FEATURE

Beretta Rolling Out New Military Rifle

The Italian Ministry of Defense has become the first military group to receive shipments of Beretta's new ARX-160 automatic rifle. The first 1,600 units have been delivered subsequent to the ARX-160's having been formally approved by the Italian Army in March.

Beretta's new ARX-160 automatic rifle with matching GLX 160 grenade launcher attached. The GLX 160 can be removed, attached to a second modular stock and used independently. You saw it here first.

The rifle, featuring the modularity that has become a virtual requirement in most soldier of the future projects worldwide, has been kept quiet in this country, but was shown and ordered in the DESi 2009 in London. The rifle, along with its matching GLX 160 40mm Grenade Launcher, has also been delivered to Albanian Special Forces, with Mexico also being in line for the new 5.56 select-fire rifles.

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to fire a working prototype of the new ARX-160. I was impressed with the performance of this piston rifle and its unique features. First, I have to admit a bias- I love select-fire weapons systems and a system that is easily disassembled (and reassembled) in the field. This rifle can be broken down without any tools - and has no loose pins, springs or fasteners to be lost.

Quick change doesn't really do the system justice. This one could be called "fast change" - and needs no tools.

Even more impressive - at least to me - Beretta's quick-change barrel system. Using two hands, again with no tools, a user can choose from several barrel options, make the change from short, -mid, to -precision length barrel, and be back in action in seconds.

The rifle's also built to quickly adjust to accommodate shooters. The collapsible and foldable stock features length of pull adjustments, magazine release, safety and charging handles are all reversible and selectable, and the rifle has the requisite left, right, top and bottom utility rails to handle virtually any piece of gear or optics system you'd like to attach.

If you've run the AR-style rifle, you'll find the ARX-160 different in some ways, but very familiar in others. There's a right (or left) side magazine release, along with a unique combination bolt and/or magazine release lever incorporated into the trigger guard. Since it runs using standard AR magazines, you'll also find it very similar there, too.

With the stock folded, the ARX-160 makes a very compact package. The rifle features sling mounts in no fewer than five potential locations.

Shooting the rifle in the semi-auto mode, however, doesn't really feel like the AR. In the full-auto mode, it's nothing like a standard AR operating system. As with any piston system, the gas discharged by rounds is used to cycle the system instead of the system on standard ARs. It also means less felt recoil -and significantly lessened muzzle rise in full-auto fire. In short and sustained bursts, the rifle stayed on target, making it seem to be a likely candidate for any military or law enforcement unit.

This is by no means a full description of the rifle, but we wanted to let you know that other candidates as the replacement rifle for the venerable AR-style weapon system are out there.

As always, we'll keep you posted.

- Jim Shepherd