Beretta APX

Last updated
Beretta APX
Beretta-APX-9mm.jpg
Type Semi-automatic pistol
Place of originItaly
Production history
Designer Beretta
Designed2016
ManufacturerBeretta
Unit cost$499 [1]
Produced2016 - present
VariantsAPX A0: APX RDO, APX Combat, APX Target, APX Centurion, APX Centurion Combat, APX Compact, APX Carry
APX A1: APX A1 Tactical, APX A1 Compact, APX A1 Compact Tactical, APX A1 Carry
Specifications
Mass800 [2]  g (1.8 lb) (9×19mm)
820 [2]  g (1.81 lb) (.40 S&W)
Length192 mm (7.6 in)
Barrel  length108 mm (4.3 in)
Width33 mm (1.3 in)
Height142 mm (5.6 in)
Cartridge 9×19mm NATO
9×21mm IMI
.40 S&W
Action Locked breech, short recoil
Feed system10, 15, 17, or 21-round detachable box magazine (9×19mm NATO)
15-round detachable box magazine (9×21mm IMI)
10, 13, 15, or 18-round detachable box magazine (.40 S&W)
Sights dovetailed 3-dot low profile or Trijicon Night Sights
The full size version of the Beretta APX in 9x19mm. The serial number appears just below the slide through a window in the grip. Beretta APX standard.jpg
The full size version of the Beretta APX in 9x19mm. The serial number appears just below the slide through a window in the grip.

The Beretta APX is a family of polymer-framed, modular, striker-fired semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Beretta. The series began in 2016, starting with the full-size standard model. The line includes compact, concealed carry, and competition models.

Contents

History

APX (aka APX A0)

Designed largely for the U.S. Armed Forces' XM17 Modular Handgun System competition. [3] Beretta had offered to provide their M9A3 model at a reduced price as a continuance of M9 procurement program, but were informed that the changes to the M9A3 were so significant that it fell outside the scope of an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP), and that the United States Department of Defense preferred to go through a new procurement instead. [4] If the Beretta APX had won the MHS competition, it would have been manufactured in the Beretta factory in Gallatin, Tennessee. [5] [6]

The Army Times reported on January 19, 2017 that the winner of the MHS competition was the SIG-Sauer P320, but the APX performed well, passing every test in the competition. [7] According to Beretta, the pistol can withstand a 45,000-round firing schedule with 5,000 rounds between stoppages. [8] [9] Soon after, on February 28, 2017, Beretta USA announced the APX availability for the US civilian market starting on April 15, 2017. [10]

In 2018, three variants of the APX were announced: the APX Centurion, with a slightly smaller frame, slide and barrel, and the APX Compact, with a subcompact-sized frame, slide and barrel, and the APX Combat, with a threaded barrel and a mounting plate for optics on the slide. Beretta started selling frames with and without finger grooves in black, olive green, flat dark earth (FDE), and grey.

In 2019, Beretta lowered the MSRP of the APX from $499 to $399 in an attempt to be more competitive in the oversaturated polymer striker-fired market. [11] That same year, in April, Beretta introduced the APX Carry, a single stack magazine variant intended for the concealed carry market. (The APX Carry is based on the Beretta Nano design with some design features incorporated from the full sized APX.) In July of that year, Beretta introduced three more designs, starting with flat dark earth variants of the Centurion and Compact models. The Centurion Combat was also introduced, which has a threaded barrel and mounting plate like the full-size APX Combat.

Finally, the APX Target was introduced, which is a competition variant of the APX with a longer slide and barrel; these are fitted to each other at the factory to ensure greater accuracy. The slide also has a mounting plate for optics and the sights have been changed to a fiber-optic front sight and a blacked out rear sight. In addition to the changes to the slide and barrel, the frame also has no finger grooves to better suit the needs of competition shooters. The frame also features an extended magazine release and slide stop, as well as a green striker guide for a competition trigger. The APX Target trigger is half a pound (~2.2 N) lighter than a standard model and has a shorter reset.

As of January 2024, Beretta still manufactures the first generation APX to fulfill existing contracts with military and police agencies, though only the A1 models are available on the civilian market.

