Last updated October 2026 · By Nick Hall, a Beretta shooter with full range reviews of the 92FS, M9A4, PX4 Storm, APX A1, 80X Cheetah and 20X Bobcat on this site
Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
- Treat every gun as loaded
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
- Know your target and what’s beyond
Beretta traces its history to 1526, and its US catalog lists 96 pistols as I write this. Half of them are a version of the same open-slide 92. Sorting the guns worth your money from the paint jobs and special editions takes range time.
So here are the best Beretta pistols for 2026, ranked. I have put at least 500 rounds through every gun on this list, and six of them have full reviews on this site that the scores below come from.
You’ll find a metal-frame 9mm for every job, plus the striker-fired APX A1, the rotating-barrel PX4 Storm, a .380 and a pocket .22. Each pick carries a live price card, Beretta’s own specs and what happened when I shot it.
Table of Contents
How we tested: Every pick here is ranked against our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun.
Best Beretta Pistols at a Glance
The 92X RDO Full Size is the best Beretta pistol for most buyers in 2026. All 11 picks are semi-automatic pistols, ranked by my score out of 10, and where two tie, the cheaper price card goes first.
| Pick | Best For | Caliber and Capacity | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Beretta 92X RDO Full Size | Best overall | 9mm, 18+1 | 8.7 | Price ↓ |
| 2. Beretta 92X Performance Defensive | Competition | 9mm, 15+1 | 8.6 | Price ↓ |
| 3. Beretta APX A1 Full Size | Striker-fired value | 9mm, 17+1 | 8.5 | Price ↓ |
| 4. Beretta 80X Cheetah | Soft-shooting .380 | .380 ACP, 13+1 | 8.4 | Price ↓ |
| 5. Beretta 92FS | The classic 92 | 9mm, 15+1 | 8.4 | Price ↓ |
| 6. Beretta M9A4 | Optic-ready duty gun | 9mm, 18+1 | 8.4 | Price ↓ |
| 7. Beretta 92X RDO Compact | Metal-frame carry | 9mm, 15+1 | 8.2 | Price ↓ |
| 8. Beretta PX4 Storm Compact | Polymer hammer-fired carry | 9mm, 15+1 | 8.0 | Price ↓ |
| 9. Beretta PX4 Storm | Rotating-barrel full size | 9mm, 17+1 | 7.8 | Price ↓ |
| 10. Beretta APX A1 Carry | Lowest price | 9mm, 8+1 | 7.6 | Price ↓ |
| 11. Beretta 20X Bobcat | Pocket .22 | .22 LR, 8+1 | 7.5 | Price ↓ |
A note on prices. The price at the top of each card is not always the lowest row on it, so read every row before you buy. Every list price is Beretta’s own as of October 2026.
1. Beretta 92X RDO Full Size: Best Overall
The 92X RDO Full Size is the 92 I’d tell most people to buy. It adds an optic-ready slide, a rail and 18-round magazines at a lower list price than the 92FS, and I scored it 8.7 out of 10.
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: DA/SA, hammer fired
- Barrel: 4.7 in
- Weight: 33.3 oz unloaded
- Capacity: 18+1, with 10 and 15-round versions
- Frame: Aluminum, Vertec profile, 3-slot Picatinny rail
- Beretta list price: $799
- Street price: from $679.00 on the card below
- My score: 8.7 out of 10
Pros
- Optic-ready slide from the factory
- Lever converts from F to G
- Short reset, easy fast pairs
Cons
- Optic plates cost extra
- Heavy at 33.3 oz unloaded
- Few dealers list it new
I ran 600 rounds through a 92X RDO over four range trips: 400 of Federal American Eagle 124 grain FMJ, 150 of Blazer Brass 115 grain and 50 of Federal HST 124 grain. It didn’t stop once. Off a rest at 15 yards, my best five-shot group with the HST measured 1.7 inches.
The thin Vertec-style grips and straight backstrap are the change you feel first. My hands are not large, and this is the first full-size 92 where I can reach the double-action trigger without shifting my grip, which matters more on a DA/SA pistol than any number on the spec sheet because that long first pull is where shots go wrong. My gauge read 10 lb 8 oz in double action and 4 lb 12 oz in single action.
