Does being firearms knowledgeable take enjoyment out of things?

[Deus Machina]

It depends. I have no problem suspending disbelief in a scenario that's obviously not shooting for realism. It is irritating when there's an obvious attempt to be realistic and they screw up something badly.

Exactly the same here. Sci-fi or fantasy? I'll let a lot slide there.
The 'realistic' movie where someone racks a shotgun three times confronting the big bad guy, and then uses it to launch him twenty feet through the air and a window? Not so cool.
What gets to me is the fight scenes where people are standing off or fighting and then, bang, and the good guy is suddenly covered in blood (and optional fleshy bits) because their partner shot the baddie from behind--and the bullet disappears somewhere between the bad guy's new cranial piercing and the hero's face.

 

[Jim Watson]

Firearm errors are not the only reason I seldom watch movies or series tv. And don't play video games at all.

I had an old Gun Digest with a long article on movie guns. It showed all sorts of stuff made up for films of the 1950s.
Lots of DA revolvers with dummy ejector rod housings to superficially resemble a SAA, a few even with plowhandle butts.
Lots of Colt SAAs with webs added under the barrel to resemble a Remington 1858 or 1875.
A scratch built Walker repro, $300 in the mid 50s. Pity they did not say what movie that was for.

Of course the 1892 Winchester was ubiquitous, often with the forearm removed and the action brass colored to resemble a Henry.
Trapdoor Springfield standing in for muzzleloaders.

Rock Hudson carried an 1860 Colt cartridge conversion, ca 1870, in Seminole, set in the 1830s. Why bother? At least the enlisted had real muzzleloaders.

Want broken windows, dirt flying from impact, bloody hits? OK, a big bore airgun firing ball bearings, capsules of dust, capsules of "blood" from off camera.
Want a thrown knife? A very big bore airgun firing a short bladed knife into a board under the actor's shirt.

I think Saving Private Ryan is probably the most realistic movie regarding firearms I've seen.

Except for the quick change Unertl on the 1903A4.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I can't stand it when the Foley artist adds cocking sounds to modern striker-fired semi-autos. Even my wife yells at the TV when someone 'cocks' a Glock.

THIS!!!!!!

 

[AZAndy]

I had this problem just yesterday. I started watching a movie about an outwardly respectable man with a secret life as a serial killer, and in the first ten minutes the main character murders a couple of people with a suppressed semi-auto wrapped in a clear plastic bag. Gee, I wonder how the slide would operate? That ruined it for me, and I turned it off.

Hey, screenplay and book authors! If you're wondering "is this realistic?" just drop by the High Road and ask. We'll help you, and we probably won't even be mean about it.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Well you can shoot pointy bullets in a savage 99 but they load from the top, similar to bolt gun, the gun in the game clearly has a side loading gate...

The fantasy weapon in question could use electrically primed ammunition.

Problem solved.

 

[GBExpat]

Does being firearms knowledgeable take enjoyment out of things?

For me it does sometimes make it harder to maintain a viable level of Suspension of Disbelief.

 

[jar]

The Colt Lightning and Thunderer were early double action revolvers that came out in the late 1870's so yep, they did have them back then.

Don't forget the Smith & Wesson Model 2, the Safety Hammerless that was based on the Model 2 and DA Model 4 and of course the Hand Ejector. IIRC the Colt New Service was introduced in 1898 as well.

 

[doubleh]

I'm not a gamer so have no clue about the subject.

I have to say that anyone that expects totally correct realism on any subject in movies and tv isgoing to be disappointed in the extreme and with computer generated graphics it's even worse than the old days of special effects. I learned long ago to let the incorrect period firearms, never ending supplies of ammo, etc. just slide and enjoy the story for what it is, a story.

I watched "Skyscraper" last weekend. Totally off the wall, impossible feats of strength by the star but still entertaining although not entertaining enough to watch again.

I have been known to point out errors. It annoys my wife and also my oldest grandson. I find that entertaining but hide my smile from the wife.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

It's just a game or it's just a movie. You are supposed to be having fun. If it's not fun change the channel or play Pong...
If you want accuracy watch a documentary.

 

[TJ AK-74]

I once saw a documentary on the History channel several years ago about the Bay of Pigs invasion. They showed an old black and white video of the forces "landing" (IIRC). Problem is, I could clearly see that the slide on the one guys SKS was locked back and it was unloaded.... pretty sure it was a video of them practicing the landing, not actually landing, although sending in men armed but without ammo would help explain why they lost.

