44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout

44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout (2003)

44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout is a 2003 television film that dramatizes the events surrounding the infamous 1997 shootout between Los Angeles Police Department officers and two heavily armed bank robbers in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles. The film's cast included Michael Madsen, Ron Livingston, Andrew Bryniarski, Oleg Taktarov and Mario Van Peebles. Some of the film's technical advisers included the LAPD SWAT officers who participated in the actual incident.

The following weapons were used in the film 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout:

Rifles

AKMS

Two types of non-Russian AKMS copies (incorrectly - though understandably - identified in the film as "AK-47s") are used by the 'High Incident Bandits' - Larry Eugene Phillips Jr. (Andrew Bryniarski) and Emil Matasareanu (Oleg Taktarov).

Romanian AIMS

The first type of AK used by the robbers is the Romanian-manufactured AIMS, distinguished by its side-folding skeleton stock and vertical foregrip integrated into the handguard. This is the type used by both men when they first enter the bank and for nearly all of the gun battle. For much of the movie, the men use 75-round drum magazines when they engage the LAPD in the massive 44-minute shootout (though Matasareanu's AIMS has a 30-round box magazine when he first enters the bank).

In real life, the two main AKs used by the gunmen were Chinese Norinco Type 56S rifles illegally converted to full-auto, though both guns were fitted with Romanian side-folding stocks and Phillips' AK was fitted with a Global Trades "reverse donkey dong" vertical foregrip (similar in design to the Romanian AIMS grip).

Romanian AIMS with folding stock and 75-round drum magazine - 7.62x39mm

Good shot of an AIMS as the gunmen prepare in their car prior to entering the bank.

Phillips and Matasareanu fire their AIMS rifles into the ceiling as they enter the bank.

Phillips and Matasareanu open up on the LAPD officers with their AIMS rifles.

Phillips and Matasareanu with AIMS rifles.

Hungarian AMMS

Later, Phillips (Andrew Bryniarski) reaches into the trunk of the getaway car and grabs a Hungarian AMMS under-folder (in the United States, the gun was sold in semi-auto-only form as the SA-85M), also fitted with a 75-round drum magazine. He uses this weapon until it jams, after which he discards it after failing to fix the problem (in the actual incident it was a "stove-pipe" jam, due to a short-stroke action cycle caused by a faulty/under-filled cartridge powder load, and Phillips discards the weapon after having his thumb shot off, rendering him unable to fix the jam). In real life, this was a full-auto converted Norinco Type 56S-1 fitted with an AKMS lower hand guard.

FEG AMMS (Hungarian version of the AKMS) - 7.62x39mm

Phillips switches to the Hungarian AK variant after his HK91 runs out.

Heckler & Koch HK91A3

A Heckler & Koch HK91A3 (converted to fully-automatic) is used briefly by Phillips during the battle; fitted with a 30-round magazine. Due to continuity error, however, it is also seen with a 20-round magazine in a few shots. The HK91A3 used in the real-life incident was not converted to full auto.

Heckler & Koch HK91A3 with factory telescoping stock - 7.62x51mm NATO

Phillips (Andrew Bryniarski) is hit several times while pulling the HK91A3 out of his car. The rounds are ineffective against the heavy body armor that he is wearing.

Another shot of Phillips with the Heckler & Koch HK91A3.

Phillips (Andrew Bryniarski) goads the police into shooting him.

Phillips decides to fire his HK91A3 on the circling news helicopters above.

Custom AR-15

Near the final battle, Matasareanu (Oleg Taktarov) arms himself with a custom M16 assault rifle. The weapon has an M16A2-style receiver and heavy barrel, with a collapsible CAR-15/XM177-style stock and the triangular forearm of an M16A1. The weapon is also fitted with a 100-round Beta C magazine. In all likelihood, this is an M16A2-style upper receiver/barrel unit fitted with A1 hand guards, and slapped onto a full-auto lower receiver with collapsible stock by the movie's armorer, Thell Reed. Specific make/model of either the upper or lower receiver assemblies is difficult to identify.

In real life, this weapon was a Bushmaster XM15 E2S "Dissipator" carbine that had been retrofitted with M16A1-style hand guards and a collapsible stock. The Dissipator carbine differs from the "Franken" gun seen in the movie in that it has a shorter 17.25" barrel, whereas the movie gun has a standard 20" A2-style heavy barrel.

