Beretta AR70/90 vs LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System

FORCETALLY

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Beretta AR70/90 — licensed reference photograph

ASmall arms

Beretta AR70/90

Assault rifle

Credit

italian army · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

BSmall arms

LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System

Assault rifle Battle rifle

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

Beretta AR70/90varies slightly

0.998 m

Length source ↗

LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle SystemLMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Length · "Maximum"

0.914 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Measured figures

Head to head

11 of 40 rows sourced on both sides

998mmvaries slightly

914mm

LengthScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

0.998 m

varies slightly

Single source

998 mm (39.3 in) (varies slightly)^[source]

0.914 m

LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Length · "Maximum"

Configuration

Details

Beretta AR70/90 and LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System configuration
Specification	Beretta AR70/90	LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System
Type	Assault rifle^[source]	Assault rifle Battle rifle^[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Type
Place of origin	Italy^[source]	United States^[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Place of origin
In service	AR70/223: 1972–1990 AR70/90: 1990–present^[source]	2015 - present^[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · In service

Used by	See Users^[source]	—

Wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War Mexican drug war Syrian Civil War^[source]	—

Designer	Beretta^[source]	Lewis Machine & Tool Company^[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Designer

Designed	AR70/223: 1972 AR70/90: 1985^[source]	—

Manufacturer	Beretta^[source]	Lewis Machine & Tool Company^[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Manufacturer

Variants	See Variants^[source]	—

Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO^[source]	5.56×45mm NATO 7.62×51mm NATO 6.5mm Creedmoor^[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Cartridge The MARS-L (light) assault rifle variants are chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO intermediate cartridge , and the MARS-H (heavy) battle rifle and designated marksman rifle variants for the 7.62×51mm NATO , 6.5 mm Creedmoor or similar fully powered cartridges .^[source]Design · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope MARS-H based designated marksman variant, chambered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor .^[source]L129A2 · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope Swiss MARS-H-based designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO.^[source]7.62mm Zf Stgw 20 · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope LMT's MRGG-A is a member of its Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System-Heavy (MARS-H) family, which are commonly described as AR-10-style rifles, but is chambered to fire the 6.5mm Creedmoor round.^[source]MK24 Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope

Cartridge

5.56×45mm NATO^[source]

5.56×45mm NATO 7.62×51mm NATO 6.5mm Creedmoor^[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Cartridge

The MARS-L (light) assault rifle variants are chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO intermediate cartridge , and the MARS-H (heavy) battle rifle and designated marksman rifle variants for the 7.62×51mm NATO , 6.5 mm Creedmoor or similar fully powered cartridges .^[source]Design · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope

MARS-H based designated marksman variant, chambered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor .^[source]L129A2 · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope

Swiss MARS-H-based designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO.^[source]7.62mm Zf Stgw 20 · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope

LMT's MRGG-A is a member of its Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System-Heavy (MARS-H) family, which are commonly described as AR-10-style rifles, but is chambered to fire the 6.5mm Creedmoor round.^[source]MK24 Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope

Action	Gas-operated^[source]	Gas-operated , rotating bolt (internal piston, not direct impingement ) or Short-stroke piston^[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Action

Feed system	30-round STANAG Magazine 100-round C-Mag drum magazine^[source]	5.56×45mm NATO : 30-round detachable box magazine 7.62×51mm NATO 20-round detachable box magazine^[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Feed system

