Photo credit: Beretta
By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2024
ABOUT BERETTA
In 1526, Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta (1490 – 1565/68) of Gardone received 296 ducats as payment for 185 arquebus barrels sold to the Arsenal of Venice.
The highly discriminating Republic of Venice chose Beretta products because of their excellence. As the Beretta name became synonymous with uncompromising quality, design, materials, construction, and performance, word spread beyond the Italian borders, establishing a tradition that has carried over, uninterrupted, through fifteen generations of Berettas.
The trade secrets and attention to detail that Jacopo (1520/25 – …) inherited from his father Bartolomeo were passed on to his son Giovannino (1550 – post-1577), then to his grandson Giovan Antonio (1577 – post-1649) – on and on from one century to the next.
In the early 1800s, Pietro Antonio Beretta (1791 – 1853), despite difficulties arising from constant wars and foreign domination, traveled throughout Italy to demonstrate the superior quality of his products and collect orders. Pietro Antonio’s son Giuseppe (1840 – 1903) continued the arduous effort begun by his father, creating new opportunities for the company through international distribution.
In the early 1900s, Pietro (1870 – 1957) took the company reins, introducing modernized manufacturing methods, many patents for mechanisms, and simplified construction, consequently establishing Beretta, the first Italian firearms maker, as one of the most modern firearms production facilities in the world. The sons Giuseppe (1906 – 1993) and Carlo (1908 – 1984) continued the modernization process, securing the Company’s multinational character with commercial and production activity in numerous European countries and the United States. These efforts created successful military, law enforcement, and private ventures.
Today, under the leadership of Ugo Gussalli Beretta and his sons Pietro and Franco, Beretta embarks on the 3rd Millennium with the benefit of centuries of experience. That experience, combined with investments in technology, organization, and growing product lines, has prepared Beretta for the demands of the 21st-century global market. Quality Without Compromise. This core value of total commitment to quality was established by Bartolomeo Beretta almost five centuries ago and continues to be the bedrock of Beretta today.
THE PMXs SEMI-AUTO
For years, the Beretta Model 12 was the old-school go-to submachinegun for the Italian Carabinieri, and it served well. However, with the passage of time and the lack of modularity, Beretta created the PMX to NATO quality standards. After years of reliable use by law enforcement and military units worldwide, Beretta created a semi-auto civilian version for the U.S. market, and the PMXs was born.
THE RECEIVER
The polymer receiver houses the PMXs blowback action and features, such as Picatinny rails mounted on top for sights and at 3,6 and 9 o’clock on the bottom for lights and lasers. It has a hand stop, thumb safety, a reversible charging handle, user-friendly, fully ambidextrous controls (except for the bolt release), multiple QD attachment points, and sling mounts. The magazine well is flared for faster reloading, and the magazines are semi-translucent to check your round count quickly.
THE BOLT & BARREL
The PMXs has a direct blowback operating system with a reciprocating charging handle. The blowback design is well known for its reliability, simplicity, and easy maintenance. The cold hammer-forged barrel is 6.9 inches long and threaded ½” x 28 thread for attaching a can or flash hider.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Hammer Fired, Blowback
Caliber: 9mm
Magazine Capacity: 30 Rounds
Sights: None, Full Length Picatinny Rail
Barrel Length: 6.9 Inches
Overall Length: 16.4 Inches
Height: 9.8 Inches
Width: 2.8 Inches
Weight: 88 Ounces
MSRP: $1,299
URL: www.beretta.com
THE VERDICT
The PMXs is lightweight, quite refined, has a surprisingly light recoil for a blowback-operated gun, and is reasonably priced.
The PMXs is available in Black or a Tiger Stripe camo and ships with a hard shell case and two 30-round magazines.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, Soldier of Fortune, The Armory Life, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.
Contact him at [email protected].