Beretta sells five plate patterns for the slide cut, so budget for one along with one of the pistol red dots I’ve tested. The lever on the slide is a safety and decocker as shipped. You can swap it for a decocker-only G lever and back again.
With a light on the frame, it’s my home defense pick too. One caution: a single dealer we track lists the full-size gun new right now, so the card has only one row to compare.
2. Beretta 92X Performance Defensive: Best for Competition
Beretta built the 92X Performance Defensive for IDPA: a steel-frame 92 with a frame-mounted safety, a slide cut for a red dot and no accessory rail. It weighs 42.7 oz and holds 15 rounds of 9mm.
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: DA/SA with a frame-mounted safety, no decocker
- Barrel: 4.9 in
- Weight: 42.7 oz unloaded
- Capacity: 15+1, with a 10-round version
- Frame: Steel, no accessory rail
- Sight radius: 6.7 in
- Beretta list price: $1,299
- Street price: from $1,316.99 on the card below
- My score: 8.6 out of 10
Pros
- Steel frame soaks up recoil
- Frame safety, no decocker to fumble
- Slide cut for a red dot
Cons
- 42.7 oz is a lot
- No accessory rail
- Over $1,000 at every dealer listed
Weight is the whole point. At 42.7 oz the Defensive sits flat through a string of fire in a way no aluminum 92 does, and the frame-mounted safety lets you run it cocked and locked.
I shot 500 rounds through one: 300 of Federal American Eagle 147 grain FMJ, 150 of Blazer Brass 124 grain and 50 of Speer Gold Dot 124 grain. No stoppages. The single-action trigger pull broke at 3 lb 9 oz on my gauge, and my best five-shot group at 15 yards was 1.2 inches with the 147 grain load, the tightest I’ve shot with any pistol on this page. That is why it earns 8.6 out of 10.
Beretta says it fits the IDPA divisions SSP, ESP and CO. Its sibling, the 92X Performance Carry Optic, weighs 47.6 oz, lists at $1,399 and is built for the USPSA Carry Optics division, where the limit is 59 oz with an optic and an empty magazine.
Read the whole card before you click. It opens at $1,316.99, a little over Beretta’s list price, and the Bass Pro Shops row further down shows $1,099.99.
3. Beretta APX A1 Full Size: Best Striker-Fired Value
For anyone who does not want to learn a double-action trigger, the APX A1 Full Size is the answer: Beretta’s striker-fired 9mm, with a polymer frame, 17-round magazines, a tritium front sight and an optic-ready slide.
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: Striker fired
- Barrel: 4.25 in
- Weight: 29 oz unloaded
- Capacity: 17+1, with 10 and 15-round versions
- Sights: Tritium front, black serrated rear
- Beretta list price: $549, or $499 in OD Green
- Street price: from $444.99 on the card below
- My score: 8.5 out of 10
Pros
- 750 rounds, zero malfunctions
- Tritium front sight standard
- Street price well under list
Cons
- Optic plate kit sold separately
- 5.6 in tall, hard to conceal
- Deep slide cuts look odd
One pull, the same every time, with a clean break and a short reset. My test gun went through 300 rounds of Federal American Eagle 115 grain FMJ, 200 of Blazer Brass 124 grain, 100 of Winchester USA 115 grain, 100 of Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P and 50 of Hornady Critical Duty 135 grain +P. Not one malfunction. At 25 yards the Gold Dot held 2.6 inches off a rest with the factory sights.
Those rounds were spread over five range trips in August and September, in temperatures between 64 and 91 degrees. The full write-up, with every group, is in my Beretta APX A1 review.
Beretta says its APX candidate passed every test of the US Army’s MHS program. What I can tell you is that the A1 feels like a duty gun: slide and magazine releases that set up for either hand, and slide serrations deep enough to rack with wet hands.
4. Beretta 80X Cheetah: Best Soft-Shooting .380
A .380 this size sounds like a step backward, and it isn’t. The 80X Cheetah holds 13 rounds in an aluminum frame, weighs 25 oz and is one of the softest-shooting carry pistols I’ve fired.
