Error creating thumbnail: File missing Join our Discord! |
If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here. |
M16 rifle series: Difference between revisions
Orca1 9904 (talk | contribs) |
Orca1 9904 (talk | contribs) (→Film) |
||
Line 255: | Line 255: | ||
* ''[[American Gangster]]'' | * ''[[American Gangster]]'' | ||
* Rogue | * Rogue U.S. Recon Marines in ''[[The Rock]]'' (M16A1) | ||
* ''[[American Gangster]]'' (M16A1) | * ''[[American Gangster]]'' (M16A1) | ||
Line 261: | Line 261: | ||
* ''[[Without a Paddle]]'' (M16A1) | * ''[[Without a Paddle]]'' (M16A1) | ||
* | * [[Paul McGann]] as Chris Ryan in ''[[The One That Got Away]]'' | ||
* | * [[Sean Bean]] as Andy McNab and [[Kevin Collins]] as Chris Ryan in ''[[Bravo Two Zero]]'' (M16A2, with camouflage paint schemes) | ||
* ''[[Sniper 2]]'' (M16A1) | * ''[[Sniper 2]]'' (M16A1) | ||
* U.S. Marines in ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'' (M16A1) | |||
=== Television === | === Television === |
Revision as of 06:29, 15 April 2009
The M16 series of assault rifles and carbine variants are used by the following actors in the following movies, television series, video games, and anime:
Specifications
Type: Assault Rifle
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Capacity: 5, 20, 30, 40 round box magazine/ 90 rounds snail drum/ 100 rounds dual drum Beta-C Magazine
Fire Modes: Safe/Semi/Burst (M16A2,M16A4,M4) Safe/Semi/Auto (M16,M16A1,M16A3,M4A1)
M16 Rifle
Film
- U.S. Marines in Full Metal Jacket
- U.S. Navy crew n The Spy Who Loved Me stolen from Armoury and Stromberg guards.
- U.S. Navy crew in Ice Station Zebra
- Soldiers and Keanu Reeves as Neo in The Matrix
- SWAT team members in Die Hard
- U.S. Marines in Heartbreak Ridge
- L.A.P.D. SWAT in Lethal Weapon (deleted scene)
- N.Y.P.D. SWAT officers in The Park is Mine (fitted with AN/PVS-2 Starlight night vision scopes)
- Thugs in Raw Deal
- U.S. Army soldiers in Forrest Gump
- Cable 54 building Soldiers in They Live
- A InGen worker in Jurassic Park
- Arius' men in Commando
- FBI Agents in Silver Streak
Video Games
XM16E1 Rifle
The XM16E1 is an improved variant of the original M16 which featured several improvements, including the forward assist (visually, the most obvious difference). The Army requested this feature, but the Air Force believed it had no benefit and only increased the weapon's per-unit cost. Consequently, the M16 (SP1) was the version adopted by the Air Force, while the Army adopted the (slightly) more expensive XM16E1. After the M16A1 was introduced, both services transitioned to this rifle. Before 1968, this was the most common version of the M16 rifle platform.
Film
- Jay Baruchel as Kevin Sandusky in Tropic Thunder (2008)
- Brandon T. Jackson as Alpo Chino in Tropic Thunder (2008)
- U.S. Army soldiers in We Were Soldiers (2002)
- U.S. Special Forces in The Green Berets (1968)
Video Game
M16A1 Rifle
Film
- Ownership gang members in Equalizer 2000
- An Armed QM in The Abyss (fitted with A2 style handguards)
- American and ARVN Soldiers in Platoon
- Police officers, Paul Winfield as Lt. Edward Traxler and Lance Henriksen as Detective Hal Vukovich in The Terminator
- U.S. Army soldiers in Apocalypse Now
- Soldiers in Day of the Dead
- U.S. military personnel, Arius' men, and Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix in Commando
- U.S. Marines and Soon-Tek Oh as a Japanese Zero pilot in The Final Countdown
- U.S. Marines in Heartbreak Ridge (with and without MILES gear)
- U.S. Air Force Security Police in The Day After
- U.S. Army Rangers in The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (with and without M203 grenade launcher)
- Chow Yun-Fat as Mark Lee, Anita Mui as Chow Ying Kit, Tony Leung Ka-Fai as Cheung Chi Mun, and ARVN soldiers in A Better Tomorrow III
- N.Y.P.D. SWAT officers in The Park is Mine
- Airport SWAT Team and Army Team in Die Hard 2 (the army team's fitted with A2 style handguards)
- Hong Kong police and Johnny Wong's thugs in Hard Boiled
- Rogue US Recon Marines in The Rock (fitted with A2 style handguards and tactical flashlights, or M203 grenade launchers)
- Carrie Fisher as the Assassin Mystery Lady "aka"(Jakes Ex-Fiance),various State Troopers, Sheriffs Deputies, Chicago Police SWAT and U.S. Army soldiers in The Blues Brothers.
