I started looking at the PX4 Compact for several reasons. It is ambi and I'm a lefty. The weight looks reasonable and from what i have read, the rotating barrel seems to help with felt recoil. I have some nerve damage in my left hand so this is something that is important. I currently have a Beretta 81 which i handle just fine and do carry it. I would like to know your likes and dislikes for the PX4.
Beretta PX4 Owners, would like to here your experience!
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Ohen Cepel
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I got a Langdon Tactical Compact Carry, bit more $$ but you get their trigger job and some other nice upgrades for it. If you are looking at them make sure you know the differences with the models as it can get a bit confusing and not all Compact Carries have the Langston trigger, etc in them. The Langdon trigger is VERY good in that pistol, reset is the shortest I have experienced in a DA pistol, maybe any pistol.
I like it a lot. Only downside for me is the sights. I guess they are more "combat" focused (larger gap between the blade and rear in the sight picture) and so are not as precise for me as other similar pistols.
Not a lot of options out there for carry guns that have a hammer which is a feature I like (not a striker fan). I agree that the rotating barrel helps with recoil some. Good capacity and runs great.
Minor thing that you can change. The off side safety level may be smaller than you want, but that can be changed out of you are left handed.
There are also G models out there (decocker only) so determine if you want a traditional safety or decocker only.
Note; the PX4 sub-compact isn't a rotating barrel so don't go that way if it is a key feature for you.
I like it a lot. Only downside for me is the sights. I guess they are more "combat" focused (larger gap between the blade and rear in the sight picture) and so are not as precise for me as other similar pistols.
Not a lot of options out there for carry guns that have a hammer which is a feature I like (not a striker fan). I agree that the rotating barrel helps with recoil some. Good capacity and runs great.
Minor thing that you can change. The off side safety level may be smaller than you want, but that can be changed out of you are left handed.
There are also G models out there (decocker only) so determine if you want a traditional safety or decocker only.
Note; the PX4 sub-compact isn't a rotating barrel so don't go that way if it is a key feature for you.
FL-NC
Member
We tested that pistol several years ago. I didn't care for it- the DA trigger wasn't that good, and no matter what back strap was on it, many of us thought it didn't feel right. No idea why Beretta went from a failure prone locking block to some rotating barrel- almost like they have an aversion to a Browning designed tilt barrel. In any event, we (SOF) doubled down on the Glock, and the big army picked the Sig.
JTQ
Member
Buying direct from Landon Tactical Technologies (LTT) is a good way to go. As mentioned they are more expensive than a stock PX4, but they come with worthwhile features.
* Of note, I believe their PX4 Compact Carry by default deletes the right side slide stop, probably important for a lefty, but I think you can have it included within their options.
https://langdontactical.com/products/guns/px4-series/
I have the full size PX4 from Langdon. It seems like a nice gun and has just about all the features I'd like on the model. Swapping parts on a PX4 is probably easier than swapping parts on a 92FS, but probably not as easy as swapping parts on a Glock. If you're mechanically challenged (me) there is an advantage of getting the modifications done by LTT rather than doing it yourself.
This is a nice video, about the full size, that will talk about some of the good and bad of the PX4. The Compact has some minor differences from the full size.
* Of note, I believe their PX4 Compact Carry by default deletes the right side slide stop, probably important for a lefty, but I think you can have it included within their options.
https://langdontactical.com/products/guns/px4-series/
I have the full size PX4 from Langdon. It seems like a nice gun and has just about all the features I'd like on the model. Swapping parts on a PX4 is probably easier than swapping parts on a 92FS, but probably not as easy as swapping parts on a Glock. If you're mechanically challenged (me) there is an advantage of getting the modifications done by LTT rather than doing it yourself.
This is a nice video, about the full size, that will talk about some of the good and bad of the PX4. The Compact has some minor differences from the full size.
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JTQ
Member
Regarding my LTT PX4 Carry (full size)
Likes
- It is a Traditional Double Action (TDA). It has a hammer I can see.
- Relative light weight. All my other guns have steel frames and this was my first trip to a polymer frame gun. Going to polymer was a departure for me, I just couldn't go striker yet, so this gets me into a lighter gun with still having a hammer.
- Easy to field strip. Similar to the Glock, but easier. You don't have to pull the trigger or pull the slide out of battery. Just pull the two tabs and the slide comes off.
- I have the "Carry" levers and my gun is a "G" model, decocker only. The standard decocker/safety levers are large and pointy, the Carry levers are a big improvement and the "G" model, decocker only, is a little simpler.
- The mags have a good capacity and are well built. I have some NP3 coated mags and they are really nice.
- The Ameriglo sights on the LTT gun are bright and easy to see.
