LAS VEGAS -- Beretta showed off a new concealed-carry pistol today at SHOT Show 2016 inspired by firearms trainer Earnest Langdon.
The PX4 Compact Carry is an improved version of the Beretta 9mm PX4 Storm Compact.
Langdon, a paid consultant for Beretta, set out to fix what he didn't like on the PX4 Compact.
The safety levers are too big, the slide stop is bigger than it needs to be and the grip's really slick," Langdon said at SHOT Show's Jan. 18 range day.
Langdon said he purchased the PX4 and began working on it before approaching Beretta on the improvements.
"About 4,000 rounds later, I said ‘Ok. This will work,'" Langdon said.
Beretta also agreed.
It features low-profile safety levers and slide stop to make the gun more narrow for concealed carry. It has an improved trigger pull, a larger magazine-release button, high-visibility night sights and Talon wrap-around grips for more secure handling.
Langdon, who served 12 years in the Marine Corps, is a fan of double-action pistols like the Beretta M9. He has won six of his national pistol championships with a Beretta 92.
"I like the reliability of a hammer-fired gun," he said. "Once I get past that first double-action trigger pull, I have got a nice, crisp, clean single action for all the rest of the shots."
The slide on the new PX4 Compact Carry also features a new, gray Cerakote finish.
The price hasn't been set yet, but the new version of the PX4 will likely cost about $200 more than $650 price tag on the standard model, Langdon said.
"You are getting night sights, you are getting grips, you are getting a better trigger, you're getting the safety levers," Langdon said.
Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
