A great film captures a time and place, transporting viewers to a world beyond their own. Everything must be authentic to the era: the clothing, the automobiles, the dialogue, and yes, the firearms. Guns play an outsized role in our imaginations and in cinematic storytelling. Heroes and villains alike are defined in part by the gun they carry, and it is the filmmaker's job to understand the historical context of these firearms and how they function. In this blog post, we will review the various types of firearm mechanisms and how they can be applied to cinema and other theatrical productions.
(Editor's note: This blog post discusses the use of authentic firearms in film and cinema. Real firearms are dangerous and should be used only under the supervision of a licensed armorer. For more information about set-safe blank-firing and non-firing replicas, visit WesternStageProps.com or our sister site BlankAmmo.com)
Single-Action (Revolver)
A single-action revolver is a handheld pistol with a rotating cylinder that typically holds 6 rounds. First developed in the mid-1800s, the design combined mass production with self-contained cartridges, creating a firearm that was affordable, portable, and deadly. In the years after the American Civil War, this style of firearm became ubiquitous across the nation, especially in the West's unsettled lands.
How it works:
Once the firearm is loaded, the user must manually cock the hammer, which rotates the gun’s cylinder. The user then pulls the trigger, releasing the hammer and allowing the firing pin to strike the loaded cartridge, firing a bullet. These steps are repeated for each subsequent shot.
Characters & settings:
Ironically known as the "peacemaker," this gun was used by cowboys, gunslingers, frontier lawmen, bank robbers, and horse thieves. These portable handguns could be fired from horseback and were light enough to carry on one's person.
Iconic firearm model:
Colt Single Action Army (“Peacemaker”)
Seen in films like:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Popular calibers:
.45 Long Colt, .44-40, .38 Special
Double-Action (Revolver)
Think of double-action revolvers as the modern cousin of the old six-shooter. They remain widely used today for home and personal protection. These guns became wildly popular with the advent of modern firearm production in the late 1800s.
How it works:
Like the single-action revolver, when the hammer is cocked back, the cylinder advances and the hammer is locked in place. Pulling the trigger causes the hammer to strike the firing pin. The gun can also be fired by long-pulling the trigger, which rotates the cylinder as the hammer is pulled back and released, discharging the gun. Because of these two modes of firing, it is known as "double action."
Characters & settings:
Double-action revolvers were commonly used by police and military officers in the early 20th century, making them ideal for WWI settings or the film noir detective genre. They're still used today for personal protection, making the double-action revolver a great sidearm for a shady mafioso or a renegade hero.
Iconic firearm model:
Webley Mark IV, Colt Python
Seen in films like:
Indiana Jones, The Godfather
Popular calibers:
.38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum
Break-Action (Shotgun or Rifle)
Elegant and deadly, break-action firearms are the simplest of the firearm mechanisms discussed in this article. They were a significant improvement over muzzle loaders, allowing cartridge-based ammunition to be easily chambered. Each barrel holds one round, so the firearm must be reloaded frequently.
How it works:
The hinge swings open, breaking the gun in half and exposing the breech. The shooter loads the barrel and closes the breech. The gun is now ready to fire. After firing, the spent round must be extracted and replaced. Double-barreled break-action weapons have a capacity of two rounds, whereas single-barreled weapons have a capacity of just one round.
Characters & settings:
This type of firearm was initially developed during the period of rapid firearm development that preceded the American Civil War. These guns could be used by early frontiersmen and hunters, as well as in certain military contexts. Because they were cheap and reliable, they were often used in colonial wars through the 19th and 20th centuries.
Iconic firearm model:
Double-Barrel Coach Gun
Seen in films like:
No Country for Old Men, Deer Hunter
Popular calibers:
12 gauge, 10 gauge, .410 bore
Lever-Action (Rifle)
Innovations in firearm technology often have profound historical consequences, and the lever-action rifle was no exception. Developed in the lead-up to the Civil War, the lever-action rifle proved a game-changer. Because of their high capacity, lever-action rifles could be loaded and fired repeatedly, replacing the cumbersome single-shot rifles of the era.
How it works:
Cartridges are loaded one by one through a portal into a long tubular magazine. A lever advances the first cartridge into the chamber while simultaneously cocking the hammer. When the trigger is pulled, the firearm discharges. Operating the lever again ejects the spent cartridge and advances the next round, allowing the rifle to be fired again.
Characters & settings:
This gun would be used by cowboys, lawmen, outlaws, ranchers, and frontier families. Because of its capacity, rapidity, and accuracy, it could be used for almost any purpose. It was especially prized on the frontier for protection and hunting.
