MovieChat Forums > NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) Discussion > Basic firearms error

Basic firearms error

posted 8 years ago by cpretired
12 replies | jump to latest

It seems that a show which is so ingrained with firearms use, that even has an incredible arsenal at their disposal, would have some basic knowledge of firearms. In season 8, episode 4, "Ghost Gun", at the 7:47 point, Sam and Callan investigate a murder scene. They come across some shell casings, and Sam's dialog is "357 magnum, three shell casings." They could have used any handgun type at all, but this? The 357 magnum is only used in a revolver. A revolver does NOT drop the shell casing when fired. Even the quick view of the shooting appears to show a semi-auto being used, not a revolver. Don't the writers have any firearms knowledge? Aren't there any technical advisors on this show?

[–] bliss_pepper 8 years ago

Not being a firearms expect, that error meant nothing to me, but I agree--they shouldn't make such silly mistakes. Could it have been a 357 SIG (or is that ammo)? Sorry if that's a dumb question. 

[–] PoulDeau 8 years ago

Could have been a Coonan 1911 but it probably was a Desert Eagle, they are both 357 Magnum and semi-auto.

A quick re-watch of the scene it's pretty obvious its a Desert Eagle.

[–] bliss_pepper 8 years ago

Interesting! So maybe it wasn't a mistake. 👍

[–] DavidCrow 8 years ago

A revolver does NOT drop the shell casing when fired.

If it was a revolver, the empty brass does come out when the cylinder is opened!

Aren't there any technical advisors on this show?

Yes.

[–] rgazsy 8 years ago

Unless you reload there is no reason to open the cylander

[–] DavidCrow 8 years ago

But it COULD happen. That's all I was pointing out to the OP. If it did, whether it should, why it couldn't, it's a bad idea, etc are all irrelevant.

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

If it was a revolver, the empty brass does come out when the cylinder is opened!

Having carried revolvers in law enforcement, the brass only comes out when the user ejects it. Opening the cylinder will not automatically do so. Most modern revolvers have an ejection rod to do so. Gravity will not always eject the brass since the cases expand when fired.

Next, they found 3 cases. Who shoots a 6 shot gun 3 times and then ejects only 3 cases?

EDIT
Apparently it was a Desert Eagle, a fairly rare and high-end gun that is in fact chambered in the .357 Magnum caliber. The caliber like the .38 special is usually always associated with revolvers.

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[–] bliss_pepper 8 years ago

Desert Eagle semi-automatic, no?

[–] mr_smith-25946 8 years ago

Actually the only error is the error you made in not researching firearms. Coonan arms makes a 1911 variant that shoots .357 magnum, Glock makes a pistol that fires .357, FN Herstal makes a pistol that fires .357, and Sig Sauer makes a pistol that fires .357. Let us not forget that rifles are also chambered in .357 magnum so a Henry or Marlin rifle can be chambered in .357 magnum and when reloading it would drop the shell on the ground as would all the other pistols that I mentioned. So there was zero error on the shows part whatsoever.

[–] Athena_of_Ancient_Greece 8 years ago

Apparently Not!! It jumped out at us as soon as Sam made his statement!! LOL!!!! Not only lack of tech advisors, but lack of final editing before release to TV!!

[–] itslikethis 8 years ago

Sam wasn't wrong--the viewers who don't know handguns were wrong. lol 😃

[–] silverr8c 8 years ago

Casings are used to make sausage, cases are used to make ammunition. I happen to own a Connan that fires .357 and .38 special. I consider the Connan to be a 1911 pistol but some people do not classify it to be a true 1911.

By the way I know a lot about guns but do not consider myself to be an expert. I suggest that you check your facts before making a statement about the writers not being correct about guns.

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