Beretta Px4 Storm
Polymer-framed rotating-barrel pistol for defense and law enforcement.
The Beretta Px4 Storm is a semi-automatic pistol built for personal defense and law enforcement roles. Its trigger and safety system share design elements with the Beretta 92 and 8000 series, but it stands apart from earlier models through its lightweight polymer frame reinforced with steel inserts, a standard Picatinny rail, and interchangeable grip backstraps.
Unlike the Beretta 92FS/96FS/M9/M9A1 and the 8000 series, the Px4 features a rounded trigger guard instead of a squared one. A polymer guide rod with a captive slide spring is also included. Full-size versions (including the .45 ACP model) and the Compact are made in Italy, while the Subcompact is produced in the United States.
The full-size and Compact models use a short-recoil, rotating barrel action borrowed from the Beretta 8000 series; the Subcompact relies on a tilt barrel system. On the full-size and Compact, a spring-loaded disassembly bar sits in recesses on both sides of the frame and must be pulled down to release the slide—a departure from the rotating takedown pin found on earlier Beretta hammer-fired pistols, which the Subcompact retains. The magazine positions the top round directly behind the barrel’s breech, requiring only a slight feed ramp and allowing the barrel to fully support the cartridge case. The barrel’s 6-R rifling creates counter-clockwise torque, which the locking system uses to reduce the pressure needed from the rotating barrel lock’s cam and pin for unlocking. The steel transfer block’s cam pin measures 5 mm wide and 2 mm deep. The entire hammer unit can be removed as a single assembly, simplifying access to the firing mechanism for cleaning. Beretta designed the Px4 to make incorrect reassembly after a field strip difficult.
Originally, the Px4 came with interchangeable, luminescent 3-dot sights coated in Super-LumiNova, which glowed for up to 30 minutes after brief light exposure. Beretta discontinued these night sights in 2010, switching to standard 3-dot sights. A Picatinny rail under the muzzle allows attachment of flashlights, laser sights, and other accessories.
Several parts are modular for easy customization: the backstrap (available in slim, standard, and oversized), the magazine release button (mountable on either side and replaceable with standard, large, or combat extended versions), the slide catch, the safety/decocker levers, and the hammer unit.
- Manufacturer
- Beretta
- Full size and compact manufactured in
- Italy
- Subcompact manufactured in
- United States
- Full size first available
- 2004
- Subcompact released
- 2008
- Compact released
- 2011
- Compact carry announced
- January 2016
- Compact carry 2 released
- January 2024
Lore & Background
The Px4 Storm was introduced in 2004 with the full size version, followed by the Subcompact in 2008 and the Compact in 2011. The full size and Compact versions use a short-recoil, rotating barrel action derived from the Beretta 8000 series, while the Subcompact uses a tilt barrel system. The rotating barrel's 6-R rifling generates counter-clockwise torque harnessed by the locking system to reduce unlocking pressure. The full size and Compact have a spring-loaded disassembly bar accessed via frame recesses, differing from the rotating takedown pin retained by the Subcompact.
The pistol originally featured interchangeable luminescent 3-dot sights coated in Super-LumiNova, which lasted up to 30 minutes after light exposure; these were discontinued in 2010 in favor of standard 3-dot sights. The Px4 incorporates a Picatinny rail under the muzzle for accessories. Modular parts include backstraps in three sizes, swappable magazine release buttons (standard, large, combat), and slimmer slide catch and safety/decocker levers. The entire hammer unit can be removed as a single group for cleaning.
Variants include the full size (offered in four models, with Types C and D usually sold to law enforcement), the Subcompact (discontinued as of 2023), the Compact, the Compact Carry (a collaboration with Langdon Tactical featuring a lighter trigger and Cerakote coating), the Compact Carry 2 (updated in 2024 with a heavy profile barrel and Ameriglo sights), and the .45 ACP version (released 2008, available only as full size, with a Special Duty model).
Reader's Guide
The Beretta Px4 Storm represents a significant evolution in Beretta's pistol design, moving from the all-metal Beretta 92 to a polymer frame while retaining the rotating barrel action of the 8000 series. Its modularity—swappable backstraps, magazine releases, and safety levers—allowed users to customize the grip and controls, a feature that became increasingly important for law enforcement and personal defense. The pistol saw adoption by numerous agencies worldwide, including the Albanian Land Force, Canadian Border Services, Italian Guardia di Finanza, Romanian Police (25,000 pistols), South African Police Service, and various U.S. police departments. The .45 ACP version was Beretta's entry in the U.S. military's Joint Combat Pistol program. The collaboration with Ernest Langdon for the Compact Carry models highlighted the pistol's potential for concealed carry, with refinements like a competition hammer group and low-profile decockers. The Subcompact's discontinuation in 2023 marked the end of the tilt-barrel variant, but the rotating-barrel full size and Compact remain in production, maintaining the Px4's legacy as a versatile, modular service pistol.
Did You Know?
- The Px4's rotating barrel action harnesses counter-clockwise torque from the rifling to reduce unlocking pressure.
- The full size and Compact versions use a spring-loaded disassembly bar, while the Subcompact retains a rotating takedown pin.
- The Px4 Subcompact is an updated version of the Beretta 9000 and shares the same recoil spring guide rod.
- The Px4 Compact Carry was a collaboration with USPSA champion Ernest Langdon.
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