Opinions on the Px4 Storm

The tan model is the PX4 Special Duty. It was built by Beretta for the SOCOM pistol trials. It is mechanically different from the normal PX4. During trials it was the only pistol to pass the "over the beach" test. When filled with water and sand it was the only pistol tested that remained functional. It comes in a special tan pelican case. I was told by the rep from Stoger Canada that the pistols that came into Canada were a one time thing. If you can find a new one snap it up.

The others are the normal PX4. The CBSA got the DAO model. As with most conventional DAO pistols the trigger pull is typically long and heavy.

The other model that is imported is the F model which is a SA/DA pistol. The safety is also a de-cocker. You can half #### the hammer with the safety off. The factory sights are night sights and can be charged up with a flash light. The barrel rotation does reduce felt recoil.

I bought mine because I have small hands and it fit me really well. I tried it at Beretta Day at Target Sports. I shot two mags and made a dime sized hole in the target. Sold!

Super easy to strip and clean. I have over 5,000 rounds through mine. Zero malfunctions. At 4,600 rounds the retainer on the recoil spring guide rod assembly came out. It still worked but the spring was not longer held captive when disassembled. I ordered a new rod and spring and it's good as new. I blame excessive heat for the spring problem. I shoot the gun until it is burning hot to the touch and smoke is streaming off the barrel.

If you can get the .45 SD snap one up.
 
I own a D variant and so far, it has performed flawlessly with factory and reloaded ammo. I bought is "just because", not knowing in 2010 what to expect, given the average-not so good reviews about the DAO variant. Round count is about 2000, and it is accurate. Trigger pull is long and heavy but smooth. Mag floor plate is poorly designed, but other than that, I enjoy it. It has gone up against Glocks and Sigs with no short comings. I am a Sig and HK fan so I am pleased that I have another choice if I want to play with something different. And No, I don't carry it for work.
 
The PX4 was my first firearm. I have maybe 2500 rounds through it now, and aside from some feeding problems when I first got it (wasn't seating the mag fully, n00b mistake) it's functioned flawlessly. I even bought a Glock a few months after, and I just sold it. I shoot the PX4 way better, it fits my hand better, and it's a lot softer shooting because of the rotating barrel. Everyone I've taken to the range has fired both, and all prefer the PX4 to the Glock except 1.

I probably could have practiced with the Glock more and gotten better with it, but I figured why bother if I already have a 9mm I shoot better and has less felt recoil? I will admit that the DA first shot is a bit brutal, but that doesn't bug me.

I will admit though that after shooting my HK45, I would like to snag a P30L. The HK45 also has a brutal DA trigger pull, but I have an LEM trigger kit on the way, so if I dig that, I'll probably grab the P30L with LEM kit that Wolverine sells. At that point I'd probably sell the PX4 since I can't afford to have a gazillion guns laying around, even if I would like to have a backup for matches.
 
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Well for starters, they are fugly as all hell. They've got pretty much the entire safety manual written all over them. They shoot for s**t. The rotating barrel welcomes failures, by allowing dirt to gum up the groove, causing jams. Even when the slide is in full battery, there is still a large gap between the barrel and slide, to allow dirt into the gun. I'd say 25% of the time, when you drop a mag to the floor, it explodes and the parts go flying everywhere. You can rest assured that the guide rod WILL break, so you better buy an extra one off the hop. I would suggest buying anything else then a PX4 storm.

I do carry one for duty. I've put 1000's of rounds down range with it. Beretta actually wanted to stop production because of all the warranty claims.

~Shooter :)
 
ShooterPHD said:
Well for starters, they are fugly as all hell. They've got pretty much the entire safety manual written all over them. They shoot for s**t. The rotating barrel welcomes failures, by allowing dirt to gum up the groove, causing jams. Even when the slide is in full battery, there is still a large gap between the barrel and slide, to allow dirt into the gun. I'd say 25% of the time, when you drop a mag to the floor, it explodes and the parts go flying everywhere. You can rest assured that the guide rod WILL break, so you better buy an extra one off the hop. I would suggest buying anything else then a PX4 storm.

I do carry one for duty. I've put 1000's of rounds down range with it. Beretta actually wanted to stop production because of all the warranty claims.

~Shooter :)
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Other than that, though, they're pretty good, right? I read they're good in a gun magazine.
 
