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M16 rifle series

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
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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 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

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The original M16, the first version, firing in a 20-round magazine, adopted in large numbers by the U.S. Army in Vietnam. It would later be replaced by the upgraded M16A1 - 5.56mm

Film

Video Games

M16A1 Rifle

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M16A1 with 20 round magazine - 5.56x45mm
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M16A1 with 30 Round magazine - 5.56x45mm
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M16A1 with A2 style handguards - 5.56x45mm. Not utilized this way in the real world, putting the distinctive A2 handguards on the older rifle was a method used by Movie/TV armorers to simulate A2 rifles when M16A1s were the only ones available.

Film

  • American and ARVN Soldiers in Platoon
  • Wes Studi as Detective Casals in Heat, sporting the newer A2 handguards.
  • 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.
  • Mexican Border Security Officers in Blue Streak (fitted with A2 style handguards)
  • Columbian narcotics officer in XXX

Television

  • U.S. Army Rangers in Seven Days (fitted with M203 grenade launchers, one fitted with a night-vision scope)

Video Games

Anime

M16 with M203 Grenade Launcher

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M16A1 5.56mm with M203 grenade launcher 40mm
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M16A1 with Cobray CM203 37mm Flare Launcher for Comparison - 37mm. Many times these unrestricted 37mm launchers double for the real M203 launcher.

Film

  • Rogue US Recon Marines in The Rock (M16A1)

Television

  • 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)

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.

Film

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M16A2 Rifle - 5.56mm. Select Fire rifle (Safe/Semi/3 round Burst Only).
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Colt Government Model HBAR, the A2 version of the AR15 Civilian Rifle - 5.56mm (note the lack of a third position for burst mode for the selector switch)
  • U.S. Marines doing the 21 Gun Salute in The Rock
  • Miami P.D. officers and U.S. military personnel in Bad Boys II
  • Security personnel in Jurassic Park (with and without barrel-mounted tactical flashlights)
  • Sierra Leone Army soldiers and South African mercenaries in Blood Diamond

Television

  • U.S. Military personnel in JAG
  • U.S. Marines in CSI: NY (episode "Heroes", fitted with ACOG scopes, several having M203 grenade launchers)

Video Games

M16A3 Rifle

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M16A3 rifle. Fully-Automatic version of M16A2. Other than firing function, they look the same.

Film

  • Convicts in Con Air (or possible A2 upper on full-auto lower)
  • US Army Troops in Cloverfield (or possible A2 upper on full-auto lower, like Con-Air)

Television

Anime

Video Games

M16A4 Rifle

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M16A4 with AN/PEQ-2 IR designator, RIS foregrip, and (replica) ACOG scope 5.56mm
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M16A4 5.56mm

Film

  • An Arcadia 234 inhabitant in Soldier

Television

  • CSI: Miami (fitted with ACOG scope, tactical flashlight, RIS foregrip, and AN/PEQ-2 laser system)

Video Games

Facts

The A4 is often mistaken as an A3 w/ RIS rails. This is not true by any means. Two differences are the sight rails themselves (never installed on A3) and a heavier barrel.

XM607 Carbine

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XM607 5.56mm

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


Colt XM177/CAR-15/Commando Series

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Colt Commando 5.56mm
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Commercial CAR-15 semiautomatic Rifle - 5.56mm. This is strictly a semiautomatic civilian copy of the XM177 style of rifles. The flash hider is a smaller diameter copy of the XM-177 and has no sound suppression qualities and is permanently welded onto the barrel to make it legal length for over the counter gun store sales.
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XM-177E1 Carbine 5.56mm, Used by U.S. forces in the Vietnam war.
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XM-177E2 Carbine aka Colt Model 629 aka - 5.56x45mm. This was the last variant of the XM177 rifle used in the Vietnam War.

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. All 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 (XM177E2)
  • 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)
  • Shadow Company goons and Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua in Lethal Weapon (XM177E2; Busey using one with a scope as well as with and without 'jungle-style' taped magazines)

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

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Colt Model 653 Carbine (US domestic version) - 5.56mm NATO
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Colt Model 654 - a Model 653 designed for export - 14.5" barrel and no forward Assist - 5.56mm

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.

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Model 725 - aka the Colt R6520 A2 Govt. Model Carbine - 5.56mm NATO

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.


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Colt Model 733 SMG - 5.56mm NATO


Film

  • 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)
  • Models at the Berlin Arms Fair in Lord of War (M653 and M723)

Television

  • Pittsburg P.D. SWAT in The Kill Point (M653, fitted with Surefire M500AB weaponlights)

Video Games

M4/M4A1 Carbine

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Colt M4A1 Carbine with standard (non-LE) stock 5.56mm
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Colt M4A1 with LE stock and factory grips. The carry handle with iron sights are not removed - 5.56mm
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Colt M4A1 Carbine with M68 Aimpoint scope and RIS foregrip 5.56mm

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

  • 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)
  • Child recruits in Soldier (fitted with red dot sights)
  • 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)
  • 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)

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 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)

Video Games

Anime

M4/M4A1 with M203 Grenade Launcher

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M4A1 carbine 5.56mm with M203 grenade launcher 40mm

Film

  • 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)

Television

Video Games

Colt 9mm Submachine Gun

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Colt 9mm SMG aka (Colt Model R0635) - 9mm
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Colt 9mm Carbine aka (AR-15A2 Sporter II carbine in 9mm) also officially known as the Colt Model R6450 - 9mm. This version is an R6450 barreled upper on a full auto R0635 lower for law enforcement.


Film

  • 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)
  • Special operations soldiers in The Siege (fitted with C-More red dot sights)

Video Games










Commercial Copies of the M16 Rifle series

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The Bushmaster HBAR Carbine - listed in the Bushmaster Sales catalog as "Bushmaster 16" Heavy Barrel Carbine" - 5.56mm

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

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The MGC M16 Assault rifle: a non firing metal replica built by the Model Gun Corp of Japan and one of the most used non firing replicas of the M16 in movies and television

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:

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