Beretta Brings Straight Pull Bolt Rifle to America

Now it is weird that Beretta would opt to make a bolt-action rifle, after all, they own the Finnish Sako and Tikka brands, as well as the Italian Franchi brand, all of which make plenty of traditional turn-bolt action hunting and precision rifles. However, a few things set the Beretta BRX1 apart.

First, it is a straight pull, allowing for lightning-fast follow-up shots without taking the eye off the target. Sure, there is nothing new about this, as several models of Austrian Mannlicher (M86, M88, M90, M83, M95, et, al) all used it as did the American M1895 Lee Navy– used by the Marines in the Spanish-American War– the infamous Canadian Ross rifle of WWI fame, and the Swiss Schmidt–Rubin series (GP90 and GP11, followed by the K.31).

However, by the 1950s, these designs were all considered obsolete and old-fashioned, with 2- and 3-lug turn-bolt actions deemed imminently stronger and more dependable.

Well, the Beretta BRX-1 has a rotating bolt head featuring 8 locking lugs (16 for magnum calibers), surpassing that issue. Further, Beretta tells us it is the “fastest modern repeating rifle on the market.”

It can also be swapped from caliber to caliber (.300 Win Mag, .308 Win, and 6.5CM with more options on the way to include .223) in seconds while the bolt handle can be swapped side-to-side. The adjustable single-stage trigger pack and magazine system are easily removable, as is the bolt assembly, all for easy cleaning. Construction is in Italy on a top-end CNC line where it looks like robots making robots.

The barrel is cold-hammer forged, free-floating, and has a threaded (5/8″ x 24) muzzle as well as a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee backed up by a test target shipped with each rifle. The furniture is a polymer with colorways offered in black, carbon gray, and green with an adjustable length of pull and swappable cheek riser and pistol grip.

Weight is in the 7-pound range due to the extensive use of polymers and the aluminum receiver. The top Pic rail can be swapped out for different lengths (O MOA, 20 MOA, etc).

The ask is $1,599, which by and large isn’t that bad when considering the other options out there such as the Savage Impulse.

We recently got to test the new BRX1 at a range event with Beretta at SHOT Show and were surprised at the feel, easy manual of arms, and accuracy. Tried really hard not to like it, but in the end, it won us over.

Beretta even had a genuinely nice concept BRX1 Tactical rifle in MultiCam with a magwell set up to accept Magpul PMAGs– which we loved.

Below is a short clip from Beretta giving a rundown on the BRX-1’s modularity.