Clobbersauras
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Waaay out west.
This is going to be a long post, sorry about that.
I posted this review on another forum and thought I should share it here as well.
I've read some good things about the Beretta PX4 compact, so I decided to give the full size PX4 a full review. I've read that The CBSA has not had a good track record with the PX4, but based on the positive reviews for the compact I thought I would test it myself.
I bought this gun used from this forum. It apparently only has 2500 rounds through it. Aside from the barrel and locking block, the wear to the rails and slide looks minimal, so I tend to think that it's close to that.
Thoughts:
1) Basically this gun is a polymer framed Beretta 92 (yeah, yeah, before you gun nerds go all "Rotating Barrel!" on me, just hear me out). The controls are very similar, the trigger feels much like the 92, the grip angle is the same, and it indexes virtually the same on the draw. So, if you are a Beretta 92 fan it will take you no time to get used to the PX4.
2) It's smaller in overall length than a Beretta Centurion and the grip length (from trigger guard to bottom of mag) is almost identical to the 92. The grip is thinner than the 92. The front and back grip serrations are awesome, but the side panels are slippery and have no gripping surface at all. I fixed that with skate tape.
The sight radius is just a little shorter than a Centurion.
The grip length and height, with mag inserted, is almost identical to the Centurion.
3) The safety ears are huge. I much prefer the 92's design, and the PX4 safety does not allow you to push the safety off by pushing down with the knuckle of your thumb.
4) It's got a dovetail front sight. If you are a 92 fan, you will understand why this is a nice treat. The rear sight on this gun has bright green inserts, while the front has a white dot. I blacked out the rear with a sharpie and will be using the white front sight until I can get a set of the Langdon Ameriglo's.
5) It's quite a bit lighter than the 92 series guns. Listed weight is between 32 and 34 oz for 92's and the full size PX4 is 27.7oz.The slide fully covers the barrel. The design of the safety and the Bruniton finish coupled with the front and rear cocking serrations make the gun easy to rack. The safety ears are angled up and I had no worries that grasping the slide would engage the safety when it was configured as the "F" model. The Bruniton finish is a little tacky in feel, and it's not slippery, like a Glock.
6) It's user convertible to a G model pistol, which means the safety can be converted to a decocker only. You simply remove the safety, pop out a ball detente and spring and reassemble. Easy.
7) The gun is super easy to disassemble. You don't have to pull the trigger and there is no lever to get in the way of your grip. Simply push down on the two tabs in the frame and the slide comes right off.
8) The mags are very similar to 92 series mags but they are not interchangeable. They fit in my 92 specific mag holders but they were very tight, even when backing off the retention screw. The front of the mags are square, much like factory 92 mags, which sucks for reloads. I wish Mec Gar made PX4 mags with tapered top metal like they do for the 92 series.
PX4 mag, Mec Gar Beretta mag
9) The mag well on the gun is small, like most 92's, which is not conducive to fast reloads, but I was able to do a few sub second reloads in dry practice when I hit the mag well just right. This gun is going to have a really beat to hell mag well once I am finished with it.
Centurion, PX4, Elite II
10) I noticed the frame has very tiny metal insert frame rails, and no frame mounted locking block. Interesting. I noticed some barrel movement when the gun is in battery, much like you get with the 92 series.
So that's it for now. Pistol is lubed with Lucas red "n" tacky and I hope to get to the range as soon as I receive my registration papers. 2000 round challenge starts now.
I posted this review on another forum and thought I should share it here as well.
I've read some good things about the Beretta PX4 compact, so I decided to give the full size PX4 a full review. I've read that The CBSA has not had a good track record with the PX4, but based on the positive reviews for the compact I thought I would test it myself.
I bought this gun used from this forum. It apparently only has 2500 rounds through it. Aside from the barrel and locking block, the wear to the rails and slide looks minimal, so I tend to think that it's close to that.
Thoughts:
1) Basically this gun is a polymer framed Beretta 92 (yeah, yeah, before you gun nerds go all "Rotating Barrel!" on me, just hear me out). The controls are very similar, the trigger feels much like the 92, the grip angle is the same, and it indexes virtually the same on the draw. So, if you are a Beretta 92 fan it will take you no time to get used to the PX4.
2) It's smaller in overall length than a Beretta Centurion and the grip length (from trigger guard to bottom of mag) is almost identical to the 92. The grip is thinner than the 92. The front and back grip serrations are awesome, but the side panels are slippery and have no gripping surface at all. I fixed that with skate tape.
The sight radius is just a little shorter than a Centurion.
The grip length and height, with mag inserted, is almost identical to the Centurion.
3) The safety ears are huge. I much prefer the 92's design, and the PX4 safety does not allow you to push the safety off by pushing down with the knuckle of your thumb.
4) It's got a dovetail front sight. If you are a 92 fan, you will understand why this is a nice treat. The rear sight on this gun has bright green inserts, while the front has a white dot. I blacked out the rear with a sharpie and will be using the white front sight until I can get a set of the Langdon Ameriglo's.
5) It's quite a bit lighter than the 92 series guns. Listed weight is between 32 and 34 oz for 92's and the full size PX4 is 27.7oz.The slide fully covers the barrel. The design of the safety and the Bruniton finish coupled with the front and rear cocking serrations make the gun easy to rack. The safety ears are angled up and I had no worries that grasping the slide would engage the safety when it was configured as the "F" model. The Bruniton finish is a little tacky in feel, and it's not slippery, like a Glock.
6) It's user convertible to a G model pistol, which means the safety can be converted to a decocker only. You simply remove the safety, pop out a ball detente and spring and reassemble. Easy.
7) The gun is super easy to disassemble. You don't have to pull the trigger and there is no lever to get in the way of your grip. Simply push down on the two tabs in the frame and the slide comes right off.
8) The mags are very similar to 92 series mags but they are not interchangeable. They fit in my 92 specific mag holders but they were very tight, even when backing off the retention screw. The front of the mags are square, much like factory 92 mags, which sucks for reloads. I wish Mec Gar made PX4 mags with tapered top metal like they do for the 92 series.
PX4 mag, Mec Gar Beretta mag
9) The mag well on the gun is small, like most 92's, which is not conducive to fast reloads, but I was able to do a few sub second reloads in dry practice when I hit the mag well just right. This gun is going to have a really beat to hell mag well once I am finished with it.
Centurion, PX4, Elite II
10) I noticed the frame has very tiny metal insert frame rails, and no frame mounted locking block. Interesting. I noticed some barrel movement when the gun is in battery, much like you get with the 92 series.
So that's it for now. Pistol is lubed with Lucas red "n" tacky and I hope to get to the range as soon as I receive my registration papers. 2000 round challenge starts now.
I may have to bin that mag and just use it for dry practice. 
