[Hodar]

So many stories

I was told that a “prop” gun is utterly incapable of being fired. It has no barrel and the only action is the trigger and hammer. The barrel is only drilled far enough to appear as a barrel. The revolver portion rotates; this it looks like a gun for movies, but has no serial number as it is inert

Further no live ammo is ever allowed on set. This is to prevent any accidents.

So now we have a real gun with live ammo

[TexasGator]

“I was told that a “prop” gun is utterly incapable of being fired.”

Really?

[bdfromlv]

a blank firing weapon has to have an operable barrel or it will explode. all are referred to as props. fakes can be used in non use situations carrying, throwing or dropping but not in close ups.

[Inyo-Mono]

I was told that a “prop” gun is utterly incapable of being fired. It has no barrel and the only action is the trigger and hammer. The barrel is only drilled far enough to appear as a barrel. The revolver portion rotates; this it looks like a gun for movies, but has no serial number as it is inert

Further no live ammo is ever allowed on set. This is to prevent any accidents.

So now we have a real gun with live ammo

You were told wrong. The type of gun you're describing would be one most likely used in a stage play. Almost every gun you've ever seen in a Western movie are real, loaded with blanks. They call them "props on a movie set.

[gundog]

There are rubber guns that are just for looks. This wasn’t one of those.

[Valpal1]

A “prop” gun is any gun used on set, most of them are real and blanks are used, especially in westerns. They want the smoke and noise. A low budget film can’t afford to CGI that in.

Replica guns exist and they have filled barrels.