# What's with some movie bad guys holding their gun sideways? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 29, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019 "2003-04-29T22:27:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![outburst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e36b37/32.png) [@outburst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outburst)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/1 "2003-04-29T22:27:16Z")
You’ll often now see the bad guys shoot with the gun hand flat, trigger finger pointing down. Wouldn’t that give you a kick in an odd direction and make you drop the gun? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/2 "2003-04-29T22:44:52Z")
It won’t make you drop the gun but you will definitely experience a loss of accuracy. “Gangsta” style is the preffered method of shooting for many inner-city gang members and they don’t mind the accuracy loss because it “looks cool”. I’ve heard recently the new thing is holding the gun completely upside down and using the pinky as the trigger finger. This has an even greater loss of accuracy, especially since you can’t even use the sights. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/3 "2003-04-29T23:07:46Z")
Upside down isn’t the preferred method but you can use the sights. The former coach at PR&G would often demonstrate this to show someone that an accuracy problem was not because of the gun. Holding a gun sideways IMHO is mostly an indication the shooter doesn’t know s\*\*t about firearms. ---
**Author:** ![daniel801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@daniel801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daniel801)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/4 "2003-04-29T23:20:54Z")
It’s people copying John Woo. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/5 "2003-04-29T23:25:55Z")
If the Goverment pays John Woo to create a film with ultra cool gangstaz holding their guns backwards, would that help get rid of inner city violence? ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/6 "2003-04-29T23:27:04Z")
I beleive they think it looks intimadating, but from my experiments, the second round likely won’t chamber. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/7 "2003-04-29T23:43:50Z")
If you’re losing accuracy, it’s clearly because you don’t have one of [these](http://www.birdman.org/products/homeboy1.htm). Warning! Don’t click on this if you have Mozilla - the java controls make it crash ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/8 "2003-04-30T02:42:30Z")
My buddy from Texas (who is therefore an authority on firearms 😃 ) says it’s to obtain a higher rate of fire, albeit at the expense of accuracy. Anecdotal, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/9 "2003-04-30T04:25:27Z")
I have tried shooting a gun sideways like that, and Good God, let’s just say that there are better ways to do it. The recoil snaps the gun up and left (I’m right handed), which is not the most comfortable. The shot hits low and left (not surprising, but not good for accuracy). The gun does load okay, though I could imagine running into problems if the ejector wasn’t as strong as it could be. As to why it is done, I have three ideas, none of which I can provide any info for, other than my (middle class, suburban, no gang experience) opinions. One, it looks cool. Two, they are trying to be inaccurate, so as they can claim “I shot at some punk,” but not actually go to prison for killing said “punk.” Pretty far-fetched, I know. Three, they are trying to be accurate during drive-bys. The bullet’s impact a considerable distance laterally of the point of aim could offset the shooter’s movement. Even more unlikely, so I think it’s just a style thing. And, as my parent’s are fond of quoting, “There ain’t no damn fool thing people won’t do.” ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/10 "2003-04-30T20:53:07Z")
It’s done because it looks cool to the stupid. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/11 "2003-04-30T21:25:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bippy the Beardless \* > \*\*If the Goverment pays John Woo to create a film with ultra cool gangstaz holding their guns backwards, would that help get rid of inner city violence? \*\* I don’t know, but let’s try it!😃 Hell, I’d pay 10 bucks to see it, and even buy a jumbo popcorn it that would help it to work.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/12 "2003-04-30T21:27:39Z")
Huh. I always figured it had to do with camera angles. If it’s held traditionally, it’ll block the actor’s face or look like he’s shooting off at an angle. If it’s held sideways, it can be lowered but still look like he’s shooting straight ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/13 "2003-04-30T22:02:34Z")
“My buddy from Texas (who is therefore an authority on firearms ) says it’s to obtain a higher rate of fire, albeit at the expense of accuracy” Your buddy’s talking about Unreal Tournament. 🙂 Seriously, it’s a lame “gansta” thing, like wearing pants 10 sizes too big, or putting your hat on funny. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/14 "2003-04-30T22:22:25Z")
I’m doubtful sue. The gangsta’ hold doesn’t obscure the shooter’s face any less than the correct way. I have seen movie soldies sholder rifles incorrectly because doing it the right way obscures the star’s face. My therory is the sideways hold was first used in movied because it made the shooter look like he was throwing a gang sign. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/15 "2003-04-30T22:58:26Z")
I’ve heard the idea is that instead of the kick directing the weapon up, it directs it horizontally to the next target. Experience doesn’t bear this out, but that was the (misguided) rationale as I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![Slugworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Slugworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slugworth)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/16 "2003-05-01T00:34:38Z")
I’d always heard that it originated with poor militias as a way to get half-way reliable shots out of untrained soldiers. Something about how, when holding it like that, you sorta just look down the length of your arm and get an ‘accurate enough’ idea of where the gun’s pointing. ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/17 "2003-05-01T00:48:50Z")
Shall we discuss the uses and advantages of wearing your hat sideways, or pants that will fall down if you don’t hold them up? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/18 "2003-05-01T00:53:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flying\_Monk \* > \*\*“My buddy from Texas (who is therefore an authority on firearms ) says it’s to obtain a higher rate of fire, albeit at the expense of accuracy” > > Your buddy’s talking about Unreal Tournament. 🙂 > \*\* Yes, and it’s really sweet when you’ve got two of them pounding away gangsta-style. Then again, I still prefer the flak cannon. ---
**Author:** ![Payne\_N.Diaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Payne\_N.Diaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payne_N.Diaz)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/19 "2003-05-01T00:56:03Z")
Once upon a time I had a .22 semiauto pistol. Sometimes when shooting it the spent shell would eject upwards and come down just in time to fall into the slide, open after firing the next shot. Naturally this would jam the gun all to hell. So firing the gun at a slight angle to the vertical made the shell fall to the side, rather than back into the gun. But none of this horizontal. gangbanger crap. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mikado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@The\_Mikado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mikado)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019/20 "2003-05-01T03:35:22Z")
Why do gangbangers hold thier guns sideways? Because that’s how it came out of the box. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-some-movie-bad-guys-holding-their-gun-sideways/172019.md?page=2)