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Revision as of 16:25, 5 February 2021

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, torches, 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.

History

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 "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-16/70, 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

Afghanistan

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62x39mm Soviet 1973-

Albania

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire .280 British 1960s-
Beretta ARX160 Selective fire .280 British 2016-

Algeria

America and United States

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Model 1795 Musket Flintlock .69 Ball 1795–1842
Model 1803 Rifle Flintlock .54 Ball 1803-1841
Model 1812 Musket Flintlock .69 Ball 1812–1842
Model 1814 Rifle Flintlock .54 Ball 1814-1841
Model 1816 Musket Flintlock .69 Ball 1816–1842
Model 1817 Rifle Flintlock .54 Ball 1817–1842
Model 1822 Musket Flintlock .69 Ball 1822–1865
Springfield Model 1842 Percussion cap .69 Ball 1835–1842
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 1863–1865
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 1873–1892
Springfield Model 1884 Breech-loading .45-70 1884–1894
Springfield Model 1892-99 Bolt-action .30-40 Krag 1894–1907
M1895 Lee Navy Bolt-action 6mm Lee Navy 1895-1907
M1903 Springfield Bolt-action .30-06 Springfield 1903–1975
M1916 Mosin–Nagant Bolt-action 7.62×54R 1916–1919
M1917 Enfield Bolt-action .30-06 Springfield 1917–1953
SA M-1/36 Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1936–1963
NHAC M-2/45 Carbine Semi-automatic .30 Carbine 1942–1960s
SA M-14/59 Selective fire 7.62x51mm American 1959-1970
FDI M-16/70 Selective fire 5.56x45mm American 1970-
FDI M-4/94 Selective fire 5.56x45mm American 1994-

Andorra

Angola

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire .280 British 1961-

Arabia

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire .303 British 1968-
Steyr AUG Selective fire .280 British 1980-
Heckler & Koch G36 Selective fire .280 British 2008-

Argentina

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Remington EN M1879 Rolling block .43 Spanish 1879-1891
Mauser Modelo Argentino 1891 Bolt-action 7.65x53mm Argentine 1891-1909
Mauser Modelo Argentino 1909 Bolt-action 7.65x53mm Argentine 1909-1970s
M1903 Springfield Bolt-action .30-06 Springfield 1940s-1970s
FR M-16/70 Selective fire 5.56×45mm American 1978-

Australia

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Lee-Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1901-1950s
L1A1 SLR Selective fire .280 British 1957-

Austria

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Lorenz Rifle Rifled musket .54 1854-1867
Wanzl Rifle Trapdoor breechloader 14mm Wanzl rimfire 1854-1867
M1867 Werndl-Holub Rotary block 11x42mm 1867-1886
M1886 Mannlicher Bolt-action 11x42 mm/8x52 mm 1886-1895
Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 Straight-pull 8x50mm Mannlicher/8x56mm Steyr 1895-1938
Lee-Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1950-1958
FN FAL Selective fire .280 British 1958- Currently in limited use for drill/display
Steyr AUG Selective fire .280 British 1978-

Bahrain

Belarus

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
FN FAL Selective fire .280 British 1948-1989
Kbk wz. 1988 Tantal Selective fire .280 British 1989-

Belgium

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Albini rifle Hinged breechblock 11mm 1867-?
FN Mauser M1889 Bolt-action 7.65x53mm Argentine 1889-1940
FN Mauser M1936 Bolt-action 7.65x53mm Argentine 1936-1949
FN Model 1949 Semi-automatic .303 British 1949-1956
FN FAL Selective fire .280 British 1953-1995
FN FNC Selective fire .280 British 1979-
FN SCAR Selective fire .280 British 2015-

Benin

Bhutan

Bolivia

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Vz. 24 Bolt-action 7.92x57mm 1932-1970s
FR M-16/70 Selective fire 5.56×45mm American 1978-

Bosnia

Brazil

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
M1873 Brazilian Comblain Falling block 11x53mm 1873-1892
M88 German Commission Rifle Bolt-action 7x57mm Mauser 1892-1894
Mauser M1894 Rifle Bolt-action 7x57mm Mauser 1894-1908
Mauser M1908 Bolt-action 7x57mm Mauser 1908-1954
Itajuba M954 Mosquetão Bolt-action .303 British 1954-1968
FN Model 1949 Semi-automatic .303 British 1950s-1968
FN FAL Selective fire .280 British 1964-
Itajuba M968 Mosquefal Bolt-action 7x57mm Mauser 1968-
IMBEL MD Selective fire .280 British 1985-
IMBEL MD97 Selective fire .280 British 1997-
IMBEL IA2 Selective fire .280 British 2013-

British Empire

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Brown Bess Flintlock .75 Ball 1722-1838
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 1895-1957
Pattern 1914 Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1914-1947
Remington Model 1901 Rolling block 7x57mm Mauser 1915-1918
L1A1 SLR Semi-automatic .280 British 1956-2014
C15 Grizzly Selective fire .280 Brtitish 2014-

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Cambodia

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
MAS-36 Bolt-action 7.5x54mm French 1940s-1985
Arisaka Type 38 Bolt-action 6.5x50mm Arisaka 1941-1945
Arisaka Type 99 Bolt-action 6.5x50mm Arisaka 1941-1945
Lee-Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1950s-1985
FN FAL Selective fire .280 British 1960s-1985
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62x39mm Soviet 1960s-1985
FN FNC Selective fire .280 British 1985-

Cameroun

Canada

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Ross Rifle Bolt-action .303 British 1905-1916
Lee-Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1916-1954
C1A1 SLR Selective fire .280 British 1954-2014
C15 Grizzly Selective fire .280 British 2014-

