Generally speaking, there is a lot of misinformation floating around about firearms. Some of this is what is seen in movies and TV shows that aren't real. Some are just misguidance from those who have no experience with firearms. Others are simply old wives tales that have been perpetuated and tweaked over the years.
RailScales offers the best AR-15 accessories, including AR-15 foregrips, angled foregrips, and more. We offer our proprietary rail covers, our G10 RailScales in MLOK and KeyMod, and we offer iron sights, 1911 grips, and so much more. We are constantly adding to our lineup of high-quality AR-15 accessories, so we invite you to visit us regularly online. Below, we'll expose some common firearm myths, so you can know the truth. Visit us online, and shop today!
COMMON FIREARM MYTHS
People Fly When Shot
This is a Hollywood myth that has been ingrained in many people's heads: when you are shot, you are pushed backwards. Any hunter will tell you that when you shoot an animal, it either runs away because you only wounded it, or it drops because you got a kill shot — you'll never see something being propelled backwards. The same is true for humans. While a bullet does have a considerable amount of velocity (speed of travel), it is very small, meaning it has very little mass. Something so small cannot push someone backwards, let alone have them fly through the air. Most likely, if you are shot, you will crumple to the ground or stay standing.
When Dropped, a Gun Fires
This is a myth with uncertain origins. It could be from the movies as well. Firearms work by pulling a trigger in order to fire. It does take a certain amount of pull in order to have your gun go off. Thus, when you drop a gun, it's virtually impossible for it to go off. All new firearms go through extensive testing, including drop tests in order to gauge the chances of an accidental discharge. Older firearms with different firing pins could go off when dropped but, again, this is quite rare as well. If a gun is taken care of, well-maintained, and works properly, the chances of it discharging when dropped are slim to none.
Gunfire is a Fire Hazard
Another movie myth that is ingrained in people's minds: guns create sparks when fired. We see this in a lot of movies where bullets will ricochet off objects, creating a spar. This was created by movies so that viewers could see the path of bullets, or believe that the hero was almost shot. While it is true that metal against objects can spark, most bullets are made from copper or a copper alloy. Copper does not create sparks when it strikes other objects due to its chemical composition. The only real-life instance where you may see a spark from gunfire is from a rifle. This is because when shooting a rifle, the barrel and subsequently the bullets get really hot so when they hit objects, they then can spark. Still, this is a rare occurrence.
Polymer Handguns Escape Metal Detection
This myth, again, comes from the movies. This one in particular comes from Die Hard where a Glock is touted as a porcelain gun that "doesn't show up on your airport metal detectors." Well, in fact, Glocks are made with a polymer frame, which is a type of plastic. The fact of the matter is that a polymer-frame handgun will still show up on a metal detector — it will just be less faint. However, technicians will still be able to see the gun's outline. Furthermore, all guns have some metal components to them. Parts of a polymer-framed gun most likely have metal barrels, slides, springs, and triggers that will obviously show up on a metal detector scan. In the United States, it is illegal to have an undetectable firearm, regardless.
Hollow-Point Bullets are More Dangerous than Regular Bullets
RailScales is unsure how this began. This gun myth may have begun because a hollow-point bullet can do more damage than a regular bullet. Hollow-point bullets have been around a lot longer than many people think — since the latter-half of the 19th century when handguns were still catching on. A hollow-point bullet reduces its mass and therefore it can travel faster and go farther.
Hollow-point bullets do expand when they hit their target. This can cause more damage to the target, but it penetrates less deeply. Hollow-point bullets are used for target shooting because they are more accurate, and in some sniper rifles in the military for long-range accuracy needs. They are also used in hunting in order to ensure the target animal goes down. In truth, all bullets can do harm, which is why safety at all times is paramount.
CHOOSE RAILSCALES FOR ALL YOUR AR-15 ACCESSORY NEEDS
RailScales offers the best AR-15 accessories, from 1911 grips to AR foregrips, and QD sling mounts. Our mission is to help you enjoy your time at the range, be better prepared for self-defense, or help the military do its job by providing rail covers that help keep the heat from your firearm at bay and help with your grip, especially in adverse conditions. In addition, we offer our Karve Bi-Directional Stops, which help provide forward hand control. Machined out of 6061 Billet aluminum and available in three colors, you'll love this hand stop that is compact and light as well.
In addition, we've updated our LEAF-DBAL Fixed Iron Sight for DBAL lasers. You can mount this to your laser and help free up rail space by eliminating your folding iron sight. Its low profile allows for a great view. You can pair this iron sight with our Ampule RDS Tool, which is a red dot optic and laser that fits on your keychain. Made out of the toughest materials and anodized, you can rest assured that both of these tools will get the job done and help improve performance and accuracy.
If you are interested in any of our AR-15 handstops, rail covers, and other accessories, visit RailScales online, and order today!