The world's oldest continuously operating firearms manufacturer has recently unveiled a new pistol, the 94X Performance. The new Beretta pistol is the successor to the highly regarded 92X Performance platform, while also being the most advanced competition-oriented design in the history of the Italian 90 Series family. The new model was developed with competitors in IPSC and USPSA dynamic shooting competitions in mind. The firearm incorporates a number of design changes that distinguish the model from its predecessors. These are intended to improve firearm control, follow-up shot speed, and ergonomics. The launch coincides with Beretta's 500th anniversary, which is why the manufacturer has also prepared a limited Launch Edition.
One of the most important changes is the completely redesigned Vertec Pro steel frame. However, this is not merely a minor update to the solution known from the 92X Performance. The frame has been lengthened and redesigned to allow for a significantly higher grip on the pistol. The manufacturer has introduced a deeper undercut beneath the trigger guard, an extended beavertail, and a new grip profile. These changes are intended to more effectively reduce muzzle rise and allow the pistol to return to the target more quickly after each shot. At the same time, the new geometry has made it possible to increase the magazine capacity to 20 rounds of 9x19 mm without the need for protruding extensions. The pistol is a new platform designed specifically for use in modern shooting competitions. It retains the classic SA/DA trigger mechanism while also featuring the latest Xtreme-S trigger system, offering a very short reset and a more predictable trigger pull. This is intended to enable faster follow-up shots while maintaining a high level of control over the firearm.
Another component of the design to undergo significant changes is the slide. It features new, approximately 30% deeper and wider, 15°-angled serrations at both the front and rear. This makes it easier to cycle the pistol even with wet or dirty hands. The optic mounting cut has been positioned approximately 3 mm lower than in previous Beretta designs, which, according to the manufacturer, lowers the pistol's center of gravity and improves recoil control. As standard, the firearm is equipped with a fiber-optic front sight featuring a red fiber measuring 1 mm in diameter, as well as a fully adjustable, black, serrated rear sight with a negative angle, effectively eliminating light reflections when shooting in bright sunlight. The pistol features a new cold-hammer-forged barrel made from a reinforced steel material intended to provide a longer service life during intensive competition use. The firing pin has also been redesigned, while the extractor features an integrated elastomer buffer intended to increase the durability of the entire system during high-volume shooting.
The design is equipped with low-profile, ambidextrous safety levers, widened at the front to provide better thumb support, whose shape allows for a high grip without the risk of accidentally catching the hand on them. The magazine release button is reversible, while the new grip panels have been designed to provide a better fit to the user's hand. They are also intended to provide a more secure grip during rapid magazine changes. Two versions of the product have been introduced to the market. The standard 94X Performance features a graphite finish and polymer grip panels, while the second variant, the 94X Performance Launch Edition, was prepared to celebrate Beretta's 500th anniversary. It stands out with a fully adjustable magazine release button allowing adjustment of both angle and orientation, a black DLC coating, green accents, and aluminumgrip panels with a polymer insert featuring the Beretta 500 logo, produced using 3D printing technology. The manufacturer emphasizes that the design was developed in cooperation with competitors participating in IPSC and USPSA, and that its development forms part of a broader strategy to support dynamic shooting ahead of the 2029 IPSC World Championships, which will be held in Italy. The new model also represents the biggest evolution of Beretta's competition pistol line since the debut of the 92X Performance in 2019.
Photos: Beretta
