What Guns Does John Wick Use in Movies 1, 2, 3, and 4?

When you're a gun guy, watching a John Wick movie is a different experience. You see past the incredible fight choreography and into the hardware. These aren't just props; they're deliberate choices, a language of tactical efficiency. Each firearm tells you something about the situation and the man himself.

I've spent years on the range, and I can tell you, the evolution of Wick's arsenal is a masterclass. It moves from a professional's trusted kit to bespoke, high-end weaponry built for a specific purpose. If you've ever seen a gun on screen and wondered what it was and why he chose it for that moment, let's break it down, piece by piece.

John Wick (2014): The Professional's Toolkit

In the first film, Wick is back. The guns he pulls from the concrete are all business. No flash, just function. These are the tools of a master craftsman returning to his trade.

The Main Pistol: Heckler & Koch P30L

His primary handgun is a beautiful Heckler & Koch P30L. The "L" means it's the long-slide model, and his has that iconic compensator. It’s the gun that announces the Boogeyman is back.

The first time I held a P30L, the ergonomics were a revelation. It melts into your hand in a way few other pistols do. That compensator isn't just for looks; it adds weight to the muzzle, seriously taming recoil and allowing for the incredibly fast follow-up shots that define Wick's style. You could easily see this pistol fitted with a quality tactical weapon light for low-light engagements.

We see the P30L go to work during the initial home invasion. Later, it’s the star of the Red Circle nightclub shootout. His unique, close-quarters shooting style is perfectly served by a pistol that is so controllable and intuitive to point.

  • Role: Primary Sidearm
  • Key Feature: Custom muzzle compensator for reduced recoil and faster shooting. Its world-class ergonomics make it feel like an extension of the user's hand.
  • Seen In: Dominating the home invasion scene and methodically clearing rooms in the Red Circle nightclub.

The Backup: Glock 26

His backup is a simple Glock 26. It's a smart, utilitarian choice, leveraging Glock's reputation for reliability. My daily carry is a Glock 19, and the 26 is its little brother. It’s a gun you choose not for its beauty, but because you know it will work, no matter what.

The most memorable use of the G26 is in the Red Circle's bathhouse. After his P30L runs dry, he seamlessly transitions to the G26 to finish the fight. It's a "New York reload"—it's faster to draw a second gun than to reload your first in a tight spot. Even on a backup piece, upgrading your handgun's sights is always a smart move.

  • Role: Backup/Concealed Carry Pistol
  • Key Feature: Sub-compact size for easy concealment and legendary reliability. It's a tool that is guaranteed to function when needed.
  • Seen In: Making a crucial appearance in the Red Circle bathhouse when his primary runs empty.

The Rifle: Coharie Arms CA-415

When the fight calls for more range, Wick grabs a Coharie Arms CA-415. It’s a clone of the HK416, which uses a short-stroke gas piston system. This is a key detail. It means the rifle runs cleaner and cooler than a standard AR-15, enhancing reliability during sustained fights.

This is the rifle he uses to defend his home against Viggo's first hit squad. The choice of a piston-driven system is a professional's choice, and the platform is ripe for customization with a versatile rifle scope and other upgrades like Magpul accessories.

  • Role: Primary Rifle
  • Key Feature: Piston-driven operation for enhanced reliability under harsh conditions. It's a more robust system than a standard AR-15.
  • Seen In: The first home invasion sequence, where he uses its superior firepower to control the engagement.

The Shotgun: Kel-Tec KSG

During the nightclub fight, Wick improvises, grabbing a Kel-Tec KSG. This bullpup 12-gauge shotgun is an odd-looking beast. I've shot one. It has a significant kick, but its party trick is holding a massive number of shells in its dual tube magazines.

He uses the KSG to clear the chaotic lower levels of the Red Circle. Its compact bullpup design makes it much shorter than a traditional shotgun, which is a huge advantage in tight hallways and rooms. It's a devastating room-broom.

  • Role: Improvised Close-Quarters Weapon
  • Key Feature: Compact bullpup design and a high capacity from its dual tube magazines, making it ideal for tight spaces.
  • Seen In: Clearing rooms with overwhelming force in the crowded Red Circle nightclub.

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017): The Custom Upgrade

In Rome, Wick's arsenal gets a serious—and seriously expensive—upgrade. The "Sommelier" scene introduces the work of Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI). These aren't just guns; they're custom-tuned instruments.

