I've always considered myself to be pretty much firearm-agnostic. Off the top of my head, I've shot or owned 1911's, the Ruger LCR, GP100, Beretta 92FS, Glock 19, 22, and 26, Sig P226, S&W M&P9, 686, Springfield XD, Ruger SR9, Browning HiPower and many, many others over the years.

 

I've often said that you can't go wrong with a Beretta 92FS, Glock 19, or Sig P226.

 

Then one day I rented and shot a PX4.

 

Wow. It's a beautiful looking gun and has barely any recoil due to the rotating barrel. I wanted to buy one, but I didn't like the fact that the PX4s in New Jersey came with 10 round magazines (although I know you can buy aftermarket 15 rounders).

 

So I waited. The PX4 Compact came out about a year ago and I started saving my pennies. The stars finally aligned about a month ago: I had a permit on hand, and someone was selling one for a good price.

 

 

So here is what you get:

 

Two 15-round New Jersey legal magazines, plastic case, 3 sizes of backstraps (I use the small one), a Beretta manual, lock, and cleaning brush and that plastic Beretta cookie cutter/shot glass/parts cup.

 

The gun is totally ambidextrous. The safety/decocker is on both sides. The magazine release can be switched from one side to the other. The gun has a rail for a laser or light if you wish to install one. The gun has a very smart finger memory detent along both sides of the frame so that your finger has a natural resting place when it is not on the trigger. The gun also has two slide releases, one on each side, as you can see in the picture below.

 

 

But here is what really shocked me:

This gun barely has any recoil. I thought I was being fooled, or maybe I wanted to believe that I had some super gun after dropping $500 on a piece of Italian plastic. But you really have to shoot something else first to understand.

 

I last fired this gun Thursday night with my friend at Philadelphia Archery and Gun. When I was there, I also shot my 1911, his full size M&P9 and a rented Glock 26.

 

There is no comparison. The PX4 Compact recoils like a cream puff. A Glock 26 is punishing in comparison. Even the full size S&W M&P had more recoil and the PX4 Compact is a smaller gun! The PX4's rotating barrel really does the job of bleeding off the recoil.

 

Now here is what is equally amazing. Beretta took this gun and brought it down to the gold standard for a compact pistol : it's about the size of a Glock 19, but feels far better in my hand. It conceals up perfectly under casual dress in a Remora #5 IWB clipless holster.

 

 

 

 

But here's the real question: do you hit what you are aiming at?

 

At seven yards, yes:

 

 

Most of the shots were a little low and to the left, but I am attributing that to the rotating barrel. Ignore the shots that were off the paper, this is a recycled target board from a previous shooter.

 

If I'm shooting for self defense practice, I shoot at 7 yards and go for 6" circle combat accuracy. The picture above was taken at Ft. Dix a few weeks ago. These shots all hit where I was pointing. Am I satisfied with the accuracy of the gun? Absolutely. Is it a tack driver? No. But it's a combat and self defense pistol, not an Olympic pistol.

 

Now there are some disadvantages:

* The springs were a little tight when I first bought the PX4 Compact. I had some pretty bad feeding and ejecting problems until the springs loosened up a bit. After about 200 rounds, the gun ran flawlessly.

 

* The safety/decocker is on the slide of the gun. This is a disadvantage if you are coming from a Glock, XD or M&P. It will feel strange to have the safety under your fingers if you rack the slide, but It's an advantage if you are transitioning from a 92FS. I've heard people say that they accidentally flick the safety on when racking the slide while reloading with the Beretta 92FS. I've never had that problem with the 92FS and I don't have it with the PX4.

 

* The magazines are a little expensive. I can get a military surplus 92FS magazine for about $15.00 or a Glock 19 magazine for about $20. PX4 magazines retail for about $40 when you buy them from Beretta. I attribute this to the fact that the Glock and 92FS have been on the market for over 20 years, so you are paying for being an early adopter.

 

But these are minor disadvantages and the Beretta quality really shines through. I am shocked that more people don't own this gun.

 

If you are in the market for a polymer pistol look at the XD, Glock & M&P, but seriously take a look at the PX4 Compact. It has full size capacity in a compact frame. It shoots where you point it, recoils lighter than any 9mm I've ever shot, and looks beautiful. If you don't believe me, PM me. You are welcome to shoot mine at Firing Line in Philadelphia. I go there every Tuesday night.

I do know that there were ejecting problems with this model but I believe it's been fixed. The full size version comes with 15 round factory mags as well, just a little FYI for ya.

 

I loved mine, and with a hogue grip made it stuck in my hand.

 

Beretta has a winner with this line. There similar to the Glock 17/19/26 line as the mags in the larger version work in the smaller ones. Nice write-up though.

great review! I have the full size px4 in 40 cal. it was my first pistol and it's true the rotating barrel tames the snappiness of the 40. this gun is very underrated, some people don't like the decocker, complain that they stick out alot and are sharp, they have after market decocker controls that are flatter. now that you have a px4 you should look into a cx4 storm carbine to go with it and share mags, it's also very nice carbine, got one in 45.

Probably because it's almost as ugly as a Glock!

The Beretta/Stoeger Cougar is also a very nice handling gun and because of its extra weight would be a very nice nightstand one.

 

Is the grip on the Compact smaller than the grip size of the Glock 19?

I do know it had a malfunction every other round when I tried it out .

 

Though I am pretty certain I was doing something wrong.

Is the grip on the Compact smaller than the grip size of the Glock 19?

 

It's the same height as the Glock 19 and it seems just a tiny bit wider, but it doesn't feel like you are holding a brick.

 

Of course maybe Die Glock ist die Perfektion, deine hand ist das problem.

its plastic..

Congrats! Always nice to find a gun that you like so much. To answer your question, I can't stand slide-mounted safeties/decockers. Other than that it is a nice option.

Love my full-size 9mm PX4!

Congrats! Always nice to find a gun that you like so much. To answer your question, I can't stand slide-mounted safeties/decockers. Other than that it is a nice option.

 

 

I so agree with this. Maybe it's a police thing

I so agree with this. Maybe it's a police thing

Ehhh, i kinda like it. I can manipulate the safety with my thumb, while maintaining my grip. The turn off for me on the px4 is the bulky appearance of the slide. For some reason it just looks "odd" to me.

I agree with the review, but I like their all-metal predecessor better.

Wideners has new old stock Beretta Cougars in 9mm and 45ACP for cheap. They have the same recoil reducing rotating barrel lockup system. And they are metal, and feel less cheap.

I did not like the grip as much as the one found on my current pistol.

I'm confused by Beretta safeties that go "the wrong way".

 

(Well, go the wrong way for me...)