The primary pistol I purchased for myself as a self-defense hid carry firearm was a Beretta 70 Sequence pistol chambered for .380.
To be fairly trustworthy, I didn’t like that gun and solely stored it for a couple of years. I’ve tried Beretta pistols on and off through the years. After taking pictures the PX4 Storm, I could have to alter my opinion of Beretta pistols.
The hallmark of the Beretta PX4 Storm is the rotating barrel design. Beretta claims that this design lessens felt recoil vitality and creates decreased muzzle flip. As well as, the PX4 Storm makes use of the identical set off and security system because the Beretta 92, so its operation can be acquainted to many shooters.
The Beretta PX4 Storm is a contemporary polymer body semi-automatic pistol in all regards. Berretta designed this pistol for self-defense and legislation enforcement use. It’s obvious that Beretta adopted the form-follows-function idea as, in my eye, they made no try to create a visible affect. To me, this gun is simply plain ugly.
The Beretta PX4 Storm Lineup – Understanding the Nomenclature
Beretta produces 4 fashions of the PX4 Storm pistol. These totally different fashions share the identical fundamental design and underlying options. The variations are principally within the pistol working motion. The discovered fashions of Beretta PX4 Storm embody the next:
Sort C
Sort C PX4 Storm pistols are single-action solely. Beretta phrases the prepared state as “fixed motion the place the hammer rides in a half-cock place. The hammer is spurless. The Sort C pistols don’t have any decocker and no guide security.
Sort D
In the event you go for a Sort D Beretta PX4 Storm you’ll get a double-action-only semi-auto pistol. This mannequin includes a spurless hammer, no decocker, and no guide security.
Sort F
The most typical mannequin of the Beretta PX4 Storm discovered within the American market is the Sort F. These pistols function in each single and double-action mode and embody a decocker and a guide security.
Sort G
Virtually as well-liked is the Sort G Beretta PX4 Storm. This mannequin additionally operates in each single and double-action modes. You will see that a decocker on these pistols, however no guide security.
Variants and Types
Beretta produces all kinds of various kinds and variations on the PX4 Storm line of pistols. Normally, these variations and kinds supply shooters extra personalized pistols than the fundamental PX4 Storm lineup. A few of the variations and kinds from which you’ll be able to select embody these choices:
- PX4 Storm Compact and subcompact variants
- PX4 Storm Full-Measurement and full-size variants
- PX4 Storm Compact Carry
- PX4 Storm Carry
A few of these variations additionally might be purchased in several coloration schemes together with flat darkish earth, gray, and a contracting mannequin with a stainless slide and black body.
Specs
To maintain the technical of us glad, let’s begin with the technical specs of the fundamental Beretta PX4 Storm full-size pistol.
The size of the variants will change, however the specs on the full-size mannequin of the PX4 Storm give us an total view of the firearm.
- Barrel size – 4 inches
- Obtainable Calibers – .40 S&W, .45 Auto, 9×19 PARA, 9×21 IMI
- Journal Capability – 14 rounds
- Peak Total – 5.51 inches
- Size Total – 7.5 inches
- Width – 1.42 inches
- Sight Radius – 6.02 inches
- Weight (unloaded) – 27.7 ounces
The Beretta PX4 Storm is a hefty pistol. For some individuals, the scale of even the compact variants could make hid carry troublesome. Nonetheless, the additional dimension on the grip and the burden of the gun total might be a bonus in controlling recoil vitality and muzzle flip when taking pictures.
Beretta PX4 Storm Options
- NATO Licensed
- Snag-free modular design
- Integral Picatinny rail ahead of the set off guard
- Interchangeable grip backstraps to customise hand match
- Ambidextrous and reversible controls
- Chilly-hammer-forged barrel and metal bearing surfaces within the polymer body
- A decrease barrel axis on the rotating barrel locking system works by releasing recoil vitality radially as an alternative of again to the shooter’s arm and hand
- 3-dot sight system adjustable for windage for fast sight acquisition
A few of the different compact and subcompact variants have barely totally different characteristic lists. These can differ based mostly on the sort, mannequin, and configuration of the choices you choose to your Beretta PX4 Storm pistol.
The Modular Parts of the PX4 Semi-Auto Pistol
Beretta touts the modular design of the Storm PX4 for its simplicity and decreased variety of transferring components. This explicit weapon is predicated round a fiberglass-reinforced polymer body with metal inserts on the bearing surfaces.
Let’s have a look at every of the parts on this modular design semi-auto pistol.
The Body
Beretta begins with a fiberglass-reinforced polymer body. All the bearing surfaces the place the slide rides are steel-reinforced for longevity and sturdiness. The body is designed to place all of the controls inside simple attain of your hand with out altering your grip throughout firing. Total, the body feels substantial and stiff.
The Slide
The slide on the PX4 Storm is machined from alloy metal and is kind of hefty. The highest of the slide is flat, in contrast to many different semi-automatic pistols. The sights are set as far aside as attainable on the slide to present the utmost sight radius. The slide has ahead and rear serrations machined on the slide.
The Barrel
The barrel and the barrel motion are the place Beretta departs from the normal design of their pistol. Most different pistols on this class use the same old browning motion with a tilt barrel system. Beretta selected to make use of a rotating barrel and locking system. This offers a number of benefits, in response to Beretta.
A kind of benefits is that the rotating barrel helps management muzzle flip and felt recoil.
I don’t know if there may be any measurable fact to the rotating barrel absorbing recoil by way of the rotary motion. Nonetheless, this rotating barrel design does enable the barrel axis to sit down barely decrease within the body, which ought to make a distinction in felt recoil.
Moreover, muzzle rise when taking pictures the Beretta PX4 appears to be decreased.
I did discover it simple to maintain a goal in view of the sights when shooting at the range. There is likely to be an argument for higher weapon management with the rotating barrel design. The total-size fashions characteristic a 4-inch barrel size.
The Set off
One main drawback I’ve with DA/SA pistols is managing the totally different set off pulls my set off finger should be taught relying on which mode is energetic. This can be a regular drawback with any pistol that operates as a DA/SA set off system.
In double-action mode, the set off pull of the PX4 isn’t excessively heavy. Nonetheless, I did discover the reset journey very lengthy. As a single-action set off system, the take-up appeared slightly lengthy, however the set off break was clear and crisp with no creep.
Pistol Controls
I discovered the opposite pistol controls on the Beretta Storm nicely designed and correctly positioned with a few exceptions. For hid carry, the ambidextrous security makes the general width of the pistol extreme in my opinion. The lever on the security may have been smaller and been simply as efficient.
The journal launch button is simple to find and operates easily. It’s a bit small, however as soon as you might be used to the situation and dimension, it appears to fall robotically underneath your finger when it’s time to drop {a magazine}. All of my magazine drops have been clean and with out issues.
My Conclusions
All in all, I feel that Beretta has scored a serious achievement with the PX4 Storm.
There are some issues I might do otherwise. I might substitute manufacturing unit sights with fiber optic evening sights, particularly if I have been carrying this as an obligation pistol. I might additionally add extra stippling to the grip and body. The grip feels low cost to me. In any other case, I discovered the Beretta PX4 Storm to be a well-designed, rugged, and purposeful pistol that could be a very correct firearm.
