Inside the Green Berets’ New Long-Range Sniper Rifles

The Barrett M107 is one of the powerful sniper rifles used by U.S. Army Special Forces, commonly known as the Green Berets. Designed for extreme long-range precision, the rifle can function both as a traditional sniper weapon and as an anti-materiel system capable of disabling equipment and lightly armored targets. It serves as a force multiplier on the battlefield, complementing an arsenal that includes sniper rifles, machine guns, shotguns, and other specialized small arms.

As military technology continues to advance, special operations units regularly adopt new weapons designed to improve range, accuracy, and versatility in the field. In this article, we take a closer look at several of the modern firearms currently used by the Green Berets and how these weapons contribute to their operational capabilities.

To identify these weapons, we reviewed data from a comprehensive military equipment database that catalogs small arms and other defense systems used around the world. The firearms are organized chronologically, and additional details such as weapon type, maximum effective range, and caliber are included to provide context about each system’s design and battlefield role.

Here is a look at the newest guns used by the US Green Berets:

Understanding the weapons and small arms used by today's militaries gives some insight into a nation's combat capabilities, or even tactical doctrines. These guns are not just instruments of warfare, but they actually reflect the technological innovation and defense budgets for a given military over the time. By exploring which rifles, sidearms, machine guns, and support weapons are fielded by various armed forces, we can better understand how nations prepare for conflict, defend their interests, and ultimately shape their battlefield effectiveness.

• Weapon type: Heavy machine gun
• Year entered service: 1921
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: .50 BMG, 12.7x99mm NATO, 110-round metallic link belt
• Firing action: automatic short recoil-operated, air-cooled
• Maximum effective range: 6,560 ft.

• Weapon type: Battle rifle
• Year entered service: 1959
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Springfield Armory
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 20-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt, selective fire
• Maximum effective range: 1,509 ft.

• Weapon type: Single-shot grenade launcher
• Year entered service: 1961
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Various contractors
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 40x46mm, Single shot
• Firing action: Single-shot, breech-loaded; reusable
• Maximum effective range: 1,150 ft.

• Weapon type: Rocket-propelled grenade launcher
• Year entered service: 1961
• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Manufacturer: Bazalt
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 40mm, Single-shot
• Firing action: Shoulder-fired; single-shot; reusable launch tube
• Maximum effective range: 984 ft.

• Weapon type: Six-barrel gatling gun
• Year entered service: 1963
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: General Electric
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 4,000-round linked belt
• Firing action: Electrically-driven; belt-fed
• Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

• Weapon type: Disposable anti-tank rocket launcher
• Year entered service: 1963
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Talley Industries
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 66mm, Single shot disposable tube
• Firing action: Single-shot; disposable tube
• Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.

• Weapon type: Six-barrel gatling gun
• Year entered service: 1965
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: General Electric
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 1,500 to 4,400-round linked belts
• Firing action: Electrically-driven; belt-fed
• Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

• Weapon type: Submachine gun
• Year entered service: 1966
• Country of origin: Germany
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 9×19 parabellum, 15-, 30-, or 40-round detachable box magazine; C-Mag 100-round support
• Firing action: Roller-locked delayed blowback
• Maximum effective range: 660 ft.

• Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
• Year entered service: 1966
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Remington Arms
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, 5-round integral box magazine, 5-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Bolt-action, rotating bolt
• Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

• Weapon type: Breech-loading under-barrel grenade launcher
• Year entered service: 1969
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Colf Defense; AAI Corporation; Airtronic
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 40x46mm grenade, Single-shot
• Firing action: Single-shot
• Maximum effective range: 480 ft.

• Weapon type: Submachine gun
• Year entered service: 1970
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Military Armament Corporation
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 9×19 parabellum, .45ACP; .380 ACP, 30- or 32-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Blowback-operation; full-automatic fire
• Maximum effective range: 164 ft.

• Weapon type: Semi-automatic pistol
• Year entered service: 1974
• Country of origin: Austria
• Manufacturer: Steyr-Daimler-Puch
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 9×19 parabellum, 18-round box
• Firing action: Delayed-blowback
• Maximum effective range: 147 ft.

• Weapon type: Pump-action shotgun
• Year entered service: 1975
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: O.S. Mossberg & Sons
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 12-gauge, 6-, 8-, or 9-round tubular magazine
• Firing action: Pump-action slide
• Maximum effective range: 130 ft.

• Weapon type: General purpose machine gun
• Year entered service: 1977
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, Disintegrating metal link feed of various counts
• Firing action: Gas-operated; open-bolt; belt-fed; full-automatic
• Maximum effective range: 5,905 ft.

