The American

[Jammersix]

What is the rifle in the Clooney movie The American?

 

[cslinger]

Never saw the movie but IIRC from the promotional material it was either a Ruger Mini 14 or AC556. I only remember glancing at a poster and that is what comes to mind.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Never saw the movie but IIRC from the promotional material it was either a Ruger Mini 14 or AC556. I only remember glancing at a poster and that is what comes to mind.

Yup, Mini 14. Which is kinda funny, because it is neither modular, nor particularly accurate which were two of the specified design parameters for the weapon. Suppressing one is kinda moot too, since the bolt makes so much noise clacking back and forth......

 

[Mullo98]

You should check IMFDB, it’s basically catalogs what guns were used in movies, shows, games ect, so it can tell you more. Great website!

 

[herrwalther]

Wonderful website http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/American,_The

Mini 14 is the winner.

 

[Jammersix]

Next question is this: how could a mini 14 be made to behave as this one did in the weapon's final scene?

Seems to me that any such modification to the weapon would be revealed instantly by even a cursory inspection by an agent who has the woman's qualifications. After watching the movie a couple times, the only clue I saw was in the final box of "candy", and even then, the only method that suggested itself to me was a massive overcharge, which wouldn't be either reliable or accurate. It would go all directions, not just backwards.

The only firearms flaw I've seen (other than the magical mini 14) is that during the first field trial, she fires one round that strikes to the left, and she adjusts elevation which somehow puts the round on target.

 

[Robert]

Next question is this: how could a mini 14 be made to behave as this one did in the weapon's final scene?

Hollywood, that's how.

 

[Jammersix]

I would have expected more than one other flaw if that were the answer. Could be. They mention mercury rounds, so it could be just Hollywood.

 

[JohnKSa]

The only firearms flaw I've seen (other than the magical mini 14) is that during the first field trial, she fires one round that strikes to the left, and she adjusts elevation which somehow puts the round on target.

There's also the point where he quotes the muzzle velocity of the gun as "360 miles an hour". Not only is it ludicrous that two people knowledgeable about firearms would discuss muzzle velocity in terms of mph, the value, if you work out the math, comes out to about 530fps--obviously far too low to be realistic. Could be that he was meant to say meters per second, but even that would be very low. It could possibly make sense if it were some kind of special subsonic ammo except that 360mps is a bit over the speed of sound.

He also implies that the "sound suppression" would take 20 mph off the velocity, but all else being equal, adding a suppressor would likely increase velocity slightly.

Then, later in the same scene he calls the gun an "M14".

Seems to me that any such modification to the weapon would be revealed instantly by even a cursory inspection by an agent who has the woman's qualifications.

One way to sabotage a rifle to injure or kill the shooter would be to alter the locking lugs or the locking surfaces in the receiver and weaken the rear of the receiver to allow the bolt to come back through it easily upon firing. The gun would appear to function normally until fired. Unlocked, the bolt would move to the rear at relatively high velocity and blow through the rear of the weakened receiver which would quite likely seriously injure or kill the shooter. Overcharging the ammunition or creating a partial obstruction in the bore would increase the bolt velocity.

A careful inspection might note the problem, or it might not. As a joke, I once repaired a pair of broken pliers with superglue. They looked and operated normally until pressure was applied and then the broken jaw snapped off. I'm not saying that superglue would work, but the general principle is applicable although a stronger glue might be necessary to hold things together until firing. Cycling an action would not reveal such repairs since no significant stress is applied to the critical parts until firing. Examination might show up the damage if the examination were quite careful and the person doing the examination knew what to look for but I would give pretty good odds that they would go unnoticed.

 

[chicharrones]

Movie makers are so accurate.

I happen to see the first episode of Space Race yesterday afternoon. In one scene, "American GIs" are on patrol in "Nazi Germany" with SKS carbines on their backs and in their hands. Awesome.

 

[Jammersix]

I forgot about the muzzle velocity in mph.

 

[threefeathers]

Hollywood guns are as accurate as the script.

 

[buck460XVR]

Hollywood, that's how.

Yep!

.....ain't no different than the old "B" Spaghetti westerns I watched as a kid where their revolvers never had to be reloaded, their black powder cartridges did not smoke up the place and their accuracy @ 100 yards with a handgun was within MOA.

 

[CLP]

nor particularly accurate ...

And the Understatement of the Year Award goes to...

 

[old lady new shooter]

Hollywood guns are as accurate as the script.

Totally off-topic, I love your avatar photo.

 

[JoeHenry]

Not a Clooney fan.