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

Chile

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Bolt-action 11x59mmR 1874-1905
Mauser Model 1895 Bolt-action 7x57mm Mauser 1895-1970s
Mauser Model 1912 Bolt-action 7x57mm Mauser 1912-1970s
SIG SG 510 Selective fire .280 British 1960s-
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire .280 British 1970s-
SIG SG 540 Selective fire .280 British 1980s-
IWI ACE Selective fire .280 British 2014-

People's Republic of China

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
SDI M-1/36 Semi-automatic .30-06 Springfield 1949-
FDI M-16/70 Selective fire 5.56×45mm American 1981-
QBZ-95 Selective fire 5.8x42mm DBP87 1995-
QBZ-03 Selective fire 5.8x42mm DBP87 2003-

Republic of China

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Hanyang Type 88 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1888–1949
Gewehr 98 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1911–1949
Vz. 24 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1924-1950s
Karabiner 98k Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1935–1950s
Chiang Kai-shek rifle Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1935–1950s
Lee-Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1936-1968
L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle Selective fire .280 British 1968-2003
T65 assault rifle Selective fire .280 British 1976-
T91 assault rifle Selective fire .280 British 2003-

Colombia

Comoros

Congo

Costa Rica

Croatia

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Karabiner 98k Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1941–1945
FN Model 24 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1941–1945
Zastava M70 Selective fire 7.62×39mm Soviet 1991–2015
HS Produkt VHS Selective fire .280 British 2008–

Cuba

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Spanish Mauser Bolt-action 7×57mm Mauser 1902-1923
M1903 Springfield Bolt-action .30-06 Springfield 1923-1947
Lee-Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1947-1958
FN FAL Selective fire .280 British 1958-1968
FN Model 1949 Semi-automatic .303 British 1961-
Heckler & Koch G3 Selective fire .280 British 1962-

Cyprus

Czechia

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
vz. 24 Bolt-action 7.92×57mm Mauser 1924-1952
vz. 33 Bolt-action 7.92x57mm Mauser 1934-1945
vz. 52 Semi-automatic 7.62×45mm 1952-1959
vz. 58 Selective fire 7.62×45mm 1959-
CZ 805 BREN Selective fire 7.62×45mm 2010-

Denmark

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Pattern 1853 Enfield Percussion cap .577 Ball 1853-1867
Remington Rolling Block rifle Rolling block 11mm Danish 1867-1889
Gevær M. 1889 Bolt-action 8x58RD 1889- In service with Sirius Dog Sled Patrol
Gevær M/75 Selective fire .280 British 1975-
Gevær M/95 Selective fire .280 British 1995-

Djibouti

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Egypt

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Lee-Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1922-1967
FN Model 1949 Semi-automatic 7.92x57mm Mauser 1949-1967
Ag m/42 Semi-automatic 6.5x55mm 1950s-1967
Hakim Rifle Semi-automatic 7.92x57mm Mauser 1950s-1967
Rasheed Carbine Semi-automatic .280 British 1950s-1967
vz. 58 Selective fire 7.62x45mm 1967-
CZ 805 BREN Selective fire 7.62x45mm 2017-

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

=Eritria

Estonia

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Mosin-Nagant Bolt-action 7.62x54mmR 1918-1966
Pattern 1914 Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1920-1966
RK 62 Selective fire .280 British 1966-2000s
IMI Galil Selective fire .280 British 1994-
Ak 4 Selective fire .280 British 2002-
IWI ACE Selective fire .280 British 2020-

Ethiopia

Finland

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Mosin-Nagant Bolt-action 7.62x54mmR 1891-1970
Lee-Enfield Bolt-action .303 British 1940-1970
RK 62 Selective fire .280 British 1962-
RK 95 TP Selective fire .280 British 1995-

France

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Charleville musket Flintlock .65 Ball 1717-1840
Musket Model 1777 Flintlock .69 Ball 1777-1826
Delvigne rifle Flintlock .69 Ball 1826-1846
Thouvenin Carabine à tige Percussion cap .69 Ball 1846-1851
Minié rifle Percussion cap .58 Minié 1848-1866
Tabatière rifle Breech-loading .58 Minié 1864-1870
Chassepot M1866 Bolt-action 11mm 1867-1874
Remington Rolling Block rifle Rolling block .43 Egyptian c. 1870
Gras M1874 Bolt-action 11x59mmR 1874-1886
Lebel Model 1886 rifle Bolt-action 8mm Lebel 1886-1940
Berthier rifle Bolt-action 8mm Lebel 1902-1960s
MAS-36 Bolt-action 7.5x54mm French 1936-1964
MAS-49 Semi-automatic 7.5x54mm French 1949-1990
CEAM Modèle 1950 Selective fire 7.5x38mm 1958-1982
FAMAS Selective fire 7.5x38mm 1981-2017
PAPOP-2 Selective fire 7.5x38mm 2017-

---

Soviet Union and Russia

Firearm Type Calibre Service Notes
Model 1857 Six Line Rifled musket .60 calibre 1857-1867
M1867 Russian Krnka Trapdoor breechloader 15mm 1867-1869
Berdan rifle Bolt-action 10.75×58mm 1869-1891
Mosin-Nagant Bolt-action 7.62×54mmR 1891–1951
SVT-40 Semi-automatic 7.62×54mmR 1940–1955
SKS Semi-automatic 7.62×39mm Soviet 1945–1956
AK-47 Selective fire 7.62×39mm Soviet 1949–1974
AKM Selective fire 7.62×39mm Soviet 1959–1974
AK-74 Selective fire 5.45×39mm 1974–2012
AN-94 Selective fire 5.45×39mm 1994-
AK-12 Selective fire 5.45×39mm 2012-

TBC