# What weapon is this Paris SWAT team guy holding? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308 "2015-01-08T14:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/1 "2015-01-08T14:16:11Z")
FTR, I do not know if he is municipal SWAT, or even in Paris, but it is from a news story today, and I doubt it is a file photo. It certainly seems to be loaded for bear. ---
**Author:** ![dofe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@dofe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dofe)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/2 "2015-01-08T14:19:48Z")
Looks like an HK MP5 to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/3 "2015-01-08T14:22:28Z")
Tricked out MP5? ETA: The loaded for bear part comes from what looks to me like multiple magazines mounted side-by-side. That way you don’t have to reach for a new one to reload; just hit the magazine release, and slide the mag out-over-and back in. Used to rig something similar with M16 magazines. Cut 2 pieces of MRE box the same width as a magazine. Tape one on either side, tape a magazine on top of that, and you accomplish the same thing. The MRE box is exactly the right thickness to create a gap to clear the rim of the magazine well. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/4 "2015-01-08T14:24:04Z")
Don’t MP5’s shoot 9mm? Look at the magazine. Looks closer to .556. ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/5 "2015-01-08T14:27:34Z")
My money would be on a [H&K G36](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G36). ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/6 "2015-01-08T14:28:32Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Don’t MP5’s shoot 9mm? Look at the magazine. Looks closer to .556. I just noticed that taking a second look. It wouldn’t surprise me if you can get a receiver that will fire about any cartridge from the platform. That might account for the heat sinks along the barrel…dissipate the extra heat. > [@Mogle](#): > > My money would be on a [H&K G36](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G36). That would account for the 5.56, wunnit? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/7 "2015-01-08T14:36:49Z")
Right, looks most like a [G36C.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G36#mediaviewer/File:Navy_PASKAL_frogman_strike_team_members_arms_with_HK_firearms_during_57th_NDP_%28a%29.jpg) H&K like many other manufacturers makes “families” of weapons that share operating system and parts commonality. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/8 "2015-01-08T21:36:38Z")
It could also be a short barrel M4. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/9 "2015-01-08T21:58:01Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > It could also be a short barrel M4. It is definitely not that. I do believe that it is a G36 as others have said. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/10 "2015-01-08T22:09:57Z")
It looks a lot like a [Beretta ARX-160](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_ARX_160) with a grenade launcher and collapsible stock. The Beretta ARX-160 is an Italian 5.56 rifle. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/11 "2015-01-08T22:20:51Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I That might account for the heat sinks along the barrel…dissipate the extra heat. Those aren’t heat sinks. They are rails for mounting accessories. If you look on the top of the weapon behind the mounted sight you can see more of the same. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/12 "2015-01-08T22:47:21Z")
Just did a zoom of the original picture. The shape of what we see of the receiver and the shapes and placement of the selector switch, charging handle and attachment point for the rear upper rail, are identical to those in the picture identified as the G36C ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/13 "2015-01-08T22:52:10Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > It looks a lot like a [Beretta ARX-160](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_ARX_160) with a grenade launcher and collapsible stock. The Beretta ARX-160 is an Italian 5.56 rifle. It is very similar but the ejection port is all wrong. Unless there is another version I don’t know about. And that is a flashlight not a grenade launcher. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/14 "2015-01-08T22:54:00Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Just did a zoom of the original picture. The shape of what we see of the receiver and the shapes and placement of the selector switch, charging handle and attachment point for the rear upper rail, are identical to those in the picture identified as the G36C I agree. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/15 "2015-01-08T23:33:08Z")
It’s a G36C. I have a lot of experience using the G36C and G36K. > [@robert\_columbia](#): > > It looks a lot like a Beretta ARX-160 with a grenade launcher and collapsible stock. The Beretta ARX-160 is an Italian 5.56 rifle. That is not a grenade launcher up front it is a light. Specifically it is a Surefire M900. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/16 "2015-01-08T23:33:09Z")
Yep. It’s from the H&K family. The rail with optics on top, the flashlight, and the double magazine make it look meaner than it is. It’s still not a Kill O Zap. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/17 "2015-01-08T23:49:40Z")
Search google pics for GIGN (French SWAT equivalent) They use all kinds of different weapons. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/18 "2015-01-09T01:13:17Z")
Gun enthusiasts: with the taped magazines, 6-way Picatinny rails, scope, collapsible stock, and bottom-slung flashlight, is that weapon what you’d consider well within the useful range, or is it approaching [tacticool](http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/mursterman/tacticool.jpg) territory? ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/19 "2015-01-09T01:32:14Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Search google pics for GIGN (French SWAT equivalent) They use all kinds of different weapons. They don’t belong to the GIGN. They wouldn’t have “police” written on their back if they did. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308/20 "2015-01-09T01:38:27Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Gun enthusiasts: with the taped magazines, 6-way Picatinny rails, scope, collapsible stock, and bottom-slung flashlight, is that weapon what you’d consider well within the useful range, or is it approaching [tacticool](http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii223/mursterman/tacticool.jpg) territory? Other than the taped mags there is nothing too bad. I happen to think taped together mags are a horrible idea. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapon-is-this-paris-swat-team-guy-holding/709308.md?page=2)