An Ugly gun and a $25 Aimpoint! ( Beretta cx4 storm and Aimpoint Mark 3 )

Rate_of_Twist

Rate_of_Twist

Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
5,736
Likes
2,445
Location
Not Mass
Feedback: 66 / 1 / 0
I have been on a quest for a ultra short 9mm carbine for just about as long as I have been shooting. The goal was a fun range toy and a terrific "house gun" that either me or my wife could use in defense of our small house. Our house is small so short is a must and my wife is not comfortable with a 12ga yet. 223/556 is not and option, and IMHO 9mm hollow points out of a 16" barrel with 17 round magazines is a terrific easily controlled gun. I had considered some of the Just right carbines, RRA 9mm carbine, Sub 2000 ( which I had previously ownned ) Uzi and MP5 clones ect ect. I had always overlooked the CX4 Storm as IMHO it looks , well, Stupid!

After reading some more and weighing the options and costs and getting to handle a CX4 at a shop I decided to go for the beretta..... While it sat on layaway for a few weeks I began buying up preban mags off auction sites and Im now up to 10 preban mags.

Heres some initial thoughts after picking it up and putting 300 rounds though it.

1. It is NOT considered an "assault weapon" under and current Federal or Mass Law. Nor can it be unless laws are changed dramatically

2. It is VERY short! You would have to SBR your AR to get it this short.

3. It is quiet when shooting. In addition it digested a various range of ammo from reloads to hollow points without issue. There is little to no recoil.

4. It is plastic, but doesnt feel like it. It is extremely solid and well put together. I have owned a Sub 2000 and while it was decent, it felt like an airsoft gun ( no I dont own or play airsoft ) The CX4 Storm doesnt feel this way at all.

5. The trigger and the sights are the week spot for this little carbine. The trigger is not quite as bad as I expected after reading some reviews, but it is not "good" The sights while workable are just stupid and dont deserve to be on a gun with this price tag.

There has been many internet discussions of a good optic for this carbine with no real good easy solution. The sights can fold down out of view for use of a red dot, but I prefer a true "co witness".... This would require a very low optic height and it seemed like I was going to have to spend a ton on a optic just to get going. After a trip into a local shop a weird looking red dot caught my eye. no price tag, pushed to the back of the case with a bunch of $50 used "made in China" optics. After inquiring any looking at the height of the optic, I was given a price of $25 "SOLD"! I had fully expect to have to wait another few month just to put and inexpensive Votex Sparc on my CX4, but this one looked like it just might work

So, here it is. Beretta CX4 Storm and a "ancient" Aimpoint Mark 3 red dot. Yes it is a real aimpoint and it was a $600 optic, but that was just about 20 years ago ( made sometime around 1984! ) But its build quality is good and its still very bright, so it will due for now! Bet of all it offers a true co witness with the sights and with the rear site folded down the optic tube almost feels like the "night" or close quarters wide aperture site of an AR ( making the big wide circle around the whole front sight )

DSCN1334_zps0bedd151.jpg


DSCN1335_zps3c39db98.jpg


DSCN1340_zps3ffe6553.jpg


DSCN1346_zpsf35c57d4.jpg
 
**DRB** said:
4. It is plastic, but doesnt feel like it. It is extremely solid and well put together. I have owned a Sub 2000 and while it was decent, it felt like an airsoft gun ( no I dont own or play airsoft ) The CX4 Storm doesnt feel this way at all.
Click to expand...

Was it just the feel of the Sub2000 you didn't like?
 
BostonVI said:
Was it just the feel of the Sub2000 you didn't like?
Click to expand...

There's a lot to like about the sub 2000, and if I found another at its "normal" price I might buy another one as well. I purchased my sub 2k for 275. Its not worth the 500 they are going for now

The CX4 is no bargain either at $800, but... The overall fit and finish is 100 times greater than the sub2k and as bad as the trigger and sights are on the cx4 the sub 2k is worse. Mag changes are 10 times faster with the cx4. Mounting an optic on the sub2k takes away its big advantage of being able to fold
 
Last edited:
Very nice. I have handled and shot one and I think highly of it for a pistol carbine. Congrats and enjoy your new rifle!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
 
Nice review of the Beretta, I have one is 9mm as well and love it. But the trigger does need some "getting used to". Extremely long pull. But a very accurate pistol round carbine. It doesn't shoot Match Level, but you can hit what you aim at offhand at 50 yards or less (never tried it at 100 or more) using just the stock sites.

Currently looking for a .45ACP one at a good deal. Figure if the 9mm is good the .45 would be even better for a backup to the shotgun for HD.
 
