Manufactured by Beretta USA in their Gallatin (TN) plant, and freshly introduced at the 2021 edition of the USCCA Concealed Carry & Home Defense Expo in Fort Worth (TX), the Beretta APX A1 Carry semi-automatic pistol is a new, concealed carry-oriented version of the APX striker-fired handgun system that has been the flagship in Beretta's sidearms catalog since its first introduction in 2017.

The first subcompact, single-stack version of the APX – the baseline APX Carry pistol – was first launched on the US commercial market in April 2019 and made available to European customers exactly one year later. Now, the new Beretta APX A1 Carry brings the concept forward with several improvements in terms of ergonomics, modularity, and more user-friendly features.

The Beretta APX A1 Carry was designed and built for everyday carry and suited for anyone with personal defense on their mind; as such, it features a shorter and lighter trigger than its predecessors, offering an enhanced ergonomic and sensory experience consisting of a clean break with quick reset, aiding with consistent shot placement and ease of use.

The frame and the slide were also improved. The modular, non railed frame is available in black, olive drab green, grey and desert tan versions – all interchangeable, thanks to the APX's patented self-contained, serialized, removable trigger assembly – and features extended slip-proof surfaces all through the grip and over the trigger guard, improving handling in all conditions.

The new slide sports a set of tighter, more aggressive front and rear serrations, and a modular optics interface located just in front of the rear sight. By simply swapping the factory-issued mounting plate with others – sold separately – shooters will be able to use numerous popular micro red dot sights on their new Beretta APX A1 Carry pistol, including Burris, C-More, Shield RMS-C and Holosun K-series sights.

Chambered in 9mm Luger, the Beretta APX A1 Carry feeds through single-stack magazines that can be customized by each and every user for their concealment style: extended 8-rounds magazines, 6-rounds magazines with a pinky extension, and a flush baseplate are all available.

The new Beretta APX A1 Carry pistol is barely 143 mm / 5.63" long overall with its 78 mm / 3" long barrel, it is 23 mm / 0.9" wide and weighs in at 562 grams (19.8 oz) unloaded. Manufacturer's suggested retail price is set at $449.00 for the US market; we'll be looking forward for any information concerning European distribution and pricing – and to try one out ourselves.