OK, there was a gun show in Tulsa this weekend. I sold my SKS at the show and used the cash to put a down payment on the 40 cal flavor of the Beretta CX4 storm.



The SKS was fun, but it just wasn't right for me for a few reasons. 1st of all I'm left handed so right handed guns are always a little awkward. The SKS especially. Anyone who's shot a SKS with detachable mag knows how awkward it is to change mags, and trust me, it's even worse when you're shooting left handed. 2nd I really wanted a close quarters/tactical type gun, and the SKS was a little to large. 3rd was that I am having a hard time getting into a decent rifle range to shoot (I haven't shot the SKS in about 2 years because of this!)

The CX4 gives me all three things I need/want right now. I get a gun that is (1) completely reversible for left handed shooters, (2) small and lightweight with several accessory rail locations for tactical goodies, (3) pistol caliber carbine so it can be shot at pistol ranges.

With that said, I will soon be in the market for a decent 40 cal hand gun so I can draw from the same ammo supply. I have heard that if you get the right Beretta 40 cal hand gun the CX4 can even share its magazines but my brother (ex-101st Airborne) is waiving me away from Beretta handguns. Any suggestions? Budget would be <$500, preferably in the $300's.

edit for pics -

This is what I sold:

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-03-2008).]

1st ask your self a couple of questions. 1 being,, What am I going to use it for? Target shooting, home defense, personal defense? 2, If it is to be used for multiple purpose, how much am I going to practice with it so that I can trust it in all situations? As for Beretta hand guns, I agree that the military contract ones are junk. The civilian models seem to be put together better. ( I own 1 Beretta handgun and its not a mod.92 series) If I were to be looking for a new handgun, I would take a hard look at Sig Sauer. Yes it is a bit more than 500, but IMHO its worth it. I like the Sig mod 228.

quote Originally posted by ron768: 1st ask your self a couple of questions. 1 being,, What am I going to use it for? Target shooting, home defense, personal defense? 2, If it is to be used for multiple purpose, how much am I going to practice with it so that I can trust it in all situations? As for Beretta hand guns, I agree that the military contract ones are junk. The civilian models seem to be put together better. ( I own 1 Beretta handgun and its not a mod.92 series) If I were to be looking for a new handgun, I would take a hard look at Sig Sauer. Yes it is a bit more than 500, but IMHO its worth it. I like the Sig mod 228.

Thanks for the suggestions!

To answer your questions, I'll be using it for both but mostly for carry as the CX4 will also serve as "home defense" if needs be.. I have a Taurus PT22 that is my current carry gun (I know, no 22 jokes, I get it, but it was cheap, its reliable, easily concealable and did I mention cheap? I paid $100 for it about 8 years ago and was offered $120 for it today!) I'll be trading the Taurus in when I decide on a 40 cal.

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-03-2008).]

quote Originally posted by OKflyboy: The same store that I'm buying my CX4 through had a Springfield 40 cal for high $300s, It had the look of a glock with the polymer and such, I'm pretty sure it was a XD40 but not 100%. Any opinons?

i recently got an XD9 for carry and am still in love...
and they were made to be for lefties, and righties.

The SKS can double as a club and keep right on shooting. Can your new one?

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: i recently got an XD9 for carry and am still in love... and they were made to be for lefties, and righties.

Good to know, the XD40 will stay on my list.

quote Originally posted by pokeyfiero: The SKS can double as a club and keep right on shooting. Can your new one?

lol! I don't know...

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-03-2008).]

quote Originally posted by OKflyboy: The same store that I'm buying my CX4 through had a Springfield 40 cal for high $300s, It had the look of a glock with the polymer and such, I'm pretty sure it was a XD40 but not 100%. Any opinons?

i just re-read that.
i paid 483.00 for my XD9 so at high 300s would be a steal
i dont want to hijack your thread. but i was looking in to a new carry pistol these were the ones on my list.
Kel Tec PF9 chrome 230.00 (short wait)
Taurus pt111 Millennium Pro stainless 310.00 in stock
Stoeger/Beretta MiniCougar 9mm (he cant get because they sell direct to ffl and is too "small" for them to mess with, he but found one on gunbroker for 250 plus shipping )
Firestorm MiniFirestorm 305.00
Bersa Thunder 9mm 286.00 (isn't the mini-firestorm and thunder the same gun just by different makers?)
Kahr PM9 570.00

but after i read some reviews of the XD (the one where they fired 10,000 rounds in one day with only a few cleanings sold me)
i was pretty sure i wanted one. but after about 15 seconds of holding it, i KNEW i wanted one.

you can read my story in this thread.
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/053990.html
and PFFer JohnF is still on the fence about an XD40, but i bet he buys one within 3 months.

