Loosely inspired by how much people seemed to enjoy a similar question I asked on Games about unappreciated titles. But answers don’t have to be media related (they still can be though).

  • FireTower@lemmy.worldOP
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    1 year ago

    I should probably add something of my own. I like failed firearms designs that had some features that makes them objectively better if you overlook all the downsides. Or generally anything where one person made it because they thought it was cool and no one with better judgement stopped them.

    Like the Gyrojet pistols, unlike traditional pistols they used rocket projectiles. This meant two major things one the guns didn’t need to have any pressure bearing parts and could be made incredibly light compared to normal pistols (.88lb/.4kg vs 2.2lbs/1kg), and the down side they reached maximum speed much slower than normal cartridges.

    This meant that in practical terms a target close enough might not give the rocket sufficient time to accelerate to effective speed and wind would have a greater effect on the projectile. Hence they don’t make them anymore.

    • Justas🇱🇹@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      The PN 90 is used a lot by the movie industry because it ejects casings downwards so they do not hit the other actor’s or the filming crew’s faces. It was originally made as a relatively small firearm that can penetrate body armour to be used by the truck drivers and guards in case the Soviets invaded and dropped well armoured paratroopers behind the front lines.

    • vivadanang
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      1 year ago

      I’m a big lover of the engineering and design of firearms, but think we’re ridiculously over-armed in the US. Puts me in an odd position; I’m prior service - I look at weapons as weapons. Some people see them as fetishes and it gives me the creeps.

      • FireTower@lemmy.worldOP
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        1 year ago

        If you’re interested in both engineering and design you should check out Forgotten Weapons if you haven’t yet. He does disassemblies and summarizes the history of firearms.

        • vivadanang
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          1 year ago

          oh yeah, love Ian and the work he’s done for over a decade.

          • FireTower@lemmy.worldOP
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            1 year ago

            I’ve probably been watching him for at least 7 years now. Met him once too, really cool dude if you ever get the chance.

            • vivadanang
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              1 year ago

              I would LOVE to meet him, if just to ask: does it ever bother you, the disconnect between responsible gun ownership, historical preservation, and outright firearms idolization?

              • FireTower@lemmy.worldOP
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                1 year ago

                He accepts questions for his q&a on patreon about every month. My take is that for many they’re rarely used items that are prolifically displayed (often inaccurately) in media, leading to harmful myths like not needing to aim shotguns. Plus in English we tend to exaggerate things so when people hear stories they can walk away with misconceptions about the true extent of their abilities.

                • vivadanang
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                  1 year ago

                  my take is that for many they’re rarely used items that are prolifically displayed (often inaccurately) in media,

                  In 2021, there were a total of 48,830 firearm deaths.

                  That’s not a media myth, it’s a fact. Our country has become an free fire warzone and I didn’t sign up for this shit.

                  As of september there were over 50 school shootings just this year.

                  Myths? Misconceptions? Please, don’t. Just don’t. That’s an incredibly poor way to respond mate. Dead kids, dead innocents, deserve better than ‘it’s just a myth’.

                  This is my problem with firearms. They’re so nifty that people lose their fucking minds when it comes to being responsible owners. Which then makes it ridiculously easy for people who can’t access them legally access them anyway. And I’m fucking tired of adults acting like children when it comes to weapons.

                  • FireTower@lemmy.worldOP
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                    1 year ago

                    I think you’ve misinterpreted my message. I was talking about people viewing them as magic talismans rather physical objects.

                    My mentioning of myths was in reference to things like the notion that shotguns have sufficient spread as to not require aiming (which could lead to disastrous consequences) not a denial of any events.

                    My reference to being rarely used is on an individual scale. A lot of people own firearms that they rarely if ever use.