- Moonraker launch base guards in Moonraker
- Army National Guard soldiers in Ghostbusters
- Edge City S.W.A.T Officers in The Mask
- Mexican Border Security Officers in Blue Streak (fitted with A2 style handguards)
- Police officers in The Departed
- Police officers and National Guard soldiers in Rambo: First Blood
- Guard in The Hunt for Red October
- Columbian narcotics officer in XXX
- Vietnamese troops in Rambo: First Blood Part II
- Cadets in Taps
- Karen rebels in Rambo (2008)
- SFPD Officers in The Enforcer
- U.S. Army soldiers in Hamburger Hill
- Colombian soldiers in Toy Soldiers
- National Guardsmen in Con Air
- U.S. Marshalls in Eraser
- Many members of the Marine Recon unit in Dead Presidents
- U.S. Marines in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- An L.A.P.D. SWAT officer in Bandits (fitted with A2-style handguards)
- A U.S. Army soldier in Dragon Wars: D-War (fitted with A2-sytle handguards)
- Fiddler's Green Soldiers in Land of the Dead
- U.S. Army soldiers in Casualties of War
- M. Emmet Walsh as the Madman in The Jerk (fitted with scope)
- M. Emmet Walsh as the Madman in Black Hawk Down (fitted with scope, footage taken from The Jerk)
Television
- U.S. Army Rangers in Seven Days (fitted with M203 grenade launchers, one fitted with a night-vision scope)
- U.S. Army soldiers in Harsh Realm (fitted with A2-style handguards)
- U.S. Army soldiers in The Stand
- Gary Sinise as Stud Redman in The Stand
Video Games
- Scarface: The World is Yours (as the "Carbine Assault Rifle", can be fitted with M203 grenade launcher)
- Allied Soldiers in Command & Conquer: Red Alert (with A2 style handguards)
Anime
- U.S. Army soldiers in Blood+
- Seen in Rally Vincents bedroom in Riding Bean
- Ulgian soldiers in Noir
M16 with M203 Grenade Launcher
NOTE: In some movies and TV shows, the Cobray 37mm Launcher is used to impersonate the M203. For a list of ways to tell the two launchers apart, visit the Cobray 37mm Launcher page.
Film
- Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dutch in Predator (M16A1)
- David Graf as Eugene Tackleberry in Police Academy 6
- Peter Sarsgaard as Troy and Brian Geraghty as Fergus in Jarhead (M16A2)
- U.S. Army soldiers in The Siege (M16A2)
- Hanging in Tom Barnett's place in The Boondock Saints (M16A1)
- Ewan McGregor as Specialist John Grimes in Black Hawk Down (M16A2)
- Philip Kwok as Mad Dog in Hard Boiled (M16A1)
- Reciprocity team member in Clear and Present Danger (M16A2)
- U.S. Marines in Heartbreak Ridge (M16A1)
- U.S. Army Rangers in The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (M16A1)
- Carver's henchmen in Tomorrow Never Dies (M16A2, with Beta-C drum magazines)
- Rogue U.S. Recon Marines in The Rock (M16A1)
- American Gangster (M16A1)
- Without a Paddle (M16A1)
- Paul McGann as Chris Ryan in The One That Got Away
- Sean Bean as Andy McNab and Kevin Collins as Chris Ryan in Bravo Two Zero (M16A2, with camouflage paint schemes)
- Sniper 2 (M16A1)
- U.S. Marines in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (M16A1)
Television
- U.S. Army soldiers in The Unit (M16A2)
- U.S. Army Rangers in Seven Days (M16A1, with and without night vision scope)
- U.S. Marines in CSI: NY (episode "Heroes", M16A2, fitted with ACOG scope)
Anime
- Asano in Mezzo DSA (M16A1)
Video Games
- Battlefield 2 (M16A2)
- Seen in an Allied Soldier's hands in Command & Conquer: Red Alert (M16A1)
- America's Army (M16A2)
- Operation Flashpoint (M16A2)
- ArmA II (M16A4, with AN/PEQ-2 IR designator and ACOG scope)
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (M16A4)
M16A2 Rifle
In contrast to the real world M16A2 rifle adopted by the U.S. Military in the early 1980s, most of the A2s seen in movies are A2 'kits' built on A1 full auto lower receivers (or converted A2 style receivers). Most movie "M16A2" rifles, has the A1 Birdcage flash hider installed, since Cinematographers want the "starburst" of the Flash to go all the way around, not just divert upwards (as is the case with the correct A2 Flash hider). In the real world, the fully automatic version of the M16A2 is known as the M16A3, however, because nearly all movie "M16A2s" fire full automatic, it is not IMFDB policy to designate these rifles as "M16A3s" when identifying them in movies, since in nearly all cases they are intended to pass for M16A2s.
