Home Blog  
Education / Training Beretta PX4 Storm pistol – Part 3

Beretta PX4 Storm pistol – Part 3

by B.B. Pelletier

Part 1
Part 2

Today, we’ll look at the accuracy of the Beretta PX4 Storm. This has been an interesting review from the standpoint of all the comments I’ve seen. One reader said he was surprised that the velocity was so low (450+ f.p.s. in his gun with Silver Eagle hollowpoints) because the blowback made it feel more powerful. I never thought of that, but perhaps that is the big draw for blowback action – the power it conveys to the shooter.

Start close!
Because I had no idea of the potential accuracy, I started shooting at 12 feet. I normally reserve such close distances for BB guns, but with repeaters that have blowback I know the accuracy will probably not be great. Starting close keeps everything safe. Naturally, I wear shooting glasses; because this gun shoots Crosman Copperhead BBs as well, I used a Quiet Pellet Trap.

Gamo Match
One of the PX4 customer reviews mentioned success with Gamo Match pellets, so those were the first ones I tried. The first group looks great until you realize it was shot from just 12 feet. I’d normally group like this at 33 feet (10 meters) with a really accurate Umarex pistol such as the Colt M1911A1 or the S&W 586 revolver, so this isn’t as good as it looks. Yes, the PX4 Storm is also made by Umarex, and I wanted to say the blowback was the problem until I remembered that the Desert Eagle also has blowback and is very accurate. Something else is at work in this case.

01-25-08-tgt1

This looks good until you realize it was shot from 12 feet. Eight Gamo Match pellets.

BBs were next
For BBs I stepped up to just 10 feet, because they can really spray wildly. You can see from the resulting group that they aren’t as accurate as pellets, but they’re not that bad, either. Certainly they’re minute-of-pop-can at 20 feet. However, as I was going to back up to 25 feet and BBs were already drifting to the left, I stopped testing them here.

01-25-08-tgt2

Crosman Copperhead BBs opened up at just 10 feet! They’ll tag a soda can at 20 feet but you’ll have to aim to the right. There were only 7 BBs, due to one falling out of the magazine just before loading.

Other pellets
I also tried RWS Hobbys, Crosman Silver Eagle wadcutters and H&N Finale Match to see if there’s a difference. If there is, I couldn’t see it. In fact, the Hobbys seemed to perform just as well as the Gamo Match. The H&Ns were slightly less accurate, though I didn’t shoot them enough to confirm that. Because they cost more, I figured why bother with them in an action pistol?

25 feet
I shot from a strong side barricade position, which means I rested my right hand against a door jamb and used my left hand to steady the pistol. I used a strong spotlight on the target, so the sight picture would be clean for me, and I disregarded the three white dots on the sights. However, I still had my bifocals on and they were causing some double images of the front sight blade. That’s never good. The groups that resulted were in the 3″ range, though curiously centered in the bullseye. The better sight picture did away with the gun shooting to the left.

01-25-08-tgt3

Shooting from a strong side barricade at 25 feet, 8 Gamo Match pellets opened up like this.

Glasses off!
Finally, I took off my glasses so the sight picture would not look double. That gave me the best results from 25 feet, though the shots moved to the left again. All shooting was done using a 6 o’clock hold.

01-25-08-tgt4

Glasses off made the front sight sharper, but this is still the best I could do.

So what?
The PX4 Storm isn’t for target shooting, so why am I shooting it that way? Because you can’t accompany me as I plink at pop cans and balloons. I have to have something to show you and targets are a good medium ground. Shooters who buy the PX4 Storm are not looking for one-hand target accuracy, they’re seeking a fast-action pistol that can keep up with their shooting fun. I believe this pistol can do it.

What about jams?
There have been some reports of jams with this gun. I bet I know how they happened, too. After shot number 32 (or 40, if you followed my earlier report) the shooter kept on shooting even though the gun sounded weaker and weaker. That’s a typical error for a new shooter with an action CO2 pistol. It happens with green gas airsoft guns as well. I think if you pay attention to the number of shots fired and to the sound of the gun, you can avoid any jams. I certainly had none in over 300 shots.

The bottom line
This is the least-expensive pellet pistol with true blowback action and a rifled barrel. If that’s what you’re looking for, this is a fine airgun. If you want more accuracy with blowback and a rifled barrel, consider moving up to the Desert Eagle.

37 thoughts on “Beretta PX4 Storm pistol – Part 3”

  1. B.B.

    Is your accuracy testing with pistols from a standard rest unless you specify otherwise? So, for the first two short distances was it rested or offhand? And when you say that you can get most Umarex pistols to group within an inch at 25 feet, that’s rested……right?