The Pistol: TTI Glock 34 Combat Master

His main handgun becomes a TTI Glock 34 Combat Master. My buddy Jake at the range has one, and shooting it ruined stock Glocks for me. The trigger is unbelievably light and crisp. The stippling on the grip is aggressive; that gun isn't going to move in your hand.

The TTI G34 is the hero of the Rome catacombs sequence. You see him making fast, precise shots at distance that would be difficult with a standard pistol. A package like this almost always includes a good set of night sights for any lighting condition.

  • Role: Upgraded Primary Sidearm
  • Key Feature: A full TTI performance package. It features a match-grade barrel, custom trigger, and aggressive grip stippling for superior control.
  • Seen In: The extended shootout in the Rome catacombs, where its speed and accuracy are on full display.

The Rifle: TTI TR-1 Ultralight

His rifle is now a TTI TR-1 Ultralight. This is a 3-gun competitor's dream rifle, built around optics built for 3-gun competition. It's designed to be incredibly lightweight and fast-handling, with a compensator that makes the rifle have almost no felt recoil.

He uses this rifle to tear through the catacombs. It's kitted out with a primary scope and a canted Trijicon RMR for close-up work. That optic setup is the definition of tactical efficiency.

  • Role: Primary Combat Rifle
  • Key Feature: Lightweight competition build with a versatile optic setup for engaging targets at any distance instantly.
  • Seen In: Cutting a path through the catacombs, seamlessly transitioning between long-range and close-range targets.

The Shotgun: Benelli M4 Super 90

His shotgun is one of Benelli's legendary shotguns, the M4 Super 90, with TTI's magic touch. The M4 is the gold standard, used by the U.S. Marine Corps. Its A.R.G.O. gas system is famously reliable and cycles incredibly fast.

The Benelli M4 is his tool for blasting through the catacombs. He uses its rapid semi-auto fire to lay down a wall of buckshot, dealing with groups of enemies in a way no pistol or rifle could. It's pure, controlled chaos.

  • Role: Tactical Shotgun
  • Key Feature: Fast-cycling A.R.G.O. gas system, customized by TTI for an even faster action and improved controls.
  • Seen In: Breaching doors and clearing pathways with overwhelming force in the catacombs.

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019): The Improviser's Arsenal

Now Wick is on the run. He's using whatever he can get his hands on. This chapter showcases his ability to turn anything into a deadly weapon.

The Pistol: TTI STI 2011 Combat Master

The star of this film is the TTI STI 2011 Combat Master. The 2011 platform is the evolution of the classic 1911. You get that same crisp, single-action trigger, but on a modern frame with a high-capacity, double-stack magazine. It's the best of both worlds, and many modern versions are optics-ready pistols.

This is his primary during the defense of the New York Continental. He uses it against the High Table's armored soldiers. A pistol this flat-shooting, chambered in the powerful 9mm Major, is exactly what you'd need for the rapid, precise headshots required.

  • Role: Excommunicado Primary Sidearm
  • Key Feature: A high-capacity 2011 platform chambered in 9mm Major. It combines the accuracy of a 1911 with the capacity of a modern pistol.
  • Seen In: The stunning defense of the New York Continental against armored opponents.

The Carbine: TTI SIG Sauer MPX

In the Continental siege, he uses a TTI-customized SIG Sauer MPX Carbine. This carbine, from the makers of other fine firearms from SIG Sauer, is a joy to shoot, with very little recoil. It’s the perfect tool for a protracted fight in the close confines of the hotel.

He and Charon use these carbines to defend the hotel lobby from waves of attackers. They are fitted with Trijicon MROs, but you could just as easily see them running one of Aimpoint's rugged red dots.

  • Role: Close-Quarters Battle Carbine
  • Key Feature: Low recoil 9mm platform ideal for indoor fighting, equipped with a wide-view Trijicon MRO for fast targeting.
  • Seen In: The main siege at the Continental Hotel, used by both John and Charon.

The Shotgun: Benelli M2 Super 90

The Benelli M2 Super 90 returns, but this time it's all about the ammunition. They needed a specific solution for the High Table's high-tech body armor, and they found one.

Wick and Charon use these shotguns loaded with custom armor-piercing slugs. The sound design in the movie for these shots is just brutal. Firing slugs accurately at distance is challenging and could be helped by a dedicated shotgun scope.

  • Role: Armor-Defeating Shotgun
  • Key Feature: Not the gun, but the ammunition. It's used with custom armor-piercing slugs designed to defeat advanced body armor.
  • Seen In: Turning the tide against armored High Table soldiers at the Continental.

