# Is there ever a legit reason for looking down the barrel of a gun? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706 "2015-11-27T15:22:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706/21 "2015-11-28T01:08:52Z")
**Chefguy** and **enipla** –I never thought of using a thumbnail or fingernail for the task… Then again, my fingers are huge and my rifle is a .22, so I don’t think my finger would fit. Next time I dig it out I’ll have to check. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706/22 "2015-11-28T03:15:20Z")
> [@Bert\_Nobbins](#): > > Such as the bore being full of chickens. :smack: > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Or this week especially, turkeys. The damn things get into everywhere. 🙂 > > On a (slightly) more serious note, surely you’ve heard of the class of firearms called “fowling pieces”? Would you be referring to a [Punt Gun?](http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/punt-gun-used-duck-hunting-banned-depleted-stocks-wild-fowl/) ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706/23 "2015-11-28T05:42:33Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > :smack: > > Would you be referring to a [Punt Gun?](http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/punt-gun-used-duck-hunting-banned-depleted-stocks-wild-fowl/) Handy to have on 4th down. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706/24 "2015-11-28T12:01:48Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > … Would you be referring to a [Punt Gun?](http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/punt-gun-used-duck-hunting-banned-depleted-stocks-wild-fowl/) Good pic. Especially since punt guns were always mounted to something solid when fired. I would not want to be either of those guys if that thing fired. But especially not the guy on the left. I expect you know this already, but just in case … “fowling piece” is simply the traditional and now archaic term for “shotgun.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706/25 "2015-11-28T12:04:27Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Handy to have on 4th down. Good point. 🙂 It \*will \*clear a nice wide path through the defensive line. Then the running back will easily gain the needed yardage. At least assuming he can see through the gunsmoke to dodge the bodies. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706/26 "2015-11-28T13:48:51Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Good point. 🙂 > > It \*will \*clear a nice wide path through the defensive line. Then the running back will easily gain the needed yardage. At least assuming he can see through the gunsmoke to dodge the bodies. 😃 What bodies? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706/27 "2015-11-28T15:27:41Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Sounds like a plan…🙂 **Moderator Note** Let’s avoid political jabs in GQ. No warning issued. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706/28 "2015-11-28T16:19:32Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Good pic. Especially since punt guns were always mounted to something solid when fired. True, but that pic brings home just how much of a monster the Punt Gun really was. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > I would not want to be either of those guys if that thing fired. But especially not the guy on the left. I haven’t had nearly enough coffee to math, but throwing a pound or more of shot out at lethal velocity? I’m sure the recoil would have been substantial even with a gun that big. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > I expect you know this already, but just in case … “fowling piece” is simply the traditional and now archaic term for “shotgun.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706/29 "2015-11-28T16:30:07Z")
I once highly considered jamming a shotgun barrel with crap because I had good cause to believe the asshole owner would try to use it against me. So, if you think you might be in such a scenario you might want to check the barrel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-ever-a-legit-reason-for-looking-down-the-barrel-of-a-gun/738706.md?page=1)