Custom Hybrid gun made to resemble the actual firearm used by Emil Matasareanu in the North Hollywood Shootout - 5.56x45mm

Crime scene photo of the actual AR-15 used by Matasareanu in The North Hollywood Shootout. Note the shortened barrel.

Matasareanu fires his custom AR-15.

Matasareanu goes full auto with the AR-15 on the SWAT officers. Note the full-length barrel.

A closeup of Matasareanu's AR-15 as he opens up on the SWAT officers.

Colt CAR-15

One of the SWAT officers fires the CAR-15. The gunshop owner briefly shows one of these rifles to the LAPD officers when they come in desperate for better firepower. Being that it is a California gun store, chances are that it's a CAR-15 clone, made by one of the many AR rifle manufacturers that were California 'legal' in the 1990s.

Commercial Civilian CAR-15 Rifle with total barrel length of 16" with a fake XM177 Flash hider/sound suppressor welded onto the barrel - 5.56x45mm. These are strictly civilian rifles from the 1980s-1990s that try to emulate the styling of the XM177 rifles.

SWAT Officer Steve Gomez assumes a prone position to fire his CAR-15. He had just come off a run when the call came up, and did not have time to change out of his running shorts.

"Suspect!" SWAT Officer Steve Gomez fires his CAR-15 from the LAPD car driven by Donnie Anderson.

Colt AR-15A2 / Sporter II HBAR

The gun shop shows several Colt AR-15A2 HBAR rifles to members of the LAPD when they come in the store desperate for better firepower, they then leave with multiple rifles in the trunk of their car. Since this takes place in California in the mid 1990s, no gun shop would sell any rifle that was marked Colt AR-15 or Colt CAR-15 since they were banned 'by name' by the California "Roberti-Roos Assault Weapon Ban of 1989". However any aftermarket/third party gun or the Colt Sporters were okay since they didn't say "AR-15". The Colt Sporter II and other AR-15 style rifles would still eventually be banned by another California bill in 1999. These weapons were never used because by the time the patrol officers with the rifles arrived at the scene, SWAT officers had already neutralized the second suspect. The gun shop owner calls it "America's answer to the AK-47".

Colt Sporter II HBAR aka Govt Model AR-15A2 - 5.56x45mm

The Sporter is among the rifles on the shelf of the gun shop.

Closeup of the Sporter being cleared.

M16A2

Two of the LAPD SWAT officers carry M16A2 Rifles during the shootout. These weapons were deployed with the SWAT officers when they received the call and were not among the rifles that the patrol officers procured from the B&B gun store. They were referred to as the ".223" by SWAT Officer Donnie Anderson (Ron Livingston).

M16A2 Rifle - 5.56x45mm. Select Fire rifle (Safe/Semi/3 round Burst Only).

SWAT Officer Donnie Anderson (Ron Livingston) chambers a round into his M16A2 before entering the bank.

SWAT officers Massa and Anderson return fire with their M16A2 rifles.

SWAT Officer Donnie Anderson (Ron Livingston) takes aim with his M16A2. Note blank adapter in barrel.

Officer Anderson holds the M16A2 as he and the other SWAT officers converge on Matasareanu.

Remington 700PSS

The gunshop owner shows the LAPD officers that come into the store a Remington 700PSS rifle and calls it "the best sniper rifle made". Another Remington 700PSS could be seen at the police armory.

Remington Model 700PSS .300 Win Mag with Harris bipod and Leupold Mark 4 scope

A Closeup of the 700PSS that the gunshop owner brings out for the police.

Another 700PSS is seen in the LAPD gunshop where MacGregor picks up his S&W 686.

Handguns

Beretta 92FS

The Beretta 92FS was the primary sidearm of the LAPD during the time of the North Hollywood shootout. It is seen being fired by LAPD Officers Jake Harris (Ray Baker), Bobby Martinez (Douglas Spain), Nicole Gomez (Alex Meneses), Henry Jones (Mario Van Peebles), and numerous other officers.

Beretta 92FS - 9x19mm

Officer Jake Harris chambers a round into his Beretta 92FS.

Closeup of Officer Bobby Martinez's Beretta as he chambers a round.

