I’m afraid we might be seeing the end of the Beretta ARX100. I hope I’m wrong, but its price has hit rock bottom, with sellers offering the rifle for as low as 50% off MSRP. But why? The ultra reliable ARX100 sports an impressive list of standard features.
It has a folding and collapsible stock. Its monolithic top rail includes flip up iron (poylmer) sights. The cold hammer forged barrel with two-position gas block regulates the short stroke gas piston and is designed to cycle even the lowest power 223 ammo.
According to Beretta the barrel can even be changed in seconds, I couldn’t confirm if they meant metric or US seconds, but it’s easy.
Weighing in at only 6.8 pounds the ARX100 is on the lighter side of modern carbines. All controls are ambidextrous including the charging handle, which is reversible. The user can even select which side the spent casing eject from.
So why hasn’t this feature-packed rifle seen much success on the US market? Well its MSRP is a whopping $1,950. That’s getting into SCAR and ACR range. But even then the ARX does things the SCAR and ACR can’t.
The ARX even has been well reviewed and people who shoot it love it. It may look all little odd, but is that a real problem?
I know, I know it’s a tool and looks shouldn’t matter, but I don’t buy that. Looks do matter to a lot of buyers.
If you can get past aesthetics, this is a great time to pick up an ARX100. At $899, I’m tempted to buy one, but probably won’t. And I don’t know why. I’m a Beretta fan and have more affection towards my 92FS than any other gun I own. But the ARX100 doesn’t do it for me…for some reason. You?
If you’re a fan, here is a list of retailers offering some great (and some not so great) deals.
Classic Firearms is asking only $899.
Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore has them for $919.
Tombstone is sold out but has them listed for $1,064.
At the high end of the market Buds Gun Shop still has them listed for $1,658.