So recently I posted a thread about my new carry trio of these two and a P229 Legion. The Legion is a superb gun, but I will probably try to keep it a bit more pristine and not carry it regularly.
I have had the PX4 Subcompact for a fair few years and found that I really like the little (and I use that term loosely) gun.
I decided to do a bit of thinning out of my gun cabinet and ended up, in the process, picking up a PX4 Storm Compact last week.
Since buying the Subcompact I had not done anything other than shoot and clean it. This weekend I did the D spring conversion and added the stealth safeties. These really improve the profile of the gun and make the slide very clean, especially on the Subcompact model as the slide latch is already a low profile single side unit.
I liked the conversion so much that I ordered the same for the Compact, along with the single side slide latch that is much smaller than the ambi setup. I had ordered two of the D springs so I did that swap on the Compact as well. (http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/beretta-px4-safety-and-slide-catch-low-prof-typ-g-only-/e00348/)
The Subcompact I run either a 15 or 17 round magazine (typically 17) with the X-Grip extension, which helps it fit may big hand a bit better. The original magazine with the flip down lip on the front works fine and I can get purchase with all of my fingers with it. Therefore, depending on what I am wearing the Subcompact is very versatile in its ability to utilize either this original 13 round magazine for a really compact carry or a standard 15 or 17 round magazine for a bit larger package.
So I was able to take them both out to the range today to compare them side by side. Keep in mind while these two PX4’s look the same the Compact is a rotating barrel but the Subcompact is a more typical tilt barrel design. The Compact and full size share the rotating barrel design.
The Compact and full size utilize the same rotating barrel, the Compact magazines are color coded with an orange follower to easily recognize the difference.
I had a Stoger Cougar some time back which was built from the original Beretta rotating barrel design. I liked that gun a lot but let a friend talk me out of it.
The rotating barrel provides a reduction in felt recoil and, in my opinion, helps make the Compact a really flat shooting gun.
I fed about 400-500 rounds through them both and had absolutely no feeding issues or misfires. Both ate everything I fed them.
Accuracy was a bit better, as you would expect, on the slightly longer Compact but both were very acceptable off hand out to about 15 yards. The rotating barrel, I suspect, also allowed me to keep on target better with the Compact.
Regardless, I still like the feel and function of both of these guns. The Subcompact, even at 15 yards, was easy to keep all shots in a head sized target. To be honest any spray was shooter not weapon related. I tend to pull shots left, so I had a number of ragged singular holes just left of center.
Weight wise the two, when I utilize the extended magazines on the Subcompact, are essentially the same. These are not, necessarily, light weapons. Many have observed that they have a bulky look and feel to them, and I would agree that they do. However, that is something I find I like about them. They look and feel like full size guns and in many ways function like a full size gun.
Carrying either in IWB pancake holsters either at the appendix or small of back locations works well. I have recently lost 27 pounds, so carrying in front is much more comfortable. When I was a bit … heavier … the appendix carry was less so. In a hip paddle holster both carry close to the body with my specific holster which puts the gun high and tight. Allowing me to carry just off center toward the rear and conceal both guns fairly well. Not as well as IWB, but as long as I have a decently sized shirt well enough.
Beretta makes a number of performance parts that are all reasonably priced to make them better. The only complaint I have is that take up on single action trigger pull is longer than I would like. Somewhere between ¼ and ½ inch. However, with the D spring conversion both double action and single action are smooth and crisp. I suspect just a little trigger work would improve this further. Additionally, Beretta makes a full drop in competition group. However, out of the box I would say that for carry duty these guns just work.
The PX4 Storm is a highly underrated gun in my humble opinion. All three versions can be had for just over $500 new and easily low $400’s used. Yes, they are a bit thicker than your typical single stack, but when compared to other guns in the compact line they are pretty similar.
I think the industry in general needs to reclassify the naming conventions as most of the terms used are more marketing than truly sizing based. Full size everyone understands, but when we get into the compact, subcompact, nano and pico it is all up to marketing interpretation. I really view the Compact PX4 as a mid-size gun and the Subcompact as a double stack compact. Subcompact, to me, should be isolated mostly to single stack down sized carry guns (45 single stack not-with-standing). But that is my interpretation.
If you would like a really solid platform that with just a little work (converting the F decock/safety to the G decock only), really improves this gun platform from a concealed carry standpoint. All in all a very pleasing package to me.
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