Well, I see people have gone looking for the answers that gun restriction advocates use, but here I’m going to go over some common myths and fantasies people have about handguns, rifles, etc.
#10: SHOOTERS WHO DON’T KNOW THEIR GUN IS EMPTY:
Seen too often: The hero and villain fire their guns at each other and instead of hiding, each pulls the trigger and “click!” Wait, how is that possible?
The last shot on a semi-automatic pistol locks the slide back, and the last shot on an automatic rifle like the AR-15 also locks the slide back.
These are not revolvers!
#9: YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE SOUND OF THE LOADING CLIP OF AN M1 GARAND:
It’s basically a video game myth, ones set during World War II, and featuring the M1 Garand, which has an 8-round loading clip that slots into the rifle.
On the last shot, the Garand ejects that clip, and another must be inserted before you can fire again.
In games you hear a “PING!” as the gun runs out of ammo and the clip is ejected.
In reality, the clip is ejected, but you may not hear a “ping” all the time. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Most of the time, you will.
But here’s the thing…
Since the Garand was used during the war, many WWII veterans have reported that they did not hear the clip eject from the weapon. Understandable, in an atmosphere where there are gunshots, explosions, screams…
#8: ALWAYS BETTER IN TWO:
Not if you want accurate shots. Good vision is the key to accurate shooting, and when you’re properly using your firearms to defend yourself against a threat, aiming correctly is the ultimate goal.
Dual-firing makes it harder for you to get proper aim, and shots that actually hit will be rare, if any.
In other words, a great way to waste bullets, but not to be accurate. The standard handgun grip is the only one that is effective.
#7: SILENCERS MAKE A GUN SILENT:
Well…no.
This is a complete distortion of reality.
First of all, not all silencers are equal, some are more effective than others.
Additionally, guns do not fire the same bullets. Most rifles have bullets that travel faster than the speed of sound. Some handgun bullets travel faster than the speed of sound, so even when fired with a silencer, they break the sound barrier, creating a sonic boom anyway.
If you use subsonic ammunition and have the best silencer in the world, you will still hear the action of the gun parts as they move.
In other words, it’s almost impossible to silence a gun. If you want an assassin to kill stealthily, use piano wire or a knife. Guns are a bit loud.
#6: GUNS THAT FIRE THEMSELVES:
Guns are machines, and machines only respond to commands.
In other words, the gun will not fire unless you do something to make it do so.
This is what we call a negligent shot. There is no accidental shot, because accidents are always caused by something.
If a gun fires when it wasn’t supposed to, it’s entirely your fault. Maintaining and using your firearm properly is your responsibility. Poorly maintained guns tend to have problems.
In other words, it’s a machine that requires you to manipulate it, and without human intervention, a gun doesn’t fire.
It is an inanimate object. Only children think that inanimate objects have an intention.
#5: THE HOLLYWOOD SAUCE RELOAD:
In Hollywood, you can recock a gun as many times as you want! And it looks cool and intimidating and everything.
There are several problems:
*Pistols must be cocked to prime the hammer or firing mechanism so they can fire. This is part of the firearm’s action cycle.
*To recock a firearm, you must have it discocked, which is highly inconvenient, dangerous, and unnecessary.
*If you cock a gun, it means you probably didn’t cock it sooner, which is not a good tactical choice.
*Recocking a gun that is already cocked causes you to eject a new bullet.
*Double-action revolvers and double-action pistols only need to have the trigger pulled to fire. Single-action revolvers require the hammer to be cocked for each shot fired, and single-action semi-automatic pistols must be cocked before they can fire, after which they will re-cock themselves.
In other words, cocking a gun is something that should have been done before the first shot, after which the gun does it for you for each subsequent shot.
There are people trying to cock the guns like in the movies, resulting in many accidental shootings.
Hollywood is a place of fiction, never trust what you see there.
#4: WARNING SHOTS:
Straight from the Care Bears world: “Shoot in the air, it’ll scare them!”
Warning shots are a bad idea, in general. For a variety of reasons, but the main reasons are:
*You failed to properly identify the target, thus violating the 4th cardinal rule of firearm safety. Proper engagement of a target involves identifying that target.
*All states, even if they support home protection laws, will treat warning shots as if you were shooting another person, and that’s really a common sense way to look at it.
*Bullets fall, guys! Bullets don’t travel at orbit exit velocity, so they’ll eventually come back down, and unless you shoot perfectly vertically, you don’t know where that bullet is going to land again, again in violation of rule 4.
*Tactically, if you have had time to identify the target, to understand that it does not represent a threat, then it is not the right time to shoot in the air. Firearms as a tool of self-defense are considered deadly force and are a last resort, to be used only if your life or physical integrity is in danger, or that of your friends and family. Otherwise, shooting is an inappropriate action.
If you have time to fire a warning shot, you have plenty of time to call the police and let them intervene. Besides, if you’re in serious danger, you’re not going to fire shots in the air anyway, so what’s the point?
#3: 9MM WON’T HURT ANYONE / .45 ACP CAN’T EVEN GO THROUGH A DOWN JACKET!:
These are bullets. They’re designed to put holes in things!
