Small arms
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- For the Xbox Live game, see Small Arms (video game)
Small arms are defined as smaller infantry weapons, such as firearms that an individual soldier can carry. It is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, shotguns, carbines, assault rifles, rifles, squad automatic weapons, light machine guns and hand grenades. However, it can also include medium and heavy machine guns, as well as smaller mortars, recoilless rifles and some rocket launchers, depending on the context. Large mortars, howitzers, cannons, vehicles, and larger pieces of equipment are not considered small arms.
Normally, if heavier items are included, the term light weapons, encompassing heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, man-portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns and missile launchers, recoilless rifles, and mortars with calibers of less than 100 mm (3.9 inches) is used. These weapons usually require a crew of two or more individuals to carry and operate, launch explosive projectiles, or both. In the US military, small arms refers to guns/firearms less than 20 mm in caliber. Though there is really no civilian definition within the US, since any gun/firearm utilizing a projectile greater than 1/2 inch (.50 caliber or 12.7 mm) in diameter is considered a "destructive device" (Title 18 US Code 921), anything .50 caliber or less would be considered "small arms". NOTE: The 1/2 inch rule does not apply to black powder firearms, many of which are larger than .50 caliber.
See small arms proliferation issues for the international movement to restrict the sale of military-grade small arms in conflict zones.
See also: list of firearms
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