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Gun Myth: Cutting the Hangman's Rope with a Bullet
Am Shooting Journal ^ | 1/27/2017 | J Hines

Posted on 01/27/2017 6:49:02 AM PST by w1n1

Remember watching the old western movies that has the good guy cutting a rope with a gun, resulting in saving an innocent bystander and the day? Can the good guys really do that? Well, Jerry Miculek Youtuber set out for this task to see if its a myth or facts.

In the video Jerry talks about using the pistol, rifle and the rope to mimic the time frame from these western movies, here’s what he used:

-Used Sisal 3/4 inch rope as this was the norm back in the old western days. -This rope is placed on a manniquin with 200 pound of weight at the bottom to maintain tension. -Colt single action .45 pistol. Fired at the rope and did not cut the rope. -Bring in a bigger gun, 74 Shadow Sharps 4570 rifle which shoots a 500 grain round nose (smokeless load).

The Results
-With the .45 pistol, it only scratched the rope and did not cut it. -With the Shadows rifle 500 grain no problem cutting the rope in half and saving the manniquin. As an extra bonus Jerry decides to pull out a .50 Cal BMG to represent the present day hombre and proceeds to cut the rope in half. However, the shot was a little off to the side and there was not enough tension on the rope. Ending story mannequin was laid to rest. You still gotta see this gun myth in action here.


TOPICS: Hobbies; Outdoors; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 50calbmg; banglist; colt45; shadowsharps4570
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1 posted on 01/27/2017 6:49:02 AM PST by w1n1
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To: w1n1
That whole meme was strictly Hollyweird. Never happened historically... And these "tests" bore the fact out...

the infowarrior

2 posted on 01/27/2017 6:56:28 AM PST by infowarrior
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To: w1n1

Always though Tuco was crazy to trust Blondie could pull off the shot.


3 posted on 01/27/2017 6:57:10 AM PST by .45 Long Colt
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To: w1n1
Better chances if your swinging friend is on the heavier side. More strain on the rope will help.
4 posted on 01/27/2017 7:01:40 AM PST by Delta 21 (The minority demands NOTHING !)
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To: infowarrior

My world is now shattered.


5 posted on 01/27/2017 7:02:16 AM PST by Right Brother
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To: .45 Long Colt
Always though Tuco was crazy to trust Blondie could pull off the shot.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly was actually on last night in my neck of the woods.

Jerry should have tried the shot at distance with the 45/70, it could have been done.....

6 posted on 01/27/2017 7:03:42 AM PST by Envisioning (Trump is imposing the people's will on it's government......as it should be.)
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To: w1n1

There is no strain/tension on the rope in that gif.


7 posted on 01/27/2017 7:10:20 AM PST by US_MilitaryRules (I'm not tired of Winning yet! Please, continue on!)
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To: w1n1

Blondie used a rifle to cut Tuco’s ropes in my favorite documentary.


8 posted on 01/27/2017 7:17:22 AM PST by Blue Collar Christian (I thank God, Broom Hillary was stopped. Now, moving on, I pray for Trump.)
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To: w1n1

I will continue to watch Bonanza no matter what you say! :)


9 posted on 01/27/2017 7:18:30 AM PST by Blue Turtle
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To: w1n1

Wasn’t this explored by the MythBusters?


10 posted on 01/27/2017 7:24:01 AM PST by dangerdoc ((this space for rent))
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To: w1n1

Mythbusters busted this one as well.


11 posted on 01/27/2017 7:26:46 AM PST by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (The GOP will see the light, because Trump will make them feel the heat.)
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To: w1n1

Remember the carnival shooting galleries that had a $100.00 bill hanging from a very thin chain? All you had to do was shoot and break the small chain and it was yours.

I watched many a man shoot, saw the small chain hit many a time but no one ever shot the chain in half.
I believe the gallery operator made more money from that gallery than people trying to shoot out the red dot cards.


12 posted on 01/27/2017 7:27:21 AM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: .45 Long Colt

That type shooting goes way back in Hollywood films. Some writers even used it in their stories.
It is used in the film THESE THOUSAND HILLS I saw on TV forty five years ago, but the shooter was too late. The hanged man had his neck broken.


13 posted on 01/27/2017 7:31:32 AM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: dangerdoc

They proved you cannot blow up a car by shooting the gas tank.

You cannot light gasoline with a cigarette.

only one revolver ever made could be silenced.

Sorry Hollywood.


14 posted on 01/27/2017 7:31:35 AM PST by hadaclueonce (This time I am Deplorable)
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To: Blue Collar Christian

“Sorry, Shorty.”


15 posted on 01/27/2017 7:36:41 AM PST by PJ-Comix (Glenn Beck is one Blood Bucket shy of the Funny Farm)
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To: w1n1

Shooting out the leads from an electric chair doesn’t work either.


16 posted on 01/27/2017 7:38:12 AM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: PJ-Comix

I just love that movie! My all time favorite.


17 posted on 01/27/2017 7:49:32 AM PST by Blue Collar Christian (I thank God, Broom Hillary was stopped. Now, moving on, I pray for Trump.)
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To: w1n1

You forgot to ping the ‘banglist’....


18 posted on 01/27/2017 7:57:19 AM PST by Envisioning (Trump is imposing the people's will on it's government......as it should be.)
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To: w1n1

Myth busters did a segment on this


19 posted on 01/27/2017 7:57:20 AM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: w1n1

We have done this repeatedly at Cowboy Action Shooting matches. Three-quarter inch rope is pretty tough, but it can be done, even with .44 and .45 caliber pistol cartridges. Half-inch rope is much easier. You do need to have some weight on the rope, or the bullet will just push it aside.

Grizzle Bear
Founder and former head of the
Kansas Vigilance Committee
an NCOWS Posse
(now semi-retired)


20 posted on 01/27/2017 8:12:09 AM PST by G-Bear ("Wish I could find a good book.....to live in...." Melanie Safka)
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