    Matt61

  2. Hi BB,

    I have decided to get the S410 ERBSL as my first PCP. I’ve been trying to put my order together and am running into problems with the hand pumps.

    I had decided on the AirForce pump, but Pyramid Air told me they don’t sell a hose that will fit the AirForce Pump and ends with the female 1/8″ BSPP.

    Also, the individual I spoke to recommended the Axsor as being of better quality. From what I can tell it doesn’t end with the correct fitting either. On the site it states that pump has male 1/8″ BSPP w/ an adaptor that ends in a female 1/4″ BSPP.

    At the price these pumps are, I’m seriously concidering buying the Benjamin Discovery for the pump. That way I get what seems to be a great rifle for a little over $150.00.

    Sorry I’m rambling, here are my questions:

    If you were in my shoes, which pump would you chose? How do I make them end in the correct fitting?

    Is the Benjamin Discovery pump of the same quality? Can I make it end in the female 1/8″ BSPP? (this deal is very hard to pass up)

    Thank you for this blog and for patiently answering so many of my questions. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned about (spring)guns I’ve owned for years.

    Furthermore, without your reviews, your input in the comment section, and the input of your readers, I would not have been able to gather the information I needed to finally take the plunge into the PCP world. I can’t wait!

    Marc

  3. Matt61,

    I shoot handguns offhand with one hand unless otherwise specified. So those first two target were shot offhand with one hand.

    When I talk about tight groups with Umarex pistols at 10 yards, yes, I am shooting from a rested position. When I talk about 0.20″ groups with a target pistol, that’s offhand with one hand. 10-meter pistol is my sport, so I can do pretty good with a good gun.

    And don’t think for a moment that I haven’t thrown my share of pellets into the 6-ring. I even did it once in a regional match, when I didn’t watch the CO2 fill of my pistol. Almost bought a PCP target pistol that day. Good thing for me I was broke!

    And, Matt, a pistol target is considerably larger than the rifle target, so keep some perspective on what I’m saying.

    B.B.

  4. Marc,

    The AirForce pump is not lower quality than the Axsor pump. I own an Axsor and it’s a fine pump. Get it, if it works with the rifle, but know this – the AirForce pump has been tested for 50 straight hours of pumping. That’s nonstop! That would burn up an Axsor or an FX in about 30 minutes.

    However, Pyramyd AIR did have some returns of the first shipment of AirForce pumps for bad gauges. AirForce made good on all of them, but I think the experience left a bad taste in the mouths of the PA sales reps.

    B.B.

  5. I have ordered the Benjamin Discovery PCP and want to know if the Mendoza Micrometer Sight, for an 11mm Dovetail can be used on this rifle with the stock front sight. If the front sight is too high or low can this be overcome?

    Thanks BB

    Paul

  6. BB,

    From reading your blog I had decided on the AirForce. It still is my first choice for the reasons you mentioned.

    Do you know what I have to do to have it end with the female 1/8″ BSPP fitting?

    Marc

  7. B.B.

    That’s damned good shooting. It sounds equivalent to rifle shooting from a rest. I hope you do a blog on the match pistol shooting technique. I’m finding the one-handed hold with a heavy target pistol to be unintuitive; the gun is really hanging out there in the breeze. Things are coming along, but slowly.

    Matt61

  8. B.B.

    So what’s the difference between the Daisy 747 and a real Olympic pistol. Obviously the sights and ergonomics. Is there also a difference between the powerplant and barrel?

    Matt61

  9. BB,

    This does’nt have to with this particular pistol, just that it reminds me of something I intended to ask you and forgot to …….

    Is there any airpistol that runs on HPA ? Basically a PCP pistol. With magazine loading. Lets say 8-10 pellets. Semiauto preferably, but manual cocking will also do. Something in the power range of a HW45 or thereabout.

    All the repeating pistols I see run on CO2 and I dislike CO2.

    Regards
    RT

  10. BB, I just noticed in an old thread something about the .22 cal Benjamin Discovery pellets and the Crosman Premier HP’s. Do you know if there had been a bad run of the Premier HP’s in the recent past?

    I had bought 8 tins from pyramyd about a year ago and was absolutely thrilled with them. I shot through those and bought another 8 tins – and, my goodness, they are all over the place! Copperhead Wadcutters are outshooting them like crazy in all my .22’s, including my RWS48 which LOVED the previous batch.

