The Army is the oldest branch of the U.S. military, established even before the founding of the country. At that time, most soldiers were equipped with muskets and swords. Nearly 250 years later, the modern-day Army soldier has access to a range of small arms that play an important role in soldiers’ operational capabilities on the battlefield. These weapons are selected to provide reliability, versatility, and firepower
To identify every standard-issue gun in the U.S. Army, 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. We ordered these guns by the time they entered the service and included supplemental information regarding type of firearm, range, caliber, and manufacturer from Military Factory.
The weapons on this list are used in a variety of operational capacities, ranging from pinning down enemy combatants to destroying vehicles and other assets. The list includes shotguns, side arms, machine guns, designated marksman rifles, sniper rifles, and more. (Also see, these are the 50 most popular guns of all time.)
Some of these guns date back more than half a century, in terms of when they entered the service. Newer iterations of these older models are still reaching the battlefield.
One of the most common guns in the U.S. Army’s arsenal is the M4 carbine. An evolution of the M16, the M4 is a lightweight, gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed firearm. It offers soldiers increased maneuverability and adaptability in urban and close-quarters combat due to its shorter barrel length. The M4 is fairly modular and can be equipped with various attachments, including optics, laser sights, and under-barrel grenade launchers.
Another example of a common gun within the Army’s small arms inventory is the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. Serving as a light machine gun, the M249 is capable of delivering sustained suppressive fire to support infantry squads. This gun plays an important role in providing covering fire, pinning down enemy forces, and creating windows of opportunity for allied forces to maneuver.
For more specialized roles, the U.S. Army employs the M240 machine gun. This firearm is chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge and serves as a medium machine gun. The M240 is designed for providing accurate and sustained fire, intended for suppressing enemy positions and engaging light armored vehicles.
These standard-issue small arms, which are being continuously improved, allow U.S. Army soldiers to deal with a range of combat scenarios. However, it ultimately comes down to the soldiers’ training, not just equipment. Here are 21 bases where the U.S. military trains its combat forces.
Here is a look at the most common guns in the U.S. Army.
26. Colt M1911
> Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
> Year: 1911
> Maximum effective range: 82 ft.
> Caliber: .45 ACP
> Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
25. M2 Browning
> Type: General purpose machine gun
> Year: 1921
> Maximum effective range: 6,550 ft.
> Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
> Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
24. Mossberg Model 500
> Type: Pump-action shotgun
> Year: 1961
> Maximum effective range: 130 ft.
> Caliber: 12-gauge
> Manufacturer: O.S. Mossberg & Sons
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
23. Heckler & Koch HK MP5
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year: 1966
> Maximum effective range: 660 ft.
> Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
> Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
22. Saco Mk 19
> Type: Automatic grenade launcher
> Year: 1967
> Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.
> Caliber: 40x53mm
> Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
21. Mossberg Model 590
> Type: Pump-action shotgun
> Year: 1975
> Maximum effective range: 130 ft.
> Caliber: 12-gauge
> Manufacturer: O.S. Mossberg & Sons
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
20. Fabrique Nationale M240
> Type: General purpose machine gun
> Year: 1977
> Maximum effective range: 5,905 ft.
> Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
> Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. FIM-92 Stinger
> Type: Air defense missile system
> Year: 1981
> Maximum effective range: 15,750 ft.
> Caliber: 70mm
> Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Raytheon
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
18. Fabrique Nationale M249 SAW / LMG
> Type: Light machine gun
> Year: 1984
> Maximum effective range: 2,600 ft.
> Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO
> Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
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17. Remington M24 SWS
> Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
> Year: 1987
> Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
> Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
> Manufacturer: Remington Arms
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
16. SIG-Sauer P228
> Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
> Year: 1988
> Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
> Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
> Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
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Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
15. Colt M16A4
> Type: Automatic rifle
> Year: 1990
> Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.
> Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
> Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing
Source: Tivoly / iStock via Getty Images
14. Beretta M9
> Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
> Year: 1990
> Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
> Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
> Manufacturer: Beretta
Source: Bulgac / iStock via Getty Images
13. M4 Carbine
> Type: Assault carbine
> Year: 1994
> Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
> Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
> Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing / Remington Arms
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
12. FGM-148 Javelin
> Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
> Year: 1996
> Maximum effective range: 8,202 ft.
> Caliber: 127mm
> Manufacturer: Raytheon / Lockheed Martin
11. Heckler & Koch HK MP7
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year: 2001
> Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
> Caliber: HK 4.6x30mm
> Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
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Source: usairforce / Flickr
10. Mk 14
> Type: Designated marksman rifle
> Year: 2004
> Maximum effective range: 1,500 ft.
> Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
> Manufacturer: Smith Enterprises
24/7 Wall St.
9. Heckler & Koch HK 416
> Type: Assault rifle
> Year: 2005
> Maximum effective range: 985 ft.
> Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
> Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
8. Heckler & Koch HK 417
> Type: Designated marksman rifle
> Year: 2006
> Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
> Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
> Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. M110 SASS
> Type: Designated marksman rifle
> Year: 2007
> Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
> Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
> Manufacturer: Knight’s Armament
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
6. Barrett M107
> Type: Anti-materiel / anti-personnel sniper rifle
> Year: 2008
> Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.
> Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
> Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
5. Heckler & Koch M320 GLM
> Type: Single-shot under-barrel grenade launcher
> Year: 2010
> Maximum effective range: 492 ft.
> Caliber: 40x46mm SR
> Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
4. Remington M2010 ESR
> Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
> Year: 2011
> Maximum effective range: 3,935 ft.
> Caliber: .300 Winchester Magnum
> Manufacturer: Remington Arms
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
3. Heckler & Koch HK M27
> Type: Designated marksman rifle
> Year: 2011
> Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.
> Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
> Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
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2. Heckler & Koch HK 45
> Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
> Year: 2013
> Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
> Caliber: .45 ACP
> Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
1. SIG-Sauer P320
> Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
> Year: 2014
> Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
> Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
> Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
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