The Breda PG (“presa gas” – “gas operated”) was an open-bolt, select fire rifle that saw only very limited commercial success. Approximately 400 were made in 7x57mm for the Costa Rican military (it used the same bayonet as the Costa Rican Mauser rifles). Its most interesting feature was the use of a 4-round burst mechanism instead of unlimited fully automatic fire. The PG was also one of several guns of the period designed with the feed lips integral to the receiver, rather than being shaped into each magazine.
The Breda PG uses a rising bolt design with a locking lug on the top of the receiver. As the bolt and carrier move forward under pressure from the recoil spring, the bolt is forced upwards, engaging it against the locking lug. A gas piston running inside the handguard pushes the bolt carrier back upon firing, which in turn cams the bolt downward and unlocks it.
Photos
Breda PG (click to download high-resolution copies)
Photos of another Breda PG (click to download high-resolution copies)
Breda PG magazine (click to download high-resolution copies)
Were can I get one of these my heritage is Costa Rican so by nature I need one I wonder If anyone could make a semi. Cool
Your guess is as good as mine, Carlos – I don’t know of any in current collections. I’m sure they’re out there somewhere, though.
hello I live in Italy I would kindly like to know where this rifle model is. in which collection?
It is in a private US collection.
PG 35 ad in Gunbroker under Breda
Tu pregunta es del 26 de agosto del 2011,tengo una arma breda pg de 1935.
Can you give any estimates on the weight of the gun. If so I would prefer the weight in metric.
About 11.5 pounds, or 5.25 kilos according to various printed sources. I didn’t weigh the one we photographed, so I can’t vouch for that number (but it sounds right).
I couldn’t find a weight for it anywhere, so just a guess is good enough for me.
When wewre these produced? I like the open cut mags.
Hello, I would like to point out that a more exact translation to “presa gas” would be “trapped gas” instead of gas operated if translated from spanish to english.
I just came upon a bunch of these rounds with clips . Any tips on where to market them ?
What kind of gas operation is the Breda PG?
I hope those mags are for demonstration only !
Imagine the dirt they’d collect in combat !