- Caliber: .380 ACP
- Action: DA/SA, blowback, frame-mounted safety
- Barrel: 3.9 in
- Weight: 25 oz unloaded
- Capacity: 13+1, with a 10-round version
- Frame: Aluminum with an accessory rail
- Beretta list price: $649
- Street price: from $621.99 on the card below
- My score: 8.4 out of 10
Pros
- Very light recoil
- Slide is easy to rack
- Optic-ready slide and a rail
Cons
- 25 oz is heavy for .380
- One stoppage on a 15-round magazine
- 1.4 in wide for a .380
The weight and the fixed barrel soak up what little recoil the cartridge makes, and that is why the 80X suits anyone who struggles with a snappy micro 9mm or a stiff slide.
I put 800 rounds through a standard black gun over four range trips: 400 of Federal American Eagle 95 grain FMJ, 200 of Blazer Brass 95 grain, 100 of Hornady Critical Defense 90 grain, 50 of Federal HST Micro 99 grain and 50 of Speer Gold Dot 90 grain. The Gold Dot grouped best, at 1.9 inches from 15 yards. My gauge read 4 lb in single action and 9 lb in double action.
The one stoppage was a failure to feed at round 431, with Blazer Brass from a full 15-round extended magazine. So carry the standard 13-rounder. My Beretta 80X Cheetah review covers the Tactical model too.
5. Beretta 92FS: The Classic 92
The 92FS is the original: a 15-round, all-metal DA/SA 9mm with the open slide, a safety-decocker and no rail. Mine has 1,000 rounds through it and holds an 8.4 out of 10 in my full review.
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: DA/SA, ambidextrous safety-decocker
- Barrel: 4.9 in
- Weight: 33.3 oz unloaded
- Capacity: 15+1
- Finish: Bruniton
- Beretta list price: $809
- Street price: from $699.99 on the card below
- My score: 8.4 out of 10
Pros
- Zero stoppages in 1,000 rounds
- 1.75 in groups at 15 yards
- Spare parts and magazines everywhere
Cons
- No rail, no optic cut
- Long 11 lb double-action pull
- Wide grip for small hands
Why buy the old one when the 92X exists? Because nothing else feels like it. The rounded backstrap, the plain dust cover and the slide-mounted lever are the 92 I learned on, and for a range gun or a nightstand gun without a light, none of that holds it back.
My 1,000 rounds were Winchester white box 115 grain FMJ, PMC Bronze 115 grain, Federal American Eagle 124 grain and Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P, with zero stoppages. About 150 of them came out of a Kydex outside-the-waistband holster, each string starting with the double-action pull, which averaged 11 lb 6 oz over ten pulls on my gauge.
The Gold Dot printed about 1.75 inches at 15 yards and the Federal ran 2 to 2.5 inches. Beretta’s own claim is bolder: it says the 92FS consistently beats the US military requirement of a 10-shot group of 3 inches or less at 50 meters. The heat, the cold and the teardown are in my Beretta 92FS review.
Want the same gun with a rail? That’s the M9A1, and my Beretta M9A1 review covers what the rail costs you. For the newer single action version, see our Beretta 92XI review. The whole 92 family, line by line, is in our Beretta 92 models explained guide.
The card above leads with it at about $620.
6. Beretta M9A4: Best Optic-Ready Duty Gun
Top of the M9 line, the M9A4 is a Flat Dark Earth 92 with a decocker-only lever, dovetailed tritium night sights, an optic-ready slide and 18-round magazines. Beretta lists the Full Size and the shorter Centurion at the same price.
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: DA/SA, decocker only, no manual safety
- Barrel: 5.1 in Full Size, 4.8 in Centurion
- Weight: 33.4 oz Full Size, 32 oz Centurion
- Capacity: 18+1, with 10 and 15-round versions
- Sights: Dovetailed tritium night sights
- Beretta list price: $1,249 for either size
- Street price: from $1,150.99 on the card below
- My score: 8.4 out of 10
Pros
- Tritium night sights standard
- Decocker-only G lever
- 18-round magazines in the box
Cons
- Far pricier than a 92X RDO
- 33.4 oz before you add a dot
- One stoppage on steel-case ammo
Think of it as the pick 1 gun with every option box checked. Night sights instead of plain dots, a G lever that only decocks, so there’s no safety to leave on by mistake, and a Cerakote finish. Whether that’s worth the gap in price depends on how much of it you’d add anyway.
