This is a review of the full-size Beretta Px4 Storm 9x19, Type F pistol.
Behold, Beretta's first full-sized polymer gun, the Px4 Storm. Having been released in 2004, it's still relatively new in the firearms industry. The Px4 was built to compete in the now-defunct Joint Combat Pistol trials. These trials were to determine the next military sidearm for the United States. This program was eventually scrapped and was replaced by the Modular Handgun System. The Px4 Storm is actually a revamp of the older Beretta 8000 or "Cougar" pistol. However the rights to produce the Cougar have been given to Stoeger.
The Px4 Storm offers some improvements over Beretta's other full size gun, the 92/M9. First is the overall size and weight of the pistol. Being a polymer gun, it is noticeably lighter and is slightly more compact. It offers an attachment rail for light and lasers. It has interchangeable back straps. Its takedown procedure is among the easiest of any pistol I have shot. It's as simple as pulling down on two levers either side of the slide and it comes apart in your hand. Its magazine can hold 17 + 1 rounds of 9mm, which is higher than most guns of this size. This pistol also shares several features that are included on the 92 series. For example, you keep the ambidextrous, slide-mounted safety which acts as a de-cocker, reversible magazine release, and chrome-lined barrel.
Perhaps the most interesting and unique feature of the Px4 is its rotating barrel. When fired, the barrel actually rotates to decrease felt recoil. While many are unsure of this feature - seeing it as a potential weakness of the gun - it is actually one of the strongest actions available for a pistol according to Beretta.
Don't for a second think that because this pistol is polymer, that it is weak or cheaply made. It still managed to pass the punishing NATO Certification tests, which is an accomplishment that has only been awarded to a very few guns in the firearm industry. Not even the almighty GLOCK was able to pass this stringent trail (which is why they made their own, but that's beside the point).
Now on to the performance of the weapon. As you can expect from Beretta, it functions flawlessly. It is very accurate and the recoil is easily controlled. It's definitely one of the lightest shooting 9mm pistols that I have used. Thanks to the interchangeable back straps, the gun is very comfortable to shoot and, for me, it aims very naturally. One thing worth mentioning is the stiffness of the magazine springs. When new, it can be hard to load a full mag of 17 rounds by hand. Luckily they include a loader in the box so this is not really a big issue. The sights are standard 3-dot white sights that are adjustable and replaceable, so I'm thinking about swapping them for some night sights soon. The recoil spring is not very stiff, so those with delicate hands shouldn't have a problem racking the slide.
It is also worth mentioning that this pistol comes in several configurations. I am testing the full-size Beretta Px4 DA/SA Type F pistol with an exposed hammer. The Type C pistol is a "constant action," which means that the hammer is recessed and has a constant trigger pull with every shot - similar to other striker-fire weapons. It is also available in compact and sub-compact varieties.
As you probably guessed from this article, I actually own this gun. I am one of those people that do too much research when making a large purchase. The Px4 Storm surpassed all of my already-high expectations and continues to put a smile on my face every time I'm at the range. If you have been questioning whether or not to purchase this gun, let me save you the trouble of all that research. Get it. It's worth every penny.
