Beretta is about to reveal a new competition pistol at the 2026 USPSA Factory Gun Nationals in Hurricane, Utah.

The company has confirmed that competitors and spectators will be allowed to handle the unreleased handgun before it officially enters the United States market. Beretta has not disclosed the model name, price, specifications, release date or even whether it belongs to the 92X, PX4 or APX family.

That makes this an unusual opportunity.

People are already searching for the new Beretta pistol, but most gun websites have nothing useful to tell them. Some will solve that problem by inventing details and adding a photograph of an existing Beretta 92X Performance.

I will try the more difficult approach: separating what Beretta confirmed from what the company has not said.

What Did Beretta Announce?

Beretta announced on September 14, 2026 that it will display an unreleased competition-focused pistol during the USPSA Factory Gun Nationals.

The official announcement distributed by Beretta⁠ says attendees will receive an early look at a new pistol that has not been released in the United States.

Beretta describes the handgun as:

• A new pistol
• Intended for competition
• Unreleased in the United States
• Available for competitors and spectators to handle
• The “next evolution” of Beretta’s competition lineup

That last description suggests more than a new finish or commemorative engraving.

It does not prove that Beretta developed a completely new operating system. “Next evolution” can describe anything from a heavily revised 92X to an existing European model finally entering the American market.

When Will Beretta Reveal the New Pistol?

The SIG Sauer USPSA Factory Gun Nationals are being held at Southern Utah Practical Shooting Range in Hurricane, Utah.

The early match takes place September 16–17, followed by the main match from September 18–20. Beretta representatives will be present with the new pistol during the event.

That means photographs, video and firsthand reports could begin appearing immediately.

The first images may come from competitors rather than Beretta’s product page. Buyers should expect partial specifications, improvised photographs and several confident YouTube explanations recorded by people who handled the gun for approximately four minutes.

The new Beretta competition pistol has not received an announced retail-release date. “Before it officially arrives in the U.S. market” confirms a future American release but does not tell us whether dealers will receive it next month or next year.

Is This a New Beretta 92X Performance?

A new Beretta 92X Performance model is the most obvious possibility, but Beretta has not confirmed it.

The 92X Performance family is already Beretta’s established steel-frame competition-pistol line. Existing versions combine the familiar Beretta 92 operating system with competition-oriented frames, triggers, controls and optics-ready configurations.

Beretta also released the 92X Performance Dark Series in 2026. That model uses a heavy Brigadier-style slide, steel Vertec frame, optics-ready slide and competition-focused components.

Launching another mildly altered 92X immediately afterward would be less interesting. Calling the mystery gun the “next evolution” suggests Beretta may have changed something more substantial than the finish.

Possibilities include:

• A redesigned 92X Performance
• A new Beretta Carry Optics pistol
• A competition model based on the APX
• A revised PX4 using its rotating-barrel system
• An American version of an existing European competition handgun
• A completely new platform

Those are possibilities, not leaked specifications.

Beretta has not identified the frame material, action type, trigger system, barrel length, magazine capacity or optic footprint.

Could It Be a Beretta APX Competition Pistol?

An APX-based competition gun would make commercial sense.

The Beretta APX A1 is a polymer-frame, striker-fired 9mm pistol with an optics-ready slide. Current versions compete in the crowded market occupied by the Glock 17, SIG P320, Walther PDP, Smith & Wesson M&P and similar duty-size handguns.

A serious APX competition model could add:

• A longer slide and barrel
• A larger magazine well
• An improved trigger
• Competition sights
• Direct-mounted red-dot compatibility
• Heavier frame components
• Porting or compensation
• Extended controls
• Higher-capacity magazines

The problem is identity.

Beretta already has one of the most recognizable pistol designs in the world. A premium competition handgun wearing the open-slide silhouette of the Beretta 92 attracts attention that another polymer striker-fired pistol may not.

The market has no shortage of perfectly competent black plastic 9mm pistols. Several appear to reproduce when left unattended inside dealer display cases.

Could the New Beretta Be a Competition PX4?

A performance-oriented PX4 would be considerably more interesting.

The full-size Beretta PX4 uses a rotating-barrel system rather than the more common tilting-barrel action. Its design has earned a loyal following, particularly after Langdon Tactical demonstrated how much performance could be extracted from the platform.

A factory competition PX4 could combine:

• The rotating-barrel action
• A heavier or redesigned frame
• A longer sight radius
• An optics-ready slide
• Improved trigger components
• Competition controls
• A larger magazine well
• USPSA-compatible dimensions

That would give Beretta something mechanically different from the CZ Shadow 2, SIG P320 XFive, Walther PDP Match and Staccato competition pistols.

It would also create immediate searches for Beretta PX4 competition pistol, PX4 Carry Optics, Beretta rotating-barrel race gun and new Beretta PX4 2026.

There is no verified evidence yet that the mystery handgun is a PX4. It is simply the option I would find most interesting.

What Does “Factory Gun” Mean in USPSA?

The name of the event may provide a clue about Beretta’s intended market.

The 2026 USPSA Factory Gun Nationals includes Carry Optics, Production, Single Stack and Revolver. These divisions emphasize factory-produced firearms and impose more equipment restrictions than Open or Limited Optics.

According to USPSA’s published 2026 schedule⁠, Carry Optics represented 37 percent of reported division activity in 2025. Production accounted for another five percent.

Carry Optics is therefore the obvious commercial target.

A successful new Beretta Carry Optics pistol would need to compete directly with established, thoroughly developed handguns. It cannot merely be attractive inside a foam-lined case. It needs dependable magazines, a good trigger, durable small parts, useful grip geometry and an optic mounting system that does not resemble an apartment balcony.

The Optic Mount Could Decide Whether the Pistol Matters

The new Beretta’s red-dot mounting system may be more important than its cosmetic design.

Competition shooters want an optic mounted securely and low enough to provide a natural presentation. Adapter plates create flexibility, but they also add screws, height and additional surfaces that can shift or fail.

Direct mounting reduces parts and height but commits the buyer to a particular footprint.

Beretta could choose:

• An RMR-pattern direct mount
• A DeltaPoint Pro footprint
• A modular plate system
• A proprietary low-mount interface
• Separate slides for several popular footprints

My discussion of absolute and lower-third co-witness⁠ concerns rifle optics, but the underlying geometry still matters on a pistol. Sight height changes presentation, visual indexing and how much of the optic window is occupied by the iron sights.

A competition pistol does not need enormous backup sights blocking half the glass. It needs a secure optic mount that survives repeated slide movement without forcing the red dot into the approximate altitude of a rooftop air-conditioning unit.

What Should the Trigger Be Like?

Beretta has not said whether the new pistol is striker-fired, double-action/single-action or single-action only.

Each option creates a different competition product.

A 92X- or PX4-based pistol would probably preserve a hammer-fired system. An APX competition model would use a striker. A single-action-only design could target a different buyer and potentially different USPSA equipment rules.

Whatever Beretta chooses, the trigger needs:

• A predictable break
• Minimal unnecessary movement
• A positive reset
• Safe engagement
• Durable internal components
• Consistency from the first shot through the last

A light trigger that becomes unreliable after several thousand rounds is not a competition advantage. It is a malfunction with an entry fee.

Beretta’s sponsored shooters include JJ Racaza, Sal Luna, Cameron Templin and Ben Hardt. Putting the pistol in front of accomplished competitors should generate useful feedback quickly—provided Beretta listens after the promotional photographs are finished.

New Beretta Competition Pistol Price

Beretta has not announced the price.

The likely range depends entirely upon the platform.

An APX-based competition pistol could target the broad market below premium steel-frame guns. A revised 92X Performance or specialized PX4 could land much higher. A hand-fitted flagship model could compete with expensive race-ready pistols from Staccato and other premium manufacturers.

Until Beretta publishes an MSRP, any precise price is fiction.

Buyers should remember that the pistol is only part of the real cost. A competition setup may also require:

• A red-dot sight
• Additional magazines
• Magazine extensions
• A competition holster
• Magazine pouches
• Replacement springs
• A belt system
• Spare small parts
• Match ammunition

A $1,500 pistol can become a $2,500 equipment decision with impressive speed.

Should You Wait for the New Beretta?

Anyone already considering a Beretta 92X Performance, CZ Shadow 2, SIG P320 XFive, Walther PDP Match or another premium competition 9mm should wait several days.

The mystery pistol is close enough to its public debut that buying immediately makes little sense. Waiting until September 20 should reveal substantially more about the design without costing anything.

Do not sell a proven competition pistol based upon a press release.

Do not preorder an unidentified gun because somebody photographed one at an angle that made the slide cuts look expensive.

The new Beretta must prove:

• What model family it belongs to
• Which USPSA divisions it fits
• Whether it accepts existing Beretta magazines
• What red-dot optics it supports
• Whether holsters are available
• Its unloaded weight and dimensions
• Its trigger configuration
• Its American price and release date
• Whether replacement parts will be readily available

Those details will determine whether this is a serious competition gun or an attractive specialty model destined to spend most of its life being discussed on forums.

New Beretta Pistol Questions

What is Beretta’s new pistol for 2026?

Beretta has confirmed an unreleased competition pistol but has not announced its model name.

When will the new Beretta competition pistol be revealed?

The pistol is being shown during the USPSA Factory Gun Nationals in Hurricane, Utah, from September 16–20, 2026.

Is the new Beretta a 92X Performance?

Possibly, but Beretta has not confirmed that it belongs to the 92X family.

Is it a new Beretta PX4?

Beretta has not identified the platform. A competition PX4 is one possibility, not an established fact.

Will the new Beretta accept a red-dot sight?

A modern USPSA-focused competition pistol is likely to be optics-ready, but the company has not confirmed the mounting system or supported footprints.

What will the new Beretta pistol cost?

No MSRP or retail price has been announced.

When can I buy the new Beretta in the United States?

Beretta says the pistol will officially arrive in the American market later, but it has not published a release date.

Final Verdict

Beretta has created a legitimate hardware story without revealing enough hardware to judge.

We know a new competition pistol exists. We know American competitors can examine it at the USPSA Factory Gun Nationals. We know Beretta considers it the next evolution of its competition lineup.

We do not know the model, action, frame, capacity, optic footprint, price or release date.

That uncertainty is precisely why the story is worth watching. If Beretta has built a genuine successor to the 92X Performance—or finally produced a full factory competition PX4—it could become one of the most important new 9mm competition pistols of 2026.

If it is an existing gun with different slide cuts and an optimistic price tag, the internet will figure that out before the match staff finishes painting the steel.

I will update the details when Beretta reveals the actual pistol.

GarandThumb.com was established on May 4, 2012. Finch writes about firearms, shooting equipment, competition and the continuing effort to become a better marksman.