Iconic firearm model:
Henry Rifle, Winchester 1873, Winchester 1894
Seen in films like:
Glory, Dances with Wolves, Unforgiven
Popular calibers:
.30-30 Winchester, .44-40, .45 Long Colt, 5-in-1 blanks
Bolt-Action (Rifle)
The invention of efficient smokeless powder in the late 1800s enabled the firing of lighter bullets at higher velocities than black powder had allowed. This improved accuracy at distances once considered impossible. In this context, bolt-action rifles were developed. These lethal long guns could sustain a rate of deliberate, accurate fire at great distances without producing a telltale puff of smoke. Snipers and infantrymen could take cover and fire repeatedly with devastating consequences. The widespread adoption of bolt-action weaponry led to the development of trench warfare.
How it works:
Cartridges are loaded into a box-shaped magazine. Operating the bolt advances the first round into the chamber. After firing, operating the bolt again ejects the spent round and advances the next round.
Characters & settings:
Ubiquitous on the battlefields of World War I and commonplace in World War II, bolt-action rifles were used by soldiers and infantrymen throughout Europe. Although semi-automatic rifles became the standard-issue military rifle, bolt-action rifles remain the gold standard for modern police and military sniper units, as well as for precision long-range hunting.
Iconic firearm models:
Karabiner 98K, Remington 700
Seen in films like:
Saving Private Ryan, Enemy at the Gates, American Sniper
Popular calibers:
.30-06 Springfield, 7.92×57mm Mauser, .303 British
Pump-Action (Shotgun)
The iconic pump-action shotgun was not as groundbreaking as other firearm types mentioned above, but it has had an outsized impact in cinema and within our collective psyche. Developed with the realities of close-quarters combat in mind and first popularized in the trenches of World War I, the ergonomic pump-action design allows the firearm to remain shouldered while firing. Because the action is user-powered, these versatile weapons are compatible with a variety of loads, from powerful self-defense rounds to light birdshot for recreational hunting.
How it works:
Like lever-action rifles, shotguns load cartridges into an internal tubular magazine. When the shooter operates the pump, the first round is advanced into the empty chamber. After pulling the trigger, the gun discharges. The pump can then be operated again, ejecting the spent cartridge and advancing the next round into place.
Characters & settings:
Pump-action shotguns are synonymous with close-quarters combat and self-defense scenarios. They are often seen mounted in the backs of police cruisers or in the hands of SWAT teams. The cold, methodical sound of the pump operating, followed by a devastating spray, makes the pump-action shotgun a fan favorite among devotees of the horror genre.
Iconic firearm model:
Remington 870, Mossberg 500
Seen in films like:
Terminator 2
Popular calibers:
12 gauge, 20 gauge
Semi-Automatic (Pistol, Rifle, or Shotgun)
This is the granddaddy of all modern firearms. Semi-automatic weapons are the most commonly used firearms today. They rely on the energy from the fired round to advance the next round, so no manual action is required to cycle. The result is a powerful firearm with a large capacity and a high rate of fire. Semi-automatic weapons can be handheld pistols, military or assault-style rifles, or even shotguns. Though first developed in the late 1800s, they did not achieve full battlefield dominance until World War II.
How it works:
After loading the magazine, the shooter pulls back the slide, which chambers the first round and prepares the gun to be fired. The energy from firing this round kicks the slide back, ejecting the spent round and advancing the next round into place.
Characters & settings:
These guns could be used by just about any character in a modern setting, including police, military, criminals, civilians, security guards, and any other character you can think of. Because of their long history, there is a wide variety of these weapons to choose from.
Iconic firearm models:
Colt M1911, Beretta M92, M16, AR15
Seen in films like:
Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, Apocalypse Now.
Popular calibers:
9mm Luger, .45 ACP, 5.56 NATO
Full-Automatic / Machine Gun
Fully automatic firearms and machine guns are similar to semi-automatic weapons in function, with one crucial difference. With a semi-automatic weapon, you must pull the trigger each time you wish to fire. With fully automatic weapons, the firearm continues to fire and cycle as long as the trigger is depressed. The result is a barrage of rapid, overpowering fire.
How it works:
The function is essentially the same as semi-automatic, with the distinction that the shooter does not need to pull the trigger with each shot. By holding the trigger down, the weapon will continuously discharge rounds in quick succession.
Characters & settings:
This type of weaponry would be seen in any modern wartime setting and in high-budget action thrillers. These guns are not common on the civilian market, and their legal use is generally reserved for police and military.
Iconic firearm model:
M60 Machine Gun, Uzi Submachine Gun
Seen in films like:
Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Scarface.
Popular calibers:
5.56 NATO, 7.62×51mm NATO, 7.62×39