# Are there ANY movies that \*accurately\* represent the noise of a gunshot and peoples' reaction to it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2011, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296 "2011-06-13T06:34:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/61 "2011-06-17T17:57:36Z")
I read that in **Boyz in the Hood** , the director never told the actors when gunshots would occur. Their reactions are genuine. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/62 "2011-06-17T18:46:33Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I was dumbstruck by the noise and blast I think this is part of it. Accurately-reproduced gunfire would overwhelm an audience and knock them out of following the storyline at least until they recovered. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/63 "2011-06-18T05:21:33Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Strictly speaking, what you are sensing is the impulse or change in momentum, which is a vector quantity. (Energy is a state quantity that is derived from measurements such as speed or temperature.) The kinetic energy in the fired bullet measured at the muzzle is around 1200 ft-lbf; the respected and hard-hitting .45 ACP, by comparison, has around 420 to 430 ft-lbf of kinetic energy in the SAAMI spec loading and about 500 ft-lbf in the high pressure loads. > > As for the necessity, the .44 Remington Magnum was not designed for law enforcement or combat use, but rather for large game hunting where greater penetration is needed than for a human target. The .44 Magnum is massively overpowered for personnel combat use, and aside from popular film series involving maverick cops and unstoppable vigilantes is isn’t used by law enforcement. > > Stranger I see, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/64 "2011-06-18T14:25:06Z")
This scene of weapons fire is different, as it was from cannon, but I thought it was interesting. In the film _Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World_ there is a scene in which the French ship and the British ship are in conflict. Floating through a fog bank, Capt. Aubrey, played by Russell Crowe, sees a flash of light in the fog. He grabs a young sailor close by and hits the deck, for all the good it might do. Then we hear the roar of the cannon and see things blow up. The French vessel was far enough away that it took that little time for the sound and the shot to reach the British. Often enough, in film or TV, no matter how far apart the combatants are, the two events happen at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/65 "2011-06-18T16:20:07Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > This scene of weapons fire is different, as it was from cannon, but I thought it was interesting. > > In the film _Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World_ there is a scene in which the French ship and the British ship are in conflict. Floating through a fog bank, Capt. Aubrey, played by Russell Crowe, sees a flash of light in the fog. He grabs a young sailor close by and hits the deck, for all the good it might do. Then we hear the roar of the cannon and see things blow up. The French vessel was far enough away that it took that little time for the sound and the shot to reach the British. > > Often enough, in film or TV, no matter how far apart the combatants are, the two events happen at the same time. Reminds me of the scene in _Joe Kidd_ when a guy with a scoped rifle is shooting at Clint Eastwood’s group. You would see the smoke puff from the rifle, then see and hear the bullet strike, and finally a second or two later the sound of the shot and it’s passage through the air. Don’t know how closely it was all timed to match reality, but it was a pretty cool effect. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/66 "2011-06-18T19:07:50Z")
> [@Troutsqueezer](#): > > The human ear can discern around 140dB of audio dynamic range (ratio of softest to loudest sound that can be heard). The gunshot would have to be pretty close to the 140 dB limit. The electronics used to process audio will limit what can be used in a movie or home theater. A CD player at 16 bit resolution will do around 96dB dynamic range. Advanced digital processors with higher bit rates can go as high as 144dB dynamic range in theory but the analog circuitry the audio must flow thru to reach the speakers will limit that range back closer to the 100 dB mark. > > Probably a good thing. Tracas are strings of fireworks. Living in the area around Valencia, where they are extremely popular (and the bigger and louder, the better; I’ve seen tracas where each firework was about 10" long), played hell on my nerves - I can certify that they never sound as loud on a recording as in reality, with no editing. Walking down the street during Spring was the loud version of going to the shooting range, with more burns. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/67 "2011-06-19T13:08:40Z")
Oddly enough, the cartoon Archer sometimes has people react realistically to gunfire. Archer spends part of an episode deafened after Lana fires a Desert Eagle near his ear. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/68 "2011-06-19T15:08:49Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Oddly enough, the cartoon Archer sometimes has people react realistically to gunfire. Archer spends part of an episode deafened after Lana fires a Desert Eagle near his ear. Pssst. See post 17. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/69 "2011-06-19T15:18:27Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > The only movie I’ve seen that acknowledged how loud gunshots are is either _National Lampoon’s Family Vacation_ or _National Lampoon’s European Vacation_, believe it or not (can’t remember which one now). Chevy Chase fires a rifle near his children, and in the next scene the children are still deaf from the blast. That scene is in National Lampoon’s Vacation. It takes place at a stop in dodge City, KS when Clark taunts the bartender so much he pulls out a shotgun loaded with blanks and fires it at Clark. Audrie goes temporarily deaf from the sound. “Are you happy now Clark, she’s deaf.” I just wish more people knew how loud some types of guns are just as a general mental reference. As mentioned, some types of guns like larger caliber handguns are likely the loudest sound a person will ever hear and will make your ears ring for days without hearing protection. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bb73d2/32.png) [@Evil\_Jon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Jon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/70 "2011-06-19T19:51:42Z")
I recall reading somewhere that when your adrenaline is pumping, gunshots aren’t as loud. Something in your ear canal restricts or something. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/71 "2011-06-19T20:03:21Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > In regards to peoples reaction. My memory is telling me that a director somewhere did something like this. They had the main actor doing his thing (probably somethinng like looking into the camera like he was talking to someone). The director, without telling the actor what was going on (and probably gave him a somewhat inaccurate script), had somebody fire a blank closeby (probably right behind the actor and just off screen). And of course, as the actor is delivering his lines it scares and startles the shit out him at the right time (just what the director wanted). > > Anybody recall this or am I just inventing it out of whole cloth? That would be David Cronenberg. [It seems that it was Christopher Walken’s idea](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085407/trivia). ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/72 "2011-06-20T02:19:20Z")
> [@Evil\_Jon](#): > > I recall reading somewhere that when your adrenaline is pumping, gunshots aren’t as loud. Something in your ear canal restricts or something. Possibly in [On Combat](http://www.amazon.com/Combat-Psychology-Physiology-Deadly-Conflict/dp/0964920514). He has some first hand accounts of people whose hearing blanks during the event, but who have no hearing damage/ringing after the fact. There are all sorts of weird physiological and psychological effects from combat neurochemistry. ---
**Author:** ![lurkedtolong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@lurkedtolong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkedtolong)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/73 "2011-09-05T01:46:58Z")
I remember looking into this same type of thread on a firearm site and the general consensus was that the firearm sounds were particularly realistic in the movie “Tears of the sun” with Bruce willis. Willis is armed with a HK USP with a gemtech suppressor. The sound of this gun in the movie was surprisingly realistic as to what most guns that are suppressed sound like in movies. Except that the first shot with any suppressor will sound completely different than any consecutive follow up shot since the gasses have not been expelled into the the suppressor materail. I only say this because i own this gun and it sounds totally different than my several others such as a sig p220 in .45. I recently shot my m4a3 without using hearing protection so that i could be prepared if i ever needed to use it for things that go bump in the night, and could easily get through a full 30 round magazine without stopping. Also tried practicing with my p220 and can’t even shoot the entire 7 rounds without stopping from the pain. IMO some rifles are easily shot without hearing protection. ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/74 "2011-09-06T15:09:42Z")
