I purchased a 9mm Beretta Cx4 Storm for Dad for Christmas in...2004?ish. Paid about $600 if I recall correctly. Went with the 92F magazine compatibility for obvious reasons. They make a .40SW.
It sure is an ugly looking laser rifle, but I tell you honestly that's the only complaint. My Dad mangled his right (primary) hand in a die-cut machine back in the early 90's. His thumb functions perfectly, but has some petty sensitive stubs for digits. As a result he only has some gross manipulation with his right hand. So now he's left handed. The Beretta is a true ambidextrous weapon. You can switch the operation to lefty (ejection, safety, mag release) without any tools or different parts. Field stripping can be done simply, but I had to read the directions to figure it out the first couple times.
It's rounded pudgy design is why I picked it for my Dad. He has to be careful not to catch his skin on stuff or he curls up in the fetal position in pain. (Hippocratic oath prevents rounding off the digits...how can you Jacko look like that but not prevent an aging man considerable pain?) It's easy to manipulate. The balance is great and the recoil is like shooting a pellet gun. It's plenty accurate enough. Using the iron sights at 100yds my untrained Dad can use a tree limb support to hit cans and clay pigeons 1 in 10 shots. It'll do it's part and probably shoots better than most users can coax out of it.
Now his eyes are going a bit, so I'll probably be getting the top rail and low-profile red dot for it. There is a weird little tac rail that slides out under the barrel when you push the swivel stud in. Not sure how sturdy it really is, but he really liked running a foregrip off it. It was easier for him to pinch the foregrip rather cup the fore end on his palm. Now he has a light on it. Probably it's best use.
While we're on the topic, I was looking at the MagPul AFG to see if he might be able to get his thumb in there and perhaps control the carbine with his right hand for a left handed reload, but the Cx4 doesn't provide enough rail space. Any ideas?
Anyway, my vote is for the Beretta. I got it despite not having much faith it but it made a believer out of me. It'll be one of those "passed down through the generations" guns for our family.
