Nachimir Posted November 19, 2009 (edited) To answer the original question, if the safety is off and you don't have training, then unless the person with the gun hesitates or is monumentally uncoordinated, you die. If the safety is on, you probably still die if you end up grappling. If you have any kind of training in how to disarm people, you probably die anyway too. Pulling guns out of people's hands while they're pointed at you is a ridiculous idea, but it is also super dramatic and heroic. Can't you just plug the hole with your finger? Based on the physics involved I predict the gun would backfire and kill the assailant. After all, the bullet would have to go somewhere, and your finger is blocking one of the exits. You would, at least, lose part if not all of your hand. If it was a hollow point, it would turn your hand into mist, probably take out a good part of your forearm if not all of it too, fractures would track up what was left of any bones and very likely along your ribs too, which needless to say would fuck you up royally. Even if you got really lucky, it's not the kind of arm injury you can put in a plaster cast and wait to knit, it could entail major surgery even if you got to keep so much as a stump. Which begs the question: Does a gunman have to visually inspect the safety switch of a gun in order to determine whether the safety mechanism is engaged? You can see this glock has one just above and in front of the trigger: http://www.tarnhelm.com/gifs/GlockSafetyLg.jpg Likewise on this Walther, it's pretty easy to determine by touch, but also has a red mark to show it's unsafe too: http://world.guns.ru/handguns/walther_ppk_ud.jpg (Notice too that it's easier to flick off than on while holding it normally). I've a feeling gun designers make safeties easy to check and alter by touch without reorienting the weapon. Anything that needed to be checked visually wouldn't be particularly safe or efficient for a gun user under pressure. Basically, cinematic conventions around weapons are absurd, the obvious flaws that undo villains are generally designed out, and they're much, much deadlier than they're portrayed as. Edited November 19, 2009 by Nachimir Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmuerte Posted November 19, 2009 Famous last words: "Don't worry, it's not cocked." - ign.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toblix Posted November 19, 2009 the gun wont fire unless the trigger is pulled That's an awesome security mechanism, and also merely a paraphrasing of what I believe to be the very definition of a firearm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted November 19, 2009 What? Do you know nothing about proper hold-up procedure? The next step is clearly to shoot a bullet into the ground near their feet, or possibly at some inanimate object near their head if you're really badass. *slaps forehead* Of course! I can't believe I forgot about that and the inevitable "count to three". You'd think I'd never seen an action movie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted November 19, 2009 Hopefully the situation of someone cocking their gun in my face will remain strictly in the realm of the imagination. In real life I would most likely be so flustered I'd forget this thread completely and instead go for the old "the safety is on" trick and attempt to disarm him/her as he/she tilts the pistol to check. Ah, the old "safety is on" trick. Of course the quickest way to check in real life is to simply pull the trigger... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vimes Posted November 19, 2009 *slaps forehead* Of course! I can't believe I forgot about that and the inevitable "count to three". You'd think I'd never seen an action movie. I love Hans Gruber variation on this one : "I'm going to count to three, there will not be a four." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digitalfox Posted November 19, 2009 That's an awesome security mechanism, and also merely a paraphrasing of what I believe to be the very definition of a firearm. Actualy, there are alot of guns that will fire with out the trigger being pulled. Most shotguns, the safety mearly blocks the trigger from being pulled. However, a sharp strike on the gun or droping it will be enough to release the fireing pin and fire the gun without pulling the trigger. This is also true of a good number of rifles, such as the M16 and Ak47. Several machine pistols like the uzi also will fire without pulling the trigger. Some guns such as the above mentioned uzi, will auto-fire ala "True Lies" since there is nothing to stop the auto cycle mechinism. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toblix Posted November 19, 2009 That's the stupidest and scaried thing I've ever heard. I have often made fun of the True Lies scene on account of the fact that I have always felt confident that weapons wouldn't start killing guys just from being dropped on the floor. After making a hole for the bullets to come out of, this "security mechanism" is the second thing I would think of if I were to design a weapon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted November 20, 2009 This is also true of a good number of rifles, such as the M16 and Ak47. Several machine pistols like the uzi also will fire without pulling the trigger. Some guns such as the above mentioned uzi, will auto-fire ala "True Lies" since there is nothing to stop the auto cycle mechinism. "Oh yeah, it can sometimes fire itself." Jeez! Great design, guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patters Posted November 20, 2009 How has no one made an innuendo? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toblix Posted November 20, 2009 How has no one made an innuendo? Has no one? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patters Posted November 20, 2009 Has no one? Not a good one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted November 20, 2009 How has no one made an innuendo? About what? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patters Posted November 20, 2009 About what? cocking your or someone else's gun Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OssK Posted November 20, 2009 You gotta use the kid to check if the gun is cocked Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmuerte Posted November 20, 2009 I'm just going to use my something something sword with a very long name that ends in "wizard" that my character has in Torchlight Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted November 20, 2009 cocking your or someone else's gun What about it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brkl Posted November 21, 2009 cocking your or someone else's gun I thought it would be about sometimes firing itself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Action Shakespeare Posted November 21, 2009 Replace joystick with gun Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanJW Posted November 21, 2009 But a joystick is not a gun? Oh wait! Is it because cocking... cocking is.... Nope it's gone again. I think we will have to resign ourselves to the fact that this is the cleanest and most innuendo-free thread ever on Thumbs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted November 21, 2009 Replace joystick with gun That guy is a genius. We need him to come over here and explain to us what Patters means. (Hopefully he'll include a diagram, too.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted November 21, 2009 cocking As in cocking a gun, yes. And? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patters Posted November 21, 2009 accidentally shooting a gun, this "Oh yeah, it can sometimes fire itself." Jeez! Great design, guys. among other small references. I have a terrible sense of humour either way. Sorry... I'm not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites