Why do gangsters shoot their guns sideways?

[JeeperGirl]

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

 

[justsomeguy]

I always thought they just think it makes em look cool.

 

[Gringo Loco]

Wait. You're not supposed to hold it that way???

 

[SeventhSon]

I dont have any gansta friends but I would assume it was because they think it looks cool and because all the "bad dudes" in Hollywood do it that way.

 

[SpeedRacer]

It's also much more natural and comfortable. If you reach out and point your finger at something naturally or throw a punch, you'll find your hand is canted/sideways. Properly using sights is a technique they've just never learned, and you wouldn't know the difference if you didn't go to the range. It's still silly, but it's the best theory I can come up with. Most of them probably are just emulating what they've seen, but it had to start somewhere.

 

[3fifty7]

It's the only way to use home-boy sights.
I'm sure some can come up with a pic.

 

[Cat]

It's also much more natural and comfortable. If you reach out and point your finger at something naturally or throw a punch, you'll find your hand is canted/sideways. Properly using sights is a technique they've just never learned, and you wouldn't know the difference if you didn't go to the range. It's still silly, but it's the best theory I can come up with. Most of them probably are just emulating what they've seen, but it had to start somewhere.

That's always what I thought too. If you never picked up a gun before, never had formal training, you'd hold it at a position that felt naturally comfortable to you.


It would be an interesting experiment to shoot several rounds that way to see if it feels any different afterwards. I know accuracy is going to be poor, but I wonder if horizontal recoil would tire the muscles differently than vertical recoil. Or if the recoil would still throw your hand upwards.

 

[SpeedRacer]

That's always what I thought too. If you never picked up a gun before, never had formal training, you'd hold it at a position that felt naturally comfortable to you.


It would be an interesting experiment to shoot several rounds that way to see if it feels any different afterwards. I know accuracy is going to be poor, but I wonder if horizontal recoil would tire the muscles differently than vertical recoil. Or if the recoil would still throw your hand upwards.

Actually holding the hand at a canted natural position (around 45 degrees) is frequently taught for one-handed shooting. The straight up hold does make recoil more manageable, but with the canted hold follow up shots are quicker for a lot of people as the gun settles back down to the natural position with less effort.

Either way, using the sights is still a must.

 

[Guate_shooter]

Are you talking about FULL Hommie or half hommie ???????

Full hommie is plain retarded but 1/2 Hommie is actually a correct technique as mentioned before, by simply rotating the weapon at a 45degree angle you change the muscle structure behind the gun which gives you a "stiffer" hold behind it specially if you don't over extend your weapon foot forward. By simply doing it without a gun in your hand and using your "index" finger as a gun you can see how the muscles on your forearm change depending on the angle of the wrist, by it being in a normal 0 degree angle the recoil is picked up by the wrist and the upper forearm muscles (cupinator & abductor pollicis longus) and what is left travels to the shoulder, at 45 is most of the recoil is worked on by the lower forearm muscle which is bigger (flexor digitorum profundus).

 

[SeventhSon]

I want to shoot my next match using a Hi-Pern and shoot every stage holding it sideways and slightly over my head.

Of course, I dont think they would allow me to pull it out of my waist band every stage so I will have to figure out a way around that.

 

[Gus McCrae]

They are rebelling against reason and common sense.

 

[oleheat]

It's the only way to use home-boy sights.
I'm sure some can come up with a pic.

Gotta keep it reel, main.

 

[chootem]

It's the only way to use home-boy sights.
I'm sure some can come up with a pic.

Because this is what they use!!

 

[Gus McCrae]

Are you talking about FULL Hommie or half hommie ???????

Full hommie is plain retarded but 1/2 Hommie is actually a correct technique as mentioned before, by simply rotating the weapon at a 45degree angle you change the muscle structure behind the gun which gives you a "stiffer" hold behind it specially if you don't over extend your weapon foot forward. By simply doing it without a gun in your hand and using your "index" finger as a gun you can see how the muscles on your forearm change depending on the angle of the wrist, by it being in a normal 0 degree angle the recoil is picked up by the wrist and the upper forearm muscles (cupinator & abductor pollicis longus) and what is left travels to the shoulder, at 45 is most of the recoil is worked on by the lower forearm muscle which is bigger (flexor digitorum profundus).

Full homie or go home.

 

[chootem]

Guess I was to slow.....

Gotta keep it reel, main.

 

[general mills]

I shoot at about 1/8-1/4 hommie 1 handed and find it comfortable and easy to aim with sights. Full hommie, I've tried it and found it hard to recover from a shot. I see no advantage to full hommie.


Now punching the bullets out of the gun as you shoot??????

 

[Sin-ster]

I'm going to do my level best to pretend I never read this thread, lest it give me nightmares...

 

[justsomeguy]

Wow. I just realized while reading this thread how popular its becoming. 19 users and 3 guests are reading it at once. Lol

 

[JeeperGirl]

I want to shoot my next match using a Hi-Pern and shoot every stage holding it sideways and slightly over my head.

Of course, I dont think they would allow me to pull it out of my waist band every stage so I will have to figure out a way around that.

Hahahaha!!!!
That is going full homie!

 

[CUJOHUNTER]

If you're right handed,standing behind a barrier such as a wall and you have to lean to your left to take a peek or aim your gun or both....it actually makes sense to rotate the gun sideways to minimize yourself as a target and maintain better support of the gun and your body. A two handed grip would be advantageous at this point because you're shifting your weight and compromising your center balance and gravity. Ideally,it would be better to use your non dominant hand and not have to rotate the gun but most folks don't pracrice with their weak hand. In this scenario,the weak hand being your left hand.