Welcome everyone to the 185th edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet deal or only has a Fudd appeal?  Each week the TFB staff weighs in with their thoughts, but readers get the final say in the poll at the bottom of each article.

In our last edition, our poll showed that you, the readers, decided the very custom AR-15 was fudd crap.  

HGFC – Bold and Brash or Belongs in the Trash? — Poll Results

At this time the original auction has a current bid of $430 with nine hours remaining on the auction.  At this point, I’d usually wish the winner the best of luck with what they’ve deemed a hot gat, but this time I’d rather just say “Proceed with caution…”.  In all seriousness, congratulations to both the buyer and seller for pulling off something that probably shouldn’t have worked (even as a joke).     

In this week’s edition of HGFC, we look at a Beretta ARX160 chambered in .22 Long Rifle. As is tradition, this late 2000s gat is currently up for sale on GunBroker for $310 Current Bid or $561 Buy It Now.  

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP?

Late 2000s Magic or Plastic and Tragic?

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Late 2000s Magic or Plastic and Tragic?

Let’s see what the Staff had to say about this week’s offering:

“If the ARX is a tuna is this a minnow?” – Lucas D.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Late 2000s Magic or Plastic and Tragic?

Selling this almost retro gat is GunBroker seller FirearmLand, located in Florida.  Let’s see what they had to say about this seldom-seen Beretta ARX160.  

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Late 2000s Magic or Plastic and Tragic?

Authors Note: The item description has been truncated in order to fit the format of this article.  For the full item description please visit the listing via the link here.  

This Beretta ARX 160 in 22LR is in excellent condition, showing only faint signs of any prior handling or use. The bore is also in excellent condition. This semi-automatic rifle is a faithful replica of the battle-tested ARX160 serving with the Italian Military. The weight, balance, look, feel, and most of the control placement and operation are just like the 5.56 NATO rifle. The .22 long rifle ARX160’s almost twin appearance to the Italian service rifle makes it an easy choice for training purposes and also makes a fun, reliable target rifle.

Features like an ambidextrous safety lever and magazine release, Picatinny rails, reversible charging handle, collapsible folding stock set the ARX 160 apart from other .22 rifles. Couple those features with an 18.1″ barrel, and you have a target rifle that can be enjoyed by both right and left-handed shooters alike. The pop-up adjustable front and rear sights allow for easy targeting and accuracy. Rifle has a threaded barrel ready for a muzzle break/flash hider.

Overall, this Beretta ARX 160 is an excellent option for those looking for a reliable and fun target rifle. Its resemblance to the Italian service rifle makes it a great choice for training purposes as well.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Late 2000s Magic or Plastic and Tragic?

Specifications:

• Gun Type: Semi Auto Rifles
• Manufacturer: Beretta
• Model: ARX 160
• Caliber: 22LR
• UPC: 082442306940
• Manufacturer Part Number: JXR21800
• Action: Semi Automatic
• Capacity: 20
• Barrel Length: 18.1″
• Finish: Blued
• Stock/Grips: Polymer
• Sight/Optic: Pop up adjustable front and rear sights

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Late 2000s Magic or Plastic and Tragic?

The 90s and 2000s were an interesting time for firearms development.  FN made the SCAR and the F2000, but also the P90.  So I guess they’re kinda two for three.  It seemed like every major firearm manufacturer at this time was trying to invent the next AR-15.  The ARX was Beretta’s entry into this new evolution of military ordinance, and the ARX160 .22LR was the trainer that came shortly afterward.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Late 2000s Magic or Plastic and Tragic?

Like most new designs from this era, the ARX160 .22LR is built around plastic furniture a focuses heavily on user comfort and ergonomics.  It’s carried over features like Picatinny rails, but with a more space-age look and feel.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Late 2000s Magic or Plastic and Tragic?

These rifles came in either an 8.5″ pistol variant or an 18″ rifle variant (pictured above), and feature 5, 10, 15, or 20-round magazines.  While the Beretta ARX line is still in military service today, it seems like its popularity has since subsided here stateside.  So as a collector’s item or range toy, this might be a blast.  Personally, I’d be curious to see how it sounds with a modern .22LR suppressor attached.

So what’s a late 2000s era .22LR variant of a semi-popular rifle worth?  Honestly, I’m not even a fan of these rifles, but for $310 and No Reserve, this is pretty tempting.  That however doesn’t answer the underlying question.  So I leave it up to you, the readers, to decide.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Late 2000s Magic or Plastic and Tragic?

What do you think?  Is this ARX160 a Hot Gat or a plastic pile of Fudd Crap?  Be sure to let us know in the comments below, and cast your vote to let us know if this Beretta ARX160 22LR Rifle is a Hot Gat or Fudd Crap: