guns in a vacuum?


This film seems to think one can fire a pistol in a vacuum. Now, I suppose these are supposed to be modified "space guns" but they look like what was to be had currently (1969) & create puffs of smoke when fired (impossible). Why not just use ray guns like all the other sci-fi movies of the time? Or did they want that western feel?

Expansion to your ego.

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What makes you think guns would not work in a vacuum? The oxidizer is contained in the powder within the cartridges. External oxygen is not needed for ignition.

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caulkins69 is correct. Standard firearms can absolutely be fired in a vacuum. Of course the recoil would have a much more profound effect, possibly launching the shooter backwards violently. The surface of the moon wouldn't be as bad as empty space of course.

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Well, doesn't sound so good then if you are knocked down by the recoil. Plus, would there be a puff of smoke after firing? Wouldn't the bullet travel slower than on earth?

Expansion to your ego.

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If anything, a bullet would travel faster on the moon than on earth because of the lack of air resistance. All the material that comprises discharge smoke would come out of the barrel, but it would not suspend in non-existent air. I don't think recoil would necessarily be a problem because although on the moon you weigh only one-sixth what you do on earth, you still have the same mass. The lower gravity would, however, cause your footing to be less secure. If that turns out to be a problem, you could always compensate by using cartridges with weaker loads.

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I would expect they would be modified somehow, for I doubt a regular firearm's moving parts would function at 200 F below zero, the temperature James Olson recited a couple of times.

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