that I didn't like at all. I had a few offers for px4's and I would have traded for them had I have known that.

I have a few Beretta pistols and have never had a problem with the rotating barrel. The Beretta Cougar Mod. 8045 is my favorite carry gun and has been flawless for many years. As to recoil a female LEO I know that carries a Glock g23 tried my Beretta and in her opinion it was much easier for her to control and especially liked the grips. She could hold it on rapid fire much better than her g23 and if she could she would try and find an older Beretta to carry.

Screwball, that's two fine looking pistols. Couple of questions, I have not seen a 9mm PX4 with the extended barrel. Is that an SD version, or something similar? And how do you like the .45 shooting and ergos?

Plastic vs metal should not be a concern, but -

Just my 2 cents but the plastic recoil guide scared me stupid! His is definitely plastic...still shaking my head! Steel and I really like this gun...plastic...hmmmmm?

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Yep, they all come with such type plastic guide rods. In all fairness, being a non-load bearing part, they work and work well for a long time, however, there are some nice *stainless steel aftermarket guide rods for them for less than 32 bucks.

They work for a long time, as well, and add a touch of, *forward, bottom weight, a good thing IMO.

Factory plastic guide rod -



Plastic vs *stainless steel guide rod for Px4's


And it all looks good




And on another note - F model conversion to G model (decocker-only)

Here's the 2 parts one need only remove to covert F safety/decocker in one to a G decocker-only






Ls

Big_John1961 said:

Screwball, that's two fine looking pistols. Couple of questions, I have not seen a 9mm PX4 with the extended barrel. Is that an SD version, or something similar? And how do you like the .45 shooting and ergos?

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The barrel is from EFK. I liked the SD look, but wasn't paying for one (not a fan of OD frames, either). I set the .45 up to carry, but the 9mm is my range gun.

I bought the .45 first. I know a few people in the neighboring county that are issued the .40, and all of them recommended it. When I wanted a .45, Glocks were hard to get, and the range I bought it from had it coming in. Love it better than other .45s being it is a lot thinner double stack design. Hold one next to a Glock 21, even a SF, and you'll see. Recoil is a lot less than other .45s I've shot, as well.

Loved it so much that I got the 9mm...

sch84 said:

Lonestar, Where can I get the stainless guide rod from? Do I order them from Beretta directly?

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Bedair makes them.

http://www.guiderod.com/

Had one in my .45, but opted to stick with the stock assemblies. Easier to switch out, especially with the SD assembly I have for heavier loads.

soapboxpreacher said:

Was at the range yesterday the guy next to me had one that was FTFing. They took (RO and the shooter) neither could get it fixed. The group of guys I shoot with all have different 9mm. I have an M&P9, my buddy has an XDm and the other the Px4. I like the way the px4 fits my hand. I like the narrow profile. The grip is comfortable and I seem to shoot it well. However this scare me to death and I could be wrong but the spring under the barrel has a plastic recoil guide...at least it looks that way. I cleaned it and couldnt believe what I was looking at when I came across this. not sure if Beretta is still manufacturing it this way but not my cup of tea!

To be honest, I like them all. Did like the M&P over the other for how it fit my hand and the grip angle. The XDm sits high on the hand higher bore axis and the px4 is in between both the M&P and the XDm for bore axis. My M&P seems to recoil more then either..more muzzle climb as well. Have shot all three side by side same ammo same round count in the mags as a test. The Px4 was pretty smooth but all the controls drove me a little batty. So I passed on it. I still do like it and shoot it pretty well. Just my 2 cents but the plastic recoil guide scared me stupid! His is definitely plastic...still shaking my head! Steel and I really like this gun...plastic...hmmmmm?

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Yes I have had this gun 3yrs and no issues other than a batch of bad Federal Ammo one time. Regarding the FTF, I have seen this and it was my fault, I dropped the little sping under the slide stop lever while cleaning it, and caused me some grief until I realized why it was not working right. Just a suggestion, check that you still have that spring in place.

Just a heads up to anyone that has purchased or wants to purchase a compact version 9mm (only this model). There were a few that hit the market with a recoil spring that was too tight causing jams. Beretta has set up a place on their customer service section on their website to resolve the problem. You just type your serial number in and it will let you know if you need the good spring (Which they will send you free of charge).

What to look for if you see one in the store or at a gun show: The good spring has a couple of the windings pushed together near the middle, the bad one has equal gaps in the windings the entire length of the spring (the way a spring should look).

This issue can also be fixed by firing multiple boxes of +P ammo from the beginning to break it in, as the problem is said to only exist while shooting "weaker target ammo". I haven't had any issues with mine so far (it has the good spring) with 200 rounds of PMC and Aguila.

GREAT WEAPON FOR THE MONEY. Would recommend to anybody.
By the way....Nice pics on the upgrades.

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Here ya go, what to look for with the new Px4 Compact 9mm w/rotating barrels.





Ls