Italian GWOT Steel: the Beretta AR-70/90

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While the Italian military did adopt the AR-70, it did not actually issue them to all troops. Most continued to use the 7.62mm BM-59 until 1990 when the Beretta AR-70/90 was adopted. This rifle was a substantial rework and improvement of the AR-70, using AR-pattern magazines and a 1:7" twist barrel to run the SS109 62gr ammunition chosen as the new NATO standard in 1981. The 70/90 also added a 2-position gas regulator to the design, while carrying over the folding bipod and grenade launching capabilities of its predecessor.
The AR-70/90 was made in semiautomatic from by Beretta for the civilian market, but only after US regulation prohibited its importation. As a result, these rifles were essentially nonexistent in the US until a few years ago, when a number of cut-up parts kits were imported. Several small shops set up to make them into semiautomatic rifles with new US-made receivers, including Brimstone Arms, who made this one for me.
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[@rosecroix77]

Former Italian VFA here (1-year volunteer service) IX blocco 2003, 25° RAV "Verona" (Volunteer Training Regiment). Infantry. I confirm that this was the one we used, steel magazines. We knew there were ones with collapsible wire stocks (SC 70/90) and ones with collaps. stocks and a shorter barrel (SCP 70/90) but we were never handed one. The handle was always on and we learned to shoot with it, it was a normal thing and nobody thought anything about it (almost all of us had never shot a rifle before so we had nothing to compare). They would let you use either the proper sight or the "fast target acquisition" one on the handle, as you wanted as long as you could hit something. I always used the real sights. The rifle was accurate and reliable, never had a malfunction nor seen one with other shooters. We found field-stripping a nightmare but, again, we were inexperienced, later it became easier to us. We practiced also with the M92 (again, almost nobody of us had used a handgun before and shooting was comedy, many bullets ended on the ceiling of the tunnel range) and with the FN Minimi light machine gun 5.56 (loooots of fun). Thank you Ian for your amazing videos! Greetings from Italy 😎

[@pigchunk2216]

🫡 thank you legionary

[@Apfsds120]

You need helmet with black rooster feathers on its side, when shooting beretta 70/90. It's a law.

[@ElvioRomani]

Ictu impetuque primus!

[@Granza90]

Not with this One.

[@silverthunder6653]

A short story from a work colleague, who used the AR 70/90 during his mandatory military service in the late '90s. He was in the Alpini, the famous specialised winter and mountain infantry. During a winter ski drill, a guy in his team realised he had lost the carry handle, which is detachable (as mentioned by Ian in the video) and immediately reported it to the commander. The whole team would then spend the next 3 or 4 hours in the cold, in the deep snow just to retrieve that small (and not even expensive) piece of equipment. In the end they did found the carry handle, and it turned out that the army gunsmith hadn't properly fastened it.

[@OnafetsEnovap]

What a tool. On a more serious note, I'm glad mandatory military service is no longer in effect in Italy - it sounds like legalised slavery (and discrimination) to me.

[@marcusborderlands6177]

​@@OnafetsEnovapthey pay you lol.

[@jacopobernardi5616]

I did my military service with this weapon. it was very heavy to carry, but almost indestructible!

[@lorka42]

The turret monster would like to know your location.

[@riccardo.pratesi]

it is weight for a 5.56 but the weight makes it stable in the end if you shoot from a standstill it is an advantage

[@actionjksn]

I suspected it would be pretty heavy. It's a really cool rifle though.

[@markfergerson2145]

How does the grenade adapter come off? Ian left that bit out.

[@SCAxman]

@@markfergerson2145 Looks like the grenade launcher holds the gas block in place. Probably omitted for KZbin reasons

[@Logovanni]

Maybe I am weird, but ever since I was a kid and got a variety weapons pack for my GI JOE toys that came with one of these, this has always been one of my favorite-looking military rifles ever made. The Italians generally know what they're doing.

[@ChrisB.C.]

Literally, exactly the same here. I got to looking at it and thought, "Hmm... This is not a M16..." Started looking around at the library (in books made of paper!) and discovered Beretta made rifles and other stuff besides the M9 in every movie of that era. Yup, even as a kid I was a gun nerd. 😁

[@AllAboutSurvival]

Great to learn the evolution of this rifle from the earlier AR-70 model. It's unfortunate that import regulations limited its availability in the US

[@emergingloki]

Ah, Berretta. The folks who made a better M14 than the M14. For half the money. In half the time.

