Beretta ARX-160
- Category
- Carbine
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.10 kg
- Introduced
- 2008
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Beretta ARX-160 is a modular assault rifle designed and manufactured by Beretta for the Italian Armed Forces. Introduced in 2008 to replace the aging Beretta AR70/90, the ARX-160 features a modern short-stroke gas piston operating system and extensive use of polymer components to reduce weight. The rifle's modular design allows rapid conversion between left and right-hand ejection by swapping the bolt and ejection port cover, making it truly ambidextrous. The quick-change barrel system allows operators to swap between 12-inch and 16-inch barrels without tools in under a minute. The ARX-160 uses standard STANAG 4179 magazines and features four Picatinny rails for mounting optics, lights, lasers, and other accessories. The telescoping and folding stock can be adjusted to six positions and folds to the right side for compact storage. A grenade launcher attachment point is integrated into the design. The rifle achieved sub-MOA accuracy during Italian military testing and has proven reliable in desert and arctic conditions.
The ARX-160 represents Beretta's attempt to modernize Italy's standard infantry rifle after decades of using the AR70/90. The rifle competed against the FN SCAR and HK416 in various trials but has seen limited adoption outside Italy. The weapon's modular design philosophy influenced subsequent European assault rifle development, though its complexity has limited appeal in markets preferring simpler, proven designs.
The ARX-160 was developed as part of the Italian Army's 'Soldato Futuro' (Future Soldier) program. The modular barrel system was designed to allow units to adapt the rifle for urban combat (12-inch barrel) or open terrain (16-inch barrel) based on mission requirements. The rifle's ejection port can be swapped in approximately 1 minute without tools - the operator simply removes the bolt, flips it around, swaps the ejection port cover, and reinstalls. The ARX-160 uses a two-position gas regulator for suppressed/unsuppressed operation. Despite initial adoption by Italy, the rifle has not achieved widespread international success, with competition from proven platforms like the HK416 and SCAR limiting export sales. The ARX-160A3 variant, introduced in 2019, features improved ergonomics and a lighter weight profile.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Beretta
- Category
- Carbine
- Country
- Italy
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2008
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Overall length
- 815 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.10 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.67 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke piston
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Trigger pull
- 30.0 N
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 865 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1497 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 3600 m
- Rate of fire
- 700 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Short stroke gas piston
Ambidextrous controls
Quick change barrel
Convertible ejection port
Foldable stock
Telescoping stock
Rotating bolt
Picatinny rails
Grenade launcher capable
Stanag magazine compatible
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 141 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 3.10 kg | 2.95 kg | Heavier than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 144 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 815 mm | 838 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 150 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 406 mm | 406 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 150 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the Beretta ARX-160
How much does the Beretta ARX-160 weigh?
The Beretta ARX-160 weighs 3.10 kg (6.83 lb) empty and 3.67 kg (8.09 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Beretta ARX-160?
The Beretta ARX-160 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Beretta ARX-160 hold?
The Beretta ARX-160 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Beretta ARX-160?
The Beretta ARX-160 is 815 mm (32.1 in) long overall, with a 406 mm (16.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Beretta ARX-160?
The Beretta ARX-160 is made by Beretta (Italy).
When was the Beretta ARX-160 introduced?
The Beretta ARX-160 was introduced in 2008.
How does the Beretta ARX-160 operate?
The Beretta ARX-160 uses a gas operated short stroke piston action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Italian Armed Forces
- 2008
- Mexican Armed Forces
- 2013
- Turkmenistan Armed Forces
- 2014
- Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service
- 2014
Provenance
Confidence in this record
87%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/beretta-arx-160' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "beretta-arx-160", "name": "Beretta ARX-160", "manufacturer": { "id": "beretta", "name": "Beretta", "countryCode": "IT", "foundedYear": 1526, "website": "https://www.beretta.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:40", "version": "8b9fe1893419c995aa99c862828f03dd5729ecd351a2fed53e95d04b9a47918f" }, "category": { "id": "carbine", "name": "Carbine", "description": "Shortened rifles for close-quarters use" }, "country_of_origin": "IT", "year_introduced": 2008, "barrel_length_mm": 406, "weight_empty_g": 3100, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke_piston"}