He’s back. Or he was. Honestly, it doesn't matter if the Baba Yaga is currently "retired" or not because the impact of the guns of John Wick is basically permanent at this point. Before Keanu Reeves stepped into the Continental, Hollywood had a serious problem with "infinite ammo" and nonsensical tactics. You remember the 80s and 90s? Guys holding Uzis sideways, firing 400 rounds from a 30-round mag, never looking at the sights. It was cool, sure, but it wasn't real.
Then came 2014.
The first film didn't just give us a story about a guy grieving a puppy; it gave us a masterclass in "Gun Fu." This wasn't just mindless shooting. It was a rhythmic, calculated, and terrifyingly efficient use of firearms that treated the weapons like characters themselves. Keanu didn't just hold a gun; he operated it. He checked chambers. He cleared malfunctions. He performed press checks that actually made sense in the context of the fight. People noticed.
The Taran Tactical Revolution
If you want to talk about the guns of John Wick, you have to talk about Taran Butler. Most movie productions hire an armorer to hand out props and make sure nobody gets hurt. Director Chad Stahelski—a former stuntman who knows his way around a set—went a different route. He sent Keanu to Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI).
Reeves didn't just play-act. He trained. Hard.
The partnership with TTI turned the franchise into a high-end gear showcase. In John Wick: Chapter 2, we saw the debut of the TTI Combat Master, a heavily modified Glock 34. This wasn't some off-the-shelf polymer pistol. It had a flared magwell for faster reloads, a custom grip job for better "stipple," and a trigger so light it basically breathes rounds downrange.
But why does this matter for the viewer?
Because you can actually see the difference. When Wick enters the catacombs in Rome, he’s carrying a "tasting menu" of TTI-modified hardware. He starts with the Glock 17 and 19 backups, moves to the Benelli M4 shotgun, and finishes with the TR-1 Ultralight rifle. The way he reloads that Benelli M4—using the "quad-load" technique common in 3-Gun competition—was a literal "lightning bolt" moment for firearm enthusiasts. It was the first time a major action star performed a high-level competitive shooting technique on screen without it looking like a gimmick.
The P30L and the Beginning of the Myth
Let’s go back to the beginning. Before the high-end custom builds, there was the Heckler & Koch P30L.
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This was the original "Wick Gun."
It’s a hammer-fired 9mm with a distinctive compensator attached to the rail. Most people miss this, but the compensator isn't just for looks; it adds weight to the front of the slide to mitigate muzzle flip. In the first film, Wick uses it with surgical precision. It felt grounded. It felt like something a professional hitman who had been out of the game for five years would have stashed under his basement floor.
He also rocked a Glock 26 as a backup. Simple. Reliable. Boring? Maybe. But effective.
What Most People Get Wrong About Wick's Arsenal
There’s a common misconception that Wick just picks the "coolest" looking guns. That’s actually wrong. The selection is almost always based on the specific tactical requirements of the scene. Take the Kel-Tec KSG from the first movie. It’s a bullpup shotgun, meaning the action is behind the trigger. This makes the gun incredibly short while keeping a long barrel.
Why use it?
The church heist. It’s a tight, indoor environment with lots of corners. A standard long-barrel shotgun would be a liability there. The KSG allowed him to navigate those corners without telegraphing his position. It’s that level of detail—the intersection of gear and choreography—that makes the guns of John Wick more than just props.
The Pit Viper and the Evolution of Chapter 4
By the time we hit Chapter 4, the stakes (and the budget) had reached a fever pitch. Enter the TTI Pit Viper.
This 9mm 2011-style pistol is arguably the pinnacle of the series' weaponry. It’s built on a Staccato-style frame and features an integrated compensator built into the slide and barrel. It doesn't reciprocate, meaning the front sight stays dead flat while the gun cycles.
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Watching Keanu use this in the Dragon's Breath sequence or the stairs fight in Paris is a trip. You can see the muscle memory. He’s not thinking about the gun; the gun is an extension of his arm. It’s also worth noting the Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380 he uses in the Osaka Continental. It’s a tiny, "last ditch" pocket gun. Seeing a man who usually carries high-capacity race guns forced to use a subcompact 6-round pistol adds a layer of desperation that most action movies skip.
The "Artillery" That Isn't a Handgun
We can’t talk about this universe without mentioning the long guns. The SIG Sauer MPX in Chapter 3 is a standout. It’s a submachine gun that handles like an AR-15. During the shootout at the Continental with Sofia (Halle Berry), the MPX is used to clear hallways with a level of speed that’s frankly terrifying.
