By: Friedrich Seiltgen

Copyright © 2023

BERETTA

In 1526 Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta (1490 – 1565/68) of Gardone received 296 ducats as payment for 185 arquebus barrels sold to the Arsenal of Venice.

The highly discriminating Republic of Venice chose Beretta products because of their excellence. As the Beretta name became synonymous with uncompromising quality, design, materials, construction, and performance, word spread beyond the Italian borders, establishing a tradition that has carried over, uninterrupted, through fifteen generations of Berettas.

The trade secrets and attention to detail that Jacopo (1520/25 – …) inherited from his father Bartolomeo were passed on to his son Giovannino (1550 – post-1577), then to his grandson Giovan Antonio (1577 – post-1649) – on and on from one century to the next.

In the early 1800s, Pietro Antonio Beretta (1791 – 1853), despite difficulties arising from constant wars and foreign domination, traveled throughout Italy to demonstrate the superior quality of his products and collect orders. Pietro Antonio’s son Giuseppe (1840 – 1903) continued the arduous effort begun by his father, creating new opportunities for the company through international distribution.

In the early 1900s, Pietro (1870 – 1957) took the company reins, introducing modernized manufacturing methods, many patents for mechanisms, and simplified construction, consequently establishing Beretta, the first Italian firearms maker, as one of the most modern firearms production facilities in the world. The sons Giuseppe (1906 – 1993) and Carlo (1908 – 1984) continued the modernization process, securing the company’s multinational character with commercial and production activity in numerous European countries and the United States. These efforts created successful military, law enforcement, and private ventures.

Today, under the leadership of Ugo Gussalli Beretta and his sons Pietro and Franco, Beretta embarks on the 3rd Millennium with the benefit of centuries of experience. That experience, combined with investments in technology, organization, and growing product lines, has prepared Beretta for the demands of the global market of the 21st century. Quality Without Compromise. This core value of total commitment to quality was established by Bartolomeo Beretta almost five centuries ago and continues to be the bedrock of Beretta today.

THE ARX100

The ARX100 is the semi-automatic version of the ARX160 used by the Italian military to replace the AR-70.

THE RECEIVER

The controls are all fully ambidextrous, and Beretta designed the ARX100 with selective right or left-side ejection for the left-handed folks out there.

The selective ejection required some interesting engineering to the bolt. The bolt face has two ejectors, one at three and one at nine o’clock. The bolt has ejector pins and springs projected from the back. As the bolt travels to the rear, the ejector pin contacts the ejection selector on the side you have selected and moves it out of the way so it doesn’t contact the case rim.

The gun has a monolithic top rail, and the forend is equipped with rails for lights and lasers at the three, six, and nine o’clock positions.

THE BARREL

The ARX100 features a 16-inch, chrome-lined, light-profile barrel with dual feed ramps and a twist rate of 1:7 and is fitted with an A2-style birdcage compensator. The Barrel is also removable in the field without any tools.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Semi-automatic constant contact / Short-stroke gas piston

Caliber: 5.56 / .223 REM

Magazine Capacity: 30 Rounds

Sights: Flip up sights with full-length Picatinny rail

Barrel Length: 16 Inches

Overall Length: 35.75 Inches

Weight: 6.8 Pounds

MSRP: $1,950

URL: www.beretta.com

THE VERDICT

The ARX100 is a reliable rifle compatible with AR-15 magazines, saving you money on magazines and kit.

It’s available at your dealer, so have a look and see if it’s right for you and your mission.

That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”

Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism Counterstrategies, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, Soldier of Fortune, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.

Contact him at [email protected]