24/7 Wall St. Insights
- We used data from the Army’s Weapon Systems Handbook.
- In the global arms manufacturing sector, the top 100 manufacturers alone recorded almost $600 billion in weapons sales in 2022.
- Also, 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever
The United States Army has built a large arsenal for itself over the years, maintaining a stock of nuclear weapons, guns, ammunition, tanks, vehicles, and planes. In July 2024, they held an estimated 5,044 nuclear warheads in a variety of locations across the country and around the world. Arsenals are strategically placed to produce and support the weapon stocks of the US to ensure the modern-day soldier has access to a wide range of weapons, playing an important role in the soldier’s operational capabilities on the battlefield.
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, to identify every standard-issue gun in the U.S. Army. These guns were ranked when they entered the service and included supplemental information regarding the type of firearm, range, caliber, and manufacturer from the 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.
Why We’re Covering The Gun Industry
The global arms manufacturing sector is truly massive — in 2022, the most recent year with available data, the top 100 manufacturers alone recorded almost $600 billion in weapons sales. The industry’s giants like Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Raytheon, now called RTX Corp. (NYSE: RTX), and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) each account for billions in sales each year, in no small part because of their long history of lucrative weapons contracts for the U.S. military, with its $800 billion+ annual budget. Some of the gun manufacturers on this list are major non-American companies like Sig Sauer and Heckler & Koch, but each is required by law to manufacture its U.S. military-bound weapons at factories in the United States.
Here is a look at 26 guns in the Arsenal of 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
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
23. Heckler & Koch HK MP5
- Type: Submachine gun
- Year: 1966
- Maximum effective range: 660 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
22. Saco Mk 19
- Type: Automatic grenade launcher
- Year: 1967
- Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.
- Caliber: 40x53mm
- Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
21. Mossberg Model 590
- Type: Pump-action shotgun
- Year: 1975
- Maximum effective range: 130 ft.
- Caliber: 12-gauge
- Manufacturer: O.S. Mossberg & Sons
20. Fabrique Nationale M240
- Type: General purpose machine gun
- Year: 1977
- Maximum effective range: 5,905 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
19. FIM-92 Stinger
- Type: Air defense missile system
- Year: 1981
- Maximum effective range: 15,750 ft.
- Caliber: 70mm
- Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Raytheon
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
17. Remington M24 SWS
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Year: 1987
- Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Remington Arms
16. SIG-Sauer P228
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year: 1988
- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
- Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
15. Colt M16A4
- Type: Automatic rifle
- Year: 1990
- Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing
14. Beretta M9
- Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
- Year: 1990
- Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
- Caliber: 9×19 parabellum
- Manufacturer: Beretta
13. M4 Carbine
- Type: Assault carbine
- Year: 1994
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing / Remington Arms
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
10. Mk 14
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year: 2004
- Maximum effective range: 1,500 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Smith Enterprises
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
7. M110 SASS
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year: 2007
- Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.
- Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Knight’s Armament
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
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
3. Heckler & Koch HK M27
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Year: 2011
- Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
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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