I've shot for multiple decades: in the service of this nation, hunting(for meat), target work.
Guns in action films, are like cute one-liners in comedy. Quick delivery, punctuating, of-the-moment, unrealistic, and easily dissolved into the overall plot. Any lasting "OH MY GOD" neuroses is a projection which suggests a need for therapy not oppression of others rights..
A reasonable person would no more declare a handgun could shoot a plane out of the sky then support that comedy is too unsafe, and should come with an socio-audio suppressor to avoid micro-aggressive triggers.
[soap box OFF]
Clearly any 1st hand experience with suppressed weapons fire leaves the listener with:
- "Well it hurts my ears less"
- "Yep, still the sound of a gun...."
Those who know nothing of hearing loss, can't see the value of such a device.
Thanks for the repost Peter. And that decibel chart was cool too. Was a bit surprised by the lawn mower, 2 hours, and the ambulance siren, 0 seconds. Fascinating stuff
Having suffered permanent hearing damage from too many rock and metal concerts, I'm more cautious now. I wear ear plugs when using certain yard power tools, I stick my fingers in my ears when an ambulance or fire truck goes by, and I wear "concert" earplugs to shows now (15db reduction, rather than the 33 that the foam ones provide. If my ears don't ring at the end of the show, I got it right).
I *love* seeing people screw suppressors onto REVOLVERS in the movies, rendering them almost silent. Too funny. (Example, the 1962 version of The Manchurian Candidate)
My personal favorite Hollywood marksmanship includes hitting your target while rolling, running, falling, diving, etc. I am retired from the Army now but was in SOF from 2002 until 2020. The amount of range time there and ammunition expended is as impressive as it is damaging to your ears. Tinnitus is as common as patriotism. Suppressors are a tool not unlike other ear protection, not to make the operator more Bond-like, but to survive his career with his hearing somewhat intact.
My favorite movie cringe is when the hero kills off a herd of “machine gun”-wielding bad guys with a handgun, all while avoiding the spray of bullets destroying everything around them. I guess that’s why the term suspension of disbelief was coined.
“What’s the lesson here? Don’t rely on movies or television for accurate information on guns, and DON’T for a moment believe that silencers “silence” anything.”
Thank Peter, nicely done!
I've shot for multiple decades: in the service of this nation, hunting(for meat), target work.
Guns in action films, are like cute one-liners in comedy. Quick delivery, punctuating, of-the-moment, unrealistic, and easily dissolved into the overall plot. Any lasting "OH MY GOD" neuroses is a projection which suggests a need for therapy not oppression of others rights..
A reasonable person would no more declare a handgun could shoot a plane out of the sky then support that comedy is too unsafe, and should come with an socio-audio suppressor to avoid micro-aggressive triggers.
[soap box OFF]
Clearly any 1st hand experience with suppressed weapons fire leaves the listener with:
- "Well it hurts my ears less"
- "Yep, still the sound of a gun...."
Those who know nothing of hearing loss, can't see the value of such a device.
Those who do, wish they'd had it 'years ago'
Thanks for the repost Peter. And that decibel chart was cool too. Was a bit surprised by the lawn mower, 2 hours, and the ambulance siren, 0 seconds. Fascinating stuff
Having suffered permanent hearing damage from too many rock and metal concerts, I'm more cautious now. I wear ear plugs when using certain yard power tools, I stick my fingers in my ears when an ambulance or fire truck goes by, and I wear "concert" earplugs to shows now (15db reduction, rather than the 33 that the foam ones provide. If my ears don't ring at the end of the show, I got it right).
I *love* seeing people screw suppressors onto REVOLVERS in the movies, rendering them almost silent. Too funny. (Example, the 1962 version of The Manchurian Candidate)
Oh, absolutely. It's one of countless Hollywood bits of silliness.
What fool points a pump shotgun at an enemy, only to load it *after* some tense words have been exchanged?
Why do bad guys attach their silencers *after* entering the target's house?
How can people have a normal conversation after a massive gunfight in an enclosed space?
Why do people fly backward when shot with a shotgun?
the list is endless.
I live near my local gun club. I'm a member there, too. I would love the use of more suppressors!
I love how in movies, actor (male or female) casually points handgun with one hand, pulls trigger - and there’s zero recoil.
I also love how a single good guy scores a fatal hit with each shot, from any distance, while a gang of bad guys can’t hit the side of a barn.
My personal favorite Hollywood marksmanship includes hitting your target while rolling, running, falling, diving, etc. I am retired from the Army now but was in SOF from 2002 until 2020. The amount of range time there and ammunition expended is as impressive as it is damaging to your ears. Tinnitus is as common as patriotism. Suppressors are a tool not unlike other ear protection, not to make the operator more Bond-like, but to survive his career with his hearing somewhat intact.
My favorite movie cringe is when the hero kills off a herd of “machine gun”-wielding bad guys with a handgun, all while avoiding the spray of bullets destroying everything around them. I guess that’s why the term suspension of disbelief was coined.
Informative, but I feel compelled to point out that “fully automatic” does not require a hyphen, even when used as a modifier.
I wrote this a long time ago. I don't recall my thought process at the time.
“What’s the lesson here? Don’t rely on movies or television for accurate information on guns, and DON’T for a moment believe that silencers “silence” anything.”
Thanks for the repost
Sadly those likely to listen are of common mind, but the chart is excellent!
Muffs/plugs are my on-range Must, nowadays, also wish I’d thought of it earlier in miles and years of server rooms
There is still high hope for suppressor and national concealed carry, may wiser minds prevail.