Talk:Full Metal Jacket

Timeframe?

Anyone know the actual YEAR this is supposed to take place? I noticed that the 'Marines' are wearing the M69 flak vests, which came out in late 67-early 68, and Marines got everything later than the Army did. MoviePropMaster2008 15:12, 5 April 2010 (UTC)

The Tet Offensive took place on January 31, 1968, so I believe the equipment would be correct.

Yeah, thanks DUH! (slap head), I forgot that the Tet Offensive was shown in the movie. It's been that long since I've seen it. But as I recall, all of the Marines I saw in actual combat footage of the Tet offensive still wore the old M58 flak vests (with the rib on the shoulder to hold the rifle sling), so these 'marines' in the movie are getting their gear BEFORE the Army, lol! MoviePropMaster2008 16:46, 5 April 2010 (UTC)

Ranks

By the Vietnam sequence (set a couple years after Boot Camp), Joker is Sergeant and Cowboy is a Corporal, the page continually still refers to them as Pvt though.

Cowboy is a Staff Sergeant or so. Crazy Earl is a Gunnery Sergeant and Touchdown is a Lt. I don't think Joker is supposed to be an sergent though.-Oliveira 20:40, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

- I definitely recall Joker referring to himself as a 'Sergeant' in the film (I believe when he talks to the Lt. after finding the mass grave, right before he gets chewed out by that Colonel.) StanTheMan 16:46, 5 April 2010 (UTC)

VC Sniper (Ngoc Le)

I thought the sniper has a rifle with scope? Every sniper has a rifle with scope I thought, but the VC sniper seems to shoot very accurate on big distances? Or has she got a scope?

No, she didn't have a scope. They called her a sniper because they didn't know or give a damn what kind of gun she was using. - Kilgore 23:47, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

Not all snipers have a scoped rifle. Its not the rifle that makes the person a sniper.--FIVETWOSEVEN 22:32, 29 June 2011 (CDT)

Yeah, the original snipers didn't have scopes. - Mr. Wolf 01:59, 30 June 2011 (CDT)

Simo Hayha had 505 confirmed kills with Finnish M/28 version of the Mosin Nagant. He preferred using iron sights because he could present a smaller target, without having to raise his head to the scope, as well in the cold climate of the Winter War, scopes could fog up. He also would pack the snow down infront of his position so the shot wouldnt disturb the snow around him, as well as keeping snow in his mouth to keep his breath from giving away his position.

A sniper is someone who shoots from cover at distance to kill with accuracy and efficiency. Atleast thats how i always saw it. -MissySummers- 20:50, 8 January 2012 (CST)

Blank cartridges?

It seems to me, that in the scene Joker uses the M60 at the enemy assault on the marine base (Timecode 55:30), he only has blank cartridges in his ammo belt. See http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Blank_cartridge_7.62_x_51mm.jpg to compare. Might this be possible?

It's very possible, movies use blanks instead of live ammunition for safety, and because blank rounds on belts can't hide the fact they're blanks because they're out in the open. - Gunmaster45

It's also illegal to use live ammo on a film set due to health and safety as well isn't it? --cool-breeze 09:17, 13 April 2011 (CDT)

M16? Accurate?

The original M16 wasn't used by the Marines, Only by the Air Force. The Marines and Army (not sure about Navy) used the XM16E1 and M16A1, and since the film takes place in 1968, they should be using the M16A1, not the original M16(SP1). Unless the M16 was the only one they could find then thats acceptable. --Gunner5