Intimidation is its own strategy in war, and it plays into many tactical maneuvers on the battlefield. As such, while there is a great advantage to lighter, long-range weapons, sometimes it is the biggest and most menacing weapons that give the advantage. Sometimes having a weapon you only have to fire once, if at all, makes the biggest impact. (Here is every standard issue U.S. military rifle since the American Revolution.)
The weapons carried by the U.S. military’s infantry are some of the most proven and effective weapons on the modern battlefield. Not to mention, the newest iterations of these small arms add that much more to the capability of any individual soldier. (Also see, nine foreign-made firearms used every day by the U.S. military.)
To determine the heaviest small arms used by the U.S. military, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a range of sources, including military handbooks, government press releases, and firearms publications pertaining to small arms and light weapons currently used by the U.S. military. All small arms are ranked according to their empty weight in pounds, based on information from Military factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms and more used by militaries across the world. Data on the type of weapon, dimensions, caliber, maximum range, and year entered service also came from Military Factory.
Although not all the weapons on this list are heavy, so to speak, each serves a distinct purpose within the military. Some of these weapons have been in the service since the World War II era, and some have only been introduced within the last decade.
Here’s a list of the 20 heaviest firearms used by the US military:
20. M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System)
> Empty weight: 15.30 lbs
> Length: 40.47 in
> Caliber: 7.62x51mm gauge
> Maximum range: 2,624 ft
> Type: Designated marksman rifle / sniper rifle
> Year entered service: 2007
> Military branches used: Army, Marines, SOCOM
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. Remington MSR (Modular Sniper Rifle)
> Empty weight: 15.43 lbs
> Length: 47.24 in
> Caliber: 7.62×51 mm, .300 Norma Magnum, and .338 Norma Magnum gauge
> Maximum range: 4,920 ft
> Type: Remington MSR (modular sniper rifle)
> Year entered service: 2013
> Military branches used: Army, SOCOM
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18. IMI M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (BDM) / SMAW-D
> Empty weight: 15.70 lbs
> Length: 32.52 in
> Caliber: 83.5mm gauge
> Maximum range: 1,640 ft
> Type: Shoulder-launched multi-purpose assault weapon
> Year entered service: 1984
> Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle (EMR)
> Empty weight: 16.53 lbs
> Length: 44.17 in
> Caliber: 7.62x51mm gauge
> Maximum range: 2,550 ft
> Type: Designated marksman rifle / sniper rifle
> Year entered service: 2008
> Military branches used: Marines
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
16. Fabrique National M249 SAW / LMG
> Empty weight: 16.53 lbs
> Length: 40.75 in
> Caliber: 5.56×45 mm gauge
> Maximum range: 2,600 ft
> Type: Light machine gun / squad support weapon
> Year entered service: 1984
> Military branches used: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines
15. Carl-Gustav M3 (M1948)
> Empty weight: 18.74 lbs
> Length: 44.49 in
> Caliber: 84mm gauge
> Maximum range: 6,000 ft
> Type: Multirole, shoulder-fired recoilless rifle
> Year entered service: 1948
> Military branches used: Army, SOCOM, Marine Corps
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
14. Saco M60
> Empty weight: 23.17 lbs
> Length: 43.50 in
> Caliber: 7.62mm x 51mm gauge
> Maximum range: 3,280 ft
> Type: General purpose machine gun
> Year entered service: 1957
> Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard,USSOCOM
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
13. Fabrique Nationale M240
> Empty weight: 27.56 lbs
> Length: 49.02 in
> Caliber: 7.62mm x 51mm gauge
> Maximum range: 5,905 ft
> Type: General purpose machine gun / medium machine gun
> Year entered service: 1977
> Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard
12. Barrett M107
> Empty weight: 29.98 lbs
> Length: 57.09 in
> Caliber: .50 BMG gauge
> Maximum range: 1,850 ft
> Type: Anti-material / anti-personnel sniper rifle
> Year entered service: 2008
> Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard,USSOCOM
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11. General Dynamics / Raytheon FIM-92 Stinger
> Empty weight: 33.51 lbs
> Length: 59.84 in
> Caliber: Varied gauge
> Maximum range: 15,750 ft
> Type: Man-portable, air defense missile system
> Year entered service: 1981
> Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
10. General Electric GAU-17/A Minigun
> Empty weight: 35.27 lbs
> Length: 31.50 in
> Caliber: 7.62mm x 51mm gauge
> Maximum range: 3,280 ft
> Type: Six barrel gatling gun
> Year entered service: 1965
> Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
9. General Dynamics Mk 47 Striker AGL (Mk 47 Mod 0)
> Empty weight: 39.68 lbs
> Length: 37.01 in
> Caliber: 40 mm grenades gauge
> Maximum range: 5,600 ft
> Type: 40mm automatic grenade launcher
> Year entered service: 2006
> Military branches used: SOCOM
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
8. Raytheon & Lockheed Martin FGM-148 Javelin
> Empty weight: 40.12 lbs
> Length: 46.97 in
> Caliber: 127mm explosive gauge
> Maximum range: 8,202 ft
> Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
> Year entered service: 1996
> Military branches used: Army, Marines
7. M224, 60mm Mortar
> Empty weight: 46.54 lbs
> Length: 41.73 in
> Caliber: 60mm gauge
> Maximum range: 11,447 ft
> Type: 60mm lightweight mortar
> Year entered service: 1978
> Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps
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Source: 39955793@N07 / Flickr / Public Domain
6. Saco Mk19
> Empty weight: 72.53 lbs
> Length: 43.11 in
> Caliber: 40 mm grenades gauge
> Maximum range: 4,500 ft
> Type: 40mm automatic grenade launcher
> Year entered service: 1967
> Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy
5. Browning M2
> Empty weight: 84.11 lbs
> Length: 61.42 in
> Caliber: .50 BMG gauge
> Maximum range: 6,550 ft
> Type: Multi-role heavy machine gun
> Year entered service: 1921
> Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard
Source: 39955793@N07 / Flickr
4. M252, 81 Mortar
> Empty weight: 90.83 lbs
> Length: 50.00 in
> Caliber: 81mm gauge
> Maximum range: 18,618 ft
> Type: Medium weight extended range mortar
> Year entered service: 1987
> Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps
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3. GAU-19
> Empty weight: 106.00 lbs
> Length: 53.90 in
> Caliber: .50 BMG gauge
> Maximum range: 19,685 ft
> Type: Gatling gun
> Year entered service: 1983
> Military branches used: Army, Navy
2. M120, 120mm Mortar
> Empty weight: 319.67 lbs
> Length: N/A
> Caliber: 120mm gauge
> Maximum range: 23,750 ft
> Type: Towed heavy field mortar
> Year entered service: 1991
> Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps
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Source: 101561334@N08 / Flickr
1. M167 Vulcan
> Empty weight: 3,968.00 lbs
> Length: 186.00 in
> Caliber: 20x102mm gauge
> Maximum range: 14,763 ft
> Type: Towed / static air defense system
> Year entered service: 1967
> Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard
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