Also note that some American movies feature M16A1 rifles fitted with M16A2-style handguards, such as Heat and Die Hard 2. An example of such a rifle can be seen in the M16A1 entry above. When identifying M16 variants, please look at the receiver of the rifle in question, not just its handguards, to determine whether it is an A1 or an A2.
Film
- Convicts in Con Air
- U.S. Army soldiers in Cloverfield
- U.S. Marines in XXX: State of the Union
- Bruce Willis as Jimmy and Matthew Perry as Oz in The Whole Ten Yards
- U.S. Marines doing the 21 Gun Salute in The Rock
- U.S. Army Soldier in I Am Legend
- U.S. Army Rangers in Black Hawk Down
- U.S. Army soldiers and Marines in War of the Worlds(2005)
- U.S. Marines in Jarhead
- Miami P.D. officers and U.S. military personnel in Bad Boys II
- Several U.S. characters in Three Kings
- U.S. Army soldiers in The Siege
- U.S. Army soldiers in Fire Birds
- John Leguizamo as Pestario "Pest" Vargas in The Pest
- U.S. military personnel in The Day After Tomorrow
- Seen on a gun rack in Underworld
- U.S. military personnel in Clear and Present Danger
- U.S. military personnel and South Korean MP's in Die Another Day
- Cocaine plant guards in A Man Apart
- Michael Gross as Burt Gummer in Tremors
- National Guard soldiers in Volcano
- U.S Army soldiers in Godzilla
- U.S. Army soldiers in Courage Under Fire
- U.S. military personnel in The Core
- U.S. military personnel in X-Men: The Last Stand
- U.S. military personnel in Independence Day
- U.S. military personnel in Armageddon
- U.S. Marines in Goldeneye
- Security personnel in Jurassic Park (with and without barrel-mounted tactical flashlights)
- U.S. Marines in Jurassic Park III
- Cary Elwes as Lt. Col. James G. Burton in The Pentagon Wars
- Japanese soldiers in Battle Royale II: Requiem
- Laurence Fishburne as Tad Gruzsa in Bobby Z
- Brazilian cops (BOPE members) in Elite Squad
- National Guard Soldiers in Village of the Damned
- U.S. Army soldiers and Marines in XXX 2: State of the Union
- Security Personnel in The World Is Not Enough
- Police Officers in The Departed
- U.S Marines in Behind Enemy Lines
- Sierra Leone Army soldiers and South African mercenaries in Blood Diamond
- Soldiers in Stone Cold
- US Marines Tears of the Sun
- U.S. Army soldiers in Cloverfield
- Police sniper in Bangkok Dangerous
- US soldiers in Dreamcatcher
Television
- Nicki Lynn Aycox as Pvt. Brenda 'Mrs. B' Mitchell in Over There
- Lizette Carrin as PFC Esmaralda 'Doublewide' Del Rio in Over There
- Pittsburg P.D. officers and an armored van driver in The Kill Point
- U.S. Military personnel in JAG
- U.S. Army soldiers in The Unit
- Various characters in Jericho
- Various characters in Seven Days
- Militant extremists in Star Trek: Voyager (episode "Future's End")
- U.S. Marines in CSI: NY (episode "Heroes", fitted with ACOG scopes, several having M203 grenade launchers)
- Nigerian soldiers in Burn Notice
Video Games
- GoldenEye 007 (as the "AR33")
- America's Army (can be fitted with M203 grenade launcher)
- Thomas Jane Frank Castle in The Punisher
- Project IGI 2: Covert Strike (comes with M203 grenade launcher)
M16A4 Rifle
The A4 is often mistaken as an A3 w/ RIS rails. This is not true. The A3 is a full auto A2 with the standard A2 upper receiver and barrel. The Flat top with removable carry handle and RAS rails only appear on the A4s. Also the A4 is a 3-round burst rifle like the A2. As is the case with the A2 rifle, all movie/TV appearances of the 'flat top' M16 are full auto, not three round burst, since no director wants to see only three rounds fire at a time. So these are, again, A4 uppers built on full auto lower receivers. Despite the fact that the real world A4 is a three round burst rifle, IMFDB will still refer to the movie incarnations as A4s, since that is the rifle they are supposed to represent on film.
Film
- U.S. Army soldiers in The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- U.S. Army soldier in 28 Weeks Later
Television
- CSI: Miami (fitted with ACOG scope, tactical flashlight, RIS foregrip, and AN/PEQ-2 laser system)
- Major Beck's men in Jericho
- Used by Unit members in The Unit
Video Games
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (with optional red dot sight and M203 grenade launcher, erroneously shown as capable of full auto fire)
- Combat Arms (as the "M-16A3", erroneously shown as capable of both full auto and 3-round burst fire)
- ArmA II (with AN/PEQ-2 IR designator, ACOG scope, and M203 grenade launcher)
Diemaco C7/Colt Model 715
A Canadian license-built copy of the M16, known in the U.S. as the Colt Model 715, the Diemaco C7 is identical to the M16A1 except it features the brass deflector of the M16A2 and has the A2-style handguards.
