The PX4 SC is on the market, albeit for some strange reason, only in limited quantities. My local gun store finally got a few of them in. That only after people had been reporting buying them for the past two months here. As far as I know, the 40SW version has yet to make its appearance. I picked up the 9mm version of the PX4 SC, mainly to see if I wanted to continue waiting for the 40SW version (the last I heard, the 40SW will not be available until sometime in 2008).

My thoughts? For a sub-compact the PX4 SC is what I would call “chunky”. If you are looking for a more easily concealable package, this may not be what you are looking for. It has a shorter barrel than do the compact and full-size variants of the weapon. It has the same grip thickness, but the grip is shorter than either of the other PX4s.

The three back-strap system unique to this pistol line is excellent. I have a larger hand than most people, yet by putting on the appropriate back-strap the gun was made to be very comfortable to hold.

The workmanship is all typical Beretta, meaning, if you like how Beratta designs and puts together a pistol you will love it. Trigger pull was smooth AND predictable right out of the box. I could see where you may want to have your local smithy tweak it a bit, but for a production weapon I certainly have no complaints with the trigger pull or action.

The weapon would cycle any rounds I put through it without protest and I never had a mis-fire or a failure to eject/chamber a round with any of the production rounds I was cycling through it.

Field-stripping and cleaning is typical Beretta… straight-forward and simple.

There is a LOT of confusion in dealer circles about whether or not holsters and other accessories designed for the compact or full-size versions of this pistol will work with the Sub-compact variant or not. My experience has been, some do and some don’t (big help, eh?? ).

My reason for being so patient for this pistol? I like sub-compacts and I prefer pistols with a safety lever. Sorry, call me old school but I never have gotten to like the “Glock style” safety that is built into the trigger. Just my preference, but if you are like me and prefer a safety lever, then this pistol is for you.

Now, for concealment when you are wearing light or limited clothing, this pistol IS chunky and hence a bit harder to hide. I have a Keltek P3AT (I know, completely different weapon) that I use when deep concealment is a factor. I also have a Walther PPS in 40SW. It is significantly less chunky than the PX4 SC and thus easier to wear in a IWB type holster, but you give up four rounds over what you can carry with the PX4SC in 40 (when Beretta finally gets around to producing them).

Anyway David, I too am clamoring for the 40SW version of the PX4SC when if finally hits the dealers. I do believe it will be worth the wait. I also have to admit that I have never seen a more incompetent product launch in recent memory than Beretta has managed to accomplish with this one. I know it has cost them many potential sales. People just got tired of waiting.

I’ve been looking at the PX4 SC for over a year now, and NONE of my usual haunts have ever seen one for sale.

Sure, they “say” it’s available, but just try “Gallery of Guns”, “Buds”, or any other reputable online source…and these weapons don’t exist for purchase.

Is there something wrong with the weapon that caused Beretta to take it off the market?

Did they only make two?

What’s up, and where can I get my .40 SW version?

Thanks,

David S.
Tampa, FL

If ya do the cut/paste/go thing on the above web address, it’ll take you to the orginal “Guns & Ammo” artical that most of us probably read back in July of 07… It was this artical which first got me feeling like the little kid that was waiting for the Christmas that seemed would never come.

I stumbled on to this blog eariler this year back in May/June time frame. I saved it in my favorites and every two weeks or so I would bring it up to find out the latest scoop on when to expect release of these little babies. I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who made their remarks, for whether it was up or down, it made the wait easier.

Well to wrap this up… today I celebrated Christmas. No dissapointment experienced during my play time with it and all hopes were fulfilled. Those of you who are about to get their’s I got one little piece of advise for ya. I did a field strip before firing it to do a prelimary inspection and found out that it was dry. So I put a light coat of Rem Oil on all parts and had no problems during the firing or clean-up afterwards.

I RECEIVED MY PX4 STORM COMPACT TODAY FROM MY DEALER.
HAS BEEN ON ORDER FOR OVER A YEAR. IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT.

AL IN VA.