An intersting segment on 12/25 episode of Mythbusters

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hksw

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While I was on the computer last night, I had the TV on Mythbusters. They were running a few episodes back-to-back for Christmas. In one episode, they had a segment concerning fast draws with Wild West period firearms. Guns that they used were an 1851 Navy and a Peacemaker.

Being Mythbusters, gun handling and safety were low on the priority as usual so I wasn't surprise of the poor handling and the shooting of full power blanks in their parking lot (business district) with what appeared to be no backstop (couldn't really see what was in front of the shooters due to camera angle but they were pretty close to a minivan in the background). Business neighbors complain, misunderstanding of permission granted, everybody laughs, yadda yadda yadda.

Anyways, they go on to see just how fast the revolvers can go by taking the human element out of it. The gun they used as the subject is the old Navy. It apparently does not have a disconnect and by keeping the trigger depressed you can fan the gun. Grant produces an electrical motor driven device to do the fanning and sets up a rig to keep the gun stationary with the trigger depressed.

Press the switch and the gun goes full auto until the switch is released or the cylinders empty.

[Turns out, the gun cannot handle the speed and the action craps out not rotating the cylinder consistantly.]

Certainly, he had (IMO, illegally) converted the gun to full auto. But, does the illegality of the act cover black powder?
 
He (his company or the production company of the show or someone) probably has written permission given by a politician saying that he can do what he likes in the name of entertainment.
 
I didn't see the JBT in the episode, but those on mythbusters should be expecting a letter from the ATF declaring that the Navy is "readily restorable", and that they are going to recieve some house guests at oh-dark-thirty :evil:.
 
HKSW- " The gun they used as the subject is the old Navy. It apparently does not have a disconnect and by keeping the trigger depressed you can fan the gun.

Certainly, he had (IMO, illegally) converted the gun to full auto. But, does the illegality of the act cover black powder?"


HUH???

Nothing illegal about fanning a single action revolver, and there was no such thing as converting a revolver to "full auto."

ALL Colt single action revolvers and their many clones, can be "fanned" by merely holding the trigger back while slapping the hammer.

In no way, shape, or form, does that then make them "full auto" under any definitions described by the FFA 1934, etc.

Don't know what the "mythbusters" were trying to accomplish, but making a single action revolver into a "full auto" handgun by holding the trigger back can't be done, and has nothing to do with "firearms myths." :confused:

L.W.
 
Percussion guns and their replicas made in or before 1898 are exempt from the NFA.
 
Exemptions aside, the thing's not exactly portable....

Or reliable....

I enjoy the show - barely controlled insanity.

I don't expect reality either....

Seems like their 2A position is neutral, and the "explosive depressurization" show was a kick in the whatzis for the folks who don't want to arm pilots (or passengers).

Regards,
 
Nothing illegal about fanning a single action revolver, and there was no such thing as converting a revolver to "full auto."

ALL Colt single action revolvers and their many clones, can be "fanned" by merely holding the trigger back while slapping the hammer.

In no way, shape, or form, does that then make them "full auto" under any definitions described by the FFA 1934, etc.

Don't know what the "mythbusters" were trying to accomplish, but making a single action revolver into a "full auto" handgun by holding the trigger back can't be done, and has nothing to do with "firearms myths."

L.W.
Click to expand...

but they didnt fan it by hand, they used an electric motor to fan the hammer, this would be equivalant to a push of a button and a gun firing in "automatic" mode. no one shot per pull of the trigger. simply put a electric button replaced the trigger. and when that button was pushed, a gun fired continuously. donno if its illegal or not. but it didnt seem like you had seen the machine, and may have had the wrong impression of what was happening
 
Didn't notice any governmetal officials in the background. I'll have to catch the rerun to look for him (Where's Waldo).

IIRC, the definition of full auto is depressing/activating the triggering mechanism and have the gun fire successively until the trigger is released or the ammunition is depleted. In this case, the on/off switch of the electric motor becomes the trigger.
 
