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The service rifle (also known as standard-issue rifle) of a given army or armed force is that which it issues as standard to its soldiers. In modern forces, this is typically a highly versatile and rugged assault rifle, battle rifle, carbine, or designated marksman rifle suitable for use in nearly all theatres and environments. Service rifles are also often selected for their upgradability (e.g., the addition of underslung grenade launchers, sights, flashlights, laser sights, etc.)

Although certain weapons issued to special forces units are rarely considered "service weapons" in the truest sense, certain specialist rifles and submachine guns are categorized as such if issued as per standing operating procedures upon entering special environments or scenarios. These may include urban warfare (FIBUA/MOUT) and jungle warfare environments.

Most armies also have service pistols/side arms.

History[]

Rifle Springfield M1903

The bolt-action M1903 Springfield was used as the USA's service rifle from 1905 to just before World War II, when it was replaced by the gas-operated M1 Garand. It was in limited use up to the Vietnam War.

Originally, rifles used in combat were not standard-issue weapons like the service rifles of today. Rifles were for specialist marksmen only, whilst the ordinary infantry were issued less accurate smoothbore muskets which had a higher rate of fire, with bore diameters as high as 19 mm, or 0.75 inch. By the middle of the 19th century, however, rifles were becoming more and more common on the battlefield, with muskets being phased out. Originally, these combat rifles were single-shot muzzle-loading weapons, but as technology advanced through the 18th and 19th centuries, so too did the technique of loading rounds. First, breech-loading firearms, like the Prussian Needle gun of the mid-19th century came to prominence, which then evolved into repeating weapons, such as the bolt-action Mosin-Nagant rifle used by Imperial Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the Soviet Union in World War II. By this time almost all prominent armies in the world had some sort of standard service rifle.

During the Second World War, there was yet another leap forward in rifle design which was to influence service rifles even today. That is, the use of a fired cartridge's gas emissions to automatically rechamber rounds into the breech once a bullet had been fired, as well as expelling the old cartridge. These weapons were known as gas-operated firearms. Some of the earliest examples of these were most prominent in the Second World War, and were usually semi automatic, such as the American-made M1 Garand, first brought into service with the United States in 1936. These "battle rifles", as they were called, usually fired a "full-sized" (as opposed to an intermediate) rifle cartridge, such as the .30-06 Springfield or .303 British. Another type of commonly issued rifle which was to become well known during this time was the assault rifle, a (usually) fully automatic rifle firing a lighter "intermediate" cartridge, as opposed to the full-sized cartridges used by battle rifles. The first of these was the Sturmgewehr 44, used by Nazi Germany in the later stages of the Second World War. The StG44 was not issued in large numbers, and was never adopted as Germany's service rifle. However, this weapon was to serve as the precursor to other assault rifles such as the Soviet AK-47, the American M-16, the Belgian FN FAL, the German G3 and the Swiss Sturmgewehr 57, which today supersede battle rifles as the service rifle of choice for militaries the world over.

Service rifles by nation[]

Angola[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
AK-47 Selective-Fire 7.62×39 mm 1950s-

Argentina[]

FARA 83

FARA 83

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Remington EN M1879 Rolling block .43 Spanish (11.15×58 mmR) 1879-1891
Mauser Modelo Argentino 1891 Bolt action 7.65×53mm Argentine 1891-1909
Mauser Modelo Argentino 1909 Bolt action 7.65×53mm Argentine 1909-1960s
FN Model 1949 Semi-automatic 7.65×53mm Argentine, 7.62×51 mm NATO 1953-1980s
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1959–Present
FARA 83 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1983–Present

Australia[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Lee-Enfield Bolt-Action .303 SAA Ball 1901-1950s
L1A1 SLR Semi-automatic 7.62×51 mm NATO 1957-1980s
F88 Austeyr Selective-Fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1988–Present

Austria[]

STG-58

StG 58

AUG A1 508mm 04

StG 77

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Lorenz Rifle Rifled musket .54 1854-1867
Wanzl rifle Trapdoor breechloader 14 mm Wanzl rimfire 1854-1867
M1867 Werndl-Holub Rotary block 11×42 mm 1867-1886
M1886 Mannlicher Bolt action 11×42 mm, 8×52 mmR 1886-1895
Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 Straight-pull 8×50mmR Mannlicher
8×56mmR
1895-1945
GM1 Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1950-1958[1]
Sturmgewehr 58 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1958–Present (limited use for drill/display)
Sturmgewehr 77 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1978–Present

Bangladesh[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Type 56 (Chinese Type 56) Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1971–Present
Heckler & Koch G3A3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm 1980–Present
M16 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm 1992–Present
BD-08 (Chinese Type 81) Selective fire 7.62×39mm 2008–Present

Belgium[]

FN-FAL Calibre 7

FN FAL

FNC IMG 1527

FN FNC

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Albini rifle Hinged breechblock 11 mm 1867-?
FN Mauser M1889 Bolt action 7.65×53mm Argentine 1889-1940
FN Mauser M1936 Bolt-action 7.65×53 mm Argentine 1936-1949
FN SAFN-49 Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1949-1956
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1953–present
FN FNC Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1979–present

Bolivia[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Vz. 24 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1932-1960s
SIG SG 510 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1957–Present
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1960s-Present

Brazil[]

Imbel md2

IMBEL MD2

Firearm Type Calibre Service
M1873 Brazilian Comblain Falling block 11×53 mmR 1873-1892
M88 German Commission Rifle Bolt action 7×57mm Mauser 1892-1894
Mauser M1894 Rifle Bolt action 7×57 mm Mauser 1894-1908
Mauser M1908 (M1908/34, M1935) Bolt action 7×57 mm Mauser 1908-1954
Itajuba M954 Mosquetão Bolt action .30-06 Springfield 1954-1968
FN Model 1949 Semi-auto .30-06 Springfield 1950s-1968
FAL IMBEL LAR Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1964–Present
Itajuba M968 Mosquefal Bolt action 7.62×51 mm NATO 1968–Present
IMBEL IA2 Selective fire 5.56×45mm NATO 2013-Present

Burma[2][]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Lee-Enfield Bolt-Action .303 British 1947-1961
Heckler & Koch G3 (BA72) Semi-automatic 7.62×51 mm NATO 1961–Present
Burmese M1A1 Assault rifle 5.56×45 mm 1990s-Present

Cambodia[]

File:Chinese SKS 1076.jpg

Type 56 carbine

Cambodian AK-47

AK-47

AK-47 and Type 56 DD-ST-85-01269

Type 56 assault rifle & AKS-47

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Mosin Nagant Bolt Action 7.62×54mm R 1940s-1979
MAS-36 Bolt Action 7.5×54 mm French 1940s-1975
Arisaka Type 38 Bolt-action 6.5×50mm Arisaka 1941-1945
Arisaka Type 99 Bolt-action 7.7×58mm Arisaka 1941-1945
M1903 Springfield Bolt Action .30-06 Springfield 1950s-1975
M1 Carbine Semi-automatic rifle .30 Carbine 1950s-1975
M1 Garand Semi-automatic rifle .30-06 Springfield 1950s-1975
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm 1960s-1975
M16 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1967–Present
SKS Semi-automatic rifle 7.62×39 mm 1960s-Present (Mainly used today as a ceremonial arm, and reserve weapon)
Type 56 carbine Semi-automatic rifle 7.62×39 mm 1960s-Present (Used by Cambodian Royal Guards and as a reserve weapon)
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1960s-Present (Replaced by AKM rifle.)
AKM Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1960s-Present
Type 56 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1960s-Present
Pindad SS1 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1991–Present
QBZ-97 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2005–Present

Canada[]

File:Ross rifle.png

Ross rifle Mk. II

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Ross rifle Bolt Action .303 British 1905-1916
Lee-Enfield Bolt Action .303 British 1916-1955
C1A1 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1955-1985
Colt C7 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1985–Present

Chile[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Mauser Model 1895 Bolt action, Contract: Germany 7×57 mm Mauser 1895-1970s
Mauser Model 1912 Bolt action, Contract: Steyr, Austria 7×57 mm Mauser 1912-1970s
SIG SG 510-4 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1960s-Present
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1970s-Present
SIG SG 542-1 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1980s-Present
SIG SG 540 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2000s-Present
SIG SG 543 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2000s-Present

People's Republic of China[]

Type-81rifle

Type 81-I & Type 81

Rifle Type 95

QBZ-95

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Hanyang Type 88 Bolt Action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1888-1980s
Gewehr 98 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1927-1949
vz. 24 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1927-1980s
Karabiner 98k Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1935–Present
Type 24 rifle Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1935-1980s
Mosin-Nagant Bolt-action 7.62×54mm R 1927–Present
SVT-40 Semi-automatic 7.62×54mm R 1938–Present
Type 53 Carbine Bolt-action 7.62×54mm R 1953–Present
Type 56 Carbine Semi-automatic 7.62×39mm 1956–Present
Type 56 assault rifle Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1956–Present
Type 81 Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1981–Present
QBZ-95 Selective fire 5.8×42mm 1995–Present

Republic of China[]

Type 86 carbine

T86 assault rifle

T91-3 (65)

T91 assault rifle

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Hanyang Type 88 Bolt action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1888-1949
Gewehr 98 Bolt-Action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1911-1949
vz. 24 Bolt-action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1924-1950s
Karabiner 98k Bolt-action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1935–Present
Type Zhongzheng rifle Bolt-action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1935-1950s
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1936-1968
Johnson M1941 rifle Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1941-1968
M1 Carbine Semi-automatic .30 Carbine 1942-1968
Type 57 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1968–Present
Type 65 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1976–Present
Type 91 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2003–Present

Cuba[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Spanish Mauser Bolt action 7×57 mm Mauser 1902-1923
M1903 Springfield Bolt action .30-06 Springfield 1923-1947
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1947-1960
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm 1960-1968
SKS Semi-automatic 7.62×39 mm 1961–present (Mainly used today as a ceremonial arm, and reserve weapon.)
AKM Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1962–present

Czech Republic[]

Cz805

CZ-805 BREN

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Vz. 24 Bolt-action 8 mm Mauser 1924-1952
Vz. 33 Bolt-action 8 mm Mauser 1934-1945
Vz. 52 Semi-automatic 7.62×45 mm vz. 52, 7.62×39 mm M43 1952-1959
Sa vz. 58 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm M43 1959–Present
CZ-805 BREN Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO, 7.62×39 mm 2010–Present

Denmark[]

Danish AR M95

Gevær M/95

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifled musket 577 1853-1867
Remington Rolling Block Rolling block 11 mm Danish 1867-1889
1889 Geværet (Krag-Jørgensen) Bolt-action 8×58mmR 1889-~1945
G M/50 Semi-automatic .30-06 1945-1975
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51mm NATO 1960s-Present
Heckler & Koch G3A5 Semi-automatic 7.62×51mm NATO 1975–Present
Gevaer M/95 (C7FT) Automatic 5.56×45mm NATO 1995–Present

Egypt[]

Ljungman-hakim-rasheed

Top to bottom: Ag m/42, Hakim Rifle, Rasheed Carbine

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Lee-Enfield Bolt Action .303 British 1922-1967
FN Model 1949 Semi-automatic 7.92×57mm Mauser 1949-1967
Ag m/42 Semi-automatic 6.5×55 mm 1950s-1967
Mosin Nagant Bolt Action 7.62×54mm R 1956-1967
Hakim Rifle Semi-automatic 7.92×57mm Mauser 1950s-1967
Rasheed Carbine Semi-automatic 7.62×39mm 1950s-1967
SKS Carbine Semi-automatic 7.62×39mm 1956-1967
Misr Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1960s-Present

Finland[]

RK 62 76

Rk 62

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Mosin Nagant Bolt action 7.62×54R 1891–1962
SVT-40 Semi-automatic 7.62×54R 1940–1962
RK 62 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1962–Present
RK 95 TP Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1995–Present

France[]

Model 1886 Lebel rifle

Lebel Model 1886 rifle

MAS 49 56

MAS 49/56

FAMAS dsc06877

FAMAS

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Delvigne rifle Flintlock Musket ball 1826-1846
Thouvenin Carabine à tige Percussion cap Musket ball 1846-1851
Minié rifle Percussion cap Minié ball 1848-1866
Tabatière rifle Breech-loading Minié ball 1864-1870
Chassepot M1866 Bolt action 11 mm 1867-1874
Gras M1874 Bolt-action 11×59mmR 1874-1886
Lebel Model 1886 rifle Bolt-action 8 mm Lebel 1886-1936
Berthier rifle Bolt-action 8 mm Lebel 1902-?
MAS-36 Bolt-action 7.5×54mm French 1936-1978
MAS-49 rifle Semi-automatic 7.5×54 French 1949-1979
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1964-1979
FAMAS Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1978–Present

Germany[]

German FAL-G1

FN G1

MPi-Km 72

MPi-KM

G3a3

G3A3

800px-G36bw

Heckler & Koch G36

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Model 1839 Potsdam musket Rifled musket 15.4 mm 1839-1861
Dreyse needle gun Breech loading 15.4 mm 1842-1870
M1871 Mauser Bolt action 11×60mm Mauser 1871-1888
Gewehr 1888 Bolt-action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1888-1915
Gewehr 98 Bolt-action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1898-1935 (German Army)
Mauser Kar 98k Bolt-action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1935–Present
Gewehr 41 Semi-automatic 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1941-1945
Gewehr 43 Semi-automatic 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1943-1945
Sturmgewehr 44 Selective fire 7.92×33mm Kurz 1944-1960s
G1 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1953-1965 (West Germany)
Karabiner-S Semi-automatic 7.62×39 mm 1945-1949 (East Germany)
MPi-K Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1949-1990 (East Germany)
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1958–Present (West Germany) (now mostly for training/reserve)
Heckler & Koch G36 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1997–Present

