By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
The handgun market may seem crowded with different models but by the same token the public’s appetite for certain types of handguns is insatiable!
Established makers are running at full capacity to supply a demand with no end in sight. One of these pistols is the Beretta APX. Offered in full size, compact, and carry versions, the APX is an overlooked gem. It seems other flashier pistols get more attention with the APX left at the waltz. The fact is the APX is perhaps the most thoroughly tested Beretta pistol ever and among the most reliable handguns available.
This polymer frame striker fired pistol offers a good balance of weight and balance along with capacity. The power to weight ratio is good. The Compact and Carry versions are light enough for constant carry and offer among the best choices for personal defense. The pistol’s slide is covered with cocking serrations. While it takes some getting used to this is a pistol that is easily racked and controlled.
Beretta’s APX was designed as a full size service pistol to compete in US Army trials. While SIG took the contract with their P320 the APX performance was nothing to be ashamed of.
The APX competes in the institutional market against the Glock 17 and similar pistols. The APX compact is a Glock 19 size pistol. The Beretta APX carry is a pistol that is more in the Glock 43 size, and which also invites comparison to the Beretta NANO but is slightly larger than the NANO. It is also easier to control and has greater accuracy potential. The NANO does not have a slide lock while the APX Carry does, and the APX also has greater magazine capacity. Takedown is the same, however.
Featuring a dial or screw in the frame that is rotated a quarter turn to remove the slide, the APX Compact also has a small button in the right rear of the frame that releases the striker without pressing the trigger to allow disassembly.
While the light compact APX Carry single column magazine pistol has appeal for those needing maximum concealment I prefer the Compact to either of the other size Beretta APX pistols. The Compact features a 3.7-inch barrel and weighs only 26 ounces. This is a well-designed pistol for concealed carry. This pistol uses the familiar striker fired action and a polymer frame. The striker is partially prepped as the slide is racked.
The double action only trigger is pressed to the rear moving the striker against spring pressure, and when the striker breaks the firing pin or striker runs forward. The slide recoils and resets the striker, allowing the same trigger action for each shot.
The trigger action is the heart of the handgun, and should not be too light. The action is different than the Glock and other striker fired handguns in some ways but similar in others. It feels lighter than the actual pull weight as measured on the Lyman Electronic trigger scale. Trigger compression is 6.2 pounds. The action is tight and reset is fast. A slow creepy reset is sometimes worse than creep. The action is well suited to modern needs and those that practice will find the trigger makes for good practical personal defense shooting. The sights are the standard white dot front and rear notch rear. These sights are large enough for rapid acquisition but also offer plenty of accuracy potential to ten and fifteen yards, which is a long distance for personal defense engagement.
Good Accuracy Potential
Combat accuracy is the ability of the shooter to draw and fire the handgun and get good hits at typical engagement ranges. This is five to ten yards.
Firing as quickly as possible isn’t real training in my opinion but rather setting the shooter up to fire before the effects of the initial shots are apparent. It is important to fire at a precise point on the target rather than aiming for an area. Shooting drills should include drawing and firing for the center of the target, the X ring on a B 27 target or the center mass of any type of target. I loaded the Beretta APX Compact with the Winchester 115 grain Active Duty loading. This is a load with good accuracy potential and a clean powder burn.
I drew from a Galco Stow and Go holster. Drawing as quickly as possible I brought the pistol to bear on an Action Targets B27 silhouette. It wasn’t difficult to get center hits in the X ring. Allowing the trigger to reset during recoil I was able to keep up a good cadence of fire. Follow up shots are not fired as quickly as possible but only as fast as I am able to re-acquire the sights after recoil. I don’t consider the 9mm a hard kicker even in the lightest handguns. The Beretta APX features a properly designed recoil system that aids in controlling slide velocity. While you will not fire this handgun as quickly or as accurately as a full size Beretta 92 as an example, it is comparable to any 9mm in the APX Compact’s size and weight class.
A serrated rear notch and bold front post are ideal for quickly getting hits at moderate range. By the same token we should not be helpless if we must take a deliberate shot at 25 yards. The adversary may be behind cover firing or the distance may be longer than the typical engagement.
Shooters should practice until they know their limitations. You will not rise to the occasion in a gunfight but operate at best at the default you have achieved on the range. If you don’t push the envelope you will not understand your ability and how you may perform with the handgun. Like some polymer frame handguns, the Beretta APX will fire low due to the balance of the steel slide over a polymer frame. The shooter that keeps a firm grip and doesn’t fire too quickly will find the Beretta Compact offers good hit probability. The shooter must pay attention to detail.
While combat accuracy is important absolute accuracy is always interesting. I like to see how the pistol performs. I fired the pistol using an MTM K Zone shooting rest. The pistol was rested and fired for accuracy at 25 yards, firing five shot groups. The results were impressive.
Load 5 shot group in inches
Winchester Active Duty 115 gr. 2.85 in.
Hornady 124 grain XTP 2.5 in.
Federal 124 grain HST 2.65 in.
Winchester 147 gr. SXT 2.3 in.
Handload- 134 gr. SWC/Titegroup 890 fps 2.9 in.
Summary
The Beretta APX will appeal to Beretta fans but brand loyalty only goes so far. This is a far different type of handgun than the Beretta 92. It represents different more modern technology. The Beretta APX in its variations is a worthy competitor to any handgun. The pistol has been tested extensively prior to and during the US Military trails. Some will prefer the performance of the Beretta over other polymer frame striker fired pistols. It is an accurate and reliable handgun with much to recommend.
Beretta APX Carry Specs Beretta APX Compact
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.07 inches 3.7 inches
OA Length: 5.63 inches 6.9 inches
Weight: 20 ounces 27.2 inches
Sights: White-dot front, notch rear
Action: Striker-fired
Finish: Black, wolf gray, flat dark earth
Capacity: 6+1, 8+1 13