APX A1

In May 2022, Beretta announced the APX A1, an ergonomically improved standard APX designed by Giovanni Prandini. The two main differences in the design are the slide and frame construction. The slide is red dot optic ready and features more aggressive slide serrations. The frame has more aggressive stippling, a higher, undercut trigger guard and an enhanced beavertail. Other improvements include Beretta's "Aqua Tech Shield" finish on both the slide and barrel, [12] a tritium front sight and blacked out rear sight, a stainless steel chassis, a heavier competition recoil spring to reduce recoil, and the green competition striker mechanism from the APX Target for an improved trigger pull. There are also no finger grooves on the APX A1 full size frame, though users may use the A0 frames with finger grooves due to parts interchangeability. [13] [12]

Current APX A1 models include the standard full size, the APX A1 Tactical, APX A1 Compact (which has same dimensions as the APX A0 Centurion), APX A1 Compact Tactical, and APX A1 Carry (subcompact version). The APX A1 Tactical comes from the factory with three 21-round magazines, an olive-drab green frame, a threaded barrel and blacked-out suppressor height sights. The APX A1 Compact is the same as the APX A0 Centurion, but with all the improvements of the A1 and incorporating a new fiber-optic front sight. The APX A1 Compact Tactical is identical to the A1 Compact but with the green frame, threaded barrel and suppressor height sights of the A1 Tactical. The A1 Carry's disassembly pin now has a swivel lever like the larger guns in the APX platform. (The A0 Carry's disassembly pin had to be rotated with a screwdriver.)

Design

The APX is Beretta's first striker-fired duty-sized handgun. The name APX refers to "Advanced Pistol X" (the "X" referring to a caliber of choice), as the firearm is fully modular and can change calibers and frame sizes somewhat easily. In order to comply with the MHS specification, the firearms must support different grip sizes to fit shooters of different stature. The APX has replaceable grip straps. The distance from the axis of the barrel to the top of the handgrip has been kept to a minimum of 21 mm (0.83 in) in order to reduce muzzle rise, which increases the ability to accurately fire quick follow-up shots. As specified in the MHS specification, the APX also features a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the front of the frame. [14]

Unlike the Beretta 92 series, the APX uses the traditional Browning tilting-barrel short recoil design. The serialized part of the gun is a stainless steel chassis which allows true modular reconfiguration. [14] by allowing the factory black frame to be changed with a number of different options, including flat dark earth (FDE), tan, wolf grey and olive drab. Replacement frames are also available without finger grooves. The slide and barrel are coated in a black nitride finish, except for a newer FDE model that has a cerakote FDE slide and black nitride barrel.

Similar to Beretta's 92 and PX4-series pistols, when the APX's trigger is pulled, the top of the striker block safety extends from the top of the pistol. This serves as a visual indicator to the user that this safety is working properly and has been disengaged. Unlike a number of striker-fired pistols, such as the Glock, which have to have the trigger pulled during take down, the APX has a striker deactivation button that can be pushed to deactivate the striker, thus preventing accidental discharge, which other striker-fired pistols can suffer due to user negligence during disassembly. [15] There is also an automatic striker block safety.

The trigger mechanism features a drop safety. If the pistol is dropped, this prevents inertia from causing the trigger to fire the weapon, thus preventing accidental discharge. [16]

Users

The APX is used by professionals in more than 20 countries. [17] Some examples:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beretta 92</span> Type of semi-automatic pistol

The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The Beretta 92 was designed in 1975, and production began in 1976. Many variants in several different calibers continue to be used to the present.

The Beretta 92G-SD and 96G-SD Special Duty handguns are semi-automatic, locked-breech delayed recoil-operated, double/single-action pistols, fitted with the heavy, wide Brigadier slide, chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge (92G-SD) and the .40 S&W cartridge (96G-SD), framed with the addition of the tactical equipment rail, designed and manufactured by Beretta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beretta Cheetah</span> Type of semi-automatic pistol

The Beretta Cheetah, also known by its original model name of "Series 81", or "80 Series", is a line of compact blowback operated semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. They were introduced in 1976 and include models in .32 ACP, .380 ACP and .22 LR. Production paused in 2017, but Beretta revived the marque in 2023 with the release of the 80X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CZ 75</span> Auto-loading pistol

