Missing In Action (1984)

Missing in Action is the 1984 action film starring Chuck Norris as James Braddock, a US Special Forces colonel who escaped from a Vietnamese prison camp during the war and proceeds to return to Vietnam ten years later to investigate a report of American POW's still imprisoned in the country. Braddock then launches his own mission to free the imprisoned soldiers. The film proved to be one of Chuck Norris's biggest hits and was the first in a trilogy of Missing in Action films that included 1985's Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (which was filmed back to back with this movie and was actually intended to be the initial entry) and 1988's Braddock: Missing in Action III.

Despite the overwhelmingly negative reception from critics, the film was a commercial success and has become one of Chuck Norris's most popular films. It was also Chuck Norris's first film with The Cannon Group.

The following weapons were used in the film Missing In Action:

Machine Guns

M60

Col. James Braddock (Chuck Norris) uses the M60 during the POW rescue mission. He famously is seen rising from the water with the machine gun. It's also seen used by both NVA and US forces throughout the film.

M60 machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO

Col. James Braddock (Chuck Norris) opens fire with the M60 mounted on the fast boat.

Col. James Braddock fires the M60 while intercepting the POW convoy.

Col. James Braddock rises out of the water firing his M60 in an iconic scene.

Braddock firing his M60.

Col. James Braddock surveys the destruction.

During the film's opening, a VC machine gun team opens fire with the M60. This is a reversed shot as the belt is feeding from the wrong side.

M60D

The M60D is used by the doorgunners on UH-1 "Huey" helicopters at the beginning and end of the film.

M60D machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO

A doorgunner provides cover with the M60D during the film's opening.

Doorgunner's eye view.

Browning M2HB

PAVN soldiers man a pair of Browning M2HBs against Col. Braddock.

Browning M2HB .50 BMG

Pair of Browning M2HBs mounted on a 2 1/2 ton truck.

Rifles

M16A1 with M203

During the opening sequence, Col. James Braddock (Chuck Norris) uses an M203 grenade launcher mounted on his M16A1.

M16A1 5.56x45mm with M203 grenade launcher 40mm

Braddock holds his M16A1 with the M203 as he helps a fallen comrade.

Col. Braddock is hit by an NVA soldier while firing his rifle.

M16 SP1

One of the US soldiers is seen armed with an M16 SP1 rifle.

M16 SP1/AR-15

In the film's opening, one of the US American soldiers is seen armed with an M16 SP1 rifle. Note the lack of a forward assist but the presence of the birdcage flash-hider.

M16A1

Most of the US soldiers during the Vietnam sequence are seen using M16A1s. Braddock and Tuck (M. Emmet Walsh) use a heavy-barreled version of the M16 during the rescue of American POWs. These M16 HBARs are identifiable by their heavier-profile barrels than normal M16A1s. The movie being filmed in the Philippines suggests they may be Elisco Tool-produced Model 611Ps.

Colt M16A1 HBAR Model 611 with 20-round magazine and M60 bipod - 5.56x45mm

Col. James Braddock with his M16A1. Note the thickness of the barrel in comparison to the M16A1/M203 and M16 SP1 above.

Sideview of Braddock's rifle.

Tuck (M. Emmet Walsh) with his M16A1.

Colt Model 653

Vietnamese Assassins who try to kill Braddock in Bangkok are armed with Colt Model 653 carbines. A similar carbine is used to test out a boat's resistance to gunfire. Based on the round forward assist plunger seen on one of them, these may be locally-produced Model 653Ps.

Colt Model 653 Carbine 16" barrel - 5.56x45mm

An Assassin with his Colt Model 653.

The other assassin uses his rifle during the chase with Braddock. The round forward assist plunger can be seen in this shot.

A similar carbine is used to test out a boat's resistance to gunfire.

M14 Rifle

In the opening sequence, the M14 Rifle is seen in the hands of US and NVA forces. The M14 is also seen in the hands of PAVN soldiers during the climax.