Italian gunmaker Beretta has raised the curtain overseas on its PMXs, a new semi-automatic variant of the company's PMX submachine gun.
The planned replacement to the classic M-12 SMG of the 1960s (aka The Spaghetti Uzi), the select-fire PMX was introduced in 2017, using a lot more polymer but almost doubling the older gun's rate of fire from a sedate 550 rounds-per-minute to a more scorching 900. It has been adopted by the Italian national police, the famed Carabinieri, and a few other agencies.
To make the gun more of a pistol caliber carbine, the PMXs is a semi-auto-only model "dedicated to the civil sector." Beretta says the PMXs is now available on the consumer market in Italy but is soon to be seen in other markets sometime in 2022.
"Following the enthusiastic reception that law enforcement professionals reserved to PMX, we are happy to introduce PMXs, the new semiautomatic submachine gun that will provide tactical enthusiasts with the opportunity to train like a pro," says the company.
The version introduced in Italy is in 9x21mm, as 9x19 Luger is considered a military and police round there and is restricted. Using a 7.2-inch barrel with a side-folding stock, it is 16.8-inches long overall in its most compact version and 25.6 in its longest. The barrel has 1/2x28 TPI threads on the muzzle for accessories and suppressors, an ambidextrous safety selector, flip-up sights along a top Picatinny rail, accessory side rails, 20-round semi-transparent polymer magazines, a detachable forward grip, and an integrated sling point/hand stop.
In short, it is super cool and is also about as non-importable in its current format as it gets. The PMXs would surely have the pearl clutchers clutching. However, if it is given a longer barrel and made officially as a carbine or it loses the stock altogether and comes in as a Draco/CZ Scorpion-style pistol, it could very well wash up on American shores very shortly, obviously chambered in 9mm Luger. As such, it would be a great replacement for the CX4 in Beretta USA's catalog, especially if they can make it take commonly available APX or Beretta 92 mags.
The Italian gun magazine Armi & Tiro took a closer look at it last week.
