tahunua001
New member
Hello all,
I recently acquired two handguns, a Beretta PX4 compact, and a Sig Sp2022. I made a range review of the Sig which is still floating around somewhere here, but today I finally got the chance to shoot the Beretta, as well as do some additionally shooting and comparison with the sig. today I put 100 rounds of Remington UMC and Sellier & Bellot 115gr FMJs though the Beretta as well as an additional 35 rounds though the sig. I will preface this by saying that even though both were impulse purchases, both targets of opportunity with good pricetags, the Beretta was the only one I got excited about. I have wanted a PX4 compact for years, while the only draw I've ever really had to the sig was that I really wanted to someday own a sig, but was far more interested in the traditional P series handguns. I had higher hopes for the beretta and had more initial dislike for the sig when I first started firing it, but much of that dislike has dissipated with practice and healing(the trigger guard chewed up my trigger finger). the Beretta has definitely found a better home. even though there is not a mark on it externally, there was not a drop of lubricant inside and the amount of crud inside suggests that the previous owner never cleaned this firearm, and probably had way more than his guestimate of 4 to 500 rounds. it took me over an hour to meticulously clean it. the Sig was new in box, never fired, my favorite:image035:. below are some comparisons I made while shooting the two side by side today.
1. Trigger: this is six of one, half a dozen of the other. the sig trigger did not agree with me at first, it is far squishier than anything I'm used to. but after the first few rounds it really lightened up, even double action. the trigger on the Beretta is heavier, but it has a definite wall that it hit's when you finish the takeup before it goes off, there really isn't much of a definitive break point with the sig. it's there, it's just not easy to hit, or discern, especially with timed drills and doubletap batteries. the beretta does have takeup after the trigger resets, which is not a feature I'm familiar with, most of my handguns, the trigger resets right at or extremely near the break point for the next shot, the beretta resets, and then requires additional takeup to return to that break point. still, it's not a huge deal, I think I am actually preferring the Sig trigger to the PX4, but only because of the lighter pull.
2. Ergonomics: the Beretta fits my hand better. it is still sporting the factory medium backstrap, and the Sig instantly got the larger grip panel. the sig texturing does fell better in hand, but surprisingly the PX4 slips around in my hand less even with the less aggressive texturing. both feel excellent in hand, but if I had to pick one, it would be the Beretta.
3. Sights: both have excellent 3 dot sights. they are easy to pick up, easy to use. neither has better or worse sight picture than the other.
4. Accuracy: I definitely shoot the sig better, which is a bit of a let down. the single PX4 I had shot in the past was a tack driver(granted that's when I was shooting a lot more often and was much better at it). I did have an interesting situation though, during my first outing with the sig, the point of impact was actually right behind the front sight dot, rather than directly above the front sight. today I tried compensating by aiming just a couple inches high and lo and behold the point of impact is exactly where I was aiming so my initial magazine was all a couple inches high(same ammo and range as the first). the Beretta essentially hits point of aim, directly above the front sight post.
5. Recoil impulse: sorry recoil experts, but I noticed no difference in all in the amount of recoil, even with the PX4's rotating barrel to the sigs tilting barrel. recoil impulse however is far superior in the PX4. the PX4 recoil is directed closer to a straight back motion, while the Sig has a lot of muzzle flip. follow up shots with the beretta are much faster.
6. Controls: I never thought I would say this but I enjoy the controls of the Beretta over the Sig. this is mostly a familiarity issue as I spent way more time with the M9 than I did with the M11, and the controls of the PX4 and 2022 are essentially the same as their respective military counterparts. even though I hate the slide mounted safety that Beretta insists on using on most of their designs, it is far easier to actuate with the non-firing thumb than the decocker on the sig. The PX4's slide release is in the perfect spot to be actuated by either thumb, but the slide release on the sig is farther back and requires some fumbling for me to find it with my firing thumb. the slide serations on side are far easier to use, with the serations on the beretta being too fine for me to get a solid grip on them, however the ambi safety switch, when disengaged offers an excellent resistance point while racking the slide(I should probably avoid this to prevent damage to the safety but I find myself using it for slide racks nearly every time.
and finally the pictures you all were wanting to see...
the first 15 rounds at 10 yards from the Sig(single action)
35 rounds total, 15 rounds single action, 10 rounds double action, 10 rounds fired in double taps(all 10 yards)
the same two pics but with the PX4
my grainy out of focus picture of the two handguns in question.
