PX4 Full Size vs Compact?

[Mike P Wagner]

I have my FiveSeven on consignment at my local gun shop - if it sells for what they think it will sell for, I will be able to by a new pistol.

I think that I am going to get a PX4 - I am fascinated by different mechanisms. At one point I had a CZ-52 in part for its roller locking.

I am trying to decide between a compact and full size. I am not very concerned about concealed carry - this will mainly be used at the range and for home defense. The only place I can see myself carrying in the near future is at synagogue, and I don't feel as though I need deep concealment there - I would not be at all concerned about printing, etc., while carrying (permitless open carry is legal in my state).

All of that leads me to think that full size is a good match. The only thing that gives me pause is that I think that the compact is more popular - and that makes me think more support/accessories will be available for the compact.

My sense is the full size shoots better, but I don't know how much difference less than an inch of barrel length makes - maybe it makes a difference, maybe it does not.

How differently do they shoot?

 

[JTQ]

I chose the full size, because I prioritized the shooting part over the concealing part.

Two things I don't particularly care for on the compact are the recoil spring shroud and the ambidextrous slide release (Langdon deletes the right side one on their guns, so you can delete it, but it comes standard on the stock compact). The full size doesn't have those things and I prefer it that way.

Neither gun is super popular, and if the compact is more popular than the full size, that's just splitting hairs. I can't think of too many accessories that are available for the compact that aren't available for the full size. There is lots of stuff that is available for a G17 that isn't available for the PX4, but between the PX4 compact and PX4 full size, I just don't think that is an issue.

 

[JTQ]

For what it's worth, while I prefer the full size, I think Langdon himself, prefers the compact for the shooting characteristics. I think it was this preference that prompted the development of the full size PX4 G-SD that is now available that perhaps gives the full size similar shooting characteristics as the compact that he likes.

 

[Mike P Wagner]

For what it's worth, while I prefer the full size, I think Langdon himself, prefers the compact for the shooting characteristics. I think it was this preference that prompted the development of the full size PX4 G-SD that is now available that perhaps gives the full size similar shooting characteristics as the compact that he likes.

My impression is that Langdon liked the compact initially because flatter decockers it fit into some IDPA box - I know nothing about IDPA - so it so could be used in certain matches.

But that could just be wrong.

Do you know of any articles or YouTube videos where he compares the full size and the compact?

Thanks.

 

[JTQ]

My impression is that Langdon liked the compact initially because flatter decockers it fit into some IDPA box - I know nothing about IDPA - so it so could be used in certain matches.

But that could just be wrong.

Do you know of any articles or YouTube videos where he compares the full size and the compact?

Thanks.

No, the stealth decockers are available for both guns, and he even created the carry decockers that he originally called the "fugly" decockers. All three decocker options are available for both guns (Edit to add: actually four different levers, as they also make 92-type levers for the PX4).

He initially liked the Compact because he was looking for a hammer fired G19 sized gun (the 92 Compact didn't have some things he wanted - capacity, sights - with a full size gun, he is basically "Mr Beretta 92" so he initially stayed with the 92 over full size PX4). The 92 Compact only had a 13 round mag at the time, and the Beretta factory guys said how about the PX4 Compact that has a 15 round mag. He said I don't like those decockers, and Beretta said, we have these Stealth levers, and he had some other complaints, and Beretta said we have things for all that stuff, so he did some mods and gave it a go.

It is a shooting characteristic of the the compact that he likes. The PX4G-SD Full Size has a heavier barrel that he and the Beretta engineers felt could give the full size similar shooting characteristics to the Compact. I don't have any experience with the Compact or the PX4G-SD, so I can't comment on their behavior, I just prefer the full size gun and the G-SD wasn't available when I bought mine.

 

[JTQ]

Here are some videos that may be helpful. I don't think they are specifically comparing the Compact to the Full Size, but they are good videos.

 

[JTQ]

 

[Mosin77]

They are very similar guns. I have shot both. I ended up buying the Compact because I like the idea that I could theoretically carry it if I wanted. And at the time my thought process was that I didn’t need the FS because I have a Taurus PT99 with 17 round mags for home defense so the compact filled a niche.

Opinions are frankly split on shooting characteristics. Some say the Compact shoots a little softer than the FS, probably just due to the way the backstrap hump position fits their particular hand, giving them a better grip. The FS is a little taller in the grip and has a longer barrel and slide, thus physics says it should shoot a touch softer, all else being equal. This debate also exists with the Glock 17 vs 19. Which one fits better in your hand and has lower perceived recoil varies by the individual.

I felt the full sized and compact in my hands, shot so similarly there wasn’t much real world difference. If I had to pick I’d say the FS was a tiny bit lower recoil but not enough to matter. At that point I decided to go Compact because of the extra versatility, being a little more comfortable to conceal if I wanted to carry it, while still being perfectly capable for home defense or the range.

 

[Mike P Wagner]

I felt the full sized and compact in my hands, shot so similarly there wasn’t much real world difference. If I had to pick I’d say the FS was a tiny bit lower recoil but not enough to matter. At that point I decided to go Compact because of the extra versatility, being a little more comfortable to conceal if I wanted to carry it, while still being perfectly capable for home defense or the range.

Thanks. Part of the dilemma is that I can rent the compact at range/LGS but they don’t even have a full size in stock. So if I go with FS, I think I might have to order it, so it would be a leap of faith.

This is all predicted on my FiveSeven selling for what they think it will sell for - so maybe a full size PX4 will come in while I am waiting.

 

[Barmcd]

That's a good shooting gun. A friend found one a tenant left behind when he moved out. He tried to get in touch with him, but the tenant never returned his phone call. I thought about buying it from him as it was an easy gun to shoot well. In the end I decided I had enough 9MMs already and passed. I've regretted that ever since.

 

[Mike P Wagner]

I bought the full size PX4 yesterday. I probably won’t make it to the range until next week.

Thanks for all of the input.