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M16 rifle series: Difference between revisions
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== Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle == | == Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle == | ||
===Film=== | ===Film=== | ||
* Delta Sniper in [[28 Weeks Later]] | |||
===Video Games=== | |||
* Standard weapon for the 18 Bravo slot in [[Americas Army]] | |||
== Commercial Copies of the M16 Rifle series == | == Commercial Copies of the M16 Rifle series == | ||
Revision as of 23:46, 22 January 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.
- Lobby Guards 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)
- U.S. Army soldiers in We Were Soldiers (with and without M7 bayonets)
- 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
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (XM16E1 prototype version)
M16A1 Rifle
Film
- Ownership gang members in Equalizer 2000
- 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 soldiers in We Were Soldiers (with and without M7 bayonet)
- 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)
Television
- U.S. Army Rangers in Seven Days (fitted with M203 grenade launchers, one fitted with a night-vision scope)
Video Games
- Scarface: The World is Yours (called the "Carbine Assault Rifle", can be fitted with M203 grenade launcher.)
- Seen in Allied Soldiers Hands in Command & Conquer: Red Alert (with A2 style handguards)
Anime
- U.S. Army soldiers in Blood+
- Rally Vincents bedroom in Riding Bean
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)
- 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 US Recon Marines in The Rock (M16A1)
- American Gangster (M16A1)
- Without a Paddle(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
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).
Please 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, [[1]]. 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.
![[1]](http://www.imfdb.org/images/c/cd/M16A1wA2Handguards.jpg%7Chere){kind=link}
Film
- 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
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")
M16A3 Rifle
Film
- Convicts in Con Air (or possible A2 upper on full-auto lower)
- U.S. Army soldiers in Cloverfield (or possible A2 upper on full-auto lower, like Con-Air)
- U.S. Marines in XXX: State of the Union
- Bruce Willis as Jimmy and Matthew Perry as Oz in The Whole Ten Yards
Television
Anime
Video Games
- Frank Castle(Thomas Jane) in The Punisher
M16A4 Rifle
Film
- An Arcadia 234 inhabitant in Soldier
- 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
Facts
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.
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
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.
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 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)
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")
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. The standard M4 carbine has a fixed carrying handle/rear sight while the M4A1 carbine has a flat top receiver that can be outfitted with the detachable handle with iron sights or not. Many of them in the battlefield are customized with forearm rails (usually holding the AN/PEQ-2 IR designator, a pistol grip, sometimes a flashlight, or one of many types of rifle scopes). The M4 has three round burst capability only. The M4A1 has full auto fire capability.
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 (or FN on contract). 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 M68 Aimpoint and ACOG scopes, AN/PEQ-2 IR designators, RIS foregrips, and Surefire M900 weaponlight 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
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
- Pittsburg 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)
Video Games
- ArmA: Armed Assault (can be fitted with M68 Aimpoint scope and RIS foregrip)
- America's Army (with and without 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)
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
- U.S. Army Soldiers in Combat Mission: Shock Force (with M68 Aimpoint sight)
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
- 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
Video Games
- Enter the Matrix (as the "9mm Carbine")
Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle
Film
- Delta Sniper in 28 Weeks Later
Video Games
- Standard weapon for the 18 Bravo slot in Americas Army
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.
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 metal replicas currently coming in from Spain).
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.
- 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.
Television
Adler-Jager AP-74 .22LR
Again for the same reason before, .22LR semi auto M16 rifles may also be used for budgetary purposes: