The future of military weaponry is exciting. As we look to emerging guns and weapons being developed, we see advances like an AI machine gun — designed to deliver precision attacks on drone targets — and laser guns. Beyond the country, advances also abound; China’s “rifle-toting robot dogs” already have U.S. Congress on edge. Many more technological weapons seem to serve the needs of our military, especially as the nature of warfare continues to change. However, the U.S. military still uses some of its tried-and-true weapons. The guns and manufacturers trusted by the U.S. Army have shown to be reliable, effective, and easy to use. Even while the Army begins to expand its arsenal of more enhanced weapons, many handy guns have been used for ages — and remain incredibly popular with our forces. (Are insects the future of military technology?)
Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at guns used by the U.S. Army. To identify the most commonly used U.S. Army guns, 24/7 Wall St. referenced data from a range of sources, including military handbooks, government press releases, and firearms publications, including the Army’s Weapon Systems Handbook, to identify every standard-issue gun in the U.S. Army. These guns were ranked chronologically. We included supplemental information regarding the type of firearm, range, caliber, and manufacturer from the Military Factory.
Why Are We Covering This?
The global arms manufacturing sector is truly massive. The industry’s giants like Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Raytheon, now called RTX Corp. (NYSE: RTX), and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) each account for billions in sales each year. This is in no small part thanks to their long history of lucrative weapons contracts for the U.S. military, which has an $800 billion+ annual budget. Some gun manufacturers on this list are major non-American companies like Sig Sauer and Heckler & Koch. Still, each is required by law to manufacture its U.S. military-bound weapons at factories in the United States.
Read on to learn about the most common guns used by the U.S. Army:
28. Colt M1911
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year introduced: 1911
- Maximum effective range: 82 ft.
- Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing
- Caliber: .45 ACP
27. M2 Browning
- Type: General purpose machine gun
- Year introduced: 1921
- Maximum effective range: 6,550 ft.
- Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
- Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
26. Mossberg Model 500
- Type: Pump-action shotgun
- Year introduced: 1961
- Maximum effective range: 130 ft.
- Manufacturer: O.S. Mossberg & Sons
- Caliber: 12-gauge
25. Heckler & Koch HK MP5
- Type: Submachine gun
- Year introduced: 1966
- Maximum effective range: 660 ft.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
24. Saco Mk 19
- Type: Automatic grenade launcher
- Year introduced: 1967
- Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.
- Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
- Caliber: 40x53mm
23. Mossberg Model 590
- Type: Pump-action shotgun
- Year introduced: 1975
- Maximum effective range: 130 ft.
- Manufacturer: O.S. Mossberg & Sons
- Caliber: 12-gauge
22. Fabrique Nationale M240
- Type: General purpose machine gun
- Year introduced: 1977
- Maximum effective range: 5,905 ft.
- Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
21. FIM-92 Stinger
- Type: Air defense missile system
- Year introduced: 1981
- Maximum effective range: 15,750 ft.
- Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Raytheon
- Caliber: 70mm
20. Fabrique Nationale M249 SAW / LMG
- Type: Light machine gun
- Year introduced: 1984
- Maximum effective range: 2,600 ft.
- Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO
19. Remington M24 SWS
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Year introduced: 1987
- Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
- Manufacturer: Remington Arms
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
18. SIG-Sauer P228
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year introduced: 1988
- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
17. Beretta M9
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year introduced: 1990
- Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
- Manufacturer: Beretta
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
16. Colt M16A4
- Type: Automatic rifle
- Year introduced: 1990
- Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.
- Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
15. M4 Carbine
- Type: Assault carbine
- Year introduced: 1994
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing / Remington Arms
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
14. FGM-148 Javelin
- Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
- Year introduced: 1996
- Maximum effective range: 8,202 ft.
- Manufacturer: Raytheon / Lockheed Martin
- Caliber: 127mm
13. Benelli M4 Super 90
- Type: Semi-automatic shotgun
- Year introduced: 1999
- Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
- Manufacturer: Benelli Armi
- Caliber: 12-gauge
12. Heckler & Koch HK MP7
- Type: Submachine gun
- Year introduced: 2001
- Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: HK 4.6x30mm
11. Mk 14
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year introduced: 2004
- Maximum effective range: 1,500 ft.
- Manufacturer: Smith Enterprises
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
10. Heckler & Koch HK 416
- Type: Assault rifle
- Year introduced: 2005
- Maximum effective range: 985 ft.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
9. Heckler & Koch HK 417
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year introduced: 2006
- Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
8. M110 SASS
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year introduced: 2007
- Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
- Manufacturer: Knight’s Armament
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
7. Barrett M107
- Type: Anti-materiel / anti-personnel sniper rifle
- Year introduced: 2008
- Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.
- Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms
- Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
6. Heckler & Koch M320 GLM
- Type: Single-shot under-barrel grenade launcher
- Year introduced: 2010
- Maximum effective range: 492 ft.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: 40x46mm SR
5. Brugger & Thomet APC9
- Type: Modular personal defense weapon
- Year introduced: 2011
- Maximum effective range: 330 ft.
- Manufacturer: Brugger & Thomet
- Caliber: 9x19mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP
4. Heckler & Koch HK M27
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year introduced: 2011
- Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
3. Remington M2010 ESR
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Year introduced: 2011
- Maximum effective range: 3,935 ft.
- Manufacturer: Remington Arms
- Caliber: .300 Winchester Magnum
2. Heckler & Koch HK 45
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year introduced: 2013
- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: .45 ACP
1. SIG-Sauer P320
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year introduced: 2014
- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
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