Shouldn't the Beretta PX4 be more popular?

[marb4]

I aquired a Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm (full size) back in the summer and have to say it is the smoothest shooting 9mm I've ever fired (even smoother than my Browning Hi Power). I have around 2000 rounds through it from the most expensive to the cheapest ammo around with never a hiccup of any kind (knock on wood!). I'm curious why this pistol doesn't seem to get more attention. High capacity, accurate, reliable, smooth as glass, and a major name brand yet very seldom do you see the PX4 come up when someone asks "what 9mm should I buy, etc?" Any thoughts?

 

[mgmorden]

It's a hammer fired gun. Most of the market buzz seems to be around either 1911's or striker fired guns these days (or single-stack subcompacts).

I wouldn't mind having one - I have other DA/SA guns - I just think that that action design is a bit dated to be on a newly introduced pistol.

 

[holdencm9]

Haven't fired one but if it is anything like my 92FS then yeah it is a sweet shooter. I'd get one if I didn't already have a full size DA/SA and have other things on my wish list.

I agree with mgmorden that striker fired seems to be the latest trend. I think there will always be a place for DA/SA though, for people who don't fully trust a trigger on a striker fired pistol for carry. And they make great range guns.

 

[Skribs]

Most of the market buzz seems to be around either 1911's or striker fired guns these days (or single-stack subcompacts).

I think you nailed it. I know many people like the DA/SA trigger, but I think for those that don't want to go DA/SA, it's about the worst option (unlike any of the other 3 common triggers, DAO, SAO, or striker-fired, the DA/SA has two different pulls). Of course, DAO I think are less common (in double-stack, they're popular in single-stack subcompacts). I personally fall into the striker category, but it seems like a lot more companies are going this route nowadays.

 

[56hawk]

I was wondering the same thing after I got my PX4. I have guns that I like better, but when someone asks what is the best 9mm for the money I say get a PX4. It's close to HK and SIG in terms of quality, but with a Glock price.

 

[jim243]

I just think that that action design is a bit dated to be on a newly introduced pistol.

The PX4 is not a newly introduced pistol. When they first come out they were hard to find except for the LE versions. And those could only be sold to LEOs.

As I see it:

A) The rotating barrel is not that popular a feature.
B) Their price was and is higher than other simular pistols.
C) Beretta magazines are very expensive.
D) The original size makes them a large pistol. OK for LE service pistols but not for CC.
E) The model 92 was and is a more popular design and in the same price range.
F) It took almost 2 years after their release for Beretta to start maketing then to the general public. (after they introduced the compacts)
G) Beretta only released the 9mm version at first, during a period that the 40 S&W was becoming the popular trend. (Now the 40 and 45 versions have been released Beretta is still not doing their job on marketing them)
H) It is a nice pistol, but nothing extra special.

Jim

 

[mdauben]

I'm curious why this pistol doesn't seem to get more attention. High capacity, accurate, reliable, smooth as glass, and a major name brand yet very seldom do you see the PX4 come up when someone asks "what 9mm should I buy, etc?" Any thoughts?

Slide mounted safeties and DA/SA triggers are both deal killers for me.

 

[mljdeckard]

I concur, I don't like slide-mounted safeties.

 

[mgmorden]

The PX4 is not a newly introduced pistol. When they first come out they were hard to find except for the LE versions. And those could only be sold to LEOs.

All things are relative . Compared to things like the 1911 that's over 100 years old, and the Beretta 92 and Glock at 30-40 years old, the Beretta PX4 is a pretty recent design.

 

[Fishbed77]

In my opinion, there are better polymer pistols (Walther P99/PPQ, S&W M&P, XDm), better DA/SA pistols (SIG P-series, CZ-75), and better polymer DA/SA pistols (Walther P99AS).

 

[awfulkanawful]

I had one.....

I had one in 9mm. After comparing it side by side at the range with a Cougar 9mm multiple times , I sold it in favor of the Beratta(Stoeger) cougar 9mm ! I now own 4..........but thats just me. It was accurate , and light. Poly's just dont do it for me though.

 

[Fishslayer]

Had a look at the Beretta when shopping for a nine for the wife. We wound up with a SIG SP2022 because:

1. The wife LOVES the ergos of the SIG
2. The SIG is regularly on sale for $399 at our local Turners
3. The SIG has a solid rep for combat brick reliability
4. Frame mounted decocker/no manual safety

As with most Berettas though, it is a very handsome firearm.

