Beretta USA is the American subsidiary of Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta — the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the world, founded in 1526 in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy. Headquartered in Accokeek, Maryland, Beretta USA produces pistols, shotguns, and rifles for military, law enforcement, hunting, and sporting applications.

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Beretta predates most nations. Maestro Bartolomeo Beretta received his first contract to supply arquebus barrels to the Arsenal of Venice in 1526. Fifteen generations later, the family-owned company still manufactures firearms — a nearly 500-year unbroken lineage.
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Key milestones:

• 1526 — First Beretta firearms contract (Venice Arsenal)
• 1832 — Pietro Beretta formalizes the company; establishes quality-over-quantity philosophy
• 1985 — U.S. military adopts Beretta 92F as M9 service pistol, replacing the M1911A1
• 1985-2017 — Millions of American service members train on Beretta M9 platform
• 2017 — Sig Sauer P320 replaces M9; Beretta pivots to civilian and LE markets
• Present — SAAMI member; manufacturing in Maryland and Tennessee

The loss of the military contract in 2017 was a significant blow, but Beretta has adapted by doubling down on premium sporting shotguns and new civilian pistol platforms like the APX and 92X.

Product Lines

Pistols:

Shotguns — Beretta's strongest category and historic core:

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Beretta's Silver Pigeon series is one of the best-selling over/under shotguns in the world. The 686 offers a premium Italian O/U experience at a more accessible price point than competitors like Browning Citori or Caesar Guerini.
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Rifles: Limited lineup — primarily the BRX1 straight-pull bolt action (newer platform for the European market) and the ARX series for military/LE.

Innovation & Technology

Beretta's technical contributions span almost five centuries. The modern highlights:

Pistol technology:

• Rotating barrel (PX4) — Reduces felt recoil by converting rotational energy; smoother shooting than fixed-barrel designs
• Locking block (92 series) — Reliable lockup design proven across billions of rounds in military service
• APX modular chassis — Serialized chassis allows frame swaps; anticipates future modularity trends

Shotgun technology:

• Kick-Off recoil reduction — Hydraulic recoil dampener in the stock; measurably reduces felt recoil on A400 models
• Steelium barrel technology — Cold hammer-forged, elongated forcing cone for improved patterning
• B-Link gas system — Self-regulating gas system cycles everything from light target loads to 3.5" magnums

Manufacturing:

• Cold hammer-forged barrels across all product lines
• Italian design + American manufacturing (Maryland and Tennessee facilities)
• Olympic-level quality control on sporting shotguns
• Military specification testing on tactical models

Community & Reputation

Common praise:

• Shotgun quality is world-class — Italian craftsmanship with real heritage
• 92 series reliability is legendary (proven across decades of military use)
• Resale value holds well, especially on sporting shotguns

Common criticism:

• APX platform arrived late to the striker-fired market (Glock/Sig had decades of head start)
• Pistol prices can be high relative to competitors
• Customer service/warranty turnaround has drawn complaints
• Parts availability for some models can be inconsistent

Buyer's Guide

Which Beretta is right for you?

Price tiers:

• Pistols: $400 (APX A1) to $1,400+ (92X Performance)
• Shotguns: $700 (A300) to $3,000+ (694, DT11)
• Over/Unders: $1,800 (686 Silver Pigeon) to $8,000+ (DT11)

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If you're choosing between Beretta and Benelli shotguns: Beretta uses gas-operated actions (softer recoil, more ammo-tolerant); Benelli uses inertia-driven (lighter weight, simpler mechanism, but pickier about light loads). Both are owned by the same parent company — Beretta Holding Group.
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References

• Beretta USA official site: beretta.com
• American Rifleman: Beretta 92 series history
• Shooting Sportsman: Silver Pigeon and A400 reviews
• Military.com: M9 to M17 transition coverage

Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team

Join the Discussion

If you've shot both Beretta and other major shotgun brands, what keeps you coming back to Beretta—or what would it take to switch?