The Beretta Cx4 Storm is a

pistol A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in , when early handguns were produced in Europe, an ...

-calibre semi-automatic

carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and lighter ...

aimed at the sporting, personal defense and law enforcement markets. It is available in two models: one that accepts 92/96 magazines, and one that accepts Px4 series magazines, each available in

9×19mm Parabellum The 9×19mm Parabellum (also known as 9mm Parabellum or 9mm Luger or simply 9mm) is a rimless, tapered firearms cartridge. Originally designed by Austrian firearm designer Georg Luger in 1901, it is widely considered the most popular handgun a ...

, .40 S&W,

.45 ACP The .45 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) or .45 Auto (11.43×23mm) is a rimless straight-walled handgun cartridge designed by John Moses Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic pistol. After successful military trials, it ...

, and

9×21mm The 9×21mm pistol cartridge (also known as the 9×21mm IMI, 9mm IMI, 9x21mm Italian, or 9mm Italian) was designed by Jager (Loano, Italy), then adopted and commercialised by Israel Military Industries for those jurisdictions where military servi ...

. The Beretta Mx4 Storm is the military version of the Cx4 Storm, which is capable of fully automatic fire. It features a 12-inch barrel, and most commonly seen with a 30-round magazine.

Design details

Both the Mx4 Storm and Cx4 Storm features a

Picatinny rail The Picatinny rail ( or ), or Pic rail for short, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail, 1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail (cancelled), is a military standard rail interface system that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. It was o ...

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 Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta (; "Pietro Beretta Weapon Factory") is a privately held Italian firearms manufacturing company operating in several countries. Its firearms are used worldwide for a variety of civilian, law enforcement, and milita ...

semi-automatic pistols. For example, the magazines for the

Beretta 92FS The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The Beretta 92 was designed in 1975, and production began in 1976. Many variants in several different calibers co ...

chambered in 9mm can be used in the Cx4 (also chambered in 9mm). Conversion between Px4 Storm, 92/96 and 8000/8040 Cougar 9×19mm Parabellum/ .40 S&W magazines requires two parts (not included with rifle). For Px4 magazines the C5C620 magazine insert and C89210 magazine release button are required, for 92/96 the C5A511 insert and C89109 release, for Cougar the C5A670 insert and C89110 release.

International legal status

In Canada, the Cx4 Storm was the primary weapon used in the 2006

Dawson College shooting The Dawson College shooting occurred on September 13, 2006, at Dawson College, a CEGEP located in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The perpetrator, Kimveer Singh Gill, began shooting outside the de Maisonneuve Boulevard entrance to the school ...

. 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. 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, and in 2011, Beretta introduced a non-restricted (19" barrel) variant of the Cx4, making it more accessible. On May 1, 2020, the Canadian government reclassified the Cx4 Storm (in all its variants) to be prohibited firearms.

Users

*: In 2013, the Italian Navy (Comforsbarc) ordered 90 Beretta Mx4 Storms (for €58,606) to be delivered in 2014; a second order was placed in 2017. *: procured for use by

Paramilitary forces of India India maintains 10 paramilitary forces. List of Paramilitary forces From 1986 to 2011 the Central Armed Police Forces were considered as Central Police Forces (CPF). However, as per their respective acts they all are Armed Police Forces. R ...

. *: In 2009 ordered 1,900 carbines, before the civil war. *: Russian police received a large order of Cx4 carbines with a lengthened 500mm barrel. *: Used by Albany County, NY Sheriff's Department (.40 S&W), St. Louis Police Department, and

College of William & Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III ...

Campus Police Department. *: Ordered in 2012 by ''Comando Nacional de la Guardia del Pueblo'' ( Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guard).

References

External links

BerettaBeretta Cx4 Storm web site
{{Beretta firearms Cx4 Storm Semi-automatic rifles .45 ACP firearms 9mm Parabellum firearms Submachine guns of Italy Police weapons Carbines Military equipment introduced in the 2000s