Top Guns From “Collateral”

We’re back at it again with another “Top Guns From an Action Movie.” This time, we’re checking out one you should have seen a while ago, so no complaints about spoilers. From secret assassinations to wild night club shootouts, let’s take a look at the top firearms from “Collateral.” 

HK USP .45

The HK USP .45 is Vincent’s (Tom Cruise) main sidearm throughout the movie. This classic fighting pistol packs a punch with 10+1 rounds of .45 ACP. This hammer-fired pistol features double-action/single-action operation with a manual safety/decocking lever. The USP design incorporates a patented recoil buffer to aid with fast, accurate follow-up shots and extend the service life of the firearm. HK makes some of the toughest and most reliable firearms on the planet, so this would be a good choice for a night out on the town. It’s big, it’s chunky, but you know it’s going to go bang! every time. 

Ruger MK II .22

One of the most notable pistols in the movie is the integrally-suppressed Ruger MK II .22 LR Vincent uses for an assassination. It features an AAC Phoenix suppressor integrated into the barrel, giving it one sleek, continuous look. The Ruger MK series is typically used for target shooting and pest control. However, it is known that certain criminal groups such as the mafia prefer a small caliber such as the .22 LR for discrete situations. He later loses the suppressed MK II with his briefcase, which is a shame, because I would have liked to see this used more. 

Colt RO635

Moving up to some heavier firepower, the Colt RO635 is used by a couple of FBI agents at the club. Introduced in 1982, this 9mm AR-style SMG takes extended 32-round stick magazines and about a 10.5-inch barrel. The RO635 is loosely based on the M16 rifle. However, the 9mm SMG is a closed-bolt, blowback-operated firearm. It has a high rate of fire, but retains good controllability. The design has hung around today in a number of popular 9mm AR pistols and SBRs on the market. 

S&W 5906

Classic action movies like this always include at least one Smith and Wesson 5906. This cop gun gained popularity due to its reliability and affordability. The 5906 is an all-steel DA/SA that holds 15+1 rounds of 9mm. The slide features a safety/decocker lever similar to the Beretta 92 design, but it is only ambidextrous on certain models.

The gun feels like a tank in your hand, but it’s built to stand the test of time and withstand some serious abuse. There are plenty of 5906s still running today and they are a great defensive option, especially for those who don’t want a plain Jane Glock. From personal experience, I can tell you that the 5906 shoots well and the trigger features a great reset. Although this S&W series isn’t as refined as timely alternatives from SIG or Beretta, it was less expensive and arguably performs just as well. 

Glock 17L

You knew there’d be a Glock, right? One of the hitmen hired by Felix can be seen loading up his Glock 17L with laser sight on the way to the club. The Glock 17L takes the classic model 17 and stretches the slide, giving you a much longer barrel and sight radius — and a much cooler gun I might add. With a 6-inch barrel, the G17L is even longer than the common long slide Glock, the model 34, and is desirable among collectors today. Other than that, this is a standard Gen 3 Glock 17. It takes 17-round magazines, features a striker-fired action, and is incredibly durable and reliable. 

Steyr SPP

One of the body guards at the club can be seen wielding a Steyr SPP. The Steyr “Special Purpose Pistol” is a civilian remake of the popular TMP machine pistol. Unfortunately, the SPP removes basically anything cool from the original design, although it does retain the unique formfactor. It fires in semi-auto mode only, loses the foregrip and stock, and is just plain awkward in this variation. It’s certainly unique, and an interesting choice, but I sure wouldn’t want to be the character armed with it. 

HK G36C

One of Felix’s henchmen, Paco, runs an HK G36C with an Aimpoint red dot sight. This 5.56 NATO semi-auto rifle with a 9-inch barrel and top carry handle/accessory rail. Notably, the G36C lacks the built-in optic sight in the rail that’s apparent on earlier models of the G36. The G36 is a futuristic-looking firearm that was originally designed as a replacement for the M4/AR-15, and the G36C is the most compact variant of the rifle. 

SIG P232

One of the robbers pulls a SIG P232 on Max (Jamie Foxx) while he’s tied up in the cab. Keeping in character, the robber holds the pistol pointed on its side like a thug with his finger on the trigger. Like the Walther PPK, the SIG Sauer P232 is a popular concealed carry pistol used in T.V. and movies. This little single-stack .380 easily tucks away in the waistband or a pocket. It features DA/SA operation with a decocking lever similar to the one found on the P220 series, the gold standard for many shooters.  

What did you think of the movie “Collateral?” What were your favorite firearms from the film? Let us know in the comment section.