[@blahorgaslisk7763]

The people who have been making firearms for 500 years...

[@grizzlyblackpowder1960]

Also the people who made the 92fs, and extremely overpriced over/under shotguns. Kinda the jack of all trade gun manufacturers.

[@AntonGudenus]

⁠​⁠@@grizzlyblackpowder1960Which of their o/u shotgun models is extremely overpriced? In my experience they are all priced very competitively to other manufacturers offerings.

[@lobonegrononabscondasame6792]

@@grizzlyblackpowder1960 They are cheap products compared to the level of quality they have, these weapons should cost twice as much

[@grizzlyblackpowder1960]

@@AntonGudenus they have a shotgun on their website right now with a two star average rating, reviews talking about delicate parts, and its worth 125k dollars us. That's overpriced, sorry if that hurts your feelings.

[@helveticarms]

It shows how much the swiss collaborated with the Italians on the base design. The SG550 and SG540 have almost identical bolt and piston assemblies. As well as the 540s removable has block.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Consider that the collaboration ended because Beretta wanted to use a AK-like gas action (this one) and SIG a rolled-delayed blowback action (and ended up with the unsuccessful SG530, gas operated roller locked).

[@helveticarms]

@@neutronalchemist3241 yeah they had a falling out long ago but the resemblance in even their later gen rifles is uncanny. Funny how both ended up with an ak action anyway.

[@frankbrowning328]

There's a lot to like in this rifle's design. With a couple of upgrades this could again be a great battle rifle.

[@roccosfondo8748]

I wish they made it in 7.62

[@DustyGamma]

6:07 I like how the gas cut-off would block a rifle grenade, good bit of design.

[@dioncrown5966]

This looks like a mix between the WW2 Stinger, the FAL, and the Galile. Seriously though... I love the design of this thing.

[@MajTom101]

You can really see the DNA of the swiss SIG AG sg540 in this from their and Beretta's short-lived collaboration

[@Seraphus87]

Same type of optics mounting system on the 550 (Stgw90), I wonder if the dimensions are actually the same to allow use of the same optics.

[@fuesel2]

I was watching and thought more than once "that's just like on the SIG 550!". That explains it

[@Frank-pc2rs]

One of my all time favorite rifles. I heard from Italian soldiers that this thing never jams.

[@rickardspaghetti]

With the carry-handle removed it gives me FN FNC vibes. Anyone else?

[@BleedingUranium]

Definitely, and both have great lines.

[@JimoftheSlim]

The "not an AR-18" AR-18s tend towards the same lines. Only so many ways to stamp steel around similar guts.

[@FRIEND_711]

I honestly love the italian rifle designs.

[@polorrioabaixo7293]

And pistols 😍

[@Juozapas001]

Only design from all the stuff i've seen and don't like, is the ARX-200, looks like a SCAR H that was driven over by a tractor then smashed by a hammer or something, speaking strictly aesthetics to be clear

[@FRIEND_711]

@@polorrioabaixo7293 and pistols

[@italianduded1161]

@@Juozapas001nah, I absolutely love the arx-200

[@FRIEND_711]

@@Juozapas001 I agree that it's ugly but I still like it regardless.

[@alexwphx]

I've been futzing around with the AR70/90 that I had built, and I think the spring clip on the front pin actually goes between the upper receiver shell extension and the right hand trunnion ear. If you move it over there it acts as a captive spring for the pin. There is a little channel stamped into the shell extension, and I think that is for the spring.

[@switch2472]

You are correct, that is where it belongs.

[@riccardoimbrescia]

11:38 The ability to remove the gas block is such a convenient feature. You can have it on any rifle as long as there is a notch machined in the barrel and you put a washer in front of the block, locked by a spring or something. That would be such a nice feature on modern rifles.

[@kpadmirer]

The carry handle is very useful for the Bersaglieri light infantry who march at 180 paces per minute.