Sights	Iron/grenade sights^[source]	—

Source measurement	The Beretta AR70/90 is a gas operated assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridge, and is the standard issue service rifle of the Italian Armed Forces . The weapon is also designed to be fitted with a rifle grenade , and has grenade sights. The AR series comes in many variants such as the AR90, with a wire folding stock, for use by paratroopers.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Development of Beretta AR70/90 rifle began when in the 1980s when the Italian Government decided that its military and law enforcement agencies needed a new standard service weapon. It was made to be compatible with other NATO weapons by the adoption of standard 5.56 mm STANAG loaders, whereas the AR70/90's predecessor, the BM59 , derived from the U.S. M1 Garand , was chambered in 7.62 mm (.308), another NATO caliber which today is considered suitable mostly for sniper or machine gun use.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · History / Italian Army adoption of the AR70/90; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Beretta AR70/223 in its current state could not be submitted for the trials. In October 1980, NATO had chosen the Belgian 62 gr SS109 cartridge as the new standard for the 5.56×45mm round. Because the AR70/223 still ran on the older 5.56mm M193 cartridge, the platform required changes to accommodate the newly standardized SS109 cartridge. Furthermore, a significant defect in build of AR70/223 had been discovered. The receiver of the AR70/223 model was pressed steel box with bolt guides pressed in. It was found that the receiver would distort and jam the firing bolt, if the weapon was subjected to harsh circumstances. The result of these and other upgrades to AR70/223 platform would eventually spawn a new assault rifle design, which would become known as AR70/90.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · History / Italian Army adoption of the AR70/90; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Since January 2018, the latest civilian versions have been marketed by Nuova Jager S.r.l. These are mainly rifles acquired from the reserves of the Carabinieri , which have been modified by the distributor for semi-automatic operation only. These variants still maintain the original .223 Remington caliber, ability to take NATO/STANAG magazines, while barrel length has been reduced to 21mm.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · History / Civilian versions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Between 2008 and 2014, there were around 30,000 ARX160 A2s that are chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge that have been supplied to the Italian Army, Italian Navy, Italian Air Force and Italian Special Forces, supplementing the AR70/90. ARX-160 has been since the deployed in several operations conducted by Italian Armed Forces, including missions in Afghanistan.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · History / Replacement; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The AR70/90 is manufactured according to 1980s standards, i.e. with limited use of polymer plastic parts and using stainless steel whenever possible (a Beretta staple). It weighs approximately 4 kg (8.82 lb) in standard configuration. It has three firing positions (full auto, three-round burst, and semi-auto ) and a safe, and has a carrying handle not unlike the Vietnam-era M16 , a long, bulky barrel, and a hollow stock. It is usually fitted with an ACOG or a red dot optic.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	—

Source measurement

The Beretta AR70/90 is a gas operated assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridge, and is the standard issue service rifle of the Italian Armed Forces . The weapon is also designed to be fitted with a rifle grenade , and has grenade sights. The AR series comes in many variants such as the AR90, with a wire folding stock, for use by paratroopers.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Development of Beretta AR70/90 rifle began when in the 1980s when the Italian Government decided that its military and law enforcement agencies needed a new standard service weapon. It was made to be compatible with other NATO weapons by the adoption of standard 5.56 mm STANAG loaders, whereas the AR70/90's predecessor, the BM59 , derived from the U.S. M1 Garand , was chambered in 7.62 mm (.308), another NATO caliber which today is considered suitable mostly for sniper or machine gun use.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · History / Italian Army adoption of the AR70/90; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Beretta AR70/223 in its current state could not be submitted for the trials. In October 1980, NATO had chosen the Belgian 62 gr SS109 cartridge as the new standard for the 5.56×45mm round. Because the AR70/223 still ran on the older 5.56mm M193 cartridge, the platform required changes to accommodate the newly standardized SS109 cartridge. Furthermore, a significant defect in build of AR70/223 had been discovered. The receiver of the AR70/223 model was pressed steel box with bolt guides pressed in. It was found that the receiver would distort and jam the firing bolt, if the weapon was subjected to harsh circumstances. The result of these and other upgrades to AR70/223 platform would eventually spawn a new assault rifle design, which would become known as AR70/90.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · History / Italian Army adoption of the AR70/90; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Since January 2018, the latest civilian versions have been marketed by Nuova Jager S.r.l. These are mainly rifles acquired from the reserves of the Carabinieri , which have been modified by the distributor for semi-automatic operation only. These variants still maintain the original .223 Remington caliber, ability to take NATO/STANAG magazines, while barrel length has been reduced to 21mm.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · History / Civilian versions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Between 2008 and 2014, there were around 30,000 ARX160 A2s that are chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge that have been supplied to the Italian Army, Italian Navy, Italian Air Force and Italian Special Forces, supplementing the AR70/90. ARX-160 has been since the deployed in several operations conducted by Italian Armed Forces, including missions in Afghanistan.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · History / Replacement; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The AR70/90 is manufactured according to 1980s standards, i.e. with limited use of polymer plastic parts and using stainless steel whenever possible (a Beretta staple). It weighs approximately 4 kg (8.82 lb) in standard configuration. It has three firing positions (full auto, three-round burst, and semi-auto ) and a safe, and has a carrying handle not unlike the Vietnam-era M16 , a long, bulky barrel, and a hollow stock. It is usually fitted with an ACOG or a red dot optic.^[source]Beretta AR70/90 · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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