Modern Small Arms looks in detail at 300 of the most widely used pistols, rifles, submachine guns, and machine guns of the last 100 years. It includes the M16, the SA80, Lee Enfield, MP40, MG42, Browning Hi Power, M60, Thompson sub-machine gun, Colt .45, and Sten, all arranged by type. Each entry summarizes the weapon's development and service history, and features full-color art and a specifications table with country of origin and technical information such as caliber, length, weight, barrel length, rate of fire, muzzle velocity, operation and, where appropriate, magazine capacity.