[@airsoftdude1990]

I own one of the few rare examples in the us. It was expensive but I absolutely love it

[@triggercrysisjames142]

The fact that I'm subscribed (have been for years) with notifications turned on and yet I've not been notified of a new video from this channel in several months is really starting to piss me off. What is the point of subscribing with notifications when you still have to seek the content out manually every few days because KZbin refuses to honor their basic commitment to the creator and viewer. This is beyond frustrating.

[@PHIllip324]

Guntube has collectively been cranking out a lot of Beretta content over the past few months, and I'm here for it.

[@KaDaJxClonE]

A lot of the new content is solely because of the importation cycles and interest. Ian has shown his tour of the importers that he relies on to get cool guns without having to sneak his way into European Royal Arms Museum/Collections.

[@RyTrapp0]

And the Cheetah just recently launched too(and is DAMN NICE lookin! Gonna have to check one out for muh itty bitty hands lol)

[@Granza90]

Used this rifle (the alpini model) some years ago during my Job insider the army. Today using the Beretta arx 160 and 200.

[@beach_ballistics]

Glad to see Brimstone finally completing these builds. My kit (2nd AR-70/90, this time with a folding stock) has been there over a year and a half. Hope mine isn't too far behind.

[@eltenda]

Very underrated rifle...

[@saltybones8492]

We shared a base in Afghanistan with Italians and during our deployment they switched from the 70/90 to the ARX160 and it was almost a change in complete attitude and doctrine. The unit with 70/90s everyone carried their weapons slung at low ready with always one hand on the weapon (probably due to weight) and looked ready for anything. When they got the new 6lb plastic gun almost every soldier had the gun slung low behind the back with the stock folded.

[@SnoopReddogg]

Herat?

[@saltybones8492]

@@SnoopReddogg yes at Shindand

[@long-hair-dont-care88.]

Wow cool thanks for the information if you don't mind may I ask a question? What effects if any did this have in there combat effectiveness? An what effects if any on the opfor attitude towards them?

[@saltybones8492]

@@long-hair-dont-care88. The closest thing the Italians got to combat was the tail gunner of a convoy passing out drunk and his face setting off the butterfly trigger of a 50. It was at that wierd kinda peaceful time after the Taliban was whooped and before ISIS.

[@Tziga_Vertov]

@@saltybones8492 Bulls**t, try to ask someone who were at Fob Snow or Fob Ice: over there the talibs attacked on a daily basis. Just the final part of the almost 20 years mission was quite relaxing.

[@survivaloptions4999]

I've always liked the Beretta rifles, but those sharp corners above the pistol grip look super comfortable.

[@tmimify]

Kinda looks like a rifle grenade's tail would hit that gas cutoff lever if it was in the open position. If I were a gambler (and I'm seeing right and not just being silly) I would bet that was deliberate. Pretty slick system, that.

[@fabiogalletti8616]

Soldiers being soldiers, it's just stupid-proof design.

[@Jcraft153]

Handled one of these at a museum which had a table of small arms from the introduction of 5.56 NATO, this was one of the heaviest there but the museum attendant told me it had a reputation as one of the most rugged and durable.

[@justinholland9844]

This was when Beretta was still pretty conservative looks-wise. They really starting upping the style factor with the Cx4 and Px4 Storm models, and you can also see it in the ARX-160.

[@In-Midnight-Clad]

Beretta kept their steel AR70/90 magazines when they developed the ARX100. They're great mags. Beretta USA was still selling them as of a year or two ago.

[@andrews.5212]

My rifle for three years. As part of an Alpine mountain regiment we had the lighter version with foldable stock :D this is a gun. Not that shitty ARX they are cranking out now :(

[@Pwnulolumad]

This is a beautiful piece of design that isn’t over complicated. The bipod potentially ruining the zero ruins the point of a bipod (accuracy)

[@ScGendo]

Thanks for keeping this rifle alive, I was issued with the foldable stock one for a number of years and this bring memories back!