Then there’s the Remington 700 used by Marcus (Willem Dafoe) in the first film. It’s a classic bolt-action sniper rifle. It represented the "old guard" of the assassin world. No flashy tactical rails, just a solid piece of wood and steel that hits exactly where you point it.
The contrast is everywhere.
Beyond the Steel: Why the Logistics Matter
One of the best things about the guns of John Wick is the respect for physics. If a gun holds 17 rounds, Wick fires 17 rounds and then he must reload. He doesn't just click his fingers. He find cover. He uses a "tactical reload" if he has a lull, or an "emergency reload" when the slide locks back.
He even uses the gun as a blunt force object when it runs dry.
This creates a "ticking clock" in every fight. The audience subconsciously counts the shots. When he runs out of ammo in the middle of a grapple, the tension spikes because we know he’s vulnerable. He has to fight his way to a new magazine or a fallen enemy's weapon. It’s a brilliant way to keep the stakes high even when the protagonist is an unstoppable killing machine.
Technical Specs You Should Probably Know
If you're looking to replicate these builds or just want the "nerd" stats, here’s the breakdown of the heavy hitters:
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The TTI JW3 Combat Master (Glock 34)
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 17+1 (standard), often seen with +5 base pads
- Key Feature: Ionbond coated bronze barrel and a custom "Competition" trigger job.
The Kimber Warrior
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Context: Used in Chapter 2 when Wick is forced to go "back to basics" after losing his gear. It’s a classic 1911. Low capacity, high stopping power.
The Benelli M4 (TTI M4 Upgrade)
- Action: Semi-auto, gas-operated
- Modifications: Enlarged load port (crucial for those fast reloads) and an oversized bolt release.
Acknowledging the "Movie Magic"
Look, as much as we praise the realism, it’s still a movie. Some of the suppressors (silencers) used in the films are way quieter than they would be in real life. In the "silent" subway shootout between Wick and Cassian, they’re firing suppressed pistols in a crowded area and nobody notices. In reality? A suppressed 9mm is still about as loud as a jackhammer. It’s "hearing safe," but it’s not "whisper quiet."
Also, the bulletproof suits. While body armor fabric (like Kevlar or Spectra) exists, a suit that thin wouldn't just stop a .45 ACP round and let the wearer walk away. The kinetic energy would still break ribs and cause massive internal bruising. But hey, we allow it because it looks cool and keeps the flow of the action moving.
Practical Insights for the Enthusiast
If you're a fan of the guns of John Wick and you’re looking to get into shooting or collecting, here’s the "real world" path:
- Start with a standard Glock 17 or 19. Before you spend $5,000 on a TTI custom, learn the fundamentals. Wick’s effectiveness comes from his grip, stance, and sight alignment—not just the price tag of his pistol.
- Take a 3-Gun class. If you want to understand the "movement" of the movies, competitive shooting is the closest you’ll get. It teaches you how to transition between a rifle, shotgun, and pistol under stress.
- Invest in professional training. Keanu spent months with Taran Butler and Jade Struck. You don't need to be an assassin, but learning "Point Indexing" and "Emergency Reloads" from a qualified instructor makes the movies much more fun to watch because you recognize the skill involved.
- Respect the hardware. The series is a love letter to mechanical engineering. Whether it's the sleek lines of a CZ P-09 or the ruggedness of a Frank Proctor modified AR-15, these tools are designed with specific purposes in mind.
The guns of John Wick essentially bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. They aren't just props; they are the instruments of a very specific, very violent symphony. By choosing high-end, competition-proven hardware, the filmmakers gave the audience something they didn't even know they wanted: tactical authenticity.
Next time you watch the films, don't just look at the muzzle flashes. Watch his hands. Watch how he clears a "stovepipe" jam in the middle of a struggle. Watch how he switches from a high-ready to a low-ready position. That’s where the real magic is. It’s not in the gunpowder; it’s in the technique.
To really appreciate the evolution of these weapons, track down the behind-the-scenes footage of Keanu Reeves training at the TTI ranch. Seeing him clear a course of fire in real-time—hitting steel targets with nearly 100% accuracy—proves that the "Baba Yaga" isn't just a product of clever editing. The man put in the work, and the firearms he carries are a testament to that dedication.