Beretta BM 59
| BM59 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Battle rifle |
| Place of origin |  Italy |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1959-1990 (Italian service) |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Pietro Beretta |
| Designed | 1950s |
| Manufacturer | Beretta |
| Produced | 1959 |
| Variants | Mark I, Mark II, III/Ital TA, BM59 Para, Mark IV |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Template:Kg to lb |
| Length | Template:Mm to in |
| Barrel length | 491 mm (19.3 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62x51 mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 750 rounds per minute |
| Feed system | -20-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Rear aperture, front post |
The Beretta BM59 is an Italian-made rifle based on the M1 Garand rifle.
Development
 |
After World War II, Italy adopted the US-designed M1 Garand rifle in .30-06 (7.62x63mm) and also manufactured it under license. This semi-automatic rifle proved itself well during WWII, but in the late 1950s it was considered outdated and obsolete. The Italian military wanted a new rifle chambered for the NATO-standard 7.62x51mm.
Beretta designed the BM59, which was essentially a rechambered M1 fitted with a removable 20-round magazine, folding bipod and flash suppressor/grenade launcher. The BM59 is capable of selective fire.
The BM59 was adopted in 1959 and served with Italian, Argentine, Indonesian and Morocco armies. In the early 1980s, semi-automatic versions were imported to the USA and sold to private collectors. It should be noted that earliest BM59s were manufactured from available US manufactured M1 parts, including re-chambered barrels.
In 1990, the BM59 was replaced in Italian service by Beretta AR70/90 assault rifles.
Variants
The BM59 has five variants:
- BM59 Mark I had a wooden stock with a semi-pistol grip stock.
- BM59 Mark II had a wooden stock with pistol grip to achieve a better control during the full-auto fire;
- BM59 Mark III, or Ital TA (also known as the Truppe Alpine), was a gun with a pistol grip and a metallic folding buttstock, and was intended for Mountain troops. The BM59 Para was similar to BM59 Ital TA, but was intended for paratroopers. It was equipped with a shorter barrel and flash-hider.
- BM59 Mark IV, had a heavier barrel with a plastic stock, and was used as a light squad automatic weapon.