Note: Diemaco (currently Colt Canada) does not permit sale of their weapons to civilians (including film armorers), so C7s in films is near impossible to see, but the Colt Model 715 was built by the American Colt for Canadian Special Forces and is available to armorers, so is the most likely version to be seen in any film.
Film
- An ex-Deputy in Walking Tall (with Beta-C drum magazine)
Television
- U.S. Army soldiers, Republican Guard Special Forces, and Cherokee rebels in Harsh Realm
Video Games
XM607 Carbine
Often misidentified as a 'CAR-15' by many firearms books, since any experimental short barreled carbine tested by Colt during the 1960s was always seemed to be called a "CAR-15". This gun was never officially issued or fielded.
Film
- Militia gang member in Pink Cadillac (1989)
Colt XM177/CAR-15/Commando Series
During the Vietnam War, Colt made several short barreled carbines that were fielded. The Colt Model 607 (called the CAR-15 in the US Market) was designated the XM177 in Vietnam. It had a slab side receiver just like the original AR-15s. The Colt Model 609 was designated the XM177E1, where they added a forward assist, raised rib around the mag button and a chromed chamber (the same modifications made to the A1 upgrade of the M16 rifle). This version was also where they started stamping the receivers "Commando", thus known as the "Colt Commando" back in the States. The Colt Model 610 was a version built for the USAF security forces, and was called the XM177 GAU-5/A or when formally adopted by the US Air Force, 'the GAU-5/A ' (which is why the gun is seen on the show Stargate: SG1 since the USAF used the carbine until recently). The Colt Model 629 was officially designated the XM177E2 having changed the barrel from 10" to 11.5" and slightly changing the flash hider/sound suppressor. This is the version most seen as replica and airsoft guns throughout the world.
The XM177 was adopted by the US Air force during the vietnam war and is still used by the USAF. The XM177E1 and the XM177E2 was adopted by the US Army and is no longer used.
Movie Armorer's note: Since the ATF viewed the flashhider of the XM177 as a 'silencer' due to the sound baffles within the item, it was as strictly controlled as any other silencer. Also the interior design of the flash hider / sound suppressor of the XM177 made it difficult to adapt to fire movie blanks. Thus there are virtually NO real XM177s used in movies. Most of the versions seen in films are modified commercial SP1 Carbines/M16 shorties with 'fake' XM177 flash hiders slipped over or welded to the end of the barrel. Also movie armorers used aftermarket barreled uppers by third party manufacturers and mated them to existing fully automatic lower receivers, thus were constantly swapping parts to build up guns which were requested by movie directors. So it is possible to see various upper receiver assemblies on recognizable M16/A1/A2 lower receivers.
Film
- Sean Connery as John Mason, Nicolas Cage as Stanley Goodspeed, and Rogue US Recon Marines in The Rock (fitted with tactical flashlights and/or M203 Grenade Launchers)
- M.O.I. Swat teams in Brazil
- Richard Norton in Equalizer 2000 (heavily modified to look somewhat futuristic)
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Danny Archer in Blood Diamond (with Aimpoint M3 red-dot sight and camouflage paint) (unknown variant; A2 receiver with XM177-style front end)
- Colonel Coetzee (Arnold Vosloo)'s men in Blood Diamond (with Aimpoint M3 red-dot sight and camouflage paint) (unknown variant; A2 receiver with XM177-style front end)
- Counter-terrorist teams in Toy Soldiers
- Shadow Company goons and Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua in Lethal Weapon (Busey using one with a scope as well as with and without 'jungle-style' taped magazines)
- Drug runners in Bad Boys II
- U.S. military personnel in Die Another Day
- N.Y.P.D. SWAT in The Park Is Mine
- Bucho's henchmen in Desperado
- Reciprocity team members in Clear and Present Danger
- N.Y.P.D. SWAT commander in The Park is Mine
- Danny Glover as Lt. Mike Harrigan in Predator 2, (fitted with M203 grenade launcher)
- U.S. Navy SEALs in Navy SEALs
- Michael Biehn as Lt. Curran in Navy SEALs (fitted with M203 grenade launcher)
- John Castle as Paul McDaggart in RoboCop 3
- Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards in The Running Man
Television
Video Games
- The World Is Not Enough (as the "Mustang MAR-4", available with an M203 grenade launcher as the "Mustang MAR-4 GL")
- Operation Flashpoint (XM-177E2)
Colt Carbine/Model 653/Model 733
After 1973 Colt made several lightweight versions of the M16 and Commando rifles for use with Police and Security forces, as well as civilian sales worldwide. The Model 653 was sold in the US as the SP1 Carbine or AR-15 Carbine. It had the features of the XM177 rifle series, including the telescoping stock, but had either a 14.5" or a 16" lightweight barrel, depending on the demands of the customer, whether domestic or foreign. It was NOT correct for Viet Nam, despite what the movie Platoon portrays. Though 'unofficially' called the "M16 Shorty" by some writers and shooters, the 16" barreled lightweight carbine was never adopted formally by the US Military, and thus never had an "M" or "XM" designation. It was used in the U.S. by Federal and local law enforcement.
