Military Guns

Modern Military-Pattern Rifles: AR-15 and Beyond

The AR-15 is the civilian semi-automatic counterpart to the M16 and M4 service rifles used by the U.S. military since the 1960s. It shares the same ergonomics, controls, and magazine interface as its military counterparts, making it the most widely owned and shot military-pattern rifle in America. The AK-47 pattern rifles (WASR-10, Zastava ZPAP M70, Century Arms) represent the civilian version of the world’s most widely produced military rifle. For shooters who want to experience the platforms that have defined modern military small arms, the AR-15 and AK-pattern rifles are the logical starting points. See: AR-15 Rifles and AK-47 Rifles.

Military Surplus-Style and Historical Firearms

Military surplus and surplus-style firearms bring historical military platforms to civilian shooters. The M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, and Springfield M1A represent the American military rifle lineage from World War II through Vietnam. The Beretta M9 (92FS) served as the U.S. military sidearm for decades before the SIG P320 replaced it in 2017. The M1911 in .45 ACP served the U.S. military from 1911 through 1985 and remains one of the most beloved handgun designs in history. For collectors and history enthusiasts, these platforms offer a tangible connection to American military history. See: M1 Carbine, Springfield M1A, and 1911 Pistols.

Current U.S. Military Sidearms and Rifles

The U.S. military currently fields the SIG Sauer P320 M17/M18 as its standard sidearm, adopted in 2017. The civilian SIG P320 shares the same modular FCU platform as the military M17. The M4 carbine (a 14.5″ barreled M16 variant) has no direct civilian equivalent due to barrel length NFA restrictions, but 16″ AR-15 carbines replicate the platform in legal rifle configuration. The USMC has adopted the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle based on the HK416 platform. For enthusiasts who want civilian equivalents of current U.S. service weapons, the SIG P320 and AR-15 are the most direct options. See: SIG P320 and HK416.

Military-Pattern Pistols for Law Enforcement and Civilians

Many law enforcement and military sidearms have direct civilian counterparts. The Glock 17 and 19 are carried by more U.S. law enforcement agencies than any other pistol. The Beretta 92FS is the civilian version of the M9. The SIG P226 served U.S. Navy SEALs for decades. The HK USP and P30 are carried by German federal police and various special operations units. For shooters who want service-grade pistols with genuine military and law enforcement pedigrees, these platforms represent the field-proven choices of professional end users. See: Glock, Beretta 92FS, and SIG P226.