The American Arsenal: A Look at the Guns Used in the Global War on Terrorism

Construction of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial at the National Mall in Washington DC is scheduled to begin in 2025. The memorial will honor all of those who have served in the conflict that started as a response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Two years after that day, the Department of Homeland Security was enacted to protect the country against terrorist attacks.

Many valuable assets have been used over 20 years of global conflict, including aircraft, armored vehicles, and naval vessels. Furthermore, infantry troops outfitted with American-made guns have been key to maintaining order. These guns, including shotguns, battle rifles, sniper rifles, and more, range from new technology to those that date back over 50 years. (Here are the 50 most popular guns of all time.)

24/7 Wall St. reviewed multiple catalogs of modern American firearms from Military Factory, an online database of arms, aircraft, and vehicles, used in militaries worldwide to compile a list of the American guns used to fight the Global War on Terrorism. We’ve also included information on the type of weapon, manufacturer, maximum effective range, caliber, and year introduced.

In 2011, the Remington M2010 ESR (Enhanced Sniper Rifle) was deployed as a standard tactical sniper rifle. It’s a modern version of the Remington Model 700. The Remington has long been celebrated for its accuracy and consistency. The M2010 ESR is chambered for the Winchester 300 magnum round with a 5-round magazine, comes standard with the Leupold Mk IV tactical scope, and has a maximum effective range of 3,935 ft. (These are the classic long-range sniper rifles of World War II.)

Sniper rifles were not the only guns issued to troops during this conflict. Shotguns like the Mossberg Model 590 or carbines like the Colt M4 came standard issue. So did sidearms like the Colt M1911. All of these guns and more added to the combat effectiveness of American troops in the fight against terrorism.

Here are the American guns used to fight the Global War on Terrorism:

Why Are We Covering This?

Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images

The tragic terror attack on America that occurred on September 11, 2001, forever changed the world that we know today. America’s response and continued battle against terrorism have influenced many geopolitical and military relationships around the globe. The effectiveness and reliability of the weapons used to fight the war have had a major impact on the success of the US’s counterterrorism campaign.

Remington M2010 ESR

Source: MathKnight / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Bolt-action sniper rifle (Remington Arms)
• Caliber: .300 Winchester Magnum
• Maximum effective range: 3,935
• When introduced: 2011

Remington M24 SWS

Source: zachievenor / Flickr

• Type and Manufacturer:  Bolt-action sniper rifle (Remington Arms)
• Caliber: .338 Lapua Magnum, .308 Winchester Magnum, 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 2,624
• When introduced: 1987

Remington M40

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Bolt-action sniper rifle (Remington Arms)
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 3,280
• When introduced: 1966

Remington M870

Source: Burnyburnout / CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED via Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Pump-action shotgun (Remington Arms)
• Caliber: 12-, 16-, 20- or 28-gauge
• Maximum effective range: 120
• When introduced: 1950

Remington MSR

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Bolt-action sniper rifle (Remington Arms)
• Caliber: .338 Lapua Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 4,920
• When introduced: 2013

Barrett M82

Source: Zachi Evenor / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Anti-tank / anti-material rifle (Barrett Firearms)
• Caliber: 12.7x99mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 1,850
• When introduced: 1982

Beretta M9

Source: Tivoly / iStock via Getty Images

• Type and Manufacturer:  Semi-automatic service pistol (Beretta)
• Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
• Maximum effective range: 164
• When introduced: 1990

Fabrique Nationale M240

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• > Type: General purpose machine gun
• > Year introduced: 1977
• > Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
• > Maximum effective range: 5,905
• > Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO

Fabrique Nationale M249 SAW / LMG

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• > Type: Light machine gun
• > Year introduced: 1984
• > Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
• > Maximum effective range: 2,600
• > Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO

FGM-148 Javelin

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• > Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
• > Year introduced: 1996
• > Manufacturer: Raytheon / Lockheed Martin
• > Maximum effective range: 8,202
• > Caliber: 127mm

Barrett M107

Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images

• Type and Manufacturer: Anti-materiel / anti-personnel sniper rifle (Barrett Firearms)
• Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
• Maximum effective range: 1,850
• When introduced: 2008

FIM-92 Stinger

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer: Air defense missile system (General Dynamics / Raytheon)
• Caliber: 70mm
• Maximum effective range: 15,750
• When introduced: 1981

Browning M2

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  General purpose machine gun (Saco Defense Industries)
• Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
• Maximum effective range: 6,550
• When introduced: 1921

