Beretta Handguns

Beretta is the world’s oldest active firearms manufacturer, and its handgun lineup spans every application from duty service and competition to pocket carry and collector interest. The 92 series—the platform behind the U.S. military’s M9 service pistol—anchors the lineup with a reputation built across 40 years and millions of rounds in military and law enforcement use. Around it, Beretta fields the striker-fired APX series for duty and concealed carry, the rotating-barrel PX4 Storm for smooth-cycling performance, the pocket-sized Tomcat and Bobcat for discreet carry, and the modernized 92X for shooters who want the M9 action with current-generation features. No other brand covers the handgun spectrum with the same depth of heritage and ongoing production.

Read our full Beretta Handguns Buying Guide ↓

Beretta 92 Series: The M9 Legacy

The Beretta 92FS is the civilian version of the U.S. military’s M9 service pistol—a 9mm DA/SA with an open-slide locking block design that has proven its reliability across 40+ years of hard military use. The 92FS runs a 15-round magazine, a 4.9-inch barrel, and the distinctive open-slide that exposes the barrel during cycling, reducing felt recoil and proving highly resistant to dirt and debris. The 92X updates the formula for modern shooters with a VERTEC-style grip, rail, flared magwell, and optics-ready RDO variant. The 92GTS adds a fully ambidextrous decocker-only safety for shooters who prefer DA/SA without the manual safety step. For shooters who want the most proven service pistol platform ever issued to American forces, the 92 series is the starting point.

Beretta APX Series: Modern Striker-Fired Duty Pistols

The APX A1 is Beretta’s answer to the modern striker-fired duty pistol market—a modular, optics-ready 9mm with an aggressive grip texture, interchangeable backstraps, and a serialized chassis that allows the frame to be replaced for color or configuration without a transfer. The APX A1 Full Size runs 17+1; the APX A1 Compact runs 13+1 with a shorter grip for concealed carry while accepting full-size magazines. The APX A1 Carry is Beretta’s subcompact entry with a 13+1 capacity in a slim, snag-free profile. For law enforcement, security professionals, and defensive shooters who want a modern platform backed by Beretta’s service contract infrastructure, the APX A1 is the current Beretta duty pistol recommendation.

Beretta PX4 Storm: Rotating Barrel Performance

The PX4 Storm uses a rotating barrel lockup—unlike the tilting-barrel Browning action used by most modern pistols—that allows the barrel to rotate during firing rather than tilt, transferring recoil in a more linear path and reducing muzzle flip. The result is a softer-shooting pistol that is particularly noticeable in the full-size .45 ACP and .40 S&W configurations. The PX4 is available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, with Full Size and Compact frames. The Compact Storm in 9mm runs 15+1 from a grip shorter than the full-size, making it a strong concealed carry option for shooters who shoot better with a heavier, more recoil-managed pistol than a lightweight subcompact.

Beretta Tomcat & Bobcat: Small-Frame Pocket Pistols

The Tomcat (.32 ACP) and Bobcat (.22 LR / .25 ACP) are Beretta’s tip-up barrel pocket pistols—a design that allows the first round to be loaded directly into the chamber without racking the slide, making them ideal for shooters with limited hand strength or those who carry in a pocket without a round already chambered. The Tomcat’s .32 ACP chambering gives it meaningful defensive capability in a package that fits a coat pocket; the 20X Cheetah upgrades to .380 ACP in a slightly larger but still compact frame. These are not primary defensive guns for most users, but they occupy a niche as backup guns, travel pistols, and options for shooters who cannot operate a full-size slide. Beretta’s open-slide design makes the tip-up barrel natural and reliable.

Beretta Handguns for Concealed Carry: Which Model?

Beretta’s concealed carry lineup has expanded significantly. The APX A1 Carry is the current slim-profile recommendation in 9mm. The PX4 Compact offers a larger but softer-shooting alternative. The Tomcat and 20X Cheetah serve pocket carry roles. For shooters who specifically want a DA/SA trigger for carry—a longer, heavier first shot as a passive safety mechanism—the 92X Compact or PX4 Compact are the strongest options in Beretta’s lineup. For those who prefer a striker trigger, the APX A1 Carry is the most modern and most supported choice. All Beretta handguns carry the brand’s industry-leading lifetime warranty and the backing of a company that has manufactured firearms continuously since 1526.

See the full Beretta brand hub. Browse Beretta shotguns and Beretta rifles. Shop specific models: 92FS, APX A1, PX4 Storm, Tomcat, 92X.