Once again, straight from the world of Care Bears.
The 9mm is plenty enough to neutralize a target, and the .45 ACP can easily penetrate a winter coat.
The best way to respond with sarcasm is to say:
“Oh the 9mm can’t hurt anyone? Oh the .45 ACP can’t penetrate a winter coat? Are you ready to get shot with those bullets?”
Obviously I wouldn’t recommend it, but making a hyperbolic and sarcastic joke like that really highlights the idiocy of these statements.
In reality, 9mm and .45 ACP can penetrate many things, including apartment walls.
The partitions, I believe, are a little more durable than a winter coat, right?
Also, let’s look at this logically. Bullets are famous for their effectiveness at putting holes in things. Why wouldn’t a 9mm or .45 ACP be able to do exactly what it was designed to do?
#2: I’M GOING TO CHOOSE PARTS FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS AND BUILD THE PERFECT RIFLE! All I need is this extra accessory, and then it ‘ll be perfect!:
I support people getting guns, and I admit that building your own gun is pretty fun, pretty easy to do, and gives you a sense of pride when you get it to the range and it works as expected.
But this is not always the case.
Some parts blend perfectly, but sometimes mixing doesn’t go so well. Your best bet is to consult forums or the manufacturers themselves. If you want to mix two different brands, chances are you’re not the first to try. Check out how it went for people who came before you.
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t have too much trouble building your own rifle, but as with building your own PC, it’s wise to check, check, and check before purchasing a specific part.
While we’re on the subject of accessories, you don’t need to build yourself an AR-15 dressed up like a Christmas tree with lots of goodies to be effective.
With all my weapons, including swords, knives and guns, I follow the KISS motto: Keep It Simple Stupid.
Simplicity above all.
My personal rifle is a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II. The original equipment accessories were backup sights and a foregrip and a tactical light.
The only thing I added was a red dot sight, and the other thing I would add is a strap, but after that any other extra gadgets would be superfluous.
I know we Americans love gadgets, but remember to keep it simple.
You don’t need all of that to be a sniper.
#1: THE GREAT AR VS. AK DEBATE:
This topic has been debated ad nauseam, as people want to make sure their semi-automatic rifle is the best in terms of accuracy and reliability.
However, when you look at these two concepts objectively, you realize that each has advantages and disadvantages, like any weapons system.
So let’s look at the pros of each system, then their cons, and then we can come up with a more intelligent answer to “Which rifle would best suit your needs?”
AK-47 THE PROS:
*The AK-47 is extremely reliable and can perform in the harshest environments and after being neglected. The rifle can perform with minimal cleaning and maintenance. However, I always recommend cleaning your firearms regularly.
*Very effective out to 300 yards, which for a rifle is more than enough.
*It is very easy to disassemble, clean and use in the field.
*The AK-47 fires a 7.62x39mm round which provides a decent amount of kinetic energy to the target, higher kinetic energy than the AR.
*AK-47s are generally cheap, although there are modern high end AK-47s, it is generally cheaper than the AR.
AK-47 THE CONS:
*The effective range of the AK-47 is between 300 and 400 meters, which is a disadvantage.
*The standard AK-47 weighs about 2.2 pounds more than the standard AR-15, which may not seem like much, but can add up if you need to carry the rifle, its ammunition, and other gear.
*Since the AK-47 fires a larger bullet than the standard AR-15, there is a bit more recoil.
*The loading lever, safety lever and magazine release were not designed with ergonomics in mind. While you can reload them quickly, you lose sight of your target.
Overall, these drawbacks aren’t that bad, all things considered.
Now let’s look at the AR-15.
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE AR-15:
*The AR-15 has a maximum effective range of 600 yards, which is more than the AK.
*The AR-15 weighs 2.2 pounds less than the AK-47, which can mean a lot if you’re carrying it with ammo and other gear.
*The AR-15’s ergonomics are much more user-friendly, offering good solid cheek contact and a selector and magazine release control that can be easily manipulated without losing sight of the target.
*Since the AR-15 fires a smaller bullet, the recoil is very easy to control.
AR-15 CONS:
*AR-15s are more expensive than standard AK-47s.
*The main drawback of this rifle is that it uses a direct gas system, which means that, practically speaking, they clog easily and need to be kept clean. In other words, it shits where it eats, so you need to adopt routine maintenance to keep it working as expected.
*The bullet fired by an AR-15 does not have the muzzle energy that the AK-47 can provide with its 7.62×39 bullet.
*As you can see, both rifle systems have drawbacks and great things going for them.
For me accuracy and reliability are my two main concerns for a rifle, and if I could have the perfect semi-automatic rifle it would be one that was easy to maintain, reliable, and accurate out to 300 yards.
Both platforms can be adjusted to make them ideal target rifles, sporting rifles, hunting rifles, and home defense tools, so it really depends on what you’re looking for most in a rifle.
Do you value precision and accuracy? Get the AR-15.
Do you value reliability until death and a categorical refusal of the word “give up”? Take the AK.
CONCLUSION:
These are the myths I wanted to address, because everyone else has covered it from a gun restriction perspective.