My full-size M9A4 fired 600 rounds across five sessions between February and April: 250 of Federal American Eagle 115 grain FMJ, 180 of American Eagle 147 grain, 60 of Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P, 60 of Blazer Brass 115 grain and 50 of steel-cased TulAmmo 115 grain. There was one stoppage, a failure to extract at round 412 on the TulAmmo that I’d thrown in to see what would happen. That was it.
With a dot fitted and the gun on a bag at 25 yards, my best five-shot group measured 1.6 inches with the 147 grain American Eagle, and five groups averaged 2.0 inches. The Beretta M9A4 review has the rest, and the score is the one it earned there, 8.4 out of 10.
7. Beretta 92X RDO Compact: Best Metal-Frame Carry Gun
Carrying a 92 used to mean a full-size gun and a sturdy belt. The 92X RDO Compact has a 4.25 inch barrel, weighs 27.2 oz and keeps the rail, the optic cut and a 15-round magazine.
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: DA/SA, F safety-decocker
- Barrel: 4.25 in
- Weight: 27.2 oz unloaded
- Capacity: 15+1, with a 10-round version
- Frame: Aluminum, 3-slot Picatinny rail
- Sight radius: 5.75 in
- Beretta list price: $799
- Street price: from $749.00 on the card below
- My score: 8.2 out of 10
Pros
- 6 oz lighter than the Full Size
- Keeps the rail and optic cut
- 15 rounds in a shorter grip
Cons
- Still 1.5 in wide
- Groups open up at 15 yards
- Few dealers list it new
The Compact takes six ounces and three quarters of an inch of length off the Full Size, and that is enough to make it a real concealed carry gun under a jacket or an untucked shirt for anyone willing to wear a stiff gun belt.
Holsters for a Beretta
Best-scored accessories across 200+ retailers · Updated every 4 hours
9mm Ammo on Sale
On-sale 9mm from 200+ retailers · Updated every 4 hours
I carried the 92X Compact in an inside-the-waistband holster for three weeks and shot 500 rounds through it: 450 of Federal American Eagle 124 grain FMJ and 50 of Speer Gold Dot 124 grain. No stoppages. It’s a little snappier than the big gun, and my best 15-yard group opened up to 2.2 inches with the Gold Dot.
But it’s still a wide, heavy pistol next to a polymer carry gun, and my concealed carry handguns guide has lighter choices. I gave it 8.2 out of 10. Buy this one because you want a hammer, a metal frame and a second-strike trigger on your belt.
Both sizes list at the same price. Today the Compact’s card is the higher of the two, and only one dealer we track has it new.
8. Beretta PX4 Storm Compact: Best Polymer Hammer-Fired Carry Gun
Fifteen rounds of 9mm, a rotating barrel and a DA/SA trigger in a polymer pistol with a 3.27 inch barrel: that is the PX4 Storm Compact. It weighs 27.2 oz, and I scored it 8.0 out of 10.
- Caliber: 9mm Luger, also sold in .40 S&W
- Action: DA/SA, rotating barrel, ambidextrous safety
- Barrel: 3.27 in
- Weight: 27.2 oz unloaded
- Capacity: 15+1, with a 10-round version
- Frame: Polymer, accessory rail, interchangeable backstraps
- Beretta list price: $749 in 9mm
- Street price: from $641.99 on the card below
- My score: 8.0 out of 10
Pros
- Rotating barrel softens recoil
- 15 rounds in a compact
- Sells well under list price
Cons
- 1.42 in wide
- Long double-action first pull
- Slide levers stick out
Beretta’s size names take some decoding. The Compact sits between the full-size PX4 and the sub-compact, with a full grip and a full-capacity magazine.
