The world’s oldest firearms manufacturer held an all-day event in the desert outside of Las Vegas yesterday to show off a raft of new products in advance of the SHOT Show. Beretta, a company that’s just shy of its 500th — yes five centuries — anniversary, didn’t survive and thrive that long by standing still. In addition to Beretta branded guns and gear, the Italian company also owns brands you know like Burris, Norma ammunition, Steiner optics, Sako rifles, and more.
The range of new products being showcased was vast, but the new Beretta branded guns were probably the most noteworthy.
In handguns, Beretta’s taking models they’ve made and made well and are making them better.
One of the best carry guns we’ve gotten our hands on in a long time is the updated PX4 Storm Compact Carry 2. Beretta has bobbed the hammer on this sleek 15+1 compact-sized rotary-barelled everyday carry pistol. The trigger has also been improved and Beretta will be shipping the pistol with three magazines when they hit stores in February.
The newest model in Beretta’s excellent line of APX A1 striker-fired pistols is the APX A1 Compact Tactical. It’s optic-ready and comes with a threaded barrel and suppressor-height sights.
Beretta isn’t neglecting its venerable 92 series pistols either. The new 92 GTS is a steel-framed DA/SA full-size pistol that has Beretta's G decocker with a twin sear design and ambidextrous safety levers. The upgraded X-Treme S trigger has a smooth double-action pull and one of the shortest, most responsive single action pulls we've tried. The 92 GTS is optic-ready, too.
Beretta is probably better known for their shotguns than they are for their handguns and they didn't disappoint yesterday. We got to shoot a range of their latest guns like the Silver Pigeon V sporting over/under, the new A300 Ultima Walnut, and the A400 XCel Sporting.
While the 687 Silver Pigeon V and the A400 Xcel are made in Italy, the new A300 Ultima has beautiful walnut furniture, attractive engraving, a dark blue Cerakote finish and is made in Gallatin, Tennessee.
Beretta also showed off its ultra-premium shotguns, as well.
These are the best of the best shotguns, outside of their custom-made models, that Beretta's craftsmen make. With their price tags starting at about $11,000 for the DT11 and going up (considerably) from there, these are more aspirational guns for most shotgunners.
Shotguns like Beretta's new SL2 are made with their highest grade Steelium Pro X barrels, and internally tapered barrels. Rather than using traditional forcing cones the barrels are tapered from chamber to chokes for reduced felt recoil and more accurate patterns.
One prominent shooter of the DT11 happens to be someone who has won medals in six Olympic games from 1996 through 2016 (3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze), and should need no introduction. Kim Rhode's also won 33 Wold Cup gold medals in addition to dozens more. If that isn't a good endorsement, we're not sure what is.
— Dan Zimmerman, Shooting News Weekly
