The Truth About The Beretta APX A1 Carry
Recently there was a substantial rebate on the Beretta APX A1 Carry pistol. I already have a number of subcompact and compact pistols suitable for concealed carry, so I wasn’t really looking for anything in that size range, but I still had a use for it.
Why Another Subcompact
Often, part of teaching new shooters is helping them find the gun that fits their needs and mechanics best. We all have different preferences, hand sizes, budgets and what have you. That means one size doesn’t fit all. Sometimes I see instructors push a student toward a certain brand or model because it’s what they like. If I have a student who has yet to settle on a pistol, I like to give them a number of options from reputable companies and let them tell me what feels (and shoots) best for them. This rebate gave me the opportunity to add a Beretta to that mix.
The Beretta APX A1 Carry
The Beretta APX A1 Carry is a striker-fired, subcompact 9mm. This single-stack pistol comes standard with a 6-round and an 8-round magazine. The 6-rounder has a pinky extension on it, as well as a flush-fit base plate that can be put on instead. The 8-round has the usual +2 look and feel. Both have front checkering and indents on the side in case the mag needs stripped out.
The magazine release is reversible and the slide has good, usable serrations at the front and rear. The fit and finish on the gun out of the box were average/good. The grip texture is very noticeable, similar to the Smith and Wesson Shield 2.0. It’s tacky and good at controlling the recoil of a micro pistol. For me, living in South Florida, the topic of sweat on the hands or gun is a necessary consideration. The APX A1 Carry solves that.
Unlike many pistols in this size and price range, the A1 Carry is an optics-ready pistol as a standard configuration. The pistol does not ship with adapter plates. Instead, when you register the gun for the warranty, you are given a voucher to get a plate of your choosing. Beretta has adapters in all the popular patterns.
The sights on this pistol are pretty good. The standard configuration is a blacked-out rear sight and a white dot front sight. Similar to some of the Sig pistols, the APX fire control unit is the serial numbered part and it can be swapped to other frames. Beretta does make this frame in a few other colors if you’re into that sort of thing.
Check out our review of the Springfield Armory Echelon.
Shooting It
Shooting the APX A1 Carry is an interesting mixed bag. Let’s start with the positives. I put about 200 rounds through the gun to start. All 115-grain FMJ factory ammo from CCI, Remington and Norma. There were no hiccups or malfunctions at all. I expect further shooting will be just as reliable. The gun feels solid.
The sights were very useable and easy to pick up. The gun itself is quite accurate. I was able to consistently shoot tight groups with it. The recoil was less than I expected from a gun this size. I shoot a lot of subcompacts and the grip texture makes a difference here. So do the pinky and +2 extensions. Both have checkering on the front that aids in controlling the pistol.
Both of the mostly metal magazines functioned well. I’ve never had an issue with an OEM magazine from Beretta, so I fully expected these to be up to the task.
That Trigger Though…..
Now, for some of the not-great points… The biggest complaint I have with this pistol is the trigger. Saying that it has a long trigger pull is an understatement. It is loooooong. So long that it becomes a hindrance. The appearance of the trigger makes one think of the Glock, but that’s where the similarity ends. It’s no secret that the Glock triggers aren’t amazing, so when I say that the trigger on the Beretta APX A1 Carry is worse, that’s saying something. Not only is it long and heavy, but there is also no clean break.
I get the thinking behind this. Some people will pocket carry this gun, so the long and heavy trigger helps mitigate potential issues that could come up in court. The problem is, the trigger makes shooting the gun effectively harder. I found myself having to really be intentional about working the trigger. I let some other shooters, including a fellow instructor, shoot the gun and several stopped about ¾ of the way through the trigger squeeze, thinking that they’d forgotten to chamber a round. It was that long. Not a single one of them wanted to shoot it beyond the 5 rounds I put in the mag for them. I mean who passes up free ammo and shooting a gun they don’t have to clean? People who aren’t enjoying the gun.
The long, heavy pull and the almost equally long trigger reset make it very difficult to run the gun quickly. I found myself having to be very intentional about working the trigger.
Is the Sig Sauer P322 a Good Gun? Find out here.
The Finish
The second issue I had with the gun is the finish. By 150 rounds, I was seeing significant wear on the top of the barrel assembly. I’ve included some pictures of it. I paid a visit to a Beretta owners’ group on Facebook and asked if others were having that experience. The group administrator’s response was that the APX A1 Carry is a “budget gun” and that you get what you pay for. I find that answer unacceptable. When I pushed back, citing other “budget guns” that I have owned that had no finish issues, I was removed from the group. Apparently, thou shalt not talk bad about Beretta, even when your defense is “you get what you pay for.”
Bottom Line
If someone told me my daily carry Sig P365 had to have something done to it and I had to carry the APX A1 Carry for a week, would I feel under-equipped? No. The gun was reliable and accurate…when you managed the trigger. Would I ever replace my P365 with this? No, I would not.
For a micro-compact, the Beretta APX A1 Carry is a bit big. As you can see from the picture, it is as big as my P365 but has fewer rounds and an inferior trigger. There are just too many better options in this price and size range to make the APX a viable option for me.
All of that said, shoot one yourself and see. You may be one who wants a super long trigger, and the grip surfaces are quite good. It’s just not going to be a choice for me.
Check out some of our other thoughts on pistols and optics:
- First Shots: The Canik SFx Rival
- First Shots: Smith & Wesson Shield Plus
- The Eotech EFLX
- The Sig Romeo Zero Elite: A Real User Review
This post contains references to products using affiliate links. We may receive compensation if you click on links to those products and make purchases. No one has paid us for our opinions or recommendations.
Everyone else seems to dance around the truth when reviewing guns. I think they fear a potential loss of sponsorship or something. Idk
Thanks for the honest appraisal
Thanks for the encouragement Todd! I hope you find some of the other reviews (and upcoming ones) useful too.
Hi I’ve been using the Beretta APX for everyday carry. Today I put 100 rounds thru and the trigger pull drives me crazy. I’m switching to another of my guns.
I don’t blame you. It may be right for some people, it just wasn’t right for me.
My APX A1 Carry trigger has gone from bad to scary. Every 10-12 rounds, a full trigger pull results in no firing at all, then after you release it to reset, the slightest touch will activate the firing mechanism. There is something very wrong with this gun.
Wow, that sounds pretty unsafe. I’d definitely be in touch with Beretta over it.
That’s just unacceptable.
The same thing happened to mine and I sent it back to beretta and got it back within a week said the cocking leaver was out factory parameters and hasn’t missed a lick since great customer service
Glad it worked out for you Brandon! Enjoy.
I purchased the A1 carry about a month ago, seeking a smaller carry pistol. I doubt that I’ll keep it long… primarily because of the trigger issues. I’m hoping to eventually get used to the long pull and it is slowly getting better, but I wish that I had tried one before buying.
Bursa has a 380 about the same size and price. I’m wondering if I would like it better. (Except for the increased price in ammo.)
If you’re looking for small, the LCP Max is worth a look. We did a comparison here: https://betterprotectors.com/small-pistol-ruger-lcp-vs-glock-42-vs-ruger-lcp-max/
The Bersa Thunder has a DA trigger, resembling a DA revolver, but it ALWAYS fires. Beretta has subcontractors to carry out warranty repairs, and it’s their own discretion to bill the manufacturer or YOU. Ruger is a lot better, and it seems like they have straightened out the initial problems with the LCP Max. The Max also has a fantastic front sight, but if my life depended on it, I would go with the Bersa.
I am attracted by the Bersa Max 15 Rds. Are hard to beat. The straight fixed barrel is also great.
I have had a couple of used Bersas and never had a great experience with them. God knows what kind of abuse they went through. My friend owns one bought new and is accurate and reliable .
The LCP Max is also a great choice. People don’t give Ruger the credit it deserves. As of late, their products are priced right and compete with the best in the market in regards to reliability and options.
Thanks for the response Rod. I’m a fan of the LCP Max as well. Did you see the comparison we did here: https://betterprotectors.com/small-pistol-ruger-lcp-vs-glock-42-vs-ruger-lcp-max/
Why are they shipping the Beretta APXA1 carry with only one mag instead of what’s advertised 6 rounds and an 8 round
I have no idea. Mine came with both magazines and I sold it with both.
They charge about $70 more for the version that comes with the extra mag. The more expensive version also comes with a front sight that can be replaced.
Did you get this problem fixed? Mine just started doing the same thing.
I don’t know exactly what my buddy did. But if you look at your trigger, it has tiny little alan wrench bolts And?
He took the gun apart and did something tighten something up. I’ll have to ask him and come back. But the gun has a beautiful trigger. Now. Not like the wonky wobbly one I got When I first got it, I was very Dis.
Pleased. I don’t care how much it cost. Or if they consider it a budget gun. I wound up paying 239 with a $50 male and Rebate. I never got. I don’t think I may have and actually, I did. And I told them that my magazines did not function. And they sent me to new magazines, an 8 round and a 6 round. And a free optic plate. So I really can’t complain but after he did what he did with the trigger. It was the trigger that came with it. Because I asked him if he replaced it. He said no. He tightened everything and did something with the triggers. Pring or something I don’t know about all that. I just know that it can be adjusted if worse case scenario. Replaced for under a $100. I know a few people that put the timney Or similar style trigger upgrade into it. And it fires, just like my caniks Mine as of right now. I would not replace with my 365 just for the simple fact that I have the threaded barrel and the microcomp running on it with a warriorland holster like combo from eBay for the 365, and if you have any glocks not to get off subject, they have a new light. Called the crossbow that has A8 50 lumin. Fight/laser/robe. And it destroys a lot of lights in its class and it’s a trigger guard lock light and it’s rechargeable with magnetic wire anyway, The only reason I would not replace it with my 365 is not only the barrel but the magazine amount. I know 8 + 1 isn’t bad, but my buddy is working on magazine extension plates with his 3-D printer when he does that he should be able to add plus 4 or plus 2, and it will make it that much better. I love my 365 with the micro comp. It’s night and day difference with muzzle hop. But anybody that’s shooting in micro? Subcompacts all the time should know how to control the recoil with their thumbs. On the slide, applying pressure and learn the sweet spot to apply just enough pressure to where it does not cause a failure. But if you’re having problems with the trigger, you need to contact Beretta immediately, they will replace the gun or fix it either or. Good luck, it’s a great gun. For what it is.
I bought one on sale and with the rebate it was a $200 gun. And that’s about what it’s worth. Taking it apart be careful because the fire control unit will fall into pieces if you are not careful. The slide release spring falls out and can be hard to find. The trigger is so bad it’s embarrassing in today’s age of great triggers. I’m an instructor and competitive shooter and it took me a while to shoot it well. Buy a ruger or a glock. Or even a taurus.
Agree completely Bill. I’ve actually sold the gun since I wrote the article, but good warning for those who may still have one.
Thank you for an honest review! I just bought one for $165 after rebate myself, mainly to be a back up (if I ever need a back up…) so I didn’t have a ton of expectations anyway. NGL, the biggest red flag for me is the Barretta Owner’s Group. There’s always a chance that your experience is atypical, but I have NEVER seen a quality product with a censored user group, ever. If they were smart, Barretta would aggressively leverage criticism about their products as feedback to improve them/future products and to build goodwill instead of relying on gaslighting and toxic positivity. Example:
“Don’t ask questions, just buy product, then get excited for next product”
“We heard your feedback and we have a fix for it, thank you for taking the time to alert us!”
Which response gives you more confidence in the company?
Thanks for the comment Eric. Funny you should say that about feedback. This article from my little site now shows up pretty high in Google results. It steadily brings traffic in every day.
Even on Glocktalk, you have the Beretta trolls.