Greece[]

Mannlicher schoennauer 1903-14

Mannlicher-Schönauer

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Fusil Gras mle 1874 Bolt action 11×59mm R Gras 1877-1903
Mannlicher-Schönauer Bolt action 6.5×54mm 1903-1941
FN Model 1930 Bolt action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1930s-1945
Lee-Enfield Bolt action .303 British 1939-1945
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1945-1977
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51mm NATO 1960s-1999
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51mm NATO 1977–present

Guatemala[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1950s-1977
M1/M2 Carbine Semi-automatic .30 Carbine 1950s-1977
IMI Galil AR/SAR Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1974–present
M16A2 Assault Rifle 5.56×45 mm NATO 1988–Present
IMI Tavor TAR-21 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2006–present (778 purchased from Israel for police use)

Hungary[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
35M rifle Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1935-1950s
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1956-1990
AMMSz Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1960-1990
AMD-65 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1966-1990
AMP-69 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm, 40 mm grenade 1979–present
AK-63D Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1989–Present

Indonesia[]

SS1-V1

Pindad SS1-V1

SS2-V1 ID2008

Pindad SS2-V1

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Arisaka Bolt-action 6.5×50mm Arisaka
7.7×58mm Arisaka
1940s-1950s
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1945-middle 1970s
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1961–Present
M16 rifle Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1980s-Present
Pindad SS1 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1991–Present
Pindad SS2 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2006–Present

Iran[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Mauser 98 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1900s-1950s
Vz. 24 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1929-1960s
M1 Garand Semi-automatic 30-06 1950s-Present
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1960s-Present
G3A6 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1980–Present
AK-103 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1991–Present

Iraq[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Lee-Enfield Bolt action .303 British 1930s-1950s
AK-47 Assault Rifle 7.62×39 mm 1950s-Present
M16A2 Assault Rifle 5.56×45 mm NATO 2007–Present

Ireland[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Lee-Enfield Bolt-Action .303 SAA Ball 1922-1960s
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1960s-1988
Steyr AUG Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1988–Present

Israel[]

Galil

IMI Galil

Tavor-latrun-exhibition-1

IMI Tavor TAR-21

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Lee-Enfield No 4 Bolt action .303 British 1948-1958
Mauser Kar98k Bolt-action 7.62×51 mm NATO 1948-1974
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1955-1981
M16 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1973–present
Galil AR Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1974–present
IMI Tavor TAR-21 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2005–present

Italy[]

Mitragliatrice fucile FAL BM 59

Beretta BM-59

Firearm Type Caliber Service
M1870 Italian Vetterli Bolt-action 10.4 mm Vetterli 1870-1887
M1870 Italian Vetterli Bolt action 10.4 mm Vetterli 1892-1950
Carcano Bolt action 6.5×52mm Mannlicher-Carcano 1892-1950
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1945-1959
Beretta BM-59 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1959-1990
Beretta AR70/90 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1990–present
Beretta ARX-160 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2008–present

Jamaica[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
L1A1 SLR Semi-automatic 7.62×51 mm NATO 1957–Present
M16A2 Assault Rifle 5.56×45 mm NATO 1980s?-Present
SA80 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1992–Present

Japan[]

Type 64 Rifle

Howa Type 64

Type 89 Assault Rifle JGSDF

Howa Type 89

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Snider-Enfield Breech-loading .577 Snider 1868-1880
Murata rifle Bolt action 11x60mm R Murata 1880-1905
Type 30 rifle Bolt action 6.5×50mm Arisaka 1897-1905
Arisaka Type 38 Bolt-action 6.5×50mm Arisaka 1905-1945
Arisaka Type 99 Bolt-action 7.7×58mm Arisaka 1939-1945
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1954-1964
Howa Type 64 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1964–Present
Howa Type 89 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1989–Present

Korea[]

DaewooK2withK201

Daewoo Precision Industries K2 with K201 grenade launcher

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Kingdom of Joseon (1392-1897)
Type 13 Murata Bolt action 11×60mm R Murata 1881-1897
Enfield Pattern 1853 Percussion cap .577 Ball 1882-1897
Remington Rolling Block Rolling block .50-70 Government 1884-1897
Korean Empire (1897-1910)
Berdan II Bolt action 10.75×58mm 1897-1907
Mauser Model 1871 Bolt action 11×60mm Mauser 1897-1907
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1948–present)
Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 Bolt action 7.62×54mm R 1948-1960s Currently used by reserve forces
Mosin-Nagant M1944 Bolt action 7.62×54mm R 1948-1960s Currently used by reserve forces
SKS Semi-automatic 7.62×39mm 1948-1970s? Currently used by reserve forces
Type 30 Bolt action 7.62×54mm R 1950s-1960s Local produced version of Mosin-Nagant M1891/30
Currently used by reserve forces
Type 53 Bolt action 7.62×54mm R 1953-1960s Local produced version of Mosin-Nagant M1944
Currently used by reserve forces
Type 63 Semi-automatic 7.62×39mm 1963-1970s? Local produced version of SKS
Currently used by reserve forces
Type 58 Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1958–Present Local produced version of AK-47
Type 68 Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1968–Present Local produced version of AKM
Type 88 Selective fire 5.45×39mm 1988–Present Local produced version of AK-74
Republic of Korea (1948–present)
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1948-1978
M1 Carbine Semi-automatic .30 Carbine 1948-1978
M16A1 Selective fire .223 Remington 1968–Present Colt Model 603K; produced under license by Daewoo Precision Industries
Daewoo Precision Industries K1A Selective fire .223 Remington 1981–Present Standard submachine gun
Daewoo Precision Industries K2 Selective fire 5.56×45mm NATO 1984–Present Standard assault rifle

Luxembourg[3][]

FN49left

FN Model 1949

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Karabiner 98k Bolt action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1945
Ross rifle Bolt action .303 British 1945
Pattern 1914 Enfield Bolt action .303 British 1945
Lee-Enfield Bolt action .303 British 1945-1952
FN Model 1949 Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1951-1963
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1963-1996
Steyr AUG Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1996–Present

Mexico[]

Fusil FX-05

FX-05 Xiuhcoatl

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Springfield Model 1873 Breech-loading .45-70 1873-1890s
Winchester Model 1895 Lever Action .30-06 1895-1920s
Mauser 1895 FMM 1895 Bolt action 7×57 mm Mauser 1895-1902
Mauser 1898 FMM 1902/07/10/12/24/36 Bolt action 7×57 mm Mauser 1902-1954
Mauser 1898 FMM 1954 Bolt action .30-06 Springfield 1954-?
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1950s-1965
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1965–Present (Slowly Replaced by FX-05 Xiuhcoatl)
M-16 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1971–Present
Heckler & Koch G36 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1999–Present
FX-05 Xiuhcoatl Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2006–Present

Netherlands[]

M

Dutch Mannlicher M.95

FN FAL rifle

FN FAL

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Dutch Snider Breech loading 17.5x29Rmm 1867-1871
Dutch Beaumont M71 Bolt-Action 11.3×50Rmm 1871-1888
Dutch Beaumont-Vital M1871/88 Bolt-Action 11.3×52Rmm 1888-1895
Dutch Mannlicher Bolt-Action 6.5×53.55 mm 1895-1945
Lee-Enfield No. 4 Bolt-Action .303 British 1945-1954
M1 Garand Semi-automatic rifle .30-06 Springfield 1945-1954
FN FAL Semi-automatic rifle 7.62×51 mm NATO 1961-1995
Diemaco C7 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1995–Present
Diemaco C8 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1995–Present

New Zealand[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Lee-Enfield Bolt-Action .303 SAA Ball 1900s-1950s
L1A1 SLR Semi-automatic 7.62×51 mm NATO 1950s-1980s
Steyr AUG Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1980s-Present

Norway[]

Krag-Jørgensen, Krag-Petersson, Jarman M1884 and Remington M1867

A collection of Norwegian rifles from the Fram museum. Showing from the top:Krag-Jørgensen (civilian M1894 with carved stock), Krag-Petersson, Jarmann M1884, Remington M1867

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Kammerlader Breech-loading Minié ball 1842-1870
Remington M1867 Rolling block 12.17×44 mm 1867-1908
Jarmann M1884 Bolt action 10.15x61 mmR 1884-1900
Krag-Jørgensen M1894 Bolt-action 6.5×55 mm 1894-1945
Lee-Enfield No 4 Bolt-action .303 British 1940-1952
Mauser M98 Bolt-action 7.92×57 mm Mauser (Navy)/.30-06 Springfield (Army, Air Force) 1945-1968
Selvladegevær M1 Semi-Automatic .30-06 Springfield 1951–Present (limited use for drill/display)
US-Karabin Semi-automatic .30 Carbine 1951-1970 (used by police until early 90s)
AG-3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1964–Present (now mostly for training/reserve)
Heckler & Koch HK416 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2008–Present
Heckler & Koch HK417 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 2008–Present

Peru[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
AKM Selective-Fire 7.62×39 mm 1970s-Present
FN FAL[4] Selective-Fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1960s-Present

Philippines[]

