M&P 40 Shield vs Beretta PX4 Storm

[cp2146]

Anyone else own both? How do you think they compare?

For my comparison of the two in their "right of of the box from the factory" condition, in other words, no mods, I find the recoil spring lighter, making it easier to rack the slide on the Storm. Also, I find the trigger pull lighter and smoother in both SA and DA modes on the Storm. The Storm is slightly wider and a little heavier in the hand, which I attribute to the double stack mag. In a shooting comparison, to me, the Storm has a little less recoil. One thing, though, you'd better be ready for that second shot. After the first shot from DA mode, it goes into SA mode, and with such a light trigger, all you have to do is barely touch the trigger and it goes bang. It startled me the first time because I wasn't ready for that. But now I know what to expect so it will be great. Still love my Shield, though.

 

[Whitwabit]

I don't own both but I shot the Shield several times when I was shopping between the Shield and the Compact for a carry pistol .. before buying my Compact in 40 ..

I do own a Beretta PX4 Storm Sub Compact and there is no comparison in my opinion the PX4 is a better pistol feels more solid in your hands and is very accurate .. The back strap is adjustable and is one of the main reasons I discounted the Shield .. it just didn't fit my hand like I had hoped it would as its size is good for concealing ..

After breaking it in with various manufacturers ammunition I haven't had any failures in my PX4 in over 1500 rounds now and the trigger has settled in at 6.5 pounds DA and just under 4 with SA .. it is very smooth with no staging to a crisp finish !!

I bought the F model and replaced the bat wings with a low profile safety lever that change it to an G model where the safety is now a de-cocker only .. that has made it easier on my hands to rack the slide and also to conceal as its about 1/2 in thinner now with the low profile safety lever !!

Beretta also has several leather holsters that are made for their pistols and the quality is very good .. I have 2 of them an IWB and a OWB according to how I would like to carry my PX4 ..

Edit -- I corrected the model numbers of the PX4 since I had them backwards in my original comment ..

 

[cp2146]

I don't own both but I shot the Shield several times when I was shopping between the Shield and the Compact for a carry pistol .. before buying my Compact in 40 ..

I do own a Beretta PX4 Storm Sub Compact and there is no comparison in my opinion the PX4 is a better pistol feels more solid in your hands and is very accurate .. The back strap is adjustable and is one of the main reasons I discounted the Shield .. it just didn't fit my hand like I had hoped it would as its size is good for concealing ..

After breaking it in with various manufacturers ammunition I haven't had any failures in my PX4 in over 1500 rounds now and the trigger has settled in at 6.5 pounds DA and just under 4 with SA .. it is very smooth with no staging to a crisp finish !!

I bought the G model and replaced the bat wings with a low profile safety lever that change it to an F model where the safety is now a de-cocker only .. that has made it easier on my hands to rack the slide and also to conceal as its about 1/2 in thinner now with the low profile safety lever !!

Beretta also has several leather holsters that are made for their pistols and the quality is very good .. I have 2 of them an IWB and a OWB according to how I would like to carry my PX4 ..

I agree on all points, but I still love my Shield and will definitely keep it in rotation for carry. However, one minor point of clarification. The G model is decocker only whereas the F model is both decocker and safety. I'm sure that's what you meant.

 

[GL9CK]

I haven't gotten a Shield yet. But I do have the full-size M&P9 Pro. My dad just bought the full-size PX4 Storm. The Storm is the nicer gun and I shoot that way better than my M&P despite having hundreds of rounds through my M&P and only a few mags through his Storm.

 

[Whitwabit]

I agree on all points, but I still love my Shield and will definitely keep it in rotation for carry. However, one minor point of clarification. The G model is decocker only whereas the F model is both decocker and safety. I'm sure that's what you meant.

Yep, mixed up the letters .. should be opposite from my original post .. I corrected the post ..

 

[wnderr]

I don't have a .40 Shield, but do own a Px4 Storm 9mm Sub Compact. The Beretta is a real sweetheart when it comes to capacity and shooting; but, it's pretty chunky as a trade off! Because of the fat physique, it is more difficult to conceal; but it really is a sweet shooter, short barrel and all! Hold lots of bullets, too, if that is important to you. It is a little on the ugly side; but as the saying goes "if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make an ugly woman your wife"

Me, I prefer some good looks, so the M&P 9c just might be more enjoyable.

 

[cp2146]

I don't have a .40 Shield, but do own a Px4 Storm 9mm Sub Compact. The Beretta is a real sweetheart when it comes to capacity and shooting; but, it's pretty chunky as a trade off! Because of the fat physique, it is more difficult to conceal; but it really is a sweet shooter, short barrel and all! Hold lots of bullets, too, if that is important to you. It is a little on the ugly side; but as the saying goes "if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make an ugly woman your wife"

Me, I prefer some good looks, so the M&P 9c just might be more enjoyable.

