Warning shots?


I'm watching episode 1 now and noticed the girl detective and the bad guy leader both fired warning shots- at least the girl tried to before the guy fixed her gun. The bad guy leader doing so was just dumb- they were hiding in the woods and a gunshot would give away his location.

There was also no recoil when the girl fired her .44.

Dean: I am wearing sunglasses at night. You know who does that? No-talent douche bags!

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Black Powder does not generate the same level of recoil as modern "smokeless" powder. Also, the revolver Mrs. Warne is firing is a Colt Walker- at 4 3/4 lbs, the sheer weight of the thing negates a great deal of the recoil.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

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I've never fired a black powder handgun, so I researched the situation. There is evidence that the recoil for smokeless is less than that of black powder.
Source: http://www.chuckhawks.com/difference_black_powders.htm

What is the Difference between Black, Pyrodex, Triple Seven, and Smokeless Powders?... Smokeless powders are non-corrosive, offer less recoil, and leave very little residue.


A number of shooters of both BP & SP opined in the below thread, and some believed black powder offered more recoil than smokeless while others held the opposite opinion:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?227782-Perception-of-re coil-and-time-in-motion-of-rifle-black-powder-vs-smokeless-powder

Additionally, the Walker apparently had a well-known problem of the loading handle falling due to recoil:
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/05/mike-cumpston/gun-review-the- walker-colt/

The writer offers contradictory information in his post:
The loading lever clasp is inadequate to the recoil of the heavily loaded Walker and almost always drops out of engagement after each shot.

Then:
Recoil with all load combinations was essentially nil.


A large man is shown shooting a replica BP model in this YouTube clip (about 11 minutes in), and you can see some recoil as well as the aforementioned loading handle falling due to recoil:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxGHkbFm9zM

I'd say in light of your info & the above info the scene was a typical TV/film error. A small woman (MacIsaac is listed as 5'-4") would not be able to easily handle such a heavy handgun. Can't call this one a "Hollywood" error though, since this a a Canadian show, eh? 


Dean: I am wearing sunglasses at night. You know who does that? No-talent douche bags!

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[deleted]

Thank you both for the replies, but to paraphrase the words of Dieter (Mike Myers) from SNL, the story had grown tiresome, so I did not watch any other episodes.

RIP Ron Swanson. Writers created your awesomeness in S1 and killed it in S7

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Thank you for sharing your expertise, firearms trainer. Your observations line up almost exactly with my own experience. I still have a couple of Dragoons in my safe, and they are very fun to shoot, although they are heavy beasts. Happy shooting to you, pard, and stay safe.
Regards, Gus

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

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[deleted]

BTW, I had a couple of Walker replicas several years ago. One of them would let the loading lever drop after shooting now and then, the other would never drop. It has a lot more to do with the spring tension in the lever retaining spring than with any perceived recoil. Metal used in springs in the 1840's would fatigue far faster than the vastly superior and far more consistent metal produced today.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

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I have several Black Powder Percussion Firearms. And I shoot regularly. And have several friends that also shoot. Myself and ALL my buddy's believe that a Black Powder weapon has much more of a Kick(Recoil) than a Center Fire Weapon of similar size. And anyone that shoots my .50 cal Rifle walks away with a new respect of Black Powder !!! Also, To anyone that doesn't think Black Powder is accurate !!???, At anything under 100 yards, I can put 3 outta 5 in the first Ring !!!!! And more times than not, 2 of those are in the Red !!!... I hunt every year with my Black Powder and bring home anything I shoot at !! . And don't get me started on my Big Bore Air Rifles !!.. I/We love shooting, And with the BP and Air Rifles, We can shoot all week for less than what it costs to shoot any of our Modern Center Fire Weapons !! Too me, I believe that a BP weapon is the Ultimate Survival Firearm !! They shoot whatever is put into the barrel !!, Lead is on every vehicle tire for homemade Ball Shot !!, Black Powder is easily made at home, And caps can also be made at home !!!!!

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