BM59
BM59 battle rifle with Paratrooper Stock
Type	Battle rifle
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1959–1997 (Italian service)
Used by	See Users
Wars	Anti-guerrilla operations in Indonesia, Falklands War, Somalia Civil War
Production history
Designer	Pietro Beretta
Designed	1950s
Manufacturer	Beretta, Bandung Weapons Factory, Defence Industries Corporation
Produced	1959
Variants	Mark I, Mark II, III/Ital TA, BM59 Para, Mark IV
Specifications
Weight	4.4 kg (9.7 lb)
Length	1,095 mm (43.1 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 with the main addition of having a detachable magazine.^[1]

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 This semi-automatic rifle proved itself well during World War II, but in the late 1950s it was considered outdated and obsolete and the Italian military also wanted a new rifle chambered for the NATO-standard 7.62x51mm round.
To meet these requirements, 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, Argentinian, Indonesian and Moroccan 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 the Beretta AR70/90 assault rifles.

Variants

The BM59 has several military and civilian variants that include the following^[2]:

Military

• BM-59 Mark I: had a wooden stock with a semi-pistol grip stock.
• BM-59 Mark II: had a wooden stock with pistol grip to achieve a better control during full-auto fire;
• BM-59 Mark III: or Ital TA (also known as the Truppe Alpine), was a variant with a pistol grip and a metallic folding buttstock, that 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.
• BM-59 Mark IV: had a heavier barrel with a plastic stock, and was used as a light squad automatic weapon.

Civilian

The BM-62 and 69 are civilian sporting rifles with the grenade launcher and sights removed.^[3] with the following:

• BM-62: Semi-auto that came with 20-round magazines that were permanently modified to only accept 10 rounds.^[4]. Does not have bipod and compensator^[3]
• BM-69: Semi-auto with a bipod and tri-compensator.^[3]