The term “ranch rifle” has been applied to many firearms, from traditional lever-actions with tube magazines to modern semi-automatics. In general, a ranch rifle is a compact and lightweight firearm designed to be kept close-at-hand throughout the day sitting in a truck rack, tucked into a saddle scabbard or slung over the shoulder. New for 2025, Beretta is giving the “ranch” treatment to its innovative and modular BRX1 straight-pull bolt-action rifle.
At the heart of all BRX1 rifles is a straight-pull (or as Beretta terms it “linear reloading”) action that utilizes an eight-lug rotating bolt head that locks into the barrel extension. The bolt handle can be swapped to either side and the bolt head reversed for right or left-handed ejection without tools. This combines with a bolt-mounted ambidextrous sliding safety and magazine-mounted release tabs for a fully ambidextrous design. The BRX1’s removable bolt head and quick-change barrel system allows for caliber conversion (conversion kits have an MSRP of $775). Its trigger is user adjustable between 2, 2.5 and 3.5 lbs. The barrel-mounted Picatinny optics rail that cantilevers over the action allows for swapping calibers without loss of zero.
The BRX1 Ranch is chambered in the .308 Win. with 16” or 18” barrel length options and their muzzles threaded 5/8x24 TPI. It comes with a 10-round extended magazine, which is unique to the BRX1 series, but is also supplied with a magazine adapter that allows for the use of SR25/PMAG magazines (this adapter is now available for all .308 Win. BRX1 rifles through Beretta’s website). The original five-round flush-fit BRX1 magazine is also compatible with the Ranch model. Its stock is a flat-dark earth version of Beretta’s BRX1 polymer stock, with an adjustable length-of-pull through a spacer system, interchangeable grip modules and a new surface texture for better grip.
The BRX1 Ranch rifle has an overall length of 37” with a 16” barrel and weighs 6.3 lbs. It has an MSRP of $1,569. For more information, see the company’s website.
