Beretta AR70/90 vs Mk 13 rifle: Specs Compared

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

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

Beretta AR70/90varies slightly

0.998 m

Length source ↗

Mk 13 rifleLength

1.207 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Beretta AR70/90larger figure on 0 of 2

None

Mk 13 riflelarger figure on 2 of 2

Range+160%
Barrel length+50%

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

14 of 36 rows sourced on both sides

998mmvaries slightly

1.21m

Length

All recorded figures & sources

0.998 m

varies slightly

Single source

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

1.207 m

Length

Single source

Configuration

Details

Beretta AR70/90 and Mk 13 rifle configuration
Specification	Beretta AR70/90	Mk 13 rifle
Type	Assault rifle^[source]	—
Place of origin	Italy^[source]	—
In service	AR70/223: 1972–1990 AR70/90: 1990–present^[source]	2001–present^[source]
Used by	See Users^[source]	United States^[source]
Wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War Mexican drug war Syrian Civil War

Designer	Beretta^[source]	Accuracy International / Remington Arms^[source]

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

Manufacturer	Beretta^[source]	Accuracy International^[source]

Variants	See Variants^[source]	Mk 13 MOD 5 Mk 13 MOD 7^[source]

Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO^[source]	.300 Winchester Magnum^[source]

Action	Gas-operated^[source]	Bolt action^[source]

Feed system	30-round STANAG Magazine 100-round C-Mag drum magazine^[source]	5-round magazine (MOD 5)^[source]

Sights	Iron/grenade sights^[source]	Nightforce Advanced Tactical Riflescope^[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

—

Calibre	—	.308^[source]

Country of origin	—	United Kingdom^[source]

Reported operators	Reported operator · Albania Reported operator · Burkina Faso Reported operator · Egypt Reported operator · Honduras Reported operator · Italy Reported operator · Jordan Reported operator · Lesotho Reported operator · Malaysia Reported operator · Mexico Reported operator · Morocco Reported operator · Nigeria Reported operator · Paraguay Reported operator · Ukraine Reported operator · Zimbabwe	—