24/7 Wall St. Insights
- Much of the impressive size and power of today’s U.S. military came about during the 1980s.
- Technological advancements of this decade led to the development of essential weapons, many of which are still used today.
- Also: 2 Dividend Legends To Hold Forever
The United States military experienced a radical transformation during the 1980s. Due to increased defense spending under the Reagan administration, the military underwent an unprecedented era of rebuilding and modernization. Advancements in communications systems, precision-guided weaponry, and stealth aircraft technology soared. By the end of the decade, the U.S. military had transformed into one of the world’s top fighting forces. (These are 15 American military guns of the future.)
To identify American military guns introduced in the 1980s, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of small arms from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, arms, and aircraft. We ordered these guns alphabetically and included supplemental information regarding the type of small arm, year introduced, manufacturer, firing action, caliber, and feed.
One of the most dynamic weapons to enter the U.S. arsenal during this time was the FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missile system. This man-portable air defense system evened the odds for soldiers on the ground when facing threats like enemy attack helicopters. Designed to fire 70mm missiles, the FIM-92 can hit targets nearly 16,000 feet away using infrared homing technology. The missiles fired from the FIM-92 can reach speeds of Mach 2.2, making them supersonic.
In addition, the 1980s also saw the development of the modern American sniper rifle. Although many were developed and discarded during this time, many of these guns laid the foundation for sniper rifles in the following decades. (These are 30 American military guns of the 2000s.)
Why We’re Covering This
Examining the weapons of the 1980s can help us better understand the challenges, tactics, strategies, and technologies that shaped their development. The 1980s experienced high tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and both nations stockpiled nuclear weapons, aircraft, and firearms in anticipation of a potential conflict.
Here is a look at the American-made military guns from the 1980s:
AC-556
- Type: Select-fire automatic rifle
- Year introduced: 1980
- Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt, select-fire
- Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm; 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine
Barrett M82
- Type: Anti-tank / anti-materiel rifle
- Year introduced: 1982
- Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms
- Firing action: Semi-automatic, recoil-operated, rotating bolt
- Caliber and feed: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO); 10-round detachable box magazine
Colt Model 635
- Type: Submachine gun
- Year introduced: 1982
- Manufacturer: Colt Defense
- Firing action: Blowback, closed-bolt
- Caliber and feed: 9x19mm Parabellum; 20- or 32-round detachable box magazine
FIM-92 Stinger
- Type: Man-portable air defense missile system
- Year introduced: 1981
- Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Raytheon
- Firing action: Shoulder-launched, infrared homing portable surface-to-air missile system
- Caliber and feed: 70mm; Single-shot
GP100
- Type: Double-action revolver
- Year introduced: 1985
- Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Firing action: Double-action, rotating cylinder
- Caliber and feed: .357 Magnum, .44 Special, .322 LR; 5- or 6-shot cylinder
HK CAWS
- Type: Select-fire automatic shotgun
- Year introduced: 1983
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Firing action: Select-fire (semi/full-automatic), recoil-operated, gas-assisted
- Caliber and feed: 18.5x76mmR (12-gauge, 3-inch belted); 10-round detachable box magazine
Jackhammer
- Type: Automatic shotgun
- Year introduced: 1987
- Manufacturer: Pancor Corporation
- Firing action: Gas-operated, full-automatic
- Caliber and feed: 12-gauge; 10-round cassette
M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4)
- Type: Man-portable disposable anti-armor rocket launcher
- Year introduced: 1987
- Manufacturer: Alliant TechSystems
- Firing action: Self-contained recoilless rifle
- Caliber and feed: 84mm; Single-shot
M16A2
- Type: Assault rifle
- Year introduced: 1983
- Manufacturer: Colt Defense
- Firing action: Gas-operated, semi-automatic, select fire
- Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO; 30-round detachable box magazine
M16K (Kurz)
- Type: Assault carbine / submachine gun
- Year introduced: 1982
- Manufacturer: La France
- Firing action: Gas-operated, blowback
- Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, .45 ACP; 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine
M249 SAW
- Type: Light machine gun
- Year introduced: 1984
- Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
- Firing action: Gas-operated, open bolt
- Caliber and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO; 30-round detachable box or 200-round metal link belt
M45 MEU (SOC)
- Type: Semi-automatic pistol
- Year introduced: 1986
- Manufacturer: Colt Defense
- Firing action: Semi-automatic, recoil-operated
- Caliber and feed: .45 ACP; 7-round detachable box magazine
M86
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Year introduced: 1986
- Manufacturer: Harris Gunworks / McMillan
- Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt action
- Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum; 3-, 4-, 5- or 10-round magazine
M87
- Type: Anti-materiel / heavy sniper rifle
- Year introduced: 1987
- Manufacturer: Harris Gunworks / McMillan
- Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt action
- Caliber and feed: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO); 1-, 5- or 10-round magazine
M89
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Year introduced: 1989
- Manufacturer: Harris Gunworks / McMillan
- Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt action
- Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO; 5-, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
MM-1 MGL
- Type: Automatic grenade launcher
- Year introduced: 1980
- Manufacturer: Hawk Engineering
- Firing action: Semi-automatic, revolving cylinder
- Caliber and feed: 40x46mm; 12-round rotating drum magazine
RAI Model 300 / Model 500 (Haskins Rifle)
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Year introduced: 1983
- Manufacturer: Jerry Haskins / Research Armament
- Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
- Caliber and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO, 8.58x71mm; 4- or 5-round detachable box magazine
RC-50
- Type: Anti-materiel / heavy sniper rifle
- Year introduced: 1985
- Manufacturer: Robar Companies
- Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
- Caliber and feed: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO); 5-round detachable box magazine
Remington M24 SWS (Sniper Weapon System)
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Year introduced: 1987
- Manufacturer: Remington Arms
- Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
- Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, .338 Lapua Magnum; 5-round internal magazine / 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine
Ruger P
- Type: Semi-automatic pistol
- Year introduced: 1985
- Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Firing action: Semi-automatic, short recoil
- Caliber and feed: 7.65x21mm Parabellum, 9x19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP; 7-, 8-, 10-, or 15-round detachable box magazine
Saco M60E3
- Type: Light machine gun
- Year introduced: 1986
- Manufacturer: Saco Defense
- Firing action: Air-cooled, gas-operated, disintegrating metallic link-belt
- Caliber and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO; 100-round disintegrating link belt
Smith & Wesson Model 686
- Type: Six-shot revolver
- Year introduced: 1981
- Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
- Firing action: Double-action, rotating cylinder
- Caliber and feed: .357 Magnum, .38 Special; 6-round cylinder
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