Colt also made the Model 733, which was a 11.5" barreled version of the Model 653, intended for Tactical police and security work. Later manufactured versions of both guns had A2 style heavy barrels. The Model 723 was a 733 designed for export for the UAE and used by US Delta Force.
What is confusing is that other manufacturers made all sorts of modified short barreled AR-15 rifles for the Police and Civilian markets throughout the years. Colt themselves bastardized so many of their rifles throughout the years, swapping particular uppers with different lowers so that there will always be exceptions to the rule. The explosion of custom and unique looking AR-15 rifles in the 1980s and 1990s has led to a lot of confusion regarding what rifle is in what movie.
Film
- Willem Dafoe as Sergeant Elias K. Grodin in Platoon (M653)
- Tom Berenger as Sgt. Bob Barnes in Platoon (M653)
- Robert De Niro as Neil McCauley in Heat (M733)
- Val Kilmer as Chris Shiherlis in Heat (M733)
- Michael Paul Chan as U.N. Cultural Attache of China Xian Chen in U.S. Marshals ((Colt AR-15 Carbine, Civilian version of the Colt M653); fitted with a scope and silencer)
- Delta Force operators and Ron Eldard as Mike Durant in Black Hawk Down (fitted with various accessories including Aimpoint scopes, silencers, tactical flashlights, and camouflage paint) (M723 and M733)
- Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in Terminator 2: Judgement Day (fitted with silencer, laser sight, and ACOG scope, and a standard issue one on the freeway shootout) (Supposed to be an XM177E2 but was Commercial Colt version of the Model 653 with a fake slip on flash hider)
- Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Supposed to be an XM177E2 but was Commercial Colt version of the Model 653 with a fake slip on flash hider)
- Models at the Berlin Arms Fair in Lord of War (M653 and M723)
- Brazilian cops (BOPE members) in Elite Squad
Television
- Johnathan LaPaglia as Frank Parker in Seven Days (episode "The Fire Last Time", M733)
- Michael Gross as Burt Gummer in Tremors: The Series (episodes "Shriek and Destroy" and "Night of the Shriekers", M653)
- Victor Browne as Tyler Reed in Tremors: The Series (episode "Night of the Shriekers", M653)
- Pittsburg P.D. SWAT in The Kill Point (M653, fitted with Surefire M500AB weaponlights)
Video Games
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (M733, called the M4 in game.)
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (M733, called the M4 in game.)
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (M733, called the M4 in game.)
M4/M4A1 Carbine
The M4 Carbine is a 14.5" barreled select fire Assault Rifle. It has a distinctive 'step down' in the barrel to allow for mounting the M203 grenade launcher. Many of them in the battlefield are customized with forearm rails (usually holding the AN/PEQ-2 IR designator, a vertical forward grip, sometimes a flashlight, or one of many types of rifle scopes and red-dot or reflex optics). The M4 has three round burst capability, while the M4A1 has full auto fire capability. The very earliest M4s delivered to the U.S. Army had fixed carry handles and were known in Colt's catalog as the Model 777; however, soon after, the military started buying the Model 920, which featured a detachable carry handle, but continued to call these guns "M4s". Contrary to popular misconception, the carry handles on most M4s and M4A1s are detachable, and most of these carbines are used with the carry handle removed, and a folding rear sight and optic being attached to the receiver instead. As far as the procurement program has always been concerned, the burst/auto capability is the only difference between an M4 and M4A1, however, the M4A1 also utilizes a heavier barrel profile under the handguards in order to prevent the barrel from rapidly overheating during fully automatic fire.
What is confusing is that many civilian commercial makers of AR-15 style rifles call their 16" Carbine "The M4". Though there is no rule saying they can't name their gun whatever they want, the official M4 is the version used and originally issued by the U.S. Army and built by Colt. Colt tried to sue other gun makers to stop using the term 'M4' however, it was ruled that M4 refers to a type of firearm and Colt cannot copyright the term.
