Guns of Action Stars — Sylvester Stallone

Some celebrities have made a name with their ability to thrill us on screen with their firearm handling and shooting ability. These “Action Stars” have used a wide variety of guns throughout their years in film, but some stand out more than others. Here are some of the best and coolest guns used by the incredible Sylvester Stallone.

Rambo

John Rambo and his Browning M60 are one of the most incredible pairings in action movie history. The belt of ammo slung over his shoulder is also iconic. 

The M60 is a full-auto, belt-fed machine gun chambered in 7.62 NATO, capable of firing 550-650 rounds per minute. It earned the nickname, the “Pig,” from American soldiers because its report sounded like the grunt of a barnyard hog. It is one heavy chunk of steel at 26 pounds loaded, and it proves Rambo’s strength that he totes it around so easily. 

The M60 also matches the post Vietnam-era setting of the film, and it makes sense for a returned soldier to have knowledge on how to operate a more complex firearm such as this. 

The Expendables

The Expendables is a movie filled with tons of action stars and even more firearms. One of the most notable is carried by Barney Ross (Stallone), who frequently uses a Colt Single Action Army as backup. It’s mainly seen when he fires from the hip in those dire life and death scenarios. Of course, he fans the hammer on this single-action, which looks great on screen. 

This classic cowboy gun fires the large .45 LC and holds six rounds in the cylinder. The Ross Single Action Army incorporates a custom shortened barrel with compensator cuts and no front sight post. 

The Expendables was also co-written and directed by Stallone, earning it extra marks on this list. 

Cobra

Up next is Cobra, where Stallone plays “Cobra,” a LA detective assigned to protect a witness to a string of murders. As you might expect from someone with the name Cobra, he’s the beard stubble, toothpick in mouth, aviator sunglasses type… perfect for an ’80s action movie. 

The Jatimatic SMG is used frequently throughout the film and is even featured in advertising. This uniquely shaped firearm certainly looks the part of a good defensive firearm with the old school laser sight attached. In reality, this Finnish gun was produced in very limited numbers and was never successful. Even in film, Cobra was one of its only moderately successful appearances. This 9mm SMG had both 20- and 40-round magazine options, and could be equipped with a folding stock, but was ultimately beaten out by the competition at the time. 

Bullet to the Head

In Bullet to the Head, Stallone plays Jimmy Bobo, a retiring hitman whose partner was murdered. Jimmy must team up with a detective to help uncover and bring down who’s responsible.

Jimmy uses a nickel-plated Browning Hi-Power with three-lug adapter for a quick-attach suppressor. This makes sense given his background as a hitman. The single-action pistol is incredibly accurate and reliable. His Hi-Power is a 9mm, so it’s 13+1 rounds, and this version seems to feature fixed sights. Classic Hi-Powers are steel-frame tanks, making them an excellent no-nonsense sidearm. 

Nighthawks

When a European terrorist comes to New York, an elite undercover cop must do anything necessary to take him down. Nighthawks is full of classic cop guns for your viewing pleasure. One of the coolest is a sawed-off Remington 870 12-gauge. DaSilva (Stallone) uses a Remington 870 with an overfolding stock and shortened barrel to make a dangerous arrest. This setup handles well in tight spaces and packs a lot of power. It also looks great on the big screen.

Death Race 2000

Death Race 2000 depicts a futuristic world where the most popular form of entertainment is watching a dangerous race to the death. Stallone plays Machine Gun Joe, known for his love and use of the M1928 Thompson. He even drives a car with a Thompson-shaped ornament mounted to the hood. 

The M1928 Thompson, or “Chicago Typewriter,” is a blowback-operated, selective-fire SMG chambered in .45 ACP.  Originally designed to enhance trench warfare tactics, the Thompson features a short 10.5-inch barrel for easy maneuverability. Notably, the Thompson accepts heavy 50-round drum magazines as well as 30-round extended stick mags. The early M1928 Thompsons incorporate the ribbed barrel, Cutts compensator, and forward grip. Later models did away with these details to save costs during wartime efforts. 

Demolition Man

In Demolition Man, Stallone plays a cop who has been reanimated in the future to stop a violent offender. Of course, it only makes sense for him to use a sidearm with a rich history in law enforcement, the Beretta 92. 

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The Beretta 92 is a 9mm double-action/single-action pistol with a double-stacked magazine that holds 17 rounds of ammunition. The open-top slide design makes for excellent reliability and quick malfunction clearance. This “wondernine” helped pave the road for the popularity of today’s semi-automatic, double-stack pistols. It’s nice to think this pistol is still kicking ass in the future. 

Escape Plan

Escape Plan is all about suspense, including Ray Breslin’s (Stallone) impressive catch of a Colt M1911A1 to save the day during the climax of the film. 

The Government model 1911 has a 5-inch barrel and a full-length steel grip frame. Of course, it’s a single-stack, single-action, .45 ACP pistol. The movie even accounts for an accurate 7+1 capacity, when Breslin fires eight rounds. This classic Colt 1911 features the traditional barebones iron sights, making that daring shot all the more impressive. 

What’s your favorite Sylvester Stallone action movie? What’s your favorite gun he used on screen? Let us know in the comment section.