rotating barrel design
In the personal defense and law enforcement sector, the Beretta PX4 Storm is well-liked by many customers for its compactness and lightweight design.
However, in order to make the gun even better for concealed carry, Beretta decided to refine the design further and optimize its construction.
The results are the Beretta PX4 Storm Compact and Beretta PX4 Storm SubCompact.
Since tastes and preferences vary a lot from one person to the other, there is a wide range of contrasting opinions.
In this article, I’ll highlight the PX4 Storm Compact vs SubCompact and compare their characteristics side by side.
As trustworthy as I am as a source, I’m here to help you make your own decision.
Contents
PX4 Storm Compact vs SubCompact: Overview
Beretta PX4 Storm Compact
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- Action: Single/Double
- Barrel Length: 3.27 Inches
- Caliber: 9×19 (PARA). 9×21 IMI and 40 S&W
- Magazine: 12, 15, 17, and 20
- Overall Height: 5 Inches
- Overall Length: 8 Inches
- Overall Width: 1.42 Inches
- Sight Radius: 5.2 Inches
- Weight Unloaded: 27.2 Ounces
Beretta PX4 Storm SubCompact
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- Action: Single/Double
- Barrel Length: 3 Inches
- Caliber: 9×19 (PARA). 9×21 IMI and 40 S&W
- Magazine: 10, 13, 17, and 20.
- Overall Height: 4.8 Inches
- Overall Length: 6.22 Inches
- Overall Width: 1.42 Inches
- Sight Radius: 4.8 Inches
- Weight Unloaded: 26.1 Ounces
You can tell right away from its name and specifications that the SubCompact is both smaller and lighter than the Compact.
The Compact’s dimensions are sized between the Full Size and SubCompact models.
Another notable difference lies in the barrel system of the gun.
The Compact and Full-Size PX4 Storm utilizes the rotary barrel design, while the Subcompact employs a tilt barrel one.
Because of the barrel style, I’ve found the SubCompact to be somewhat jumpy compared to its cousins and other products on the market.
Other than the ones I just stated as well as a number of other components, there are many similar features that the Compact and SubCompact share.
Accuracy
Regarding accuracy, I didn’t see any significant difference between the two.
The Compact and SubCompact are designed for concealed carry so their effective range is not as good as standard-sized pistols.
But in terms of short-distance accuracy, I was able to score fairly well at roughly 10-25 yards with these guns.
Of course, your shooting skill would still be an influential factor, so remember to take that into account.
The average shooter can usually achieve the desired precision with the Compact and SubCompact at self-defense range.
As the engagement distance increases, the grouping widens accordingly.
Not to mention, the rotating barrel design of PX4 guns help reduce recoil, which is nice!
Sight
Both the Compact and SubCompact use a classic 3 dot sight which I find adequate in most cases.
The guns’ sights are prominent but not overbearing, so it’s catchy to my eyes without distracting them.
Nonetheless, you can freely swap the original factory sights for new ones if you’d like.
The front and rear sights are dovetailed on the gun’s slide so it’s generally simple to replace them.
There is a convenient built-in accessory rail for light and laser sights on the guns, which I also find quite helpful in certain, more tactical situations.
Trigger
The trigger pull of the Compact is 10 pounds on double action and around 4 pounds on single action.
For the SubCompact, the values are 12 pounds and 5 pounds respectively.
The trigger pull of the guns is usually manageable to most people, though some might have difficulty getting used to the SubCompact at first, like I did.
Some people say that the double-action trigger pull of the SubCompact could decrease the precision of the shots by a bit.
However, you are still able to fire the SubCompact accurately in quick succession in single-action mode, based on my experience.
Handle and Control
The Compact and SubCompact both employ polymer in the handle, which helps make them feel firm and comfortable to hold.
Thanks to the effective grip on the handle, I know that you would have no trouble holding the gun tightly.
The guns’ backstrap is also interchangeable to better match your shooting style and ergonomic grip.
Many of the guns’ controls are ambidextrous such as magazine release, slide lock, magazine release, and so on.
I’d recommend it to both left and right-handed shooters!
Being capable of manipulation by either hand, the Compact and SubCompact are excellent choices for personal defense and concealed carry.
Disassembly
Taking the guns apart to clean and perform maintenance is relatively simple. No need to use special tools!
For a usual field strip, the SubCompact has FOUR components while the Compact has FIVE components.
All of the gun parts are made of high-quality stainless steel and polymer to enhance the overall performance.
The presence of the tough non-reflective Bruniton finish makes the guns’ slide really durable.
Even so, you have to handle the guns carefully!
The component’s materials may be strong enough to withstand cleaning solvents, but you can still scratch or mark them accidentally.
As a whole, the guns are very robust and reliable for most situations.
However, I’d give this round to the Subcompact just because it has less moving parts.
Magazine and Caliber
The guns are available in three calibers: 9×19 (PARA), 9×21 IMI, and 40 S&W.
Besides their designed magazines, these guns can accept the magazines of the PX4 Storm Full Size as well.
You might have to use an adapter in order to use the high-capacity magazine of the Full-Size pistol though.
The DROP-FREE design of the magazine makes it convenient to reload the guns without the use of your off-hand.
I find this useful when making more rapid tactical reloads!
To permit a secure grip, the SubCompact magazines can also accept a SnapGrip extension.
This lets you take advantage of using your pinky from your dominant hand, which can help improve security and stability.
Although, I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for the smallest profile possible when carrying concealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Difference Between Beretta Px4 Storm Compact and Subcompact?
They are two versions of the same pistol, but the Compact has a shorter barrel and is lighter.
I personally prefer the Compact’s easier-to-slide release, and its grip is more comfortable as well.
Another difference is the Subcompact’s threaded barrel allows you to add accessories, like a red dot sight.
What Makes a Pistol Subcompact?
Subcompact pistols are smaller and meant to be carry-concealed and are less powerful than compact guns.
They are usually meant as backup guns because of their smaller size, meaning they also cannot shoot as accurately.
Is a Glock 19 Compact or Subcompact?
A Glock 19 is a compact model.
The size is just right for those with smaller hands, but not tiny for bigger hands. Some might call it the Goldilocks gun!
Conclusion
That covers all you need to know about these two guns. It’s pretty easy to understand, right?
The PX4 Storm Compact and SubCompact are two great pistols that WON’T disappoint!
Now that you know more about their characteristics, I hope you apply your preferences and needs given the information I have provided.
Hopefully, you can make an informed decision and end up buying a reliable duty pistol from Beretta.