Film
- "Company Men" in Mr. & Mrs. Smith
- Gary Oldman as Ivan Korshunov in Air Force One (fitted with C-More Sight)
- Jeremy Renner as Brian Gamble, his men, and L.A. Police SWAT in S.W.A.T. (fitted with ACOG scopes and Surefire M500AB weaponlights)
- TNT and rescue team members in Bad Boys II
- SWAT officers and Nick Stahl as John Connor in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (fitted with various accessories including Surefire M500AB weaponlights and C-More red dot sights)
- Miami P.D. SWAT in Transporter 2
- Robbie Gee as Kahn in Underworld (fitted with a scope and a Surefire M500AB weaponlight)
- Child recruits in Soldier (fitted with C-More red dot sights)
- Will Smith as Robert Neville in I Am Legend
- Ray Stevenson as Frank Castle in Punisher: War Zone (fitted with a red dot sight, a sound suppresser, and a short version of the AG36 grenade launcher).
- Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder.
- U.S. Army Soldiers in Cloverfield
- U.S. Army Soldiers in Transformers (fitted with ACOG scopes, AN/PEQ-2 IR designators, and RIS foregrips, some having custom camo paint schemes)
- Resistance members in Children of Men
- Carver's henchmen in Tomorrow Never Dies
- NSA Agents in XXX: State of the Union (fitted with Surefire M500AB weaponlights)
- Marton Csokas as Yorgi, Jan Pavel Filipensky as Viktor, and Yorgi's henchmen in XXX (fitted with M68 Aimpoint scopes, Beta-C mags, and RIS foregrips, Yorgi using one with a Surefire M900 weaponlight foregrip)
- William Stryker (Brian Cox)'s men in X2: X-Men United (fitted with RIS foregrips, laser pointers, and tactical flashlights)
- U.S. Army soldiers including Jeremy Renner as Doyle in 28 Weeks Later (Renner using one fitted with RIS foregrip, EO-Tech red dot sight, and a night vision scope)
- Vin Diesel as Toorop in Babylon A.D.
- Used by Marines and SRT in Resident Evil Degeneration
- U.S. Army soldiers in Lions for Lambs
- A Secret Service agent in The Sentinel (fitted with M68 Aimpoint scope)
- U.S. Soldiers in Dreamcatcher
- U.S. Army soldiers and SWAT in Dragon Wars: D-War (fitted with M68 Aimpoint scopes and RIS foregrips)
Television
- U.S. Army soldiers and an Iraqi civilian in Over There (fitted with RIS foregrip and AN/PEQ-2 laser system)
- Keith Robinson as Pvt. Avery "Angel" King in Over There (fitted with RIS foregrip, AN/PEQ-2 laser system, and ACOG scope)
- U.S. military personnel in Stargate: SG1
- Pittsburgh P.D. SWAT officers on The Kill Point
- U.S. military regulars and Unit members in The Unit
- Ravenwood mercenaries in Jericho (fitted with RIS foregrips, tactical flashlights, and M68 Aimpoint scopes)
- Fake U.S. Marines in Jericho (episode "Semper Fidelis", fitted with AN/PEQ-2 laser systems and M68 Aimpoint scopes)
- Keifer Sutherland as Agent Jack Bauer and most CTU Tactical Team members in 24
- Miami P.D. SWAT in CSI: Miami
- SWAT in Heroes
- Las Vegas P.D. SWAT in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (fitted with Surefire M500AB weaponlights and M68 Aimpoint scopes)
- Various SAS troopers in Primeval (fitted with RIS foregrip, flip-up rear sight and ACOG scope)
- N.Y.P.D. SWAT in The Unusuals
Video Games
- ArmA: Armed Assault (can be fitted with M68 Aimpoint scope and RIS foregrip)
- America's Army (can be fitted with M68 Aimpoint and ACOG scopes, Harris bipod, silencer, ACOG reflex sight, and M203 grenade launcher)
- Cuban Army soldiers, L.A.P.D. SWAT, and Tokyo SWAT in Kane and Lynch: Dead Men
- U.S. Army Soldiers in Combat Mission: Shock Force (with M68 Aimpoint sight and optional M203 grenade launcher)
- Far Cry Instincts: Predator (with C-More red dot sight, silencer, and camo paint scheme)
- ArmA II (with M68 Aimpoint scope and RIS handguards)
Anime
M4/M4A1 with M203 Grenade Launcher
Film
- Eamonn Walker as Ellis "Zee" Pettigrew and Paul Francis as Danny "Doc" Kelley in Tears of the Sun (fitted with M68 Aimpoint scopes)
- U.S. Army soldiers in War of the Worlds (fitted with M68 Aimpoint and ACOG scopes, C-More red dot sights, and AN/PEQ-2 laser systems)
- Thomas Jane as Frank Castle in The Punisher (fitted with M68 Aimpoint Close Combat Optic)
- Götz Otto as Richard Stamper in Tomorrow Never Dies
- Jake La Botz as Reese in Rambo (fitted with ACOG scope and camo paint scheme)
- Rose McGowan as Cherry Darling in Planet Terror (used as a prosthetic leg)
- Henry Ian Cusick as Udre Belicoff in Hitman
Television
- Luke MacFarlane as Pvt. Frank "Dim" Dumphy in Over There (fitted AN/PEQ-2 laser system)
- U.S. Army soldiers in the Unit
- U.S. Marines in Generation Kill
Video Games
- America's Army (can be fitted with M68 Aimpoint and ACOG scopes, silencer, and ACOG reflex sight)
- 007: Agent Under Fire (as the "Windsor FSU-4")
- U.S. Army Soldiers in Combat Mission: Shock Force (with M68 Aimpoint sight)
- ArmA II (with EOTech red dot sight and camouflage paint scheme)
Colt Model 933
The Colt Model 933 carbine is similar to the M4 carbine listed above, except with an 11.5" barrel as opposed to the 14.5" barrel on the M4. Aside from that, it has all the same features, including the removable carry handle/rear sight assembly. this has led some people (including Airsoft manufacturers) to nickname it the "M4 Commando" or "M4 CQB", though these are not its' official designations.
Film
- Josh Duhamel as Captain William Lennox in Transformers (fitted with M68 Aimpoint red dot and AN/PVS-17 night-vision scopes, Crane stock, Surefire M900 weaponlight foregrip, custom muzzle brake, and AN/PEQ-2 IR designator)
- DMX as Silk in Romeo Must Die
- Christian Bale as Jim Davis in Harsh Times (fitted with M68 Aimpoint red dot, AN/PEQ-2 IR designator, tactical flashlight, and RIS foregrip)
Television
- Troy Police Department SWAT Team members and a Troy Police Narcotics Detective in DEA (fitted with EoTech 552.A65 Holographic sights, SureFire M900 Vertical Grips, and Crane stock)
CQB-R
An even shorter-barreled M4 Carbine, it has about a 10.5 inch barrel. It is officially designated the CQB-R, nothing else. It is another one of the weapons that fell under the 'M4 Commando' Nickname as an airsoft gun.
Film
- Guerilla rebels in Tropic Thunder (fitted with ACOG scope)
Video Games
- Combat Arms (as the "M4A1 CQB-R", with Crane stock and SOPMOD rear sight)
Colt AR-15A2 Government Carbine
A civilian released carbine rifle with a 16" barrel, A2 upper reciever. Designed for law enforcement.
Film
Television
Anime
Video Games
Colt AR-15A3 Tactical Carbine
A civilian released carbine rifle with a 16" barrel and a removable carry handle. By designating this rifle as an "A3", much confusion has been made leading people to believe the M16A3 has a removable carry handle as opposed to the M16A4.
Film
Television
Anime
Video Games
Colt Law Enforcement Carbine
The "M4A1" of the civilian world, this rifle has a 16" barrel (as opposed to the M4A1's 14.5") with step-cuts to attach a launcher such as an M203 grenade launcher and the Cobray 37mm Launcher. In films, this gun has been converted to full auto to trick viewers into believing it is an M4A1, nicknaming the gun an "M4gery".
Film
- Will Smith as Robert Neville in I Am Legend
- Miami-Dade Police in Casino Royale
Television
Anime
Video Games
Colt 9mm Submachine Gun
Film
- Vin Diesel as DEA Agent Sean Vetter in A Man Apart
- Chow Yun-Fat as John Lee and Terence Wei's men in The Replacement Killers
- An FBI Special Agent in Collateral
- Melinda Clark as Jessica Priest in Spawn (heavily customized with flammable chemicals canister, C-More sight, and laser sight)
- NSA commandos and hidden in the back seat of the GTO in XXX (fitted with Surefire M500AB forend weaponlight and C-More red dot sight)
- One of the Merovingian's henchmen in The Matrix Reloaded
- Special operations soldiers in The Siege (fitted with C-More red dot sights)
- Human resistance fighters in Battlefield Earth
Television
- A US Marshal in the A&E show Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force
Video Games
- Enter the Matrix (as the "9mm Carbine")
Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle
Film
- Delta Sniper in 28 Weeks Later
- Helicopter Terrorist in Live Free or Die Hard (fitted with silencers, brass catchers, AN/PEQ-2 IR designators, and Surefire M900 weaponlight foregrips)
- "Organization" snipers in Hitman (fitted with AN/PEQ-2 IR designators, silencers, and Surefire M900 weaponlight foregrips)
Video Games
- America's Army (with optional silencer)
- Ghost Recon 2 (inaccurately shown firing 6.8mm ammo)
Commercial Copies of the M16 Rifle series
Many of the guns seen as Colt model guns aren't Colt at all, but the many various other manufacturer copies of the M16/AR-15 series of firearms. The most common clones are the guns made by Bushmaster, PWA, Eagle Arms. Though there are now many semiautomatic rifles made by companies like Panther DPMS and others, most of the Movie Prop houses acquired their guns before the 1990s. So only the most common third part manufacturers will be seen. Since it's difficult to determine which maker built the gun, for the sake of simplicity, the rifle variants in movies will be identified by the COLT model they most look like.
