Each Firearm Currently Used by The US Military

The APC9 Pro-K SCW is a submachine gun primarily used by military police working in personal security in the Protective Services Battalion. The PSB duties typically involve protecting executive-level military personnel, such as the secretary of defense and the Army’s chief of staff.

The U.S. Army is reported to have procured 315 APC9s, and the Air Force announced plans to purchase 65.

The Barrett M107A1 is a semi-automatic .50 caliber sniper rifle. While most sniper rifles used by the U.S. military are anti-personnel weapons, the M107 is an anti-materiel weapon designed for use against military equipment, structures, and some vehicles. It typically uses a 10-round box magazine and has an effective range of 2,000 meters.

The Benelli M1014 is a semi-automatic shotgun used in close-quarter and urban combat scenarios. It can hold a total of eight shells – seven in the magazine and one in the chamber.

First introduced in 1999, the M1014 met the specifications put forth by the Marine Corps, and after standing up to rigorous testing, the Marines ordered 20,000 of them. The shotgun is also used by U.S. Special Operations Forces and the British SAS.

The Colt M1911 was the official service pistol of the U.S. military from 1911 through 1985. Though it was replaced by the Beretta M9, which itself has since been replaced, there are pockets of the U.S. military that still use variations of the M1911.

Within the last decade, the Marine Corps ordered 12,000 M45A1s – a variation of the M1911 with a Picatinny rail mount and night sights for close-quarter combat.

The Javelin is a portable anti-tank missile launcher typically fired from the shoulder. It can also be used against helicopters and fortifications and has an effective range of 2.5 km. Javelins have recently been used by Ukraine to hold back the Russian invasion, and they were used in over 5,000 engagements by U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Manufactured by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin in a joint venture, Javelins have been in service since 1996.

In service since 1981, the Stinger is a shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile system most effective against helicopters and transport aircraft. Though it can be fired by a single operator, it is often fired in two-person teams that include a spotter. It can also be fired from a land vehicle or a helicopter and has reportedly taken down over 270 aircraft in combat. Ukraine has also used U.S.-supplied Stingers successfully against Russian aircraft.

The GAU-19 is a Gatling gun typically mounted on helicopters, jets, land vehicles, and naval vessels. It has three barrels and is capable of firing 1,300 rounds per minute.

The U.S. Army awarded General Dynamics a $7.3 million contract for production, delivery, and support for over two dozen GAU-19s in 2012, a time when there were already an estimated 250 in service.

The Glock 19 was selected by the Navy SEALs as a replacement for the Sig Sauer P226 around 2015. Though they both fire the same ammunition, the Glock is 7 ounces lighter, does not have an exposed hammer, and, with a polymer frame, is more corrosion resistant.

One of the most popular submachine guns in the world, the Heckler & Koch MP5 has been used by special forces around the world for decades. There are over 100 variations of the MP5, several of which are used by the various branches of the U.S. military.

The version the Navy SEALs use can be used in semi- and fully-automatic modes, the latter of which fires 800 rounds per minute. MP5s are used in a range of situations, from counterterrorism to hostage rescue and personal protection.

The Heckler & Koch MP7 is a compact, lightweight, and fully automatic submachine gun. It is chambered for a larger round than the MP5 and capable of firing 950 rounds per minute. Highly customizable, the gun can be equipped with a suppressor, optics, and laser aiming units.

Classified as a personal defense weapon, the MP7 is a specialized weapon used for boarding ships, clearing tunnels, and, usable with one hand, also climbing ladders. Popular with Navy SEALs, some members of SEAL Team Six carried MP7s during the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.

The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle is now the standard-issued Marine rifle. It was procured as a replacement for the far heavier M249 SAW and the M4, which it outranges by 100 to 150 yards. A modified version of the M27, known as the M38, is the designated marksman rifle for the Marines. It is equipped with a bipod and scope.

While the Marine Corps has fielded thousands of M27 rifles, Marine Raiders have passed on the new weapon, partially on the grounds that the 16-inch barrel is too long and cumbersome for their particular needs.

The HK45C is a .45 caliber pistol made by Heckler & Koch that has been used by the Navy SEALs for at least 10 years. Under the designation Mk 24 Mod 0, the gun has a larger caliber bullet and packs more of a punch than the other handguns the SEALs use. It also features an extended threaded barrel that can be used to attach suppressors.

Based on the popular M4, the HK416 was developed by German gunmaker Heckler & Koch with input from the U.S. Army’s Delta Force. The assault rifle comes in four barrel lengths ranging from 10.4 to 20 inches and can be fired in both semi- and fully-automatic modes for different combat scenarios.

The rifle is used by Marines and is favored by special operations groups such as Navy SEALs and Delta Force. The rifle was used by members of SEAL Team Six in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.

The HK417 is a designated marksman assault rifle used by special forces teams, including elite Navy SEAL units. It is a larger and more powerful version of the HK416 and is capable of firing 600 rounds per minute out to an effective range of 600 meters. The HK416 can also be equipped with a mounted grenade launcher.

Over 75 countries around the world use the HK417, including Russia’s Spetsnaz (special forces).

Adopted by the American military in 2005, the M110 is a semi-automatic sniper rifle with a maximum effective range of 800 meters. It was first used in combat in Afghanistan by the U.S. Army’s Task Force Fury.

In 2016, German gunmaker Heckler & Koch developed the M110A1 variation, which featured improved reliability and has an effective range of up to 600 meters. Variations of the rifle designed to suit different purposes include the CSASS, the Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System, and the SDMR, or the Squad Designated Marksman Rifle. H&K announced plans in 2019 to produce between 5,000 and 6,000 M110A1s for the U.S. Army.

The M120 is a mortar system consisting of a launch tube, optics, a base plate, and a bipod. Mortar systems offer indirect fire support and are used by the Army in all combat formations. The M120 fires 120mm mortars as far as 7,900 yards. Typically operated by a crew of five, the M120 can fire up to 16 rounds per minute. It can be loaded with high-explosive projectiles, as well as illumination and precision rounds.

Variations of the 120mm mortar were formerly used by the Marine Corps, but in 2017, the Corps announced plans to ditch the M120 and invest in other resources, including higher-precision artillery weapons.

The M134 Minigun is a modified version of the M61 Vulcan. It was initially developed by General Electric and used in the Vietnam War on helicopters as a way of defending against small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The gun’s multi-barrel design allows it to fire up to 6,000 rounds per minute without overheating.

It is still used today by the Army and Marine Corps, and GAU-2A and GAU-17/A variations are used by the Navy on special operations watercraft, as well as the Air Force.

M136 AT4 is a one-shot disposable rocket launcher, typically fired from the shoulder, that requires minimal training to operate. Effective against tanks and bunkers, an AT4 warhead can penetrate 17.5 inches of armor plating and has a maximum range of 2,100 meters.

Used by both the Marine Corps and the Army, the U.S. military is reported to have procured nearly 600,000 AT4 units to date.

The M16A4 assault rifle is an updated version of the M16 that was widely used by U.S. troops in the Vietnam War. It served as the standard service rifle of the Marine Corps until it was replaced by the M4 in 2015. Reasons for replacing the latest M16 include its longer barrel, which made it less maneuverable and heavier than the M4 Carbine. The weapon is also reportedly susceptible to rust, difficult to clean, and prone to jamming.

Still, the M16A4 remains in limited use by some support and non-infantry Marines and non-combat Army units. It has an effective range of 600 meters with NATO ammunition and can mount a grenade launcher.

The M2 .50 caliber machine gun is used across the branches of the U.S. military and is the primary heavy machine gun for NATO countries. Initially developed during World War I, the M2 was widely used in the Second World War and has been in service ever since.

The gun is effective against infantry and lightly armored vehicles, helicopters, and boats. Often mounted to a vehicle or helicopter, the M2 can also be used with a tripod.

Made by Remington Arms, the M2010 is an updated version of the M24 sniper rifle. Like the M24, it is based on the Remington Model 700 hunting rifle. However, the M2010 is made in both semi-automatic and bolt actions and is chambered for .300 Win Mag rounds, which gives the gun an effective range of 1,200 meters – 400 more than the M24. The M2010 was used by the Army in Afghanistan as early as 2011.

Mortar systems are a critical component of the combat strategy of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. The M224 is a lightweight, 60mm mortar system that can range from 18 to 45 pounds. It uses a high angle of fire and has a maximum range of 3,489 meters.

Like other mortar systems, the M224 can fire a range of ammunition types to suit a variety of purposes, including high explosive, infrared, visible light, and smoke.

The M24 is a bolt-action sniper rifle that is effectively a modified version of the popular Remington 700 hunting rifles. The Marine Corps uses a similar rifle known as the M40. The M24 and M40 sniper weapon systems have been in use for decades. However, they have begun to be phased out in recent years in favor of semi-automatic and more versatile sniper weapons

The M240 is a general-purpose machine gun first adopted by the Army in 1977. It is now used throughout the U.S. military, including by the weapons platoon of every rifle company of the Marine Corps.

The M240 is often mounted on a tripod or on land vehicles, helicopters, and boats. While not a state-of-the-art weapon, it is favored for its reliability. It has a maximum range of 3,725 meters and a cyclic fire rate of 650 rounds per minute. The U.S. has supplied an unspecified number of M240 machine guns to Ukraine in 2022.

The M249 SAW, or Squad Automatic Weapon, is a light machine gun that, at just 18 pounds, can be carried by a single individual. It has a maximum firing rate of 800 rounds per minute and a maximum range of 3,600 meters. The weapon was first developed in 1974 and was then adopted by the U.S. Army and later by the Marine Corps. The M249 first saw combat in the 1991 Gulf War and again in Iraq in the 2000s.

Modified versions of the M249 known as the Mk 46 and Mk 48 are used by USSOCOM and Navy SEALs and feature a farther effective range and higher rate of fire.

The M252 is an 81mm medium-weight mortar. The system itself weighs 90 pounds, and each round weighs about 10 pounds. Used by both the Army and the Marine Corps, the M252 can be loaded with a range of ammunition types to suit a variety of purposes, including high explosive, infrared, visible light, and smoke. It has a maximum range of 5,935 meters or 3.7 miles.

The M26 is a modular accessory shotgun designed to be mounted under the barrel of an M4 Carbine, eliminating the need for soldiers to carry two separate firearms in specialized circumstances that may have previously required it.

The M26 can use non-lethal shotgun ammunition for purposes such as crowd control and door breaching – though it is also capable of firing lethal, anti-personnel munitions. An estimated 200 M26 shotguns were fielded in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division.

The M3 MAAWS – Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System – is an 84mm rocket system effective against lightly armored targets up to 500 meters and soft targets up to 800 meters. The weapon requires two operators – one to carry and fire it and another to carry the ammunition and reload it.

The weapon is capable of hitting both static and moving targets, day or night, and is submersible in salt water. Currently used by the Army, the weapon is expected to be distributed to active-duty marines by 2024.

The M4 is the standard issue firearm for many in the U.S. military. Versions of the M4 were carried by the majority of U.S. Army and Marine troops in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is also the primary weapon used by Navy SEALs.

Essentially a shorter and lighter variant of the M-16, the Army version of the M4A1 is equipped with a collapsible stock, a rail system for sights, and a backup iron sight. It is fully automatic and can be outfitted with a grenade launcher and a modular accessory shotgun. Depending on the rounds it is loaded with, it can have a maximum effective range of up to 656 yards and can fire up to 950 rounds per minute.

Introduced in 1957, the M60 machine gun was used widely by the U.S. military in the Vietnam War. Though it has been largely replaced by the M240, it is still used to some extent by all branches of the military. Notably, the Navy SEALs use two variants of the M60 – the lighter weight M60E3 and the MK43 Mod 0.

Though it is most effective on a tripod, the M60 can also be fired from the shoulder. It can fire 550 rounds per minute and has an effective range of 1,200 yards and a maximum range of 4,074 yards.

The M61 Vulcan was developed by General Electric in the 1940s and was first widely used in the Vietnam War mounted on fighter jets and gunships. Today, the six-barrel Gatling gun is produced by General Dynamics and is lighter than earlier versions.

Capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute, newer iterations of the weapon are mounted on F-22 Raptor, F-15, F-16, and F-18 fighter jets. The U.S. Navy uses the Vulcan in its Phalanx close-in weapon system, designed to automatically track and destroy low-flying enemy targets, such as cruise missiles and aircraft.

The Mk13 is a bolt-action sniper rifle that recently replaced the Marine Corps’ M40 sniper rifle. The weapon has a maximum effective range of 1,300 meters – a 300-meter improvement – and is issued to Marine snipers with a suppressor to reduce muzzle flash and the acoustic signature when shot. Variations of the Mk13 are also used by the Navy SEALs.

The MK16 SCAR – Special Forces Combat Assault Rifle – is a weapon used by elite forces like the Navy SEALs. It can be fitted with three barrel sizes, ranging from 10 inches to 18 inches, which vary in range from 300 meters to 600 meters, making them versatile for a variety of combat situations.

It has a box magazine with a 30-round capacity, an adjustable stock, and a rail system that can be used to attach accessories like sights or a grenade launcher.

Similar to the MK16 but chambered for larger rounds, the MK17 SCAR is also used by elite special operations forces. It can be fitted with three barrels, ranging in length from 13 to 20 inches, which vary in range from 300 meters up to 800 meters, making them versatile for a variety of combat situations.

It has a 20-round box magazine and comes equipped with a rail system that can be used to mount foregrips, sights, and grenade launchers.

The Mk18 Close Quarter Battle Receiver, or QCBR, is a specialized weapon used by the Navy SEALs. A short, 10.3-inch barrel makes the gun compact, maneuverable, and relatively light. These rifles are often used in hostage rescue and VIP protection missions.

The Mk19 is a fully automatic weapon that fires 40mm grenades. The Mk19 is effective against personnel, lightly armored vehicles, and helicopters and is fired from a tripod at varying angles to accommodate varying target distances. It has a maximum effective range of 1,400 meters and can be fired at a sustained rate of 40 rounds per minute. It is also compatible with airburst rounds, which detonate on a timer, making them more effective against enemies behind a barrier.

The MK22 Multi-Role Adaptive Design Rifle made by Barrett Firearms won a $50 million contract after USSOCOM announced it was looking for a multi-caliber modular sniper rifle. The new bolt action rifle is expected to replace existing sniper rifle systems in both the Army and Marine Corps. The gun is relatively lightweight and highly adjustable and is fed with a 10-round box magazine.

The Army alone, which designates the firearm as a PSR, or Precision Sniper Rifle, is expected to have over 2,500 such units in its arsenal by the end of fiscal 2025.

The Mk47 Striker is a more advanced version of the Mk19 automatic grenade launcher and weighs half as much. Also, unlike the Mk19, the Striker fires from a closed bolt system, which improves accuracy. An advanced sighting system and video screen improve the system’s ability to engage with targets obscured by distance, cover, and terrain.

The 40mm grenades fired by the Striker are programmable and airburst capable of improved efficacy against enemies behind cover.

The Mk20 Sniper Support Rifle was designed as a sniper version of the Mk17 assault rifle. It comes equipped with rails for mounting sights and can maintain accuracy out to 1,000 yards. The rifle is semi-automatic with a 20-round detachable box magazine and is used by spotters in two-man sniper/spotter teams as well as by designated marksmen.

The Mossberg 590A1, a variation of Mossberg’s 500 series civilian shotguns, is the standard issue pump shotgun for most of the U.S. military. They are specialized weapons geared toward close-quarters combat as well as non-lethal crowd control if loaded with rubber slugs or beanbags. There are a few variations of the weapon used by the military, some of which can be outfitted with a bayonet.

The Remington M870A is a military version of the company’s 870 shotgun, sold in the millions over more than five decades to American hunters and sportsmen and women.

The pump action 12 gauge shotgun is widely used by different service branches. It can be loaded with special breaching rounds designed to shoot away door hinges and locks. Smaller versions with folding stocks and shortened barrels are carried on Navy warships and submarines.

The M17 and M18 handguns, versions of the Sig Sauer P320, are the standard service pistol of the U.S. military. In early 2017, the U.S. Army awarded Sig Sauer a $580 million contract to make the pistols, choosing the company over competitors Glock and Beretta.

The modular pistol can be chambered in several different calibers and is a replacement for the Beretta M9, which had been the standard service pistol since 1985. When the contract was awarded, the Army planned to purchase over 280,000 of the new handguns in addition to 7,000 sub-compact variations. Other military services planned to order as many as 212,000 additional weapons.

SMAW stands for Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon, which is effectively a rocket-launching system. It can be equipped with thermal imaging for nighttime use and loaded with rockets specially designed for anti-personnel and anti-tank purposes, as well as thermobaric warheads that have proven especially effective in confined spaces, such as caves.

There are several variations of the SMAW, including the M141 used by the Army and the Mk 153 used by the Marine Corps, which come in single-use disposable and reusable models. The weapon is most effective out to 300 meters but can also be effective out to 500 meters. It is able to penetrate up to 8 inches of concrete, 12 inches of brick, and over 6 and a half feet of sandbags. The U.S. has shipped SMAWs to Ukraine in recent months.

Reserved for top marksmen, the TAC-338 is a sniper rifle with a nearly 1-mile range. The gun was famously used for the longest shot taken by the decorated Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, who logged over 150 confirmed kills.