[Ectara]

Hello, all.

I'm looking for a new .45ACP handgun, and I've been considering the Px4 Storm. What is your opinion of this firearm? Do you have other recommendations? I'm looking for a .45ACP sidearm with these qualities:

1. Less than $1000
2. Highly customizable
3. Resistant to dropping, preferably caustic compounds, and cold (where I live, it gets very cold)
4. Preferably a double-action/single-action design
5. Preferably a higher-capacity magazine, at least 10 rounds

What are your thoughts on concealed carry of the full-size model? Is it a matter of comfort in carrying the full, compact, or subcompact models, or is it simply infeasible to conceal the full-size model?

Thank you for your time.

 

[Mad Scientist]

Hello, all.

I'm looking for a new .45ACP handgun, and I've been considering the Px4 Storm. What is your opinion of this firearm? Do you have other recommendations? I'm looking for a .45ACP sidearm with these qualities:

1. Less than $1000
2. Highly customizable
3. Resistant to dropping, preferably caustic compounds, and cold (where I live, it gets very cold)
4. Preferably a double-action/single-action design
5. Preferably a higher-capacity magazine, at least 10 rounds

What are your thoughts on concealed carry of the full-size model? Is it a matter of comfort in carrying the full, compact, or subcompact models, or is it simply infeasible to conceal the full-size model?

Thank you for your time.

The PX4 is a very accurate and well built pistol. There isn't much (I should say any) aftermarket parts for the PX4, so short of changing the color with Duracoat, Cerakote or whatever, you would have to live with it pretty much out of the box. Some people don't like the safety location on the slide, which changes the safety/fire positions 180º from a safety that are mounted on the frame.

If you want a firearm that is highly customizable you should look at a Glock. Even though I don't care for them, I will say they are reliable pistols and they have a huge aftermarket following.

As far as carrying a full-sized model ...... full sized pistols are HEAVY or get heavy after a few hours.

As far as concealing a full-sized model ...... that depends on you and your body type/structure. Some people could hide a Buick without any problems, while others couldn't hide a dime if their life depended on it. No one here can tell if you can or can't conceal a full-sized pistol without looking at you.

 

[ARMARIN]

Beretta PX4 Storm Pistol

Great firearm...perfect in the mountains, great as a sidearm on hunts, and even fits my back concealed.

Plenty of snap, but very accurate if you know what you're doing.

Comes apart in 15 seconds, back together in 15 seconds. Dropped it in the mud, cleaned with my shirt, and it still fired without stove-piping or jamming. Brass flies better than steel.

Get one for you, and a 9er for your girl.

Have a good cigar and regards
ARMARIN

 

[Ectara]

The PX4 is a very accurate and well built pistol. There isn't much (I should say any) aftermarket parts for the PX4, so short of changing the color with Duracoat, Cerakote or whatever, you would have to live with it pretty much out of the box. Some people don't like the safety location on the slide, which changes the safety/fire positions 180º from a safety that are mounted on the frame.

If you want a firearm that is highly customizable you should look at a Glock. Even though I don't care for them, I will say they are reliable pistols and they have a huge aftermarket following.

As far as carrying a full-sized model ...... full sized pistols are HEAVY or get heavy after a few hours.

As far as concealing a full-sized model ...... that depends on you and your body type/structure. Some people could hide a Buick without any problems, while others couldn't hide a dime if their life depended on it. No one here can tell if you can or can't conceal a full-sized pistol without looking at you.

Very fair point, on the safety. Looking at all of the manufacturer's parts that are swappable on the Px4, I had figured that there was a decent amount of customizability compared to other sidearms. As for the weight, I don't think that will be a problem for me. I typically wear cargo pants filled with numerous things that I carry on a daily basis, totaling 15-20lbs at least. Another few fully loaded likely won't be a problem for me; I also carry a heavy computer on my back daily for long durations, so carrying more than others' average load is normal for me.

Regarding Glocks, do you know of a Glock handgun that meets most of the criteria on my list? Also, what kind of customization options are available? I'm the kind of person that, rather than has a collection, has one main item and really, really takes care of it, so I want to make the best decision that I can, knowing it will be a long time before I consider getting another sidearm.

Great firearm...perfect in the mountains, great as a sidearm on hunts, and even fits my back concealed.

Plenty of snap, but very accurate if you know what you're doing.

Comes apart in 15 seconds, back together in 15 seconds. Dropped it in the mud, cleaned with my shirt, and it still fired without stove-piping or jamming. Brass flies better than steel.

Get one for you, and a 9er for your girl.

It's good to know that it comes with good recommendations.

 

[Mad Scientist]

Regarding Glocks, do you know of a Glock handgun that meets most of the criteria on my list? Also, what kind of customization options are available? I'm the kind of person that, rather than has a collection, has one main item and really, really takes care of it, so I want to make the best decision that I can, knowing it will be a long time before I consider getting another sidearm.

Glocks are striker fire pistols. Not really DA/SA pistols.

Your criteria is very limiting. The only ones that I can think of that comes close to meeting all points is the Sig Sauer P227, FNH FNX-45 and Beretta PX4.

 

[Ectara]

Glocks are striker fire pistols. Not really DA/SA pistols.

Yes, I just read up on striker fire, and I see the difference, for sure. There's something that bothers me about the fact that it takes a stronger force to pull the trigger than a single-action, and that there's more or less no "de-cocking", though the firearm remains in a "half-cocked" state until the trigger is pulled.

Your criteria is very limiting.

I suppose I can compromise on the DA/SA in favor of an SA; I'm used to single-action, but I find double-action/single-action interesting. However, the idea of having no defined inert state is troublesome, even if requires over double the force for the first double-action pull in a DA/SA. I know that training is everything, and that under controlled conditions, things should be fine, but I like the idea of having an inert state. While DA/SA doesn't allow you to pull the trigger with no effect, it has an external safety that would prevent you from doing so, while I read that striker fire Glocks have no external safety. What do you feel about this?

Also, which criterion do you think should be the first to go when widening the scope of my search?

The only ones that I can think of that comes close to meeting all points is the Sig Sauer P227, FNH FNX-45 and Beretta PX4.

The P227 looks like a fine sidearm. It costs a bit more, but it seems like a good option. The FNX-45 also appears to be a very viable option. I have big hands, and the Px4 impressed me with change-able backstraps and other such parts to suit differently sized hands; have you held an FNX-45, to know its relative size?

Also you know how they hold up against the elements?

 

[pasquanel]

I own two PX-4s a full size in .45 ACP and the sub-compact in 9 mm and I love them both, very accurate, reliable handguns.
The sub-compact shoots like a full sized piece.

 

[bobbyrlf3]

I owned a PX4 in .40S&W, and I liked it a lot. It shot accurately, was completely reliable, and was small enough to conceal easily. The main complaint I had with it was the slide-mounted safety lever, which is like having bull's horns on the gun. They poked my side, and that got old after a full day of carrying. From then on, if my sidearm has an external safety, it's frame-mounted, and therefore padded by the holster.

I carry an FNP-45 now, and it is one of my favorites of all of the guns I own. What I like best about it is the way it handles recoil; it makes accuracy and precision easier to improve. It has also been completely reliable, and it's as solid a gun as any I've ever seen. The FN is considerably larger than the PX4, so that's something to consider.

Since your budget is 'under $1000', have you considered/looked at H&K as well? Not exactly 'customizable', but great guns nonetheless.