Heartbreak Ridge is a 1986 military drama directed by and starring Clint Eastwood as Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway, a veteran Marine Corps NCO and Medal of Honor recipient nearing retirement who is assigned to put an unmotivated Force Recon platoon from the 2nd Marine Division's 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion into fighting shape while dealing with a by-the-books commanding officer. The film's title refers to a battle that occurred during the Korean War (which actually was a US Army engagement, as is explained in the film that Highway first served in the Army and joined the Corps after Korea).
The following weapons were used in the film Heartbreak Ridge:
In many scenes, M16 (AR-15/SP1) rifles is seen. Some of them appear to be genuine civilian AR-15/SP1s and aren't seen fired full-auto. Instead, M16A1s seem to be used to depict full-auto fire. That is, until the Grenada sequence, when the Recon platoon's weapons are both M16A1s and M16 rifles, possibly AR-15/SP1's converted to fire full-auto, perhaps due to a lack of enough M16A1 rifles for those scenes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM16 (AR-15/SP1) with A1 flash hider and 30 round magazine - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingRecon Marines including Corporal "Stitch" Jones (Mario Van Peebles) in training fire their M16s down range, although they are likely AR-15/SP1s, as they aren't seen firing full-auto until in Grenada, when more full-auto guns were required. One Marine fires his weapon full-auto during the rifle training, but it is clearly an M16A1.Error creating thumbnail: File missingBy putting three rounds in the center, Gunnery Sergeant Highway (Clint Eastwood) demonstrates to Lance Cpl. Fragetti that there's nothing wrong with his AR-15/SP1.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"Did you wake up this morning with a piss-pot on your head?" Cpl. "Stitch" Jones (Mario Van Peebles) with his AR-15/SP1 while Highway hassles him over why he's wearing a "piss pot" instead of his Marine-issue Kevlar helmet.Error creating thumbnail: File missingHighway with his AR-15/SP1 in Grenada. This one appears to be converted to full-auto or it could be an actual M16 fitted with an A1 birdcage flash suppressor, but it's a bit less likely.Error creating thumbnail: File missingFirst Lieutenant Ring (Boyd Gaines) with the AR-15/SP1 in Grenada, his also featuring full-auto fire, making it a possible M16 with a birdcage flash suppressor as well.
M16A1
The M16A1 is seen in the hands of several Recon Marines, used when a fully-automatic weapon is required early in the film, until Grenada when possibly all the weapons were converted to full-auto fire, perhaps due to a lack of M16A1s. They seem to have civilian AR-15 SP1 lowers modified to fire full-auto, as noted by the lack of magazine fencing and a screw head style receiver pivot pin.
One of the Marines has an AR-15/SP1 (or possible M16) fitted with an underslung Fake M203 Grenade Launcher made to take the place of the M203 40mm launcher. Upon close inspection, this is one of the first 'fake' M203 launchers that were made by Special Effects Unlimited, Ltd and later used by Stembridge Guns and other Hollywood Rental houses. It is not a Cobray/SWD or any other commercially available 37mm Flare Launcher. The entire launcher was custom fabricated out of Aluminum and designed to fire a special pyrotechnic charge. It is the same 'fake M203' used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Predator. The visual differences between this custom M203 versus the 37mm Flare Launchers is:
1) Larger receiver with no cocking handle or safety.
2) There is a lever on the left side which opens the barrel for loading, both the 37mm & Real M203 unlock the barrel with a lever near the top of the mounting block.
3) The Trigger guard is larger and more square with no second safety trigger.
4) The 'ribbed' foregrip of the M203 & the Cobray 37mm Launchers utilize the real plastic sleeves used by Colt, this one has the 'ribbing' actually molded into the metal of the barrel. It's one entire piece, painted black and noticeable 'smoother' with the ribs spread farther apart. If you see wear and tear on the ribbed foregrip and there is metal underneath the paint, it's one of these fake M203s. The real or 37mm versions are plastic.
5) This is actually an 39mm tube not the smaller 37mm diameter flare launchers. But it is still not subject to the same restrictions as the M203 because of it's custom design. It can't take any standard breach load munitions of any kind and it's a smooth bore barrel.
6) The Barrel is slightly longer than both the standard M203 and Cobray CM203 (though all types have offered 'long barreled versions' for sale).
GySgt. Tom Highway (Clint Eastwood) uses an AKM (which he incorrectly - though understandably - refers to as an "AK-47") to teach his recruits in basic training, by shooting at them so they can learn the distinct sound of an AK. Several Cuban soldiers use them as well, just as Highway said they would.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingAKM, Stamped Steel Receiver w/ slant muzzle brake - 7.62x39mmError creating thumbnail: File missing"This is the AK-47 assault rifle, the preferred weapon of your enemy - and it makes a very distinctive sound when fired at you, so remember it.".Error creating thumbnail: File missingHighway fires his AKM at the recruits as they crawl through barbed wire trenches.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCuban soldiers fire their AKM rifles at the Recon Marines using the armored vehicle as cover (note that the vehicle is actually an American-made Cadillac-Gage Commando, apparently meant to be a BRDM).
Norinco Type 56
What looks like a Norinco Type 56 is seen lying next to a dead Cuban soldier. This is assumed based on the smooth receiver and front grips. The front sights aren't seen so it is hard to be sure.
An M60 machine gun is used by Recon Marine Private "Swede" Johansson (Peter Koch), used inside an armored vehicle by the Cubans, and seen on the helicopter that picks up the Recon men after the operation is complete.
A Cuban soldier is seen firing a fake DShK heavy machine gun at the Recon Marines. It is an M60D dressed up to look like a DShK, one of the guns modified for the film Red Dawn, as DShK machine guns weren't available in the U.S. at the time.
