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Beretta Px4 Storm

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Px4 Storm
The Beretta Px4 Storm (9mm Para)
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Place of originItaly
Service history
Used bySee Users
Production history
ManufacturerBeretta
Produced2004–present
Specifications
MassPx4: 785 g (27.7 oz) (without magazine)
Px4SC: 715 g (25.2 oz) (without magazine)
LengthPx4: 192 mm (7.6 in)
Px4SC: 158 mm (6.2 in)
Barrel length102 mm (4.0 in)
Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum
.40 S&W
.45 ACP
ActionShort recoil, locked-breech, rotating barrel lock
Muzzle velocity360 m/s (1,181 ft/s) (9×19mm Parabellum)
Effective firing range
  • 50 m (160 ft) (9×19mm Parabellum)
  • 25 m (82 ft) (.40 S&W, .45 ACP)
Feed systemPx4FS:[1]
  • 9x19mm: 10, 15, 17, 20 (extended)
  • .40 S&W: 10, 14, 17 (extended)
  • .45 ACP: 9, 10 (extended)

Px4C:

  • 9x19mm: 10, 15
  • .40 S&W: 10, 12

Px4SC:

  • 9x19mm: 13
  • .40 S&W: 10
Sights3-dot iron sights

The Beretta Px4 Storm is a semi-automatic pistol intended for personal defense and law enforcement use. It is available in full size, Compact, and Subcompact versions. The Px4 uses a trigger and safety system similar to the Beretta 92 and the Beretta 8000 series, though it is distinguished from its predecessors by its light-weight polymer construction with steel inserts, standard Picatinny rail, and swappable grip backstraps. The full size and Compact versions use the same short-recoil, rotating barrel action as the Beretta 8000 series, whereas the Subcompact uses the tilt barrel system.

Design details

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Field stripped Px4 Storm full size
Close-up of the rotary barrel locking mechanism.

Unlike the Beretta 92FS/96FS/M9/M9A1 and the 8000 series pistols, the Px4's trigger guard is rounded rather than squared. The polymer guide rod has a captive slide spring.

The full size and Compact versions have a spring-loaded disassembly bar, accessed via recesses on both sides of the frame, which must be grasped and pulled down to release the slide. This is different from the rotating takedown pin of Beretta's previous hammer-fired pistols, which the Px4 Subcompact retains.

The magazine holds the top round directly behind the barrel's breech end so only a slight feed ramp is needed. This allows the barrel to fully support the case. The 6-R rifling of the barrel generates counter-clockwise torque which is harnessed by the locking system to reduce the amount of pressure required from the rotating barrel lock's cam and pin system to affect unlocking. The steel transfer block's cam pin is 5 mm wide and 2 mm deep. The entire hammer unit mechanism can be removed from the Px4 as a single group. This allows easy access to the firing mechanism for cleaning.

Beretta designed the Px4 so that it would be difficult to re-assemble incorrectly after a field strip.

The Px4 originally featured an interchangeable, luminescent 3-dot sight system (coated in Super-LumiNova) for use in dark or low-light situations. With short exposure to any kind of light, the night sights' luminescence lasted up to 30 minutes.

Beretta discontinued the luminescent 3-dot nights sights for the Px4 in 2010, replacing them with standard 3-dot sights.[2] The weapon also incorporates a Picatinny rail under the muzzle to allow flashlights, laser sights, and other accessories to be attached.

The full size (including the Px4 .45 ACP) and Compact versions are manufactured in Italy. The Px4 Subcompact is manufactured in the United States.

Modular parts

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Several parts were designed to be modular for ease of customization. These parts include the backstrap, the magazine release button, the slide catch, the safety/decocker levers, and the hammer unit mechanism. The backstrap is available in three sizes: slim, standard and oversized. The magazine release button can be mounted on either side of the weapon and replaced by one of three types: standard, large or combat (extended). The standard slide catch and the safety/decocker levers can be replaced with slimmer versions to avoid snagging when the weapon is drawn quickly from a holster.

Px4 Full Size

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The Px4 full size was the first version available in 2004. Officially, it was offered in four different models:

However, the Type C and Type D models were usually sold to law enforcement agencies. Type F pistols can be converted into Type G pistols by removing a ball bearing in the safety/decocker unit or by changing the entire safety/decocker unit, depending on user preferences.

Occasionally, Beretta offers the Px4 full size with an INOX (stainless) slide.[3][better source needed]

Px4 Subcompact

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The Px4 Storm Subcompact was released in 2008, initially in 9x19mm and later in .40 S&W. It has a DA/SA trigger. The stainless steel barrel is resistant to corrosion from moisture. It is intended for personal defense and law enforcement use with a focus on concealed carry.[4]

The Px4 Subcompact is basically an updated version of the Beretta 9000. The two pistols even use the same recoil spring guide rod. Like the 9000S but unlike the Px4 full size and Compact, Px4 Subcompact uses a tilt barrel system and a rotating takedown pin. Also like the 9000S, magazines are available with the SnapGrip Extender base plate, which creates a longer grip profile.

Although the Subcompact is different from the larger versions in terms of its operation, it shares some interchangeable parts with the full size and the Compact, such as the safety levers, trigger, and magazine release buttons. Also, the Subcompact can use the longer magazines from the full size and Compact versions, and Beretta sells a magazine sleeve for the full size's 17-round magazine that basically extends the Subcompact's grip.

