BM-59
Summary
| Country | 🇮🇹 Italy |
| Category | Assault rifle |
| Manufacturer | Beretta |
Technical specifications
| BM-59 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 750 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 7,62 x 51 mm OTAN |
| Magazine | 20 rounds |
| Length | 1095 mm (43.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.2 kg (11.5 lb) |
| Range | 600 m (1969 ft) |
Description
The BM59 is an automatic battle rifle developed in Italy by Beretta and adopted in 1959. Following World War II, Italy had adopted and manufactured the US-designed M1 Garand rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield. By the late 1950s, the Italian military sought a new rifle chambered for the NATO-standard 7.62×51mm round. Beretta designed the BM59 to meet these requirements, basing it on the M1 Garand design. Early BM59s were manufactured using components from US-manufactured M1 Garands. Beginning in 1990, the BM59 was replaced in Italian service by the Beretta AR70/90 series rifles.
The design is essentially a rechambered M1 Garand modified for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. Key changes include:
-
the adoption of a removable 20-round detachable magazine
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the capability for selective fire.
Additional features incorporated into the design include a "tri-compensator" muzzle device functioning as a muzzle brake, flash suppressor, and rifle grenade launcher. It retained a stripper clip guide similar to the M1. Other features are a folding bipod attached to the gas cylinder, a folding shoulder plate, a folding grenade sight that also serves as a gas shut-off, and a folding winter trigger.
Numerous variants were developed for military and civilian use. Military versions include the BM59 ITAL, often considered the standard, featuring a semi-pistol grip stock, tri-compensator, grenade launching capability, and bipod. The Mark I variant has differing descriptions regarding barrel length and features across sources, some suggesting it lacked a bipod and grenade launcher compared to the ITAL, while others state it was identical to the ITAL. The Mark II generally featured a pistol grip stock. The Mark III, known domestically as Ital TA or Alpini, was a variant for mountain troops with a pistol grip and folding metal buttstock. The BM59 Para or Ital-Para was a paratrooper model with a shorter barrel and removable compensator. The Mark IV was designed as a light squad automatic weapon with a heavier barrel, plastic pistol-grip stock, often noted as being used or exported to Nigeria. The BM59 "E" was a conversion retaining the M1 Garand's barrel length and front handguard, without grenade launching devices. Civilian variants included semi-automatic imports by Beretta marked "BM59 308 Win Berben Corp NY, NY" and the semi-automatic sporting model BM62, which lacked military features like grenade components, bipod, and bayonet lug. After Beretta ceased production, Springfield Armory Inc. produced various semi-automatic versions from acquired parts and tooling, including models labeled Beretta Garand, BM59 "E", BM50, BM59, BM59 Mark IV, BM-62, and BM-69, with varying features based on their military counterparts or original Garand design.
The BM59 was adopted by Italy in 1959 and served with several military forces. Users included Italy, Argentina, Indonesia, and Morocco. It was built under license in Morocco and Nigeria. Nigeria adopted the rifle in 1963, with production undertaken by Defense Industries Corporation in Kaduna. Indonesia manufactured the rifle under license as the SP-1, SP-2, and SP-3. Argentina reportedly used the BM59 during the Falklands War. Other listed users include Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Ethiopia. Former users included Biafra, Indonesia, Italy, Libya, Somalia. A non-state user listed is the Free Papua Movement.