This Military Gun Can Hit a Target From 4.5 Miles Away

By the end of fiscal 2025, the U.S. Army plans to field a long-range hypersonic weapon capable of flying faster than Mach 5. While development has taken longer than originally expected, officials note that advanced weapons programs often span a decade or more. In the meantime, the military continues to rely on proven long-range firearms that allow soldiers to engage targets from significant distances.

History Computer analyzed military sources, firearms publications, and government data to identify the longest-range guns currently used by the American military. From widely deployed small arms to precision long-distance platforms, these weapons are ranked from shortest to longest range, culminating in the firearm capable of reaching targets miles away.

Why This Is Important Now

Following Donald Trump winning the presidential election for the second time, America's connection with the rest of the world has faltered. Trump's time in office thus far has caused significant tensions with countries around the globe, including (but not limited to) several American military allies. These conflicts include:

Threatening to take over Greenland, a territory currently belonging to NATO ally Denmark
Starting a trade war with Canada (and threatening to turn Canada into the 51st state)
Launching air strikes against Yemeni Houthi rebels
Preparing for a potential war with China

While this is not an exhaustive list, it does highlight how the Trump administration has unsettled the global power structure. The United States could be on the path to start a war — if not with China, there are still numerous possibilities. Should a war arise, the U.S. military would need to rely on the trusted weapons and guns in its arsenal, including many of the long-range weapons on this list.

Here are 37 of the small arms and light weapons with the longest range used by the American military:

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 Nationale 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