Heat came out 30 years ago and still holds up as a fantastic movie. Gun guys will talk all about the shoot-outs and the authentic gun handling, but Heat is more than that. It’s a great thriller with interesting, dynamic characters. It’s gritty and authentic; it would easily still be one of my favorites even if it didn’t have so many awesome gunfights.
I read Heat 2 not too long ago, and it was an excellent sequel. Apparently, Michael Mann is getting ready to make a second Heat film, although it’s unclear if it will follow the book. The original was full of era-appropriate firearms: the Benelli M3, the FNC, various Colt carbines, HKs, and more. What if it were shot today? What guns would we see?
I’ve theorized that a few specific models would make the cut.
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The Guns of Heat if It Were Filmed Today
Sidearms
Let’s start with the sidearms. We won’t go gun-by-gun or character-by-character; otherwise, we’d never leave the sidearm discussion. However, there are three guns I think definitely should make an appearance.
Staccato HD
I think McCauley would carry a Staccato HD P4. He was a fan of the HK USP and the SIG P220, so size isn’t an issue. In 1995, Neil carried fairly modern pistols, and I think he’d appreciate the refinement of the Staccato.
The Staccato HD P4 is a 2011 platform that uses Glock magazines while keeping a mostly traditional 1911-like layout. The grip safety is gone, but it features ambidextrous thumb safeties, a single-action hammer-fired design, a light rail, and an innovative optic system.
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It’s incredibly accurate, reliable, and a ton of fun to shoot—a 2011 designed for duty use that would suit McCauley’s lifestyle perfectly.
Beretta 92 RDO Compact
Hanna’s character famously carried a Colt Commander. If we fast-forwarded the timeline, I think he would carry a Beretta 92 RDO Compact. It’s the smaller version of the Beretta 92 and offers a ton of extra features.
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Hanna is a Marine, and in a modern setting, he’d likely be a Marine who used an M9 rather than a 1911. The 92 RDO would be a slightly smaller version of that platform, optics- and light-ready. The gun offers modern capacity and capability for a detective used to living on the edge.
S&W Shield X
We rarely see Shiherlis (pronounced she-her-less) use a handgun. In fact, we only really see it once, when he presses a Beretta Cheetah into his waistband. In the modern era, the Beretta 80X could be a good choice, but the S&W Shield X would tick all those modern checkboxes. It’s small enough to shove behind your back, but it comes in 9mm, has short-recoil operation, modern capacity, and a light and optics rail. It’s not fancy, but it’s concealable and capable.
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Shotguns
There are only two notable shotguns in the film: the Benelli M3 and the Mossberg 590. If we fast-forward, I think these would be replaced with more modern options.
Beretta 1301
At the drive-in, Cherrito rocks the Benelli M3 in pump-action mode. I think he’d replace that with the new king of combat shotguns: the Beretta 1301. The 1301 would allow him to rapidly fire 12-gauge buckshot into a target vehicle. Its B-LINK gas system is one of the fastest cycling on the market. It’s fast-firing, easy to control, and comes in numerous configurations, offering the reliability and proven semi-auto design these pros would want.
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Benelli M4 Entry
Near the end of the film, Hanna’s detective squad carries a 590. As members of the LAPD, I’m betting they would now carry the more modern Benelli M4, which is currently issued to LAPD officers—specifically, the short “Entry” model. These gas-operated 12-gauge semi-auto shotguns are the most proven combat shotguns on the planet. They have light recoil, cycle reliably, and can take a massive amount of abuse. Load them with slugs, and that door would come right off its hinges.
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Rifles
Arguably, the real stars of the movie are the rifles. After the bank takedown, the famed Heat L.A. gunfight starts, and every major character has a rifle. We see Galils, Colt carbines, and an FNC. What would these be in Heat 2025?
HK 416D
The HK 416D with a 10.5-inch barrel would replace the short-barreled Colt carbines used by McCauley and Shiherlis. The HK 416D is a short-stroke gas piston gun that runs reliably with a short barrel and keeps gas out of the shooter’s face if they run suppressors. These guys shoot a lot in full-auto, and the piston system is capable of taking that rapid-fire, “burn-down” style of abuse. The Colt Carbine was the choice for special operations in 1995; in 2025, it’s the HK 416D.
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SIG MCX
Hanna carried the rather odd but interesting FN FNC. I’d swap that with a SIG MCX. This is another short-stroke gas piston gun with a lot of time in the hands of Tier 1 units. The MCX with a short barrel would give Hanna a modern, easy-shooting, and accurate rifle for taking down McCauley’s crew. It runs brilliantly suppressed, and suppressors would likely play a big part in Heat if it were shot today. The folding stock design also gives it a distinct silhouette, making it stand out just as the FNC did in the original.
IWI Carmel
Cherrito carried a Galil in the final heist, famously folding its stock to make it easier to conceal under his jacket. The IWI Carmel could do the same. The Carmel is a short-stroke gas piston system with a free-floating barrel available in 10- to 16-inch options. Give Cherrito a folding-stock Carmel with a 10-inch barrel, and it would be much easier to hide under a suit coat. It offers modern controls, an optics-ready design, and an excellent stock while still using standard AR magazines. Plus, like the Galil, it comes out of Israel.
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Heat in 2025
Heat 2 is still a way off, but I’m excited. I hope it’s a brilliant follow-up to a brilliant movie. I can’t wait to see the grit, the authenticity, and most of all, the guns. Michael Mann has a long history of realism, and I can’t wait to see what he does in the modern era of “gun-slinging.”