[@tazzinasellout7968]

Ciao IAN. nel 1993 ero negli ALPINI e usavamo ancora il BM-59. Il mio reparto( battaglione SÜSA, oggi 3•regg.Alpini,)però ,aveva da anni ,diversi esemplari di SC-70/90 perché li stava testando . In alcune sezioni di addestramento, li abbiamo potuti usare. Avevamo anche alcuni esemplari di FRANCHI LF 57 ( usati per breve periodo al posto dell 'M-12 ,come arma secondaria, dai tiratori scelti). So che in armeria avevamo anche alcuni " GALIL" della FRANCHI,ma non li ho mai visti....un saluto dall Italia ❤

[@zer0feer]

The carry handle irons is the original c-note and I’m here for it

[@tomeickhorst6787]

The rifle is so much better looking with out the carry handle

[@grandpaweber2097]

That carry handle looks very...."un-Italian" marring the lines of an otherwise elegant-looking rifle.

[@RyTrapp0]

I disagree - really dig the carry handle on this one '90s sci-fi cool😎

[@TIEpilot918]

Reminds me of the assault rifle from MGS5.

[@vvinkomaddy2038]

Nobody beats Beretta. VIVA LE BELLISSIME ARMI ITALIANE

[@davitdavid7165]

The dual ironsight-caery handle areangement reminds me of the nerf rapidstrike. I always thought it was g36 inspired.

[@ofen5415]

wow thats a gorgeous weapon

[@coupesix]

Very Nice! Matt at brimstone is building mine as well and I should have mine in a matter of days. It’s been a wait but looks to be worth it for a rare rifle. I’m thankful there are people who take on these cool projects that are no doubt a chore. Cool video as always thank you and I pre ordered your book can’t wait to check it out.

[@andreabortolin188]

used the Beretta SC 70/90 Alpini type in 1999 it was an AK 47 bolt inside an AR 15 receiver , more edgy , heavy but very very accurate shooting , and 3 burst with bipod....... deadly too

[@UlookinMe]

I wish some would go the cetme L route with these and build out the parts kits here. I’d love to have one.

[@djdrack4681]

I mean maybe, but this looks like a bit bulky of a weapon. CETME L is somewhere between a WWSD style AR15, maybe a SCAR, and MP5. I would take the CETME L before I'd take this thing.

[@pguth98]

@@djdrack4681 I'd rather have a bulky weapon than an unreliable weapon.

[@djdrack4681]

@@pguth98 I mean that is a very important, but depending on how bulky it is (weight, ease of clearing malfunction, cleaning, etc) ...it could be just as bad. I mean if you want to say 'frequent jamming' = unreliable. Look at the M2: those things jam all the time (curse of beltfeds), and yet there are 10s or 100s of 1000s of them used all over. Meanwhile if avg built dude with 25lbs on his plate carrier, another 30-70 in his ruck/assault pack, maybe 10-15 in hydration...and the weapon kitted out weights 15-30lbs...Well that is just pushing the weight limit for practical use then.

[@MikeNepo]

There were only like 1500ish kits IIRC, not nearly as many as the CETME L kits

[@RyTrapp0]

@@pguth98 You planning on going to war with your parts kit gun?

[@HalcyonDefense]

I've built a couple of these, really nice to shoot. The trunnions and associated rails are welded into the receiver shell rather than riveted. The ejector is riveted in, but also welded - go figure. I did pin my gas block in place to avoid some of the poor accuracy from the front sight not being 100% rigid.

[@PobortzaPl]

Looking at that exposed spring behind the trigger I wish to see mud test of this rifle.

[@TheEnricoMicheli]

Speaking of Italian rifles, any info on Socimi? It was primarily a bus company that decided to go into the armaments business in the '80, put out some more or less license copies of small arms and combat vehicles, then went under due to a big corruption investigation in Milan in the '90s They had an 556 AR-oid called the AR831, a 7.62 version called AR832, but also the AR843/BP, which was a bullpul rifle with a 4 round burst mode. Sadly I haven't been able to find even just a photo of the 834.

[@hjhstaff]

I remember the “competition” for a new cartridge. The US encouraged every country and mfg to put forward whatever they wanted and then did what everyone expected and said “Fake! You’re adopting 5.56!” Ian could do an interesting piece on the cool tech that was proposed and didn’t make it.

[@Publius380a.C.]

I waited so much for this video, glad you talked about the main weapon that my father used in the Air Force(they were the first ones to recieve it, besides the special forces). He loved this video, thank you.

[@italianduded1161]

Absolutely always loved this one.