[This message has been edited by buddycraigg (edited 02-04-2008).]

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: i just re-read that. i paid 483.00 for my XD9 so at high 300s would be a steal

even better to know. Filing my taxes tomorrow so we'll see if its still around when I get my return.

edit:

No worries man. I'm looking for suggestions about a carry weapon anyway so I wouldn't consider it a hijack. Only thing is i'm looking for 40 cals but other than that I appreciate any input you could provide.

I should also mention before someone asks - why the 40 cal version of the CX4? Easy - price. This is what the dealer had, he got 2 of them as closeout (next years models will be slightly different) and was selling them at $530 (MSRP for these is listed at $800) but he only got the 40 cals.

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-04-2008).]

Reminds me of a bullpup.

What's the barrel and overall length?

quote Originally posted by ryan.hess: Reminds me of a bullpup. What's the barrel and overall length?

Its got that bullpup feel to it. I'd only read about them before Saturday. It was much smaller and lighter then I expected. I really like the feel of it.

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-04-2008).]

I don't know anything about the CX4. I have an SKS and I have that same stock in the closet, have a folder on it right now to make it alittle more compact. I am currently building an AR to replace it.

+1 for the XD. I have a 45 compact and it is very reliable and accurate. Never had a malfunction with mine and have heard few people mention one. Some people have had some failure to load or failure to eject right out of the box but Springfield will fix the problem and I don't think anybody has had problems after that. The XD also has a lifetime warranty. The XD is a really good defense weapon. I posted some links to an XD forum in the other thread you should check out before you buy anything.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: and PFFer JohnF is still on the fence about an XD40, but i bet he buys one within 3 months.

JohnF in NOT "on the fence". He is a real XD fan and will buy one in LESS than 3 months, hehehehehe. buddycraig, as I said in your thread, I currently (and for a few years, actually) carry a Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro 9mm. I am very happy with this gun - realiability, stopping power, concealability, comfort (ease of carry), accuracy (for a defense weapon) - all are very good. It is popular BUG for LEOs. It is my primary defense, of course.

The XD family is my all-time favorite modern wonder weapons! I used a Springfield 1911 .45 cal race gun for IPSC shooting for many years and Springfield has never left my heart. The XD series just makes it pound faster! Get the XD and you'll throw rocks at anything else!

i meant you were on the fence between getting a 40 or 45. i bet you go with the 40.

[This message has been edited by buddycraigg (edited 02-04-2008).]

Try the Glock Model 23 for a compact 40 cal weapon. I use one as a carry gun and really like it.

quote Originally posted by hnthomps: Try the Glock Model 23 for a compact 40 cal weapon. I use one as a carry gun and really like it.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

I'm also looking into the Beretta Px4 but I'm not sure of pricing yet.

go here for a decent short video about the Cx4 and the Px4.

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 10-12-2008).]

Beretta 96 seriers pistols use the same 40 cal magazine as the cx4. I own both, as well as both in 9mm as well. There are good deals abound on 96bs with night sites and such. under 400 bucks. hit me up if you need deets.

you never know when you need to have a gang shootout, and look stylish!

tis better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

Not mine - waiting until I get my tax return, (which, according to the IRS website should be this Friday) to pick mine up but I thought this was a funny pic. May have to see if I can find a violin case on ebay just for the hell of it!

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-11-2008).]

The springfield is a very nice gun, as well as the sigs. I see you are looking at the px4 (I've never shot it, but It looks to be the perfect compliment to the cx4). I think the cheapest is going to be the px4, followed by the springfield.

Picked 'er up today -

Here she is right out of the box:


And here she is after I set 'er up for left handed shooting (reversed the ejection port and cocking lever, the magazine release and safety have to be done by a "professional" according Beretta, but I may try myself later):


On order are:
a top rail which will hold a red dot sight (already have the sight)
a Surefire G2 flashlight and mount

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 03-01-2008).]

Reversed the magazine release myself late last night, it was easy. The bolt release, however, looks like it truly is out of my range of ability.

edit: that's because the bolt release cannot be reversed. Its the safety that's the 4th reversible part. OTOH, the safety looks to be out of my skill set as well.