• Weapon type: Light machine gun
• Year entered service: 1982
• Country of origin: Singapore
• Manufacturer: Chartered Industries of Singapore
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 20- or 30-round box magazine or 100-round drum
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

• Weapon type: Light machine gun
• Year entered service: 1984
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO, 30-round detachable box; 200-round metal link belt
• Firing action: Gas-operated; open bolt
• Maximum effective range: 2,600 ft.

• Weapon type: Semi-automatic handgun
• Year entered service: 1984
• Country of origin: Switzerland
• Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 9×19 parabellum, 12-, 13-, 15-, 17-, 18-, or 20-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Semi-automatic; short-recoil; double-action
• Maximum effective range: 165 ft.

• Weapon type: Man-portable disposable anti-armor rocket launcher
• Year entered service: 1987
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Alliant TechSystems
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 84mm, Single-shot
• Firing action: Self-contained recoilless rifle
• Maximum effective range: 985 ft.

• Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
• Year entered service: 1987
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Remington Arms
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO; .338 Lapua Magnum, 5-round internal magazine / 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

• Weapon type: Semi-automatic service pistol
• Year entered service: 1988
• Country of origin: Switzerland
• Manufacturer: SIG-Sauer
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 9×19 parabellum, 13-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Semi-automatic; recoil-operated
• Maximum effective range: 165 ft.

• Weapon type: Semi-automatic pistol
• Year entered service: 1990
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Beretta
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 9x19mm Parabellum, 15-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Semi-automatic, single / double-action pistol
• Maximum effective range: 164 ft.

• Weapon type: Designated marksman rifle
• Year entered service: 1990
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Knights Armament
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt; semi-automatic
• Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.

• Weapon type: Carbine rifle with special forces modification kit
• Year entered service: 1993
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms / Knights Armament
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 30-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.

• Weapon type: Anti-tank guided missile launcher
• Year entered service: 1996
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Raytheon / Lockheed Martin
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 127mm, Single-shot, reusable launcher
• Firing action: Imaging infrared, impact force solid fuel rocket
• Maximum effective range: 8,202 ft.

• Weapon type: Semi-automatic combat shotgun
• Year entered service: 1999
• Country of origin: Italy
• Manufacturer: Benelli Armi
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 12-gauge, 7+1 tube magazine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; semi-automatic
• Maximum effective range: 164 ft.

• Weapon type: Sniper rifle / designated marksman rifle
• Year entered service: 2002
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
• Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.

• Weapon type: Light weight machine gun
• Year entered service: 2003
• Country of origin: Belgium
• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, Disintegrating Belt Feed
• Firing action: Gas-operated; open bolt; full-automatic
• Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.

• Weapon type: Light weight machine gun
• Year entered service: 2003
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, Disintegrating belt
• Firing action: Gas-operated; open bolt; belt-fed
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

• Weapon type: Designated marksman rifle
• Year entered service: 2004
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Smith Enterprises
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 20-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt, semi-automatic
• Maximum effective range: 1,500 ft.

• Weapon type: Sniper rifle
• Year entered service: 2005
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: McMillan Tactical Products
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum, 5-round magazine
• Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt action
• Maximum effective range: 5,250 ft.

• Weapon type: Designated marksman rifle
• Year entered service: 2006
• Country of origin: Germany
• Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; semi-automatic
• Maximum effective range: 2,000 ft.

• Weapon type: Six-shot grenade launcher
• Year entered service: 2006
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Milkor
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 40x46mm, Six-shot non-removable rotating cylinder
• Firing action: Spring-driven rotating cylinder
• Maximum effective range: 1,315 ft.

• Weapon type: Designated marksman rifle
• Year entered service: 2007
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Knight's Armament
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
• Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

• Weapon type: Anti-materiel / anti-personnel sniper rifle
• Year entered service: 2008
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms Company
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO), 10-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Recoil operated, rotating bolt, semi-automatic
• Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.

• Weapon type: Anti-armor / anti-personnel should-fired rocket launcher
• Year entered service: 2009
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: AirTronic
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 40mm, Single-shot; reusable launch tube
• Firing action: Single-shot
• Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.

• Weapon type: Automatic assault rifle
• Year entered service: 2009
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO, 20-(mk 17) or 30-round (mk 16) box magazine
• Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
• Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.

• Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
• Year entered service: 2013
• Country of origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Remington Arms
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, 7.62x51mm NATO, 5-, 7- or 10-round detachable box magazine
• Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
• Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft.

• Weapon type: Man-portable, shoulder-fired multirole weapon
• Year entered service: 2014
• Country of origin: Sweden
• Manufacturer: Saab Technologies
• Caliber of ammunition and feed: 70mm, Single-shot
• Firing action: Trigger-actuated
• Maximum effective range: 1,600 ft.