"Percussion guns and their replicas made in or before 1898 are exempt from the NFA."

If the above is true, then all the talk about button triggers and whatnot is a moot point.

It was a cool stunt, I thought. And if someone has to be unsafe with firearms to pull it off... Better them than me.

I doubt that this was an illegal conversion in any way. Its not like this was "readily made or remade," and if the NFA doesn't apply (which would make sense), it doesn't matter how they did it anyway.
 
I'm by no means an expert on BATFE regs..

But I don't see how fanning the hammer would equate to modifying the firearms mechanisms in order to acheive said auto action.

Based on my understanding of the laws, it would only apply had they actually modified the firearm mechanically in order to fire in rapid succession.
 
Oh no! The democratic underground's "full auto revolver" is true!!! :rolleyes:
I enjoy that show for it's entertainment value. The gun handling is some of the worst I've seen and it's only a matter of time till one of the cast members gets hurt, but it's still an entertaining show.
They've done automatic firing devices in several episodes. Either M5 has a title II manufacturing license or (more likely) have permission and oversight from the ATF. The Discovery channel isn't exactly short on money these days.
 
Drew:

M5 (allegedly) does work for movie studios. I would expect they've got the "manufacture" and "automatic weapons" stuff down pat.

You'd think that the occasional "Technical Advisors" that turn up for the firearms-related (and explosives-related) bits would pass the word about gun handling.

Like Diane Finewhatever (can't remember the spelling) money or clout apparently talks. :fire:

I do enjoy the show, though, most of the time.

Regards,
 
Yeah I saw this on Wikipedia's entry for additional mythbuster castmembers
Sgt. Alan Normandy: South San Francisco Police Sergeant/Court-Certified Firearms Expert - (Blown Away, Finger in a Barrel, Catching a Bullet in Your Teeth, Bullets Fired Up, Mega Movie Myths, Firearms Folklore) Alan frequently assists the MythBusters by bringing modern firearms - including fully-automatic weapons - to test on myths involving guns. A 21-year Police Veteran, Chief Firearms Instructor, former SWAT Officer and Police Sniper, Alan often aids and abets the MythBusters as a Range Safety Officer, and provides some legal and firearms expertise.
Click to expand...
Maybe he assures the devices are "safe" and makes sure they are destroyed/dissassembled after filming.
He needs to bust some chops with the way they are handling guns on some of those episodes.
 
Like Diane Finewhatever (can't remember the spelling) money or clout apparently talks.
Click to expand...
Oh you mean Diane 'I have many armed bodyguards' but you don't need a gun fiendst..oh nvm
 
They've done automatic firing devices in several episodes.
Click to expand...

Have never seen them modify a firearm to full auto until this one. The episodes I've seen, albeit not all of them, have been shot singly or semi.

Their studio may very well have an exemption, but haven't seen or found any certainty yet.
 
There have been some MB episodes where Full Auto weapons have been used. Of course, they're in Commifor.... er, California, and have used a .50 BMG rifle in the past, on at least two occasions.
 
I'm by no means an expert on BATFE regs..

But I don't see how fanning the hammer would equate to modifying the firearms mechanisms in order to acheive said auto action.

Based on my understanding of the laws, it would only apply had they actually modified the firearm mechanically in order to fire in rapid succession.
Click to expand...
Unless it is the user that is fanning the hammer, the electric motor and the button are legally part of the firearm's mechanism. If pressing the button (the new trigger) causes multiple shots to be discharged, it's an automatic weapon. The law doesn't say the firing mechanism has to be mechanical to fall under the NFA; an electric full-auto is still a full-auto, regardless of how pressing the firing button/trigger gets translated. Otherwise a GE/Dillon Minigun in 7.62mm wouldn't be a Title 2 weapon.
 
Sure there have been episodes with full auto guns, e.g. MP5s. Have never seen one where one was modified to full auto until Monday.
 
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