Personally I like it where the \*\*\*disorientation \*\*\*caused by gun fire is represented, even if the \*\*\*volume \*\*\*isn’t (as regards the deafness caused indoors, I will alllow the directors an out for that as I can see it would make film making a bit awkward if always accurately represented). Someone has given a favourable mention to \*The Unforgiven \*previously, which I endorse. I read somewhere that the gun fighter that kept his head and kept firing aimed shots whilst lead is flying all around him generally came off best and that film I think represents at least that well. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/75 "2011-09-06T17:29:14Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > One thing that really surprised me when I fired a .44 revolver the first time was, besides the tremendous noise, was the _force_ that came back through my arms. There was unbelievable energy there. > > It felt like I was holding up a phonebook and someone was hitting the other side with a sledgehammer at full force. And, with regards to Newton, I realized that that same amount of energy was coming out the other end contained in a little piece of metal. I thought, 'Oh my God, people are _hit_ with these things?" As far as pistols go, is a .44 magnum even necessary? I had the opposite reaction. I had never fired a gun before until we went to Vegas and I fired twenty different guns, including a .44, .12 gauge shotgun, uzi, ak47, grease gun, sniper rifle (.223), mp40 and several others. I was seriously waiting for a shot to push my hand back and for some force to go up my arms to my shoulders. Never happened. Maybe I was properly braced as my instructor showed me or I weigh enough that my own mass distributed the force. But I never felt a kick as I expected by any of the guns I fired. I found it easy to control and fire, which surprised me. I expected to be a lot harder than it was. But, I can certainly agree that there was power in these guns and I did not want to use it on another human, maybe even living creature, or have one even pointed at me. I certainly respect guns and the power they have even more. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/76 "2011-09-06T17:42:35Z")
> [@ryan](#): > > Second the bank robbery shootout in _Heat_. Not only is the sound superb, they use realistic reloading, shoot-and-move tactics and wounding/collateral effects. Speaking of which, _Collateral_ was also excellent. > Michael Mann seems to have a good grasp of real world firearm use. > I remember that they had actual ISPC pistol champion Jim Zubiena play a hitman in an episode of Miami Vice. Speaking of _Collateral_, that movie also had characters go into a nightclub and have to shout to be heard, because nightclubs are loud. I thought the gun violence in _The Wire_ was often well portrayed, as in gang gunfights where nobody hit anybody on the other side because they were all scared and hiding and throwing lead around without aiming. (I believe they did hit some innocent civilian in a home, which seems quite likely - a lot of their shots went up.) ---
**Author:** ![yastobaal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/258eb7/32.png) [@yastobaal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yastobaal)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/77 "2011-09-07T12:36:11Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > That was the scene that occurred to me, but I’m pretty sure it goes too far the other direction with the shattered glass. It probably does go too far in the other direction but when the replicas are talked about one of the characters mentions that the have extra loud blanks. Mythbusters did do a test with an extra large subwoofer to see if it would shatter the glass/rattle the car to bits. All that happened was that the sunroof popped open and the pressure escaped that way. [youtube linky](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8hWh9GUSBk) As for real sound in a movie/TV, I’m happy to watch most action stuff and I’ll never think that ‘ooo it wouldn’t sound like that’. But I will really enjoy stuff like _Heat_ for getting very close to replicating reality. ---
**Author:** ![pinkyvee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@pinkyvee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkyvee)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/78 "2011-09-07T13:26:27Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Guns are _ **LOUD!** _ > > Let me repeat it: _ **LOUD!** _ You’re so very right! We allowed one episode of Reno911 to be filmed at our house. There was a lot of gunfire. It was way louder than I ever anticipated. The guy at the sound board probably has a lot of control over the loudness. His main concern is that the dialogue is audible. Not that Reno had much dialogue worth listening to. Watching the episode on TV, the gunfire was remarkably less ear-splitting. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/79 "2011-09-07T13:39:34Z")
> [@samjones](#): > > Abe Zapruder’s movie did a pretty good job. Too soon, man… (But… what calibre did it sound like the Grassy Knoll Dude was using?) ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296/80 "2011-09-07T16:23:14Z")
I like when they show footage of some yahoo celebrating by firing his AK into the air and people near him are cringing while trying to plug their ears and get away from the noise. Was anyone bothered by the sound of the M16s in Platoon? They sounded like balloons popping. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-that-accurately-represent-the-noise-of-a-gunshot-and-peoples-reaction-to-it/585296.md?page=5)