February 9, 2012, 08:50 PM | #1 |
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S&W M&P9 or Beretta PX4 9
Hello every one, first time poster long time lurker. I am looking to buy my first hand gun next week, but I am stuck on which one to get. I plan on using it as a range gun, home protection, and sometimes keeping it in my truck. Being a hunter I have handled rifles and shot guns my whole life, but have only shot two pistoles which were a Glock 21 and Beretta 92fs. I am not a big fan of the glock.. just did not like the feel of it and it does not have a safety. The 92fs was a blast to shoot liked everything about(cousin has one and I want something different).
With all that being said I have handled every gun I can get my hands on in the shops. The S&W M&P9 and the Beretta PX4 feel the most comfortable for me. I do not have a shooting range near me that I know of that have ether to shoot so I am stuck with the decision based on how they feel in the shop. I do prefer a hammer fired gun over a striker. So between these two which would be my best bet? Trigger pull, reliability, Accuracy, etc?? Thank you, tons of great information on the site btw! |
February 9, 2012, 09:49 PM | #2 |
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Obviously, I am a beretta fanatic.
I prefer 92s, but I do have a PX4. I have owned many polymer guns over the years, and the PX4 is one of my favs. But, it really comes down to what trigger style you like... |
February 9, 2012, 09:56 PM | #3 |
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If you prefer a hammer fired pistol then the obvious choice is the PX4. As Shipwreck said, the trigger style is something you will have to decide upon.
Hammer fired PX4 is a DA first shot, SA subsequent shots, or if you do what I do and lock the slide back then load then release the slide, everything is SA. S&W is striker fired. I personally prefer SA or DA/SA where I can use just the SA mode, but I started on SA revolvers so that's me. Since you have only fired a Glock 21 and the Beretta 92FS you haven't had a lot of experience with either so that will be something you need to focus on. There have been some......dissatisfaction with the S&W trigger but many have said that there is an APEX kit that makes it better. The PX4 I got to fire had an acceptable trigger......to me, and my Cougar has an acceptable trigger as well. If it were me I'd go with the PX4. EDIT: Search for Shipwreck's pics, that will make you understand how much of a Beretta nut he is. |
February 9, 2012, 09:59 PM | #4 |
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Oh, read this. I noticed this thread about a week or two ago... Seems like some unhappy M&P owners:
http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=97829 |
February 9, 2012, 09:59 PM | #5 |
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Its hard for me to suggest a DA/SA gun over a striker fire. Id say at this point its purely your own personal opinion and either gun will treat you right.
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February 9, 2012, 10:03 PM | #6 |
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PX4 Inox! I shoot mine as accurately as my 92FS Inox. I have large but not meaty hands. The polymer framed PX4 to me is a little on the slick side. I just put a Hogue Handall slip on grip on it. HUGE difference! Love the feel and looks of the gun, very accurate, very reliable and it's an Italian made Beretta!
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February 9, 2012, 10:13 PM | #7 |
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A PX4C will have a constant action trigger pull if DA/SA is a deal breaker.
Slick slide Beretta duty pistols are pretty sweet.
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February 9, 2012, 10:21 PM | #8 |
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well it looks like I will have to go dry fire both again before making my decision. Im leaning toward the PX4 at this point! Ill let you all know what my final chose is. Thanks for the input!
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February 9, 2012, 10:51 PM | #9 |
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Well, I still favor my px4 over all others. Just bought a Taurus pt-99 (92f clone) and like it but it is big.
Also have shot glocks and a whole bunch of others, but I still very much like my px4 for range and home defense. Light, but still has a meaty slide. 17rnd capacity. Very very dependable and am going to get one the Veridian green laser and light combo things for the rail. Cant go wrong with that. Great gun. Don't know much about the M&P, but was looking into a Pro model, not the standard. I think the trigger is much better on the pro. |
February 10, 2012, 12:57 AM | #10 |
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I had to make this same choice awhile back and went with the PX4. No regrets at all. It is a fine pistol. That's not to say that M&P is not, and will probably still get one down the road. Love the looks of the DE kit offered by Cabela's.
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February 10, 2012, 02:14 AM | #11 |
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I have M&Ps in .45 and PX4s in .40 and 9mm; they are good guns, and you really just need to try them out. I'd recommend either make.
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February 10, 2012, 03:14 AM | #12 |
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Most of the problems with the early 9mm M&Ps have been addressed. It is/was a lock-up problem and I have not read of problems with the latest generation of 9mm M&Ps. If you get one that seems to be shooting wide groups the fix is as simple as throwing in a little heavier recoil spring to keep the breech locked a split second longer or send it in. I have one of the early 9Pros and it is an absolute tack driver. I have not had any problems with it and it easily shoots 3.5" groups or better, at 10 yards I can usually maintain a quarter size group. I am all for buying a few sets of springs and tayloring the gun to what you are shooting as most firearms are tuned to run good with a very large majority of ammunition and not great with certain ammunition. I also own a couple M&P45s and they are tack drivers as well. I have no input on the Ruger as I do not own one, but I am a huge proponent of the M&P line. They are great firearms right out of the box and there is a large aftermarket of parts to make it even better.