 

[WRGADog]

I have three PX4's, a full size, compact, and subcompact

And love them all. Great guns, reasonably priced, accurate, reliable, very soft recoil, great capacity, easy to maintain.

 

[Quick Shot xMLx]

I've never shot the PX4 but it just seems like there are a lot of more well-known options out there. Plus I think the gun is pretty ugly. I never did get the hate on DA/SA, people act like you HAVE to decock the weapon.

 

[labhound]

I have a fullsize 9mm PX4 Inox. Excellent pistol, very accurate, soft shooting and great reliability. One of my favorite 9mm's!

 

[ugaarguy]

I never did get the hate on DA/SA, people act like you HAVE to decock the weapon.

With few exceptions you DO have to decock the weapon. Few DA/SA pistols are set up to be safely carried SAO. If you want to carry them safely you have to decock them. I won't own a pistol that forces me to use two trigger pulls to shoot it.

 

[Fishbed77]

I never did get the hate on DA/SA, people act like you HAVE to decock the weapon.

Sure, if you are on a range and plan on firing the pistol immediately after chambering a round, you don't have to decock it if you want to target shoot and want a first-round single-action trigger pull.

But you do have to decock pretty much any DA/SA pistol if you are going to carry it. Not doing so is pretty foolish.

The only exception I can think of is the Walther P99AS with "Anti-Stress" trigger, and even then, decocking is strongly recommended.

 

[bannockburn]

I have never really been a big fan of the DA/SA trigger along with the slide mounted safety/decocker design. There's just a lot of other pistols out there that I like better than the PX4 to make me want to buy one.

 

[dondavis3]

We love our PX4's



It's a great gun in every way.

The problem as I see it is - Beretta hasn't pushed it.

And there are a lot of great guns available today

 

[The smiling swordsman]

Definitly underrated

The PX4 is a very good gun.

Are there guns out there that do certain things better? Sure there are. Is it the perfect gun for every occasion? By no means. However, like is repeated over and over again on this forum, gun selection is a very personal thing. Because the PX4 works so well for me, I am surprised that more people don't like it as much as I do. I love the trigger, the way it feels in my hand and the rotary barrel.

To each his own I guess.

 

[Bozwell]

Sure, if you are on a range and plan on firing the pistol immediately after chambering a round, you don't have to decock it if you want to target shoot and want a first-round single-action trigger pull.

But you do have to decock pretty much any DA/SA pistol if you are going to carry it. Not doing so is pretty foolish.

The only exception I can think of is the Walther P99AS with "Anti-Stress" trigger, and even then, decocking is strongly recommended.

Never shot a CZ I take it. They have many setups that include a manual safety so that you can carry them condition 1. Alternatively, you can manually decock the hammers on those and have a DA pull on your first shot. Personally, I like a decocker gun carried at half-cock.

 

[Fishbed77]

Never shot a CZ I take it. They have many setups that include a manual safety so that you can carry them condition 1. Alternatively, you can manually decock the hammers on those and have a DA pull on your first shot. Personally, I like a decocker gun carried at half-cock.

Yes I have. I wasn't considering DA/SA with manual safety in my previous statement, but you are correct in that a number of DA/SA pistols can be carried cocked and locked.

Personally, I find the concept of using a DA/SA with a manual safety to be counter-intuitive (though I know there are some that disagree). The whole point of DA/SA for me is to allow safe carry without the need to activate a manual safety before firing.

Again, to each his own.

 

[Reloadron]

My brother literally took his friend to the pawn shop to buy his PX 4. Russ got the pistol for about $100 so a deal it was. Personally, I don't own a 9mm. That pistol was one of the nicest pistols I have ever shot. I mean after a magazine or two I was sold on the thing and have nothing but good to say about it. It was accurate and just plain enjoyable to shoot.

While I will never see the deal my brother got if one comes along I'll be all over it. Even in 9mm but would love to shoot one in .40.

Ron

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I had to break my grip to operate the safety on the one I handled.

 

[wperez]

It is very accurate and reliable and the trigger pull change from double to single action can be mastered with practice. I have one in .40 cal and never had any problems with it with any type and brand of ammo.