In the world of pistols, the inclusion of a slide-mounted red dot is coming almost standard on most mainstream handgun models. Beretta is no exception with the APX A1 optics-ready model and there’s been a lot of buzz about this pistol. I decided to snag one and give it a fair shakedown to see what the APX A1 bundle is all about. After a few months and a decent amount of ammo through the gun, I now feel confident talking more about its performance so far. Let’s take a closer look at the Beretta APX A1 Optics Bundle.

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Specs

The APX A1 Optics Bundle comes with the full-size APX A1 with a Burris Fast Fire III attached to the top. This model of APX pistol ships with two 17-round magazines and red dot already installed on the gun. The full-size APX comes with a 4.25″ barrel as well as a Tritium front sight as a reference point and rear irons built into the mount with the red dot sight. Chambered in 9mm, the APX A1 still manages to stay relatively light due to its polymer frame. The overall weight of the APX A1 unloaded is 29 ounces making it a lightweight option for having 17 rounds in the magazine.

Beretta designed the APX A1 with side slide serrations both on the front and rear of the slide for charging the firearm or press checks. With the APX A1, there are a number of accessories that come standard with the bundle package. A Burris Fast Fire 3 comes with each A1 in the bundle package as well as 2 magazines, a cleaning rod and all the manuals tucked into a hard case. These APX A1 bundles are already shipping and MSRP on them is $830 but you can find them at various dealers for just over $500.

Spec List

Range Time

Starting my testing, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the APX A1 as a whole. Burris Fast Fire being an optic I’ve never used before, I wasn’t sure what to expect from that either. For the first couple of range sessions with a new firearm, I will typically hang up something like a dot torture drill or a similar just to see what the gun feels like when shooting at a slower rate. After putting 4 magazines through the gun in the first range session, I could tell the APX is definitely a soft shooter in the hand.

I wasn’t sure how I would like the trigger from dry firing, but once you start live firing it has a predictable takeup, crisp break and positive reset. It’s not a competition tune or anything like that, but for out-of-the-box performance, it’s not a bad trigger by any means.  When putting my trigger pull gauge on it, the APX had a consistent pull of around 6lbs on my model which is slightly heavier than something like a Glock but it has a crisp break. It doesn’t feel that heavy when actually firing so I think it’s a fairly good trigger for self-defense or someone who is just starting to shoot.

Shooting and Performance

I love the texture of the polymer frame and the amount of traction it offers while not overdoing it. Some stippling texture can chew up your hands but this texture is not the case. The way the gun is designed, the APX A1 has a very contoured grip for your hand which makes it feel like it’s an extension rather than bulky uncomfortable grips that come on other similarly priced firearms. Slide serrations also do a nice job offering traction on your hands even in the snow or rain where you may have gloves on.

Throughout my time shooting the APX A1, I have roughly 750ish rounds through the pistol. In that time, there haven’t been any malfunctions or oddities at all and my general experience has been relatively positive with it. The APX A1 appears to be a very easy, accurate firearm with an extremely comfortable grip. It has proven to be reliable over my testing and really is a good option as a range gun for someone who wants a red dot for less money than other options on the market.

Carrying The APX A1

Carrying the APX A1 is very similar to something like a Glock 19 with a red dot. The texture on the polymer frame is subtle enough not to grab clothing or rub on your side. I thought the overall size and weight of the APX A1 make it a strong choice for anyone wanting to carry a medium to a full-size firearm without having to deal with a heavy gun every day. I had absolutely no problems carrying the APX A1 around town or on road trips.

My biggest complaint about the APX A1 isn’t the gun at all but it’s the Burris Fast Fire III. The optic is affordable and as a package deal with the firearm, it makes the Burris a very economical choice. For people who can’t afford a high-quality optic, this allows you to have a mounted red dot on your pistol for a slightly higher cost. The overall construction and features don’t instill confidence in me and I found myself checking to see if the optic was on more often than others. The thin housing for the optic is also concerning since I’m not sure how durable it will be under hard use. Again, this isn’t a huge deal but over time, I would definitely upgrade it to something like a Trijicon RMR or another high-quality option.

Overall Thoughts

I have enjoyed my time with the APX A1. When I started the test, I wasn’t sure how it would hold up and perform but after 750 rounds of various ammo, the APX A1 has proven to be reliable. If you are looking for an affordable red dot mounted carry pistol, the APX A1 Bundle is a great choice for people who want to get into the game for a reasonable amount of money. I’m not the biggest fan of the Burris Fast Fire III and personally would change it out but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it for this price range. In short, though, I think the APX A1 is one of the more underrated pistols on the market today. It doesn’t outperform more expensive models, but it can keep up with higher-priced firearms, so for the money, it’s one of the best bargains on the market in my option.

What do you guys think about the APX A1 Optics Bundle? Do you think it’s a great red dot mounted bargain on the market or do you think there are better options out there? Feel free to head down into the comment section and tell me what you think about this pistol. If you have questions about the Beretta APX A1 Optics Bundle or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you guys in the next one.