Debunking Common Myths About Firearms and Shooting You Thought Were True

Real-life gunfights are far different from what you see on screen.

1. Blank-Fired Guns Are Harmless

Scene from the movie “In Bruges”

A common trope is the villain aiming a gun loaded with blanks, which the hero laughs off, assuming it’s harmless like a toy water pistol. But blanks can seriously injure or even kill.

A blank fired at close range to the eyes can cause blindness or death.

The gas and debris expelled from a blank cartridge can penetrate the chest, abdomen, or skull at close distances.

2. Some Guns Can Pass Through Metal Detectors Undetected

In “Die Hard 2,” a criminal sneaks a Glock 17 into an airport, described as a "German porcelain pistol" that metal detectors can’t catch. In reality, even though the Glock 17 uses polymer parts, it contains enough metal components to be detected by standard metal detectors.

Polymer parts reduce weight and improve handling but don’t allow guns to bypass security scanners. Currently, no combat-ready firearms are made entirely without metal.

3. Hiding Behind Car Doors or Tables Stops Bullets

In many action movies, characters flip tables or hide behind car doors to shield themselves from gunfire. However, standard 9mm bullets can easily penetrate car doors unless they are armored, and wooden tables, drywall, or trash bins offer even less protection.

4. Suppressors Weaken Bullet Power

Video games often portray suppressors as reducing a gun’s damage to balance gameplay. In reality, suppressors don’t decrease bullet velocity or lethality; instead, they reduce the noise level to protect the shooter’s hearing.

In fact, suppressors can slightly increase bullet speed by improving gas pressure in the barrel. The trade-off is mainly in the added weight and bulk of the suppressor.

5. Dual-Wielding Pistols Is Highly Effective

Scene from the movie “Fast & Furious: Da Vinci”

While dual-wielding pistols (known as "akimbo") looks cool on screen, hitting two targets simultaneously is extremely difficult. Experienced shooters might use two pistols to suppress enemies, but a single submachine gun offers better firepower and accuracy.

6. Bullets Are Lethal Underwater

Movies often show characters escaping underwater gunfire unscathed, but bullets lose effectiveness quickly in water due to its density—about 700 times denser than air. A bullet’s lethal range underwater is roughly one meter.

Watch physicist Andreas Wahl’s experiment attempting to shoot underwater, demonstrating how ineffective bullets are in this environment.

7. Using Hostages as Human Shields Works

Movies depict heroes using hostages as shields, shooting enemies while protected. In reality, human bodies without ballistic armor don’t stop bullets well. Bullets passing through a person can still injure or kill those behind them, making this tactic extremely risky.

8. You Can Shoot Down a Helicopter with a Pistol

Scene from the movie “SPECTRE”

While movies show villains shooting down helicopters with pistols, hitting a helicopter’s rotor with a handgun is nearly impossible, and even direct hits rarely cause critical damage. Helicopter rotors are extremely durable, capable of cutting through tree branches during landings.

9. Laser Sights Emit Visible Red Beams

Movies often show red laser beams from gun sights to indicate aiming points. However, visible lasers would easily reveal a shooter’s position. Real tactical laser sights use infrared beams visible only through night vision equipment, appearing white or green rather than red.

10. Body Armor Makes You Invincible

Action heroes often survive multiple gunshots thanks to body armor, but in reality, even when bullets don’t penetrate, the impact can cause serious injuries like broken ribs or severe bruising. Body armor significantly reduces fatality risk but doesn’t make the wearer invulnerable.

The blunt force from a bullet hitting armor feels like a heavy blow, making invincible characters like John Wick appear unrealistic.

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