Beretta Model 12
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| Beretta Model 12 | |
|---|---|
 Beretta M12 |
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| Type | submachine gun |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Italian Army |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.48 kg (7.66 lb) empty 3.82 kg (8.4 lb) loaded |
| Length | 66 cm |
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| Cartridge | 9 mm Luger Parabellum |
| Rate of fire | 550 shots/minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 380 metres/second |
| Effective range | 200 metres |
Beretta Model 12 is a 9 mm Luger Parabellum caliber submachine gun. It is the official submachine gun of the Italian Army. It was introduced in 1959.
The Beretta Model 12 was officially adopted by the Italian government in 1961. It is also the official submachine gun of some South American and African countries. It is made under licence in Brazil and Indonesia.
The Model 3 weighs 3.48 kilograms empty (about 3.820 kg loaded) and is 660 millimeters in length with stock extended (418 mm when retracted). Its short length is achieved by use of a barrel recessed into the bolt head, known as a telescoping bolt. This reduces length without reducing barrel length or bolt weight.[1] It fires from an open bolt and has a cyclic rate of fire is 550 shots per minute. Its muzzle velocity is 380 meters per second. It is accurate to 200 meters.
The barrel and rifling are chromium-plated to prevent fouling.
The weapon has a selective-fire option allowing a choice of single shot or fully automatic fire.
The weapon has 3 safeties: a manual safety which blocks the trigger; an automatic safety on the rear grip which immobilizes the trigger and blocks the bolt in a closed position; and a safety on the cocking handle locking the bolt in case it does not retract sufficiently.
The weapon is provided with a front sight (adjustable for elevation and windage) and a rear sight with a 2-position flip aperture (up to 100 m and up to 200 m).
20, 30, and 40-round box magazines were available for the original Model 12, which was chambered for the 9 mm Parabellum cartridge.
Contents |
[edit] Beretta Model 12S
The Model 12 was redesigned as the Beretta Model 12s in 1978 and was styled as "the Ultimate Submachine Gun" when released. The Model 12s uses a 32-round box magazine, and is chambered for the 9 mm x 19 NATO cartridge. It utilizes the blowback principle, and is capable of either semi- or full-automatic fire.
A novel feature is the grip safety, which locks the trigger and the bolt in the closed position, thus safeguarding against accidental firing if the grip is not held firmly or if the gun is dropped. The fixed firing pin on the face of the bolt can strike the primer only when the cartridge is chambered fully, and this also avoids accidental firing, according to its designers.
The PM12S was also designed with easy field-stripping and reassembly in mind, which has been simplified and can be accomplished without tools. It can be equipped with a silencer, but this requires a slight modification of the barrel by a competent gunsmith.
Minus the silencer and other optional features, the Beretta PM12S is made up of 84 discrete components.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Military Small Arms of the 20th Century Hogg, Ian, Weeks, John, page 139
