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Author Topic: Biggest Gun Myth?  (Read 1366 times)

Offline Halo

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« on: September 05, 2006, 12:30:21 AM »
In updating my small gun ensemble, I've come across lots of differences of opinions about armaments.  Two that surprised me, but make sense when I think more about it, are these:

1.  Guides carry double-barrel shotguns to protect their African safari hunters.
 
DOUBTFUL.  I think the double-barrels are usually high-powered elephant guns or other large caliber rifles, and often so the hunter won't have to carry the heavy weapon until time to fire it.  Even with slugs, shotguns don't have as much penetration in thick skinned animals as rifle bullets do.  

2.  Shotguns hit just about anything in their general direction because the pellets scatter so much.

MAYBE, depending on distance.  For home defense ranges of 7 to 15 yards, the pellets often are still in a pretty dense cluster, more like 4 to 6 inches of spread no matter what the choke.  

What are some gun myths and misconceptions that most surprise you?
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Offline Chairboy

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2006, 12:34:54 AM »
.22s aren't lethal.

I hear that one a lot.  Usually in posts that make vague references to "stopping power".

Mmmkay.
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Offline OOZ662

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2006, 01:23:09 AM »
They aren't lethal if you can't shoot. :D But that goes for anything but a shotgun.

[OT]Anybody remember the 2-gauge shotgun? Was a mountain cannon turned into a shotgun. Some guy blew the $^&* out of a deer with one.[/OT]

I think my favorite myth (that isn't a myth) is the one that you can't get shot if you're underwater. The MythBusters tested it figuring it was a pile of crap until they discovered that rounds shatter when they hit the water. The bigger the gun they tried, the more the round shattered and the less distance it went. They said that if you're more than 2 feet under the water's surface, a gun can't touch you from above.
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Offline Nilsen

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2006, 01:32:55 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by OOZ662
I think my favorite myth (that isn't a myth) is the one that you can't get shot if you're underwater. The MythBusters tested it figuring it was a pile of crap until they discovered that rounds shatter when they hit the water. The bigger the gun they tried, the more the round shattered and the less distance it went. They said that if you're more than 2 feet under the water's surface, a gun can't touch you from above.


I saw that show myself.. Was suprised at  how much, and how fast power was lost.

I never trust Mythbusters 100% tho (not just on this subject) as i belive they always do things the easy way and usually settles for testing a few variables when busting their myths. Its in line with the rest of Discovery Channel tho when it comes to credibility in many of the shows they air so for light entertainment Discovery is ok.
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Offline Excel1

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Re: Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2006, 01:48:54 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Halo
 What are some gun myths and misconceptions that most surprise you?


That it's impossible to miss a target with a rifle, even if it's a gazillion yards away, if the rifle has a magic black tube clamped to the top of the receiver.
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Offline Kurt

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Re: Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2006, 02:00:30 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Halo

What are some gun myths and misconceptions that most surprise you?


Uh, well, lets see... The NRA says AK47s and other assault rifles should be legal because I might need one to hunt deer.

Care to mount that one?

P.S. I own SEVERAL weapons... None of which to I believe is a hunting weapon... Each and every one made to kill man...   But I'd like to know why the NRA thinks AK47 and AR15 are made for killing game and not man.

For that matter, I'd like to know why the NRA needs to say things are for hunting game... We have a right to bear arms in the defence of the nation.. Are we under attack from the native game animals?

NRA Blows and makes gun owners look like psychos, right to bear arms is appropriate and legal..
« Last Edit: September 05, 2006, 02:05:05 AM by Kurt »
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Offline SMIDSY

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2006, 02:01:26 AM »
i once was told that a german 9mm parabellum round could travel through 5 guys. the fella prolly got the idea from indiana jones.



also, those probably arent shotguns that those safari hunters are carrying. large caliber elephant guns often came in a double barrel configuration. as were many other hunting rifles of the 19th century.
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Offline Kurt

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2006, 02:03:04 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by SMIDSY
i once was told that a german 9mm parabellum round could travel through 5 guys. the fella prolly got the idea from indiana jones.


