Quote: Renegade Carpark @ January 26 2012, 4:14 PM GMTnarrative
Quote: sootyj @ January 26 2012, 4:18 PM GMTprotagonist
Yeah.. writing a book, that's what I'm doing 
I've just seen... Page 235
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ January 26 2012, 4:21 PM GMTHonestly, every pistol, rifle and shotgun available on the market today can trace it's roots to a handful of designs invented way back when, with the newest being at least 60 years old.
Mostly by Hiram Maxim the father of the machine gun and almost all modern automatic weapons.
And John Browning who turned his idea into practical ideas.
But mostly weapons designs are incredibly conservative. Partly because there's like about a billion 9mm parrabelum and 5.56 bullets in warehouses around the world. So how ever fancy the sites and plastic furniture on a modern gun.
It's not dissimialr to something kicking around 50 years ago.
What's the furthest away someone could shoot someone from, and with which gun/bullet?
Quote: AJGO @ January 26 2012, 4:21 PM GMTYeah.. writing a book, that's what I'm doing
Seriously?
If in the unlikely event I ever wrote an action thriller.
This shooter would be heroes main weapon.
It's kinda got that 1970s cool
Quote: AJGO @ January 26 2012, 4:25 PM GMTWhat's the furthest away someone could shoot someone from, and with which gun/bullet?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_recorded_sniper_kills
about 2.5 kilometers with a really specialised weapon in a fairly exotic calibre.
Quote: sootyj @ January 26 2012, 4:30 PM GMTSeriously?
If in the unlikely event I ever wrote an action thriller.
This shooter would be heroes main weapon.
It's kinda got that 1970s cool
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_recorded_sniper_kills
about 2.5 kilometers with a really specialised weapon in a fairly exotic calibre.
No. Just wondering. Not to shoot anyone or anything.
Ta for link
Quote: sootyj @ January 26 2012, 4:21 PM GMTThis is the kind of discussion that if we had on AARSE would get us both banned, mocked and possibly beaten up.
What is AARSE?
Quote: AJGO @ January 26 2012, 4:35 PM GMTNo. Just wondering. Not to shoot anyone or anything.
Quote: zooo @ January 26 2012, 4:44 PM GMT
Just thought I should publicly state that, before some webware links Hackney and guns in my internet use and sends armed men on ropes through my windows. I'd shoot them, obviously, but it's too chilly for window breakage.
Quote: keewik @ January 26 2012, 4:38 PM GMTWhat is AARSE?
the British Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)
It's relatively easy for the average person to hit something 300-500 yards away with a decent hunting rifle and a scope. Specialized equipment and training are probably required beyond that.
The average handgun -- especially one small enough to carry concealed -- isn't much good beyond 50-100 feet at best.
As for vests and body armor, most thin vests will stop any handgun round. None are much use against a rifle round. Heavy body armor is surprisingly good against most rifle fire.
I think some/most of the anti-vest rounds are coated with something like Teflon to help them penetrate the layers of Kevlar.
When you buy a hunting gun does it usually come with a scope? Are different types suited to different guns? Is there a way of using a scope with other types of gun?
Quote: AJGO @ January 26 2012, 6:37 PM GMTWhen you buy a hunting gun does it usually come with a scope? Are different types suited to different guns? Is there a way of using a scope with other types of gun?
Scopes are for more frequently known as Optics, because there are many different types varying from fixed to variable (or telescopic). There is a whole myriad to choose from including IR (infra red) to holographic to red dot to military reticle, the list is endless and will encompass just about any mission / use required.
Most rifles are now available with a Picatinny rail - a metal rail attached to the top of the receiver that can take a variety of mounts that hold the different optics.
If you could tell me the specific scenario that you are trying to write, I can give you a list of options with links to the right equipment for the job.
Rifles are the only firearms that would benefit from a scope. Their long barrels and high-velocity cartridges allow for very long shots, so a scope helps to aim at something that may be out of your visual range.
Shotguns are also long and fire powerful shells, but the tiny BBS have little mass and are not stabilized so they just fall to the ground after a relatively short distance. A scope would be pointless. The same goes for pistols and their short, inaccurate barrels.
Some rifles come with a scope and some come with plain sights that can later be replaced by a scope.
You can see every size/shape/type of firearm imaginable at this online store; I ordered both of my pistols from them.
Quote: DaButt @ January 26 2012, 6:48 PM GMTShotguns are also long and fire powerful shells, but the tiny BBS have little mass and are not stabilized so they just fall to the ground after a relatively short distance. A scope would be pointless.
Sorry to disagree with you DaButt, but there are lots of options for mounting an optic on shotguns. Whether it's fixed red dots for 3 gun competition, variable 1-4x scopes for firing slugs or EO Tech holographic sights for tactical, a lot of shooters are embracing technology that will give them more versatility with their aiming solutions.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ January 26 2012, 6:46 PM GMTIf you could tell me the specific scenario that you are trying to write, I can give you a list of options with links to the right equipment for the job.
I'm genuinely not writing anything about guns!
Quote: DaButt @ January 26 2012, 6:48 PM GMTSome rifles come with a scope and some come with plain sights that can later be replaced by a scope.
Sorry, what are 'plain sights'?
I was speaking in general terms, I realize that there are instances where people will mount optics on shotguns and pistols but it's not commonly done outside of competition. I have dozens of friends with hundreds of rifles, shotguns and pistols and just about every rifle is equipped with optics while none of the shotguns and pistols have anything but iron sights.
Quote: AJGO @ January 26 2012, 6:59 PM GMTSorry, what are 'plain sights'?
Some variation of a metal post at the far end of the firearm that is lined up with a notch at the near end when aiming.