Beretta Introduces the APX

by
posted on February 28, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
newapx-9x19-1.jpg

After nearly five years of development, Beretta is finally bringing its APX pistol to the civilian market. The semi-automatic marks something of a departure for the company, as it stands as the first full-size striker-fired pistol in the venerable Italian firm’s nearly 500-year history. 

Beretta’s entrant into the U.S. Army’s recently concluded XM17 Modular Handgun System (MHS) program, the APX was designed for duty use by military and law enforcement operators, however, the handgun will fit right in on the commercial home-defense market. American Rifleman’s Kelly Young had the opportunity to put the APX through its paces last week at The O’Gara Group’s tactical training facilities in Montross, Va. 

A polymer-frame pistol standing 7.56” long and 5.6” tall with a 4.25” barrel, the APX weighs 27 ozs. with an empty magazine. Utilizing a tilt-barrel, locked breech operating system, the new gun is chambered in 9 mm Luger and .40 S&W, with standard magazine capacities of 17 and 15 rounds, respectively. Bilateral slide locks and a reversible magazine-release button mean the APX can quickly be converted for left-handed use, and a replaceable backstrap system offers three different grip-circumference options. Sights on the gun follow the modern three-dot pattern.

Similar to the SIG P250 and P320, the APX utilizes a removable chassis (which for paperwork purposes is considered the serialized part) that allows the heart of the gun to be easily transferred into alternate frames—and Beretta is offering black, gray, Flat Dark Earth and Olive Drab Green frames for this purpose. The APX’s fiberglass-reinforced polymer frames also have a three-slot MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rail segment molded into its dustcover.

In addition to a trigger safety and a firing pin block safety, the APX also features a striker deactivation button. Located near the beavertail on either side of the frame, this button allows the pistol to be field-stripped without pulling the trigger. MSRP of the APX at launch is $575.

For more information, visit berettausa.com.

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.