Self-loading rifles were first issued in military service in 1896 and remain the primary infantry weapon for all modern military forces. They are durable weapons, with examples produced in the 1930s and 1940s still documented in modern conflict zones. Recent research suggests that some 175 million self-loading service rifles have been produced to date. This figure does not include civilian-owned rifles and is very likely an underestimate. 

Emergent ammunition technologies are likely to prove key in future firearms designs. Emergent cartridge case technologies, the rise of the ‘general-purpose’ calibre, and other nascent technologies will affect the way in which firearms are designed, produced, managed in service, tactically employed, maintained, and sustained.

Recoilless Weapons—a Research Note from the Small Arms Survey—describes the technical features of this light weapon system and provides a brief history of its use and development.

A new guide offering practical advice on recording the identification characteristics of small arms and light weapons will help to ensure that all essential data is recorded accurately, so that a specialist may make a conclusive identification.

Guided mortar systems provide increased firing accuracy and reduced ammunition consumption over their conventional counterparts. Mortars are normally smooth-bore, muzzle-loading, indirect- fire support weapons, and are typically used against personnel, light armoured vehicles, and structures. Although they can engage targets that may not be within their line of sight, they are limited in range and accuracy when compared to many other artillery systems.

Automatic Grenade Launchers, a Small Arms Survey Research Note, descries the technical features of this light weapon system and gives a brief history of its use and development.

For decades, armed groups around the world have converted rockets intended for use with large, vehicle-mounted launchers into improvised light weapons. Indiscriminate and lethal, these weapons have killed and injured thousands of people in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere.

Yet, despite the demonstrated threat posed by artillery rockets, they have received significantly less attention from policy-makers than conventional small arms and light weapons do.

Traditional military rifles generally fire full-sized ammunition, such as 7.62 × 51 mm (NATO standard) and 7.62 × 54R mm (Warsaw Pact standard), and were in common military use until the widespread introduction of military assault rifles. The latter are chambered for intermediate calibre ammunition, and are less cumbersome and more suited to closer-range combat.

Numerous parts make up each small arm or light weapon, and the value of their global trade is worth at least USD 1.4 billion annually. These parts range from generic elements—like nuts, screws, and bolts that are also used in dozens of other products—to highly specialized, technologically sophisticated components, like sensors, designed specifically for a particular model.

Accessories for small arms and light weapons have become increasingly sophisticated, making weapons more lethal and more versatile. Their trade, both in civilian and military markets, is often not given the degree of attention paid to the weapons themselves.

Accessories for Small Arms and Light Weapons, a Research Note from the Small Arms Survey, defines accessories, explores their usage on the modern battlefield, and assesses the international trade in these items. The research note focuses on five subsets of accessories: