This US Military Gun Weighs Nearly 2 Tons

A military arsenal is created to ensure the country’s armed forces has the tools necessary to protect its citizens, maintain peace, and provide stability. An arsenal contains all sorts of weapons; from handguns to stealth bombers to long range missiles. The United States arsenal contains high tech, powerful weaponry which allows its military to deploy personnel worldwide, to nearly 800 military bases outside of the US. One such piece of powerful weaponry is heavy-duty small arms mainly used on larger targets. They can effectively destroy vehicles and aircraft and are crucial in conflicts involving high-stakes targets. These reliable and potent US military weapons increase the power and capability of individual soldiers, making them an important part of the arsenal.

In identifying the most substantial small arms in use by the US military, 24/7 Wall St. consulted various sources, including military manuals, government releases, and firearms publications focusing on small arms and light weapons currently used by the military. The weight of each small arm was based on its empty weight in pounds. These numbers were based on information sourced from the Military Factory, an online database of global military equipment. Additional details, such as weapon type and year of deployment, were also sourced from the Military Factory.

While not all the weapons listed may technically be considered heavy, they each play a powerful and unique role within the military. Some of the weapons ranked have been in active service since World War II, while others were only introduced within the past decade.

Why Is This Important?

Maintaining a well established arsenal is one of many ways America deters potential adversaries from attacking the United States and its allies. The quality of the materials used to create the weapons and the advanced technology of many of them provides for a long-lasting and effective way for the US to hold onto its standing as a worldwide superpower.

These are the US military’s 20 heaviest guns.

20. (Semi-Automatic Sniper System)

Empty weight: 15.30 lb
Type: Designated marksman rifle/sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2007
Military branches used: Amy, Marines, SOCOM

19. Remington MSR (Modular Sniper Rifle)

Empty weight: 15.43 lbs
Type: Remington MSR (modular sniper rifle)
Year entered service: 2013
Military branches used: Army, SOCOM

18. IMI M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (BDM) / SMAW-D

Empty weight: 15.70 lbs
Type: Shoulder-launched multi-purpose assault weapon
Year entered service: 1984
Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps

17. M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle (EMR)

Empty weight: 16.53 lbs
Type: Designated marksman rifle/sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2008
Military branches used: Marines

16. Fabrique National M249 SAW / LMG

Empty weight: 16.53 lbs
Type: Light machine gun/squad support weapon
Year entered service: 1984
Military branches used: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines

15. Carl-Gustav M3 (M1948)

Empty weight: 18.74 lbs
Type: Multirole, shoulder-fired recoilless rifle
Year entered service: 1948
Military branches used: Army, SOCOM, Marine Corps

14. Saco M60

Empty weight: 23.17 lbs
Type: General purpose machine gun
Year entered service: 1957
Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, USSOCOM

13. Fabrique Nationale M240

Empty weight: 27.56 lbs
Type: General purpose machine gun/medium machine gun
Year entered service: 1977
Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard

12. Barrett M107

Empty weight: 29.98 lbs
Type: Anti-material/anti-personnel sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2008
Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, USSOCOM