The Firepower of the US Green Berets

In identifying the guns used by U.S. Green Berets, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed a catalog of weapons used by the Army Special Forces produced by Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, and weapons. Similar and outdated weapons were excluded from the list and the remaining weapons were ranked according to when they entered service. Additional information, including weapon type, effective range, and caliber, was also sourced from Military Factory.

The Green Berets’ arsenal includes handguns, shotguns, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers. Although numerous firearms currently in service have been introduced in recent decades, some older models, which have demonstrated battlefield effectiveness, remain in use even after more than 50 years.

One mainstay of the Green Berets’ arsenal is the Special Forces Combat Assault Rifle (FN SCAR). This gun is preferred for missions in vast open terrains because of its precision and effectiveness in long-range engagements. The Special Operations Command opted for the SCAR as a replacement for the Colt M4A1 modular automatic rifle.

For use in precision engagements, the Green Berets favor the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, because it is well-suited for long-range accuracy, suppressive capabilities, and quick follow-up shots. This sniper rifle is chambered for 7.62mm rounds and primarily functions as an anti-personnel rifle. 

Here are the guns used by the Green Berets:

27. General Electric M134 Minigun

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1963
• Type: Six-barrel gatling gun
• Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO

26. M72 LAW

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1963
• Type: Anti-tank rocket launcher
• Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 66mm

25. General Electric GAU-17/A Minigun

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1965
• Type: Six-barrel gatling gun
• Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO

24. Heckler & Koch HK MP5

MP5 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Dybdal

• Year entered service: 1966
• Type: Submachine gun
• Maximum effective range: 660 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 9×19 parabellum

23. Colt / AAI M203

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1969
• Type: Breech-loading under-barrel grenade launcher
• Maximum effective range: 480 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 40x46mm grenade

22. Mossberg Model 590

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1975
• Type: Pump-action shotgun
• Maximum effective range: 130 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 12-gauge

21. Fabrique National M240

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1977
• Type: General purpose machine gun
• Maximum effective range: 5,905 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO

20. Fabrique Nationale M249 SAW

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1984
• Type: Squad support weapon
• Maximum effective range: 2,600 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO

19. Colt M45 MEU (SOC)

MEUSOCM45 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Icikas8azp

• Year entered service: 1986
• Type: Special forces semi-automatic service pistol
• Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: .45 ACP

18. M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4)

Source: usairforce / Flickr

• Year entered service: 1987
• Type: Anti-armor rocket launcher
• Maximum effective range: 985 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 84mm

17. Remington M24 SWS

M24 -- Our-IDF-2018-IZE-053 (CC BY 2.0) by Zachi Evenor

• Year entered service: 1987
• Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO

16. SIG-Sauer P228

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1988
• Type: Semi-automatic pistol
• Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 9x19mm parabellum

15. Beretta M9

Source: Tivoly / iStock via Getty Images

• Year entered service: 1990
• Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
• Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 9×19 parabellum

14. Stoner SR-25

SR-25 sniper rifle in IDF serv... (CC BY 2.0) by Zachi Evenor

• Year entered service: 1990
• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO

13. FGM-148 Javelin

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1996
• Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
• Maximum effective range: 8,202 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 127mm

12. Benelli M4 Super 90 (M1013 JSCS)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 1999
• Type: Semi-automatic combat shotgun
• Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 12-gauge

11. Navy Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 2002
• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO

10. Fabrique Nationale Mk 48

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 2003
• Type: Light weight machine gun
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO

9. Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR

Source: usairforce / Flickr

• Year entered service: 2004
• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Maximum effective range: 1,500 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO

8. McMillan TAC-338

Source: Courtesy of The Overwatch ELR via Facebook

• Year entered service: 2005
• Type: Sniper rifle
• Maximum effective range: 5,250 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum

7. Heckler & Koch HK G28

BWEHR Scharfschu00fctzengewehr (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Ru00fcdiger Mu00fcller

• Year entered service: 2006
• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Maximum effective range: 2,000 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO

6. M32 MGL

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 2006
• Type: Six-shot grenade launcher
• Maximum effective range: 1,315 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 40x46mm grenade

5. M110 SASS

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 2007
• Type: Designated marksman rifle
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO

4. Barrett M107

Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images

• Year entered service: 2008
• Type: Anti-materiel / anti-personnel sniper rifle
• Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)

3. AirTronic PSRL-1 (RPG-7USA)

PSRL-1 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by SU1677

• Year entered service: 2009
• Type: Anti-armor / anti-personnel shoulder-fired rocket launcher
• Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 40mm Rocket

2. Fabrique National FN SCAR (Mk 16 / Mk 17)

FN SCAR-L - FN SCAR-H (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Arbal01

• Year entered service: 2009
• Type: Modular automatic assault rifle
• Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO

1. Remington MSR

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Year entered service: 2013
• Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
• Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft.
• Caliber/ammunition: .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum, 7.62x51mm NATO