The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Czech firearm manufacturer ČZUB. First introduced in 1975, it is one of the original "wonder nines" and features a staggered-column magazine, all-steel construction, and a hammer forged barrel. It is widely distributed throughout the world and is the most common handgun in the Czech Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIG Sauer P220</span> Swiss-German semi-automatic pistol

The SIG Sauer P220 is a semi-automatic pistol designed in 1975 by the SIG Arms AG division of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft, and produced by J. P. Sauer & Sohn, in Eckernförde. It is currently manufactured by both SIG Sauer companies: SIG Sauer GMBH, of Eckernförde, Germany; and SIG Sauer, Inc., of New Hampshire, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heckler & Koch USP</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The USP is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beretta Px4 Storm</span> Type of semi-automatic pistol

The Beretta Px4 Storm is a semi-automatic pistol intended for personal defense and law enforcement use. It is available in full size, Compact, and Subcompact versions. The Px4 uses a trigger and safety system similar to the Beretta 92 and the Beretta 8000 series, though it is distinguished from its predecessors by its light-weight polymer construction with steel inserts, standard Picatinny rail, and swappable grip backstraps. The full size and Compact versions use the same short-recoil, rotating barrel action as the Beretta 8000 series, whereas the Subcompact uses the tilt barrel system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steyr M</span> Series of semi-automatic pistols

The Steyr M is a series of semi-automatic pistols developed by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG of Austria for police services and the civilian shooting market. Design work on the new pistol began in the early 1990s and the final product known as the M9 was officially unveiled in the spring of 1999. The M40 version chambered in .40 S&W was developed before the M9, followed later by the M357 and two smaller variants of the M9 and M40 designated the S9 and S40 respectively. These pistols were developed primarily for concealed carry and have a shortened barrel, slide, smaller frame and a reduced magazine capacity. In 2013, the Steyr M (Medium) and S (Small) form factors were complemented by the L (Large) sized series and the C (Compact) sized series both available in 9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W chamberings as the L9-A1, L40-A1, C9-A1 and C40-A1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taurus PT92</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Taurus PT92 is a double action/single action, double-stack-magazine fed, short recoil-operated, semi-automatic 9mm pistol manufactured by Taurus in the Beretta factory in São Paulo, Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanfoglio Force</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Tanfoglio Force, also known as Force 99, Force 2002, EAA Witness Polymer or EAA Witness P-Carry, is a modified clone of the Czech CZ-75/CZ-85 semi-automatic pistol. It is made in Gardone Val Trompia near Brescia, Italy by Fratelli Tanfoglio S.N.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vektor SP1</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Vektor SP1 was an improved 9mm version of the Z-88 pistol, produced since 1992 by Denel Land Systems (DLS), formerly Lyttelton Engineering Works (LIW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson M&P</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Smith & Wesson M&P is a polymer-framed, short recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistol introduced in the summer of 2005 by the American company Smith & Wesson. It uses a Browning-type locking system. While targeted at law enforcement agencies, the M&P is also widely available on the commercial market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glock</span> Series of pistols

Glock is a brand of polymer-framed, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 is a compact semi-automatic pistol produced by Smith & Wesson chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson SD VE</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Smith & Wesson SD Series is a polymer-framed, striker-fired semi-automatic pistol line that the American company Smith & Wesson introduced in 2010, replacing the SW / Sigma line. Smith & Wesson started manufacturing "SD VE" models in 2012. The SD VE models have stainless steel slides. Aside from slide color differences, SD and SD VE pistols are mechanically identical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beretta 70</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Beretta 70 is a magazine-fed, single-action semi-automatic pistol series designed and produced by Beretta of Italy, which replaced the earlier 7.65mm Beretta M1935 pistol. Some pistols in this series were also marketed as the Falcon, New Puma, New Sable, Jaguar, and Cougar. The gun is notable for its appearances in film, and is also the first compact Beretta pistol to feature several improvements commonly found in Beretta pistols for the rest of the century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heckler & Koch VP9</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Heckler & Koch VP9 is a polymer-framed semi-automatic striker-fired handgun. The VP designation in the name refers to Volkspistole, which translates to "people's pistol", while SFP stands for "striker-fired pistol". The 9 stands for the caliber designation of 9 mm. The VP9 is the third striker-fired pistol that HK has produced. A variant of the VP9, the VP40, is chambered for .40 S&W; the VP40 is known as SFP40 in Europe and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CZ P-10 C</span> Compact semi-automatic striker-fired pistol by CZ

The CZ P-10 C is a compact semi-automatic striker-fired pistol made by Česká zbrojovka (CZ) in the Czech Republic. It was introduced in 2017 after development began in 2014. The weapon is designed for self-defense and use in the armed forces.

