At the Range: Beretta ARX100

Beretta recently introduced to the U.S. market the third generation of its battle rifle bloodline — the Beretta ARX100. This new piston driven semi-auto is the civilian version of its big brother, the Beretta ARX160, which currently serves on military deployments around the world.

The ARX100 offers modern conveniences that complete a sleek, portable design. A folding, collapsible stock comes standard for compact deployment and easy transport. The monolithic picatinny rail is ideal for adding additional optics to the standard set of folding battle sights.

In a matter of seconds, the barrel on the ARX100 can be changed out to accommodate both .223/5.56 and .300 Blackout. To switch barrels, simply depress two tabs on each side of the forend, pull the barrel out, then drop in another barrel until it clicks into place.

This lightweight rifle is friendly to shooters on both sides of the gun, with a fully ambidextrous design. The pistol grip, safety selector and magazine release are located on both sides of the receiver. A reciprocating charging handle attaches to either side of the bolt, which can also be tuned to extract spent casings on either side of the shooter.

G&A editors concluded that the Beretta ARX100 offers a lightweight, versatile, ambidextrous platform that's setting the standard of excellence for the future of rifle technology. Now available on the U.S. market for $1,950, the ARX100 should be a top consideration for your next tactical rifle.