Walther P99 or Beretta PX4

[GarandOwner]

I am thinking of getting a new handgun, and as much as it pains me, Im trying to to get ANOTHER 1911. Ive narrowed it down to between a Walther P99 or a Beretta PX4. Does anyone have any insight into either of these pistols as to which would be a better choice. Ive read some other threads on here and both seem to be great pistols. I would most likely get either a P99 in 9mm or a PX4 in .40 Recoil doesnt matter to me because I can handle it, (I like my 1911) the biggest deciding factor is which would be more accurate. If anyone has experience with both of these, Id apreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks!

 

[hrgrisso]

Quite a Predicament

My insight:
First can I ask you why you've decided on a Walther in 9mm and the Berretta in .40? I'm just a little confused as to what caused this decision. Don't get defensive. I'm a fan of both calibers and in fact both guns.

I have the Berretta Px4 in 9mm. I'm also hoping to pick up my Walther with my tax return. Caliber for the walther I'm just going to go with whatever is cheaper/available.

With my Berretta I can pop golf balls out at 25 feet-15yards quickly and consistently. Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, no it's not an accuracy test. Thats how I "play." It's what I do to get familiar with a guns handling and reset and return etc. I haven't had a chance to do this with a Walther yet but I can get 2-3 inch groups at 25yards at the local rental range. Anyways thats my 2bits. Enjoy the shooting.

 

[GarandOwner]

Im not set on those exact calibers, I chose that because Im more of a fan of the larger calibers (.45 ACP being my favorite flavor) but with the p99 being so light I think it might be better in 9mm to give less muzzle rise for follow up shots, or of someone here has shot both I'd love the to hear the comparison..Unfortunatly I have yet to find a place around here I can rent both in both calibers. The favor of the larger cal's led me to think of getting a PX4 in .40......I wish they made one in .45 But if someone has reasons to like one caliber in the pistol better than the other, Id love to hear the reasons. Like I said Im torn between the 2....If only I had all the money in the world I could just get both and the problem would be solved

 

[hrgrisso]

Berretta

The Px4 IS going to be made into a .45. It's supposed to be out in about a year. If you really want a .45, wait. I got it in 9mm because that was available. Plus it holds 17 rounds in 9mm, and I figured that made up for it!

 

[GarandOwner]

I had heard that they were thinking about making it in .45 but that they werent sure if they were or not, then decided against it last novemberish, but i could be wrong.

 

[Riktoven]

The P99 is the finest pistol under $1K I've ever shot. Amazing accuracy and the quickest possible follow-up shots (not counting some 1911s and the P210).

I chose the P99 for the following reasons, they may not apply to you.

- Tennifer finish
- Super Short Trigger Reset
- Lever Mag Release (ie, the way it should be J.M. Browning!!! I'd kill for a 1911 that got that part right.)
- Smaller than all its competition except for G19 (and that's only by a hair).
- Metal Magazines (thinner than plastic covered, so grip can be thinner).
- Amazingly comfortable grip.
- DA/SA w/o Manual Safety (Manual safeties are for 1911s only)
- Walther accuracy (I don't know who makes Walther's barrels, but they do some amazing work. I'm pushing 25K rounds and after cleaning it still looks like a mirror).

Definately try the P99 out before you decide. The only experienced shooters I know who didn't fall in love with it are A.) 1911 purists who can't fathom anyone carrying anything else (my grandpa) or B.) Hopelessly in love with consistent trigger pulls and exagerated grip angles (I like Glocks, but the P99 was designed by shooters for shooters with help from a couple of Glock engineers).

I haven't shot the PX4, but every other Beretta I've ever shot was plenty accurate, just waaaay to big for what it is. On the plus side that size should get you an extra 1/4" to 1/2" of sight radius.

I'd bet the PX4 is a solid performer, but here's what I don't like about it, again this may not apply to you.

- BIG, maybe not as fat as the 92F, but still Beretta Big.
- Odd rotating barrel design. Some people love this, but I think it inherantly gives the gun a shorter lifespan than a Browning actions.
- Button mag release (it's not a deal breaker, I'm just amazed that HK and Walther are the only ones getting it right).
-Slide mounted lever style safety/decocker. If you insist on a manual safety, it should be frame mounted for 2 reasons. A.) easier to reach. B.) you don't want any levers of any kind mounted on the part of the gun that moves back and forth really fast.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

Most of those points apply to the PX4 as well (speaking as someone who's owned two - still have one).

- The PX4 is not tenifer finished or any of its knockoffs, insofar as I know, but is epoxy finished. I don't know what is under the epoxy.
+ Short trigger reset in SA mode, DA mode resets into SA mode anyway unless you're some sort of DAO commie, in which case I want nothing to do with you!
- Push button mag release, but reversible without any additional parts.
+ Smaller than anything I've ever seen given capacity (17 rounds, isn't the P99 15?) and smaller than "full sized" service pistols though classed as one anyway.
+ Metal magazines (that hold 17, neener!) though this applies to everything barring Glock, insofar as I know.
+ Comfortable grip (to me, this is subjective) with 3 different widths of backstrap in the box.
+ DA/SA without manual safety is available in the type G, where the "safety" only acts as a decocker. The type F is a safe/decock combo (though cannot be saftied with the hammer cocked, as it will decock).
+ Accurate as all-get-out. Indeed, the most accurate non-rimfire pistol I've ever fired. Plus the rotating barrel mechanism is cool and allows a low bore axis, reducing felt recoil.

But the P99 is a danged fine pistol and I almost bought one if it weren't for the fact that the DA/SA is bloody impossible to find and S&W has discontinued their variant; Only the QA model seems to be available anymore.

 

[Shipwreck]

Go to www.handgunforum.net and real the walther section - There is no comparison. The P99 A/S is da bomb.

I've gotten 14 or so people to buy P99s after hearing me brag about them all the time. None of them have regretted it!

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I say go for the P99. All of mine have been accurate and completely reliable. It is the best polymer gun out there IMO.

 

[ecureed]

decisions decisions

well I was down to either the P99 or the Glock 19 and after agonizing and flip-flopping I decided the P99 is the pistol I had to have....now I'm back to struggling with if the P99 is worth $100.00 more than the Glock.... I don't know what the prices are running on the PX4 but I can get a glock here for $469 before tax and the P99 for $569 b-t

 

[Shipwreck]

Go read all the walther posts at www.handgunforum.net

Trust me, it IS worth the money.

I shoot the gun as well or better than a 1911! I also just sold my Glock 34 because I love the P99 trigger so much and never even shoot the Glock!