The FN 509 is a polymer frame striker-fired semi-automatic pistol manufactured by FN America, a division of FN Herstal. It is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum featuring double-action operation and a Picatinny rail located forward of the trigger guard. Tactical, midsize, and compact variants have also been made available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walther PDP</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Walther PDP is a 9×19mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistol designed in 2021 by Walther Arms as a replacement for the Walther PPQ. The PDP has been designed to be more modular than previous Walther handguns, and has been described by Walther as their flagship handgun.

References

  1. ↑ Douglas, Richard (10 August 2020). "Why the Beretta APX is a Great Choice for Self-Defense". National Interest.
  2. 1 2 https://www.beretta.com/en/product/apx-P0020
  3. ↑ "APX Pistol". Beretta Defense Technologies. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Army rejects Beretta's pitch for upgraded M9". Armytimes.com. February 13, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Gun maker Beretta celebrates opening of Tennessee plant". WTOP. April 4, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-04-18. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Because Freedom Matters, Beretta Is Now Making Guns In Tennessee". Forbes.com. April 15, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Beretta APX A1: Reporting for duty". Police1. 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  8. ↑ Barrie, Allison (2015-05-26). "Beretta reveals new striker-fired pistol". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  9. ↑ Beretta APX: 5,000 rounds and Mud Test , retrieved 2024-02-29
  10. ↑ "Win the Fight". www.beretta.com. 2017-02-28. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  11. ↑ "Beretta Lowers Pricing on APX Pistols | Outdoor Wire". www.theoutdoorwire.com. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  12. 1 2 Rico, Alfredo (2022-09-28). "Beretta APX A1 Full-Size Striker-Fired Pistol: Full Review". Guns and Ammo. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  13. ↑ "Beretta Launches New APX A1 Full Size Pistol -". 17 May 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Exclusive: The Beretta APX Pistol Is 2017's New Duty Gun". Tactical-life.com. Feb 28, 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  15. ↑ Lincourt, Wayne (February 27, 2016). "Trigger Recall : Understanding the GLOCK Trigger - GunsAmerica Digest". Gunsamerica.com. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  16. ↑ "The Beretta APX striker fired pistol". guns.com. February 26, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  17. ↑ "APX A1 Full Size". www.beretta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  18. 1 2 3 Aj, Attar (18 February 2020). "Beretta's APX Carry Strikes Back". The Patriot. Archived from the original on 2020-04-22.
  19. ↑ B, Eric (24 December 2020). "Brazil Orders 159,000 Beretta APX Pistols". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on 2020-12-25.
  20. ↑ Boguslavsky, Eyal (14 December 2020). "Thousands of Beretta APX pistols to be procured for Brazilian law enforcement agencies". Israel Defense. Archived from the original on 2021-01-05.
  21. ↑ "Béziers : la Ville "dégaine" la nouvelle arme des policiers municipaux". Midilibre.fr. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  22. ↑ Giansiracusa, Aurelio (2021-04-08). "Inizia la distribuzione della pistola Beretta APX all'Esercito Italiano". Ares Osservatorio Difesa (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  23. ↑ Eger, Chris. "BERETTA APX WINS MAJOR EUROPEAN POLICE CONTRACT". Guns.com.
  24. ↑ Beretta APX for Poland’s Police - MILMAG
  25. ↑ "Gallatin police officers now outfitted with Beretta APX pistols". Archived from the original on 2018-03-29.
  26. ↑ Sagi, Guy. "Glendale Heights (IL) PD Adopts the Beretta APX Pistol". Shooting Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2021-01-17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.