Thanks for the offer. I agree with DRB's points on the sub 2k. My .02 is for some reason i could not shoulder it and shoot it very at all. I think it has a terrible sight picture, I also had to send mine back for repairs and i bought it brand new!. It's also not very ambi, whereas the cx4 is (i think). Plus I like my 92fs and have a ton of mags already for it. The sub 2k does fold which I think is super cool, I just couldn't shoot the damn thing to save my life.
 
A guy I was next to at the 100yd range at HSC was shooting one of these and he offered for me to shoot it but I had to leave. I wish I would have taken the time.

- - - Updated - - -

**DRB** said:
[rofl]. Huh?
Click to expand...

You need a decoder ring to decipher or Austin Milbarge.
 
I was looking into getting a M9 and a cx4. Do they take the same mags? Also, is the cx4 good to go for Boston residents?
 
**DRB** said:
They are very nice units... but its another $200+ just to be able to fold the carbine up and use a red dot....
Click to expand...

With the sub2k, I've come to the conclusion that I shouldn't try to turn it into something it's not. If I wanted a $600 gun, I would have bought something else. A cheep red dot with a decent QD mount might be a possibility in the future.

DRB, how do you like the weight of the CX4 vs that of the Sub2k?
 
BostonVI said:
With the sub2k, I've come to the conclusion that I shouldn't try to turn it into something it's not. If I wanted a $600 gun, I would have bought something else. A cheep red dot with a decent QD mount might be a possibility in the future.

DRB, how do you like the weight of the CX4 vs that of the Sub2k?
Click to expand...

Its a pound an a half more than the Kel Tec but a half a pound less than an average At
Weight is not at all a factor. The biggest thing is its center of balance is good. You and easily shoot with one hand without the carbine wanting to take a nose dive
 
Looks nice.. I picked on up a few months ago myself. Debated going with the .40, but as we all know 9mm is more abundant and cheaper. You are spot on with your review. I have an AR and this carbine is a wonderful gun..I prefer to shoot it over most of my toys. I threw on a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot and it fits perfect. I highly rec this carbine.
 
typennies said:
Looks nice.. I picked on up a few months ago myself. Debated going with the .40, but as we all know 9mm is more abundant and cheaper. You are spot on with your review. I have an AR and this carbine is a wonderful gun..I prefer to shoot it over most of my toys. I threw on a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot and it fits perfect. I highly rec this carbine.
Click to expand...

Put another 500 rounds through the cx4. A mix of reloads and factory ammo. Still no issues and still very much a keeper in my collection
 
Picked one up today. To shoot one is to love one. Now, i really love my AR, but this gun is such a nice size, handles so quick, shoots like a dream....and the fit and finish is great...even for plastic...until i shot a Glock, i was all paranoid about plastic...now i love plastic.
 
Just another update.

Another 700 rounds of my reloads through this little carbine without any issues at all. It's still hard to believe its plastic! I'm still acquiring preban mags at a good pace and have yet to pay more than $25 a piece.

One side note, reloads are very quick. If you are use to bringing a handgun to your sight line while doing reloads this thing is natural, it doesn't even need to come off your shoulder. The only "bad" part about reloads is the flared mag well. I'm use to sending mags home with a little force and I always slam my hand into the extended part of the magwell ( because a 15 round mag sits below the magwell level)

To rectify this I have ordered a bunch of +2 mag extensions

Edit: I should add the trigger has improved with the rounds, but I still consider it the week point of the carbine ( other than the price tag ). I will be considering the after market up grades over the winter
 
Last edited:
Another thumbs up for Beretta Storm

I agree that it's a great option as a home defense carbine. I have a foregrip and pistol-sized combination light/laser on mine. I am going to give it to my daughter as soon as she gets her LTC -- she was under lockdown in her apartment in Watertown during the Marathon bomber manhunt.
 
The cx4 is almost totaly ambi (except for the bolt release) ejection, charging handle, mag. release, and saftey can be switched. I'm right handed, left eye so i like that I was able to set it up for me. I like mine MUCH more than I like my subbie. My girlfriend liked my cx4 so much she bought her own. now we have two!
 

Similar threads

Gunsmiths for pistol slide and frame work
Replies
11
Views
439
DW357
DW357
Bolt gun - paralysis by analysis
Replies
3
Views
144
MickeyD’s
M
.357 Magnum Leverguns - Pros and Cons
2
Replies
58
Views
2K
P71Cemoto
P71Cemoto
All of a sudden I need a FFL-07 and a Glock 44
Replies
3
Views
190
chris_1001
chris_1001
Feds want 3d printer firms to prevent printing of "Glock Switch" and similar devices
Replies
6
Views
245
paul73
paul73
Back
Top Bottom