For the six years that World War II was fought, the advancement of military technology arguably had as large a role in the outcome of the battle as any general. Now-iconic American firearms first saw widespread usage during this time, including the M1 Garand, the Colt M1911, and the Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR. Of course, while the sacrifice and bravery of U.S. servicemen was the ultimate cause, the victories won by American infantry are owed in no small part to their small arms.
A variety of small arms played different roles in the arsenal of U.S. infantry, with the caliber of each gun often determining its role. Caliber of a gun refers to the size of the bore of the firearm, with larger caliber guns capable of firing larger projectiles, therefore doing more damage to enemy assets, as in anti-material rifles today. During WWII, too, the U.S. used guns of ranging calibers, each to different effect.
To identify the highest-caliber American infantry guns of WWII, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed WW2 infantry firearms, a list compiled by Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. We ordered WWII firearms from lowest caliber to highest caliber and excluded shotguns from this list. Supplemental information about the year the gun entered service, type of gun, and firing action also came from Military Factory.
One iconic small arm used during WWII was the M1911 pistol, a design that had already been in service for several decades by the time the war began. Chambered in .45 ACP, it was renowned for its stopping power and reliability. The M1911 served as the sidearm for officers and non-commissioned officers, offering a potent backup in close-quarters combat. (Also see, the classic long range sniper rifles of World War II.)
Another gun used in close quarters combat was the Thompson submachine gun, commonly known as the “Tommy Gun.” The Thompson was a select-fire weapon that could fire in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes, giving soldiers the ability to lay down a hail of bullets when needed. The submachine gun was chambered for .45 ACP as well. While it was originally developed during the Prohibition era for law enforcement, it found its place on the battlefield and in the hands of soldiers during WWII. (This is the evolution of automatic rifles in the U.S. Army.)
Noticeably, many guns on the list share ammunition, which optimizes distributing ammunition in the field. Also, while some of these weapons may have different names for their ammunition, the bore or width of the round is the same as other brands as many rifles are uniformly chambered. For example, .30-06 Springfield ammunition has a similar caliber as that of a .303 British round or a 7.92x57mm Mauser, but these rounds may differ in other aspects such as the length of the round or even the propellant within it.
The success of the U.S. infantry in World War II was significantly influenced by the deployment of small arms. At higher calibers these guns offered American soldiers increased firepower that allowed them to prevail throughout the course of the war.
Here is a look at the highest-caliber guns of World War II.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
60. Springfield Model 1922
> Type: Bolt-action training rifle
> Year entered service: 1922
> Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: .22LR & 5-round internal magazine
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59. Winchester Model 69
> Type: Bolt-action service rifle
> Year entered service: 1935
> Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: .22 Long & 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
58. Krag-Jorgensen Model 1894
> Type: Bolt-action service rifle / sniper rifle
> Year entered service: 1894
> Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: 6.5x55mm M94 Norwegian Krag; 8x58R; .30-40 Krag & 5-round internal magazine
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
57. Type 96
> Type: Light machine gun
> Year entered service: 1936
> Action: Gas-operated
> Caliber & feed: 6.5x50mm Arisaka & 30-round detachable box magazine
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56. Beretta Model 1935
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1935
> Action: Blowback; semi-automatic
> Caliber & feed: 7.65x17mm Browning SR (.32 ACP) & 8-round detachable box magazine
55. Browning .303
> Type: Medium machine gun / aircraft machine gun
> Year entered service: 1936
> Action: Recoil-operated; full-automatic fire; belt-fed
> Caliber & feed: .303 British (7.7mm) & Belt-fed (various lengths)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
