Beretta APX Pistol

Common Beretta APX Problems

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On paper, the Beretta APX sounds like an awesome idea. It’s a striker-fired, double-stack pistol with a polymer frame. Furthermore, it comes with decent sights and, important for 2022, a rail to mount a laser built right in. Coming from one of the best-known and largest firearms manufacturers on the planet, this should be a competency entry into the polymer pistol market, right? 

Well, according to the research we’ve been able to do on the APX, it has had its fair share of growing pains, and some of them are catastrophic enough that we’d be hesitant to recommend that you buy one. 

In this piece, we’re going to cover four problems that the Beretta APX commonly has, and some of the solutions to those problems. Doing so, it’s important to note that to get this research, we’re relying on online accounts of events, as well as reviews. This is not a scientific study of the APX. For that, we’d kindly ask Beretta to send is ten APXs and  100,000 rounds of ammunition to use so we can test them out. The point is, take this, and everything else you read online, with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Ejector Failures 

The ejector, a spring-loaded claw that grabs onto the rim of a cartridge after it’s been fired to extract it and make room for the next round, is a part that undergoes enormous and repeated stress. Thus, it’s recommended even in well-functioning firearms that you replace them from time to time to prevent dangerous failures. Some folks have reported that in their new APXs, the ejectors have shorn off and blown out of the gun, and sometimes into the shooter. This is highly dangerous, and will not only stop the gun from ejecting, it can also maim or kill the shooter. Always wear your eye protection, y’all. 

Solution

Solving this, according to the sources we’ve read, meant sending either the broken ejector or the whole gun, back to Beretta. In either case, they’ve been relatively willing to repair the guns for free, or to send you the appropriate parts free of charge. This appears to be a defect in either metallurgy or manufacturing, and it’s a problem that the user is unlikely to solve themselves unless they have the time and skills to make their own ejectors out of better material, which is pretty unlikely. 

Case Ruptures 

Sometimes, when a round is fired, the case can rupture. In most guns, this comes from poor quality ammunition and is contained by the walls of the chamber. It means an annoying jam to clear, but it’s not dangerous. Apparently, the chamber design on the APX is a little bit on the short side, so that if the slide is very slightly out of battery when a case rupture occurs, it can send parts of that case (hot, sharp metal shrapnel) flying out of the receiver and into parts unknown. Obviously, this is extremely dangerous. 

Solution

The most common fix we’ve heard to this one is to send the gun back to Beretta, and they send it back “fixed” with little explanation as to what was changed. We assumed that it is a matter of adding a stronger recoil spring to make sure that the gun is totally in battery for longer during firing, but we do not know. The source of the problem is likely in the geometry of the chamber, and we don’t think that can be fixed easily.  A second version of the gun or aftermarket barrels are likely going to be the best solutions here. 

Poor Accuracy 

A duty pistol like the ATX ought to be able to place five rounds within about a three-inch group at ten yards for an average shooter. These are not competition pistols, and that’s okay. But some people are reporting averages of more than double that three-inch group at ten yards. There are several possible causes of this. First, it’s possible that some people simply do not shoot well with the APX’s sights. It could also be poor ammunition quality, or, though it’s extremely unlikely, poorly made barrels. Beretta doesn’t often make totally shoddy barrels. 

Solution

The solution that a lot of people seem to be taking on this one is to add glowing paint to their sights or to have the sights replaced altogether with something that they like better. This solution might work well for you as well, but there are other things to consider that might also work. For example, try out different bullet types and loadings: you might find that your gun works better with some ammo over others. Also consider that it might be your trigger squeeze: dry fire training can be an excellent tool to remedy that particular issue.

Firing Pin Protrusion

According to a few posts we found, including pictures, the firing pin on the ATX can become stuck in a forward position, meaning that it will protrude from the slide further than it should. If it’s stuck in that position, it could cause an out of battery detonation, which would give you the aforementioned issue of case ruptures. In extreme cases, this could cause a catastrophic failure of the gun and injury to the shooter. 

Solution

If this happens to you, stop firing the gun immediately, take pictures of the issue, and get in touch with Beretta. They should, ideally, send you a new slide and ask for the old one back for testing.

Conclusion

So far, it looks like the APX has some growing pains. This is usually a big problem in the polymer gun space since now Beretta has to compete with not only Glock, but Sig, both of whom are making polymer-framed handguns in the millions, and have a better track record for reliability. Overall, we wouldn’tt necessarily recommend that you purchase an APX with the aforementioned options out there, but we do hope that this design improves over time, especially in terms of safety.