Haha! Never had a gun compared to an ugly woman. That's a good one.

I agree in that the Storm being a little wider, it makes it a tad harder to conceal. However, I haven't had any problem putting it under my shirt tail. I just need to find a good holster. Have two different DeSantis scabbards on the way that should do the trick. Will report back when they arrive.

 

[hardluk1]

Why compare those two . There a apples to oranges comparison . Both fill a need one is lite weight thin snappy when fired and a single stack with a not so great striker trigger and easily concealable under a tucked shirt . But it served a need as a carry pistol !!

The other only CC's under a jacket or untucked shirt . DA/SA trigger with safety or decocker , heavy , soft shooter and twice the mag capacity .. Different pistol for a different need .

If you want one buy it BUT they do not compare well to each other . Apples to oranges !

 

[cp2146]

Why compare those two . There a apples to oranges comparison . Both fill a need one is lite weight thin snappy when fired and a single stack with a not so great striker trigger and easily concealable under a tucked shirt . But it served a need as a carry pistol !!

The other only CC's under a jacket or untucked shirt . DA/SA trigger with safety or decocker , heavy , soft shooter and twice the mag capacity .. Different pistol for a different need .

If you want one buy it BUT they do not compare well to each other . Apples to oranges !

Already did buy one. I really like it, but it is slightly harder to conceal. I was just curious what others thought of the Storm, if they own one or have shot one, compared to a Shield. But I also still love my Shield. Certainly not planning on dumping it.

 

[Whitwabit]

Why compare those two . There a apples to oranges comparison . Both fill a need one is lite weight thin snappy when fired and a single stack with a not so great striker trigger and easily concealable under a tucked shirt . But it served a need as a carry pistol !!

The other only CC's under a jacket or untucked shirt . DA/SA trigger with safety or decocker , heavy , soft shooter and twice the mag capacity .. Different pistol for a different need .

If you want one buy it BUT they do not compare well to each other . Apples to oranges !

I must disagree .. I was referring to the PX4 sub compact and they really match up .. The Shield has a 3.1 inch barrel and the PX4 is 3 inches .. the shield is only .1 inches shorter in length and .2 inches shorter in height .. the only difference is the shield is .95 inches wide and the PX4 sub compact 1.5 stock if you have the low profile de-cocker levers on it its only 1.2 inches .. least that is what mine is measured with my machinist micrometer ..

The Beretta has a more solid feel to it appears to be made better easily conceals as well as the Shield and I think shoots better .. has an adjustable back strap so fits your hand better and the Shield doesn't so it actually fits more peoples hands instead of you trying to get your hand to fit the Shield !! The Shield carry's 7 or 8 +1 while the PX4 is 13 + 1 or 17 + 1

My experience has been that everyone that has shot the Px4 sub compact and the Shield likes the Beretta better then the Shield .. that is 7-8 that have shot mine ..

 

[wnderr]

The Px4 Storm Sub Compact is really a sweet shooter, if it just wasn't so fat and ugly!!!!! For a Sub Compact, it is really a BIG gun. Really fits in better with the compacts, and it's still fat! And, it's still ugly.

No, I'm not selling mine, as it can be concealed in a fanny pack, and holds a whole load of bullets. And it really is a sweet and accurate shooter. I like the decocker/safety, and it is super smooth.

It is still my choice to conceal, when a single stack 9mm or .380 just doesn't seem to be enough.

But, it's still big and ugly.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

Never own any S&W auto (and never will strictly revolvers now) but I once own a Beretta PX4 sub-compact in .40, to bad I never got the chance to shoot it. I have zero tolerance for a field strip that required contortions to execute, which means despite what their engineers may think is simple it was a real pain.

Now, you take the Beretta Nano for instance (of which I once own as well) easier to field strip than even a Glock. (of which I have own several)

Why can't these gun manufactures figure this stuff out.
Ever tried to field strip a Sig P290, they'll tell you to put a golf pin in the ejection port so as to hold the slide in place so you can push some stupid pin out on the other side.

Thank who ever I came back to my senses.

 

[Whitwabit]

The PX4 Sub Compact to field strip you make sure the pistol is unloaded and magazine removed lock slide back .. move lever 90 degrees downward and then pull out to notch .. release slide lock and slide comes right off .. no contortions at all !! nothing that was a real pain .. in fact it is very easy to field strip and clean ..

Are you sure it was a Beretta PX4 sub compact you had trouble with ..??

 

[cp2146]

Following up on my promise to report on holsters for the PX4, I got a DeSantis Mini Slide and a DeSantis Speed Scabbard. I like the mini slide better as it is smaller and fits my hip better. The speed scabbard is fine, just a bit too much for my needs.