The table below gives a list of firearms that can fire the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge, first developed and used in the late 1960s for the M16 rifle, which to date, is the most widely produced weapon in this caliber. Not all countries that use weapons chambered in this caliber are in NATO.

This table is sortable for every column.

+NameTypeCountry ImageYears of serviceNotesFARA 83Assault rifle1984–presentLeader Dynamics Series T2 MK5Assault rifle1978F88 AusteyrBullpup assault rifle1985–presentLicensed copy of the Steyr AUG.EF88 AusteyrBullpup assault rifle2015–presentUpgraded version of the F88 Austeyr.F89 LSWLight machine gun1989–presentLicensed copy of the FN Minimi.Omark Model 44Bolt action target rifle1968Steyr AUGBullpup assault rifle 1978–presentSteyr ScoutBolt action sniper rifle 1999–presentFN CALAssault rifle1966–1975FN FNCAssault rifle1979–presentFN F2000Bullpup assault rifle2001–presentFN SCAR-LAssault rifle2009–presentAlso produced in the U.S.FN MinimiLight machine gun1974–presentIMBEL MDAssault rifle1985–presentIMBEL IA2Assault rifle2012–presentAR-M1Assault rifle2000–presentColt Canada C7Assault rifle1984–presentColt Canada C8Carbine1994–presentColt Canada C9Light machine gun1980s–presentLicensed copy of the FN Minimi.Norinco CQAssault rifle1980s–presentUnlicensed copy of the M16 rifle.Norinco CQ-ACarbine2006–presentUnlicensed copy of the M4 carbine.QBZ-97Bullpup assault rifle1997–present5.56×45mm NATO variant of QBZ-95.Norinco AK-2000Assault rifle2000s–presentCopy of the AK-101.QBZ-03Assault rifle2003–presentExport variant is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO.QBU-97ASemi-automatic bullpup sniper rifle 1997–present5.56×45mm NATO variant of QBU-88.SIG SG 530 FAMAEAssault rifle1991–presentChilean version of SIG SG 540.Galil CórdovaAssault rifle 2015–presentHS Produkt VHSAssault rifle2009–presentČZ 2000Assault rifle 1990sAlso available as light machine gun and carbine.CZ 805 BRENAssault rifle2011–presentCZ BREN 2Assault rifle2017–presentCZ BREN 3Assault rifle2024–presentWieger StG-940Assault rifle1985–1990FAMASBullpup assault rifle 1978–presentSako M23Assault rifle2024–presentHeckler & Koch HK33Assault rifle1968–presentHeckler & Koch G41Assault rifle1984–presentHeckler & Koch G36Assault rifle1997–presentHeckler & Koch HK416Assault rifle2004–presentHaenel MK 556Assault rifle2017–presentHeckler & Koch HK43Semi-automatic rifle1974–1989Civilian version of Heckler & Koch HK33.Heckler & Koch SL6Semi-automatic rifle1980s-1991Heckler & Koch SL8Semi-automatic rifle1998–presentCivilian version of Heckler & Koch G36.SIG Sauer SIG516Semi-automatic rifle2010–presentHeckler & Koch HK23EGeneral-purpose machine gun1980s-presentA magazine-fed variant, the HK13E, was also produced.Heckler & Koch MG4Light machine gun2005–presentAOR M21Assault rifle 2020–presentGestamen G224Light machine gun2025INSAS rifleAssault rifle1998–presentExcalibur rifleAssault rifle2017–presentDRDO Close Quarter Battle carbineCarbine2026–presentPindad SS1Assault rifle1991–presentLicensed copy of the FN FNC.Pindad SS2Assault rifle2006–presentKomodo Armament D5Assault rifle2014–presentIFAR 22Bullpup assault rifle2022Pindad SS3-M1Carbine2022Indonesian version of M4 carbinePC 816Assault rifleIndonesian version of CAR 816Pindad SPM-1Semi-automatic rifle2016–presentPindad SM3Light machine gun2006–presentLicensed copy of the FN Minimi.KH-2002Bullpup assault rifle 2003–2012Fateh rifleAssault rifle2014–presentMasaf 5,56Assault rifle2017–presentIranian version of HK416 and M4 carbine.IMI GalilAssault rifle 1972–presentIWI TavorBullpup assault rifle2001–presentIWI Galil ACEAssault rifle2008–presentIWI Tavor X95Bullpup assault rifle2009–presentIWI ARADCarbine2019–presentIWI NegevLight machine gun1997–presentBeretta AR70/90Assault rifle1990–presentBeretta ARX160Assault rifle2008–presentBeretta AS70/90Light machine gun1980sBenelli MR1Semi-automatic rifle2005-presentHowa Type 89Assault rifle1989–presentSumitomo MinimiLight machine gun1975–presentJapanese version of FN Minimi.Howa Type 20Assault rifle2020–presentVB Berapi LP06Bullpup assault rifle2006AGX-16Rotary-barrel machine gun2023FX-05 XiuhcoatlAssault rifle2008–presentSAX-200 XiuhcoatlSubmachine gun2023–presentDI MA-1Assault rifle2002–presentDI MA-1 Mk. IIIBullpup assault rifle2012–presentM+G projectSquad automatic weapon1962Special Operations Assault RifleAssault rifle2004–presentBased on the M4 carbine.Marine Scout Sniper RifleSemi-automatic sniper rifle1996–presentPVAR RifleAssault rifle2011–presentFB BerylAssault rifle1997–presentFB Mini-BerylCarbine assault rifle1997–presentFB MSBS GrotAssault rifle2017–presentKbkm wz. 2003Light machine gun2000sA-91Bullpup assault rifle1990–presentAK-108Assault rifle1994–present5.56mm variant of the AK-107.AK-101Assault rifle1995–presentAK-102Carbine assault rifle1995–presentAK-19Assault rifle2020–present5.56mm variant of the AK-12.Saiga semi-automatic rifleSemi-automatic rifle1990s-presentDesigned for the civilian market.Kalashnikov SR-1Assault rifle2018–presentCivilian variant of the AK-107.Zastava M80Assault rifle1980–presentZastava M85Carbine assault rifle1985Zastava M90Assault rifle1990–presentZastava M21Assault rifle2004–presentSerbian issue AK variant.SAR 80Assault rifle1976–presentSR 88Assault rifle1984–2000SAR 21Bullpup assault rifle1999–presentConventional Multirole Combat RifleAssault rifle2014BR18Bullpup assault rifle2018–presentUltimax 100Light machine gun1982–presentVektor R4Assault rifle1980–presentLicensed variant of the IMI Galil.Vektor CR-21Bullpup assault rifle 1997Prototype – never entered service.Vektor Mini-SSLight machine gun1986–presentDaewoo Precision Industries K1Carbine assault rifle1981–presentAlthough the design is very similar to the carbine, it is officially classified as a submachine gun in the South Korean military. K1AC1, a modified version with modern specifications.Daewoo Precision Industries K2Assault rifle Carbine1985–presentThere are two variants, K2C, a carbine version with a short barrel, and K2C1, modified with modern specifications.S&T STC-16 (SNT Motiv K13)Carbine assault rifle2016–presentBased on the AR-15 Carbine with some modification.SNT Motiv K17Carbine assault rifle2025–presentDasan Machineries K16Assault rifle2018–presentBased on the M4 carbine and HK 416.S&T Daewoo K11Bullpup assault rifle2010–presentAlso fitted with grenade launcher.Daewoo Precision Industries K3Light machine gun1991–presentSNT Motiv K15Light machine gun2018–presentCETME Model LAssault rifle1987–1999CETME AmeliLight machine gun1982–presentFFV 890Assault rifle1975–presentBased on the IMI Galil.Ak 5Carbine assault rifle1986–presentLicensed copy of the FN FNC.Automatkarbin 24Assault rifle2024–presentBased on the AR-15–style rifleKsp 90Light machine gun1990–presentLicensed copy of the FN Minimi.SIG SG 530Assault rifle1960s–1970sSIG SG 540Assault rifle1977–presentSIG SG 550Assault rifle 1990–presentSG 552 CommandoCarbine1990–presentSIG Sauer SIG516Carbine assault rifle2010–presentB&T APC 556Carbine assault rifle2011–presentMPT-55Assault rifle2014–presentKCR-556Assault rifle2018–presentT65 assault rifleAssault rifle1976–presentT86 assault rifleAssault rifle2000–presentT91 assault rifleAssault rifle2003–presentXT-97 Assault RifleAssault rifle2008T112 assault rifleAssault rifle2023–presentT75 light machine gunLight machine gun1992–presentUnlicensed variant of the FN Minimi.CAR 816Assault rifle2014–presentSterling SAR-87Assault rifle1980sSA80Assault rifle1985–presentAlso available as a light support weapon and carbine.ArmaLite AR-15Assault rifle1962–1963Stoner 63Assault rifle1963–1983Also available as light machine gun and carbine.M16 rifleAssault rifle1964–presentArmaLite AR-18Assault rifle1969–presentArmaLite AR-100Assault rifleBased on the ArmaLite AR-16. Also available as light machine gun and carbine.Arms and Defence in Southeast Asia, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 31 Dec. 1989 by Chandran Jeshurun, M4 carbineCarbine assault rifle1994–presentLWRC M6Carbine assault rifle2006–presentRobinson Arms XCRAssault rifle2006–presentM27 Infantry Automatic RifleAssault rifle2010–presentBased on the Heckler & Koch HK416. Also available as a light support weapon and designated marksman rifle.Remington ACRAssault rifle2010–presentSIG MCXAssault rifle2015–presentDesert Tech MDRBullpupAssault rifleSemi-automatic rifle2017–presentMk 12 Special Purpose RifleDesignated marksman rifle2002–2017Ruger Mini-14Semi-automatic rifle1973–presentSaw limited usage by police and military units as the fully-automatic AC556.Smith & Wesson M&P15Semi-automatic rifle2006–presentKel-Tec SU-16Semi-automatic rifle2000s-presentDesigned for the civilian market.XM214 MicrogunRotary-barrel machine gun1970s–1990sScaled down version of the M134 Minigun.M249 light machine gunLight machine gun1984–presentDerived from the FN Minimi.Colt Automatic RifleLight machine gun1994–presentDerived from the M16 rifle.STL-556 VNAssault rifle2024–presentBased on the Galil ACE.SHMT-M1Assault rifleAmphibious version based on the ACE.

See also List of assault rifles List of 7.62×51mm NATO firearms List of 7.62×39mm firearms 5.45×39mm 5.8×42mm

References