Baretta PX4....considering purchasing...

[red dog]

Beretta PX4....considering purchasing...

I am considering purchasing a Beretta PX4 9mm handgun. I saw somebody last night with postings regarding this weapon and his new purchase of it. He also related his experience at the range with it. I am not able to find his posting and I am looking for anyone with opinions regarding this pistol. I would also like to know if anyone has info regarding any stocking retailers of this item and prices. My local gun shop has 2 in stock at a very high suggested retail, and seemingly they do not seem to want to adjust prices to reflect street market pricing. I am trying to find an alternative source and also related opinions and advice. This will be my first purchase of a handgun, and will be used for everything from range practice to personal protection. I am also looking at Glock 19, Taurus 24/7 pro and Ruger P89 and P95 pistols.
I am a "newbee" and any advice, direction and guidance is greatly appreciated. My budget is hovering around the 500.00 mark, and I am seeking weapons in that range of street prices. I am a large man and I have held all of these weapons and many, many others. These feel the best in my hand. The Taurus and Beretta especially have a great feel to me and my fat hands...

 

[pauli]

This will be my first purchase of a handgun, and will be used for everything from range practice to personal protection.

I am a "newbee" and any advice, direction and guidance is greatly appreciated.

my advice? first, take an nra basic pistols class (or equivalent), then get a 22. *then* think about a centerfire handgun.

can't comment on the px4, haven't even seen one in person yet.

 

[JohnKSa]

Here are some more owners' reports on the PX4.

http://www.berettaforum.net/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=6

 

[red dog]

I am ex-military and I am fully aware of the inherent dangers and respect associated with such a weapon. I do appreciate your advice and I will also enroll in a pistol safety course as this training is definately going to be something that will be beneficial as a refresher, as well as a great learning experience.
I do appreciate the advice, but I am likely a little further along than the typical beginner .22 caliber buyer. I have shot hundreds of rounds of .45 and
9mm ammo in my life, just not out of a gun that I personally owned.

I do respond with your comments with no disrespect, and I am not insulted by it's wording. Although I have not owned a handgun, I have used several high caliber, high power pistols. I am at a place in my life that I am eager to invest in a high-quality weapon that I may use for protection as well as range shooting.
My main questions were related to the opinions of this sites wiser and "more experienced" shooters on the comparisons of the models listed, and any other that I may have overlooked in the price range. I have also looked at revolvers, but I am quite certain that due to the target shooting to be employed by this weapon and also feel in hand factor....I am focussing my search on semi-autos.....

 

[hnm201]

baretta =

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beretta =

 

[red dog]

Beretta PX4 vs. Taurus 24/7, Glock 19 & Ruger P89

Nice picture of Robert Blake...but now back to the question at hand;
What are your opinions of Beretta versus Taurus, Ruger and yes all of you
"Glockheads", Glock 19. I look forward to anyones input on my quest for the best all around 9mm semi-auto pistol out there in the 500.00 range......
Just a reminder, the Baretta and Taurus felt the best in my large hands.

 

[TimboKhan]

Red Dog,

I have no experience with or knowledge of the Beretta that your interested in, but let me say that I own a Ruger P90, and I flat out love it. I have big paws too, and it fits me very well, especially so after I swapped out the original grip panels with a Hogue wrap-around grip, a modification that I very heartily recommend on the P89 as well. I have shot P89's, and if I happen to find one at the right price, I am buying one, in no small part because they are so similar to the P90. For my money, you can't go wrong with Ruger, although I do like the P89 more than the P95, solely because you can't change grips on the P95. I also own a Taurus 24/7, and again, I have been very pleased with it. In fact, I posted a range report on it month or two back, if you would like to read it. My P90 I have owned and shot for over 10 years, and it has proven itself to be a spectacular pistol. I am translating that success over to the P89, and from what I have seen of those pistols, I think I am justified in doing so. My 24/7 I have owned less than a year, and maybe in 2 or 3 or 10 years I will have a different opinion of it, but to this point I would recommend it without hesitation. Actually, if you want to know the truth of the matter, the 24/7, at least for me, is probably the most comfortable pistol I have ever held...

 

[Working Man]

I have a Ruger P95 and have never had a problem with it in several thousand
rounds. It does fell a bit loose compared to the Beretta 92F but for the
money it is a great gun.

 

[MDG1976]

Red Dog,
I think I might be the PX4 owner you were looking for. I took mine to the range for the first time and loved it. It's as accurate as a 4" auto can be and the ergonomics are superb (at least if you have big hands). The big advantage this gun has over the Glock and the Taurus is the the PX4 is DA/SA with a manual safety. I like that because I like to shoot a SA gun, but prefer to carry a DA. The fit and finish are top notch, among the best I've seen on a polymer gun and much nicer than a Ruger P series.
I paid $499 for the gun plus 3 17 rounds mags last month. I doubt if a retailer will discount the price much at all given the high demand and low availability. A Ruger P series is a reliable workhorse and a good bargin, but it lacks the refinement of Beretta.

 

[Bullet Bob]

What Dominic was trying to do, gently and with humor, is let you know that "Baretta" was a TV show, and that the firearm is spelled "Beretta", which helps if you're trying to do a search. It's a common mixup.

 

[duncan]

Welcome to the High Road where you could risk a low blow.

But we'll be nice.

There are a lot of nice compact 9mm guns out there. So here is my opinion - your experience may differ but hey jack, this is America!

First of all, skip the Beretta PX4. It's till considered a new gun and most dealers will gauge you on the price as Beretta decided to only release to police and military. So you'll pay the price. and besides, it's a Glock beveled slide on a Beretta frame with a SW 3913/5906 style grip.

Second, there are a couple of hot threads on the Taurus Millenium Pro or 24/7 pistols. Nice guns but some appear unhappy with the controls. Good pricing though. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=159219

Third, the Ruger P-series guns are good shooters, durable, somewhat accurate. Built like tanks. Make good trunk guns. But a tad on the thick side and blocky. Great fitment (slide to frame) but I'm not big on their finishes. Just because you are starting shooter does not mean you have to go that low.

Fourth, skip the SW Sigma or Styma's as I call them. They've had way too many problems although the latest version seems to be pleased the "budget" 9mm shooters. Sorry but SW's best semi-auto's were made years ago. A SW 3913 is an aweome choice but avoid the Styma. had an older one that jammed like Soul Train.

Fifth, look at the Springfield Armory XD. It's a Glock clone but with some nice add ons.

If you want to know the first compact 9mm, I'd choose:

Why Glock over the others?

1. Accurate and battle tested - favorite sidearm of most LEA and military men;

2. Durable and has passed the most insane torture tests known - that tenifer finish takes holstering like a champ too - no wimpy blueing;

3. With only 34 or so parts, many made from polymer, you can ususally fix your own Glock - no gunsmith needed most of the time;

4. More accessories out there than just about any other gun save for the almight 1911;

5. You have a huge online support network with armorers with more than 50K other Glock shooters;

6. With hundreds of LEAs in America carrying Glocks and parts being all over the country with a tons of vendors, most parts are only days if not hours away; and the American LE community and our military will make sure these parts and guns stay in the US for an even longer time;

6. On a good day, if you hit the gunshop after a local PD has dumped their Glocks, you can snag a used one for as low as $379-400 with a pair of high cap mags.

As we have discussed, there are a lot of great 9mm guns out there.

But if things go bag or you need absolute relibaility, few guns can offer that security. Glock does.

That's why I'll always have a couple Glocks on hand.

And besides, you can say you actually do have a Glock. Why take sloppy seconds?

 

[TimboKhan]

Second, there are a couple of hot threads on the Taurus Millenium Pro or 24/7 pistols. Nice guns but some appear unhappy with the controls. Good pricing though

Having posted on that thread several times, let me define that "some" is a very, very small minority. Personally, I don't see how ANYONE could be unhappy with the controls. They are all within thumbs reach without having to adjust grip (or at least they are for me) and they are flat, but not so flat as to not allow for positive engagement. I dunno, different strokes for different folks, but I just don't get how someone could complain about those controls....

Third, the Ruger P-series guns are good shooters, durable, somewhat accurate. Built like tanks. Make good trunk guns. But a tad on the thick side and blocky. Great fitment (slide to frame) but I'm not big on their finishes. Just because you are starting shooter does not mean you have to go that low.

Now Duncan, I was with you right up until you said that last sentence, "Doesn't mean you have to go that low".... You say they are good shooters, durable, and strong, somewhat accurate (which I could debate you on depending on what you mean by that) and are well put together. All thats true, in addition to being thick and blocky. Finish is a personal choice, although I am not so fond of the blued guns. So, what about all that makes them a low choice? I have shot my P90 over 10 years now, and I have carried it on occasion, and if I could only own one auto, that would be it. Explain yourself, Glock Lover!!!!

 

[duncan]

Alright alright, Rugers are good quality guns - not on the "low end." That's true.

BUT just because someone doesn't own your gun does not mean it wasn't a good choice for you.

I love shooting P7s but some peole don't like heavier steel guns with a different manual of arms. Do I care? Don't think so!

Ruger's greatest guns are their Redhawks, CAS revovlers, and their rifles especially the 10/22.

I'm suggesting that if you don't know if you can collect guns, the best thing to do is buy that one gun you'll be happy with if you never can buy another.

That's all.