FB Beryl wz. 96
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 457 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.35 kg
- Introduced
- 1997
About
What it is, and why it matters
The FB Beryl wz. 96 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Fabryka Broni Radom since 1997. This Polish-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 18.0-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3350g (118.2 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The Beryl represents Poland's successful marriage of AK-pattern reliability with NATO standardization. While Russia's AK-100 series NATO-caliber variants were made purely for export, Poland developed the Beryl as a genuine domestic service weapon to integrate with NATO after joining the alliance in 1999.
The Beryl represents one of the most successful marriages of AK-platform reliability with NATO standardization. Unlike Russian AK-100 series NATO-caliber variants which are purely for export, the Beryl is a domestic service weapon developed specifically for Poland's NATO integration. The rifle evolved from the earlier FB Tantal (wz. 88) which was chambered in 5.45x39mm. STANAG magazine compatibility was a key design requirement, though the Beryl also accepts proprietary curved 30-round magazines. The Mini-Beryl (wz. 96C) is a compact carbine variant with a 235mm barrel for vehicle crews and special forces. The wz. 2004 modernized variant adds extensive Picatinny rail coverage and improved ergonomics. Poland donated significant quantities of Beryl rifles to Ukraine starting in 2022. The Beryl M762 variant chambered in 7.62x39mm has been exported to several nations. The rifle has been combat-tested by Polish forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Fabryka Broni Lucznik - Radom
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Poland
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1997
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 457 mm
- Overall length
- 943 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.35 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.70 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Phosphate
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 920 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1700 J
- Effective range
- 700 m
- Maximum range
- 1100 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.
Chrome lined barrel
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Folding stock
Stanag magazine compatible
Picatinny rail top
Grenade launcher compatible
Bayonet lug
Nato standard ammunition
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 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 3.35 kg | 3.60 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 156 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 943 mm | 920 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 157 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 457 mm | 449 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the FB Beryl wz. 96
How much does the FB Beryl wz. 96 weigh?
The FB Beryl wz. 96 weighs 3.35 kg (7.39 lb) empty and 3.70 kg (8.16 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the FB Beryl wz. 96?
The FB Beryl wz. 96 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the FB Beryl wz. 96 hold?
The FB Beryl wz. 96 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the FB Beryl wz. 96?
The FB Beryl wz. 96 is 943 mm (37.1 in) long overall, with a 457 mm (18.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the FB Beryl wz. 96?
The FB Beryl wz. 96 is made by Fabryka Broni Lucznik - Radom (Poland).
When was the FB Beryl wz. 96 introduced?
The FB Beryl wz. 96 was introduced in 1997.
How does the FB Beryl wz. 96 operate?
The FB Beryl wz. 96 uses a gas operated long stroke 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
- Polish Armed Forces
- 1997
- Lithuanian Armed Forces
- 2004
- Nigerian Armed Forces
- Nigeria
- Afghan National Army
- 2007
Provenance
Confidence in this record
86%
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/beryl-wz96' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "beryl-wz96", "name": "FB Beryl wz. 96", "manufacturer": { "id": "fb-radom", "name": "Fabryka Broni Lucznik - Radom", "countryCode": "PL", "foundedYear": 1922, "website": "https://fabrykabroni.pl", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": "active", "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": true, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "e6e5937015da3c7035ea07c9409d7500b412e3d7efc6f4185883ba6d163a9be8" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "PL", "year_introduced": 1997, "barrel_length_mm": 457, "weight_empty_g": 3350, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}