Gun talk by Ano2

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Gun talk

POSTED BY: ANO2
UPDATED: Thursday, December 1, 2005 18:14
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Saturday, November 26, 2005 8:13 AM

Hey all, a new member here :)

Anyway I just figured I'd ask a question about the guns in Firefly/Serenity.

We are all familiar with the "whooss" sound the guns in the series makes, however after re-watching the first episode I notice some guns do not make this sound. Why is this?

I realise Whedon is not an overly-technical man (Which is great otherwise the series would probably bore me) but I just want to find a reason for this as it has been nagging me.

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Saturday, November 26, 2005 8:18 AM

ANDRE83

I always just imagined that the different type of ammunition was the source. Old school ammo makes regular sound. More evolved ammo makes this "whooos" sound :)

Thats my take on it.

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Saturday, November 26, 2005 8:51 AM

STATIC

I don't think there's any serious 'tech' thinking behind the use of the little electrical 'charging' sound some guns make other than the FX guys reminding us that this IS the future.

The writing and directing of this show makes it a POINT to avoid tech-talk, but rather focus on character-driven stories. Hell...the ONE time the crisis-at-hand is tech driven, we STILL don't know exactly what it is or what it does...we just accept that one is desperately needed.

http://burstsofstatic.blogspot.com

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Saturday, November 26, 2005 9:39 AM

XEROGRAVITY

hmm... let's see... chemical-combustion projectiles and outerspace. Inside the ship it's an issue (because you have an artifical atmosphere where things ignite and go BOOM. much like the atmosphere on earth). In the black chemical void of space, where there is 1 part per however-many millionths of dimensional space, and thus X-amount of combustible material per cubic centimeter (and thus too little material to support the energy waves of human auditory function~ unless you live in hollywood), these things don't make sense. But, guns make noise. And because they do, and the film is rolling, it all makes sense.

sorry physics and it's whorish sister chemistry bit me in the jugular a while back. couldn't resist.

No such thing as gravity. The "Earth-that-was" just sucks.

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Saturday, November 26, 2005 2:06 PM

ANO2

I have to agree with the different types of ammuntion being the source. Just wanted someone else to effectively confirm this :)

Also as for the other tech things that don't make sesne, I have no clue about physics so its all good for me :)

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Saturday, November 26, 2005 3:07 PM

CITIZEN

My idea was that some guns are just normal guns.
As well as those you have mass driver weapons. Miniture railguns that launch a projectile using magnetic fields.

Then you also have lasers and the like, but most folks don't use 'em, too expensive.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
Remember, the ice caps aren't melting, the water is being liberated.

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Monday, November 28, 2005 6:36 AM

XEROGRAVITY

I actually found the whole notion that laser pistols would be too expensive to be absurd. I'd imagine laser technology will have been weaponized and then some by then. However, a bonafide aim&shoot solid projectile will probably always have it's place in close-quarters combat situations. Not to mention it's low-maintenance and completely mechanical.

Whedon wanted a retro-western feel to the show and frankly a 6-shooter style laser pistol would have just been plain cheesy. Not to mention Zoe's sawed-off lever-action rifle. The whole thing would have gone into cheese heaven her rifle had been popping off plasma.

XG

No such thing as gravity. The "Earth-that-was" just sucks.

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Monday, November 28, 2005 7:50 AM

CITIZEN

No matter what way you cut it laser/plasma weapons will always be more expensive than slug throwers, the same way that a normal everyday bow and arrow is cheaper than a normal everyday pistol (you can make them yourself for chrisakes).
Ergo some people will be able to afford a standard bullet firing, or even a mass driver, before they could afford a laser, and as we see in Heart of Gold such weapons are at lest as effective as their energy weapon counterpart.

Energy weapons clearly have their place, it's clear some sort of plasma based weapon is utilised by the Alliance cruisers, that we see used in Bushwacked.

As you say projectile weapons are easier to maintain. A laser would require a lab to fix, a gun can be fixed in the field. In order to make a bullet you need basic tools to reuse the cartridge and a supply of propellant.
A laser of similar energy weapon would need a supply of technologically advanced powercells and a way to recharge them.
The weapons and their ammunition would be far more expensive than traditional firearms, simple fact.

Your point as too why Whedon did this is a pretty good one, yeah he wanted a wild west feel. However the lasers being more expensive explination is pretty solid.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
Remember, the ice caps aren't melting, the water is being liberated.

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Monday, November 28, 2005 9:47 PM

BROWNCOATER

I agree with the ammo type response, and also the response they probably didn't give it much thought.
I've always been disappointed the brands of guns used in films never get any mention in the credits.
I usually can tell (in normal movies where they're not modified to look like futuristic guns) what brands are being used.

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Wednesday, November 30, 2005 11:32 PM

RCAT

A couple of thoughts on this...mainly, on the slug throwers "charging up" sound, I think it was an effect to add to the sci-fi (rather than the standard mech. sound, tho I like the idea of rail-gun tech). As to the weapons used: 1)it's mentioned in "Heart of Gold" that high-tech weapons are illegal, implying the old slug throwers are not, so that's what most folks carry. 2) As Jayne mentions in "Mrs. Reynolds", even Vera prob. couldn't penatrate the hull...If you carry a gun that's safe to use onboard ship and that's what you're familiar w/, you'd prob. use it off-ship too

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Thursday, December 1, 2005 5:39 PM

DANTE144

GUNS!

Anyone notice that both guns Jayne used a lot in Serenity were both H&K mp5 mods?

The one he kept strapped to his chest and the longish gun...

I guess this would make sense so you could share ammo. The longer gun would give more accurate and range whereas the mini-sub machine gun would have a pistol's accuracy. (spray and pray).

It bugged me at first that they were the same, both mp5s, but It works.

Now does anyone have specs on Mal's gun? It looks liek civil war era revolver, but apparently its a magazine loader? Thats what it looked like.

Oh yeah where was Vera in Serenity? Or was she just redressed(redesigned) for film?

"Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage" -tee shirt some girl was wearing at Megacon.

http://dantedreams.com <-my webcomic

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Thursday, December 1, 2005 6:14 PM

GUNRUNNER

"Now does anyone have specs on Mal's gun? It looks liek civil war era revolver, but apparently its a magazine loader? Thats what it looked like."

IIRC It's a totaly new gun. Its not built from any real firearm like most of the other guns on Firefly.

EV Nova Firefly mod Message Board:
http://s4.invisionfree.com/GunRunner/index.php?act=idx

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