Beretta M12

Lore & Background

The Beretta M12 was developed by designer Domenico Salza in 1959, revisiting an old project, the Armaguerra Cremona OG44, to replace the MAB model 1938. Its short length is achieved by a telescoping bolt that recesses the barrel into the bolt head, reducing overall length without sacrificing barrel length or bolt weight. The weapon fires from an open bolt and features a chromium-plated barrel and rifling to prevent fouling, with grooved bolt housing for reliable operation in mud, dust, or sand. Exterior surfaces are finished with epoxy resin coating for corrosion protection.

The M12 has three safeties: a manual safety blocking the trigger, an automatic safety on the rear grip immobilizing the trigger and blocking the bolt closed, and a safety on the cocking handle locking the bolt if it does not retract sufficiently. It offers selective fire (single shot or fully automatic) and is equipped with a side-folding stock, though a fixed stock is seen rarely. The front sight is adjustable for elevation and windage, and the rear sight has a two-position flip aperture for up to 100 m and up to 200 m.

The first variant appeared in limited numbers at the end of the 1960s for the Italian Navy special forces, featuring a longer barrel (about one inch) and a birdcage-type flash suppressor; it was later replaced by the Heckler & Koch MP5. The Model 12S, introduced in 1978, uses a 32-round box magazine chambered for 9×19mm NATO, and incorporates a grip safety that locks the trigger and bolt in the closed position. The safety and fire-selector were re-engineered into a lever-type selector with three positions: S (Safety), 1 (Single-fire), and R (Burst fire). The PM12S can be field-stripped without tools and consists of 84 discrete components. The current version, the PM12-S2, was developed after a misfire accident in the mid-1980s prompted the Carabinieri to request a further safety device that keeps the bolt in a half-cocked position and acts as an interceptor; this is the only Model 12 variant currently manufactured by Beretta.

Reader's Guide

The Beretta M12 achieved notable early success in Arab countries and South America before being widely adopted by Italian forces. It was used by various South American, African, and Asian countries, and manufactured under license in Brazil by Taurus (as the MT12, designated M972 by the Brazilian Army), in Belgium by FN Herstal, and in Indonesia by PT Pindad (models PM1 and PM1A1). The weapon saw action during the Tet Offensive in 1968 when U.S. Marines defending the U.S. embassy in Saigon used it to repel Viet Cong attackers. It has been employed by numerous state users including Algeria, Bahrain, Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, France (police officers), Gabon, Guatemala, Guyana, Indonesia (forest rangers), Iran, Italy (all armed forces and police forces including GIS, NOCS, Carabinieri, Navy, Air Force, Polizia di Stato, Guardia di Finanza, Polizia Penitenziaria, and Corpo Forestale dello Stato), Libya, Malta, Nigeria, Portugal (Polícia de Segurança Pública), Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, the United States (CIA, some SWAT teams, Baltimore City Police Department), Vatican City, and Venezuela. Non-state users include the National Resistance Army, PAIGC, and the Provisional IRA. The M12 is being replaced by the Beretta PMX, which is deliberately built to require minimal retraining.

Did You Know?

• The Beretta M12 was first seen in combat during the Tet Offensive in 1968 when U.S. Marines used it to defend the U.S. embassy in Saigon.
• The M12 has three safeties: a manual safety, an automatic grip safety, and a cocking handle safety.
• The current variant, the PM12-S2, was developed after a misfire accident with the Carabinieri in the mid-1980s.