BM-59 MK-1 7.62 NATO/.308 Mag Fed Semi-Auto Rifle by James River Armory

After World War II, Italy adopted the US-designed M1 Garand rifle in .30-06 Springfield (7.62×63mm) and also manufactured it under license. This semi-automatic rifle proved itself well during World War II, but in the late 1950s it was considered outdated and obsolete and the Italian military also wanted a new rifle chambered for the NATO-standard 7.62×51mm round. To meet these requirements, Beretta designed the BM 59, which was essentially a re-chambered M1 Garand modified to be mag fed and to accept a removable 20-round magazine, folding bipod and a combined flash suppressor/rifle grenade launcher.

The original military variation was also capable of selective fire. The BM 59 was adopted in 1959 and served with Italian, Argentinian, Indonesian, and Moroccan armies. The earliest BM 59s in Italy were manufactured from U.S.-manufactured M1 parts, including re-chambered barrels. These BM59 rifles are manufactured on Brand New J.R.A. M1-Garand / BM-59 Receivers, and feature a combination of new condition U.S. Military and Beretta parts. They also feature a new U.S. made barrel and are manufactured to legal Semi Auto BM59 specs. Each rifle comes with 1-20 round magazines.

These rifles are MK-1 variations of the BM-59 design. These lack the grenade launcher muzzle device, having a different muzzle brake instead similar to the Mk-4 models. It also has no grenade launcher latter sights. We have been told that this muzzle break variation is quite rare and is present in only about 1% of the parts kits we have seen.

Note- Rifle is chambered for and functions best with Nato spec 147 grain 7.62x51 ammunition. We do not recommend commercial .308 Winchester ammunition for this rifle.

Note 2 - Original metal parts on these may exhibit slight scratches or bluing wear from storage but images are actual photo's and these are excellent overall.