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Beretta MG 42/59
Photo: Patrizioc1 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
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BerettaMG42/59

General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · Italy · 1959
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BerettaMG42/59

Beretta MG 42/59
Beretta MG 42/59 Photo: Patrizioc1 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Sustained Firepower
85
Effective Range
75
Penetration
70
Reliability
90
Accuracy
80
Barrel Endurance
85
Mount Versatility
70
Controllability
75
Portability
60
Cost-Effectiveness
85
Origin Italy
ManufacturerBeretta
CategoryGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)
EraEarly Cold War
In service1959
Operators1 countries
Data Quality84%
79
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) MASS Rating
6/21
Early Cold War
17/131
All-Time
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · 10 axes scored
Sustained Firepower
85
Effective Range
75
Penetration
70
Reliability
90
Accuracy
80
Barrel Endurance
85
Mount Versatility
70
Controllability
75
Portability
60
Cost-Effectiveness
85
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category.
01 / Overview
Beretta MG 42/59
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1959–
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) · EARLY COLD WAR
6
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
88
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
79
general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
  • First Production Year1959
  • Service Entry Year1959
  • Weight (Empty)10.5 kg
  • Weight (Loaded)12.5 kg
  • Currently In ServiceYes
◈Cartridge & Calibre5MOD.5
  • Cartridge7.62×51mm NATO
  • Calibre7.62 mm
  • Case Length48.5 mm
  • Calibre Class7.62mm
  • Bullet Weight9.5 g
▣Operation9MOD.9
  • Action TypeGas-Operated
  • Fire Modesautomatic
  • Select FireYes
  • Feed SystemBelt
  • Magazine Capacity50
  • Cyclic Rate of Fire800
  • Practical Rate of Fire250
  • Trigger Typesingle-stage
  • Safety Typemanual safety
◇Ballistics7MOD.7
  • Muzzle Velocity820 m/s
  • Muzzle Energy3,200
  • Effective Range (point)800 m
  • Effective Range (area)1,200 m
  • Maximum Range3,600 m
  • Sighting Range1,200 m
  • Accuracy4
◆Barrel & Sights6MOD.6
  • Barrel Length533 mm
  • Rifling Twist1:12
  • Rifling Grooves4
  • Sight Typeadjustable iron sights
  • Sight Radius450 mm
  • Iron SightsYes
▤Construction3MOD.3
  • Receiver Materialsteel
  • Furniture Materialwood or polymer
  • Modularityquick-change barrel
⬢Features2MOD.2
▲Production & Cost2MOD.2
  • Production Start1959
  • Variants1
◎Additional Dimensions2MOD.2
  • Width150 mm
  • Height250 mm
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANRetired
  1. 1959Production started
67
years in service
0
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country no longer actively operates it. 1 countries retired it.
04 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
MG 42 1942
Beretta MG 42/59 1959
// SIBLING VARIANTS
05 / Operators
Operator Countries1country
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE6terms
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a flexible or rigid container (magazine) inserted into the grip or attached externally, feeding rounds into the chamber via a spring or follower.
Firearm action type where expanding gas from a fired cartridge cycles the mechanism, typically via a piston or direct impingement.
Uses high-pressure gas to cycle the action, rather than recoil energy.
Integral bipod: a permanently attached, built‑in bipod that provides a two‑point support for a firearm, allowing it to be rested on a surface without separate accessories.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Select fire is a fire selector mechanism on a firearm that lets the shooter choose the firing mode, such as semi‑automatic, burst, or fully automatic.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) entry →