- The LTT trigger is really nice in both double action and single action and with LTT trigger bar the reset is very short. The LTT full size comes with the Beretta Competition Trigger Group installed ( https://www.beretta.com/en-us/gun-a.../beretta-px4-storm-competition-trigger-group/ ) which is one of the reasons the LTT guns are more expensive.
Dislikes
- The grip side panels are slick.
- Internal slide/barrel lockup is different than most anything else, so you need to pay attention to what you're lubing, because the lube points will most likely be different from what you're used to. Once figured out it's not a problem, just do some research.
- Holster options will be less than some other, more common guns. There are good options available, just not as many, and some options you may want just won't be there.
- My factory blue/black mags had a lot of packing goo in them. It took some time and effort to get that stuff out of the tubes. As a side note, I learned they are easy to take apart and put back together. The goo caused the follower to hang up occasionally. They work great now.
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JTQ
Member
As the video above mentions, all PX4 slides are "F" (safety/decocker) and "G" (decocker only) capable. You can take an F model and remove a detent and turn it into a G model, or you can buy levers and convert the gun. While it probably isn't that hard to do, buying what you want up front, is the easy button.
From the factory, the "F" model is the most common. The default from LTT is the "G" model.
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JTQ
Member
Patrick E. Kelley with his "Out of the Box to Match" video on the full size PX4
Lucky Gunner with the LTT PX4 Compact Carry, Part 1
Part 2
Lucky Gunner with the LTT PX4 Compact Carry, Part 1
Part 2
JTQ
Member
... or why Glock would use a rotating barrel.
Glock G46
https://www.all4shooters.com/en/sho...luger-German-Saxony-Anhalt-state-police-test/
FL-NC
Member
Interesting- I had never heard of the Glock 46. It seems like this was something Glock put together to bid on a specific contract with weird requirements. My take on this is that $ talks. All of my service experience was with the Glock 19 and later the Glock 17 as a contractor overseas. As a civilian, I also use/used some other models for various purposes (26, 23, 34, 21).
Smaug
Member
I haven't read anything bad about them. I almost bought one in 45, but decided I wanted the longer sight radius and went with an XD-45 Tactical. (5" vs. 3.5", and remember that over an inch of that is chamber and shouldn't really count) It's basically a full size gun, but with almost a snubby length barrel, IMO.
I see now that Beretta is jumping on the striker-fired bandwagon, and I'm sure that's a good one, but there's just something slick in the action of a classical Beretta.
I see now that Beretta is jumping on the striker-fired bandwagon, and I'm sure that's a good one, but there's just something slick in the action of a classical Beretta.
I have had a full size for quite some time which for a poly pistol hater like me is saying something. It has been 100% reliable with any ammo I feed it. It's accurate and an easy shooter. Paired with a CX4 it makes a great rifle/pistol combo.
JTQ
Member
For clarity, if you're comparing "apples to apples" and talking about the PX4 .45 Auto guns, they are not available with a 3.5" barrel. They can be had with
a 4" barrel https://www.beretta.com/en-us/px4-storm-full/
or a 4.5" barrel https://www.beretta.com/en-us/px4-storm-sd-type-f/
admittedly, the XD-45 Tactical still has a longer sight radius than anything offered in the PX4, but there is no 3.5" barrel option with PX4 in .45 Auto.
1KPerDay
Member
I have full sized PX4s in 9 and 40. They are soft shooters and have been 100% reliable, even after installing a D hammer spring to smooth the DA pull. Only thing I don’t like is the slick grip side panels. I put an inner tube on them and it helps a lot.
Smaug
Member
I think they did that so they don't abrade officers' sides or tear up their clothes while carrying it. It has enough grip on the front & back, right?
gc70
Member
If you want commentary about the PX4, you should check pistol-forum.com for a thread titled "The PX4 Compact might be my DA/SA Glock 19" that was started by Ernest Langdon; the thread is currently approaching 4,200 posts.
1KPerDay
Member
Yeah, front and backstrap have scallopy fish scale things.
JTQ
Member
If you're already there at pistol-forum, another good PX4 thread, even though it is focused on the .45 Auto model, is "Beretta PX4 Storm .45 High round count, long duration usage".
It has some great pictures of the gun completely disassembled, and good pictures of lube points.
1KPerDay
Member
That would be welcome. They have replaceable backstraps already.
JTQ
Member
Yes, many have suggested Beretta simply use the texture they use on the in-house sibling, the APX.
1KPerDay
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JTQ
Member
This is correct.
I have a PX4 compact, I like it, but I switched to a Hellcat for EDC. The PX4 is a little wide for me to carry and the Hellcat RDP is more accurate. The PX4 is a reliable gun, never had a problem with it and it's comfortable to shoot, just prefer a narrower and lighter EDC.
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