Beretta Px4 Subcompact review (alot of pics)

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Hi guys of THR. Recently a dear friend of mine received this uncommon and now discontinued pistol as a gift. Given the particularity of the pistol, I thought I would share with you some detailed pics as well as the results and impressions of the test fire when it will be done. For those who don't know this pistol, it was developed and produced by the Beretta USA division and put in the market in 2008. It seems it was discontinued in 2023.
It is a DA/SA pistol equipped with decocker levers on both sides of the slide that work also as a safety when down (F version). Contrary to the rotating barrel locking system of the Px4 full size and Compact versions, the Px4 Subcompact uses a more conventional tilting barrel, barrel that is made of stainless steel. So the Subcompact is a lot different from the other Px4 versions even if it shares some parts with them such as the decocker levers, the magazine release button, and other small parts. The Subcompact can use the magazines of the bigger versions which is nice.
In the meantime I'll start showing you some initial pics of the pistol (pics were made by my friend). I will add more info as I'll publish pics of the various details. This Px4 Subcompact is factory chambered for the 9x21 IMI cartridge and reserved for the Italian market. It reports the year in which it received the proof marks from the Banco Nazionale di Prova and reports the number of the Catalogo Nazionale della Armi.

 

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The 13 rounds magazine loaded with some Fiocchi Black Mamba 100gr FMJ-TC and sealed primer. The magazine body has counting holes in the back . The pad of the magazine can be articulated downwards, slightly extending the grip to better accommodate the pinky.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I don't think the subcompact was around that long....could be wrong.

I held one and liked the ergos, but it seemed really chunky and heavy compared to, say a Glock 43X- or even a 19 for that matter.

Still looks cool, for sure.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Beretta can get very creative with compound curves and shapes, in contrast to the straight line Glock world. They are, after all, Italian. The Storm carbine certainly comes to mind.
Wish they would come up with a replacement for the Pico, which was an ergonomic disaster, but remarkably small.
5-shots, thanks for the review of an uncommon gun.
Moon

 

[bannockburn]

NIGHTLORD40K

I held one and liked the ergos, but it seemed really chunky and heavy compared to, say a Glock 43X- or even a 19 for that matter.

Pretty much the same way I felt when I checked one of them years ago. Weight was a bit of a concern (26.1 oz compared to 18.7 oz. with a Glock G-43X), but not as much as it was with the width of the Beretta. The PX4 Subcompact was 1.42" wide versus the G-43X at 1.1". The Beretta felt like I was trying to get my hand around a softball while the Glock was more like holding a tennis ball by comparison.

 

[ECVMatt]

WOW! That is awesome; thank you for sharing. The pinkie extension on the magazine base pad is very creative.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I don't think the subcompact was around that long....could be wrong.

I held one and liked the ergos, but it seemed really chunky and heavy compared to, say a Glock 43X- or even a 19 for that matter.

Still looks cool, for sure.

Thanks for your comment. Yes, it's chunk and heavy. It's a very substantial gun, just like the Px4 full size, only shorter in length and grip. We'll see if the weight helps with the shootability of the pistol
I've checked the info again. I found a guy on youtube who says it was discontinued on July 2023. On August 2023 was still on the Beretta website but he called Beretta and they said it was out of production.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Beretta can get very creative with compound curves and shapes, in contrast to the straight line Glock world. They are, after all, Italian. The Storm carbine certainly comes to mind.
Wish they would come up with a replacement for the Pico, which was an ergonomic disaster, but remarkably small.
5-shots, thanks for the review of an uncommon gun.
Moon

Thanks for your comment. The original design of the Px4 line was made by Giorgetto Giugiaro, a famous italian designer. Yes, the Pico seems impossible to hold but I see those who have it love the pistol. The Nano wasn't also much appealing but they seem to improved it alot with the APX Carry.

 

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NIGHTLORD40K


Pretty much the same way I felt when I checked one of them years ago. Weight was a bit of a concern (26.1 oz compared to 18.7 oz. with a Glock G-43X), but not as much as it was with the width of the Beretta. The PX4 Subcompact was 1.42" wide versus the G-43X at 1.1". The Beretta felt like I was trying to get my hand around a softball while the Glock was more like holding a tennis ball by comparison.