I mean even if it wears and tears I only paid $179 bucks for it apparently this is why the eight round magazines are nowhere to be found and it was supposed to have a 8 and 6 round mag but Palmetto must have skimmed or Beretta I don’t know but had I known that these were available all day long and did more research for $300 I would have not picked it up I was under the impression it was like a bobcat or Tomcat whatever the hell it is a pocket gun until a day or two later when I went to check the tracking and looked at the actual description because I was pretty much half asleep when I ordered it and total I think I paid $229 with a $50 rebate plus the free optic plate but I don’t even need the plate because the one that came with mc9 mete works fine . That’s wild how you said that you would not trade it in for your p365 that also amongst all kinds of guns also that I have for Carrie is my go-to it is the basic NRA edition p365 with the night sights Nothing Fancy no Optics no I did however see a really good company that my buddy uses something Warrior something on eBay that does have a flashlight holster combo for the p365 for 69 bucks or 59 and it has great reviews I watched video reviews on it I’m thinking about maybe grabbing that I’m not sure other than that I left one day no joking to take it out to carry for the day and realize that instead of having my 12 round mag and my 210 round magazines with my Sig plus the other couple extra 10 round mags I bought because I can carry as much magazines as I want I had a a round mag and a pocket full of random loose bullets waiting for the eight round mags to come back in stock they’re sold out everywhere so needless to say I drove out 15-20 minutes and just had a bad feeling because technically it has never been taken to the range it’s been out of the box cleaned and loaded and bought a holster for it so I don’t know what I was thinking the p365 has fired every round of ammunition I have put inside of it literally I buy what I can the most random 9mmo stuff I’ve never heard of stuff that is cheaper than dirt brass and though never had an I knock on wood one failure with the gun and it’s probably had well over 1500 rounds plus foot through it and I haven’t cleaned it yet just to see how long it will go but that as well as my go-to I’ve tried all the other p365 models and to me they are inferior to the original micro 12 round and 210 round mag version they say that a lot of people complain because it is small but has a decent mag capacity but does not have optic cuts I’ve never really been big on Optics I’ve been trying them out of my glock and my other bigger guns at the range but I know what my p365 is capable of how to shoot it where it breaks hundreds and hundreds of holster draw dry fire drills so on so as far as it wearing and tearing that sucks are you talking about the barrel where the square pieces on top where the bulleted jacks? I have a buddy that is very anal about his firearms and has OCD and he got scratches on his whatever the pieces called that is on the barrel that is the metal square that actually injects the bullets that part of the barrel of scratched up he actually went out and bought black touch up paint and then put I believe clear fingernail polish or some type of clear coat on it so it wouldn’t get scratched again LOL my Sig has probably had a well I’ve already mentioned shit ton of Browns through it and shows no sign of damage just gets dirty because it’s coyote tan but it also is not a budget gun you get what you pay for and for 179 not even using it or firing live ammunition yet I can tell by the Walthers that I own and the multiple canik even the simple p365 trigger which is definitely my favorite carry gun but sadly not the best trigger of all my guns so I can actually say that the Mattea mc9 that was probably half the price of the Sig has a phenomenal trigger system I’m sure you’ve operated them and familiar but yeah I was pretty disappointed with the trigger system on the AVX carry begins they hyped it up and they also on Palmetto made it seem like the original price was $5.99 and I was getting such a great deal I guess if you count the optic plate and the $50 rebate it’s not bad but it will be never a primary firearm it will always be a backup like you said or someone said a pocket gun even though it’s bigger it’s getting colder out so I can actually with the holster that I have that is pretty tiny like p365 holster keep it inside of a hoodie pocket or usually in really cold weather I’ll have a hoodie underneath of either a jacket or probably like a puffy style vest and it will just be in the holster in my puffy vest for backup with a few magazines that I accidentally ordered and had to get extension plates for because they’re six round and they’re tiny I thought they were eight round and it took the seller on eBay 10 minutes to get back to me 3 minutes after I ordered I realized it was a mistake contacted and tried to cancel he said they’ve already shipped but will not be here for a full week? Either way I’m just going to keep the six round mags because I found extended plates for the mags for four bucks a piece to make up for the size difference in the eight and six round mag I can’t do that pinky stuff I had to replace my 10 round mags on my cig with extensions because the flush is way too small and the pinky curve the one is feel better but the same but just like you I do not leave my house without my p365 I was even thinking about putting in a better trigger system but I don’t think it really needs it for what its job is it’s already a great shooting gun has a clean crisp break and worth every penny people try to compare it to nothing against hellcats and Shields and all the other little guns that are in that category but to me it blows them out of the water and even the nut AMC 9 has an 18 round capacity subcompact super concealable I still prefer the Sig but great review definitely going to keep this in mind and definitely never leave my house again without my p365 and this will be my Pocket Gun and I didn’t know and thank you that when you register the gun with Beretta I was having problems doing the rebate it wouldn’t allow me they kept freezing that you get a free plate of your choice I don’t need it but every website I went to is sold out of the magazines it’s so popular I think I’m just going to grab it and throw it on eBay myself along with all the eight round mags I can grab because they’re selling my car cakes and people are jacking the price up and even Beretta is selling them for almost $40 that’s ridiculous I really wish I would have held off right now they have a Ruger which I know nothing about pocket pistol 380 ACP for 179 and that would have been ideal cheaper and probably a pocket gun also I’ve been looking at the HK P2000 for 499 if you know anything about that let me know I don’t really need another compact or subcompact gun but for the price I’ve looked everywhere and they retail for 800 to $1,000 and they have the L A M trigger version and the other version the subcompact or Compact and the full size I believe are both on sale 40 caliber
If you’re shopping and know what you want, wikiarms.com is a great place to get a lot of prices fast. I’m a big Canik fan. Their triggers are awesome.