The Antique: Remington 1875

In one of my favorite scenes, Wick builds a working Remington 1875 revolver from old parts. It's a pure "gun guy" moment. It shows he doesn't just use guns; he understands them at a mechanical, almost intimate level.

He uses this old-school single-action revolver during the fight in the antique weapons shop. It's an absurdly impractical choice, but it highlights his almost supernatural skill. He can win with a museum piece.

  • Role: Improvised Antique Weapon
  • Key Feature: Its very existence in the fight. Wick assembles it on the fly from disparate parts, showing his legendary expertise.
  • Seen In: The knife and gun fight in the antique weapons shop.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2022): The Apex Arsenal

The last movie goes all out. The guns are exotic, custom, and frankly, insane in the best possible way.

The Pistol: TTI Pit Viper

The hero gun is the TTI Pit Viper. This custom 2011 pistol was designed for the movie. That integrated compensator is a work of art, making the slide and frame a single, aggressive unit. It’s the peak of combat pistol design, a platform perfect for a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro.

The Pit Viper is his main gun for the film's incredible final act. The car chase around the Arc de Triomphe, where he's engaging targets while driving, is a breathtaking display made believable by a pistol this fast and controllable.

  • Role: Final Chapter Primary Sidearm
  • Key Feature: A custom 2011 design with an integrated compensator built into the barrel, creating an incredibly flat-shooting pistol.
  • Seen In: The Paris chase scenes, the fight up the steps to the Sacré-Cœur, and throughout the film's final act.

The Shotgun: TTI Dracarys-12

The shotgun is the TTI Dracarys-12. It's a magazine-fed, semi-auto 12-gauge that he uses with Dragon's Breath incendiary rounds. Pure, beautiful, cinematic overkill.

This is the gun from the famous "top-down" tracking shot in the Paris apartment. For the fast, chaotic targeting in that scene, you'd want something like an EOTech holographic sight for its massive field of view.

  • Role: Special-Purpose Shotgun
  • Key Feature: It's a magazine-fed semi-auto loaded with Dragon's Breath shells, which create a massive pyrotechnic effect.
  • Seen In: The now-famous top-down action sequence, where it's used to set enemies and the environment ablaze.

The Dueling Pistols: Thompson Center Encore

The movie ends with a classic duel. They use a pair of engraved Thompson Center Encore single-shot pistols. It's a traditional, honorable choice for a formal, high-stakes confrontation.

These are used exclusively during the final duel at the Sacré-Cœur. The slow, deliberate nature of reloading a single-shot pistol after every shot makes the scene incredibly tense. It’s a battle of pure marksmanship, where having high-quality Leupold glass would make all the difference.

  • Role: Dueling Weapon
  • Key Feature: High-caliber, single-shot pistols. The format of the duel, using these weapons, emphasizes precision over firepower.
  • Seen In: The final, formal duel at dawn in Paris.

Conclusion

The guns of John Wick are characters in their own right. They tell a story of a man who is the absolute best at what he does. The choices are deliberate and smart, and they make the action that much better for those of us who know what we're looking at. From basic pistols to astounding weaponry, his arsenal is always top-tier.

Q&A

What's John Wick's most iconic gun?

Hands-down, it's the Heckler & Koch P30L with that compensator from the first film. It set the tone for the entire series. It’s professional, stylish, and deadly. You can find optics for similar pistols from brands like Holosun.

Are those TTI guns actually real?

You bet. Taran Tactical Innovations is a real custom shop run by world champion shooter Taran Butler. Keanu trained with him extensively. That's why the gun handling looks so good.

Is that Dragon's Breath shotgun ammo real?

It is. It's a specialty pyrotechnic round that fires magnesium pellets. It's more for show than anything practical. Fun at the range, but probably not the best choice for self-defense due to its short-range and fire hazard. For real-world use, you're better off with standard buckshot and one of the best-selling optics.

Why does he switch guns so much?

His gear reflects his situation. He starts with his old stash, gets high-end upgrades in Rome when he has the resources, and then has to improvise when he's on the run. The guns evolve as the threats get bigger. He's a master of all tools, including those for long-range precision shooting.

What's the big deal with the TTI Pit Viper?

It's a purpose-built fighting pistol. That integrated compensator, the slide work, the trigger—it's all designed to make it shoot as flat and as fast as humanly possible. It's the current pinnacle of the 2011 platform for combat and would pair well with high-performance firearms.