BERETTA BM59 Battle Rifle

The BM 59 is an automatic battle rifle developed in Italy in 1959. It is based on the M1 Garand rifle, chambered in 7.62×51 mm NATO, modified to use a detachable magazine and capable of selective fire.

Later revisions incorporated other features common to more modern rifles. After the Second World War, Italy took over the American rifle M1 Garand in the caliber .30-06 Springfield (7.62x63 mm) and at the same time began to produce it under license. The rifle proved itself during the war, but later the Italian army wanted to switch to a more modern rifle in caliber according to the NATO standard. To meet these requirements, Beretta designed the BM 59 with a modification to the required caliber of 7.62x51 mm, a folding bipod and a combined muzzle brake with a flash suppressor and a rifle grenade launcher. In the original version, it was possible to switch between semi-automatic and automatic firing modes. Since 1959, the rifle has been in service in the Italian, Argentine, Indonesian and Moroccan armies. After 1990, the Beretta BM 59 was replaced by the AR70/90 assault rifles, although it may still be in service with the Italian Navy.