Benjamin Sobieck's Blog, page 6
March 31, 2016
Will a Gun Go Off If It’s Dropped?
TLDR: Despite how it might benefit a fictional scene, it’s extremely rare for a gun to off accidentally, even when it’s dropped. It’s far more likely the “accident” is due to negligence. I have great luck with my push lawnmower. It’s old, missing a few bolts and requires just the right touch to operate, but […]
March 27, 2016
Just for Fun: How Many Peeps Does it Take to Stop a Bullet?
Marshmallow Peeps are the fruitcakes of Easter. They’re a time-honored tradition obligation, the novelty wears off after exactly six seconds and they refuse to die. Or do they? What would happen if you shot a bunch of Peeps? Would the science that brings these gooey creatures to life also stop a bullet? Kirsten Joy Weiss, a terrifically […]
March 25, 2016
Come See Me at the 2016 Writer’s Digest Conference
I’m thrilled to officially announce I’ll be speaking at the 2016 Writer’s Digest Conference, which takes place Aug. 12 to 14 in New York City. This is Writer’s Digest‘s premier event, and one of the foremost conferences in the world of writing. You can see the full rundown of the speakers here, as well as the day-by-day schedule […]
March 24, 2016
Why Do Characters Blow Away Gun Smoke from the Barrel After They Shoot?
TLDR: This trope serves no practical purpose with modern firearms, but it did play an essential role many years ago. I hate to break it to you, but much of the “cool factor” surrounding guns in fiction is based on what looks cool. Take away the arbitrary cool factor, and firearms are pieces of nerdy metal, […]
March 17, 2016
An Interview with Bear Grylls About Survival Knives
And now for something a little different. I started my full-time career in the publishing industry as a crime/government reporter wayyy back in 2007 for a newspaper called the STAR. That led to a position with BLADE magazine as a print editor the following year. I didn’t know a ton about knives at the time, but I […]
March 14, 2016
Readers of This Blog: Lend You My Ears
“Lend you my ears?” No, that wasn’t a typo. I’d like to lend you my ear. But first, some housekeeping. I’m delighted to be presenting at the Writer’s Digest Conference this August in New York City. As you could guess, the presentation will be about weapons in fiction and anchored by The Writer’s Guide to Weapons. […]
March 10, 2016
A Handgun with a Built-In Silencer?
Fiction has a hard time with this whole business of silencers (aka suppressors, if you want to look smart), so I’d like to draw your attention to something that’s going to make everything a helluva lot easier. A Pistol with a Built-In Suppressor Silencerco normally manufacturers suppressors, but last year it unveiled the Maxim 9mm semi-automatic […]
March 3, 2016
Laser Sights and Snipers: Don’t Mix ’em
TLDR: Laser sights are best suited for quickly aiming over short distances, not the precision shooting fiction sometimes likes to portray with them. Laser sights are basically glorified laser pointers your teachers used back in school (or what you used on other kids when you were supposed to be paying attention). The difference, as explained […]
February 25, 2016
How Much Can a Gunshot Injury Say About the Gun Used?
TLDR: It depends, but it’s probably not as much as you think. Full disclosure: I’m not a forensic scientist. I can’t hold a candle to books like Dr. D.P. Lyle’s Howdunit Forensics (Writer’s Digest Books) unless I’m burning it as part of a book ban, and I gave those up years ago. Regardless, I’ve served as […]
February 18, 2016
.223 vs 5.56: You Say Tomato, I Say Red Squishy Thing
Hang on to your vegetables, it’s “you say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to” time. Or hang on to your fruits. Tomatoes are actually fruits, right? And there’s no “e” at the end unless it’s plural, as in “potato” and “potatoes,” right? Right. If there’s an equivalent of that kind of nuance in the firearm world, it’s […]