 

[TJ AK-74]

I expect movies and TV shows to be inaccurate in most areas, especially firearms, so it doesn't ruin it for me but I do appreciate the rare times that they get it right. Now my wife will even point out little gun-related errors lol.

FPS games are fun. I still play Counterstrike online sometimes. The weapons are realistic enough for me to enjoy it. What irritates me is how many times other players will tell me that "AK-74 isn't a real gun, it's AK-47" lol.

 

[mjsdwash]

Remington model 14 pump has a twisted mag tub that allows the use of pointed bullets and primers from making contact, I don't know about any lever actions.

thats probably the one. The OP's lever gun was very far from historical, so I was saying that since that technology has been around for 100 years, its easy to believe a fantasy gun could incorporate it. Thanks for the reminder, thats been nagging me for a few weeks.

 

[BigBore44]

I don’t think it bothers me because I know it’s fake. But when I watch a movie like that with those flaws mentioned, with one of my friends or my girlfriend (who really likes firearms but doesn’t know a lot about them), I sometimes pause the movie to educate them. They have always been quite receptive to the information.

I think one thing that really does bug me is when a detective in street clothes goes busting down doors with a SWAT or CERT team. I’m just like “Somebody shoot that detective for no other reason than being stupid”.

 

[Riomouse911]

Being firearms knowledgeable does not ruin it for me per se, but it does drive me nuts when others who aren’t get their info from them and then expect things to be like what movies/tv/news shows them.

We see it all the time: people immediately drop and cease their actions no matter where the bullet strikes them; lead actor cops never seem to miss; hundreds of shots get fired and no one is ever in the station for a week writing a report; magical CSI computers exist, etc.

THAT drives me up the wall...

Stay safe!

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Most films are full of technical errors related to firearms and everything else as well. I sometimes find it amusing but am not bothered by it.
For me the odds are I can't stand to watch one or more of the actors in a film for political reasons.

 

[Archie]

I don't do video games so that isn't a problem. I'm pretty good at allowing for 'ignorance' in firearms and handling techniques in 'fiction'. What does drive me nuts is in contemporary police movies is 'entry team' checking to make sure their firearms are loaded. What the heck have they been doing? I put ammo in my sidearm and charge the chamber when I dress.

 

[SwampWolf]

"Those who think they know everything annoy those of us who do."

 

[94045]

How about Gary Cooper in Seargent York.
Portrayed with a M1903 Springfield and P08 Luger when everyone new he used a M1917 Enfield "Eddystone" and a M1911. I'm unsure of the manufacturer of the pistol. I'm not sure Alvin York knew as it was stolen from him on ship while returning to the US.

A little knowledge can sometimes tend to interfere with your enjoyment of a film, game etc when you see the inconsistencies.

 

[Speedo66]

It's not just firearms, it's anything you're knowledgeable about, be it guns, law, medicine, etc.

I know games and movies aren't real and we should suspend belief when we enter, but it's still annoying when we observe blatant errors.

 

[Fiv3r]

I'm pretty sure McCree fires more than 6 times when it's high noon

I can usually look past it. Does bother me on western period pieces. I was getting ready to watch some flick about a gun fighter during the Civil War. He was packing an 1873. It did take me out of it enough (along with the acting) for me to turn it off.

Speaking of video games, I have noticed that some of the reloading animations take tactical reloads into account. I'm pretty sure most of the Call of Duty games allow you to swap mags quickly, but if you shoot them dry you have drop the slide or use the charging handle or something. Belt fed guns still make you go through the thing.

 

[2011ERIC]

I definitely find myself critiquing the weapons and how they are used in movies. When I see sparks from bullets, I’m done lol. Sometimes I wish I didn’t notice things so that I could enjoy movies more though.

 

[jeff-10]

Personally, I like the hammer cocking noise on Glocks in movies.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

OK, as a traditional archer I also take umbrage when you hear that creaking sound as a wooden bow is being drawn back.
My bows do NOT creak.
It's the archery version of the "hammer cocking noise" on Glocks...

 

[jmace57]

I can't stand it when the Foley artist adds cocking sounds to modern striker-fired semi-autos. Even my wife yells at the TV when someone 'cocks' a Glock.

Or "snicks" the safety off!

 

[BSA1]

Even Documentaries get it wrong sometimes.

Kenny Rogers The Real West TV Program sometimes showed the wrong guns.

I quit watching most TV Programs a long time ago and added the NFL last year when millionaire players started taking a knee. (Well I am watching the Packers. Too many years with them. I keep hoping I am watching McCarthys last year as head coach.)