TFB stopped at the Beretta Defense booth, where they were exhibiting the new ARX-200 7.62x51mm select-fire rifle. We reported on the rumors, and subsequent release of this rifle last year, but details remained hazy, and there was no word of a US market release.

The ARX-200 is modified versus the ARX-100. Unlike its smaller 5.56mm caliber brother, the ARX-200 lacks reversible ejection capability, has a more rigid (but harder to change) barrel mounting system, and an adjustable gas regulator. The reason for these changes, says Beretta, is due to the gun being designed around requirements for a precision semiautomatic marksman’s rifle. The single ejection port layout is much more rigid and stable than the dual-ejection model, and the barrel mounting system also is designed to improve accuracy.

On the floor of the 2016 SHOT Show, I spoke with Beretta representatives about the rifle, its design, and its potential debut for civilians in the USA. One representative said that the rifle’s release date would depend on the interest generated at the show, but another suggested an April release date.

The Beretta representatives claimed an accuracy goal for the ARX-200 program of 1.5″ at 600 meters (0.218 MOA!), but other Beretta literature gives the accuracy of the rifle at 1.5″ at 100 meters – much more realistic-sounding.