M21 Sniper Weapon System

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Semi-automatic sniper rifle (Rock Island Arsenal)
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 2,263
• When introduced: 1969

BGM-71 TOW / TOW-2

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Anti-tank guided-missile system (Hughes Aircraft / Raytheon)
• Caliber: 127mm / 152mm
• Maximum effective range: 12,303
• When introduced: 1970

FN SCAR (Mk 16 / Mk 17)

Source: Arbal01 / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Automatic assault rifle (FN Manufacturing)
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 1,640
• When introduced: 2009

GAU-17/A Minigun

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Six-barrel gatling gun (General Electric)
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 3,280
• When introduced: 1965

HK M27 IAR

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Designated marksman rifle (Heckler & Koch)
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 1,800
• When introduced: 2011

HK XM25 CDTE

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Smart grenade launcher (Heckler & Koch)
• Caliber: 25x40mm grenade
• Maximum effective range: 1,640
• When introduced: 2015

Kel-Tec KSG

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Pump-action bullpup shotgun (Kel-Tec CNC Industries)
• Caliber: 12-gauge
• Maximum effective range: 130
• When introduced: 2011

Kimber Custom

Source: ranna / Flickr

• Type and Manufacturer:  Semi-automatic single-action pistol (Kimber Manufacturing)
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Maximum effective range: 165
• When introduced: 1997

M110 SASS

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Designated marksman rifle (Knight’s Armament)
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 2,624
• When introduced: 2007

M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4)

Source: Public Domain via usairforce / Flickr

• Type and Manufacturer:  Man-portable, disposable anti-armor rocket launcher (Alliant TechSystems)
• Caliber: 84mm
• Maximum effective range: 985
• When introduced: 1987

M231 FPW

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Special vehicle carbine (Rock Island Arsenal)
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 984
• When introduced: 1980

M32 MGL

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Six-shot grenade launcher (Milkor)
• Caliber: 40x46mm grenade
• Maximum effective range: 1,315
• When introduced: 2006

M39 EMR

M39 EMR (CC BY 3.0 DEED) by aUTHOR

• Type and Manufacturer:  Designated marksman rifle (USMC Armorers)
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 2,550
• When introduced: 2008

M72 LAW

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Disposable anti-tank rocket launcher (Talley Industries)
• Caliber: 66mm
• Maximum effective range: 1,640
• When introduced: 1963

M79

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Single-shot grenade launcher (Various contractors)
• Caliber: 40x46mm
• Maximum effective range: 1,150
• When introduced: 1961

Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR

Source: usairforce / Flickr

• Type and Manufacturer:  Designated marksman rifle (Smith Enterprises)
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 1,500
• When introduced: 2004

Saco Mk 19

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Automatic grenade launcher (Saco Defense Industries)
• Caliber: 40x53mm
• Maximum effective range: 4,500
• When introduced: 1967

M134 Minigun

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Six-barrel gattling gun (General Electric)
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 3,280
• When introduced: 1963

Stoner SR-25

Source: zachievenor / Flickr

• Type and Manufacturer:  Designated marksman rifle (Knight’s Armament)
• Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 2,625
• When introduced: 1990

Colt / AAI M203

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Single-shot breech-loading under-barrel grenade launcher (AAI Corporation / Colt Firearms / Airtronic)
• Caliber: 40c46mm
• Maximum effective range: 480
• When introduced: 1969

Colt M16A2

Source: Armémuseum (The Swedish Army Museum) / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Assault rifle (Colt Firearms)
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 1,969
• When introduced: 1983

Colt M16A4

Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images

• Type and Manufacturer:  Assault rifle (Colt Firearms)
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 1,968
• When introduced: 1990

Colt M1911

Source: falcon_33 / Flickr

• Type and Manufacturer:  Semi-automatic service pistol (Colt Firearms)
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Maximum effective range: 82
• When introduced: 1911

Colt M4

Source: Bulgac / iStock via Getty Images

• Type and Manufacturer:  Assault carbine (Colt Firearms / Remington Arms)
• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Maximum effective range: 1,640
• When introduced: 1994

Colt M45 MEU

Source: Icikas8azp / Wikimedia Commons

• Type and Manufacturer:  Semi-automatic pistol (Colt Firearms)
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Maximum effective range: 165
• When introduced: 1986

Colt Model 635

Colt SMG 635 (CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED) by Quickload

• Type and Manufacturer:  Submachine gun (Colt Firearms)
• Caliber: 9x19mm parabellum
• Maximum effective range: 328
• When introduced: 1982