Gun 101

Matthew Bayan has some interesting observations about mystery writers. via Mulholland Books

Unless one has hands-on experience with firearms, it’s easy to make mistakes. At a mystery writers’ workshop, I asked the audience how many had used firearms in their mysteries or thrillers. Almost every hand went up. I then asked how many had ever shot a firearm. Less than half the hands went up. If we’re going to write in these genres, let’s know a little about the weapons our characters use.

And some good advice:

And try going to a pistol range for some hands-on experience.

What's your opinion? Don't you hate it when a movie or book makes obvious mistakes in the portrayal of guns? I don't mind too much when the hero has a seemingly inexhaustable magazine, but things like the continual racking of the slide bother me. What about you? What about the hero shaking off a bullet or two and continuing the fight? Do you find that unrealistic?

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