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Military

30 Legendary Rifles That Refuse to Retire

Photo of Chris Lange
By Chris Lange Published
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30 Legendary Rifles That Refuse to Retire

© Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Some rifles are so reliable, so battle-tested, and so effective that they refuse to fade into history. Across warzones and special operations units, these legendary weapons continue to serve decades after their debut. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at some legendary rifles in service that just refuse to retire.

To determine the most legendary rifles that are still in service of militaries around the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Military Factory, an online database of small arms, aircraft, and other military assets. We ordered these rifles alphabetically. We included supplemental information regarding the country of origin, year entered service, and manufacturer, among other things.

Here is a look at some of the most legendary rifles that refused to retire:

Why Are We Covering This?

Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation / Wikimedia Commons

Understanding the weapons and small arms used by today’s militaries gives some insight into a nation’s combat capabilities, or even tactical doctrines. These guns are not just instruments of warfare, but they actually reflect the technological innovation and defense budgets for a given military over the time. By exploring which rifles, sidearms, machine guns, and support weapons are fielded by various armed forces, we can better understand how nations prepare for conflict, defend their interests, and ultimately shape their battlefield effectiveness.

Accuracy International AWM

Galeria del Ministerio de Defensa del Perú, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 1996
  • Country of origin: United Kingdom
  • Manufacturer: Accuracy International
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, 5-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
  • Maximum effective range: 3,610 ft.

Accuracy International L115

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 1997
  • Country of origin: United Kingdom
  • Manufacturer: Accuracy International
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: .338 Lapua Magnum, 5-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
  • Maximum effective range: 4,921 ft.

Accuracy International L96

Mr Bullitt / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 1982
  • Country of origin: United Kingdom
  • Manufacturer: Accuracy International
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, .308 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
  • Maximum effective range: 3,608 ft.

AS Val (Avtomat Special’nyj)

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons

  • Weapon type: Silenced assault rifle
  • Year entered service: 1987
  • Country of origin: Soviet Union
  • Manufacturer: Tula Arms
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 9x39mm SP-6, 10-, 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 984 ft.

Barrett M107

Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
  • Weapon type: Anti-materiel / anti-personnel sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 2008
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms Company
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO), 10-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Recoil operated, rotating bolt, semi-automatic
  • Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.

Barrett M82

Iakov Zaiats / iStock via Getty Images
  • Weapon type: Anti-tank / anti-material rifle
  • Year entered service: 1982
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, 10-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Semi-automatic; recoil-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.

Barrett MRAD (Multi-role adaptive design)

MathKnight / Wikimedia Commons

  • Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper
  • Year entered service: 2012
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: .388 Lapua Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 10-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
  • Maximum effective range: 4,800 ft.

Dragunov SVD

zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Weapon type: Semi-automatic sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 1963
  • Country of origin: Russia
  • Manufacturer: Izhmash
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x54mmR Soviet, 9x54mm, 9.3x64mm Brenneke, .308 Winchester, 10-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt; semi-automatic
  • Maximum effective range: 4,265 ft.

Fabrique Nationale FN SCAR (Mk 16 / Mk 17)

Arbal01 / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Automatic assault rifle
  • Year entered service: 2009
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO, 20-(mk 17) or 30-round (mk 16) box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.

Heckler & Koch HK 416

Marko Hanzekovic / iStock via Getty Images

  • Weapon type: Assault rifle
  • Year entered service: 2005
  • Country of origin: Germany
  • Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 20- or 30-round detachable STANAG magazine; 100-round Beta C-Mag
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 985 ft.

Heckler & Koch HK 417

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

  • Weapon type: Designated marksman rifle
  • Year entered service: 2006
  • Country of origin: Germany
  • Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.

IWI Galil ACE

IWI - Israel Weapon Industries / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Battle rifle
  • Year entered service: 2008
  • Country of origin: Israel
  • Manufacturer: Israel Military Industries
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO, 25- or 35-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 1,650 ft.

