Poland’s FB Beryl is a rifle between worlds – Service rifles from around the world

Poland joined NATO in 1999, but even before that it had begun transitioning its equipment and weapons to match NATO standards.

NATO had standardized on the 5.56 cartridge for assault rifles and the 7.62x51mm for medium machine guns, battle rifles, and similar weapons. Poland had previously been a part of the Warsaw Pact and therefore carried weaponry and ammunition from within the bloc – that meant AK pattern rifles in 7.62×39 and 5.45×39.

Transitioning a military force to a new caliber is expensive and even more so transitioning to a new rifle, magazine and caliber. The cost doesn’t come only from manufacturing the guns and ammo but also from retraining the troops that additionally requires time and effort.

As a result, Poland progressed towards NATO standards, but in a conservative way by creating and adopting the FB Beryl. Its full name is the “karabinek szturmowy wzór 96 ‘Beryl,'” which translates to “the assault rifle pattern 1996 ‘Beryllium.'”

What is the Beryl

Poland had been producing various AK platforms for decades through the company FB Radom. When they made the switch to NATO they wanted to keep the general AK platform, but adapt it to 5.56 NATO. It’s fair to say at it’s core the FB Beryl is a 5.56 caliber AK-series rifle. Externally and internally the gun is Kalahsnikov’s design, but with some Polish… polish.

At 18-inches, the FB Beryl has a slightly longer barrel than an AK; this design choice was made because the 5.56 performs best from 20-inch barrels so the closer you get to 20-inches the more velocity, control, range, and penetration capability you get.

The gun uses a proprietary polymer 5.56 magazine; with the addition of an adapter it can also use a STANAG, I.E. or an M16 magazine.

On its side, the Beryl features a standard AK-style safety and on the other side of the receiver sits a fire selector that controls the semi-auto or automatic function. The Beryl has a fire rate of 700 rounds per minute.

The rifle comes equipped with a long-flash-hider design that doubles as a compensator for controlled fire in automatic mode. The muzzle device allows for the mounting of a bayonet. The gun can mount a 40mm grenade launcher under the barrel.

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Changing with the times

A U.S. Soldier with 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division handles an FB Beryl rifle, the standard issue rifle of the Polish army during a joint training at Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, June 10, 2022. The 3/4th ABCT is among other units assigned to V Corps, America’s forward deployed corps in Europe that works alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Tobias Cukale)

The FB Beryl has evolved over the years. It started life as a fairly standard AK with polymer handguards and a folding stock. In its original production, one of the more interesting additions was a picatinny rail for optics mounting. That was a progressive move that Poland made quite early compared to other countries.

In 2004 a slightly more modern gun was introduced featuring a picatinny handguard with a vertical foregrip. The handguard allowed users to mount various accessories and it came in both long and short configurations.

In 2009 the Beryl got new stronger and lighter picatinny handguards. The gun also features a non-folding stock that telescopes to change the length of pull. In 2009, FB Radom also began producing semi-transparent magazines for the Beryl series.

Radom also produced the Mini-Beryl, a model with largely has the same design but a shrunk-down 9.3 inches barrel. It typically uses the shorter 20 round magazines to save space. The gun has a different muzzle device to help reduce the massive flash and allow it to fire rifle grenades. The Mini Beryl is a likely companion to vehicle crews and special operations forces who need a shorter carbine.

Accessorize the FB Beryl

An FB Beryl with semi-transparent magazine, December 2014. (Photo by Sillar/Wikimedia Commons)

If your service rifle isn’t a Barbie doll ready to be accessorized is your rifle all that modern? The Beryl can and has been equipped with numerous upgrades, mainly with various sighting systems. The main sighting system used is the EOTech 552 holographic sight, but night vision optics, telescopic sights, and more have been fielded when appropriate.

The railed handguard have been fit with various lights for operations in low lights. There have also been laser aiming modules seen on these guns.

As previously mentioned, the Polish also field a 40mm grenade launcher that attaches to the Beryl for the grenadier role.

The Beryl isn’t as modular as an M4 platform, but for an AK it’s extremely modular.

The Beryl is on its way out. The Polish are moving toward the MSBS Grot, a more modular and modern platform. The MSBS Grot is a short-stroke gas-piston gun that has more in common with the AR-18 than the M4. It will use STANAG magazines and keep the 5.56 caliber cartridge.

For now, the Beryl remains the primary arm of the Polish forces and it’s easily one of the most advanced takes on the AK series of rifles.

Feature Image: Polish army soldiers of the 18th Airborne Assault Battalion receive orders to advance on a building during a training exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany, Dec. 14, 2006. (Photo by Gary L. Kieffer)

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