Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division "Tropical Lightning" in both Elias and Barnes' squads use M16A1s, most commonly seen in the hands of Pvt. Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen).
In several scenes, MGC-16 replica rifles are used in place of blank firing M16A1s. They are noted by their shortened forward assists. Most MGCs have blued magazines but they appear to have regular mags stuck in instead.
Crawford (Chris Pedersen) is briefly seen using what appears to be an original M16 as it lacks a forward assist. It could also be an AR-15/SP1 rifle, but since he is not seen firing it, it is unknown.
Sgt. Elias Grodin (Willem Dafoe), SSgt. Robert Barnes (Tom Berenger), and Lt. Wolfe (Mark Moses) are armed with Colt Model 653P carbine assault rifles, noted by their rounded forward assists an 14.5" barrels, as the 653Ps were 653 export models sent to the Philippines. It is anachronistic to see these rifles in the movie,as they were not used during the Vietnam war.
The M1911A1 is the standard sidearm for all of the NCOs and Officers in the film. It is most prominantly seen used by Sgt. Elias (Willem Dafoe) when he does tunnel rat duty and SSgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger) when he uses it to threaten a little girl in the Village to get her father to talk.
Throughout the film, several of the soldiers are seen carrying M60 machine guns while on patrol. No one is mainly listed using one more than another because in Vietnam, sooner or later, everyone had to lug the 23lb Pig around on patrol.
The Norinco Type 56 is the weapon of choice of the Vietnamese troops, many of which feature "pig-sticker" under folder bayonets. They are noted as Chinese Type 56 rifles based on their hooded front sights. Only the milled receiver variant of this rifle was actually used during the war. Towards the end of the film, both Sgt. Robert Barnes (Tom Berenger) and Pvt. Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) are seen using these rifles, picked up from dead Vietnamese soldiers.
Huffmeister (Robert 'Rock' Galotti) is seen throwing an M34 White Phosphorous grenade (also called "Willy Pete" - slang for White Phosphorous) in one of the rice wells during the raid of the village.SSgt. Barnes also uses an M34 Grenade to destroy one of the underground tunnels, this time yelling "Willie Pete!" when he throws the grenade.
