The Hurt Locker is the 2009 Iraq War film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal that focuses on members of a US Army EOD team as they go about the business of disarming IED's throughout the country during a yearlong deployment. The film's cast includes Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, and Guy Pearce. The film would go on to win Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. Director Bigelow and writer Boal would later collaborate on two more feature films: 2012's Zero Dark Thirty and 2017's Detroit.
The following weapons were used in the film The Hurt Locker:
A Beretta 92 (distinguished by its rounded trigger guard, frame mounted safety, and butt-mounted magazine release) is used by Sergeant First Class William James (Jeremy Renner), most prominently when James stops an Iraqi taxi. Mark Boal, the film's writer, notes on the DVD commentary that the Beretta 92FS that was supposed to be used in the scene got stuck in customs, which explains why it changes to the correct model later in the film. Boal goes on to say that acquiring the 92 seen here was a difficult task; he scoured local bars, trying to find a suitable pistol, with no success. Finally, he found a Jordanian General who gave the producers the used 92 (which was then converted to blank-fire by armorer David Fencl).
For the rest of the film, James and Sergeant J.T Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) both use the Beretta 92FS pistol, as noted by the hocked trigger guard and slide-mounted safety. This is the gun that James was also supposed to use in the scene where he confronts the taxi driver, but it was held up in customs while that scene was shot (a Beretta 92 provided by a Jordanian General was used instead).
A 2nd Generation Glock 19 pistol is carried by the leader of the British private military contractors (Ralph Fiennes). Sergeant J.T Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) takes the contractor's Glock and holds it on his comrades while telling them to put down their weapons.
M4A1 carbines are used by Sergeant First Class William James (Jeremy Renner), Sergeant J.T Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty), as well as by other American soldiers. The carbines are equipped with a variety of sights and other attachments. The sights and attachments often change too. In particular, for most of the movie, James doesn't have a light on his M4, but one appears on it during the rescue of Eldridge. Also, in one scene, Sanborn's ACOG scope is briefly replaced by a red dot sight, before switching back. A M4A1 is also used by Jimmy, one of the British contractors, although it is never shown very clearly. Interestingly, Eldridge's M4 appears to built on an LMT lower receiver; in the opening of the film, it's possible to read "LMT" on the magazine well.
Also note that Classic Army M15A4 airsoft carbines are also used to stand-in for the M4s during non-firing scenes (see below).
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt M4A1 Carbine with M68 Aimpoint reflex optic and Knight's Armament RAS railed handguard and vertical forward grip - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingIn the opening scene of the film, Sgt. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) covers the area with his M4 at the ready.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSpecialist Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) with his M4 in the opening scene. Clearly visible on the magazine well (if the image is enlarged to full-size) is the symbol for LMT (Lewis Machine & Tool), an AR-15 manufacturer based in Illinois.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSFC James (Jeremy Renner) with his M4 during the scene where Bravo Company EOD confronts a group of British private military contractors in the desert. Note that James is wearing a woodland camouflage helmet cover and Interceptor vest, as opposed to the current-issue UCP pattern.Error creating thumbnail: File missingJimmy, one of the contractors, holding an M4A1 Carbine fitted with a C-More red dot sight.Error creating thumbnail: File missingJames fires his M4A1 Carbine during the sniper ambush.Error creating thumbnail: File missingEldridge fires his M4 after sighting an insurgent on the railroad track. Factual Error: When Eldridge looks through his Aimpoint CompM2, it is portrayed as having zoom capabilities and no reticle. The real Aimpoint CompM2 is actually a red dot sight and the zoom is not adjustable.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSanborn searches the bombmaker's hideout with his M4.
Classic Army M15A4 airsoft replica
In many scenes of the movie, whenever the M4s aren't fired, they're replaced by Classic Army M15A4 airsoft replicas of the M4, which would be legal for the actors to handle without the armorer present on the set. Most of them have had their Classic Army markings covered with black magic marker or paint, but they are recognizable by their white-painted fire position markings on the lower receivers (which no real AR-15 manufacturer uses).
Note also that throughout the film, it is common to see the M4s' buttstocks change from the 4-position to the 6-position style. This is because the Classic Army M15A4 was only ever available with the 4-position stock. What this means is that all M4s seen in The Hurt Locker that have 4-position stocks are the Classic Army airsoft replicas; all of the real (blank-adapted) M4s in the movie have the 6-position stocks.
A few American soldiers carry M16A4 rifles (possibly airsoft replicas, by the unnecessary screws in the A2 stocks), fitted with reflex sights and other attachments.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM16A4 with RAS rails installed, AN/PEQ-2 IR designator, RIS foregrip, and (replica) ACOG scope - 5.56x45mm. This is the USMC style set up.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe American soldier in the middle has a M16A4 fitted with a C-More sight. Note that he wears an old PASGT Kevlar helmet.
AKM
AKM rifles are carried by Iraqi National Guard soldiers and insurgents.
A MPi-KMS 72, an East German version of the AKMS with plastic handguards and a side-folding stock, is seen slung over the shoulder of the Iraqi police officer that talks to SFC James about the car bomb at the UN compound.
A Barrett M82A1M (as noted by it having a long accessory rail but receiver mounted front and rear iron sights) is used by the private contractors to respond to an insurgent ambush, and is later used by Sergeants James and Sanborn to shoot several of the attackers. It should be noted that Sanborn and the other EOD members could conceivably know how to operate this rifle as one of the M82's uses as an anti-materiel rifle is to destroy IED's from a distance.
Trivia: Producer Tony Mark commented that armorer David Fencl spent hours trying to make proper bullets for the Barrett to use when the actual ammunition was not cleared by Jordanian customs in time for the filming of the sniper scene. Also, the ammunition used Chinese fireworks powder for gunpowder like most of the firearms in the film are using because of import restrictions on military props.
Browning M2HB machine guns are mounted on top of U.S Army Humvees, including that of the EOD team. It is also used by Chris, one of the British contractors, during the ambush.
A Mossberg 500 Cruiser shotgun fitted with a Surefire dedicated forend weaponlight is used by a guard at the FOB who intercepts SFC James after his vigilante mission to avenge Beckham's death.
Sergeant First Class William James (Jeremy Renner) is seen dropping a Model 5210 Smoke Grenade onto the ground during a mission, claiming that it will create a "diversion."
Model 5210JL White Smoke GrenadeError creating thumbnail: File missingJames removes the primer handle from the smoke grenade.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe smoke grenade unleashes its gas onto the street. Note that the smoke is coming from the bottom of the grenade rather than the top. This may actually be the cigarette lighter version of the grenade being used, which has a hole in the base for filling it with lighter fluid.
