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Its been a long time since I've bought a new gun, and I've been looking at these newfangled baby guns these days. The Beretta PX4 Sub Compact. While it looks like a pretty big gun to be calling a subcompact. It looks real tiny compared to my P92 and Ruger P95. One of the big attractions I havew towards this gun is that it pretty much functions as my current carry guns.

Anyone had any experience or thoughts with the PX4 SC?
TIA

no personal experience with it, but friend of mine had a PX4 full size and subcompact. he kept the full size but got rid of the sub compact and replaced it with smaller Kel Tec PF9 ... he told me he was most disappointed in the recoil of the subcompact PX4 compared to full size - full size, in addition to extra size/weight, has a rotating barrel design that reduces recoil impulse - the subcompact does not have rotating barrel.

what similar functions are you most interested in compared to your Beretta 92 and Ruger? double-action trigger with exposed hammer? thumb safety? decocker?

A Sig P239 would be similar, though with a decocker instead of a "safety" and IMHO is probably a better gun (caveat again that I've not shot a PX4, only fondled them, but have shot a few P239).

Also consider a subcompact Smith & Wesson M&P with thumb safety option ... but difference between hammer-fired and striker fired may not be to your liking

also doesn't CZ make a subcompact now similar to the model 75 that would seem to be very similar battery of arms? If not in 9mm, they do still make the model 83 in .380

Bersa? in addition to the well known Thunder .380, which is nearly identical controls to your guns, they also make 9mm and .45 pistols

Also the Beretta 84/85 and Browning BDA would have similar battery of arms, but also in .380

lastly, some of the older Smith & wesson steel and aluminum frame semi-autos would fit the bill .... model 3913, chief's special 9, etc.

I have one and it is my EDC. I shoot more the HK P30 at competitions and it is my home defense pistol with light and laser.

No complaints about ergo or recoil compared to other sub compacts. The safety on mine is disabled with a spring (it is a decoker only). It has a also a bigger slide release or so told me the guy who sold it to me.

Of course, I would be more accurate with P30 than PX4SC.

Bought one about 6-8 months ago. Perfect reliability from the get-go... about 500 rounds thru it so far. Recoil is more than the P229 but still very manageable. Kinda thick and less comfortable to carry than my Sig P229 - yes a P229. At least for my body type, holsters and clothing.

I am looking at the Beretta Nano next as a carry option in this crazy heat (next summer). So far all my Berettas (92FS, PX4SC) have been 100% reliable. Hopefully the Nano will continue this Beretta trademark.

I have momentarily handled one at a couple of times. I hope to shoot one today.

A-R: I'm sort of surprised your friend found the recoil objectionable, but turned it in for the Keltec. Reviews I have read is that the recoil is quite managable. I would think the Keltec would be the one with the issues. I want a 9mm DA SA with a safety that flips up. not down like most 1911s Otherwise my hands will get confused. While this is really to big to be called a subcompact, Its rounded edges should make it pretty concealable, at least compared to my normal daily carry ( P95 or P92f) I have looked at the SIG 239 it seems to be a nice gun, but it is a bit pricey. I do admit I have a soft spot for Berettas though.

Beiruty: My p92 will make a marksman out of just about anyone. But I'm looking for something just a little easier to carry. I was watching some videos of people shooting various sub compacts, and I noticed that there is very little flip up with gun. when others were shooting it

Rubocom I like the Nano, its just that I really wan't that safety lever on a gun I might stick in my pocket. Also I am a bit cocerned about recoil and upflip with the nano. I believe with px4sc that recovery will be pretty quick.

I am a fan of the Beretta Pistols in general. They are generally well made and reliable and have found the 92 to be an excellent pistol.

The px4 from what I understand are good pistols and from what I gather the subcompacts are working well.

If you like it, give it a go.

I have the PX4 sub-compact in the 9mm. It has a few features that I really like, such as the all plastic/poly exterior. No worries about scratching off any bluing. External manual safety/decocker as well as the SA/DA trigger. As for recoil, I find it smooth to fire over and over. Of course I always feel that recoil is more of a matter of personal preference and very subjective to the owners physical stature and experiance with shooting.
Would I buy another...yeap, you betcha.

I have one as well. It is a good gun but the take down can be a little touchy. The take down pin can come out rather easily
and the owner's manual advises against taking it completely out.

Now, when I clean it I am very careful with the take down pin.

Other than that is is a nice looking, easily concealable and good shooting gun.