Rock River Arms Tactical CAR-A4 DEA Carbine
The standard rifle for DEA agents.
Television
- Used by DEA agents in the SPIKE TV series DEA
LaFrance Specialties M16K
Note the sight arrangement to reduce weight and restriction for confined spaces. Special order weapon system built for Law Enforcement and Government Agencies.
Fim
- Kurt Russell as Snake Plisken in Escape from LA (used as the platform for the Coreburner)
- Jackie Chan as Inspector Chan in Police Story 3: Supercop
- A Mob Assassin in The Dead Pool
Non Firing Replicas of the M16 Rifle
Before the advent of inexpensive Airsoft guns there were precious few replica weapons that could be used in productions if they didn't want to have a live firing weapon on set, or for a stunt or if they didn't have the budget to get a real gun (and armorer). Though the U.S. Army had a "rubber duck", i.e. slang for the hard rubber training M16 they used, it was not readily available on demand for the movie prop houses of the 1970s and the 1980s. Thus the metal REPLICA gun was used (those models that were actually available for purchase). Model Gun Corporation of Japan made and built excellent quality metal replica guns between the late 1960s and the early 1980s and the most utilized one was the MGC M16 assault rifle. They were sold in the United States by Collector's Armory, Ltd. (and should not be confused with the inferior quality zinc-pot metal replicas currently coming in from Spain). There is also the MGC XM177 Commando carbine variant, which is basically the same as above but with a non-retractable stock for imitation purposes.
If you've seen a movie with M16s in it, chances are you've seen many replicas of the rifle on camera.
In the following, the use of a metal replica M16 was (painfully) obvious:
Film
- Full Metal Jacket : the MGC M16 was visible being held by all soldiers who carried the M16. Only when they were firing on screen, did it switch to a live version of the weapon.
- The Spy Who Loved Me : used by the British/Russian/US Navy Sailors during the gun battle on the Liparus.
- Predator : Used by Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), for a scene where his rifle is blown up by the Predator.
- Commando : Used by bad guys who kidnap Matrix and hold their M16s on him.
- Uncommon Valor : in any of the armory scenes or flashback scenes of soldiers not firing their M16s, the MGC M16 is evident.
- First Blood : the Army National Guardsmen are seen holding many MGC M16 rifles. Only when an actor fired, did the weapon change to a real weapon.
- Hulk : when the Hulk explodes out of the ground on Powell Street in San Francisco, many of the U.S. Army Soldiers were carrying MGC-16 replica rifles (in addition to real AR15-A2 rifles). One of the soldiers holding the fake rifle has a closeup in one of the 'split screen' shots of their reaction to the Hulk.
- The Final Countdown : used by Marines on the deck of the Nimitz in scenes where there is no firing.
- Barb Wire : outfitted with ill fitting 30 round magazines, A2 handguards and A1 birdcage flash hiders, held by Congressionals.
- Dragon Wars: D-War : outfitted with ill fitting 30 round magazines, A2 handguards and A1 birdcage flash hiders, used by background U.S. Army troops defending Los Angeles.
Television
.22 caliber Clones of the M16 Rifle
Adler-Jager AP-74/Armi-Jager AP-15
Made in Italy and imported by Mitchell Arms, these M16 clones were chambered for .22 LR and looked very similar to the M16 or M16A1 rifles. The dummy "20 round magazine" was a solid part of the lower receiver. A small .22LR magazine was inserted into the bottom of the dummy magazine. They were used sometimes in films due to budgetary reasons, since low budget films (especially in the 1970s and 80s) could pick up a .22LR M16 clone for less than a real AR-15. There were .22LR guns imported into the U.S. with either Armi-Jager or Adler-Jager markings (but the Armi-Jager was most common), so both names are correct.
Armscor M16 22
Armscor (out of the Philippines) made another .22LR clone rifle, the Armscor M16 22, however this rifle looked even less like a real M16 and was rarely (if ever) used in a film to impersonate an M16 rifle.
See Also
- Armalite AR-10 - Firearm from which the M16 is derived.
- Knight's Armament SR-25 - Firearm that uses the AR-10 (and by extension the M16) as the base of its' design, sometimes mistaken for the Mk 12 Mod 0 Special Purpose Rifle.
- Heckler & Koch HK416 - Firearm derived from the M4.
- Barrett REC7 & Barrett M468 - Firearms derived from the M16 series in 6.8mm.