Working With Powerful Blank Firing Guns

[Abraxas Studios]

I have been talking to the people providing our guns for our short film 'Only Human' we are going to be using an L96 AWS sniper rifle. Obviously this is a very high-powered gun so I would like to know what to expect from blank firing guns.

First off, how much recoil is there from them?

And if anyone knows, how far is the danger zone in front of one.

We are thinking of using blank firing AK-47's and MP5's as well, so the same questions for them too.

Technical issues aside I am super excited about using an SAS Sniper Rifle in the film. It has to be brought down to us by a specialist who has to guard it at all times.

Thanks

P.S. I am already aware of having to alert people in the surrounding area of the gunshots (thankfully there's a company for that) and I will be buying all the cast and crew ear protection.

 

[Gonzo_Entertainment]

No way in hell I'd bring a blank firing gun on set without a trained and licensed firearms guy.
Edit:
In re-reading I see it sounds like you'll have one.
He should be able to answer all your questions.

 

[Abraxas Studios]

No way in hell I'd bring a blank firing gun on set without a trained and licensed firearms guy.
Edit:
In re-reading I see it sounds like you'll have one.
He should be able to answer all your questions.

He will, I assume (He's costing enough so he'd better haha)

I would like to know in advance so that I don't choose a shot that will end up having to be changed on the day

 

[directorik]

Here are you answers.

I have been talking to the people providing our guns for our short film

<snip>

Technical issues aside I am super excited about using an SAS Sniper Rifle in the film. It has to be brought down to us by a specialist who has to guard it at all times.

The people providing the guns and the specialist will be able to
answer your questions about recoil and "danger zone" far better
than any of here - and I am licensed in California to store,
transport and rent fully automatic weapons.

If you choose a shot today that puts your actors in danger then
on the day of the filming you can adjust the camera and actors
so they will be safe.

There will be many things that change from today when you are
on set. That's what production is all about.

 

[Gonzo_Entertainment]

Wish I had an answer for you. Maybe somebody will chime in.

My DP tells a story about being an operator on a Roger Corman film. Crew call was 8:00 AM, by 8:30 AM he being pelted with the wads from a machine gun being fired by a bikini clad young lady firing right at his camera. So I'm guessing it's only a few feet.

 

[rayw]

In re-reading I see it sounds like you'll have one.
He should be able to answer all your questions.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Don't ever be lulled into thinking non-projectile firing blanks are any safer than real bullets.
There's unburned pelletized powder and extremely hot gases to be aware of.

Just act exactly the same as if real bullets were coming out the end.
Have everyone on set take a moment for firearms safety with the specialist and/or gun owner(s).

Print this and have everyone read it and sign it: http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp
It'll provide some legal CYA documentation should someone do something stupid on set.

And I'm guessing you have local law enforcement in the loop, right?
Someone oughtta keep a heavy compression bandage on site.
Of course you won't need it.
That's the ENTIRE POINT of a voodoo talisman, right?

 

[Abraxas Studios]

Wish I had an answer for you. Maybe somebody will chime in.

My DP tells a story about being an operator on a Roger Corman film. Crew call was 8:00 AM, by 8:30 AM he being pelted with the wads from a machine gun being fired by a bikini clad young lady firing right at his camera. So I'm guessing it's only a few feet.

I've been told that because of the power of the L96 that it can be up to 300M. It just seems unlikely to be such a large distance.

Talking of machine guns, it took all my willpower to resist the Browning 50.cal machine gun they have on their website, would love to use one of them one day.

Edit: Just seen your post Rayw. That is a nasty looking burn, i'll keep all of that in mind, thanks for the paperwork link, I'll definitely keep my self covered from all legal angles. Local law enforcement will be in the loop. The local college once had problems with some students who went running over a motorway once with replica guns without informing the police and the whole stretch of motorway had to be shut down.

And thank you Directorik, I'll keep it in mind, obviously I'll do what is necessary for safety. As for things changing, I still worry about big changes as this is my first big production short film so I'm nervous enough already But I accept that things will go wrong no matter how much I plan and I need to be ready for that.

 

[HedgesPictures]

As for things changing, I still worry about big changes as this is my first big production short film so I'm nervous enough already But I accept that things will go wrong no matter how much I plan and I need to be ready for that.

I assume if you are working with a professional that he is available by phone/email/in person before the shoot? Sit down with him and talk about what you want to shoot and let him point out potential concerns and tell you more about what you need to do to ensure everyone's safety.

 

[directorik]

And thank you Directorik, I'll keep it in mind, obviously I'll do what is necessary for safety. As for things changing, I still worry about big changes as this is my first big production short film so I'm nervous enough already But I accept that things will go wrong no matter how much I plan and I need to be ready for that.

Stop it!

If you worry about big changes you will drive yourself crazy. No
one at our level has ever gotten to the set and been lucky enough
to make no changes. Very few directors with huge budgets get
through a shoot without big changes. And many times it's those
changes that can really make an amazing scene.

And you're talking about safe distance and recoil - something you
have almost no control over. If you were to read here that the safe
distance is 5 meters and you get on set and the actor doesn't feel
comfortable you will need to compromise. You weapons people are
where you should be asking - not here.

The safe distance and amount of recoil on all weapons depends on
the environment, the blank load, the actors, the weapons people
and the gun itself - not all SAS Sniper Rifle's are exactly the same.
Neither are AK-47's and MP5's. I am licensed; I can tell you from
experience that if you were to base anything on what anyone says
on a messageboard you WILL be making changes on set. No one
knows all the variables.

Plan your shots, talk to your weapons people, take your actors to
a firing range and try out several different blank loads so they get
the feel before the reach the set.

And be prepared to make changes - BIG ones.

 

[Murdock]

Is a powerful blank like being mightily impotent?

To answer:

1. With a bolt action blank, I would think there would be little to no recoil. Reason being, you are not cycling a bolt, and there is no projectile to slow the expansion of the gases being discharged.

2. Danger zone is from the tip of the barrel to infinity (and beyond). Always treat the weapon as if its loaded. Remember Brandon Lee.

As to the other weapons: They will have a bit more recoil because the blanks must produce enough blowback to cycle the bolt. In the military this is acomplished by stopping up the barrel and letting all the gas of the blank round blow back through the gas system. But this involves something being on the end other barrel. For a movie version, they could change out the buffer spring to something much lighter than an actual weapon and the blow back could be done internally. Either way, the recoil is much less than an actual weapon firing live ammunition.