Photo: Javier Leal

Why do soldiers hold their guns sideways?

Soldiers began tilting the weapons, so that the recoil sent the gun reeling in a horizontal rather than vertical arc, enabling them to spray bullets into an onrushing enemy battalion instead of over their heads.

slate.com - Why do rappers hold their guns sideways? - Slate Magazine

What do homeless people need most in winter?

Donate warm clothes, socks, and blankets. Don't let those coats and hats go to the trash. Shelters and individuals will be grateful for your gently...

Last updated Jul 6, 2020

What are the 3 keys to become self-reliant?

You can develop self-reliance by learning to be yourself, practicing making your own judgments, and holding your own values. Apr 15, 2019

Last updated Jul 1, 2021

Promotion

As police chased Raymond “Ready” Martinez through Times Square on Thursday, the street hustler and aspiring rapper fired two shots, holding the gun sideways “like a character out of a rap video.” According to the New York Post, Martinez’s side grip caused the gun to jam, enabling police to shoot and kill the suspect. What’s the point of holding a gun sideways?

To look Hollywood, of course. Journalists and gun experts point to the 1993 Hughes brothers film Menace II Society, which depicts the side grip in its opening scene, as the movie that popularized the style. Although the directors claim to have witnessed a side grip robbery in Detroit in 1987, there are few reports of street gangs using the technique until after the movie came out. The Hughes brothers didn’t invent the grip, though. In 1961’s One-Eyed Jacks, Marlon Brando used it, as did Eli Wallach in 1966’s The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Directors may prefer the style because it makes it easier to see both the weapon and the actor’s face in a tight camera shot. While the New York Post reported that Martinez’s side grip caused the gun to “stovepipe“—that’s when the spent casing gets caught in the ejection port, jamming the weapon—it’s unlikely that the horizontal orientation caused the failure. In theory, tilting a gun sideways—90-degrees counter-clockwise for a right-handed shooter—means that gravity works against the ejection of the spent casing. As a practical matter, however, gravity is so weak compared to the force of the ejection that jamming is no more frequent in the sideways position than in the customary one. The more likely cause of the jam was Martinez’s choice of weapon and ammunition. The MAC-10 is prone to stovepiping—a problem that’s exacerbated by the use of hollow-point bullets, which may become deformed and scrape the inside of the barrel, or underpowered ammunition, which can slow the slide and throw off the mechanism’s timing. While the side grip does not increase the risk of stovepiping, it is terrible for aim. It’s extremely difficult to properly use the top-mounted sight on a handgun that is turned sideways. Not that this matters much to the average street criminal. According to an FBI study, 60 percent of them don’t even use the sight. Aiming a gun sideways has long been shorthand for risky, indiscriminate shooting. The title character in George Washington Cable’s 1894 novel John March, Southerner, exclaims, “No man shall come around here aiming his gun sideways; endangering the throngs of casual bystanders!” During the first half of the 20th century, soldiers used the side grip for the express purpose of endangering throngs of people. Some automatic weapons from this era—like the Mauser C96 or the grease gun—fired so quickly or with such dramatic recoil that soldiers found it impossible to aim anything but the first shot. Soldiers began tilting the weapons, so that the recoil sent the gun reeling in a horizontal rather than vertical arc, enabling them to spray bullets into an onrushing enemy battalion instead of over their heads. Nowadays, the only time professionals use the side grip is while holding riot shields, which limit their field of vision. Turning the gun and raising it up make the sight slightly more visible.

Got a question about today’s news? Ask the Explainer.

Explainer thanks Steve Howard of American Firearms & Munitions Consulting, Karl Rehn of KR Training, and Phil Spangenberger of True West Magazine.

Become a fan of the Explainer on Facebook.

What job is the least happy?

To come up with the ranking, CareerBliss examined 24,000 employee evaluations across more than 250 different job roles. ... If you're looking for a...

Last updated Jul 19, 2020

What can I drink before bed for digestion?

10 Best Bedtime Teas - Herbal Tea for Sleep, Digestion, and... Chamomile Tea. Chamomile is one of the most widely recognized teas in the world. ......

Last updated Oct 23, 2018

Promotion

Who is the dad of PUBG?

Brendan Greene The Father Of PUBG And The Origin Of The Most Popular Mobile Game In India. Brendan Greene, who went from a modder to a developer, was the mind behind PlayerUnknown's Battleground (PUBG), India's most played game at the moment.

mansworldindia.com - The Father Of PUBG And The Origin Of The Most Popular Mobile Game ...

Brendan Greene, started working on the game in 2016 along with a Korean gaming studio and eventually released it in 2017 Brendan Greene, who went from a modder to a developer, was the mind behind PlayerUnknown’s Battleground (PUBG), India’s most played game at the moment. According to a report by IndiaTimes, Brendan wasn’t solely responsible for the creation of this massive game, he had help from a Korean game studio called Bluehole Entertainment. After playing a ‘DayZ’ zombie mod, in the game Arma 2, Brendan went on to create a more realistic mod, which was inspired by the Japanese book ‘Battle Royale’, the report stated. In it, people had to survive against other people, who are trying to kill you, unlike in the ‘DayZ’ mod, where Zombies were the only ones out for your blood. After gaining popularity and recognition on his work on Arma, Sony’s entertainment division hired Greene as a consultant, to work on their Battle Royale game, ‘H1Z1’. But Greene’s inputs were so well received, that Sony decided to release a separate standalone game with his mod, ‘H1Z1: King of the Kill.’ After that, Greene signed on with Bluehole entertainment as their creative director, and in 2016, began conceptualizing PUBG. The game eventually released in 2017 and the rest is history. The game has completely taken over lives of people all around the world. With couples going to the extent, of having PUBG themed proposals, weddings and even baby showers. So if you thought this game really wasn’t a big deal, think again.

Header Credit – steamXO (Flickr)

What is the healthiest water to drink?

pure spring water Mineral and pure spring water are some of the healthiest water you can drink because they're clean and contain all the essential...

Last updated Nov 7, 2020

What does a 5 day juice cleanse do?

A 5-day juice cleanse is best for people who have tried cleansing before and have more aggressive health goals. The Original (5-Day) cleanse helps...

Last updated Aug 30, 2021

Promotion

What's one thing you couldn't live without?

Water is essential to our lives – 50 – 65 percent of our bodies are composed of it. We not only consume water, we need it for so many important...

Last updated Mar 7, 2020

Promotion

Is Xbox better than PS4?

Xbox One vs PS4: Bottom line It may seem odd to come to a conclusion on the best last-generation console, but as these machines are still getting...

Last updated Sep 28, 2019