Beretta ARX 160

The History of Beretta

The Beretta company has a rich and storied history that dates back to the year 1526. It all began when Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta sold 185 harquebus barrels to the Venice Arsenal. The production of firearms has remained within the family to this day, making Beretta the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the world.

In the early 1800s, Pietro Antonio Beretta traveled throughout Italy to promote the quality of his products and secure new orders. Despite the challenges posed by foreign rule, he honed his skills in crafting barrels for smooth-bore shotguns and pistols. He eventually registered the company under the official name, Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta. By the end of the 17th century, Beretta had established itself as the second-largest manufacturer of gun barrels in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy.

In 1918, the Italian army adopted the use of the Beretta Model 1918, a groundbreaking submachine gun. During World War 2, the company was required to manufacture weapons for the Italian regime, even though its political views were predominantly liberal. However, some of the production was carried out secretly to supply the Partisans, which resulted in the German SS confiscating the company in 1943. The German forces even took Pietro Beretta, the head of the company, hostage. In response, the Partisans raided the Brescia town, successfully regaining control of the factory.

Following the War, Beretta altered the design of the M1 to create the Beretta BM-59 rifle, which resembled the M14 battle rifle. However, their production shifted towards firearms for the civilian market after the War. In the 1970s, Beretta entered into an agreement with the Brazilian government to produce firearms for the Brazilian Army. This collaboration lasted until 1980. In the 1980s, the Beretta 92 pistol was chosen to be the standard service handgun of the United States Army.

Although Beretta is primarily known for their semi-automatic pistols, such as the Model 1915, M1923, 418, M1934/M1935, M1951, and 70 series, they have also manufactured a variety of other weapons including revolvers, submachine guns, grenade launchers, and rifles and carbines like the BM-59, 501 (sporting rifle), Rx4 Storm, Cx4 Storm, and BRX1 straight-pull bolt-action rifle. In addition, Beretta has a long tradition of producing side-by-side shotguns, over-and-under shotguns and semi-automatic shotguns offered in various grades, with some of the popular models being the A400, A300, Beretta 686, DT10, AL391 etc.

Beretta Holding is currently the parent company of several subsidiary firms, including Beretta USA, Benelli, Tikka, Stoeger, SAKO, Uberti, Franchi, and Burris Optics. Today in 2023, the company Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta, also known as Beretta S.p.A., is led by Franco Gussalli Beretta who serves as the President and CEO. The company has been owned by the same family for nearly five hundred years, a testament to its longevity and heritage. Its legacy has been passed down through generations, continuing to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of its customers.

Beretta ARX 160 Rifle Review

The Beretta ARX 160 is a military assault rifle designed for the Italian Armed Forces and first introduced in 2008. It was created as a replacement for the Beretta AR70/90 models and was later adapted for civilian use under the name ARX 100.

The stock of the ARX 160 is both collapsible and foldable and can be adjusted for length. The safety controls, magazine release button, and a cocking handle are ambidextrous, meaning that they can be used by either right- or left-hand users. The rifle also has Picatinny rails on the top of the receiver and on the sides for the attachment of accessories.

The ARX 160 is fed through a 5-, 10-, 15- or 20-round detachable magazine which is made of steel whereas the rest of the rifle's body is mostly based on a high-quality polymer material. The ARX 160 comes with two ejection ports and a flash hider attached to the front of the barrel. The location of the cocking handle and ejector can be changed to accommodate right or left-handed use.

It is important to note that the ARX 160 is intended for use by law enforcement and military personnel and is not available for purchase by the general public. The exception is the Beretta ARX 160 .22 LR variant which was released to the civilian market. The standard ARX-160 model is designed to use the 5.56x45 NATO (.223 Remington) round, which is also used by the Italian military although the rifle can be chambered for different calibers by swapping out the barrels.

Figure 1: Beretta ARX 160, chambered for 5,56×45 NATO (Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_ARX-160)

Beretta ARX 160 Calibers

The rifle is available in the following calibers:

• 5.45x39

• 5.56x45 NATO

• .223 Rem.

• 6.8x43 

• 7.62x39

Beretta ARX 160 Variants

The following variants of the ARX 160 are available:

• Beretta ARX 160 SF (ARX A2)

• Beretta ARX A3

• Beretta ARX 160 .22 LR

Beretta ARX 160 comes with a Picatinny rail preinstalled on the top of the receiver which can be used for mounting purposes.

Figure 2: The receiver of Beretta ARX 160, chambered for 7,62×39 (Source: https://www.armimagazine.it/beretta-arx-160)

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Beretta ARX 160

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Beretta ARX 160

For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifles that have one-piece mounts interchangeable with Beretta ARX 160 are the following:

• All rifles with a Picatinny rail for mounting purposes

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Beretta ARX 160

For two-piece mounts to be interchangeable, the mounting surfaces of the rifle must match in every dimension except the action length which can vary. Rifles that have two-piece mounts interchangeable with Beretta ARX 160 are the following:

• All rifles with a Picatinny rail for mounting purposes

Best Scope Mounts for Beretta ARX 160

Fixed Scope Mounts for Beretta ARX 160

If you're looking for a durable and reliable mounting solution for your Picatinny rail, then this Spuhr mono-block mount is an excellent choice. Made of high-quality aluminum, this mount is built to last and can handle even the toughest conditions. It comes with a 2-year warranty.

Order Spuhr mount for Picatinny

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Beretta ARX 160

ERA-TAC GEN-2 detachable repeatable mount is a great choice for your Rx4 Storm. Made from high-quality aluminum, it is built to last and is covered by a 2-year warranty for added peace of mind. With its detachable and repeatable design, you can easily remove and reattach your optic without losing zero, making it a great option for those who want to switch between different setups.

Check out ERA-TAC one-piece mount

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu