What is the dumbest firearm related "myth"or "thing" you used to believe?

[chewy]

It has been said that having the ability to laugh at ones' self builds good character. So lets laugh at ourselves. What is the dumbest firearm related "myth"or "thing" you used to believe in?

I used to believe that cast lead bullets melted upon firing and that's why all the folks shot in "The Wild Bunch" made big blood spatters. An uncle told me that when we saw "The Long Riders" that Jesse James flick with the Caradine and Keach brothers in it.

[BigSlick]

I used to believe a .357 Mag would go thru an engine block cause I heard a fella one a my uncles was friends with said it would. I was jus a youngster, so I didn't know any better.

Now, I know better, for real

[Rick]

I used to believe that "dry fire" would damage a firearm.

[mbradst]

I used to believe that if you shot a cast bullet through a Glock, it would cause a nuclear fission reaction and everyone in a 100 mile radius would be vaporized.

[4eyes]

Nearly true; but it's only 2 miles.

[Fatdaddy]

I remember not ever wanting a 1911 because you couldn't hit the broad side of the barn with 'em. This story stemmed from some folks talking about the old govt models that troops were issued back in the day.

Used to think fanning a single action was cool, as well as spinning the cylinder.

[Blackdog]

:out: I used to believe that the only ammo I could get was the stuff you buy at the store already put together. Ignernt, I was.

[JW6108]

Early teens, so somewhat forgivable, I thought hollow point bullets expanded going through the air.

Thinking about it now, that might be useful once in a while.

[Pitmaster]

I used to think it was the gun that was dangerous. I've since learned its the person holding it.

[thorn]

Kind of a reverse... when I was about 9 or 10, my grandfather showed me his 1911 from WWII. I asked him about the last time he had shot it, and he said after he fired it a few times, his hand was bloody.

I didn't disbelieve him, but for years and years I thought something must have been wrong with his gun. Later in life, I learned it's called "slide bite".

thorn

[Oreo]

I grew up surrounded mostly by liberal antis so for a long time I believed in all sorts of nonsense. With a lot of help from you fine folks I had to figure things out for myself.

I used to believe in common sense gun control.

I also used to believe that some pistols could fire "cop killer" rounds that could punch right through the blade of a bulldozer like in the movie Lethal Weapon.

[creophus]

I used to believe that a shotgun slug could take a man off his feet.

I used to believe that guns were too risky for the common man and that giving up rights to save lives would be sensible.

[Pitmaster]

I also used to think you had to handle a handle a gun delicately or IT might do something. Then I learned guns aren't delicate.

[jawjaboy]

:yikes:

[Frostback]

I used to think you could clean leading by launching a few jacketed rounds out afterwards.

Frosty

[4eyes]

What made you change your mind? I know several guys who have used that method for years. No blown barrels to date.

[Frostback]

It just "irons" the lead into the pores in the steel. Put an Outers foul out on a barrel after doing this and see the crap that comes out.

Frosty

[MONTEGOD7SS]

The .357 shooting through an engine. Also, that rounds like the .22-250 shoot flat out to 200yrd+, somehow avoiding that whole gravity thing.

[chewy]

Thought a "shooting gallery" in Phoenix was an actual firearms range.

[blueline541]

The one myth pounded into my head throughout childhood that has see been dispelled - you absolutely NEVER, EVER point a gun at a person. EVER.

[4eyes]

The one myth pounded into my head throughout childhood that has see been dispelled - you absolutely NEVER, EVER point a gun at a person. EVER.

:roflmao:

Ironically funny, but so true. I can imagine a LEO pointing a finger and saying "you better behave".

[4eyes]

It just "irons" the lead into the pores in the steel. Put an Outers foul out on a barrel after doing this and see the crap that comes out.

Frosty

I don't question this. However, after cleaning a leaded bore with normal cleaners, patches, brushes, etc. and then using Foul Out; do you still get the same type crap/gunk?

[Frostback]

Yes, it is amazing the amount that still comes out after just brushing with cleaners. BTW, I don't think that running a few jacketed rounds out after lead does any real harm, it just doesn't help either.

Frosty

[io_joe]

Some M16 lore:gun_smilie:

I heard that the 5.56 M193 round would tumble directly out of the bore of the M16. That's why it creates such nasty wounds!

On a related note, there were discussions about twist rates -- 1 in 14 vs. 1 in 12 and bullet performance. The 1 in 14 twist was supposed to produce much nastier effects than the 1 in 12.

[Solvability]

Thought Glocks got their reliability by loose tolerances and would not shoot good groups - not so much now.

[creophus]

Some M16 lore:gun_smilie:

I heard that the 5.56 M193 round would tumble directly out of the bore of the M16. That's why it creates such nasty wounds!
I heard that about the 45acp when I was in high school. I was like WOW. Totally believed it.