This US Military Gun Can Strike Targets 4.5 Miles Away
Long-range guns are powerful weapons that require careful planning and precise skill. Factors like gravity, wind, and atmospheric conditions can significantly impact the speed and trajectory of a bullet shot at long range. Today, the U.S. military’s Long Range Precision Fire program demonstrates the ongoing importance of long-range guns in modern combat. To determine the longest-range guns used by the United States military, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a range of sources, including military handbooks, government press releases, and firearms publications about small arms and light weapons currently used by the U.S. military. Data on the type of weapon, caliber, country of origin, and year entered service is from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more used by militaries across the world. Why Is This Important? The U.S. military uses other small arms capable of doing damage in a variety of ranges — some at even much greater ranges than conventional sniper rifles. Although not all the weapons on this list are meant to be used at great range, each serves a distinct purpose within the military. Some of these weapons can be effective over 4 miles away, while others have a maximum range of under 100 feet. These are the longest-range guns in the US military. 42. Colt M1911 Maximum range: 82 ft Caliber: .45 ACP Type: Semi-automatic service pistol Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Marine Corps, U.S. Army Special Operations Year entered service: 1911 41. Mossberg Model 590 Maximum range: 130 ft Caliber: 12 gauge Type: Pump-action shotgun Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Year entered service: 1975 40. M26 (MASS) Maximum range: 135 ft Caliber: 12 gauge Type: Modular accessory shotgun system Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army Year entered service: 2003 39. Remington Model 870 Maximum range: 140 ft Caliber: 12 gauge Type: Pump-action shotgun Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard Year entered service: 1950 38. Benelli M4 Super 90 (M1014 JSCS) Maximum range: 164 ft Caliber: 12 gauge Type: Semi-automatic combat shotgun Country of origin: Italy Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps Year entered service: 1999 37. SIG-Sauer P320 Maximum range: 165 ft Caliber: 9 mm, .357 SIG, and .40 S&W Type: Semi-automatic pistol Country of origin: Switzerland Military branches used: All branches Year entered service: 2014 36. Brugger & Thomet APC9 (series) Maximum range: 330 ft Caliber: 9 mm Type: Modular personal defense weapon Country of origin: Switzerland Military branches used: Army, Air Force Year entered service: 2011 35. Heckler & Koch HK MP7 Maximum range: 656 ft Caliber: 4.6 mm x 30 mm Type: Submachine gun/machine pistol Country of origin: Germany Military branches used: Army, Navy, Coast Guard Year entered service: 2001 34. Heckler & Koch HK MP5 Maximum range: 660 ft Caliber: 9 mm Type: Submachine gun/machine pistol Country of origin: Germany Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, USSOCOM Year entered service: 1966 33. Heckler & Koch HK 416 Maximum range: 985 ft Caliber: 5.56×45 mm Type: Assault rifle / tactical carbine weapon Country of origin: Germany Military branches used: Marine Corps, Army Delta Force, Naval Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL Team 6) Year entered service: 2005 32. M136 Light Anti-Armor Weapon (AT4) Maximum range: 985 ft Caliber: 84mm Type: Man-portable, disposable anti-armor rocket launcher Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Air Force Year entered service: 1987 31. Mk14 Mod 0 EBR (Enhanced Battle Rifle) Maximum range: 1,500 ft Caliber: 7.62x51mm Type: Battle rifle / designated marksman rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Navy, Coast Guard Year entered service: 2004 30. Colt M4 Maximum range: 1,640 ft Caliber: 5.56×45 mm Type: Assault carbine Country of origin: United States Military branches used: All branches Year entered service: 1994 29. IMI M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (BDM) / SMAW-D Maximum range: 1,640 ft Caliber: 83.5mm Type: Shoulder-launched multi-purpose assault weapon Country of origin: Israel Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps Year entered service: 1984 28. Colt M16 (Series) Maximum range: 1,800 ft Caliber: 5.56×45 mm Type: Infantry assault rifle/assault carbine Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Marine Corps, U.S. Navy SEALs Year entered service: 1963 27. Heckler & Koch HK M27 IAR (Infantry Automatic Rifle) Maximum range: 1,800 ft Caliber: 5.56×45 mm Type: Squad support / designated marksman weapon Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Marine Corps Year entered service: 2011 26. Barrett M107 Maximum range: 1,850 ft Caliber: .50 BMG Type: Anti-material / anti-personnel sniper rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, USSOCOM Year entered service: 2008 25. Fabrique Nationale FN SCAR (Mk 16 / Mk 17) Maximum range: 1,980 ft Caliber: 