Last edited by jeepman4804; February 10, 2012 at 04:03 AM. |
February 10, 2012, 10:24 AM | #13 |
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tmpizz71, the decision you trying to make right now is me exactly one year ago. I went with the Beretta PX4 storm. Now one year later, I'm probably going to trade that in towards a S&W M&P 40. I have the compact version of the gun and a friend has the M&P in 9mm that he lets me shoot. Just awesome. The Beretta is a good gun, I've had no malfunctions but I just don't like the slick grip. I put a Hogue Handall on it and now its a little too bulky for me. I also thought I "needed" a hammer style gun but after shooting a bunch of striker fired pistols, my collection will start building more towards them. Beretta's are awesome guns, so if you get one, you'll probably like it. But after one year and all the experience I gained, wish I would have picked up the M&P instead.
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February 10, 2012, 11:10 AM | #14 | |
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Quote:
As noted S&W's are striker fired pitsols in the same chategory as Glocks. On that basis I would count it negatively vs. your preference. M&Ps have been noted as having trigger issues, and I imagine you probably don't want to spend extra to fix it. Most importantly, you noted you liked the feel of the PX4 the most. To me thats the most important as both are good pistols otherwise. |
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February 10, 2012, 02:08 PM | #15 | |
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Quote:
Here is another thread (that got closed and redirected to the thread I previously posted) http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=98932 |
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February 10, 2012, 05:23 PM | #16 |
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Odd, I had not heard of the current models still having lockup problem. I was at work when I posted and was unable to open the link. That is still is a very small sample compared to the number of sold guns. I can tell you of 4 or 5 (9mm) that I either own, shoot, or shoot along side that are all tack drivers and 100% reliable. I know for a fact most people will never be able to tell the difference between a gun that shoots an 8" group at 25yards and a gun that shoots a 3" group at 25yards. Not that it makes it right, but something to think about. Out of all my semi autos the M&Ps are the ones I shoot the most, the exception being my Buckmark .22lr. They are just much more enjoyable to shoot for me. The Glocks, XDs, and Ruger don't come out to play unless I am teaching a class and am giving a student the opportunity to see what may work better for them.
Last edited by jeepman4804; February 10, 2012 at 05:37 PM. |
February 10, 2012, 06:45 PM | #17 |
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Either handgun is a very good choice.
If you prefer the hammer fire and the external safety, go with the PX4. I believe the M&P is available with an external safety but it is a different shape safety than the PX4 and I don't like it. Personally, I wouldn't have the safety and M&P has that but I don't think the PX4 is available without the safety. |
February 10, 2012, 06:53 PM | #18 |
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M&P forsure.
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February 11, 2012, 01:43 AM | #19 |
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Not stating a preference, just answering a question.
The PX4 has variants that include the Constant Action, which has no safety but requires cycling of the slide to set the trigger; a DAO model (the difference being you can dry fire the DAO without having to manipulate the slide, but the DAO has a slightly heavier pull); and a decocker model. I bought PX4s with the DA/SA safety, but then bought aftermarket decocker sets from Beretta and converted the guns. Again, I like both the PX4 and the M&P. |
February 11, 2012, 11:59 AM | #20 |
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Buy what you like, and I'm sure the Beretta is a fine piece, but I wouldn't own one if you gave it to me.
Among the others, I have several M&P's... |
February 12, 2012, 03:14 AM | #21 |
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I can't say offer any objective criticism of the Beretta. I don't know much about it. All I know is what it 'felt' like in 'my' hand. It felt ok, but didn't inspire me. I have enough 9mm pistols I need to be inspired to add another.
On the other hand, I bought an M&P9c. Now I wish I'd gotten the M&P40c, so I could swap a .357Sig barrel in, or add a 40-to-9 conversion barrel to it [with 9mm mags: the .357sig conversion can use the .40 mags]. Then I'd of had a 3-caliber compact. Of course I wouldn't have used the 9 for carry, as it might not eject quite right when needed. The ONLY complaint I've had with my M&P pistols is that the triggers felt too 'gritty' out of the box. I didn't want to wait, so I bought the APEX DCEAK system and installed it myself. Crisp and consistent 5lb trigger break now, with no grit or creap. Worth the money, to me, as the pistol just felt 'right' in my hand, when I had the small grip installed. However, I do have to admit that the factory Glock trigger felt better to me than a factory S&W M&P trigger did [in 2010]. I can't remember if the Beretta's trigger felt as good or better than the M&P, out of the box. With the DCEAK installed, the only triggers that really feel better are competition-tuned 1911s, to me. Just my $.02 |
February 12, 2012, 09:16 PM | #22 |
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M&P all the way. |
February 14, 2012, 08:50 PM | #23 |
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M&P with APEX upgrades. Have never enjoyed the trigger action on the Beretta.
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February 14, 2012, 09:19 PM | #24 |
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M&Ps & PX4s...
I've owned both the Beretta PX4 C(constant action) 9x19mm & now own a S&W full size M&P 9x19mm with frame safety.
Of the two brands, I'd lean towards a PX4 C pistol. The M&P can be had with a frame mounted ambi safety & there are many after-market services for the line but the PX4 C is a smooth compact shooter. I'm not fond of the M&P's trigger design & the "take down tool" needed to field strip it(and to hold the grips in place, ). To Smith & Wesson's credit many major US law enforcement agencies & armed citizens have converted to the M&P models. But for a 1st 9mm pistol, check out a PX4 Storm C format. ClydeFrog |
February 14, 2012, 10:04 PM | #25 |
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ClydeFrog,
Do you have a magazine safety or just the manual safety? If you DO NOT have a magazine safety you do not have to use the takedown tool to disassemble. Simply twist the takedown lever, ride the slide home, and squeeze the trigger. |
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