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Beretta APX Problems

Beretta APX Problems

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If you are looking to potentially buy a Beretta APX, it’s always a good idea to be aware of the potential problems it might have so you can make an informed purchase. This guide will help you know to decide whether the Beretta APX is right for you. 

For most people, the Beretta APX is a reliable semi-automatic pistol. It was even originally designed for law enforcement and military purposes. It comes in two different versions but they tend to have the same issues. 

Beretta Firearms Logo

Despite being pretty reliable in most areas, you should still be aware of the potential problems. This will help you know if the problems you experience are common or if you were possibly sold a defective gun. 

Here are some of the most common problems reported by users to look out for: 

1. Extractor Problems

Extractor problems are common with any kind of striker-fired handgun. Even when there are extractor problems though, you are still well protected because of the design of the gun. If there is an issue with the extractor, the magazine will often projectile eject. 

Beretta APX Back

In some cases though, the magazine will stay inside the pistol along with the remaining rounds, the spring, and the base plate. The extractor will then blow off the pistol. In some cases, the bullet can become squirted out of the muzzle and go downrange. 

Despite the extractor having issues, the slide, barrel, and frame usually stay undamaged. The main reason why the extractor can blow so easily is because of overpressure. When the magazine is also blown out, you can be sure that the gun experienced way too much pressure and as a result, the extractor came out. 

This can happen when the APX is new or after you have used it for a while, so just make sure to always keep a close eye on it. 

2. Accuracy Issues

While most people find that the Beretta APX is reliable, there are some shooters that experience issues when it comes to accuracy. One of the most common reported accuracy issues is that there is abnormally large group size. 

With no decent grouping, it can be hard to get the accuracy you need while shooting. This can be a big issue for some shooters, especially if they are trying to win a competition. 

The only real way to fix this issue is to spend more money and buy accessories for the gun. Many people choose to buy a tactical laser or light to help with more accurate shooting. 

3. Spare Part Issues

As with any gun, the Beretta APX will need maintenance and repair work on it periodically. With the Beretta APX though, this can be much more complicated than with other guns. Repair parts and spare parts for this model are extremely hard to find. 

This is partly because of the current marketplace and what parts are common and which ones are not. In the future, this might change. As of now though, you will need to search hard for spare parts. 

This is a bigger deal if you shoot often. The more often you use the gun, the more often it will need repair work. Since they are also not made as much as other parts, you will find yourself spending quite a bit of money to buy the parts once you do find them. 

Some accessories are also hard to find such as holsters for the gun. If you have a concealed carry permit and want to have a gun with a holster, you might have a hard time finding one for the APX. This is only a minor issue but it can change your mind on whether you want to buy it or not. Hunting for spare parts constantly can be annoying and time-consuming. 

Beretta APX Side

Our Analysis

As mentioned in this article, the main issue comes with the extractor. If you search forums for the Beretta APX, you can see that this is the main complaint people have. If you contact Beretta, they are often quick to send you a new gun and free returns for the other one. 

However, you might experience the same problem with the new one as you did with the old one. Just keep in mind this is a commonly reported issue and you might get stuck with a gun that has a poor extractor. 

One of the other main problems is with accuracy. Of course, with any gun, you want to make sure that you can shoot accurately and be reliable. If you are buying a new gun solely for competition, you might want to think twice about buying this one. 

No matter what you use the gun for though, make sure you buy a laser or light to help you more accurately be able to shoot targets. This will ensure you have fewer issues with the gun and you can become a better shooter. 

Along with these minor issues comes the problem of not being able to find spare parts and holsters. When it comes time for you to do maintenance, you might spend more time than you should be always looking for extra parts. 

This comes with a high price as well since the spare parts are rare. 

Wrapping It Up

Now that you know of the most common problems with the Beretta APX, you can make an informed decision on whether it’s the right gun for you or not. Most of the issues that people talk about with the gun are pretty minor. You probably won’t find them as very much of an inconvenience. 

At the very least, the APX can be a good starter semi-automatic pistol if you are new to guns and aren’t sure which ones are best or which ones you prefer. It’s also a good gun for training as a new shooter. 

For competition shooting, you might find that the APX is not reliable enough. Before getting a new handgun though, try to add on a laser and see if this helps your shooting accuracy. 

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