I recently acquired two handguns, a Beretta PX4 compact, and a Sig Sp2022. I made a range review of the Sig which is still floating around somewhere here, but today I finally got the chance to shoot the Beretta, as well as do some additionally shooting and comparison with the sig. today I put 100 rounds of Remington UMC and Sellier & Bellot 115gr FMJs though the Beretta as well as an additional 35 rounds though the sig. I will preface this by saying that even though both were impulse purchases, both targets of opportunity with good pricetags, the Beretta was the only one I got excited about. I have wanted a PX4 compact for years, while the only draw I've ever really had to the sig was that I really wanted to someday own a sig, but was far more interested in the traditional P series handguns. I had higher hopes for the beretta and had more initial dislike for the sig when I first started firing it, but much of that dislike has dissipated with practice and healing(the trigger guard chewed up my trigger finger). the Beretta has definitely found a better home. even though there is not a mark on it externally, there was not a drop of lubricant inside and the amount of crud inside suggests that the previous owner never cleaned this firearm, and probably had way more than his guestimate of 4 to 500 rounds. it took me over an hour to meticulously clean it. the Sig was new in box, never fired, my favorite:image035:. below are some comparisons I made while shooting the two side by side today.
1. Trigger: this is six of one, half a dozen of the other. the sig trigger did not agree with me at first, it is far squishier than anything I'm used to. but after the first few rounds it really lightened up, even double action. the trigger on the Beretta is heavier, but it has a definite wall that it hit's when you finish the takeup before it goes off, there really isn't much of a definitive break point with the sig. it's there, it's just not easy to hit, or discern, especially with timed drills and doubletap batteries. the beretta does have takeup after the trigger resets, which is not a feature I'm familiar with, most of my handguns, the trigger resets right at or extremely near the break point for the next shot, the beretta resets, and then requires additional takeup to return to that break point. still, it's not a huge deal, I think I am actually preferring the Sig trigger to the PX4, but only because of the lighter pull.
2. Ergonomics: the Beretta fits my hand better. it is still sporting the factory medium backstrap, and the Sig instantly got the larger grip panel. the sig texturing does fell better in hand, but surprisingly the PX4 slips around in my hand less even with the less aggressive texturing. both feel excellent in hand, but if I had to pick one, it would be the Beretta.
3. Sights: both have excellent 3 dot sights. they are easy to pick up, easy to use. neither has better or worse sight picture than the other.
4. Accuracy: I definitely shoot the sig better, which is a bit of a let down. the single PX4 I had shot in the past was a tack driver(granted that's when I was shooting a lot more often and was much better at it). I did have an interesting situation though, during my first outing with the sig, the point of impact was actually right behind the front sight dot, rather than directly above the front sight. today I tried compensating by aiming just a couple inches high and lo and behold the point of impact is exactly where I was aiming so my initial magazine was all a couple inches high(same ammo and range as the first). the Beretta essentially hits point of aim, directly above the front sight post.
5. Recoil impulse: sorry recoil experts, but I noticed no difference in all in the amount of recoil, even with the PX4's rotating barrel to the sigs tilting barrel. recoil impulse however is far superior in the PX4. the PX4 recoil is directed closer to a straight back motion, while the Sig has a lot of muzzle flip. follow up shots with the beretta are much faster.
6. Controls: I never thought I would say this but I enjoy the controls of the Beretta over the Sig. this is mostly a familiarity issue as I spent way more time with the M9 than I did with the M11, and the controls of the PX4 and 2022 are essentially the same as their respective military counterparts. even though I hate the slide mounted safety that Beretta insists on using on most of their designs, it is far easier to actuate with the non-firing thumb than the decocker on the sig. The PX4's slide release is in the perfect spot to be actuated by either thumb, but the slide release on the sig is farther back and requires some fumbling for me to find it with my firing thumb. the slide serations on side are far easier to use, with the serations on the beretta being too fine for me to get a solid grip on them, however the ambi safety switch, when disengaged offers an excellent resistance point while racking the slide(I should probably avoid this to prevent damage to the safety but I find myself using it for slide racks nearly every time.
and finally the pictures you all were wanting to see...
the first 15 rounds at 10 yards from the Sig(single action)
35 rounds total, 15 rounds single action, 10 rounds double action, 10 rounds fired in double taps(all 10 yards)
the same two pics but with the PX4
my grainy out of focus picture of the two handguns in question.