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm Type: Modular automatic assault rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Year entered service: 2009 24. MK 20 Mod 0 Sniper Support Rifle Maximum range: 1,980 ft Caliber: 7.62x51mm Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army Year entered service: 2004 23. M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle (EMR) Maximum range: 2,550 ft Caliber: 7.62x51mm Type: Designated marksman rifle/sniper rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Marines Year entered service: 2008 22. Fabrique National M249 SAW / LMG Maximum range: 2,600 ft Caliber: 5.56×45 mm Type: Light machine gun/squad support weapon Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Year entered service: 1984 21. M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System) Maximum range: 2,624 ft Caliber: 7.62x51mm Type: Designated marksman rifle/sniper rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Amy, Marines, SOCOM Year entered service: 2007 20. Remington M24 SWS (Sniper Weapon System) Maximum range: 2,624 ft Caliber: 7.62x51mm Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Air Force, USSOCOM Year entered service: 1987 19. Heckler & Koch HK 417 Maximum range: 2,625 ft Caliber: 7.62x51mm Type: Battle rifle / designated marksman rifle Country of origin: Germany Military branches used: Joint Special Operations Command, Army, and Navy Year entered service: 2006 18. General Electric GAU-17/A Minigun Maximum range: 3,280 ft Caliber: 7.62mm x 51mm Type: Six-barrel Gatling gun Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy Year entered service: 1965 17. Saco M60 Maximum range: 3,280 ft Caliber: 7.62mm x 51mm Type: General purpose machine gun Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, USSOCOM Year entered service: 1957 16. GA MSSR (Marine Scout Sniper Rifle) Maximum range: 3,610 ft Caliber: 7.62x51mm Type: Semi-automatic sniper rifle / designated marksman rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army Year entered service: 1996 15. Remington M2010 ESR (Enhanced Sniper Rifle) Maximum range: 3,935 ft Caliber: .300 Win Mag Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: N/A Year entered service: 2011 14. Accuracy International Mk 13 (SOCOM) Maximum range: 3,940 ft Caliber: .300 Win Mag Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Navy, Marines Year entered service: 2017 13. Saco Mk19 Maximum range: 4,500 ft Caliber: 40 mm grenades Type: 40mm automatic grenade launcher Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy Year entered service: 1967 12. Remington MSR (Modular Sniper Rifle) Maximum range: 4,920 ft Caliber: 7.6×51 mm, .300 Norma Magnum, and .338 Norma Magnum Type: Remington MSR (modular sniper rifle) Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, SOCOM Year entered service: 2013 11. General Dynamics Mk 47 Striker AGL (Mk 47 Mod 0) Maximum range: 5,600 ft Caliber: 40 mm grenades Type: 40mm automatic grenade launcher Country of origin: United States Military branches used: SOCOM Year entered service: 2006 10. Fabrique Nationale M240 Maximum range: 5,905 ft Caliber: 7.62mm x 51mm Type: General purpose machine gun / medium machine gun Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard Year entered service: 1977 9. Carl-Gustav M3 (M1948) Maximum range: 6,000 ft Caliber: 84mm Type: Multirole, shoulder-fired recoilless rifle Country of origin: Sweden Military branches used: Army, SOCOM, Marine Corps Year entered service: 1948 8. Browning M2 Maximum range: 6,550 ft Caliber: .50 BMG Type: Multi-role heavy machine gun Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard Year entered service: 1921 7. Raytheon & Lockheed Martin FGM-148 Javelin Maximum range: 8,202 ft Caliber: 127mm explosive Type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Marines Year entered service: 1996 6. M224, 60mm Mortar Maximum range: 11,447 ft Caliber: 60mm Type: 60mm lightweight mortar Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps Year entered service: 1978 5. M167 Vulcan Maximum range: 14,763 ft Caliber: 20mm Type: Towed / static air defense system Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard Year entered service: 1967 4. General Dynamics / Raytheon FIM-92 Stinger Maximum range: 15,750 ft Caliber: Varied Type: Man-portable, air defense missile system Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps Year entered service: 1981 3. M252, 81 Mortar Maximum range: 18,618 ft Caliber: 81mm Type: Medium weight extended range mortar Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps Year entered service: 1987 2. GAU-19 Maximum range: 19,685 ft Caliber: .50 BMG Type: Gatling gun Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Navy Year entered service: 1983 1. M120, 120mm Mortar Maximum range: 23,750 ft Caliber: 120mm Type: Towed heavy field mortar Country of origin: United States Military branches used: Army, Marine Corps Year entered service: 1991 Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored) Are you ready for retirement? 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