Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Since I had such a strong response to my last two posts about guns, I thought I'd start one more thread on the subject.
On a recent conference trip to Pennsylvania, a faculty member (who shall go nameless here to protect his career) took me to a shooting range and produced a collection of famous guns from the movies. It was great -- we shot a Civil War revolver, a revolver of the kind used by the army in the old west, a "Dirty Harry" Magnum .44, a WWI-era Colt semi-automatic, James Bond's Walther PPK -- well, you get the idea. At least I learned why the gunmen used their hands to rapid fire with the hammer in the cowboy movies, and why it took so long to reload during the Civil War
But it got me to thinking -- what is the best firearm in the movies -- the one that, if you could have only one, you would pick? I nominate the Magnum .44 from "Dirty Harry." I suppose the James Bond gun is popular, but when I shot it, I thought it was all show and no action. Any other nominees?
- Comment (95)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (38)
Comments:
Oct '11
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
You already mentioned it, but the Magnum has to be on the top (or top 3) of any "best movie gun" list.
Edited on December 10, 2012 at 10:43pmMar '11
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Not to nitpick, but the Dirty Harry gun was a .44 magnum, not a .357.
Carry on.
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Gus Marvinson: Not to nitpick, but theDirty Harry gun was a .44 magnum, not a .357.
Carry on. · 0 minutes ago
Noted and corrected.
Oct '11
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Gus Marvinson: Not to nitpick, but theDirty Harry gun was a .44 magnum, not a .357.
Carry on. · 0 minutes ago
Yeah, well, tell that to Dirty Harry when he's pointing it at you and explaining to you how it will take your head off.
Jul '11
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Quigley Down under had what I recall was a Sharps 1874. It was a beauty in the world of early accuracy shooting. Jerimiah Johnson had a Hawken .36, not a .50 but by God it was a Hawken!
Dec '10
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Not strictly a movie gun, but Richard Sharpe's Baker rifle.
Feb '12
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Real? The mini gun in Predator was pretty cool.
May '10
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
I like the .357 because it has plenty of knock-down power, once loaded it is always ready (no need to chamber a round or wonder if you have the safety on or off), and in the short barrel configuration very compact and concealable and harder for the bad guy to wrestle away from you.
The .44 mag is a LOT of firearm for personal defense. Good sidearm if you may encounter a Kodiak bear maybe. Others will differ of course.
Sep '10
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Thus the, "will blow your head clean off" line.
Oct '11
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Vance Richards
Thus the, "will blow your head clean off" line. · 0 minutes a
Although, Harry shoots a lot of people and as far as I remember none of them lose their heads.
Aug '10
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
I have a prejudice against the Dirty Harry depiction of handguns. The Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 magnum may have been the most powerful handgun in the world when the Dirty Harry movies were made, but that doesn't make it a bazooka. Even the most powerful handguns are nothing compared to any rifle cartridge of medium power or above.
Also, the impact of a bullet won't knock you off your feet, let alone blow your head clean off or send you flying through a window. That's true even for high power rifle bullets, and it's especially true for handguns. In fact, when people are shot they tend to just crumple to the ground like a rag doll. There's nowhere near enough momentum in a bullet to cause a human body to go flying - if there was, Newton's laws tell us that the shooter would also get thrown backwards by the recoil.
So my preference by far is for movies that treat guns realistically. One of the most realistic depictions of handgun combat I remember was in a movie called "Thief" starring James Caan. Highly recommended. Oh, and he used a Colt M1911 automatic.
Mar '12
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Is Robocop's Auto 9 out of the running? ;-)
Nov '11
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
The .44 WCF Model 1892 Winchester carbine that John Wayne used in the movie, Stagecoach. Like the weapon used in the TV show, The Rifleman, it had a large lever "loop" and could be cocked with one hand.
May '12
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
My Little Friend (M16 with M203 Grenade Launcher)
from Scarface
(But the Cream Puff Tommy Gun from "Buggsy Malone" is a close second)
Edited on December 10, 2012 at 10:55pmJul '10
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
I tend to favour the Remington 1858 that Eastwood had in Pale Rider. It was way ahead of its time in being able to be reloaded from additional loaded cylinders quite quickly and simply.
Then there are the 2 S&W Shofields in the latest 3:10 To Yuma.
DocJay mentioned the Sharps 45-110 that Selleck had in Quigley Down Under.
I have to say that I generally find the old western guns more "interesting" even if the modern stuff is more practical.
Aug '11
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
I don't know the movie(s)... but the Glock G18 (there was one in Skyfall) is a gun that will probably live forever in the popular imagination. It's a handgun, but it fires like a machine gun! And it has a long magazine! So tacticool!
Edited on December 10, 2012 at 11:00pmJul '10
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
You do know that that was made up for the movies - Winchester never made that kind of lever until relatively recently, in response to people wanting the movie gun.
Mar '12
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
"The Shooter" had a nice collection of weapons, most of which got at least a bit of use. The sniper rifle used by the hero was the item I most appreciated.
Some of the movies about WWII had Thompsons and BARs, as well as the very good German machine pistols and machine guns.
While I don't offhand remember a movie displaying the M79, that was a wonderful piece of equipment as well.
All of these lead to a question for John Yoo. Will you permit concealed carry in Oakland when you are mayor?
Edited on December 10, 2012 at 11:05pmNov '11
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
Devereaux
You do know that that was made up for the movies - Winchester never made that kind of lever until relatively recently, in response to people wanting the movie gun.
The loop was specially designed for Wayne to accommodate his large hands. Together with the rifle's short barrel, the loop enabled him to twirl the gun and cock it in one motion.
Apr '11
Re: Completing the Firearms Trilogy -- Best Movie Guns
I think I would take a phaser. This way I can have a wide range of both lethal and non-lethal options and I could skirt gun carrying laws. Also I think I would be more accurate (no recoil.).