Does the barrel trick work? Yes. Beretta says recoil dissipates radially, and in the hand that means a push instead of a snap. I shot 300 rounds of Blazer Brass 115 grain FMJ, 150 of Federal American Eagle 124 grain and 50 of Federal HST 124 grain through mine with no malfunctions.
My best five-shot group at 15 yards was 2.3 inches with the HST, and the gauge read 10 lb 2 oz in double action and 4 lb 6 oz in single action.
The cost is width. At 1.42 inches with slide-mounted safety levers on both sides, it prints more than a slim striker gun.
Its card opens at about $590.
9. Beretta PX4 Storm: Best Rotating-Barrel Full Size
Mine has gone more than 1,500 rounds without a single malfunction. The full-size PX4 Storm is a 17-round polymer DA/SA 9mm with a rotating barrel and a 4 inch barrel, and it scores 7.8 out of 10 in my review.
- Caliber: 9mm Luger, also sold in .40 S&W and .45 ACP
- Action: DA/SA, rotating barrel, ambidextrous safety
- Barrel: 4 in
- Weight: 27.7 oz unloaded
- Capacity: 17+1 in 9mm
- Sights: 3-dot
- Beretta list price: $749 in 9mm, $709 in .40 S&W, $809 in .45 ACP
- Street price: from $649.99 on the card below
- My score: 7.8 out of 10
Pros
- Soft recoil for its weight
- 17 rounds at 27.7 oz
- Over 1,500 rounds, zero malfunctions
Cons
- Not optics ready from the factory
- 1.42 in wide
- Bulky slide-mounted safety levers
The PX4 is the Beretta that gets overlooked. Unfairly, I think. It has been in my safe for several years, and it’s the one I hand to new shooters who flinch at a snappy polymer 9mm.
Benched at 15 yards in single action, my best five-shot group was 2.0 inches with Federal HST 147 grain, and the average was 2.6 inches. Double-action first shots opened that to roughly 4 inches. At 25 yards it held 2.8 inches with 124 grain ammunition.
It ranks ninth for what it lacks, not for how it shoots. There is no optic cut, the slide is wide, and the Compact above gives you nearly the same gun in a smaller package for similar money. Beretta calls the PX4 NATO-certified and builds a Picatinny rail into the frame, so a light is easy.
My Beretta PX4 Storm review covers the long-term wear, and the best 9mm DA/SA pistols guide shows how it stacks up outside the brand.
10. Beretta APX A1 Carry: Lowest-Priced Beretta 9mm
Under $300 for a Beretta with an optic cut. The APX A1 Carry is a single-stack 9mm that weighs 19.8 oz, holds 8+1 and measures 0.9 inches wide, and it has the lowest price card on this list.
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: Striker fired
- Barrel: 3 in
- Weight: 19.8 oz unloaded
- Capacity: 8+1
- Size: 0.9 in wide, 4.17 in tall, 5.63 in long
- Beretta list price: $409
- Street price: from $273.99 on the card below
- My score: 7.6 out of 10
Pros
- Lowest price card on this list
- 0.9 in wide, 19.8 oz
- Optic-ready slide
Cons
- Only 8+1
- Snappy with defensive loads
- Short grip for big hands
For concealed carry on a tight budget, this is the first Beretta I’d look at. It’s thin where the double-stack micro 9mm pistols are fat, and it holds fewer rounds than they do.
I shot 500 rounds through one, 400 of Blazer Brass 115 grain FMJ and 100 of Federal HST 124 grain. It ran all of it without a stoppage, though the HST had the short grip squirming in my hand by the end of each magazine. My best five-shot group at 10 yards was 2.9 inches with the HST, and the trigger broke at 5 lb 14 oz on my gauge.
The chassis lifts out of the grip frame, and Beretta offers replacement frames in Flat Dark Earth, OD Green and Wolf Grey. It sits tenth because eight rounds and a short sight radius make it a specialist.
11. Beretta 20X Bobcat: Best Pocket .22
Press a button and the barrel of the 20X Bobcat tips up, so you can load the chamber without racking a slide. Beretta’s pocket .22 holds 8+1, weighs 13.6 oz with the threaded barrel and scores 7.5 out of 10.
