Beretta PX4 Storm Review

The Beretta Storm is a philosophy of defense weapons based on ergonomics, at least that is one main feature Beretta stresses about the Storm set of weapons. There are three Storm pistols, the PX4 full size, Storm compact pistol, and the Storm subcompact. The pistols are each available in 9mm, SW.40 Cal, and .45 ACP. Then there is a cool looking polymer rifle. Beretta Storm CX4 Carbine which is also available in 9mm, SW .40, and .45 ACP. To finish out the group is the Beretta TX4 Storm polymer semi-automatic 12 GA shotgun. All these weapons are intended for home defense, self defense, military, and law enforcement applications.

The PX4 comes in two types designated as the:

• Type F – Single action/Double action with ambidextrous safety that also is a decocking lever.
• Type C – Constant action is a double action only with a shorter and lighter trigger pull. No external safety or decocking lever.
• Type D: Double-action-only. Spurless hammer. No decocker. No safety.
• Type G: Single and double-action. Decocker. No manual safety.

I purchased the PX4 type F configuration several months ago but because of weather here in Wisconsin I just got to shoot it this last weekend. When I first looked at the pistol it was the trigger that encouraged me to buy it. The trigger is smooth, I liked it and I bought the gun. After I got the gun home I was having second thoughts. I like a pistol that is on target when I pull it up to fire. I wasn’t getting that feel with the Storm. My sight picture was always off to the side. With some effort, I changed the back strap for a larger grip size. The Beretta Storm comes with two extra back straps. That is part of the Storms selling strategy, the ergonomics, how the gun feels in your hand. I wasn’t seeing any improvement. Thoughts went through my mind about trading it on a Beretta 92FS that I had been looking at. But I had already changed the back strap and sent in the registration to Beretta so I just hung on to it.

Now that I shot the pistol at 15 yards I couldn’t be happier with it. The best word that comes to mind after shooting the Beretta PX4 Storm is smooth, easy to shoot, and accurate. I like this pistol a lot, although I would prefer a little larger grip. Take a look at this target shot at 15 yards. Notice the group of 6 rounds inside the red two inch circle not to mention the two additional rounds in the black. The Beretta PX4 is very accurate.

It is a full size 9mm with a unique rotating barrel that is supposed to reduce recoil. I guess it does that because the PX4 is just plain fun and comfortable to shoot. Feels good, low recoil, and the bullets go where the sights put them.

Magazines – It comes with two 17 round magazines so you know it is a full size 9mm pistol. Magazines are reasonably priced too, I priced Beretta factory 17 round magazines at MidwayUSA  for $37.99 and 20 round magazines for $41.99. I’m on the waiting list for two of the 20 round magazines.

The frame is polymer and is supposed to be ergonomic. I still don’t like the grip feel as much as my CZ-75B, or CZ 2075 Rami 9mm. The grip feels skinny front to back to me. But the bottom line is that I don’t dislike the gun either and I am very accurate shooting it so I will definitely keep it and also recommend it as a home defense weapon and as a duty pistol or service pistol. I read that some police departments have adopted it as a duty gun.

The slide release is indeed a slide release. Not like some other pistols that have a slide stop. The Storm slide release is ergonomic in that it is easy to control with the thumb and easily releases the slide to slam home. I like that feature.

The safety/decocker lever leaves something to be desired. It works fine but I have trouble flipping it up or down with my thumb. The edges of the safety lever are sharp! It is actually a little painful for me to operate it with the thumb. Perhaps it will smooth out and be easier to operate after some use. But the sharp edges are not good. They did such an excellent job on the slide release lever, why not use some of that “ergonomics” on the safety/decocker lever?

Sights –  The sights are a fixed 3 dot system. I liked the bright white dots on the front and rear sights. They made it easy for me to acquire the target and provided great accuracy.

Price – on the gun I bought from Scheels was $499.99. I know, you might as well just say it was $500 and forget about the penny. Beretta PX4 prices at other dealers, Buds Gun Shop has them for $465.00 and that includes shipping. The Beretta PX4 Storm for sale on Gunbroker.com for $499.00 but that does not include shipping.

Field Stripping is as easy as a Glock. As a matter of fact, the PX4 has the very same type of slide removal release that Glock owners will instantly recognize. Remove the magazine, check that the pistol is unloaded, operate the slide removal release and the slide can be easily removed from the frame. Disassemble the slide by removing the recoil spring assembly, remove the barrel and the pistol is ready for cleaning.

This model Beretta is used by the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Royal Malaysian Police, used in Portugal by the Republican National Guard, and Public Security Police, used by the South African Police Service, and used by the Maryland State Police, New Jersey Police Department, Providence, Rhode Island Police Department, and the Rochester, NY police department.