[@MisleadTruth]

I need one of these

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian . 🐺 Loupis Canis .

[@glueguzzler9548]

The carry handle sights thing are an interesting idea, but you could also just have a ghost ring rear sight, or skip all that and just look over your rear sight and focus on the front. It's not the best technique once you step back a little bit, but up close and nasty yeah it works

[@thatoneguy22]

I'm in the middle of building one of these and have been looking forward to seeing your video on it! The accessories are impossible to find.

[@chickenitza8]

Italian mechanical design is gorgeous

[@festiverespecttrackingfanc6644]

It looks so damn good and solid, I'm in love

[@Zafo24pl]

Saw this one in MGSV

[@alamedaslim9438]

Exactly what I thought Lol

[@almostmilkingbyhand58]

It's cool to hear of the mentioned gunshop so close to where I live and having been through new Bethlehem multiple times

[@noobsaibot7006]

Italians make the best food, cars, clothes and the best guns.

[@grandimehu]

I think the carry handle sights are meant to be night sights with that luminescent(?) white paint. You can't really properly aim through the main aperture sight in low light conditions.

[@fabiogalletti8616]

also. But it was a carry-on (pun intended) of the US Army Advanced Combat Rifle Program (1986-1990): alongside with duplex ammo, flechettes and assorted sci-fi that went nowhere, it became fashionable for many weapon of the 90s to add in the merchandising panphlet aome buzzwords about a quick, instinctive, along the barrel kind of sighting system. Or an entire piece to say "see, it's modern".

[@Zurodattibass]

Fuck me, it's the AM-MRS4 from MGSV.

[@fredboat]

Thanks for the show, Pretty slick rifle. Reminds me of a FN FNC.

[@MrKawabonga96]

Man I’ve been following Ian for almost 10 years now and waited since then for this video ❤ 🍕

[@sierracosta47]

Cipher sent us to hell... but we're going even deeper."

[@neilis2405]

Awesome video. I've actually got a parts kit at Brimstone myself right now :D.

[@costantinoandruzzi2219]

Italy's pride and glory!

[@enricoperessini7200]

The dent on the back of the hand guard is the tool that should soldiers use for field stripping the rifle

[@micahyoung3611]

Very nice I am having one built as well thanks for the video

[@dariopagliarino8220]

during mountain marches the carrying handle and bipod remained in the armoury

[@cipherzero1115]

That is a SWEET rifle! And gorgeous

[@gooondie]

Love Italian content!

[@Glaaki13]

they do have some sexy guns

[@jordanandrew2786]

I like Italy. Pizza is my favorite food.

[@JunkyardBashSteve]

Ah yes, the UN-ARC as made famous by Big Boss during his exploits in Kabul and Zaire during the mid 1980s.

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

Some interesting cues with this rifle (resonant CETME handguard, Piston looks like an FAL Piston but with a captive spring on it, etc.), very cool.

[@MikeNepo]

I'd argue the handguard is more FNC inspired, as is the bolt carrier.

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

@@MikeNepo Those too, absolutely.

[@KalashniKEV762]

It's long stroke operation like an AK. The charging handle binds the piston to the carrier.

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

@@KalashniKEV762 I said the Piston looks like an FAL Piston, not that it works like one.

[@jonathanbohm6489]

Honestly looks like something out of starship troopers

[@JoeDaeHimself]

Viva l'italia, Viva l'esercito! (great rifle).

[@bigj2240]

I got to have a look at one of these in East Timor in 99.

[@andreabortolin188]

...... with folding stock and short barrel SCp 70/90 used by Carabinieri Airborne Tuscania.......

[@jasonreisenberger1285]

Never heard of Brimstone arms, but since I live in the area I'm going to have to check them out.

[@Paronak]

my dad's service weapon!

[@whitestarlinegoodnight]

I don't think the AR-70/90 could ever be adequately sporterized for US importation in a cost effective way, but I so wish it was possible to get them here.

[@splicermeh6752]

Just need some coverage of the Italian Breda MK 2, beautiful and incredibly well made! They are pretty much completely unknown in the states though :(

[@rileyharville8379]

This is basically an AK with the recoil spring around the long stroke gas piston instead of behind the bolt. Im sure these guns were pretty indestructible in service.