Garand

M1 Garand

File:Colt CAR-15 - earliest version.jpg

CAR-15

Firearm Type Calibre Service
M1903 Springfield[citation needed] Bolt action .30-03 Springfield 1912-1951
M1917 Enfield Bolt Action .30-06 Springfield 1920s-1945
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1951-1975
M14 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm 1960s-Present
M16 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm 1970s-Present
CAR-15 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm 1970s-Present
SOAR Selective fire 5.56×45 mm 2006–Present

Poland[]

Rifle wz

Kbs. wz. 1996 Beryl

Beryl rifle POL

Kbs wz. 2004 Beryl

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Mosin–Nagant Bolt Action 7.62×54mmR 1898-1950s Some chambered to 7.92×57 mm and used during Invasion of Poland
Mauser 98k Bolt Action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1918-1939 produced in Poland from 1929 as Mauser Carbine Kbk wz. 1929
Lee-Enfield Bolt Action .303 British 1940-1945 Used by Polish Armed Forces in the West
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1950s-Present
AKM Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1960s-Present still used to train and reserve services[5]
Kbk wz. 1988 Tantal Selective fire 5.45×39mm 1989-2005 1000 sold to Iraq
M4 Bushmaster Selective fire 5.56×45mm NATO ?-? GROM, also with Bushmaster M203 grenade launcher[5]
96 Beryl Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1997–present along with Mini-Beryl sub-carbine and in different variants

Portugal[]

File:Mauser-Vergueiro.jpg

Mauser-Vergueiro m/1904/39

File:Karabiner 98k.jpg

Mauser m/937

AR-10 in the National Firearms Museum

AR-10

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Enfield m/1859 Percussion cap 14 mm Minié 1859-1872
Snider-Enfield m/1872 Breech-loading 14 mm Snider 1872-1910 (after 1886 limited use with colonial troops)
Kropatschek m/1886 Bolt action 8x60 mm Guedes 1886-1961 (after 1904 limited use with colonial troops)
Mauser-Vergueiro m/1904 Bolt-action 6.5×58 mm Vergueiro 1904-1960s
Mauser m/937 Bolt-action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1937-1960s-Present (limited use for drill/display in the GNR)
AR-10 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1960-1970s
FN m/962 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1962-1970s
G3 m/961 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1961–Present
Heckler & Koch G36 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2000s-Present

Romania[]

PMmd

Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965

Firearm Type Calibre Service
M1868 Romanian Peabody Falling block .45 Romanian 1868-18??
M1879 Romanian Martini-Henry Falling block .45 Romanian 1879-18??
Steyr-Mannlicher M1893 Bolt action 6.5×53mm R 1893-1938
Mosin-Nagant Bolt action 7.62×54mm R 1917-1960s
vz. 24 Bolt action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1938-1960s
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1950s-1963
Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965 Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1963–Present (reserve since 1990s)
Puşcă Automată model 1986 Selective fire 5.45×39 mm 1986–Present

Russia and Soviet Union[]

Ak74assault

AK-74

Ak74m 91

AK-74M

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Model 1857 Six Line Rifled musket .60 calibre 1857-1867
M1867 Russian Krnka Trapdoor breechloader 15 mm 1867-1869
Berdan rifle Bolt action 10.75×58 mm 1869-1891
Mosin-Nagant Bolt-action 7.62×54mmR 1891–1951 (today as a reserve sniper rifle)
SVT-40 Semi-automatic 7.62×54mmR 1940–1955
SKS Semi-automatic 7.62×39mm 1945–Present (as ceremonial arm and a reserve service rifle)
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1949–Present (as a reserve service rifle)
AKM Selective fire 7.62×39mm 1959–Present (reserve and active rear-echelon forces)
AK-74 Selective fire 5.45×39mm 1974–Present
AK-74M Selective fire 5.45×39 mm 1991–Present
AK-103 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1991–Present

Serbia[]

M21SRB

Zastava M21

Firearm Type Calibre Service
M48 Mauser and other Mauser Model 98 pattern rifles M24, M24/47 Bolt action 7.92×57 mm 1924-1959
SKS Semi-automatic 7.62×39 mm 1959-1970
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1950s-Present
Zastava M70 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1970–Present
Zastava M21 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2004–Present

Singapore[]

SAR 21 RCF module

SAR 21

Firearm Type Calibre Service
AR-15 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1968-1973
M16S1 rifle Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1973–present
SAR 80 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1980s-unknown
SR 88 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1988-unknown
SAR 21 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1999–present

South Africa[]

File:VektorR4.jpg.PNG

R4 assault rifle

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Lee-Enfield Bolt Action .303 SAA Ball 1910-1960s
R1 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1950s-Present
Vektor R4 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1982–Present

Spain[]

