The Beretta Cx4 Storm is a pistol-calibre semi-automatic carbine aimed at the sporting, personal defense and law enforcement markets. It was designed to accept magazines from different Beretta pistol platforms (92/96, 8000 "Cougar" series, Px4) using adapters. The CX4 is available in 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 9×21mm models. The .45 model can only use 8000 "Cougar" magazines.
Beretta Cx4 Storm | |
---|---|
Type | Submachine gun Pistol-calibre carbine |
Place of origin | Italy |
Service history | |
Used by | See Users |
Production history | |
Designer | Beretta |
Manufacturer | Beretta |
Produced | 2003–present |
Variants | Mx4 Storm (select-fire) |
Specifications | |
Mass | 2.48 kg (Mx4 Storm) 2.575 kg (5.68 lb) (Cx4 Storm) |
Length | 647 mm (Mx4 Storm) 755 mm (29.7 in) (Cx4 Storm) |
Barrel length | 312 mm (Mx4 Storm) 422.5 mm (16.6 in) (Cx4 Storm) |
Width | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Height | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum 9×21mm IMI .40 S&W .45 ACP |
Action | Straight Blowback |
Rate of fire | 1000 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 390 m/s |
Effective firing range | ~200 m |
Feed system | 8-, 10-, 11-, 14-, 15-, 17-, 20-, or 30-round box magazine |
Sights | Rear: 2-position aperture flip sight; front: adjustable post 327 mm (12.9 in) sight radius |
The Beretta Mx4 Storm is the military version of the Cx4 Storm.[1] It is capable of fully automatic fire, features a 12-inch barrel, and is most commonly seen with a 30-round 9mm magazine that is compatible with Beretta 92 pistols.
Design details
editBoth the Cx4 Storm and Mx4 Storm feature a Picatinny rail on top of the receiver for mounting modern optics, and a tri-rail adapter for mounting flashlights, laser sights, grips and other accessories. The firearm also has some ambidextrous features, such as being able to switch the fire selector, charging handle, ejection port and magazine release to the left side.
The Cx4 Storm was developed to be used in conjunction with Beretta semi-automatic pistols so that a person can carry one type of magazine for two types of firearms. For example, the magazines for the Beretta 92FS chambered in 9mm can be used in a Cx4 also chambered in 9mm.
Conversion between 92/96, 8000/8040/8045 "Cougar" 9×19mm Parabellum/.40 S&W/.45, and Px4 Storm magazines requires changing two parts, a magwell sleeve and the magazine release button (sold separately).[2]
- 92/96: C5A511 magwell sleeve, C89109 magazine release button
- Cougar: C5A670 magwell sleeve, C89110 magazine release button
- PX4: C5C620 magwell sleeve, C89210 magazine release button
Legal status in Canada
editIn Canada, the Cx4 Storm was the primary weapon used in the 2006 Dawson College shooting. The restricted class firearm had been acquired legally, and a coroner's inquest into the shooting recommended that all semi-automatic rifles be banned in Canada.[3][4] The Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act passed in 2015 did not include a provision for such a ban. Sales of the CX4 Storm increased in Canada following the shooting,[5] and in 2011, Beretta introduced a non-restricted (19" barrel) variant of the Cx4, making it more accessible.[6] On 1 May 2020 the Canadian government reclassified the Cx4 Storm (in all its variants) to be prohibited firearms.[7]
Users
edit- Italy: In 2013, the Italian Navy (Comforsbarc) ordered 90 Beretta Mx4 Storms (for €58,606) to be delivered in 2014;[8] a second order was placed in 2017.[9]
- India: procured for use by Paramilitary forces of India.[10]
- Libya: In 2009 ordered 1,900 carbines, before the civil war.[11]
- Russia: Russian police received a large order of Cx4 carbines with a lengthened 500mm barrel.[12]
- United States: Used by Albany County, NY Sheriff's Department (.40 S&W),[13] St. Louis Police Department,[14] and College of William & Mary Campus Police Department.[15]
- Venezuela: Ordered in 2012 by Comando Nacional de la Guardia del Pueblo (Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guard).[16][17]
References
edit- ^ "MP5 Gets Replaced". 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
- ^ "Converting magazine type in the CX4 Storm". Beretta USA Customer Help. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
- ^ "Dawson College killer's gun should be banned: coroner". Maclean's. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ "Canadian ban on semiauto rifle sought". NBC News. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ "Gunman's weapon of choice sees spike in popularity". canada.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
- ^ "10 years after Dawson shooting, killer's weapon is more accessible than in 2006". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Regulations Amending the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-Restricted: SOR/2020-96". May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ Document difesa.it
- ^ "Direzione degli Armamenti Terrestri" [Directorate of Land Armaments] (PDF). Italy Ministry of Defence (in Italian). Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Dud guns: MHA seeks report from BSF on Italian company Beretta". India Today. February 13, 2012. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ Opencontent. "L'Italia ha inviato 11mila Beretta semiautomatici al regime di Gheddafi". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ "Beretta CX4 Storm Carbine 9mm Semi-Auto, New". www.classicfirearms.com.
- ^ "Beretta arms New York agency". Shooting Industry. July 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ O'Connell, Patrick M. (2008-05-30). "St. Louis police want more pistol firepower". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ Burgess, Laura (July 2008). "The College of William and Mary Police Choose the Beretta Cx4 Storm Carbine/Patrol Rifle". Beretta USA, Corp. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ "Presidente Chávez juramentó a la Guardia del Pueblo para reforzar la lucha contra el crimen". Noticias24. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ "Venezuela National Guard with Cx4 Storm". The Firearm Blog. 2012-05-15. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2021-06-23.