If I had need of another pistol I would buy it.

Chuck

I agree with you on the pin. Once that little sucker comes all the way out it can be a pain to get it past the spring and back into place.

jonrjen wrote:I agree with you on the pin. Once that little sucker comes all the way out it can be a pain to get it past the spring and back into place.

It is not good to take that pin completely out. You can get it back in but it may/will eventually break the retaining spring. Then you will have trouble
with the gun itself if the retaining spring breaks, the retaining spring cannot be replaced. I am all too familiar with that. Try not to take it out!! When I clean mine I
am now very careful with that pin and I take more time disassembling the gun for cleaning.

Chuck

thanks everyone for the input
I did pick one up today, although its going to drive me nuts its going to be a week or two before i get to shoot it. I will give it a range report when I do. I'm liking the way it handles and wears though.

The gun is extremely oily. So i disassembled the gun and see what y'all mean about being careful, The manual isn't really all that clear about this either.

Liberty wrote:thanks everyone for the input
I did pick one up today, although its going to drive me nuts its going to be a week or two before i get to shoot it. I will give it a range report when I do. I'm liking the way it handles and wears though.

The gun is extremely oily. So i disassembled the gun and see what y'all mean about being careful, The manual isn't really all that clear about this either.

Did the take down pin come all the way out? If not, great!! Just do not take it all the way out.

Chuck

RockingRook wrote:

jonrjen wrote:I agree with you on the pin. Once that little sucker comes all the way out it can be a pain to get it past the spring and back into place.

It is not good to take that pin completely out. You can get it back in but it may/will eventually break the retaining spring. Then you will have trouble
with the gun itself if the retaining spring breaks, the retaining spring cannot be replaced. I am all too familiar with that. Try not to take it out!! When I clean mine I
am now very careful with that pin and I take more time disassembling the gun for cleaning.

Chuck

Yeap, the pin came all the way out, but with a little time and light pressure I was able to get it back in place. But, all of this makes me kind of wonder...do you think if you were to grind down one side of the pin it would make it easier to reseat the pin should it once again get pulled all the way out. I was wondering how you would go about replacing that little tiny spring should it ever snap. I guess you are telling me that it can't be done....correct?

jonrjen wrote:

RockingRook wrote:

jonrjen wrote:I agree with you on the pin. Once that little sucker comes all the way out it can be a pain to get it past the spring and back into place.

It is not good to take that pin completely out. You can get it back in but it may/will eventually break the retaining spring. Then you will have trouble
with the gun itself if the retaining spring breaks, the retaining spring cannot be replaced. I am all too familiar with that. Try not to take it out!! When I clean mine I
am now very careful with that pin and I take more time disassembling the gun for cleaning.

Chuck

Yeap, the pin came all the way out, but with a little time and light pressure I was able to get it back in place. But, all of this makes me kind of wonder...do you think if you were to grind down one side of the pin it would make it easier to reseat the pin should it once again get pulled all the way out. I was wondering how you would go about replacing that little tiny spring should it ever snap. I guess you are telling me that it can't be done....correct?

I am not a gunsmith!! All I can say is what happened to me. By direction of Beretta I sent the gun back to a smith in Missouri. They told me the retaining spring broke and that the gun would have to be replaced
because the retaining spring cannot be fixed or replaced in the gun. I think he said t was part of the frame. A week later I had a new gun.

All I can say is be careful Yes, the take down pin can be put back in with a little bit of wiggling but according to Beretta taking the pin all the way out should be avoided. I think the instructions say to
listen for the second click and that is when the slide will come off to clean the gun. If you do not hear or fel that second click and you go further the pin will come all the way out.

I am hard of hearing and I have to judge/feel for that second click. I keep trying to remove the slide and if it does not come off I move the pin a little more out etc.

I read somewhere on the web that someone, maybe Beretta's gunsmith, made the second notch on the take down pin a little deeper so that it was more obvious that the pin
had moved into the position for removing the slide.

Too be honest maybe the retaining spring was broken due to something else happening but I do know that Beretta says it
is better not to take that pin all the way out!!

This is all I know. since I received my replacement gun I have taken it apart and cleaned it more than just a few times but I have been extra careful.

The gunsmith [he works on many other brands] says that the PX4 SC issue that I had was not that common and the gun is a "keeper" it is a good sidearm.

I like the gun, the way it shoots and it is very concealable almost like the glock 27 in size but maybe a hair thicker and a hair shorter. Good gun!!

Chuck