Seriously unimpressed with PX-4

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I've been waiting for one of these since they came out in the States, 3 years ago more or less. I've read almost nothing but exclusively good things about them, so I decide that this is the gun I'm going to get to replace my 229.

I get to the store on Wednesday and fondle one for about 10 seconds before I cough up the cash. I did not disassemble or dry fire it while in the store (my bad - big time). As soon as my hand gripped it, I thought that it was going to be a winner. The grip is so nice and it probably has the best ergonomics of any gun I own. The controls are all easy to use and best of all, I don't have to change my grip that much to reach any of them.

I picked it up yesterday and took it home. I took the thing out of the box and the first thing I did was field strip it to get some of the excess oil off of it. I got it all apart and started to actually look at this thing.

The frame feels like Beretta took some excess cardboard egg cartons and pressure formed them into the mold of a frame and then spread some resin on it to stiffen it up. It's not at all like a Glock where there is some flex to the frame. It's so rigid, I'd be surprised if these guns make it beyond 5 years of regular use without some type of frame cracking.

I've never seen so much writing on a gun, ever. Between the warnings and all the Beretta advertising markings, this thing looks like it has a few too many tattoo jobs. Beretta must see something in this gun that I clearly don't to be putting that much advertising on this thing. It's either that or they need a big ego boost.

The barrel on this thing doesn't "lock up" (ya, it deserves quotes). It's easily the loosest fitting barrel I've ever had in any handgun - ever. The words "lock up" shouldn't even be used when it comes to this thing, because it simply doesn't. There is ZERO play with my 229 and minimal play with my Glock and hands down they are both better then this PX-4 from the factory. I've been informed elsewhere that rotating barrels don't "lock-up" the same way that Glocks and Sigs do, and all I have to say to that it "thanks genius". I don't give a flying crap how this thing is "supposed to lock-up", the only thing I care about is that it does, and this gun clearly fails in that regard.

Anyways, my impression level at this point in time is still relatively high, but I was less impressed then I thought I would be.

I put the thing back together and pull out my snap caps so I can dry fire it. DA trigger pull is heavy, but very smooth and impressive. I dry fired it in DA quite a few time's and I liked it allot. I #### the hammer and pull the trigger in SA and all I have to say about that in a word is JUNK.

SA trigger pull is so ****ing gritty, with a ridiculous amount of take up and creep that it makes the trigger on my Hi-Point feel like an Engineering marvel of modern technology, and I mean that. Just in case you don't believe me, I'll say it again.

THE TRIGGER ON MY $240 HI-POINT IS A COUNTRY MILE BETTER THEN THE TRIGGER ON THE PX-4.


Anyone who thinks that the SA trigger on this gun is nice, either has never shot a real gun or is talking s**t out of their ass. I will admit that DA - this thing is great, but since 90%+ of all rounds are taken SA - I really don't care how great the DA pull is compared to SA. I could go my whole entire life an not fire this thing in DA, since I don't compete in anything. I care about the SA trigger pull and I'll say it again, SA, this thing sucks.

The "Super-luminova" sights that Beretta claims are supposed to stay bright for 30 minutes after exposure to light are fantastic regular 3 dot sights, but I went into my washroom and closed the door and they stayed tritium bright for about 30 seconds, not 30 minutes.

The feedramp is partially made out of Beretta fiberglass at the most critical point, for Christ sakes. If that doesn't say it all right there, I don't know what else could.

Overall, I'm so completely unimpressed with the PX-4 that I'm not even going to shoot it. I can overlook things like night sights that aren't really night sights and cheeseball frame rails, but the trigger is the deal breaker. It's so bad I'm wishing I would have actually invested the time at the store while I still had all my money in my pocket dry firing it right then and there. I would have put back down on the counter and looked at something else that was maybe worth that kind of money.

I had seriously high hopes for this gun and talk about a BIG letdown. Maybe the rotating barrel reduces felt recoil and maybe this is a nice shooting gun like everyone else claims it is. The CBSA choose this pistol for duty, so I'm wondering what exactly it is that they see in it that I don't. I can only assume that they saw value in it for the price they paid (which was surely less then $1100)

All I can say is that IF this is a nice shooting gun, I'll never know because myself personally, I can't get past the fact that I just paid $1100 for a polymer gun that doesn't offer me anything that a Glock 17 and a case of ammo for the same price doesn't.

What pisses me off is that you can cruise the internet for DAYS and not see a bad review about this gun, which is more or less why I bought the damn thing. I've never seen anyone else comment on the poor feed ramp design, or ####ty sights, or pathetic trigger. This is the real deal with this gun. It's not complete junk, but for $1100, I could think of 10 other guns that I would want to try before this one.

Regardless, this thing is listed in the EE right now if your interested. Shoot me an offer.
 
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My M&P trigger was terrible when new too, but it improved dramatically and quite quickly. It is excellent now.

Not sure on the other things, but shoot it some and let us know how the trigger goes, and how it is at the range.
 
Your first mistake was thinking that anything could replace your 229:kickInTheNuts::D
I agree - why would you want to replace a nice gun like Sig P229 with that weird Beretta contraption? :p If you want a really nice polymer pistol, get an HK P30L. It's only $50 more than what you paid for your Beretta.
 
I too read many good reviews about the gun but the price tag stoped big time. I think there might be some small burrs on the trigger parts may clean up after several hundred rounds. Too bad the dream gun didn't work for you. hopefully the XDM won't come out the same like the PX-4.

Trigun
 
I too read many good reviews about the gun but the price tag stoped big time. I think there might be some small burrs on the trigger parts may clean up after several hundred rounds. Too bad the dream gun didn't work for you. hopefully the XDM won't come out the same like the PX-4.

Trigun

No, it sure as hell won't.

I've owned a .40 XD and that was a great gun. I just sold it off here recently to partially fund this purchase.

The XD series is way better then allot of people give it credit for, whereas the PX-4 is worse then most reviews.

I don't know. If I can't sell it, then I'll turn it into my beater gun and do a bunch of stress tests with it. Then, on day 364/365 warranty, I'll send it back to Beretta for a complete rebuild.

:nest:
 
Here's a picture of the feed ramp that has me all up in arms. Am I blowing this out of proportion or do you think that that little piece of polymer is going to wear down in no time and cause feeding problems?

p1040509new.jpg


p1040512.jpg
 
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$1100 for a polymer frame pistol is insane......it's the cheapest manufacturing process available. Glock sells new to LEO in the US for $300. Someone is making some big coin on the markup on this puppy.
 
Am I blowing this out of proportion or do you think that that little piece of polymer is going to wear down in no time and cause feeding problems?
Wow, I still can't get over that feed ramp. Either the little piece of polymer will wear down, or the whole damn "metal insert" will pop out from the constant battering.

That's insane.
 
Well I have the PX4 and 92/92 armours course "at the factory" and I bought a glock so thats got to tell you something lol
 
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