NAME – Beretta Model 38/42

NAME (NATIVE) – Moschetto Automatico Beretta Modello 38A/42

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Italy

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1942-1945

CALIBER – 9x19mm

OVERALL LENGTH – 80 cm (31.5 in)

BARREL LENGTH – 23.1 cm (9.1 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6 groove, Right hand twist

BULLET DIAMETER – 9.02 mm (0.355 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 7.45 g (115 gr)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 420 m/s (1378 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 658 j (485 ft/lbs)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 3.27 kg (7 lb 3 oz)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 4.01 kg (8 lb 13.2 oz)

SIGHTS – Front sight – blade, Rear sight, Square notch Flip-type, 100 and 200 meters

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 200 m (220 yds)

OPERATION – Blowback

TYPE OF FIRE – Selective fire, Semi and Full automatic

RATE OF FIRE – 40 rpm (Semi), 120 rpm (Full)

CYCLIC ROF – 550 rpm

FEED DEVICE – 20 and 40 round box magazines, Double column, double feed

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 20 rd 0.14 kg (5 oz), 40 rd 0.26 kg (9 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 20 rd 0.38 kg (13.4 oz), 40 rd 0.74 kg (1 lb 10.2 oz)

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 6 – 40 round magazines (240 rds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 4.44 kg (9 lbs 13.2 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Pietro Beretta SpA, Gardone-val-Trompia, Brescia, Italy

STATUS – Obsolescent, still found in guerilla and insurgent hands, particularly in the Mideast and N. Africa

SERVICE – Italian military, Late WWII production went to the German military, issued as the MP 738(i)

     The demands of wartime production resulted in a redesign of the Beretta Model 38. For mass production on the large scale demanded, the Beretta 38/42 was made slightly smaller and lighter than the original Model 38A. As many parts as were practical were made of steel stampings rather than machined parts. The perforated barrel cooling jacket of the 38A was eliminated, though eight longitudinal flutes were cut into the barrel. The fluting increases the surface area of the barrel, increasing the rate of cooling from the air circulation and heat radiation. An integral compensator was machined as two slots in the top of the barrel muzzle. Post 1944 construction eliminated the cooling flutes resulting in a smooth barrel.

     The internal mechanism of the Model 38/42 had been modified with the mainspring more enclosed in a tubular container, the rear of which extends out slightly from the back of the receiver. The receiver of the weapon was now produced of sheet metal with the magazine well being a separate construction and welded in place. The cocking handle was redesigned to include a dust cover that helps seal the action, a result of the Italian Army’s action in the sands of North Africa. The cocking handle does not reciprocate when the bolt moves.

     The dual trigger system acts as the selector for full and semiautomatic firing. Pulling on the front trigger results in semiautomatic firing. Pulling on the rear trigger allows the weapon to fire on full automatic. Serrations on the rear trigger allow it to be recognized by feel. These changes made the Beretta 38/42 much easier to mass produce as well as lowering the cost of production considerably. As the Beretta facilities were located in Northern Italy, production of the 38/42 continued under German occupation after Italy fell to the Allies.