Mission Impossible: The Guns of Ethan Hunt - Volume 2

The threat of nuclear war and a corrupt shadow organization determined to take down the IMF, not much has changed for the Mission: Impossible team in the fourth and fifth installments of the franchise. This trend, however, does not carry over into the choices of firearms the team are seen using. Starting off with 2011’s Ghost Protocol what we thought was once impossible has happened: the IMF’s main sidearm has transitioned from the much loved Beretta 92, and its many variants, to the SIG Sauer P226, a P226 E2 to be specific. This change goes to show that as Hunt's missions and skillset evolve with modern challenges and innovations so do his choice in sidearm. In this second piece covering the firearms of Ethan Hunt we will see some new additions to the selection as well as some old favorites.

Check out part 1 of our series looking at The Guns of Ethan Hunt here.

Big on Stunts, Light on Guns

Starting strong with the SIG Sauer P226 E2, it becomes the standard issue sidearm for all IMF agents in this film, and as with the 92 Brigadier in Mission Impossible III, the P226 E2 was debuted the year prior to this film’s release leads me to believe that this was once again rather clever product placement. Ethan Hunt, along with two of his team members, Benji Dunn and William Brandt, is seen carrying the P226 E2. The main differences between the E2 and previous models are a redesigned grip and more aggressive texturing to allow for smaller handed shooters to better grasp and control the pistol.

A classic firearm once again making the list is the old standby, Glock 17. While not prominently featured and more likely overshadowed by the adrenaline pumping skyscraper ascent and the following chase scene from the Burj Khalifa, the Glock 17 allegedly makes an appearance as Hunt’s sidearm choice while he is in Dubai. I say allegedly because according to multiple sources Hunt is carrying one while there, however, after watching the film multiple times I cannot seem to spot it, even in a holster on his body. Oddly enough in a continuity error another one of the IMF agents is seen with one while in the previous scene he is carrying an E2. As my family’s resident firearms nerd, I find quite a bit of joy in pointing out film flaws like that.

Rounding out our list of firearms that Hunt is seen using on screen in Ghost Protocol is what I think is one of the more interesting custom firearms used by Hunt in the MI franchise, the Glock 26 tranquilizer gun. First seen in the previous film the modified pistol is this time seen being used on the fellow inmate that escaped the Russian prison alongside Hunt after they get rescued by his IMF team. While I’m not 100% sure that it is the same pistol or prop, I would assume that once you develop and become familiar with a small frame tranquilizer gun that you would make as much use out of it as possible and therefore, it is probably the same firearm that Hunt used in the Vatican previously.

Hunt’s firearm usage has dropped off significantly between films 3 and 4, going from 8 down to just 3. Keeping in mind that one of them is a returning piece, I find it interesting that the amount of gunplay and shootouts that were popular in the previous two films dropped off significantly, being replaced by more hand-to-hand fight scenes.Perhaps this was due to director Brad Bird being at the helm. This could also be a result in a changing shift in what is seen to make a good Hollywood blockbuster movie. Bird, the director, has an interesting mix of credits including animated features like The Incredibles and the Iron Giant. With Bird being a child of the 60s and 70s it is possible that his vision for this film was to take it back to the TV series roots of dramatic tension as opposed to the over the top Hollywood shootouts that it was becoming.

Mission Impossible Goes Rogue

The new theme of less is more when it comes to Ethan Hunt’s firearm usage continues into the fifth film in the series, Rouge Nation, directed by Christopher McQuarrie. McQuarrie is also the director for the next two films in the franchise which we will be covering in the next instalment, making him the first director to be at the helm of more than one film in this franchise.

In a nod to more classic firearms, a Colt M1911A1 is seen on Hunt’s side table in his safehouse in Paris. While it's not used in active scenes, it’s an interesting choice for a sidearm while on the run. Leading me to wonder how Hunt came to have it, was it stashed away in the safehouse some time ago when it was the pistol of choice? Or maybe due to other factors it was the easiest for Hunt to acquire while in France. We will never know, but I find it comforting that even a top spy such as Ethan Hunt can appreciate a classic design such as the 1911.

A custom set of firearms that can be seen used are several tranquilizer pistols used to subdue several targets, including the British Prime Minister. And while these don’t completely knock out the person who gets shot by them, they seem to make the individual rather loose-lipped and agreeable, and therefore much more open to suggestions and spilling secrets. As with the custom firearms used in previous films, such as the Glock 26 tranquilizer or the Desert Eagle grappling gun, these specialized pistols highlight the franchises emphasis on non-lethal tactics when necessary and the ingenuity of the IMF team in handling delicate situations, such as getting answers from a political official without doing lasting damage.

Keeping with the IMF’s tradition of custom firearms, during the sequence at the opera Hunt makes use of a suppressed rifle disguised as an alto flute instrument in order to pass it through security. This almost feels more like a firearm from a classic Bond movie. And after seeing how thoroughly they were checking for dangers in the instruments I am not surprised that the assassin was able to get it through the checkpoint. While not explicitly shown or mentioned the cartridges that are put into this firearm seem to be an intermediate rifle caliber, quick shots make it hard to tell for certain but likely 5.56 or 7.62x39, with the latter being more readily available in the country this sequence takes place in.

The next firearm to make an appearance is the Sig P226R. The P226R is the primary sidearm used by members of the movie’s antagonist group, the Syndicate, throughout the film. Seen most notably during a motorcycle chase in Morocco, something that harkens back to a similar sequence in the second film. Ethan Hunt briefly uses a P226R he takes off of Ilsa, a double agent working for the Syndicate in London, while functionally very similar to the P226 E2 in the previous film the addition of a suppressor makes the handling slightly different. But this is something that wouldn’t be an issue for an accomplished spy such as Hunt.

Across Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation, Ethan Hunt's arsenal reflects the evolving nature of his missions and the increasing sophistication of his adversaries. From the standard-issue SIG-Sauer P226 E2 to specialized tranquilizer pistols, Hunt's choice of firearms showcases his adaptability and expertise. As the series progresses, so too does the complexity of the tools at his disposal, ensuring that his missions remain as thrilling and unpredictable as ever while also keeping up to date with modern firearm trends.