Opinion, John relays his experience with Beretta customer service and a Beretta APX Pistol repair.
Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- I’ve been carrying my copy of the Beretta APX Pistol for six months, and it has several thousand rounds of 9mm ammunition through it, all brands, most of it +p.
The APX is Beretta’s version of the GLOCK G17. It’s an 18-shooter. I really like the ergonomics and trigger, and my APX has never hiccuped.
Beretta APX Pistol
Several weeks ago, during a DTI Vehicle Defense Course in FL, I was demonstrating a tactical exercise in front of my students using my Beretta APX Pistol. When I fired the fourth round at a pace of one round per second, the chambered case ruptured at the base, leaking high-pressure gas into the receiver.
Ammunition was 115gr +p, factory, from a main-stream, and very reputable, manufacturer.
Like all modern pistols, the Beretta APX is designed to protect the shooter when something like this happens (which does occasionally, with all pistols). Leaking gas is channeled into the magazine well, which usually results in the magazine itself projectile-ejecting. In my case, the magazine body stayed inside the pistol while the follower, remaining rounds, spring, and baseplate all jettisoned out the bottom.
The extractor blew off the pistol. This is also very typical and by design. The bullet squirted out the muzzle and went downrange. The frame, slide, and barrel were all undamaged.
I ended-up with a few smudge-marks on my hands, but no injury. I borrowed another pistol, and our Course continued, none the worse for ware.
When I got home, I called friends at Beretta and told them about the incident.
They asked me to send the pistol back to them, which I did.
It was returned to me ten days later, repaired, inspected, and test-fired. The damaged magazine was replaced. No charge, and Beretta covered shipping both ways.
My APX is now back in service, in my Comp-Tac IWB holster, as I write this!
The Beretta APX Pistol is one of several excellent, modern defensive pistols, including Glock, SA/XD, S&W M&P, FNS/509, Canik TP9SF/Elite, Walther PPQ/PPSM2, SIG 320/365, Kahr PM9, H&K VP9, Ruger American, and CZ’s P10C.
I’ve carried just about all of them.
All feature polymer frames and are striker-fired. All feature variable grip geometry. Most do not have a manual safety. None have a decocking lever or button.
All experience gas-ruptures, as described above, sometimes called “KBs” It’s pretty rare, but these modern pistols are designed, as noted above, to protect the shooter when it happens. And particularly with pistols chambered for 9mm, significant damage to the pistol itself, as well as injury to the shooter, are both unlikely.
Most can be quickly fixed and returned to service, as mine was.
As an Operator, there is an excellent chance you’ll get through your entire life, shooting countless thousands of rounds in the process, and never experience even your first KB.
In over fifty years of shooting and teaching, this is my second. Neither resulted in personal injury nor significant damage to the pistol. Both were with factory ammunition.
I really don’t think it is possible to make a serious pistol, nor ammunition, any “safer” than they are now!
I can’t say enough about Beretta’s Customer Service. They didn’t quibble, and they didn’t nickel o& dime me to death. They just quietly fixed my pistol and sent me on my way, a happy customer.
They are top-drawer.
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
Beretta CS that Farnam deals with is not the same as Beretta CS most people deal with.
No pics?
Although Ammoland discourages authors from commenting on the comments made, this would be an appropriate time for Mr. Farnam to respond.
The first thing that made me raise a brow was when you said you called your “friends” at Beretta. I hang in the shotgun world and most I know have just the opposite experience, and opinion of Berettas service. I suspect this is because they don’t shoot their guns for a living, and write articles about Beretta’s products.
Not trying to be contrary, just asking and commenting on the outcome as presented. One positive experience is no way close to conclusive data to determine good service.
Bogus article.
A friend of Beretta that writes articles for them gets good customer service.
I would hope so!
For the avaerage guy, they are impossible to reach on the phone and not very friendly when you do.
We stopped carrying them at our shop.
Have you contacted the ammunition manufacturer about this experience?