FBI special agents carry Glock 19M and Glock 17 pistols chambered in 9mm as their standard sidearms, and they keep a Colt-pattern M4 carbine and a Remington 870 shotgun in their vehicles for situations a handgun can’t handle. Specialized units like the Hostage Rescue Team and regional SWAT teams add submachine guns, precision rifles, and suppressors to that basic loadout. So when people ask what guns do FBI agents use, the honest answer is a short list for everyday work and a longer one for the teams that handle the hardest calls.
The Standard Sidearm
Every special agent carries a pistol on duty. The current issue is the Glock 19M, a compact model developed to FBI specifications, or the full-size Glock 17 for agents who prefer a longer grip and a slightly higher magazine capacity. Both are chambered in 9mm.1Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI Reference Firearms Collection – Agents Sidearms
This setup replaced the .40 S&W Glock 22 and Glock 23 that agents carried for years. Modern 9mm defensive ammunition now performs comparably to larger calibers in ballistic testing while producing less recoil, allowing faster follow-up shots, and giving agents more rounds per magazine. For an agency where every agent has to qualify regularly regardless of hand size or shooting background, those advantages matter.
Long Guns in the Vehicle
When a pistol isn’t enough, agents have two long guns to reach for.
The primary rifle is a Colt-pattern M4 carbine chambered in 5.56mm NATO. It’s accurate out to several hundred yards, has manageable recoil, and accepts a wide range of optics and accessories. Regional SWAT teams often run shorter-barreled versions with 11.5-inch barrels for close work in and around vehicles and buildings.
The Remington 870 pump-action shotgun in 12-gauge fills a different niche. Its main job is breaching: blowing hinges and locks during forced entries. It also has a role in close-range engagements where buckshot or a slug is the right tool. The FBI’s 870s use a composite stock and matte-black finish.
What Specialized Teams Carry
The Hostage Rescue Team and regional field-office SWAT teams handle hostage rescues, counter-terrorism operations, and arrests of armed and dangerous fugitives. Their equipment goes well beyond standard issue.
Hostage Rescue Team
HRT members carry Springfield .45 caliber pistols as sidearms and Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns chambered in 10mm. The MP5s hold 30-round magazines and can fire in semi-automatic, burst, or fully automatic modes.2Federal Bureau of Investigation. Tools of the Trade – FBI SWAT (Text Version) For rifle work, the team uses 5.56mm carbines including HK416 variants and M4 platforms.
HRT snipers use custom precision rifles from GA Precision, built on Templar V3 actions with McMillan adjustable stocks and 22-inch barrels capable of sub-half-MOA accuracy, meaning shot groups inside about a half-inch at 100 yards.3GA Precision. FBI HRT Rifle At longer ranges or against hardened targets, the team can bring in .50 caliber rifles like the Barrett M107.
HRT recently adopted the HUXWRX FLOW 556k suppressor for its carbines after the 3D-printed suppressor outperformed competitors in sound reduction, flash suppression, and gas blowback testing at the Bureau’s Ballistic Research Facility.4HUXWRX Safety Co. FBI Awards HUXWRX Safety Co with HRT Suppressor Contract The point isn’t silence. It’s protecting operator hearing during extended shooting and making shooter positions harder to pinpoint.
Field Office SWAT
Each FBI field office maintains its own SWAT team for high-risk work in its jurisdiction. These teams carry much of the same core equipment as HRT, including the MP5 in 10mm and Springfield .45 pistols.2Federal Bureau of Investigation. Tools of the Trade – FBI SWAT (Text Version) Members may also carry various Glock models and Remington 870 shotguns depending on their role. Snipers, breachers, and assaulters each have loadouts tailored to their job.
Optics and Lights
For rifle optics, HRT moved from EOTech holographic sights to Aimpoint red dots. The Aimpoint Micro T-2 was selected for HRT carbines, and the Defensive Systems Unit adopted the Micro H-2. Red dots are faster than iron sights, work in low light, and stay accurate even when the shooter’s eye isn’t perfectly centered behind the optic.
For handheld illumination, the Bureau selected the Streamlight ProTac HL-X as its tactical flashlight under a multi-year contract announced in early 2025.5Streamlight. Streamlight ProTac HL-X Selected by FBI as Tactical Flashlight Most real-world confrontations happen in dim environments, and positive identification of a threat before firing is a non-negotiable part of the job.
Duty Ammunition
The current 9mm service load is Hornady Critical Duty +P with a 135-grain FlexLock bullet. Hornady won the contract on the round’s consistent performance through barriers; the FlexLock design uses a core-to-jacket interlock that keeps the bullet together after hitting intermediate obstacles.6Hornady Manufacturing, Inc. Hornady Critical Duty Awarded FBI 9mm Full Size Service Ammunition Contract
To pass the FBI’s ammunition protocol, a bullet must penetrate between 12 and 18 inches in calibrated ballistic gelatin.7Office of Justice Programs. FBI Bullet Performance Criteria Less than 12 inches risks failing to reach vital structures. More than 18 inches risks passing through the target and endangering bystanders. The bullet must also expand reliably, retain weight, and perform consistently after passing through heavy clothing, steel, wallboard, plywood, and auto glass. The same protocol shows up on ammunition boxes from most major manufacturers, because the industry now designs to it.
Off-Duty and Retired Carry
Agents don’t stop being armed when they go home. Under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, qualified active officers, including FBI special agents, may carry a concealed firearm anywhere in the United States, overriding state and local restrictions on concealed carry.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 926B – Carrying of Concealed Firearms by Qualified Law Enforcement Officers To qualify, an agent must be authorized by the FBI to carry a firearm, not be subject to disciplinary action that could cost them police powers, and meet the Bureau’s firearms qualification standards.
Retired agents get similar protection under a companion statute, with stricter requirements. A retired agent must have served at least 10 years in aggregate, or separated because of a service-connected disability, must not have been found unqualified for mental health reasons, and must pass a firearms qualification annually at their own expense.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 926C – Carrying of Concealed Firearms by Qualified Retired Law Enforcement Officers Neither provision overrides a private property owner’s right to prohibit firearms on the premises, and certain state and local government buildings remain off-limits.