The Beretta BRX1 is the first hunting rifle from the world’s oldest gun manufacturer.
Beretta has chosen to use the linear reloading system for its first foray into the world of hunting rifles and in doing so it has created a revolutionary weapon that encompasses all of its experience in rifled firearms, developed with years of designing weapons in both the military and civilian world.
The BRX1 guarantees the utmost speed, accuracy, precision, safety and ease of use, from the first pull of the trigger through to the smoothness of reloading. It is an extremely versatile rifle with the ability to change not only the the barrel to different calibres but also the bolt to suit both right and left-hand shooters.
Ambidextrous Bolt
As a left-handed shooter your options are better than they were years ago, however they are still limited. Many just shoot right-handed rifles and adapt they way they shoot which is a far from ideal scenario as the bolt is on the wrong side and cartridges get ejected across your face. The engineers at Beretta took these issues into consideration when designing the BRX1 and made the bolt lever and cartridge case ejection system easily reversible – a process that can be done in second and without the need for tools.
The bolt on the Beretta BRX1 has a closing system with an 8 lug rotating bolt head (16 for magnum calibers), complete with extraction claw and ejector. This ultra-secure locking system is derived directly from burst weapons used by militaries.
The bolt handle has a medium-sized spherical knob positioned close to the trigger for the best ergonomics and speed in reloading.
Safety and Trigger System
The ambidextrous design of the rifle has been taken one step further by adding a thumb-operated safety to the rear of the bolt housing that can be operated easily by either right or left-handed shooters.
The three positions of the safety system are: the first mode blocks both the trigger release and the bolt; the middle mode blocks only the trigger, but leaves the possibility of opening the bolt to safely load and unload the weapon; the third mode allows both firing and reloading.
The trigger group of the BRX1 was developed with hammer and direct release (single stage) and is adjustable between three different weight levels ranging from 950 to 1,500 grams. The group I can be easily removed from the weapon so you can select the trigger weight using the sliding button located on the right side of the device. The result is a crisp and precise trigger.
Interchangeable Barrels
The Beretta BRX1 features barrels that are made of black opaque burnished steel which have been made entirely by cold-hammering and deep drilling to create both the rifling and combustion chamber in a single step. The cold hammering and special vacuum stress relieving techniques used give the steel the ideal characteristics to offer the best ballistic performances available today in addition to the perfect alignment between the cartridge chamber and the rifling. All these details ensure the maximum accuracy of the weapon.
The barrel is housed in the grip by means of a “V” cradle and locked by two screws and a steel dowel. Not only does this keep the barrel in the same position without risking a loss in accuracy or calibration of optics, it also makes the barrels interchangeable should you wish to quickly change the caliber of the rifle to suit different quarry.
Currently the standard calibers of 308 Win. and 30.06 SPRG., come in a barrel length of 20 inches (510mm) or 22.5 inches (570mm), and the 300 WinMag. comes in 24.5 inches (620mm). The twist rate is 1/11 for all three of these calibers.
All barrels have an M14 muzzle thread (which is protected by a knurled thread cover) for mounting accessories such as muzzle brakes or sound moderators.
Barrels without a front sight are equipped with a Picatinny rail, whilst those with sights are equipped with a dedicated quick coupler (this is also available as an option for all other configurations). Alternatively, a 17mm dovetail upper interface slide (Tikka type) can also be installed.
Magazine
The magazine is made of a high-visibility orange polymer, houses up to 5 cartridges, even for magnum calibers, and can be removed using a double release button that prevents accidental detachment whilst hunting.
Stock
A special black polymer stock with an anti-slip finish was designed for the BRX1, more accentuated on the pistol grip and in the lower forend. Sling swivels are integrated on the stock and forend. The standard handle can be replaced with a different size handle for greater adaptability to the hand and preferences of the shooter. The stock length can be adjusted using optional pads and spacers between 350mm and over 390 mm.