[@switch2472]

The wire clip for the front receiver pin is on the wrong side. It slides up under the gap between the front trunnion ear and outer skin on the right hand side of the receiver, it is not supposed to be exposed on the left side of the receiver.

[@switch2472]

I was one of the first to bring out parts for these, but I got smashed by the tornado in December 2021 and pretty much all my inventory and machinery got scattered across the county. I did just buy a brand-used mill, so hopefully I can help more people with the parts needed at a cost that both they and I can afford.

[@donwyoming1936]

That furniture really makes me miss the Tapco M249 grip for the AR & AK. The Magpul offerings just aren't quite as comfortable.

[@shred1894]

The operating system, receiver design, ejector design, and bolt shape makes it seem like the designer looked at an AK-47 and decided it wasn't modular enough so they made this instead.

[@REVOLVER_NOIR]

I can’t help but see the similarities in this rifle and the top “F” in your ForgottenWeapons logo. 😊

[@willyishere]

God it looks so much better without the carry handle.

[@KalashniKEV762]

The carry handle is actually a great look, just not usable for exactly the reason Ian mentioned (I thought it was just me). The AR-70/90 w/ carry handle and bipod looks like it's going a hundred flippin' miles an hour when it's just STANDING STILL.

[@mpoyzer24]

You had me at, "pistol sights on the carry handle." Leave it to Beretta to over engineer it to the point of being awesome.

[@cristianlotti5328]

From my understanding and from a joke that was circulating between one of my father’s friends at the time this was being issued, the carry handle is there because a general thought it was cool on the m16 and requested to have one on the rifle.

[@vanadium1169]

@@cristianlotti5328 he wasn't wrong, the m16 carry handle is cool. this one, however, looks like it got added in a filming set to be used as a prop gun

[@j4pp1n3]

Ian, How did you pull off the barrel shroud/flash hider in order to remove the gas block? Really cool that you got this rare rifle to show for us the way yo did!

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Sorry, I goofed the editing and that part was left out. The muzzle device just unscrews off the barrel once you press in a locking plunger (like on an AK).

[@shred1894]

@@ForgottenWeapons It seems like the designers got a lot of cues from the AK for a lot of the design choices in this thing. I didn't see your previous video on the AR-70 so I don't know the history, but just looking at the operating system makes me think the designers saw an AK and thought they could make one too but better and more modular.

[@romanopasquini3218]

I was a vam airforce guard Using the Sc70 variant with folding metal butt Also we shoot beretta Mab , M12, And beretta 34 /380 acp The M12 and 34 very easy to handle The Sc70 was much harder and only in use When you guard military airport The M12 in use when you guard inside towns …..: was a nice year though…..

[@Arthur0044]

This is one of the coolest looking rifles before I met the Magpul Masada and Polish MSBS Grot.

[@innouniversedoineedthis]

That is a very beautiful gun

[@JRockySchmidt]

0:08 Dont worry Ian I have to use subtitles anyways as I forget earpro consistently Whoever does subtitles on the channel deserves a raise or use Ian for a voice trainer... Or Ian is literally just that clear and concise!

[@stefanoitaly6696]

I have this rifle, it's really wonderful !

[@deussalt4479]

Now that's what Fallout 4's assault rifle should have looked like. Not the Lewis gun look alike abomination that we got.

[@DeFransWorld]

That gas block and grenade launcher definitely gets its queues from the BM59

[@marcopenco1789]

I did my service with a BM59, and now, as a civilian shooting enthusiast, I have an AR 70/90, which is heavy too, but I find it much more manageable... Then, I'm Italian, can we talk about aesthetics? 😂

[@greenyoshi777]

Could be the OCD acting up again but that ejection port looks like it can't handle a full length cartridge. I'm guessing Beretta made sure that wasn't a problem but it just looks that way. Looks so much better without the carry handle, just like the L85/SA80 doesn't look right without the SUSAT on it.

[@thesleepypiggy]

I love how the gas tube just fuckin' comes off.

[@SergiusLigurAugustus]

A great Gun! Love It!!!

[@Fami_Salami]

So that's the mgsv rifle

[@YOSHIZERO]

Fancy Italian Kalashnikov.