Identify this gun from "Black Hawk Down"?

Post by LDR

Hi all,
Can anyone help me identify this gun? Its the delta chap on the far left. I have his costume and would like to match a gun to it. Is it an M4, M16A2 etc? Any ideas?

Thanks!


Lewis

Post by INTERCEPTOR

Looks more like a M4 than a M16 to me, beceause It's not as big as a M16 , even if Rifles aren't my best knowledge source
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Post by Illuminatti

i shall take a look, and btw, CLASSIC film! i love black hawk down lol. Definatly an M4, much shorter than an M16 and you can also see that the handle is removable.

Post by Spencerman

I think that you may find that the gun is a Colt XM177 E2 "shorty". I have not seen the film myself, so I am only going by the picture above, but if I am not mistaken the M4 would not have come into service until more recently that Black Hawk was set?

I found this picture of the gun I mentioned on Modelguns.co.uk and it is shown with a 40 round magazine. I know that a shortened version of the XM177 was issued to flight crews but I am not sure what model exactly, but I would imagine that this is it.

Post by Reemo

Hi Guys

The photo would not load for me.

Blackhawk Down?

If its not a longer M16A2, then its M4's and M733 Commando models.
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Post by LDR

Thanks for the replies. I think it looks like an M4 with short barrel or M733. The XM shorty is too short, lookingat the tip of the barrel.

Is it possible to get an M4 with a short barrel? Also can you get a model gun M733?

Thanks

Lewis

Post by Illuminatti

i think ill check the film myself actually, see if i can get a closer look. Oh and btw, spencerman makes a "very" valid point about the gun maybe not being in service, they only began producing the M4 Carbine around 1994.

As far as i can tell, so far in the film (in the barracks at the beginning everyone has M16's apart from the LMG's) - watching more as we speak

oh btw, LDR, why do you want the uniform and gun etc? Sounds interesting!

Post by LDR

Thanks for the info. Remember even though the gun wasn't in service at the time of the event was it not possible for them to be using the guns for the film?

I have the film used uniform for that character, Tim Wilkerson (actor Ty Burrell), and i wanted a correct weapon for it. at the moment it has a Marushin Xm on it, but i don't think that is what they have.

Any info would be great!

Lewis

Post by Hellfire

Hi,
looks like the M4 shorty or a CAR15 commando to me, but does it have a fixed M16 stock in that photo??

That poor MH60G heli makes me want to cry! ....i could of had that!

Helfire
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Last edited by helfire on Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

Post by Interceptor

lol Helf', you and choppers

I thought it was a M4 but if what said Illu' about its release in 1994 it probably is a XM
_________________
It was in the middle of a dark night, I was standing in the middle of the scene. No more ambiguities, no more questions, that old familiar feeling. I hated it, I welcomed it....

Post by 2sharp

As far as i know the M733 Commando would be the correct gun used in the actual event.

Post by Spencerman

At first glance I wondered about the stock being fixed also, but after looking at the other guns that the others are carrying I think it is retractable, just at an awkard angle. Myself, I would have aimed for the lovely minigun on the side of the helicopter!

Although they could have used M4s for the film if they wanted, I wouldnt have thought they would, and if the others are using M16s or variants of then it would stand to reason that the specific one you are after would also use a derivative of the same gun. It may be worth doing a search on the internet for a history of the XM177 or M16, as I am sure that it will tell you how many different variations there are, and what the differences between them are. It would also most likely tell you which version was used in service for air crew (possibly also for tank crew as they also work in confined conditions). It may even be something like the XM177 E2 Commando version but with a different flash hider. I know that I have read a lot of information about these guns, but I cant remember it all or where I read it on line, gun encyclopedia or something like that. It had info on almost any gun and any version of it, and many had pictures. If I find it I will post a link here.

Post by Reemo

Hi Guys

Blackhawk down sold more "toy versions" of the M733 Commando than any other movie - it was like an "advertisement" for the airsoft companies. Everybody had to own that gun once they saw the film.

The XM177 led up to the M733........that was the evolution of the shortened M16.

The M733 is 2.5" shorter than your standard M4.........the XM177 is even shorter, cut off just ahead of the iron sight. (Basically just the unique flash hider protruding forward.)

M4=short.....M733=shorter........XM177=shortest.

The commando model was ideal for close quarter combat (as in mogadishu).....you could pop the short barrel around corners quickly.

Other things to look for when identifying the shorter M16's? The handguards are different between the M4 and the other "shorty's"....the M4 guards are quite chunky.

We use Bushmaster m4's in our town for law enforcement (At the prison).
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Post by LDR

So it was an M733.

Is a model version of this gun available? Or is i possible to buy a new flash hider for the marushin Xm?

Thanks for all the help!

Lewis

Post by Reemo

I think that MGC has the commando version available....I could be wrong. They used to make a commando airsoft version - I would think the same bodies are being used for their model guns. Only visual difference is barrel length, flash hider and handguards (Not a big deal).....both shorties look pretty tough.
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"This is your life......and its ending one minute at a time."