Categories
Handguns

Beretta Px4 Storm Sub-Compact Pistol

It seems like every firearms company is solidly in the striker-fired camp. Beretta is one of the few that continues to find value in the hammer-fired pistol world.

Case in point: the Px4 Storm Subcompact. Introduced more than a decade ago, the handgun continues to be a staple in the Beretta catalog.

Why? Well, some of the reasons are obvious while others are a bit more subtle. So, let’s take a look at the Px4 Subcompact and review the features this gun offers.

Px4 Subcompact

Released in 2008, the Beretta Px4 Storm sub-compact pistol is a polymer-framed, hammer-fired handgun that has earned a very good reputation in the self-defense and law enforcement communities.

right side view of beretta px4 storm sc

Any shooter familiar with the larger pistols in the Px4 Storm line will recognize this pistol’s styling and operation.

However, there is a significant difference between the subcompact and larger Px4 pistols. Beretta designed the Px4 with a rotary barrel lock up. Due to the compact size of the Px4 Subcompact, this model uses a til barrel lockup common to other pistols like the Glock 43 and Smith & Wesson M&P Shield.

slide locked back on px4 storm sc

Originally, the Px4 Storm could be had with one of four different trigger types, designated by Beretta as F, G, D and C trigger options. Currently, the company trimmed the options down to one: the F.

This trigger option is the traditional double-action/single-action (DA/SA) pull with a slide-mounted de-cocker. The de-cocker can also serve as a manual safety and is ambidextrous.

field stripping the Px4 Subcompact

The following video from Beretta reviews the subcompact pistol along with the other models in the Px4 line:

The pistol was designed to be friendly to left-handed shooters. In addition to the ambidextrous safety, the gun has a reversible magazine release button.

Since the day it was introduced, the Px4 sub-compact pistol is available in both 9mm and .40 S&W versions. Although a pistol chambered in 45 ACP has been rumored, none have ever been offered by Beretta.

Px4 SubCompact with Backstraps

The Px4 comes with three different sized backstraps. A shooter can easily swap them out to find the best sized for his or her hand.

Also to help fit the shooter’s hand is a unique magazine baseplate feature that Beretta calls the Snap-Grip. As with many sub-compact pistols, the gun’s grip is relatively short. However, the front portion of the magazine base plate can be snapped down, giving the shooter additional gripping surface.

When not shooting, the extension can be snapped back up, providing for a smaller profile for concealed carry.

What my Px4 Subcompact came with

A short Picatinny rail is molded into the underside of the pistol’s frame. This allows the shooter to add a white light or laser to the Beretta Px4 Storm sub-compact pistol.

Specifications

Here are the specs on the Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact:

SKUJXS4F20JXS9F21
Caliber.40 S&W9mm
Standard Magazine Capacity1013
ActionDA/SADA/SA
Barrel Length3.0″3.0″
Overall Length6.22″6.22″
Width1.42″1.42″
Weight (unloaded)26.1 oz26.1 oz
MSRP (2008)$575$575
MSRP (2021)$650$650

Last update: June 3, 2021

Related Files

Categories
Ammunition

Remington Core Lokt Ultra Bonded in .223

The AR-15 platform has become extremely popular in the past two decades. With it, the .223 Rem rose to one of the most popular rifle cartridges of all time.

In the hunting realm, the .223 has been very popular with varmint hunters. However, many people have felt the .223 cartridge is too small for hunting deer-sized game.

Remington is trying to change people’s minds.

Core-Lokt .223

To help influence the debate, Remington introduced a .223 cartridge in their Core Lokt Ultra Bonded line of hunting ammunition.

According to Remington, the Core Lokt Bonded bullet “…offers the unique combination of excellent accuracy, superb weight retention, and expansion with overall superior terminal results.”

Remington says the bullets retain up to 95% of their original bullet weight, and by using a progressively tapered jacket, the bullets expand reliably at “all practical” velocities. Expansion of up to twice the original bullet diameter is typical with this bullet design.

Remington Core Lokt Ammo

The obvious goal is improved penetration with the relatively light bullet. A bonded bullet enables the projectile to hold itself together when hitting bone and other tissue.

Whether deer hunters will embrace this round remains to be seen. However, Remington’s introduction of their Core Lokt Ultra Bonded bullet in a .223 loading expands the possibilities with this already versatile rifle cartridge.

Specifications

Caliber.223 Rem
Bullet Weight62 grains
Bullet TypeCore-Lokt Ultra Bonded
Muzzle Velocity3,100 fps
Muzzle Energy1,323 ft-lbs
Ballistic Coefficient.234
MSRP (2021)$38.99/box of 20

The Core Lokt Ultra Bonded line is fairly extensive and covers many of the other popular calibers in both short- and long-action.

Additionally, the company offers these bullets loaded in the 6.8 SPC cartridge, which is another caliber that is very popular with AR-15 shooters. For deer-sized game, I would much rather have the 6.8 SPC cartridge than the .223. It definitely gives the hunter a lot more power for anchoring an animal. 

While you could hunt whitetail with a .22 LR, I still believe in clean, humane kills. Bigger bullets tend to improve the likelihood of this happening.

Another excellent hunting cartridge for the AR-15 platform is the more recent 300 BLK (aka the 300 AAC BLACKOUT) cartridge. This uses a .30 caliber bullet in the same size envelope as a 5.56 cartridge. They even use the same magazines and can be had in subsonic versions for suppressor use. I’ve seen these used on hogs and they are very effective.

Do you hunt deer with the .223? If so, what ammo are you running? Anyone want to offer their review of the Core Lokt ammo in .223?

Last update: June 3, 2021

Categories
Rifles

CZ USA VZ 58 Rifles

In 2008, CZ-USA started importation of the semi-automatic SA Vz 58 rifle. While the gun’s appearance gives it a look similar to the AK-47, the gun is not a clone of the famous Kalashnikov rifle.

Let’s take a look at what the VZ 58 is and the CZ-USA variant.

Categories
Handguns

Glock 30SF – “Short Frame” Pistol in .45 ACP

Say hello to the new Glock 30SF pistol. Introduced at the 2008 SHOT Show, the new striker-fired handgun uses a polymer short frame to improve it’s concealability and ease of shooting.

Chambered in .45 ACP, this gun is sure to be a hit with big bore fans looking for a no-compromise, lightweight carry gun.

Categories
Handguns

Taurus 590 Revolver in 5mm Rimfire

What could have been?

The Taurus 590 revolver is an example of what could have been. Leading up to the 2008 SHOT Show, Taurus had a 5mm handgun under development. It seemed like a sure thing…but then…nothing.

I’d like to examine the nearly-released Taurus 5mm Magnum revolver and the current state of the 5mm RFM cartridge.