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Action: DA/SA with a tip-up barrel
- Barrel: 2.8 in threaded on the Do It Yourself model, 2.4 in standard
- Weight: 13.6 oz unloaded, threaded model
- Capacity: 8+1
- Size: 5 in long, 4.3 in tall, 1.3 in wide
- Beretta list price: $399, or $449 for the Bug Out Bag and You’re On Your Own models
- Street price: from $329.99 on the card below
- My score: 7.5 out of 10
Pros
- Tip-up barrel, no slide racking
- 13.6 oz unloaded
- Threaded barrel option
Cons
- Four stoppages with cheap ammo
- Likes a cleaning every 200 rounds
- .22 LR is a marginal defender
For anyone with weak hands, that tip-up barrel matters more than any spec on this page. My test gun was the threaded model, which comes with suppressor-height sights, and its slide is marked Beretta USA Corp., Gallatin, TN.
I shot 500 rounds over three sessions in September: 200 of CCI Mini-Mag 40 grain, 100 of CCI Stinger 32 grain, 100 of Federal AutoMatch 40 grain and 100 of Winchester 333 bulk 36 grain. The 300 CCI rounds ran without a stoppage. Two AutoMatch cases failed to eject in the first 50 rounds, and two Winchester rounds failed to fire. Feed it CCI.
From a rest at 7 yards, five-shot groups averaged 1.6 inches, and Mini-Mags opened to 3.2 inches at 15. The trigger pull measured 7 lb 10 oz in double action and 3 lb 12 oz in single action. Maintenance matters on a rimfire, so I cleaned it every 200 rounds.
The Beretta 20X Bobcat review has the load-by-load log. If you’d like the same pistol in a centerfire caliber, read my Beretta 30X Tomcat review of its .32 ACP twin.
Beretta Pistol Models: The Full 2026 Lineup
Beretta’s US catalog listed 96 pistols on October 12, 2026. Grouped by name, those Beretta pistol models make 18 lines, and the table gives each line’s versions, caliber and lowest Beretta list price, from $399 to $1,449.
| Line | Versions | Caliber | Beretta list price from | My score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92FS | Standard, Inox, Bronze, Gray, OD Green, Brigadier | 9mm | $809 | 8.4 |
| M9 | One 9mm model in 10 and 15-round versions | 9mm | $819 | Not scored |
| M9A1 | The M9 with an accessory rail | 9mm | $869 | 7.8 |
| 92X RDO | Full Size, Compact, Inox, plus the 92X Centurion | 9mm | $799 | 8.7 Full Size, 8.2 Compact |
| 92GTS | Full Size, Centurion, Launch Edition | 9mm | $899 | Not scored |
| 92XI | SAO, SAO Tactical, Squalo and camo editions | 9mm | $969 | 8.5 |
| M9A4 | Full Size, Centurion, Overlanding finishes | 9mm | $1,249 | 8.4 |
| 92G Elite LTT | Elite LTT II and Elite Combat LTT | 9mm | $1,249 | Not scored |
| 92X Performance | Defensive and Carry Optic | 9mm | $1,299 | 8.6 |
| 92SB Repro | A reissue of the 92SB | 9mm | $1,449 | Not scored |
| 96A1 | The railed 92 pattern in .40 | .40 S&W | $899 | Not scored |
| 92FSR | Rimfire 92 | .22 LR | $469 | Not scored |
| PX4 Storm | Full, Compact, Compact Carry 2, Full Size G-SD | 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP | $709 | 7.8 Full, 8.0 Compact |
| APX A1 | Carry, Compact, Full Size, Tactical, Ported | 9mm | $409 | 8.5 Full Size, 7.6 Carry |
| 80X Cheetah | Standard and Tactical | .380 ACP, .32 ACP | $649 | 8.4 |
| 30X Tomcat and 3032 Tomcat | Tip-up pocket pistols | .32 ACP | $399 | 7.7 |
| 20X Bobcat and 21A Bobcat | Tip-up pocket pistols | .22 LR | $399 | 7.5 |
| B22 Jaguar | Tac Metal and Metal Competition | .22 LR | $749 | Not scored |
Three lines in that table carry a score and are not among the 11. The 92XI is the pick 1 gun with a single-action trigger and the M9A1 is the 92FS with a rail, so each would repeat a pistol already ranked. The 30X Tomcat is the 20X in .32 ACP, and I kept one tip-up pistol on the list, the rimfire.
Three Older Berettas You’ll Still See for Sale
The 11 picks above all had a new gun on a price card when I ranked them. These three didn’t, and each used to be on this list.
Beretta 21A Bobcat Covert. The older 7-round Bobcat is still in Beretta’s catalog at $649, with a 2.9 inch threaded barrel and an 11.8 oz weight. No dealer we track lists a new one today, and the 20X does the same job for less, so the 20X took its place.
Beretta 92G Elite LTT. The Langdon Tactical 92 has been replaced by the 92G Elite LTT II, which Beretta lists at $1,249 with a 4.7 inch barrel and a 34.9 oz weight. I couldn’t find a new LTT II at any dealer we track. What turns up are the 22-round Elite Combat LTT and older Elite LTT pistols, and they aren’t the same gun.
Beretta 92A1. The railed 92A1 isn’t in Beretta’s US catalog now. The only A1 left there is the .40 S&W 96A1 at $899. Both 92A1 listings I found while pricing this page were used, and one was a police trade-in.
Which Beretta 9mm Should You Buy?
Nine of the 11 picks are a Beretta 9mm, so the choice comes down to the job. Match the gun to how you’ll use it, then check its card, because street prices move faster than list prices.
- Home defense: the 92X RDO Full Size.
- Concealed carry: the 92X Compact if you want metal, the PX4 Storm Compact if you want a hammer on a polymer frame for less money, the APX A1 Carry if you want thin.
- Competition: the 92X Performance Defensive.
- One striker-fired gun for everything: the APX A1 Full Size.
- The classic: the 92FS, and nothing else will do.
Whichever Beretta 9mm you pick, feed it well. My best 9mm ammo guide covers range and defensive loads. If you’re still weighing sizes, the full size 9mm pistols and compact 9mm pistols guides put these Beretta handguns next to their rivals, and Beretta 92FS vs Glock 17 settles the oldest argument of all.
Beretta-Specific Buyer Questions
Beretta sells its 9mm pistols with three kinds of lever: a safety-decocker on the 92FS, a decocker only on the M9A4 and a frame safety on the 92X Performance. Most questions about the best Beretta handguns start there.
Why does the 92FS still get recommended in 2026?
Because the reasons the US military picked it still apply. Beretta won that contract in 1985, and in its own words the contract was renewed after more than two decades of hard use. The open slide leaves a stuck case nowhere to hide, and the gun is easy to shoot well.
It’s dated next to a striker-fired pistol. If a light or a red dot matters to you, buy pick 1 and get the same action with room for both.
PX4 Storm Type F or Type G: which should I buy?
Type F has a lever that works as a safety and a decocker. Type G has a decocker only, so there’s no safety to sweep off on the draw. I prefer G for carry and F for anyone who already trains with a manual safety.
The PX4 Storm and PX4 Storm Compact on the cards above are Type F pistols. The G lever comes on the PX4 Full Size G-SD, which Beretta lists at $949.
Is the Beretta APX A1 worth considering against other striker-fired pistols?
Yes. Mine never malfunctioned, the trigger breaks cleanly with a short reset, and the card price sits well under Beretta’s list.
The trade is support. You will not find a holster for it in every shop, so order one cut for the A1 when you order the gun.
Does the PX4 Storm rotating barrel reduce felt recoil?
It does. The barrel turns to unlock instead of tilting, and after more than 1,500 rounds through my full-size PX4 I’d call it the softest-shooting polymer 9mm of its weight that I own.
How I Tested These Beretta Pistols
Every Beretta on this list went through the same routine: at least 500 rounds, split between cheap range ammo and defensive loads, with groups shot off a rest and every stoppage written down.
