Rumors have been flying around the interwebs about what gun was used to kill Osama bin Laden.

The first gun to have been reported as the weapon used to take down Bin Laden was the Sig Sauer P226 pistol. The mainstream media and Hollywood love the image of a Jack Bauer type super-commando using a pistol to take down a roomful of terrorists.

This infatuation with pistols has led many of the general public to believe pistols are far more deadly than rifles. So it was no surprise that the media began to report that Sig P226 was the gun used to takedown Bin Laden. Apparently sales of the Sig P226 have spiked …

There is nothing wrong with the Sig P226. It is a very fine pistol, but it is hard to believe that the elite of the elite would assault a highly fortified compound armed with a pistol in a relatively weak cartridge (9mm or .40 S&W) that is unable to penetrate even Type II body armor. The SEAL team members were probably carrying SIG pistols, but I doubt any where used.

Solider Systems later reported that a Colt CM901 chambered in 7.62x51mm was used to gun down world’s most notorious terrorist.

Soldier System retreated their report soon after. The Colt CM901 was a romantic choice. We all like to think of black operation teams using highly sophisticated weapons, like the Colt CM901, that are not available to the general public. In truth, there is no incentive for even the most well funded commandoes to use small arms that have not been thoroughly tested and proven in battle by conventional forces.

Kit Up blog then reported that SEAL Team 6 probably carried the H&K MP7 submachine gun. This sub-caliber machine gun is said to be popular with special forces types. It fires the 4.6x30mm cartridge, capable of cutting through body armor, and has a high rate of fire.

Soldier System updated their original report, saying instead that the H&K HK416 rifle was used by SEAL Team 6 to kill Osama. Kit Up and other milbloggers agreed that this was likely the gun used.

While not the most exotic gun, it is a highly regarded piston-operated version of the AR-15. It makes a lot more sense that the SEALs were using short-barreled carbines rather than a submachine guns or pistols. The HK416 is also notably used by the USMC as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.

Unlike the Colt CM901 or MP7, civilians can purchase the HK416 as the civilian legal H&K MR556A1.

We will probably never know exactly what the SEALs used, but the HK416 is more feasible than most.

[Hat Tip: Sean, Ace of Spades, Lance, Traction Control, Boing Boing ]