Thanks for the feedback!
…Someone check on Joseph.
I think he’s still writing
Thanks for the review I just bought my APX a1 carry from a buddy who only like hellcats. It’s my first carry I don’t have a lot of money and my fn 509 9mm is way to big to conceal. I will unfortunately have to carry this gun for a while before I buy another one. Knowing some of the issues maybe will help me. It was either this or a Taurus 9mm but Ive had issues with my old Taurus 9mm and won’t give them any more money. Thank you so much for the feed back when I take it to the range I will be watching out what every one is talking about
Like I said, it doesn’t suck. I’m sure it will work for you until you decide to replace it. If I had to carry it, I could be ok with it. It was reliable, has good grip texture and accurate enough. I just had other options that are better ones in my opinion.
I’ve also had problems with Taurus, but the G2C seems to be a good series (the original one). I would never buy from them again, but I wouldn’t buy one from Beretta, either.
Sir, i have to disagree. I brought one because my 92fs and PX Storm is larger and heavy. I also have the sig P365 compact and added three 15 rounds. I usually like Hammer fire guns(old school era). I was hesitant on the beretta cause i also like safety on pistols (heard horror storys on people shooting themselves in the foot with glocks. I used both at the range and found out that I prefer the beretta over the sig. Yes you are right on the accuracy of the Beretta apx a1 carry. It’s right on target. The only downside is that a holds only eight rounds, single stacks. I wish they would make a 15 row like the sig sauer. But in my view, if you can’t defend yourself with 8 round mags, then you need to go back to shooting class lessons. I am in my 60s, and larger weapons is heavy, and hampers me from carrying long periods of time because of my back issues. This is why I prefer to carry compact and subcompact pistols, but I really prefer the subcompact pistols. So I made it my preference to carry the Beretta APX– A1 pistol. Four extra mag pouches on my belly band strap. As you said, it could be someone’s preference of what they would carry. But I’ve been very happy with the Beretta APX – A1 carry. I was thinking about trying to rent the Beretta APX A1 compact which is a little barrel longer to see the difference. I do appreciate you telling me the pros and cons that you found on it but I guess I just got used to the trigger pull. But one thing I do have to say is that I think and believe that Glocks are overrated. Thank you. And i noticed the beretta 92fs and PX Storm isn’t accurate. I am a gun collector, and will be getting rid of larger pistols and stay with Compact and Sub Compact. Happy Holidays…
Some people like a trigger like that. Some don’t. But there is a reason Baskin-Robbins has 31 flavors. We don’t all like the same thing. If it works for you and you’re happy with it, that’s great. It just wasn’t the right flavor for me.
Yes, the Carry conceals well, but finding an OWB holster is a challenge, unless one wants to pay more for it than a third of the value of the gun. Also, the Carry is a re-packed version of the Nano; it’s NOT a true APX.
Anyone who shoots themselves with a Glock should probably never carry or even own a gun… Trigger safeties are as safe as safety gets, but they don’t cause delays in live-fire situations. The 92 is one of the all-time favorites of pro shooters, but that doesn’t mean they are the best for self-defense; a lot depends on the user and the circumstances. The Carry sucks in many more ways that the fact that the manufacturer uses external contractors who might bill the manufacturer or you for “warranty repairs.” If Beretta considers this trash (“value”), buyers might as well do the same.
One more thing: after three well-placed shots, who would need four extra mags for self-defense, unless they are going up against criminal groups, but chances are, they would be dead well before they run out of ammo from the four mags…
Sorry, I’d prefer ANY Glock over this Beretta… Well, after the inventor passed away, Glock is also losing its image of “perfection,” but it still needs to establish itself as bad as Beretta.
The trigger on my brand new APX A1 Carry failed after 17 shots… will no longer reset. Contacted Beretta, got a return label & sent it back. We’ll see what transpires. This isn’t my 1st Beretta, but it’s the first Lemon.
Very disappointing
Wow, sorry to hear that. In fairness, any manufacturer can miss one in QC, but I’m sure Beretta will take care of you.
As Beretta uses subcontractors who decide if they want to bill you or the manufacturer, it’s always crapshoot. Please, let me know how it panned out.
Who cares about finish wear .
At only 150 rounds to have that much wear, I do. I expect wear. I don’t expect that much bare metal that fast. But if you don’t, that’s your prerogative.
Even HiPoint does… My Carry wasn’t even fired more than a couple of mags, but the finish was eroding only from holstering/unholstering.
My A1 Carry has been flawless. 1393 handloads through it so far. The long trigger pull dosnt bother me. Those of us that grew up with revolvers would have little trouble with it.But I come from a generation that learned how to walk and chew bubblegum at the same time when we were 2.5 years old. All my fights were with an 8 round 1911A1. Somehow I survived.
I’m not a super young guy. The first gun I qualified with was a S&W Mdl 64. I carried a revolver on duty for 2 years. I carried a 1911 in the Army. As I said in the article, I could manage the trigger, it just required management. If it works well for you, terrific. I prefer something that let’s me shoot more efficiently and that gives me more rounds. Doesn’t make either of us wrong, just different.
The Carry comes out in several versions. You probably have one of the “higher-end” ones. (I still don’t understand why a manufacturer that sells $12k shotguns and does not even have a presence in the US (even Taurus does for semis) is selling a “budget” POS. For that matter, I’ve won all my fights without a gun, but I feel better with a 357 Magnum on me. 🙂
Not sure why so much hate for this gun. I picked one up for $199 after rebate and you can’t beat it for the beretta quality and reliability. Zero issues so far and I can shoot it very accurate. Not a single malfunction to date. Yes the trigger is a longer pull but if you are used to glocks it’s not crazy.
Like others have said if you carry or pocket carry a longer trigger may not be a negative. Yes the sig may be better but not for the price, especially if you are in a state like I am that restricts mags to 10.
l trust this far more than similar priced carry guns like Taurus canik or worse like sccy. An accurate reliable beretta for $200!! Oh and optics ready
Everything you listed, I said in the article. It was reliable, could be accurate, was inexpensive. I even said I’d carry it if needed and not feel like I wasn’t adequately equipped. I even pointed out that some people may prefer the longer trigger if they pocket carry. So thanks for agreeing with me…… I just don’t feel the gun was worth it to me and I have better options.
I will disagree about Canik. Canik and Walther have the best triggers on the market for under $1k. Durability and reliability haven’t been an issue. Most of the people who trash talk them have little to no experience with them.
Well, l thank you all for your valuable comments! I research every gun before buying! This apx1 carry really had me questioning WHY it was so cheap!! Well guys and gals it goes back to an old expression “You Only Get What You Pay For” There are just too many negatives on this firearm! I did see the Carry yesterday at Palmetto and my first impression was the cheap looking and plastic feel of the grip! Reminded me when I was a kid I loved plastic water pistols! They even had all colors to pick from which is another red flag! Hot models are received and out the door and sold quickly. With all that said I was on my way out this morning to buy one! Well I said I gotta research a little more. I am so glad I did and all you guys and gals saved me $239 plus tax and gas Lol! I’m a Ruger and Smith guy! I know that my 9 Smith Shield and Ruger Max 380 are and will remain my go to daily’s !! Dependability and Trust is Everything you must demand in your carry. Thank you all again. I think I’ll use the money and take my wife for a nice dinner. Lol Have a Great day and stay safe!
Thanks for the encouragement Ray! Enjoy that dinner.
No hate, only facts. Even the recoil spring has an angle in the middle, and the ejector sticks out asymmetrically, when this one is loaded. Not exactly what I would call high-end workmanship. A Taurus 2GC (the original series that returned credit to Taurus) would be more reliable, and a Glock or a Walther even more (assuming one knows how to take care of them). Frankly, this gun is a joke, and the finish is the last of the problems, but it’s still there, as opposed to, say, Hi-Point, that covers the finish.
What about shipping abroad to scotland united Kingdom
Thomas, we don’t sell guns.
Is there a light/laser that fits the berets apx a1 carry?
I don’t know. Crimson Trace is probably the best place to look for that.
Look, this gun, when it decides to fire, shoot straight. The last thing you’d need is to attract attention with a laser. Lasers cannot be completely zeroed, anyway, but what will you do, when your battery is drained?
