Why do gangsters shoot their guns sideways?

[oleheat]

They are rebelling against reason and common sense.

Accurate.

 

[Sasquatch]

So why do gangsters aim their guns sideways? Marine marksman sheds light on how gunmen from the 'hood unwittingly use a well-known aiming technique

It's an iconic image immortalised in dozens of Hollywood gangster films: the gangster aiming down the side of his pistol before pumping a volley of bullets into his victim.

Full Story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...d-unwittingly-use-known-aiming-technique.html

I'm not sure how true this is but one of my upper level sociology professors at LSU said that it originated from criminals using inferior weapons and they were trying to prevent a failure to eject from occurring.

 

[old jim]

I thought it was because thats how it comes out the case.

 

[Pacioli]

They are rebelling against reason and common sense.

They can't rebel against something whose existence they are unaware of.

 

[dglough]

I'm not sure how true this is but one of my upper level sociology professors at LSU said that it originated from criminals using inferior weapons and they were trying to prevent a failure to eject from occurring.

I think your professor is full of poop.

 

[highstandard40]

They are rebelling against reason and common sense.

I think this is the real reason. Just like wearing a cap on backwards or sideways and sagging pants. They are rebelling against societal norms.

 

[tallwalker]

The fad was started by movie directors (i.e. hollywood idiots). They realized that if the gun was turned sideways there was more chance of catching the ejected shell casing in the screen. It also stayed in the screen longer because of the wide screen format. It just looked cool and more "artsy". In hollywood, that's all that matters so it stuck as the proper way of handling a pistol. It sure ain't right, but when did that matter over "looks cool" in hollywood?

 

[headspace]

I won't argue with point shooting, whatever grip or stance a person takes. I hold a handgun in a different position shooting off hand. And no matter if "hommie" of homo or whomever holds his gat upside down and pulls the trigger with his pinky, regular practice and repetition until the gun becomes an extension of the hand, and the brain can coordinate the hand/eye thing until it knows where each shot will land while looking at the target, and not the target and the gun together, ultimately will make a person more apt during a combat situation.
And it helps you see more of what your target is doing too.
My dos pesos

On a side note:
Working in a trauma unit/surgical intensive care for 26+ years, I've seen my share of shooting victims. Very many of the hommie crowd are hit multiple times in nonlethal or less than lethal areas of the body. This tells me that either the victims sure can move or the shooters are generally poor shots. Prolly both. But one thing holds true, while the hommie crowd gets a lot of practice carrying, handling and showing their weapons, they don't get much range time in.
Food for thought

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Point Shooting is stupid . It's a tool used to justify laziness.

 

[X Zombie]

I thought it was because thats how it comes out the case.

That's what I thought too.

 

[OneStory]

Point Shooting is stupid . It's a tool used to justify laziness.

Really? Such a sweeping condemnation! Either you and I have different definitions or I'm very surprised you wrote that.

 

[jmcrawf1]

Really? Such a sweeping condemnation! Either you and I have different definitions or I'm very surprised you wrote that.

Most experienced gunfighters would agree with what VG wrote.

 

[BrandonLSU]

Don't think I'll be taking handgun advise on handgun tactics from a British newspaper.

 

[508]

Don't know why they shoot like this but I have heard the reason that they drive like that is because they don't know that the a/c vents are adjustable...

 

[JNieman]

Point Shooting is stupid . It's a tool used to justify laziness.

Would you classify shooting from retention as point shooting?

 

[Leonidas]

F'reel, dis be da homey way.



Btw, I lost several IQ points just reading that article.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Would you classify shooting from retention as point shooting?

Shooting from retention is what it is because there is no way to get eyes on sights from that position. If there was i would make some shots from retention. When you show me one World Champion Shooter or Elite Modern Military Unit that advocates point shooting Ill revisit the opinion, until then learn how to shoot. Every shot that can be aimed must be aimed.

 

[JNieman]

Shooting from retention is what it is because there is no way to get eyes on sights from that position. If there was i would make some shots from retention. When you show me one World Champion Shooter or Elite Modern Military Unit that advocates point shooting Ill revisit the opinion, until then learn how to shoot. Every shot that can be aimed must be aimed.

But when you can't - point shooting works, does it not? I'm not saying point shooting works at 25m - I know better. However, just saying "point shooting is never right" seems short sighted and misleading. Sometimes it's necessary and more effective that not shooting.

You never really answered my question directly.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

But when you can't - point shooting works, does it not? I'm not saying point shooting works at 25m - I know better. However, just saying "point shooting is never right" seems short sighted and misleading. Sometimes it's necessary and more effective that not shooting.

You never really answered my question directly.

When you can get eyes on the front sight it is better to use aimed fire 100% of the time. If, as in the retention example, you cannot see the sights you do what you have to do. Point Shooting is not A: faster or B: more accurate. No I do not consider shooting from retention to be point shooting. I consider it shooting from retention. If in that position I could get eyes on sights I would.

 

[JeeperGirl]

Don't think I'll be taking handgun advise on handgun tactics from a British newspaper.

It's a marine that broke the story down.
The sideways shooting is actually used on the battle field.
It's also used for something else, Gomez explained something to me about shooting sideways after making jokes about it. I just cant remember why you do it. I want to say it was something with the barrel.
Anyone know?

You know, I never thought about Hollywood and the cases giving the effect. On Justified, he shoots his gun properly and it still looks badass!
Maybe it's just Timothy Olyphant shooting a Glock? Hotness! ; )