Thanks for your comment. Yes, it's heavy and wide. The thickness of the slide walls is impressive. Maybe because was designed around the .40S&W. I recommended my friend to order the Ghost set of slim decocker levers and hold open. That set of levers converts also the decocker action from F to G (decocker only).

 

[5-SHOTS]

WOW! That is awesome; thank you for sharing. The pinkie extension on the magazine base pad is very creative.

Thanks for your comment. Yes, pretty nice idea. We'll see how good works when shooting.

 

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Some other pics of the pistol in the hold open position. Note how the barrel is centered in the front of the slide. The muzzle is nicely recessed.

 

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Frame internals. It is not necessary to separate the disassembly pin from the slide: it has a groove where a thick spring holds it in the out position.

 

[halfmoonclip]

The original design of the Px4 line was made by Giorgetto Giugiaro,

Had the pleasure of owning two of his automotive designs, VW Siroccos.
That articulated floorplate is clever, mechanically, it looks overbuilt; that .40 thing again. Guessing the recoil is mild.
Moon

 

[tarosean]

The Sub Compact was a normal Browning action compared to the rotating barrel of the larger brethren correct?

 

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The Sub Compact was a normal Browning action compared to the rotating barrel of the larger brethren correct?

Yes, Browning action. I'll post some pics.

 

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Internals of the slide. The walls are impressive for a 9mm pistol.

 

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Captive dual recoil spring assembly with polymer guide rod.

 

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Stainless steel 9x21 IMI barrel.

 

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Yesterday afternoon my friend and I went to the range to try out his Px4 Subcompact. We fired five different types of ammunition, three factory and two reloads. We shot a box of Magtech 124gr FMJ-RN, a box of Sellier & Bellot 115gr FMJ-RN, a box of Fiocchi 124gr CP-RN, a box of reloads with a 124gr Lead-RN painted black bullet with 4.2gr of Baschieri & Pellagri 100 powder, a box of reloads with a 124gr Lead-RN painted bullet black with 5.4gr of Baschieri & Pellagri 102 powder. The most accurate ammunition was the Magtech. The least accurate ammunition was the Sellier & Bellot. The overall best ammo for recreational use was the Fiocchi, much softer than Magtech and Sellier & Bellot, and accurate enough for fun. The reloads with powder 100 worked well except the slide wouldn't stay open after the last shot and we had a jam. The reload with powder 102 proved to be too weak and the pistol had frequent jams. No problems whatsoever with factory ammo. They are both reloads that work correctly with my friend's SIG-Sauer P320 Carry but which with the Beretta Px4 Subcompact turn out to be both under-loaded by at least 0.1 grain. The pistol is sufficiently accurate at a distance of about 7 yards, two hands, standing. The recoil is snappy with the more powerful ammo while with the Fiocchi and reloads it is rather soft. In any case the pistol remains very controllable. The sights are very good and are set for combat hold: no surprise here since it is a Beretta. The trigger in SA I think is around 4.5 pounds. The DA is long and heavy. The magazine with the extendable pad does its job pretty well and is preferable to the magazine with the flush pad during the shooting. I like this pistol. I'll post some photos of the ammunition and the groups (10 rounds group each).

 

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Second target. Still 10 rounds group each at 7 yards approximately.

 

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Me shooting the pistol.


The pistol after 250 rounds.

 

[SimonRL]

What an odd looking little gun. It makes my .45 PX4 Full Size look like a supermodel. Do you think it was coincidence that it liked the Italian ammo best?

 

[5-SHOTS]

I was thinking that not many DA/SA double stack 9mm subcompact pistols has been released on the market during the years and even less are still in production. Striker fired double stack subcompacts really killed them.
These are the only ones that came to my mind right now.

Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact


Beretta 9000S


Heckler & Koch P2000SK


Heckler & Koch P30SK


Walther P99C AS


CZ 2075 RAMI


CZ 2075 RAMI P


SIG-Sauer P224


Grand Power P11


Sphinx SDP Subcompact Alpha

 

[Great Scot]

I’ve got the Beretta Storm subcompact and the Beretta 9000s, both in 9mm. The ergonomics are FAR better on the Storm, but the 9000 is reliable and looks cool! That said, I’d carry the Storm way before the 9000!

 

[Pivot Dr]

I’ve got the compact in 40 S&W. To me it’s not so much a cary gun as it is a pickup console gun. It shoots great and since it’s a hand full recoil isn’t bad at all.