Beretta’s MHS contender, the Beretta APX, signifies a new era and is now available to civilians.
Like slide serrations? Then Beretta APX deserves your attention. Its slide is full of them. Friends on the web have been referring to the slide as “Tactical Toblerone,” which is likely intended as a dig comparing its serrations to the appearance of the cuts on the Swiss-made chocolate bar. Aesthetics aside, I think the nickname is kind of appropriate given that the APX handles and shoots pretty sweet.
When the slide is manipulated, one can’t help but notice that those serrations are positively grippy. It’s confidence inspiring, in fact. Even if the act of clearing a malfunction is fumbled, grab any point on the slide, and it can be easily grasped. It is going to do what you want it to do. Though each serration presents an aggressive touch point, the spacing of each rib keeps them from working together as if they were part of a cheese grater to shred fingers, clothes and holsters.
What is also tactile is the molded 14 lines-per-inch (lpi) pyramid-style checkering between the grip’s finger grooves and on the backstrap. Don’t like finger grooves telling you where your digits should lay? I’m reluctant to call too much attention to them because they are very subtle. And, unlike many of the new pistols featuring removable backstraps, the APX is more like the Ruger American and Smith & Wesson M&P, which also feature interchangeable saddle-like backstraps and side panels. Additionally, the side panels have been given a molded grit texture that is less aggressive than the aforementioned checkering. Though initially sold in black, Beretta will offer other-colored grip modules for around $50 each.
That’s right. The Beretta APX is a new chassis gun. Well,
