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Beretta AR70


Automatic Rifle / Assault Carbine [ 1985 ]



The Beretta AS70/90 system has seen issuance to over a dozen world militaries and police forces.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/13/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
The Beretta AR70 series serves as the standard-issue service rifle of the modern Italian Army. Design work on a new, NATO-compatible automatic assault rifle began in the 1970s when the AR70 existed in a .223-chambered form. To this point, the Italian Army fielded the oft-forgotten Beretta BM59 which was, for all intents and purposes, a modified World War 2-era M1 Garand self-loading rifle with a 20-round box magazine in 7.62mm form. The militarized AR70 then emerged in 1985 firing the widely-accepted 5.56x45mm NATO-standard cartridge with Beretta heading the endeavor. It was taken on by the Italian military (including Navy and Air Force) as well as local police forces.

With its chosen cartridge (consistent with other Western assault rifles), the AR70 line features a proven gas-operated action which allows for a rate-of-fire reaching 650 rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity is listed at 3,100 feet per second with an effective firing range out to 1,600 feet. The weapon is fed through a 30-round detachable box magazine and can also accept a 100-round count drum in C-Mag form. Iron sights are integrated as standard as are grenade aiming sights for when firing rifle grenades. The AR70 is allowed select-fire through a lever which provides semi-automatic, three-round burst and full-automatic functionality. The weapon is largely of heavy metal with some polymer used. The carrying handle is integrated into the top of the receiver. A flash hider caps the barrel. The shoulder stock is hollow and there is standard support for a field bayonet. A folding bipod is optional as is a red dot aimer.

The AR70 family of guns includes the AR70S which loses the bayonet mounting as well as the flash hider. The related AR90 is a compact travel version of the AR70 and features a skeletal folding stock for compactness (suitable for airborne infantry). The SCP series is further shortened and lightened (as something akin to an assault carbine) while retaining all of the functionality of the original. It has arrived in both SCP70 and SCP90 forms.

Despite its status as the standard Italian Army service rifle, the AR70 series has seen its best days with the arrival of the new and ultra-modern Beretta ARX-160 introduced in 2008.

The AR70 has seen issuance in the countries of Burkina Faso, Egypt, Honduras, Italy, Jordan, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Paraguay and Zimbabwe.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



Service Year
1985

Origin
Italy national flag graphic
Italy

Classification


Automatic Rifle / Assault Carbine


National flag of Egypt National flag of Italy National flag of Jordan National flag of Malaysia National flag of Mexico National flag of Morocco National flag of Nigeria National flag of Qatar National flag of Zimbabwe Burkina Faso; Egypt; Honduras; Italy; Jordan; Lesotho; Malaysia; Malta; Mexico; Morocco; Nigeria; Qatar; Paraguay; Zimbabwe
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Automatic Function
Features a mechanical function to automate the firing action.


Overall Length
998 mm
39.29 in
Empty Wgt
8.82 lb
4.00 kg
Sights


Iron Front and Rear; Optional Optics.


Action


Gas-Operated; Select-Fire

Gas-Operated
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.
(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)


Caliber(s)*


5.56x45mm NATO

Sample Visuals**


Graphical image of a 5.56mm intermediate rifle cartridge
Rounds / Feed


30-round detachable box
Cartridge relative size chart
*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.
Max Eff.Range
1,600 ft
(488 m | 533 yd)
Rate-of-Fire
650
rds/min
Muzzle Velocity
3,100 ft/sec
(945 m/sec)


AR70 - Base Series Designation.
AR90 - Wire/Skeletal folding stock.
AR70S - Sans flash hider and bayonet mountings.
AR90S - Wire folding stock version of AR70S.
AR223 - Original form chambered in .223.
SCP70 - Shortened, lightened model; assault carbine form.
SCP90 - Wire folding stock version of SCP70.


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Image of the Beretta AR70
Image courtesy of the the United States Department of Defense imagery database.

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