The range ammo was FMJ and the defensive loads were hollow points, named with their grain weights in each pick. The 20X Bobcat got four rimfire loads, because a .22 shows its feeding problems only with certain ammunition.
The score comes from five things. Trigger counts most, because most of these are DA/SA pistols. Ergonomics covers grip shape, slide effort and reach to the controls. Build quality covers fit, finish and frame material.
Features covers what the gun gives you for the money: an optic cut, a rail, capacity and sights. Reliability is the stoppage count, and a gun that only runs on one brand of ammunition loses points for it.
Six of the 11 scores are carried straight over from my full reviews. The other five were shot and scored the same way for this page. And where a pricier gun doesn’t shoot better than a cheaper one, I’ve said so in its section.
The Bottom Line
If you can only buy one, buy the 92X RDO Full Size at 8.7 out of 10. It keeps what makes a 92 a 92 and adds what the old gun lacks, for less than Beretta asks for a 92FS.
The runner-up depends on you. Take the APX A1 Full Size if you’d rather have a striker-fired trigger and a lighter gun, or the 92FS if you want the classic and do not care about a light or a dot, because nothing newer in the catalog feels the same in the hand.
On a tight budget, the APX A1 Carry is the cheapest way into the brand. Those are the best Beretta pistols I’d spend my own money on in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick facts on the best Beretta pistols first: the 92X RDO Full Size is my top pick at 8.7 out of 10, the lowest Beretta list price is $399, and nine of the 11 picks are 9mm.
What is the best Beretta pistol?
For most buyers it's the 92X RDO Full Size, which I scored 8.7 out of 10. You get an optic-ready slide, an accessory rail and 18-round magazines at a Beretta list price of $799. If you shoot matches, look at the 92X Performance Defensive, and if you'd rather have a striker-fired gun, the APX A1 Full Size is the one.
Is Beretta a good gun brand?
Yes. Beretta is an Italian gunmaker that traces its history to 1526, and the slide of the 92FS in Beretta's own photos still reads Pietro Beretta, Gardone V.T. In my testing the APX A1 Full Size ran 750 rounds without a malfunction, and the M9A4 had one stoppage in 600 rounds, on steel-cased ammunition.
What Beretta did the military use?
The US military adopted the Beretta 92 as the M9 in 1985, and Beretta says the contract was renewed after more than two decades of hard use. You can still buy the civilian M9 at a $819 list price. Its railed version, the M9A1, lists at $869 and the optic-ready M9A4 at $1,249.
Is the Beretta 92X better than a Glock?
They're different tools. The 92X RDO is a 33.3 oz aluminum-frame pistol with a DA/SA trigger and a safety lever, while a Glock is a lighter polymer striker-fired gun with one trigger pull to learn. I shoot the 92X better and find a striker gun easier to carry. Beretta's own striker-fired design is the APX A1.
What is the cheapest Beretta pistol?
By list price it's a tie between the 20X Bobcat and the 30X Tomcat, at $399 each. On the street the APX A1 Carry is cheaper: Beretta lists it at $409 and the price card on this page starts at $273.99.
Does Beretta make shotguns?
Yes. Beretta's US catalog includes the 686 Silver Pigeon I over/under, the 1301 Tactical and A300 Ultima semi-automatics and the A400 line. This guide covers pistols only.
Are Beretta pistols worth the money?
If you want a DA/SA pistol, yes: nothing else shoots like a metal-frame 92, and the 92X RDO is priced below the 92FS it improves on. Beretta's polymer APX A1 guns are priced to compete, at $549 list for the Full Size and $409 for the Carry. You pay more for the M9A4 and the 92X Performance because of night sights, steel frames and tuned triggers.
What is the most popular Beretta pistol?
It's the 92FS, the Beretta most people picture and the civilian twin of the military M9. I scored mine 8.4 out of 10 after 1,000 rounds with zero stoppages. Its modern follow-up is the 92X RDO, which is my top pick on this page.
4,021+ Gun & Ammo Deals
Updated daily from 200+ top retailers. Filter by category, caliber, action type, and price.
Related Guides