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 03-01-2008).]

quote Originally posted by OKflyboy: Reversed the magazine release myself late last night, it was easy. The bolt release, however, looks like it truly is out of my range of ability.

Let us know how it shoots too

Im thinking of getting this for my plastic 9mm, not that it would shoot better but it looks better.

[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 02-16-2008).]

Most of what you hear bad about Beretta hand guns is BS. Even from some in the Military. Every handgun and probably rifle the military has used has had it's own issues. Including the 1911 and M16 everyone loves so much now.

The DOD has it's choice of guns to chose from any time it wants. They could even have ordered 1911 in a 9mm. They chose Beretta and continue to do so for more resaons than simple cost.

Every time the Military has made a weapon change, there has been major dissent among whatever branch(es) are affected. (Anyone that thinks Telecom and Power companies are slow to change hasn't done much homework.) Beretta M9 is no exception. Original pattern 1911 and M16 both had massive problems early on and M16 is credited with causing more than a few deaths from failures durring fire fights in Vietnam.

Much of the complaint about 9mm is due to the fact they are required to use only "ball" aka FMJ ammo. FMJ, regardless of caliber, can often pass completely thru a target with poor energy transfer. You can thank the Hague Convention for this issue. It is considered a War Crime to use hollow points etc.

If you want to watch history repeating itself... study what is going on right now over the M4 and the introduction of the M16. Congress and the DOD are going around in much the same CF as was seen 40 years ago.

CX4 can be adapted to several Beretta magazines. There is a part or two in the mag well that needs changing to fit whichever. For the time being you're probably best off selecting Beretta 96 magazines since there are more of them around from Beretta/MDS, Mec Gar, and other sources.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top of every forum page...)

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 02-16-2008).]

quote Originally posted by User00013170: Let us know how it shoots too

Will do. I'm waiting for the rest of the accessories to show up but if they haven't gotten here by next week I'll take it to the range anyway.

quote Originally posted by User00013170: Im thinking of getting this for my plastic 9mm, not that it would shoot better but it looks better.

There's a few Hi-point shooters (and a few with that stock) on the Beretta forum I joined last week. They say that they're cheaply made, but a decent bit of fun for the price. They ALL say their CX4 is better, but then it's significantly more expensive too.

quote Originally posted by OKflyboy: There's a few Hi-point shooters (and a few with that stock) on the Beretta forum I joined last week. They say that they're cheaply made, but a decent bit of fun for the price. They ALL say their CX4 is better, but then it's significantly more expensive too.

Oh, wasn't trying to compare the 2 beyond the appearance with the after-market stock.

I do have one, and yes its cheap but fun. I wouldn't buy another one as id just spend the extra on a real one ( been eying a FeatherUSA 9MM model.. ), but i don't think i wasted the $ either.

quote Originally posted by User00013170: Oh, wasn't trying to compare the 2 beyond the appearance with the after-market stock. I do have one, and yes its cheap but fun. I wouldn't buy another one as id just spend the extra on a real one ( been eying a FeatherUSA 9MM model.. ), but i don't think i wasted the $ either.

Oh, no, I wasn't thinking you were comparing them, I was just mentioning that a few guys on the forum had directly compared them. The hi-points look like fun little guns, but I'd run into the same right-handed problems as with my SKS. The reversibility of the CX4 is one of its main attractions to me.

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-17-2008).]

Got my top rail, red dot and light mount. still waiting on the light itself.

Put my first 150 rounds through it tonight. 1st impression - The iron sights are OK, my red dot sucks... I need to get the bottom rail kit so I can mount my fore-grip so I can get a bit more control... My arm hurts... but I frickin' LOVE it!

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-24-2008).]

what distance is that?

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: what distance is that?

I shot the center targets at 50 yards and the smaller targets at 25 yards.

I've bought two different mounts that said they would fit Surefire G2s but both were slightly too small diameter wise. Either my G2 is larger then it should be or I just keep getting bad mounts.Either way I'm not buying another mount, I'm going to take this last one and just "hog it out" a bit with a grinding bit on my drill until the G2 fits.

Here she is all decked out (minus the G2, of course):

roger garrison hasn't had a fiero for ever but he still post a lot.

and i wouldn't even be able to see the target at 50 yrds.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/054900.html