Any PX4 Compact carries here?

O

OhioGuy

New member
Today I went to a local range over lunch (cuz let's face it, work sucks and shooting is more fun...but I need money to shoot...so I'm back at work! :D) and decided to try a Gen5 G19. Cuz why not? And it's a nice pistol. On a whim, because I'd never shot one before, I tried the PX4 Compact that was in the case next to it. It's ever so slightly wider than the G19, but the same height and actually a bit shorter overall.

For having nearly zero experience with DA/SA guns, I was pretty surprised at how well I could shoot it. The DA trigger felt lighter than others I've tried. The SA trigger had a bit of takeup but otherwise was a nice trigger overall. And I'm pretty sure it's not my imagination...it shoots softer than I'm used to, even in 9mm. That rotating barrell

I had a couple of questions for anyone who owns or is otherwise really familiar with this gun:

1. Any regrets to owning it or carrying it?

2. I've seen some really good online prices for it, and some carry the "G-Type" which I believe replaces the huge (and sharp) safety wings with lower profile, decocker-only levers. Is this correct?

3. Is there any real value in the "Compact Carry" variant of the PX4 besides having a celebrity shooter's name backing it? It looks like I could get the decocker-only gun for $450 or less, add $150 for night sights and $25 for Talon grips...maybe $650 total, whereas the "Carry" version costs $800.

I think I might pick one up, just to practice on the new type of action. With a bit of practice, I can't see where mastering a DA trigger and a decocker is all that much effort.
 
Some people make a big deal of the DA to SA transition, but it doesn't come hard to me. I have three DA/SA, all Berettas, one a 9 mm PX4 Compact. It isn't a carry pistol for me, but only because I have others that fill that role. Beretta markets a kit that lowers the slide levers and converts it to a decocker. I haven't done it (I don't carry it, and the pistol also actually belongs to one of my daughters) but it is said to be pretty easy.

No regrets attached to the pistol. Only regret is that my daughter can't keep it with her where she now lives.
 
TailGator said:
Some people make a big deal of the DA to SA transition, but it doesn't come hard to me. I have three DA/SA, all Berettas, one a 9 mm PX4 Compact. It isn't a carry pistol for me, but only because I have others that fill that role. Beretta markets a kit that lowers the slide levers and converts it to a decocker. I haven't done it (I don't carry it, and the pistol also actually belongs to one of my daughters) but it is said to be pretty easy.

No regrets attached to the pistol. Only regret is that my daughter can't keep it with her where she now lives.
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Cool, thanks! I have a single stack 9mm for carry, and also an XD Mod2 subcompact. I'm mainly interested in getting something to learn DA/SA with and just have something else to play with. But if I were to choose to carry it, I'm pretty sure it would be no problem. I can conceal the XD with the full size 16 round magazines AIWB, so the PX4 Compact should be a natural fit.

I assume it takes the full size 17 round magazines too?

I believe the "G" version of the PX4 comes with the low profile levers (and decocker only) already installed. I noticed that the standard levers can really bite my hand when I rack the slide.
 
My only gripe with the PX4 is it always felt a little thick to me personally. Not the end of the world though.

As for DA to SA shooting. It's about practice. I find I have to practice that system notably more than some others in order to maintain proficiency.
 
The low-profile kit eliminates the only major issue I had with this gun: those ludicrous bat-wing safety levers. Besides being sharp and unsightly, they add a lot to the perceived and practical width of the gun. The replacements are almost flush with the slide and it makes a world of difference. I think it takes the PX4 from good to great. Note that the new Compact Carry model comes with these low profile levers already installed.

Yeah, it means going "decocker only" but I feel like that's ideal for a DA/SA gun anyway. The only place I like to see a manual safety lever is on something meant to be carried cocked-and-locked.
 
I have a Px4 in .40. I don't EDC it simply because I prefer .45, but it's a great pistol and dead accurate. Yes, it is thick, but that's a relative term when you occasionally carry an FNX-45.
 
I'm pretty sure you can not use the 17rd mags in the compact, they only fit the full size but you can convert the 15rd compact mag to 17 or 18 with this kit from Beretta.
http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/beretta-px4-series-magazine-pad-extended-and-spring-9-mm/e00345/
http://berettaforum.net/vb/showpost.php?p=980511&postcount=11
I have the stealth decockers on mine, I don't mind the standard slide release levers and also could not change them because my custom made kydex holster uses them to lock the gun in.

Beretta also makes a FS style lever kit for the PX4 that some people prefer, it comes as a safety/decocker but you can remove the ball bearing and spring and make it a decocker only. I believe you can also remove the ball and spring from the original lever and put them back in the stealth lever if you want a stealth safety/decocker. You won't have the trigger disconnect but will have the firing pin safety.
http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/safety-assy-px4-f-large-le-part-c5d666-c5d667/c8a000/
http://berettaforum.net/vb/showpost.php?p=923215&postcount=5
 
Longhorn1986 said:
I have a Px4 in .40. I don't EDC it simply because I prefer .45, but it's a great pistol and dead accurate. Yes, it is thick, but that's a relative term when you occasionally carry an FNX-45.
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Beretta claims it measures over 1.4" thick. Where is the measurement coming from? Does it include the tips of the "bat wings?" It does seem "thick" but then, any double stack isn't exactly skinny.

Holding it next to other guns like the Glocks, the grip seems about the same width. Is it just the slide that's more rounded? Does this make any difference in concealment? The length of the grip, together with how angular it is, seems to make the difference for me when trying to conceal it.
 
TailGator said:
Some people make a big deal of the DA to SA transition, but it doesn't come hard to me. I have three DA/SA, all Berettas, one a 9 mm PX4 Compact. It isn't a carry pistol for me, but only because I have others that fill that role. Beretta markets a kit that lowers the slide levers and converts it to a decocker. I haven't done it (I don't carry it, and the pistol also actually belongs to one of my daughters) but it is said to be pretty easy.

No regrets attached to the pistol. Only regret is that my daughter can't keep it with her where she now lives.
Click to expand...
I found it worlds easier than the 92, which is the only other full size gun I've shot in DA/SA. That one is just too large for my hand, and I found I had to adjust my grip between DA and SA trigger positions. Reeeeaaaaach for that first pull, then "dude, where's my trigger? Oh, it's back here!"

I didn't seem to have any difficulty on the PX4. I found the trigger to be quite smooth.

What's the best way to train for that transition? Clearly it will be very easy to learn the DA pull during dry fire. I have a laser cartridge at home and can dry fire that thing all day long. I can't see how to reasonably simulate the transition in dry fire, though, cuz I'd have to either rack it or pull the hammer between shots.

Just doing lots and lots of double-taps at the range until it feels normal?

I'm quite interested in this gun. I definitely see the benefits of DA/SA when it comes to safety. I'm not one who'd hesitate to carry any striker gun AIWB because I know they don't "go off" alone, but during training sessions with frequent removal/insertion from an AIWB holster, the margin of error is so much greater when I can keep my thumb over a hammer.

Plus the PX4 is ugly in a really sexy way....or maybe it's sexy in an ugly way...can't make up my mind! But not the subcompact. That's the firearm equivalent of a pug.
 
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