Breda PG

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Breda PG
Breda PG colorized.png
Drawing of the Costa Rican version of the Moschetto automatico Breda PG.
Type Semi-automatic rifle and carbine (Italian variants)
Select fire carbine (Italian and Costa Rican variants)
Place of origin Kingdom of Italy
Service history
Used by Kingdom of Italy
Costa Rica
Wars World War II
Costa Rican Civil War
Production history
DesignerSestilio Fiorini
Designed1931
ManufacturerBreda
Produced1931-1935
Specifications
Cartridge 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano (Italian variants)
7×57mm Mauser (Costa Rican variant)
Caliber 6.5mm (Italian variants)
7mm (Costa Rican variant)
Action Gas-operated, Open bolt
Rate of fire 600 RPM (Moschetto automatico)
Feed system20 Round Box Magazine (Moschetto automatico)
Sights Iron sights

The Breda Modello PG (Italian: Presa Gas, "gas operated") was a family of guns, composed both by semi-automatic rifles and carbines and select fire carbines manufactured by Breda in the first alf of the 1930s. [1] [2]

Contents

History

In the first half of the 1930s the General Staff of the Regio Esercito was looking for a semi-automatic rifle to replace the old Carcano Mod. 91. Various Italian automatic weapons date back to that period such as the Scotti mod. T.S., the Scotti mod. IX, the Scotti Mod. X, the Beretta mod.1931, the MBT mod.1926, mod.1931 [3] and the Breda PG.

The weapon was built and presented to the Regio Esercito in three different models: [1] [2]

The tests did not lead to significant orders, due to both their cost and high complexity.

In 1935, approximately 800 Moschetti automatici Breda PG in 7×57 mm Mauser caliber were produced for Costa Rica. [1] [5]

At least one Moschetto automatico Breda PG carbine was used at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds to help develop the burst-firing function on the M16 rifle. [6]

Design

All the Breda PG variants were gas-operated, open bolt guns. [4]

The Moschetto automatico Breda PG variant was a carbine fed from a 20-round magazine. The Moschetto automatico Breda PG is considered the first burst-firing automatic rifle due its four-round burst limiter. [7] [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Curami, Ferrari & Rastelli 2009, pp. 79, 80.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Unione Fascista degli Industriali di Brescia 1935, p. 54.
  3. ↑ "7.35x51". Carcano Compendium.
  4. 1 2 Società Italiana Ernesto Breda 1935, pp. 1–4.
  5. ↑ Riccio 2013, p. 102.
  6. ↑ "Lot Detail - (N) EXTREMELY RARE BREDA COSTA RICAN MODEL PG MACHINE GUN USED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THREE SHOT BURST FOR AMERICAN M16A2 (CURIO & RELIC)".
  7. ↑ McCollum, Ian (August 11, 2017). "Costa Rican Breda PG: The First Burst-Fire Rifle". Forgotten Weapons. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  8. ↑ McCollum, Ian (August 11, 2017). "Breda PG Photos". Forgotten Weapons. Retrieved September 26, 2018.

Bibliography

  • Società Italiana Ernesto Breda (1935). Moschetto Automatico Breda P.G. calibro da fucile.
  • Unione Fascista degli Industriali di Brescia (1935). Mostra nazionale delle armi e protezione antiaerea, Catalogo. Brescia.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Curami, Andrea; Ferrari, Paolo; Rastelli, Achille (2009). Alle origini della Breda Meccanica Bresciana. Brescia.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Riccio, Ralph (2013). Italian small arms of the First and Second World Wars.


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