CETMEL.lateral

CETME L

Domok g36

Heckler & Koch G36

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Model 1857 rifle musket Rifled musket ? 1857-1867
M1857/67 Berdan Trapdoor breechloader 15×41 mmR 1867-1868
M1868 Spanish Peabody Falling block .56-50R Spencer, 11.15×58 mmR (.43 Spanish) 1868-1870
M1870 Remington Rolling block 11.15×58 mmR 1870-1893
M1893 Mauser Bolt action 7×57 mm Mauser 1893-1945
M43 La Coruña Bolt-action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1942-1958
CETME Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1958-1997
CETME Model L Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1984-1999
Heckler & Koch G36 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2000–Present

Sweden[]

AK5Cesar

Ak 5C

Firearm Type Calibre Service
M1867 Remington Rolling block 12.17×42 mm RF 1867- ~1900
M1896 Swedish Mauser Bolt-action 6.5×55 mm 1896-1995
Ag m/42 Semi-automatic 6.5×55 mm 1942-1964
Ak 4 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1964–Present
Ak 5 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1985–Present

Switzerland[]

Fass57-p1000720

Sturmgewehr 57

Stgw 90

Sturmgewehr 90

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Infanteriegewehr Modell 1842 Muzzle-loading percussion 18 mm 1842-1867
Eidgenössischer Stutzer 1851 Muzzle-loading percussion 18 mm 1851-1863
M1842/59/67 Swiss Milbank-Amsler Breechloader 18x25 mmR Rimfire 1869-1869
M1867 Swiss Peabody Falling block 10.4×38 mmR Rimfire (.41 Swiss rimfire) 1867-1869
Vetterli rifle Bolt-action 10.4×38Rmm Rimfire 1869-1890
Schmidt-Rubin Bolt-action 7.5×55mm Swiss 1889-1957
K31 Bolt-action 7.5×55mm Swiss 1933-1958
Sturmgewehr 57 Selective fire 7.5×55mm Swiss 1957–Present
Sturmgewehr 90 Selective fire 5,6 mm Gw Pat 90 1990–Present

Thailand[]

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Type 45 Siamese Mauser Bolt action 8x50mmR Type 45, 8x52mmR Type 66 1903-1960s
Vz. 24 Bolt Action 7.92×57mm Mauser Early 1940s-1960s
M1903 Springfield Bolt Action .30-06 Springfield 1944-1970 (Used for training by Government agents of Ministry of Interior at present[when?].)
M1 Carbine Semi-automatic rifle .30 Carbine 1944-1970 (Used for training by Army ROTC at present.)
M1 Garand Semi-automatic rifle .30-06 Springfield 1944-1970 (Used for training by Army ROTC at present.)
Mosin-Nagant Bolt Action 7.62×54mmR During Vietnam War (Limited and used by Ranger Sniper)
M16 Selective fire 5.56×45mm NATO 1980s-present
Type 11 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1968–present
IMI Tavor TAR-21 Selective fire 5.56×45mm NATO 2008–present

Turkey[]

HK33A2 Flickr (yet another finn)

Heckler & Koch HK33A2

Firearm Type Calibre Service
M1887 Bolt action 9.5x60R 1887
1890 Turkish Mauser Bolt action 7.65×53 mm Argentine 1890
1893 Ottoman Mauser Bolt action 7.65x53 mm Argentine (1893), 8x57 mm Mauser (1930s) 1893
Mauser 1898 Bolt action 7×57 mm Mauser 1900s-1954
Gewehr 1888 Bolt action 8x57 mm Mauser 1915-1930s
M1 Garand Semi Automatic .30-06 Springfield 1953-1980s (Still used as a ceremonial rifle)
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1950s-1970s
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1960s-Present
Heckler & Koch HK33 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1997–Present

Ukraine[]

AK-47 assault rifle

AK-47

AKM Izhevsk 1960

AKM

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Model 1857 Six Line Rifled musket .60 calibre 1857-1867
M1867 Russian Krnka Trapdoor breechloader 15 mm 1867-1869
Berdan rifle Bolt action 10.75×58 mm 1869-1891
Mosin-Nagant Bolt-action 7.62×54 mmR 1891-1946
SVT-40 Semi-automatic 7.62×54 mmR 1940-1945
SKS Semi-automatic 7.62×39 mm 1945–Present (mainly used as ceremonial arm)
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1949–Present
AKM Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1959–Present
AK-74 Selective fire 5.45×39 mm 1974–Present

United Kingdom, British Empire & Commonwealth of Nations[]

File:Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III.png

Rifle No. 1 Mk. III

File:Lee Enfield No.4.png

Rifle No. 4

SLRL1A1

L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle

SA-80 rifle 1996

SA80 L85A1

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Ferguson rifle Breech-loading .650 Ball 1776
Baker rifle Flintlock .615 Ball 1801-1837
Brunswick rifle Percussion cap .704 Ball 1837-1851
Pattern 1853 Enfield Percussion cap .577 Ball 1853-1867
Snider-Enfield Breech-loading .577 Snider 1866-1901
Martini-Henry Breech-loading .577/450 Martini-Henry 1871-1888
Lee-Metford Bolt action .303 British 1888-1926
Lee-Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1895–Present (Limited Use)
Ross rifle (Canada) Straight Pull .303 British 1905-1916
L1A1 SLR Semi-automatic 7.62×51 mm NATO 1956–Present
Ishapore 2A/2A1 (India) Bolt action 7.62×51 mm NATO 1963–Present (Limited Use)
C7 rifle (Canada) Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1984–Present
SA80 (UK) Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1985–Present

United States[]

Garandcar

M1 Garand and M1 Carbine

M14 afmil

M14 rifle

M16A1 brimob

M16A1 rifle

M4 PEO Soldier

M4 carbine

File:FN SCAR rifle.jpg

FN SCAR-L and SCAR-H

Krag jorganson 1897- early 1900s
Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Kentucky Long rifle Flintlock .36 ball 1776-1816
Model 1795 Musket Flintlock .69 Ball 1795-1816
Springfield Model 1835 Flintlock .69 Ball 1835-1842
Springfield Model 1842 Percussion cap .69 Ball 1842-1854
Springfield Model 1855 Percussion cap .58 Minié 1854-1861
Spencer Repeating Rifle Lever Action 56-56 Spencer 1860-1873
Springfield Model 1861 Percussion cap .58 Minié 1861-1867
Henry Repeating Rifle Lever Action .44 Henry 1862-1873
Springfield Model 1863 Percussion cap .58 Minié 1863-1867
Springfield Model 1865 Breech-loading .58 Musket Rimfire 1865-1867
Springfield Model 1866 Breech-loading .50-70 Government 1866-1873
Springfield Model 1868 Breech-loading .50-70 Government 1869-1873
Springfield Model 1873 Breech-loading .45-70 1873-1884
Springfield Model 1884 Breech-loading .45-70 1884-1894
Springfield Model 1892-99 Bolt action .30-40 Krag 1894-early 1900s
M1895 Lee Navy (Navy/Marines) Straight-pull 6 mm Lee Navy 1895-early 1900s
M1903 Springfield Bolt-action .30-06 Springfield 1903-1957
M1916 Mosin-Nagant Bolt-action 7.62×54R 1918-c.1921
M1917 Enfield Bolt-action .30-06 Springfield 1917-1943
M1 Garand Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1936-1963 (some used into 1970s)
M1 Carbine Semi-automatic .30 Carbine 1942-1960s
M2 Carbine Selective fire .30 Carbine 1945-1960s
M14 Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1957–Present Currently used as a marksman rifle
M16 Selective fire 5.56×45mm NATO 1961–Present Standard rifle of USMC
M4 carbine Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 1994–Present Standard carbine of US Army
MK 17 Mod 0 (FN SCAR-H) Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 2009–present Used by all branches of USSOCOM

Uruguay[]

Ak-101

AK-101

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Gewehr 98 Bolt Action 7.92×57 mm Mauser 1898-1958
FN FAL Selective fire 7.62×51 mm NATO 1950s-Present
AK-101 Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 200?-Present
Steyr AUG Selective fire 5.56×45 mm NATO 2008–Present

Venezuela[]

File:AK-103 Assault Rifle.JPG

AK-103

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Gewehr 98 Bolt-action 7×57mm Mauser 1898-1960s
FN Model 1949 Semi-automatic 7×57mm Mauser 1949-1960s
FN FAL 50.63 Selective fire 7.62×51mm NATO 1950s-Present
AK-103 Selective fire 7.62×39mm 2006–Present

Vietnam[]

File:SKS carbine.jpg

SKS

Firearm Type Calibre Service
Musket Model 1777 Flintlock Musket ball 1790s-1884
Mosin-Nagant Bolt-action 7.62×54 mm 1920s-1960s
SKS Semi-automatic 7.62×39 mm 1960s-1975
Type 56 carbine Semi-automatic 7.62×39 mm 1960s-1975
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1960s-2000s
Type 56 Assault Rifle Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1960s-2000s
AKM Selective fire 7.62×39 mm 1960s-Present

See also[]

References[]

  1. Wolfdieter Hufnagel, U.S. Karabiner .30 M1, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-613-01635-4
  2. V. Kenneth. Burmese Small Arms Development. Small Arms Review, August 2009.
  3. GRAND-DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG
  4. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  5. 5.0 5.1 http://forum.wmasg.pl/index.php?/topic/42132-ak-74-m4-i-m203-w-wojsku-polskim/
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