Beretta Model 93R

History of the Beretta Type 93R

The Beretta model 93R (or simply "93R") is manufactured by Pietro Beretta SpA, an Italian company in Gardone Val Trompia. Beretta produced the first locking breech semi-automatic pistol in 1951, the M1951/M951.

A derivative of the M951 became the Model 951R, a "submachine gun" with the selective fire characteristics of an automatic weapon - using an optional shoulder rest, a fixed ergonomic wooden foregrip and an extended magazine. Submachine guns are between traditional semi-automatic pistols and traditional submachine guns.

As a result, the 951R was upgraded to a more modern standard in the 1970s, and by 1986 became the Beretta 93R series of submachine guns. Production of the 93R series continued until the 1990s, after which it ceased production.

The base M951 is also up to par with the famous Type 92 (Type 92F is the "M9" in service with the US Army).

The 93R retains the 951R's Selective Fire Mode, which allows the operator to switch the pistol from semi-automatic fire to three-round burst capability, giving it the quality of a true automatic weapon. The core of the 93R is nearly identical to the 92 model, differing only in a few key features.

Auto burst mode fires up to 1,100 rounds per minute. To aid this firing mode (since such a small gun would easily notice muzzle rise when bursting), a serviceable, hinged, fold-down foregrip is located in front of the trigger guard, allowing the operator to position Two well-spaced grips stop the gun. A muzzle compensator was also incorporated into the design. A spring-loaded 15-round detachable magazine inserts into the bottom of the pistol grip, adding stability through weight and creating a tighter grip.

The 93R holds the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge. The pistol grip is angled slightly back to accommodate the magazine, which is known to protrude from the pistol grip base (like the 951R) - this along with the folding foregrip and extended barrel make up this Beretta Series models are lightweight.

Like all Beretta machine guns, the 93R has the signature clean lines along the muzzle. The shooter's trigger hand is supported by a spine above the rear of the grip. The curved trigger is housed in a slender trigger guard with plenty of room for the fingers (the thumb that supports the left hand rests on the front of the trigger ring, just in front of the trigger finger when the operator uses the fore grip - it is said in the better two-handed guns in fire mode). All weapon controls are located on the left side of the fuselage, including the fire selector (single-dot for single-shot or three-dot for burst for quick visual identification).

The hammer is clearly visible at the rear of the slide, as are the rear notches and front post sights. Spent bullets are ejected through the top of the recoil slider.

Overall length is 9.45 inches. The barrel is 6.14 inches long with 6 right-hand grooves. The barrel extends slightly from the front of the slide and features three outlet notches on either side of the muzzle, forming a muzzle brake.

Muzzle velocity is rated at 1,230 feet per second, which is impressive. Weight is manageable 2 lbs 7.5 oz.

Additional attachments make the 93R a more lethal weapon system in close combat. These items include an optional retractable steel shoulder rest (attached to the rear of the case) and a 20-round detachable magazine, a good showcase for submachine gun quality.

The shoulder rest works in conjunction with the fore grip to provide more targeted and accurate fire on the target or target area.

Specification

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