Tropic Thunder

The following guns were used in the film Tropic Thunder:

Tropic Thunder: 2-disc Director's Cut (2008)

AR-15 Sporter II Carbine

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), along with various other characters, uses a 16" barreled AR-15 Sporter II Carbine throughout the film, which is anachronistic for Vietnam . The original AR-15 Carbine was an SP1 (sold between 1978-1985)), so there was no forward Assist on the upper receiver. Stiller's gun is the A1 version, or what Colt called the "Sporter II version" in U.S. sales. The Colt Model 653 based weapons came after 1973. He should be using an XM177 variation to be accurate to the era. It may be an homage to the movie Platoon since the characters of Barnes (Tom Berenger) and Elias (Willem Dafoe) used the Phillipine export Colt Model 653 rifles. This film uses what is available in the United States, which happens to be the Sporter II carbine, since most of the movie was filmed in Los Angeles and Hawaii.

Colt Model 653 (U.S. Domestic version), closest gun picture available - 5.56x45mm.

Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) in "black face" make-up fires his AR-15 Sporter II Carbine during the opening "Hot LZ" scene.

Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) playing the role of "Fats" fires his Sporter II Carbine during the opening scene.

Speedman with his Sporter II Carbine.

Someone scratched the finish off the Sporter II reciever very badley.

Speedman fires his Sporter II at the enemy Guerillas, unaware they are real enemies, and them unaware he is firing blanks.

I'm sure if a military advisor was present, he wouldn't be too impressed with this firing stance.

"Lets load and lock."

Speedman fires his Sporter II into the air to stop the argument between Lazarus and Alpo Chino (Brandon T. Jackson).

Speedman seems inclined to rack the action on the Sporter II even when the gun is already chambered.

Speedman with his Sporter II.

"I'm a lead-farmer, motherf*cker!"

Lazarus fires two Sporter II Carbines akimbo style at the Guerillas, depsite the guns being loaded with blanks.

Lazarus crosses his Sporter II Carbines.

When Lazarus tosses Chino one of his Sporter II carbines, it is clearly a rubber prop casted from one fitted with a 30 round magazine.

Chino holds a Sporter II on the Guerillas, gangster style.

Chino reloads his Sporter II.

M16A1

Kevin Sandusky (Jay Baruchel) and Alpo Chino (Branon T. Jackson) both carry M16A1 rifles fitted with the older style M16 muzzle flash reducers throughout the film.

M16A1 - 5.56x45mm.

Sandusky and Chino with their M16A1 rifles.

Sandusy with his M16A1. Note older style M16 muzzle flash reducer.

Sandusky takes cover from Guerilla fire with his M16A1 rifle in hand.

Chino with his M16A1 as Guerillas shoot at him.

Sandusky hides as Lazarus tries to speak Mandarin to the Guerilla leader, Tran (Brandon Soo Hoo).

Sandusky searches the huts for Speedman.

Chino holds his M16A1 gangster style.

Chino fires his M16A1.

M60

Jeff "Fats" Portnoy (Jack Black) wields an M60 Machine Gun as his weapon in the film. Jack Black commented on how he got stuck with the M60, which he knew was nicknamed "The Pig", and was tolds he was a natural with it, something he found disturbing. Some other random soldiers are also seen firing M60s during the opening scene.