Officers Harris (Ray Baker) and Martinez (Douglas Spain) continue to fire their Berettas as they yell, "Aim for the head!"

Officer Jake Harris (Ray Baker) keeps his finger off the trigger.

Officer Nicole Gomez (Alex Meneses) fires her Beretta.

Officer Henry Jones (Mario Van Peebles) returns fire with his Beretta.

Beretta 92FS Inox

After his AKMS jams, Phillips (Andrew Bryniarski) pulls a stainless Beretta 92FS Inox from a leather shoulder holster in his final moments. As a last act of defiance, he flips off the nearby officers with one hand while simultaneously firing shots from the other hand. Phillips then gives up and winds up committing suicide with it. He is simultaneously shot in the spine by Detective Frank McGregor (Michael Madsen).

Beretta 92FS Inox - 9x19mm

Phillips racks the slide the Beretta Inox. Oddly, It would appear the decocker was engaged, when he chambers it, it goes to single action, then back to double action as he releases the slide.

Phillips with his Beretta Inox moments before he puts it to his chin.

Smith & Wesson Model 686

Detective Frank McGregor (Michael Madsen) carries a 4" Barreled Smith & Wesson Model 686 as his sidearm and uses the revolver during the shootout. At one point, he takes a shot at Phillips at the same instant Phillips puts his own Beretta to his chin.

Smith & Wesson Model 686 - .357 Magnum

Det. McGregor fires his Model 686 revolver.

McGregor aims his S&W Model 686 at Phillips.

Smith & Wesson Model 19

As the bandits make their getaway, an LAPD detective opens fire on Phillips with a 4" barreled Smith & Wesson Model 19.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Revolver - .357 Magnum.

An LAPD Detective aims his Model 19.

Custom Jim Hoag M1911

Donnie Anderson (Ron Livingston) finds a custom M1911 in a box of his late father's things. This 1911 was custom built by Master Pistolsmith Jim Hoag of Canoga Park, CA, and was seen used by James Caan in the film Thief.

James Hoag Colt Longslide.

The custom 1911 is seen with adjustable sights and square trigger guard.

Donnie picks up the weapon.

Submachine Guns

Heckler & Koch MP5A2

The Heckler & Koch MP5A2 is seen in the hands of several SWAT officers in an early scene including Officer Donnie Anderson (Ron Livingston). When the call about the shootout was received, Donnie instructed the other SWAT officers to leave their MP5s in the trunk due to the fact that the 9x19mm ammunition used by the MP5s would probably not be able to penetrate the suspects' multiple layers of body armor.

Heckler & Koch MP5A2 with Surefire 628 dedicated forend weaponlight - 9x19mm

SWAT officer Anderson (Ron Livingston) carries an MP5A2 at the beginning of the film.

Shotguns

Ithaca 37

Several LAPD officers are armed with Ithaca 37 12 Gauge pump-action shotguns, loaded with 00 buckshot. The Ithaca 37 was the standard shotgun of LAPD patrol officers at the time.

Ithaca Model 37 riot shotgun - 12 Gauge

An LAPD officer is seen firing an Ithaca 37 shotgun during the shootout.

Remington 870

Several LAPD officers are also armed with Remington 870 12 Gauge pump-action shotguns, loaded with 00 buckshot.

Remington 870 Police Magnum riot shotgun - 12 Gauge

An LAPD officer fires a Remington 870 during the shootout.

Benelli M1 Super 90

SWAT Officer Richard Massa (Christopher Jacobs) is seen with a Benelli M1 Super 90 fitted with a pistol grip and Surefire dedicated forend weaponlight at the beginning of the film.

Benelli M1 Super 90 with pistol grip, saddle shell holders and Surefire dedicated weaponlight - 12 Gauge

SWAT Officer Richard Massa (Christopher Jacobs) carries the Benelli and is the first through the door. The Benelli has a tactical light mounted.

Another shot of Massa with the Benelli.

Various Shotguns

A variety of shotguns are glimpsed inside the gun shop as LAPD officers enter to procure heavier firepower for the shootout.

A wide shot of the gunshop shows the shotgun display. The fair amount on the left (if not all) are Remington 870 models.

A row of shotguns is glimpsed in the gun shop.