You’re Rambo, Which of These Big Guns Are You Using to Save the Day?

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• The U.S. military has roughly 4.5 million firearms
• Of these 20 weapons, 12 have been in use since before 1985

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The U.S. military is one of the largest in the world, containing 1.4 million active-duty personnel, 5,500 tanks, and 5,463 helicopters. America’s military also contains a wide range of small arms, which are defined as any portable firearm, intended to be operated from the hand or shoulder. These include weapons like pistols, rifles, and light machine guns. According to the Small Arms Survey, the estimated number of firearms in the U.S. military (including the Army, Navy, and Airforce) is 4.5 million.

In identifying the most substantial small arms in use by the U.S. 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.

Each of these guns 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.

Though common sense tells us that the newest weapons with the most modern technology would be prioritized, this is not always the case. Of the 20 weapons on this list, 12 have been in use since before 1985. For example, the Carl-Gustav M3 has been around since 1948, while the Browning M2 has been in service since 1921.

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 high-quality materials used to create these weapons, and the advanced technology employed allow for a long-lasting and effective military force, enabling the U.S. to maintain its standing as a worldwide superpower.

These are the U.S. military’s 20 heaviest guns:

• 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

11. General Dynamics / Raytheon FIM-92 Stinger

• Empty weight: 33.51 lbs
• Type: Man-portable, air defense missile system
• Year entered service: 1981
• Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps

10. General Electric GAU-17/A Minigun

• Empty weight: 35.27 lbs
• Type: Six barrel Gatling gun
• Year entered service: 1965
• Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy

9. General Dynamics Mk 47 Striker AGL (Mk 47 Mod 0)

• Empty weight: 39.68 lbs
• Type: 40mm automatic grenade launcher
• Year entered service: 2006
• Military branches used: SOCOM

8. Raytheon & Lockheed Martin FGM-148 Javelin

• Empty weight: 40.12 lbs
• Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
• Year entered service: 1996
• Military branches used: Army, Marines

7. M224, 60mm Mortar

• Empty weight: 46.54 lbs
• Type: 60mm lightweight mortar
• Year entered service: 1978
• Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps

6. Saco Mk19

• Empty weight: 72.53 lbs
• Type: 40mm automatic grenade launcher
• Year entered service: 1967
• Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy

5. Browning M2

• Empty weight: 84.11 lbs
• Type: Multi-role heavy machine gun
• Year entered service: 1921
• Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard

4. M252, 81 Mortar

• Empty weight: 90.83 lbs
• Type: Medium weight extended range mortar
• Year entered service: 1987
• Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps

3. GAU-19

• Empty weight: 106.00 lbs
• Type: Gatling gun
• Year entered service: 1983
• Military branches used: Army, Navy

2. M120, 120mm Mortar

• Empty weight: 319.67 lbs
• Type: Towed heavy field mortar
• Year entered service: 1991
• Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps

1. M167 Vulcan

• Empty weight: 3,968.00 lbs
• Type: Towed / static air defense system
• Year entered service: 1967
• Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard

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