IWI TAR-21 (Tavor)

MathKnight / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Designated marksman rifle
  • Year entered service: 2006
  • Country of origin: Israel
  • Manufacturer: Israel Military Industries
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO; 9x19mm parabellum, 20- or 30-round detachable box
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 1,805 ft.

IWI X95 (Micro-Tavor)

TheStriker / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Compact bullpup assault rifle
  • Year entered service: 2009
  • Country of origin: Israel
  • Manufacturer: Israel Military Industries
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 9×19 parabellum, 30- or 32-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 1,247 ft.

Kalashnikov AK-103

  • Weapon type: Assault rifle
  • Year entered service: 1994
  • Country of origin: Russia
  • Manufacturer: Izhmash / Kalashnikov
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x39mm M43, 30-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.

Kalashnikov AK-12

aleks0649 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Weapon type: Assault rifle
  • Year entered service: 2014
  • Country of origin: Russia
  • Manufacturer: Izhmash / Kalashnikov
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.45x39mm Soviet, 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x39mm, 7.62x51mm NATO, 30-round detachable box magazine, 100-round drum
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 2,000 ft.

Kalashnikov AK-47

Nemo5576 / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Assault rifle
  • Year entered service: 1949
  • Country of origin: Soviet Union
  • Manufacturer: Izhmash / Kalashnikov
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x39mm, 30-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 985 ft.

Kalashnikov AK-74

blinow61 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Weapon type: Assault rifle
  • Year entered service: 1978
  • Country of origin: Soviet Union
  • Manufacturer: Izhmash / Kalashnikov
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.45x39mm, 30-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.

Kalashnikov AKM

UltraONEs / iStock via Getty Images

  • Weapon type: Assault rifle
  • Year entered service: 1959
  • Country of origin: Soviet Union
  • Manufacturer: Kalashnikov / State Factories
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x39mm M1943, 20- or 30-round detachable box
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; automatic
  • Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.

Kalashnikov SVDM

Hokos / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Designated marksman rifle
  • Year entered service: 2018
  • Country of origin: Russia
  • Manufacturer: Kalashnikov / Dragunov
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x54mmR, 10-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Semi-automatic; gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.

KBP OSV-96

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Anti-material rifle
  • Year entered service: 1996
  • Country of origin: Russia
  • Manufacturer: KBP Instrument Design Bureau
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 12.7x108mm, 5-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Semi-automatic; gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 6,560 ft.

M110 SASS

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Designated marksman rifle
  • Year entered service: 2007
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Knight’s Armament
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

McMillan TAC-50

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Anti-material / sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 2000
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: McMillan Tactical Products
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, 5-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
  • Maximum effective range: 6,561 ft.

Navy Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle (Mk 12 SPR)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

  • Weapon type: Sniper rifle / designated marksman rifle
  • Year entered service: 2002
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.

ORSIS T-5000

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 2011
  • Country of origin: Russia
  • Manufacturer: ORSIS
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, .408 Cheytac, 5-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
  • Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft.

Remington M24 SWS

Dr. Zachi Evenor and User:MathKnight / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 1987
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Remington Arms
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO; .338 Lapua Magnum, 5-round internal magazine / 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
  • Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

Remington M40

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 1966
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Remington Arms
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, 5-round integral box magazine, 5-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Bolt-action, rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

Stoner SR-25

MathKnight / CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 1990
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Knights Armament
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt; semi-automatic
  • Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.

VSS Vintorez

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / CC BY-SA 4.0, / Wikimedia Commons
  • Weapon type: Silenced sniper rifle
  • Year entered service: 1987
  • Country of origin: Soviet Union
  • Manufacturer: Tula Arms
  • Caliber of ammunition and feed: 9x39mm SP-5, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
  • Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
  • Maximum effective range: 1,312 ft.
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About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.

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