Love this article. I bought it because of the rebate and as a backup gun. It will be a backup to my current EDC, a APX A1 Compact. Love my apx a1 compact and it’s very comfortable to carry and that’s why I wanted to stay in the same family. I understand the issues with the apx a1 carry as it’s a rebranded beretta nano; if it breaks I will attempt to fix it myself as i once sent a m9 commercial for repair back in 2021 that took 6 months for them to send a replacement for. Got the replacement “made In gallatin Tennessee” and sold it. The apx a1 carry is my only American beretta right now. I have a ton of italian made ones. I’ve been trying out the apx line for carry but may go back to the px4 family or my 92 or 96 series pistols. Hopefully it doesn’t break. I’m gonna go send 100 rounds down it tomorrow. If it passes it will be my backup gun officially, if it fails it will just be another beretta in the collection. Fingers crossed.
Good luck at the range. I hope the gun works out for you.
I own several carry pistols (no, I am not sure why). And yes, the trigger in the A1 Carry is not good compared to other modern striker-fire small carry pistols. At least it is at the bottom of the brands/models I own and shoot. Maybe you could consider it a tie with my version 1 LCP, but that is not necessarily a modern carry pistol, and a trigger spring kit from MCarbo transformed the LCP, as much as a version 1 LCP can be transformed. For comparison, I also own a CZ P-10M, S&W Shield (v.1), S&W Shield Plus, and Hellcat. And I have the opportunity shoot many other brands.
My preference and daily carry is the Shield Plus, simply based on how well I shoot it fast for the first 3 shots, and overall accuracy in a defensive situation. My backup is the Hellcat based on the same criteria.
It is a double-edged sword with the A1 Carry. Had Beretta made the trigger even slightly better, and it therefore sold more, companies like MCarbo, CGW, Apex, and other aftermarket gun works would invest in making better spring/trigger kits at a reasonable price. Apex briefly did for the original APX A0, but abandoned the effort pretty quickly. I don’t see that happening for any Beretta pistol beyond the 92 series.
The other features of the gun made it an attractive offering, and chopping the price may help them sell current inventory. But there are too many other great choices out there in the market today, which is a great problem for us shooters!
Thanks for the thoughts.
I’d agree with the LCP being a similar trigger. I think even if the APX A1 Carry improved on the trigger, I’d still feel like it’s a big gun for the capacity you get with it. the P365 or Shield Plus are better investments to me.
Bueno, la misma historia, APX A1 Carry definitivamente hice una mala compra, desgaste prematuro de las piezas, un disparador de miedo, sinceramente me siento estafado con esta arma, será que alguien sabe por lo menos como hacer para poder ajustar el disparador oh alguna forma que allá, porque creo nadie ha podido, hasta estaba pensando modificar el accionar para ver si no se vuelve tan largo al accionar, sinceramente una porquería de arma.
Christian, I don’t know of anyone doing trigger jobs on them. Maybe a local gunsmith could help you out.
I bought this little gun, because PSA had a killer deal. I have owned Beretta firearms for over 50 years and have found them very well made, so I trusted this pistol, sight unseen. In comparing it to my current carry, a Walther PPS M2, there is no comparison. The APX is very short between the rear grip and the trigger making it impossible to get a proper trigger finger position if you have a large hand. The APX trigger is very rough and quite heavy. The APX mag release is much harder to release and seems to favor a front angle rather than a side push to release the mag. The rear sight is useless in poor light conditions, and there is no replacement that I can find to add even a three dot configuration(red dot on a concealed carry? Please. Maybe a crimsom trace). The slide release on the APX is quite stiff, rough to the touch and requires a concentrated effort to release it without easing the slide back. Pretty accurate, points well, and for a budget gun it may suit some. I will just tuck this APX away and hope that someone produces a rear sight that is useful and a trigger upgrade that smooths the pull.
Thanks for that perspective!
I bought one, sent it back to Beretta, they put parts in and sent back 2 months later with a worse trigger than I started with. I can’t believe Beretta actually puts their name on this pistol. I know whats wrong with it and will fix it myself but the safety lever on the trigger never clears the frame. It rides up the frame and creates an exorbitant amount of friction and drag. The trigger is bad enough let alone have a mechanical problem effect.
Sorry that happened Daryl. This really was a miss on Beretta’s part. For every 1 person that tells me they like theirs, I get 5 that give it a thumbs down.
Thanks for commenting!