    I’ve also noticed a number of obviously deformed pellets mixed in, and many (if not most) of the others have very obvious casting seams on them.

    Have you heard anything about this?

  11. i have an increasing problem with buzards and where i live it is illegal to shoot them but my question is wold a crosman 1077 give them a good wack and make them change there minds about pooping on my deck

  12. Ganndolf,

    Try a semi auto paintball gun. You can get several shots off before they can all leave ;-). I used to use one for bears on my back porch when I lived up in the hills. They hated it and would run like crazy trying to get away!

    /Shooter

  13. Vince,

    I just read your review from that link that you sent. Sorry it took so long. Busy week… My first thought was, “This guy definitely owns a 513!” Thanks for that link! I think I’m going to have to loktite the screws on mine. They keep backing out every 100 shots or so and the I’ve now noticed that the loose screws affect which pellet it likes. Seems like these are like my reloading for my other guns. Change one thing on the gun and you’re almost back to square one in load development.

    /Shooter

  14. BB
    Off topic question, but I want to know if ever you’ve dealt with an inaccuracy problem caused by temperature? Rather, lets say you’re out plinking, or just starting. You load, pump (multi-pump), and fire. First or second shot are off, and after awhile they tighten up accuracy. Leaving the rifle for an hour, you again load and start plinking and find they are off again. Do multi-pumps or other rifles require a “warm-up”, and if you want to hunt with the rifle, should you zero it while cold: shots every 10 minutes or so for cool-down? JP

  15. b.b.
    Have you heard how the pre-orders are going on the Discovery? I bet it’s big! Can an affordable Crosman PcP pistol be far behind? With lots of custom parts to follow? WaHooo!
    Thanks, Brian

  16. so you are saying it’s not strong enough?…some one pulled out a knife on me when i confronted them while they where trying to break into my car…plus i be hearing people sneaking around in my back yard and i need something to scare tem off,maybe hurt’em a lilbit for trespassing…thats what i ment for self defense

  17. B.B,

    Actually i just noticed that your reply is dated 2008. The post I replied to, disappeared! Guess the writer ran into some sense elsewhere on the blog and deleted the comment! 🙂

Leave a Comment

Buy With Confidence

  • Free Shipping

    TEST Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

    Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

    View Shipping Info

  • Shipping Time Frame

    We work hard to get all orders placed by 12 pm EST out the door within 24 hours on weekdays because we know how excited you are to receive your order. Weekends and holiday shipping times will vary.

    During busy holidays, we step our efforts to ship all orders as fast as possible, but you may experience an additional 1-2 day delay before your order ships. This may also happen if you change your order during processing.

    View Shipping Times

  • Shipping Restrictions

    It's important to know that due to state and local laws, there are certain restrictions for various products. It's up to you to research and comply with the laws in your state, county, and city. If you live in a state or city where air guns are treated as firearms you may be able to take advantage of our FFL special program.

    U.S. federal law requires that all airsoft guns are sold with a 1/4-inch blaze orange muzzle or an orange flash hider to avoid the guns being mistaken for firearms.

    View Shipping Restrictions

  • Expert Service and Repair

    We have a team of expert technicians and a complete repair shop that are able to service a large variety of brands/models of airguns. Additionally, we are a factory-authorized repair/warranty station for popular brands such as Air Arms, Air Venturi, Crosman, Diana, Seneca, and Weihrauch airguns.

    Our experts also offer exclusive 10-for-$10 Test and 20-for-$20 Service, which evaluates your air gun prior to leaving our warehouse. You'll be able to add these services as you place your order.

    View Service Info

  • Warranty Info

    Shop and purchase with confidence knowing that all of our air guns (except airsoft) are protected by a minimum 1-year manufacturer's warranty from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted on the product page.

    A warranty is provided by each manufacturer to ensure that your product is free of defect in both materials and workmanship.

    View Warranty Details

  • Exchanges / Refunds

    Didn't get what you wanted or have a problem? We understand that sometimes things aren't right and our team is serious about resolving these issues quickly. We can often help you fix small to medium issues over the phone or email.

    If you need to return an item please read our return policy.

    Learn About Returns

TEST Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

View Shipping Info

Text JOIN to 91256 and get $10 OFF Your Next $50+ Order!

* By providing your number above, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text msgs (e.g. cart reminders) to the mobile number used at opt-in from Pyramyd AIR on 91256. Reply with birthday MM/DD/YYYY to verify legal age of 18+ in order to receive texts. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg frequency may vary. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. See Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.