The Beretta PMX that arrives from Umarex, in collaboration with the Taiwanese factory KWA, features official licenses, making it a replica— in the strictest and most literal sense—of great interest. This model is the successor to the Beretta M12, which veterans will remember in the hands of Italian police forces in action movies from the ’70s and ’80s, and which those who have traveled to Italy may have seen in person, as the PMX was not released until 2017. As for the GBB replica, Umarex announced it at IWA 2023. 

Compact and lightweight 
This replica of Beretta’s 9 mm submachine gun is very compact: 637 mm which, thanks to its folding stock, can be reduced to 418 mm. Its polymer and fiberglass construction makes it very light, weighing just 2.5 kg. These dimensions are the same as the real model and make it very comfortable to use in confined spaces (CQB) or to transport to the field. 

Accessories 
It comes with a vertical grip included and already mounted as standard on the Picatinny rail located on the lower part of the handguard. It also features rails on both sides and one along the entire top, where we find removable flip-up sights. We really liked these, as when folded they provide a three-dot sighting system similar to that of pistols.

Magazine 
The magazine has a capacity of 48 BBs, unlike the 30 rounds carried by its real counterpart. The good news is that, despite being different, it is compatible with MP9/TP9 GBB magazines from KSC/KWA. 

Ambidextrous 
Its operation is very comfortable thanks to the ambidextrous controls: fire selector and magazine release, as well as the detail of the interchangeable charging handle. This makes things easier if you are left-handed or a switcher (someone who changes the firing hand depending on the situation).

Firing 
When firing it, we notice a very short and smooth trigger pull in which the pressure point where the shot breaks is barely noticeable. When chronoed with 0.20 g BBs in a room at 20°C, it averaged 330 FPS using 203 PSI gas and 300 FPS using 110 PSI gas. Obviously, results vary depending on ambient temperature, BB weight, and gas pressure, something common to all gas replicas on the market. The blowback is not the strongest we have tested, but this is partly because it does not feature the counterweight usually found inside the buffer tube of M4-type GBBs, which increases the recoil sensation.

Hop-up 
By locking the bolt back, we can insert a finger through the ejection port and feel the knurled adjustment teeth of the hop-up around the barrel opening. It rotates easily, with noticeable clicks for each position, and the numbered markings make adjustment more convenient. 

Disassembly 
Disassembly is similar to that of the real firearm and is very simple. By pushing the receiver pin—which remains attached to the body so it won’t get lost—we can separate the upper and lower assemblies. We then find that the parts subject to the most stress are made of steel, while the rest are made of polymer, helping to keep the overall weight down.

CONCLUSION 

It’s a rarely seen model on the field, a replica that is extremely faithful to the real firearm, and on top of that, its performance is outstanding. But what else would you expect? Beretta is one of the great firearms manufacturers, and Umarex does not disappoint with its replicas either. In short, a great option for realism enthusiasts and for those looking for excellent performance in close-quarters combat.