Beretta’s APX has been one of my favorite striker-fired pistols since it was first available. I really appreciate its rugged reliability and functionality. So, when Beretta announced the APX Combat, I had to get my hands on one.
The Beretta APX Combat
My introduction to the APX came while attending Beretta’s Tactical Summit a few years ago. John Chapman, co-founder of Forge Tactical, provided much of the training. John is an excellent teacher with an extensive law enforcement background.
His input was a big part of the APX, and it shows. As Beretta’s entrance into the Army Pistol solicitation, it was designed for combat, making it simple and functional.
Since then, I have tested the APX in every configuration offered to date and taken the full-sized model to training and media events. Likewise, I used it as a teaching pistol when working at the Gunsite Academy.
Each and every APX I’ve used has been accurate, reliable, and dependable, with features built to last. The Combat model was no exception.
Beretta APX Pistols
The APX consists of a polymer grip frame housing with interchangeable grip straps. Modular, the internal “chassis frame” is serialized and removable. Frame housings of different colors are available.
The magazine release is easy to access and can be moved to either side. Similarly, the slide stop/release is ambidextrous. An extended beavertail and high bore line reference make it easy to control.
A true “Picatinny” rail accepts most common lighting systems. Press the striker deactivator for safe disassembly. The trigger breaks at 6 pounds and is flat and wide with a tactile, predictable reset. Serrations on the slide are aggressive and evenly spaced from front to back.
Magazines are metal with flat plastic bottom plates and ledges, making them easy to remove. Each holds 17 rounds and has a round-count indicator at the rear. Standard sights are white dots, but tritium sights are available. Both are easy to see with a rear ledge that facilitates unconventional reloads and malfunction drills.
The only thing that really changes among the different models is the size. Compact uses a shorter grip and slide designed for concealed carry. The Centurion model keeps the shorter slide and adds some length to the grip, and is better designed for off-duty carry or for those with larger hands.
The latest offering (Combat) starts with the full-size pistol and adds a threaded barrel and red-dot sight mount.
First Strikes
I took my first close look at Beretta’s Combat model during a recent Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous event. All the strengths of the original APX were in place, including interchangeable grips, 17-round magazines (20-rounders as well), aggressive cocking serrations, and an ambidextrous slide stop that is designed to be used as a release.
APX pistols fit my hand well, and this was no exception. Plus, it retained one of the best striker-fired triggers available that is purpose-built for duty use. Flat to facilitate a straight pull, it has little pre-travel and a short reset. While it measures 6 pounds, perfect for many agencies, it feels lighter and is very fast from shot to shot.
Recoil was soft as usual, and the addition of a red-dot sight was welcome for my older eyes. I have been using a threaded barrel on my APX for a while. But this was the first time shooting one with a slide-mounted red-dot sight. It proved very accurate, and I was looking forward to getting one back home and really putting it to the test.
Adding Accessories to the APX Combat
These ship with a cover plate attached to the slide and standard sights. Four plates facilitate the mounting of the Trijicon RMR, Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, Burris FastFire and C-More’s RTS. Other sights matching these bolt patterns can be mounted as well.
Each plate locks onto the top of the slide over two circular protrusions and fits into the slot on the slide. Longer screws are provided for mounting through the plate onto the slide. Wrenches are provided, so switching is pretty easy.
The barrel is slightly longer at 4.9 inches, is threaded ½-x-28 TPI RH, and is covered with a knurled thread protector. Using the most popular thread pitch for 9mm pistol suppressors, it also supports several muzzle brakes.
It shipped with two magazines in a hard plastic case.
On The Home Range
Two suppressors were used in testing that allowed the use of standard irons sights.
SureFire’s Ryder 9ti is lightweight and only 1.25 inches in diameter. Measuring 7.6 inches, it still weighs in at 9.5 ounces. It does not require a separate booster, making it very simple to use.
Liberty’s Centurion is about 1 inch shorter and requires a booster to work. You can also get direct-thread modules for use on PCC’s making it quite versatile. It will even work on 300 Blackout rifles with barrels longer than 7.5 inches.
It has been the most consistently reliable pistol suppressor I’ve used to date. Likewise, it weighs only 8 ounces, and adding the booster gets you to 12.5 ounces. At 1.35 inches in diameter, it is well suited for pistols without suppressor-height sights.
Once the norm, many today stick with factory sights. Taller sights are great when a larger can is used but are not particularly practical when unsuppressed. Adding the red-dot sight eliminates the need in many cases since you can use the front sight in a pinch referencing the back of the sight.
Trijicon’s Dual Illumination RMR with a 12.9-MOA Amber Triangle allowed me to index the sights if needed. Fiber optics light up the triangle in daylight, and tritium keeps it visible in low or failing light conditions. No batteries make it 100 percent reliable.
Performance of the APX Combat
My best group at 25 yards came with the Hornady 135-grain +P Critical Duty at just a tad over 1 inch. Designed specifically for law enforcement, it is accurate, consistent and works better through barriers and glass. Having tested this in several other pistols, it is always among the most accurate tested.
Doubletap’s 115-grain JHP was snappy but controllable. The low bore axis keeps most anything controllable—one of the best features of the Beretta APX Combat. While no precision instrument, it put every duty or self-defense round into under 2 inches at 25 yards using the hood of my truck as a bench and a bag as a rest.
Using a red-dot sight really helps here, especially for me. It’s not uncommon for me to produce 2-inch or smaller groups at 50 yards. Zeroing at 25 yards on the very tip of the Amber Triangle provides excellent precision.
Lining it up between the dots of the rear sight provides for solid sight alignment. As you get closer, just put the triangle in the center and press. Working 10 yards and closer allowed me to keep everything inside a fist with ease.
Designed to be rugged and reliable, no APX I’ve tested has ever suffered any issues. My full-sized APX is always with me on media events, trips, and schools as a backup to what’s being tested.
Admittedly I have not run over it with a tank (I don’t have one), dragged it on a river bottom, buried it in mud, or thrown it off a cliff. But it has been run as hard as you can without trying to destroy it.
This Combat was the same—no stoppages when unsuppressed, only a few with the lighter ammunition and the SureFire Ryder attached.
Other Considerations
Running a pistol suppressed presents its own set of challenges, mostly with low-velocity and lightweight ammunition. Using the Critical Duty, it never missed a beat with either suppressor. Brass was ejected more consistently and a bit farther unsuppressed, but that has always been the case during my testing.
Using the Liberty Centurion, the 115-grain practice ammunition sort of dribbled out of the ejection port but did eject. With the Ryder, it would not run that ammo consistently. The Ryder also tends to send more debris at you.
You should always have eye protection when shooting, but even more so with pistol suppressors. I have yet to test one without more debris making it back to my face, so just be aware. Everything was very quiet, though, and recoil is mitigated a bit. But that could be from adding several ounces to the front of the pistol.
Beretta mounts the red-dot sight pretty far back on the slide of the APX Combat, so all of my Raven Concealment holsters worked fine. You might need to add a bit of heat to where the threaded barrel extends. Mine had already had this treatment, which worked great, and the gun protruded very little.
My light-bearing holster had plenty of room since it indexed mostly on the light. You can also move to the Surefire Masterfire, where it attaches to the light along with a few others that mount similarly.
Bottom Line
Beretta has done a good job with this mount, as the RMR allowed me to use the factory sight, and suppressor sights will easily co-witness. There are none available as I write this, but that will change.
Leupold’s DeltaPoint Pro sits higher, but you can add a rear sight to it that works pretty well. My Burris FF3 mounted low as well. It was solidly mounted, easy to change, and never came loose, even without thread locker over a few hundred rounds. So, it fits in well with the rest of the APX design.
Everything is compatible with a full-sized APX. My guess is that slide conversions will hit the market at some point, so current APX users can just swap out slides.
Nearly every mainstream pistol manufacturer today offers a version with a red-dot sight mount, so it’s quickly becoming a requirement. Those who don’t will be doing so soon, as they are here to stay and for good reason.
After extensive use and testing, red dots facilitate accuracy at range and while moving or shooting moving targets. These are all things likely to occur in a fight, especially if you are a police officer.
The Beretta APX Combat is an excellent addition to the line and is in keeping with the rugged reliability of the original. If you are looking for a hard-working pistol that will accept a red-dot sight and a suppressor, make sure this one is on that list.
For more information, please visit Beretta.com.
Beretta APX Combat
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 4.9 inches
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
Weight: 33.3 ounces (empty)
Grips: Polymer
Sights: Three-dot
Action: Striker-fired
Finish: Black
Capacity: 17+1
MSRP: $579
Performance
| LOAD | VELOCITY | ACCURACY |
| Remington 115 +P HTP | 1,250 | 1.88 |
| Federal HST 124 | 1,150 | 1.35 |
| Hornady 115 Critical Defense | 1,147 | 1.60 |
| Hornady 135 +P Critical Duty | 1,122 | 1.25 |
| Doubletap 115 +P | 1,400 | 2.0 |
Bullet weight in grains, velocity in feet per second measured by chronograph and accuracy in inches for three five-shot groups shot at 25 yards using a bag on a truck hood for a rest.
This article was originally published in the Combat Handguns January/February 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email subscriptions@athlonmediagroup.com.