The Subcompact model has been discontinued as of 2023.

Px4 Compact

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Standard Version

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The Px4 Storm Compact was released in 2011; it is sized between the full size and the Subcompact models. It uses the rotating barrel design of the full size pistols but has a shorter slide and grip.[5] The Px4 Compact has a block adaptor assembly due to the shorter barrel length and the rotating barrel design.

This version also has an ambidextrous slide stop lever. The Px4 Compact's magazines have orange followers to help users identify empty magazines in low visibility situations. The Px4 Compact can accept full size magazines.

Occasionally, Beretta offers the Px4 Compact with an INOX (stainless) slide.

Px4 Compact Carry Variant

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In January 2016, Beretta announced the Px4 Compact Carry, an optimized version of the Px4 Compact meant specifically for concealed carry use. The version is a collaboration with USPSA 2000 Production champion Ernest Langdon (Langdon Tactical).[6][7] The Px4 Compact Carry is a Type G model (with low profile decocker levers) available in 9mm luger caliber, includes a larger magazine release button. This semi-customized pistol differs from the standard compact pistol in the following ways:

  • use of the improved Beretta plated competition hammer group for a lighter trigger pull
  • a thinner slide with a Sniper Grey Cerakote coating
  • an Ameriglo high-visibility orange tritium front sight and black rear notch sights for fast target acquisition
  • shipped with a Talon grip wrap for improved grip texture and handling

Px4 .45 ACP

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The Px4 .45 ACP was released in 2008 and is available only as a "full size" pistol. It has a reinforced body and is slightly larger than the 9mm / .40 S&W full size pistols to handle the higher ballistic power of the .45 ACP cartridge. The .45 ACP version was Beretta's entry in U.S. military's Joint Combat Pistol program.

The Px4 .45 ACP is available as a standard black model and as a Special Duty model with desert tan frame color, PVD coated magazines and internal firing control assembly, double recoil spring, and a longer barrel that extends beyond the slide. The Special Duty model comes in a custom case with lubricating oil, cleaning kit, three magazines, three back straps, three magazine buttons, and user manual.[8]

Users

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A map with users of the Beretta Px4 Storm in blue

Current users

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Failed bids

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Px4 Storm Full". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Px4 Storm Full". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Gun Review: Beretta PX4 Storm Inox [Updated 2018]". 17 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Beretta Px4 Storm Sub-Compact Pistol | GHG". March 2008.
  5. ^ "Beretta PX4 Compact Review: The Reality-Check Pistol".
  6. ^ "Personaldefenseworld.com". 2016.
  7. ^ "PX4 Compact Carry with LTT Trigger Job". Langdon Tactical. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  8. ^ "Unboxing: Beretta PX4 Storm Special Duty". YouTube.
  9. ^ "Comprarán 1500 pistolas Beretta para la Policía Metropolitana". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan - Page 851". 5 May 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Canada Border Services Agency Selects Px4". Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
  12. ^ "Image: Special forces equipment (Spanish)".
  13. ^ "Indian Armed Forces/Central Armed Police Force Weapons".
  14. ^ Neville 2017, p. 20.
  15. ^ "BERETTA Px4 and PMX: The new firearm equipment to the Local Police of Brescia, Italy". 12 August 2022.
  16. ^ Opencontent. "L'Italia ha inviato 11mila Beretta semiautomatici al regime di Gheddafi". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  17. ^ Abas, Marhalim (May 2010). "Beretta Px4 Storm To Be New Police Pistol". The Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  18. ^ "Some Malaysian LEOs will carry Beretta Px4 Storm pistols". Tactical-Life Gun Magazine. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  19. ^ "Cmjornal.xl.pt".
  20. ^ "25.000 de pistoale noi pentru polițiștii de la Brigada Rutieră și de la Ordinea Publică". Pro TV (in Romanian). 30 July 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Specijalne-jedinice.com".
  22. ^ Leon Engelbrecht (2010-01-25). "Police up arsenal". DefenceWeb. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  23. ^ "Image dated 2016".
  24. ^ "현대사 길목마다 인간방패 役… 날마다 두렵다, 그러나 '나는 없다'" (in Korean). 16 December 2013.
  25. ^ Giorgio Beretta. "Italia: ecco le armi esportate da Berlusconi a dittatori e regimi autoritari". ControllArmi. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  26. ^ "The Outdoor Wire". Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  27. ^ "Maryland State Police to Carry Beretta's Px4 Storm". Tactical Life. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  28. ^ "On the Range". The Sparta Independent. June 2, 2010. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
  29. ^ "Providence Journal - Rhode Island news, sports, weather & more". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  30. ^ "CMC Government Supply News » Blog Archive » The Beretta Px4 Storm – Official Sidearm of the Fresno Police Department". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  31. ^ "Rochester, NY Purchases Beretta Px4 STORM .45 cal. Handguns". PoliceOne.com. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  32. ^ "Infodefensa.com".
  33. ^ Official e-mail communication Ministry of Defence. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2022
  34. ^ "La Policía comprará 28 mil pistolas SiG Sauer por US$ 13.5 millones | La República". 5 December 2015.

Bibliography

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  • Neville, Leigh (2017). European Counter-Terrorist Units 1972–2017. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472825278.
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Px4 Storm Compact

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Px4SC

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