ShooterPHD said:
Well for starters, they are fugly as all hell. They've got pretty much the entire safety manual written all over them. They shoot for s**t. The rotating barrel welcomes failures, by allowing dirt to gum up the groove, causing jams. Even when the slide is in full battery, there is still a large gap between the barrel and slide, to allow dirt into the gun. I'd say 25% of the time, when you drop a mag to the floor, it explodes and the parts go flying everywhere. You can rest assured that the guide rod WILL break, so you better buy an extra one off the hop. I would suggest buying anything else then a PX4 storm.

I do carry one for duty. I've put 1000's of rounds down range with it. Beretta actually wanted to stop production because of all the warranty claims.

~Shooter :)
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Yeah other then that, they are FAN-tastic!! :)
 
Ouch, what a cold shower :eek:

I am a noob at guns still waiting for my pal. Been in the reserve when I was younger so I know about firearms, but never fired a pistol. My "object of desire" was the PX4. Been reading reviews and it looked like the best gun in the world until I read that forum thread.

Really troubles my mind now, I already checked a couple of place to get the price (special order, no local store has it here) but now I'm confused. I'm starting to wonder if it's a good purchase for a first time buyer like me.

I must confess that the publicity/reviews really made me think it was a very good product and the "###y look" (lol I think it's the best looking of all I seen, second best lookin IMO would be a CZ 75) was a big part of the decision...

I'll have to read further to check what I will do, will try to make a decision and see if it was a good decision once at the range...

This forum is really useful, thanks to users.
 
BlackWatch said:
The M&P was supposed to win, rumor is the RCMP were going to use cbsa as a test run in anticipation of their switch over to the M&P.
M&P failed the drop test, mag spit out due to a higher mag release button. PX4 won by default.
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Why were these th only competitors? Why would they not choose Glock, with their proven performance and low cost? Or an HK if money was no object?

Also, does this poor quality extend to the Italian-made 92 series? Specifically the 92A1?
 
I looked at one when I went shopping for my first centerfire pistol. I was warned away from it by the shop ownere, he said they break, but gave no specifics. He steered me to the M&P but I went with the STI Spartan in 9mm. No regrets at all, it is awesome.
 
There are more people carrying m&p's and even more carrying glocks than the px4 storm.

My duty m&p has a lot of bumps and bruises but still functions fine. Its been soaked in snow, rain, its been banged around, dropped etc.

I don't want to open a can of worms, but I feel the 9mm cartridge to be underpowerful.

If people on drugs can't be taken dowm by several rounds of .40 than you have a lesser chance to do it with a 9mm.

Plus the px4 is butt ugly. Having said that I own 3 beretta's 2 92's and 1 96, and the both kick ass.
 
Dale.Gribble said:
If people on drugs can't be taken dowm by several rounds of .40 than you have a lesser chance to do it with a 9mm.
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Can open, worms everywhere...fortunately this is a zombie thread and in any case the PX4 isn't worth much discussion anyway so no big loss there.


People on drugs can be taken down with a .40...or a 9mm.

There are two physical ways to stop someone by shooting them: destroy their body, which generally requires artillery-sized guns, or destroy their ability to control their body. Anything else is dependent on psychological factors: resistance to pain, motivation, resistance to shock, etc, etc.

There are two ways to destroy the ability to control the body...smash the brain physically, or starve it to death.

So either head shots or wounds causing rapid blood loss will work. Nothing else will work.

No handgun can stop a person, on drugs or otherwise, any quicker than it can deprive that person of their ability to control their body, and if the goal is to starve the brain of oxygen rather than smash it apart - i.e. body shots not head shots - it won't be instant. But a 9mm pistol is 100% capable of doing sufficient tissue damage to cause rapid blood loss, and there is no real indication that a .40 will reliably cause greater tissue damage than a 9mm.

The .40 will perform better on intermediate barriers because of the greater mass of most of the projectiles. The .45acp better still. But unless you are shooting through a windshield or car door, say...the advantage generally goes to the 9mm on account of greater capacity and faster follow-up shots. The 9mm typically performs better against soft armour; the 7.62x25 better still.

So there are advantages to the .40 over the 9mm, but ability to stop a person on drugs is not one of them.

More information is available at the link in my sig, and here if you really have the time for the details:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf
 
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