All Gun Articles

Why Do Characters Flip Over or Fly Backward When They Are Shot?

/ Ben / 4 Comments
The rider on the left was shot, but he's not being thrown off his horse from the impact of the bullet. The horse reared up and tossed him backward. (Shutterstock image)

The rider on the left was shot, but he’s not being thrown off his horse from the impact of the bullet. The horse reared up and tossed him backward. (Shutterstock image)

TLDR: Dramatic movements after being shot are caused by a secondary effect, such as an involuntary muscle reaction, not from the force of being hit by one or more projectiles.

If you’ve read my book, The Writer’s Guide to Weapons, (you have right?) you know that characters hit by gunfire wouldn’t fly backward several feet from the force of being shot. It’s simple physics. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If the target flies back several feet after being shot, the shooter should, too.

For the sake of space in my book, I couldn’t take the next step in that discussion. When characters are shot, they can still make movements that make it appear as if they’re being manipulated by the force of the shot. Here’s why.

Continue reading →

Does Getting Shot While Wearing Body Armor Leave a Bruise?

/ Ben / 10 Comments
There's nothing magical about body armor (aka bulletproof vests or ballistic vests or bullet-resistant vests or any number of other names). They only protect what they cover, and they offer no guarantees. (Shutterstock photo)

There’s nothing magical about body armor (aka bulletproof vests or ballistic vests or bullet-resistant vests or any number of other names). They only protect what they cover, and they offer no guarantees. (Shutterstock photo)

TLDR: Yes. The extent of that bruise and other internal injuries depends on many factors, but it’s both possible and probable to expect damage even if the bullet doesn’t penetrate the body armor.

Continue reading →

Will a Gun Go Off If It’s Dropped?

/ Ben / 14 Comments
Just for the record: That's moss, not the carpeting in my house. (Shutterstock photo)

Just for the record: That’s moss, not the carpeting in my house. (Shutterstock photo)

TLDR: Despite how it might benefit a fictional scene, it’s extremely rare for a gun to off accidentally, even when it’s dropped. It’s far more likely the “accident” is due to negligence.

Pictured: Life. (GIF via giphy)

Pictured: Life. (GIF via giphy)

I have great luck with my push lawnmower. It’s old, missing a few bolts and requires just the right touch to operate, but it gets the job done. If I’m lucky, it’ll start before pull number three. If it doesn’t, I know there’s a mechanical error. I might not know exactly where, but I follow a logical path to find it. Is there gas in the tank? Is the spark plug throwing a spark? Is the throttle adjusted correctly? Is there grass preventing the blade from spinning? Continue reading →

Just for Fun: How Many Peeps Does it Take to Stop a Bullet?

/ Ben / 5 Comments
Peeps are like inverse zombies. They want you to eat them, not the other way around. This makes them especially insidious. Julie Clopper / Shutterstock.com

Peeps are like inverse zombies. They want you to eat them, not the other way around. This makes them especially insidious. Julie Clopper / Shutterstock.com

Marshmallow Peeps are the fruitcakes of Easter. They’re a time-honored tradition obligation, the novelty wears off after exactly six seconds and they refuse to die. Or do they? What would happen if you shot a bunch of Peeps? Would the science that brings these gooey creatures to life also stop a bullet?

Kirsten Joy Weiss, a terrifically talented shooter with a great YouTube channel, decided to find out. The following videos chronicle her heroic attempts to destroy the zombies of food, marshmallow Peeps. Continue reading →

Why Do Characters Blow Away Gun Smoke from the Barrel After They Shoot?

/ Ben / 10 Comments
Why do characters in movies, TV shows and (sometimes) books blow smoke from the end of their handguns' barrels after a shootout? The answer, perhaps unsurprisingly, is because it looks cool. But history shows this trope once served a practical purpose. (Shutterstock image)

Why do characters in movies, TV shows and (sometimes) books blow smoke from the end of their guns’ barrels after a shootout? Also, is this person blowing away the smoke or sucking it in? Is this a hookah by way of a pistol? Is that even possible? Asking for a friend. (Shutterstock image)

TLDR: This trope serves no practical purpose with modern firearms, but it did play an essential role many years ago.

I hate to break it to you, but much of the “cool factor” surrounding guns in fiction is based on what looks cool. Take away the arbitrary cool factor, and firearms are pieces of nerdy metal, square chemistry, dad jean physics and Nickelback designs. On their own, they’re boring. Just try talking to one.

It takes someone or something else to make them “cool.” One way characters in fiction do that is by blowing the gun smoke away from the barrel after an intense volley of gunfire, usually but not always involving a handgun. The website TV Tropes even has a page dedicated to this cliche.

Is there any point to this trope or is it just blowing smoke? Let’s break it down.

Continue reading →