The Beretta PM12: One of the Most Underrated Subguns of the Cold War

When you think of Cold War-era submachine guns, the usual suspects come to mind: the Uzi, the MP5, maybe even the Sterling. But one of the most widely used, longest-serving, and most underappreciated designs of the era came from Italy: the Beretta PM12.

First developed in the late 1950s and entering service officially in the 1960s, the PM12 was Beretta’s answer to the need for a modern, compact 9mm subgun that could replace the WWII-era MAB 38. The gun featured a telescoping bolt, a moderate cyclic rate around 550 rpm, and excellent controllability in full-auto.

The PM12 served with the Italian military, police, and Carabinieri for more than 50 years. It was also exported or licensed in dozens of countries, including Brazil, Belgium, Indonesia, and much of North Africa and Latin America. Despite its proven track record, the PM12 rarely gets the same recognition as its contemporaries, which is what inspired the latest video from TFBTV.

In the video, James Reeves shoots and disassembles a PM12 on camera with help from an Italian military officer. The video also features a rare interview with Beretta engineer Paolo Parola, who worked on the PM12 during its production years.

You’ll get a full history of the platform, its variants (PM12S and PM12S2), and an honest look at how it stacks up to better-known guns like the MP5 and Uzi.

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