54. Browning M1917
> Type: Belt-fed, water-cooled heavy machine gun
> Year entered service: 1917
> Action: Recoil-operated; automatic
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 250-round fabric belt
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
53. Browning M1918 BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle)
> Type: Light machine gun
> Year entered service: 1918
> Action: Gas-operated piston; open-bolt; selective fire
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 20-round detachable box magazine
Source: U.S. Navy / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
52. Browning M1919 GPMG
> Type: Medium machine gun
> Year entered service: 1919
> Action: Gas-operated; belt-fed; air-cooled
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield; 7.62x51mm NATO; .303 British; 7.92x57mm Mauser; 6.5x55mm Mauser; 7.62x54mmR & 250-round fabric belt
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51. Colt Browning M1895
> Type: Air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun
> Year entered service: 1895
> Action: Gas-operated; closed-bolt; lever-actuated
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield; .30-40 Krag; 7x57mm; 6.5x52mm & 240-round fabric belt
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
50. Enfield Pattern 1914
> Type: Bolt-action service rifle / sniper rifle
> Year entered service: 1914
> Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: .303 British & 5-round stripper clips
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
49. Hotchkiss Model 1909
> Type: Light machine gun
> Year entered service: 1909
> Action: Gas-operated; magazine-/belt-fed
> Caliber & feed: 8mm Lebel; .303 British; .30-06 Springfield & 30-round strip magazine; also belt-fed
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
48. Johnson LMG
> Type: Light machine gun / squad support weapon
> Year entered service: 1941
> Action: Short recoil-operated; single-shot/full-automatic
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 25-round detachable box
47. Johnson Model 1941
> Type: Semi-automatic rifle
> Year entered service: 1941
> Action: Semi-automatic; short-recoil; rotating bolt
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield; 7x57mm Mauser & 10-round cylindrical magazine
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Source: arogant / iStock via Getty Images
46. Lewis Gun
> Type: Light machine gun
> Year entered service: 1914
> Action: Gas-operated
> Caliber & feed: .303 British; .30-06 Springfield; 7.92x57mm Mauser & 47- or 97-round detachable pan
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
45. M1 Carbine
> Type: Semi-automatic / full-automatic carbine
> Year entered service: 1942
> Action: Gas-operated, short-stroke piston; semi-automatic
> Caliber & feed: 30 M1 Carbine & 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine
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44. M1 Garand
> Type: Battle rifle
> Year entered service: 1936
> Action: Self-loading; gas-action piston
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 8-round internal clip
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43. M1917 Enfield
> Type: Bolt-action service rifle
> Year entered service: 1917
> Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: 7.62x63mm (.30-06 Springfield) & 6-round magazine
42. M2 Carbine
> Type: Select-fire automatic carbine
> Year entered service: 1944
> Action: Selective-fire (semi/full-automatic) capability; gas-operated, short-stroke piston
> Caliber & feed: 30 M1 Carbine & 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine
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41. M3 Carbine
> Type: Sniper carbine rifle
> Year entered service: 1944
> Action: Selective-fire (semi/full-automatic) capability; gas-operated, short-stroke piston
> Caliber & feed: 30 M1 Carbine & 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
40. Marlin Model 1914
> Type: Air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun
> Year entered service: 1914
> Action: Gas-operated; closed-bolt; lever-actuated
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield; 7.62x54mmR & 240-round fabric belt
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
39. Mosin-Nagant Model 1891
> Type: Bolt-action service rifle / carbine
> Year entered service: 1891
> Action: Manual bolt-action
> Caliber & feed: 7.62x54mmR; 7.62x53mmR; 7.92x57mm Mauser & 5-round internal magazine
38. PPSh-41
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year entered service: 1941
> Action: Blowback; open bolt
> Caliber & feed: 7.62x25mm Tokarev & 35-round detachable box; 71-round drum magazine
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
37. Remington Model 1903 (Springfield)
> Type: Bolt-action service rifle
> Year entered service: 1941
> Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 5-round stripper clips
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36. Ross Rifle
> Type: Straight-pull bolt-action service rifle
> Year entered service: 1905
> Action: Manual pull bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: .303 British & 5-round magazine
Source: aleks0649 / iStock via Getty Images
35. Simonov SKS
> Type: Semi-automatic, self-loading carbine
> Year entered service: 1945
> Action: Self-loading; gas-action piston
> Caliber & feed: 7.62x39mm M1943 & 10-round internal box magazine
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34. Springfield Model 1903 (M1903)
> Type: Bolt-action service rifle / sniper rifle
> Year entered service: 1903
> Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: .30-03; .30-06 Springfield & 5-round internal magazine
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Source: JOHNGOMEZPIX / iStock via Getty Images
33. Vickers Machine Gun
> Type: Medium machine gun
> Year entered service: 1912
> Action: Recoil operated; full-automatic
> Caliber & feed: .303 British; 7.62x51mm NATO; .30-06 & 250-round fabric belt
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
32. Winchester Model 1894
> Type: Lever-action rifle
> Year entered service: 1894
> Action: Manually-actuated lever-action
> Caliber & feed: .30-30 Winchester & 6- or 8-round tubular magazine
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31. Winchester Model 70
> Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
> Year entered service: 1936
> Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 3-,4-, or 5-round box magazine
30. Colt Model 1903
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1903
> Action: Single-action; blowback
> Caliber & feed: .32 ACP & 8-round detachable box magazine
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29. Hotchkiss Model 1914
> Type: Medium machine gun
> Year entered service: 1914
> Action: Gas-operated piston
> Caliber & feed: 8x50mmR Lebel; 6.5x50mm Arisaka; 7.7x58mm Arisaka & 24- or 30-round metal strips; 250-round articulated metal belt
28. Beretta Model 1934
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1934
> Action: Blowback; semi-automatic
> Caliber & feed: 9x17mm short / Corto (.380 ACP) & 7-round detachable box magazine
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
27. Browning Hi-power / FN GP 35
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1935
> Action: Short recoil-operated; semi-automatic
> Caliber & feed: 9x19mm Parabellum; 7.65×21 Parabellum; .40 X&W; .357 SIG & 13-round detachable box magazine
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26. Browning Model 1903 / FN M1903
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1903
> Action: Semi-automatic; blowback
> Caliber & feed: 9x20mm SR Browning Long; 7.65x17mm SR Browning (.32 ACP) & 7- or 8-round detachable box magazine
25. Browning Model 1910 / FN M1910
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1910
> Action: Blowback; semi-automatic
> Caliber & feed: .32 ACP; .380 ACP; 9x17mm Browning; 7.65x17mm Browning & 7- or 9-round detachable box magazine
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24. Browning Model 1922
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1922
> Action: Blowback; semi-automatic
> Caliber & feed: 9x17mm Browning Short (.380 ACP); 7.65x17mm SR Browning (.32 ACP) & 9-round detachable box magazine
Source: kvkirillov / iStock via Getty Images
23. MP38
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year entered service: 1938
> Action: Blowback; Full-automatic
> Caliber & feed: 9x19mm Parabellum & 32-round detachable box magazine
Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
22. MP40
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year entered service: 1940
> Action: Blowback; Full-automatic
> Caliber & feed: 9x19mm Parabellum & 32-round detachable box magazine
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
21. Owen SMG (Owen Machine Carbine)
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year entered service: 1941
> Action: Blowback
> Caliber & feed: 9x19mm Parabellum & 32-round detachable box magazine
20. STEN SMG
> Type: Submachine gun / carbine
> Year entered service: 1941
> Action: Blowback; open bolt
> Caliber & feed: 9x19mm Parabellum & 32-round detachable box magazine
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19. United Defense UD-42
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year entered service: 1942
> Action: Blowback; select-fire
> Caliber & feed: 9x19mm Parabellum & 20-round detachable box magazine
18. Walther PP
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1929
> Action: Semi-automatic; straight blowback; double action
> Caliber & feed: 7.65x15mm Browning SR; 9x19mm Short & 9-round detachable box magazine
17. Walther PPK
> Type: Concealed-carry semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1931
> Action: Semi-automatic; straight blowback; double action
> Caliber & feed: 7.65x17mm Browning SR (.32 ACP) & 7-round detachable box magazine
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16. Welrod (Assassin’s Pistol)
> Type: Bolt-action silenced pistol
> Year entered service: 1939
> Action: Bolt-action, manually-operated rotating bolt
> Caliber & feed: 9x19mm Parabellum; .32 ACP & 6-round magazine
15. Colt Model 1898
> Type: Six-shot revolver
> Year entered service: 1898
> Action: Rotating cylinder; double-action
> Caliber & feed: .45 Colt; .38 Special; .357 Magnum & 6-shot rotating cylinder
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14. Marlin Model 1894
> Type: Carbine rifle
> Year entered service: 1894
> Action: Manually-actuated lever-action system
> Caliber & feed: .32-20 Winchester; .32 HR Magnum; .38 Spc & 6-,9-, or 10-round tubular magazine
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13. Smith & Wesson Model 10 (38 Special)
> Type: Six-shot, double-action service revolver
> Year entered service: 1899
> Action: Single-action, double-action revolving cylinder
> Caliber & feed: .38 Long Colt; .38 Special & 6-shot rotating cylinder
12. Smith & Wesson 1st Model New Century (Triple Lock)
> Type: Service revolver
> Year entered service: 1908
> Action: Double-action; rotating cylinder
> Caliber & feed: .44 Special; .455 Webley & 6-shot rotating cylinder
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11. Colt M1911
> Type: Semi-automatic pistol
> Year entered service: 1911
> Action: Single-action; short recoil-operated
> Caliber & feed: .45 ACP & 7-round detachable box magazine
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
10. Colt Model 1917
> Type: Service revolver
> Year entered service: 1917
> Action: Double-action; rotating cylinder
> Caliber & feed: .45 ACP; .45 Auto Rim & 6-shot rotating cylinder
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9. De Lisle Carbine
> Type: Silenced carbine
> Year entered service: 1943
> Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: .45 ACP & 7- or 11-round detachable box magazine
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
8. M1 Thompson
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year entered service: 1938
> Action: Blowback; semi-automatic
> Caliber & feed: .45 ACP & 20- or 30-round box; 50-round drum
Source: Willard / iStock via Getty Images
7. M3 (Grease Gun)
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year entered service: 1943
> Action: Open bolt; blowback
> Caliber & feed: .45 ACP; 9x19mm Parabellum & 30-round detachable box magazine
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6. M3A1 (Grease Gun) Suppressed
> Type: Submachine gun
> Year entered service: 1944
> Action: Blowback; open bolt
> Caliber & feed: .45 ACP & 30-round detachable box magazine
5. Reising Model 50
> Type: Submachine gun / carbine
> Year entered service: 1941
> Action: Delayed blowback; closed-bolt
> Caliber & feed: .45 ACP; .30 Carbine & 12- or 20-round detachable box magazine
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
4. Smith & Wesson Model 1917
> Type: Six-shot service revolver
> Year entered service: 1917
> Action: Double-action; rotating cylinder
> Caliber & feed: .45 ACP; .45 Auto Rim & 6-shot rotating cylinder
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
3. Browning M2
> Type: Multi-role heavy machine gun
> Year entered service: 1921
> Action: Automatic short recoil-operated, air-cooled
> Caliber & feed: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO) & 110-round metalic link belt
Source: Courtesy of FN HERSTAL
2. Fabrique Nationale FN M2HB
> Type: Heavy machine gun
> Year entered service: 1933
> Action: Recoil-operated; automatic fire only
> Caliber & feed: 12.7x99mm & Metal-link belt fed
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1. Boys 0.55in
> Type: Anti-tank rifle / anti-material rifle
> Year entered service: 1937
> Action: Manually-operated bolt-action system
> Caliber & feed: 13.9mm (0.55 in) & 5-round detachable box magazine
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