RANGE REPORT: Beretta PX4 Storm 9x19mm Full Size

I don't generally have much time to post or shoot as much as I used to but since I a few moments I figured I would post a quick review of the Beretta PX4 Storm. I find that reviews of products on forums, whether firearms related or not, can be an invaluable data point and since I use that data frequently I figured I would give back a little.

I recently acquired a Beretta CX4 Storm carbine in 9x19mm that takes the PX4 Storm magazines. Fantastic gun by the way. A little while after that my lovely wife and I were in a gun store and I started looking at the PX4 pistol counterpart. My wife made the comment that I didn't own a Beretta pistol yet so what the hell.

The PX4 is a bit of a periphery player in the tactical tupperware arena. Loved and maligned for its rotary barrel system and not nearly as popular as its Glock, M&P or HK brethren. It is in some way a bit like the Walther P99 in this regard.

After owning my PX4 for a little while now and running a decent amount of rounds through it I have to say I very much like it. So here is the rundown.

All reviews are out of 5 rounds total.
Fit and Finish - 5 rounds
My specimen is flawless. No tool marks, no sharp plastic seams, nice finish very tight, yet VERY SMOOTH. That really is what stands out about this gun to me. It is just so smooth in terms of the action.

Ergonomics - 4 rounds
I have little hands. The standard PX4 grip is very nice for me. Fits me well and has a very grippy checkering pattern. Mag and slide releases are easy to get to. The only thing that would make it better for me would be paddle mag releases found on Walthers and HKs or a true ambi button as I like using my index finger to release magazines.

Trigger -4 rounds
Very nice out of the box trigger for a plastic gun. Not as good as the AS trigger in the Walther P99s but much better then most HKS, M&Ps, SIGS etc.

Accuracy - 5 rounds
My particular sample is dead on. Very easy to shoot accurately.

Recoil - 5 rounds
Ok so its a full size 9mm, not like there is much issue here. I will say shooting a standard 9mm back to back with this rotary locking barrel the reduction in recoil is noticeable.

Reliability - 3/5 rounds
I have not been able to induce a failure. The gun just runs with whatever I put in it. I am aware of the potential for the rotary system to seize up under heavy debris. I think this should be able to be mitigated with proper care and understanding of the system. So I give it a 5 so far but a 3 just so folks are aware of the potential drawbacks of the system.

Capacity - 5 rounds
17 shot magazines in a very comfortable grip out of the box with reliable factory 20 shot magazines available. Nothing to complain about here.

Overall/Bang For Your Buck - 4 Rounds
I paid around $500 out the door locally for this gun. It is well made, accurate, made by the oldest in the business and has basically been a joy to own and shoot. It makes a fantastic counterpart to my CX4 carbine. Magazines are easy to find and not too expensive and all in all it seems to be a darn good gun. Holsters and aftermarket sights as well as the rotary lockup are the only reasons I would drop this by a point.

So there you have it. My first Beretta pistol and I like very much. Hope this helps anybody looking into one of these. They make a neat hammer fired slightly more unique addition in a sea of Glocks and HKs.

Before I finish up I want to once again post my standard disclaimer. I have no illusions or fantasies about using any of my firearms in anger. I am not a LEOSEALTEAM6GSG9OPDETACHMENTDELTABETAGAMMAZETABOYSCOUTORGIRLSCOUT. I am low speed and high drag and proud of it. I am just lucky enough to have shot lots of guns in my life for fun. So at the end of the day do I think the PX4 would make a perfectly adequate defensive weapon......absolutely but as I said low speed, high drag....so what do I know. My guns are my toys. They are for paper and clay and maybe the occasional soda can rebellion.

Shoot safe, have fun.

Chris

 

Nice review. Well written.

I would love to have a CX4, and this would be the obvious next step.

Thanks for posting.

One quick question regarding reliability.....how many rounds have you fired through your gun?

 

Nice. I was looking at one but decided on my plain Jane glock23 ha but they looked like nice guns. Just didn't want a DA/SA at the time.

 

This particular gun has had around 700-800 rounds through it at this point. Some of it Winchester PDX stuff (today actually) as well as some Gold dots. Lots of Win white box and Federal 115 grain Wally World stuff. No malfunctions to date.

I do, however, keep my guns cleaned and well maintained so I don't have more then 150-60 rounds through it in any one revolution.

 

Thlax,

I am a gun nut. They are my toys and I have LOTS of them to play with. I like trying new things. That being said and it pains me to say this, but when it comes right down to it I would buy the Glock as a primary first as well. Heck I own a G17,19 and 26. They are ugly, they are blocky but they are damn good tools.

 

I rented one at the range the other day and it impressed me so much I'm seriously considering getting the compact model. I shoot a lot of different guns and have owned and traded more than I should have, and this gun really impressed me.

 

Keep in mind the following.

1-The sub compact does not use a rotary lockup system, it uses a normal tilting barrel.

2-The compact has some kind of a recoil spring recall/issue. I am not sure what the deal is specifically. I think Beretta is providing a different recoil spring assembly or something to that effect. Check the Beretta forums for details. Sorry I don't have more specific info just wanted to make sure you had a heads up on the compact.

3-As far as I know there are no issues with the full size and Mine is really impressing me as well and like you have owned or own a great deal of firearms. Fits me well, shoots extremely well and handles like a much smaller gun.

 

I'm interested in getting one for my next poly pistol, problem is I'm 18 and stuck with my SA XD40 for now. Someday....

 

Which version is it?

 

Very nice review of a fine pistols. Shot various different examples of this gun. Accuracy was very very good with all of them, but I was not impressed from the factory sight's adjustment in a couple examples.

 

Concur, I have fired a few and don't have anything bad to say about the PX4. I haven't had the desire to buy one, but I do refer new shooters that feel they HAVE to have an external safety on their pistol.