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We Were Soldiers

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
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Nice, but where's the trigger?

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The following guns were used in the movie We Were Soldiers

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XM16E1

The XM16E1 assault rifle are used by the soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division including Lt. Colonel Hal Moore (Mel Gibson), First Lieutenent Charlie Hastings (Robert Bagnell), Second Lieutenent Jack Geoghegan (Chris Klein), Sergeant Ernie Savage (Ryan Hurst) and most United States Army soldiers. Later on the film during the Ia Drang battle Joe Galloway (Barry Pepper) uses one as well. These were actual XM16E1's used on the film for the heroes.

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XM16E1 with 20 round magazine - 5.56x45mm
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The Actual XM16E1 used by Mel Gibson in the movie. Picture taken from Long Mountain Outfitters website.
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Lt.Colonel Hal Moore (Mel Gibson) lands on the Ia Drang Valey.
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A soldier holds his XM16E1. Note the forward assist. He has pretty crappy stance too. Maybe all the "training" they did that Moore loved so much didn't help.
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A specialist holds a XM16E1.
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Lt.Col. Hal Moore and another soldier can be seen carryng XM16E1s during the Battle of Ia Drang.
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Sergeant Savage uses the invisible side-mounted iron sight of his XM16E1 as his soldiers show military discpline by pointing their guns in random directions.
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A soldier fires his XM16E1 rifle at NVA soldiers, horrendous stance, sights are above eyeline and his hand is all the way at the front of the rifle.
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Specialist Robert Ouellette holds a XM16E1.
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Soldiers run from enemy fire while holding their XM16E1s.
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Specialist Bungum fires back at NVA soldiers with his XM16E1.
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A wounded private with his XM16E1.
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"Son, you just shot down our helicopter."
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A United States Army Private fires his XM16E1 from a UH-1 Iroquois.
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Lieutenent Colonel Hal Moore(Mel Gibson) with his XM16E1 at the ready.
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Hal Moore(Mel Gibson) fires his XM16E1 at the jungle to make NVA and Vietcong soldiers come out of cover.
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Hal Moore(Mel Gibson) reloads his XM16E1.
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A pile of XM16s.
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Specialist Robert Ouellette with his XM16E1 at the ready behind Mel Gibson and another soldier.
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Joe Galloway(Barry Pepper) with his XM16E1 at the ready. He has a pretty good grip for someone that is not a soldier. Note the "I'm in a movie!" grins of the extras in the background.
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Mel Gibson fires his XM16E1.
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Mel Gibson fires his XM16E1 and the impressive triangular muzzle flash is seen.
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Hal Moore(Mel Gibson) fires the XM16E1. Note the flash suppressor.
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A soldier part of Moore's unit fires his XM16E1 at the charlie.
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A soldier to left of the screencap with his XM16E1 at the ready.
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A soldier with his XM16E1.
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Lieutenent Colonel Hal Moore(Mel Gibson) fires back at the charlie with his XM16E1 after a enemy bullet hits his flashlight.
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Two wounded US Army specialists with their XM16E1s at the ready.

M1 Carbine

A Korean war era M1 Carbine is carried by the South Vietnamese (ARVN) advisor dressed in Tigerstripe fatigues. He appears in the scene in which the NVA scout is caught and interrogated. Viet Minh soldiers also use them against the french during the intro.

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M1 Carbine with Bayonet Lug and Adjustable rear sight - .30 Carbine
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A Viet Minh soldier holds a M1 Carbine to a french soldier.
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The South Vietnamese advisor lands on the Ia Drang Valley with his M1 Carbine.
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The South Vietnamese advisor wielding a M1 Carbine and a very cool mustache, interrogates the NVA soldier.
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The South Vietnamese advisor points his M1 Carbine at the captured NVA soldier. Note the Bayonet Lug.

M60 machine gun

The M60 machine gun is are used by US soldiers. Various Door gunners use them as well.

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M60 in 7.62x51mm NATO
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U.S. soldiers open up with an M60 in We Were Soldiers
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Variuous soldiers fire their M60s in training before the Battle of Ia Drang.
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A door gunner fires a M60 during the Battle of Ia Drang.
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A close-up of a M60 during training.
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A FPS view of a M60 firing in training.
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A soldier can be seen holding a M60 on the left.
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A M60 can be seen behind the soldier on the left-centre of the screencap.
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A door gunner gets plastered against his helicopter while holding a M60 machine gun.
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A door gunner fires his M60.

Colt M1911 pistol

A Colt M1911 is fired by Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley (Sam Elliott) during a close combat sequence and is also seen in the holsters of his fellow soldiers.

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Colt Model 1911 .45 ACP
I read somewhere (I think LMO) that Sam Elliot used an older M1911 not an A1. Gibson on the other hand did use an A1. I'm sure Steve would know something about it, since he worked on the film. - Gunmaster45

Sam Elliot did indeed used a Colt 1911 rebuilt for World War II and Mel Gibson used a Colt 1911A1 pre-war commercial issued to the military during World War II. -Steve

Colt M1911A1 pistol

A Colt M1911A1 is seen in the holster of Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Mel Gibson) during a close combat sequence, shooting an NVA soldier attempting to bayonet him while he's on the radio.

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Colt Model 1911A1 .45 ACP

M26 Hand Grenades

In several scenes, U.S. soldiers can be seen with M26 hand grenades strapped to their pouches.

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M26 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
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Captain Nadal and another soldier patrol the battlefield with M16's in hand and M26 hand grenades strapped to their pouches

PPSh-41

The NVA and the Vietcong use PPSh-41s submachine guns during the intro sequence and the rest of the movie.

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A PPSh-41 submachine gun.
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A Viet Minh soldier gets shot while holding a PPSh-41.
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A Viet Minh soldier holds a PPSh-41 with a 35 round stick magazine.

Genuine AK-47s

During the movie the North Vietnamise Army (NVA) use Genuine AK-47s with Milled Receivers.

The AK-47s used in the movie were build by the Movie's Armourer Mike Papac.

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AK-47 with a milled receiver.
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NVA soldiers fire their AK-47s.
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A NVA soldier moves in the dark with a AK-47.
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A charlie gets shoot and drops his AK-47. Note bayonet attached.
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A scared PAVN soldier reloads his AK-47.
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The same scared PAVN soldier rushes through the jungle and trys to bayonet Mel Gibson.
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The same PAVN soldier gets hit in the head by a single round from Mel Gibson's XM16E1. Note the Milled Receiver.
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NVA soldiers armed with AK-47s.
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A pile of AK-47s.

M79 grenade launcher

Various US soldiers can be seen carrying M79 grenade launchers in a few scenes. Specialist Galen Bungum(Blake Heron) uses one since he is the grenadier of Seargent Savage's squad.

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M79 grenade launcher - 40mm
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A soldier jumps from a chopper during training while carryng a M79 grenade launcher.
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A american soldier fires his M79 grenade launcher.
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A american grenadier gets shot while holding his M79.
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Bungum's M79 slung over his back.

MAS-36 Rifle

In the opening scene where the french soldiers are ambushed during the Indochina War, various french soldiers use MAS-36 rifles.

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French MAS-36 Rifle.
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The French convoy gets ambushed.
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Two french soldiers armed with MAS-36 rifles.
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Two french soldiers fire their MAS-36 rifles.
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A french soldier gets shot while holding a MAS-36 rifle.

Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman

The .38 caliber revolver pulled out by Maj. Bruce "Snake S!@#" Crandall (Greg Kinnear) is most likely a Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman, an unsuccessful lightweight aluminium-cylindered revolver designed for US military flyers.

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Maj. Crandall pulls a revolver during an arguement in Vietnam
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A S&W M-13, demonstarting WHY the aluminium cylinder was unsuccessful.

GE M134 Minigun

A pair each of GE M134 Miniguns are seen mounted on the gunship Hueys that rip apart PAVN soldiers at the climax of the film, and one is also on display on a table in the beginning of the movie.

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General Electric M134 - 7.62x51mm
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Soldiers inspect an M134 Minigun on display.

M1928A1 Thompson

As the American soldiers are heading off for battle you can see a South Vietnamese soldier holding up an M1928A1 Thompson with a 20-round magazine.

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M1928A1 Thompson .45 ACP with 30-round box magazine.
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Hooray! The American troops and a ARVN soldier with a M1928A1 Thompson cheer the rest of the 1st Cavalry when they go to the Ia Drang Valley to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And they are all out of bubblegum.

Browning M1919A4

Two Browning M1919A4s can be seen mounted on French jeeps on the intro sequence.

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A variant of the Browning M1919 developed during World War 2, this model is designated the M37, with the ability to feed from either the left or the right of the weapon - 30-06. This example is shown without a tripod, only the pintle mount. This the MOST likely .30 cal machine gun to be seen firing from armored vehicles.
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A french soldier fires the Browning M1919A4 at Viet Minh forces.
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The Browning M1919A4 can be seen mounted on the jeep on the left.

MAT-49

Various French Soldiers use MAT-49 submachine guns during the opening Scene. Various North Vietnam soldiers and Vietcong soldiers use them during the rest of the movie, probably scavenged from French and South Vietnamise troops during the Indochina war.

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A MAT-49 submachine gun.
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A french soldier can be seen with a MAT-49 in the center of the screencap.
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A MAT-49 sits on the top of the pile of guns while US soldiers pile up dead NVA soldiers in the background.
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A Vietcong fighter gets shot while holding his MAT-49.

RPG-2

An NVA soldier wearing a gas mask uses an RPG-2 (Vietnamese made version was known as the B-40) to kill American soldiers.

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RPG-2 40mm with PG-2 rocket
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A PAVN soldier with his RPG-2.

SKS rifle

Several Viet Minh soldiers and NVA soldiers use SKS rifles during intro sequence and during the Battle of Ia Drang.

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A russian SKS rifle.
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The Viet Minh soldiers rush the french in the intro of the movie. Note how you can see a Kar98k in the backround.
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A Viet Minh soldier holds his SKS to a french soldier.
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"Do we take prisoners?".
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A Viet Minh soldier executes a french soldier.
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A Viet Minh soldier rushes the french with his SKS rifle.
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A Viet Minh soldier with his SKS.
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A Viet Minh soldier before being blown up by a french grenade.
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The Viet Minh to the left-centre of the screencap is armed with a SKS rifle.
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A NVA soldier comes out of a underground base armed with a SKS rifle.
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A Viet Minh soldier rushes the french during the intro.
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A NVA or Vietcong soldier runs around with his SKS while the Ia Drang valley burns in the background by the napalm bombs dropped by United States Air Force planes.
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A NVA soldier armded with a SKS creeps throught the dark.

Mosin Nagant M44 Carbine

During the Intro sequence a Viet Minh soldier can be seen with a Mosin Nagant M44 carbine.

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A M44 Carbine Chambered to the 7.62x54R caliber round.
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The Viet minh soldier in the center of the screencap has a M44 carbine while the other Viet Minh soldier has a Kar98k.

Karabiner 98k

A Viet Minh soldier during the intro sequence and a Vietcong soldier during the rest of the movie can be seen using Karabiner 98k rifles.

It should be noted that acording to one of the armorer's of the film, Steve Karnes, the Kar98ks used in the movie came from Israel and were chambered to 7.62 NATO.

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Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser
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The Viet minh soldier to the right of the screencap has a Karabiner 98k.
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A Victor Charlie with a Kar98k.

M1A1 Bazooka

A Viet Minh soldier uses a varient of the M1 Bazooka, the M1A1 Bazooka with one forward grip and a modified rear sight to destroy a french jeep during the intro sequence.

While it seems that a Viet Minh soldier using a Bazooka could be a anachronism the french army widely used the M1A1, M9A1, and M20 bazookas during the indochina war and the Viet Minh widely used scavanged french weapons during the Indochina War and the PAVN and Vietcong also widely used them during the Vietnam War.

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A M1A1 Bazooka.
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A Viet Minh soldier fires at french soldiers with a M1A1 Bazooka. Note the modified rear sight and how it has only one grip.

Degtyaryov DP-28 machine gun

During the scene where the men of the 1st Cavalry division do a bayonet charge against a NVA position(that actually didn't happen in real life)a small crew of PAVN soldiers man a DP-28, a varient of the soviet Degtyarev light machine gun.

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A DP-28, the same varient seen in the movie.
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A wounded PAVN soldier trys to get up while the U.S. soldiers overrun their positions. The DP-28 can be seen in the right-centre of the screencap
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A DP-28 with dead NVA soldiers. Note the Huey chopper flying in the sky.

Type 67 Grenade

A Chinese Type 67 hand grenade is throw at the 1st Cavarly Division's position.

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A Type 67 grenade hits the ground before exploding.


RPD Light Machine Gun

During the Battle of Ia Drang, one PAVN soldier can be seen carrying an RPD Light Machine Gun.

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An RPD.
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An NVA soldier carries an RPD to the left of the screencap.