As the proud owner of a 1917 Luger I can tell you that you are lucky if the 9 mm will pass through the barrel of the gun... However, if it does, it packs plenty of punch on arrival...  But 5 guys... I dunno.
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Offline Leslie

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Re: Re: Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2006, 05:48:16 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Kurt
Uh, well, lets see... The NRA says AK47s and other assault rifles should be legal because I might need one to hunt deer.

Care to mount that one?

P.S. I own SEVERAL weapons... None of which to I believe is a hunting weapon... Each and every one made to kill man...   But I'd like to know why the NRA thinks AK47 and AR15 are made for killing game and not man.

For that matter, I'd like to know why the NRA needs to say things are for hunting game... We have a right to bear arms in the defence of the nation.. Are we under attack from the native game animals?

NRA Blows and makes gun owners look like psychos, right to bear arms is appropriate and legal..




The NRA publishes a hunting magazine called "American Hunter."  I have not seen in this publication, nor read in any of the numerous mailings sent to me (as an NRA member), anything suggesting "assault" weapons should be used for hunting.  Not once in over 25 years.  So I'm calling shenanigans on that one.  Feel free to set me straight by showing a link to an NRA website that states what you have claimed.

Kurt, you must have gotten your info from the Brady Campaign website, which does consider semi-auto in the same catagory as an assault weapon, based on looks of the weapon.  (They refer to semi-auto as an assault weapon.) However hunting rifles do come in semi-auto versions such as the BAR, which is nothing like the WWII rifle (full auto.)

Normally the term "assault weapon" refers to full auto.  I agree it is not for hunting.  The terminology "assault weapon" has been greatly politicized by the anti's to mislead folks.  They are refering to standard semi-autos in most instances, the only difference being that their definition of assault weapon relies on the fact some of these semi-auto variations resemble the full auto or select fire version.




Les
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Offline Reynolds

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2006, 05:58:14 AM »
OOOHH!!! OOOHHH!!!! I like the one that the Ak-47 can shoot in deep space! My friend thinks you can shoot an Ak (And only an Ak) in deep space. Um, doesnt the gunpowder need OXYGEN to ignite?!?
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Offline eagl

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2006, 06:07:41 AM »
Reynolds,

The powder has enough fuel and oxygen in dry form that it doesn't need any external gaseous oxygen.  That's why solid fuel rockets still burn in space :)
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Offline Suave

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2006, 06:31:48 AM »
That if you fire a up in the air the bullets will be falling at a terminal velocity fast enough to kill somebody when they return.
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Offline ASTAC

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2006, 06:41:35 AM »
Biggest Gun Myth? How About....

"Guns Kill People"
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Offline Angus

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2006, 06:45:54 AM »
I lost a few bets about the underwater thing. Did quite some testing about at what depth the guns (22 and 222) would break a bottle.
10 cm easy
30 cm easy
50 cm, just the 222
1 m. bullets sank.

Then the 22.
I once fired a .22 short from an unrifled barrel into a cola bottle (small old coca cola glassbottle). The bottle rolled over, unbroken! Range was 10 yards.

Then the shotgun business.
Was comparing my russian BAIKAL 12" 70 mm vs an automatic Beretta 75mm 12 gauge. Turned out that the Baikal was puncing better at range!
Bloody automatic eats a little of the punch I guess....

Then the AH thing. Shoot a bird and break a wing. The seagulls in particular enter some kind of a flatspin...
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Offline lazs2

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Biggest Gun Myth?
« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2006, 08:39:02 AM »
kurt... you are wrong about the NRA.. they defend all gunowners rights and sponsor CMP matches useing AR15's and other "assault" rifles... they defend our rights to own all fireams...  

So kurt...you made the list... you are one of the silly gun myths.... "the NRA only protects hunting rifles"   is a really dumb myth...  and.. the 9mm para has decent penetrating power but only about average for handgun rounds.  less than .357 say with the same bullets.

A really good book is "The Seven Myths of gun Control"

Another good myth is that "assault rifles" are more powerful than conventional hunting rifles... they are many times less powerful.. the weakest hunting round... the 30 30 is a little better than an Ak 47 round.

lazs
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