How do you make a gun fail to fire?

Question

Hi everyone! I'm writing a story that requires a character to sabotage a gun (any gun, shotgun, etc) so that it fails to fire. I know it's strange, but is it possible for anyone to suggest the EASIEST option on how that can be done, and how? Such as tinkering with the extractor of a gun (which I have no idea how)? I did try to do some research but it can be overwhelming for a gun novice. Thank you in advance *^_^*

Answer 1

well, the first thing you could do is "remove the bullets". but if you want to alter the gun to make sure no bullets will work, i suggest removing the firing pin.

extractors only serve to eject "spent" cases, so messing with an extractor will not do anything to keep the gun from shooting, because the bullet will have already gone off, and not be extracted properly (possibly jamming the gun). basically, you need to do something to prevent the bullet from going off in the first place, that's why I would start with the firing pin.

Answer 2

Just use Gorilla Glue on the firing pin

Gorilla glue a cork into he barrel

Or have the hero stick his finger in the barrel

Answer 3

Depends on the action of the weapon.

A revolver w/ an exposed firing pin can be disabled quickly by snapping the pin off...but might  be noticed.

A bolt action weapon can be disabled w/ out tools  by field stripping the bolt & breaking  or discarding the firing pin or  spring......wont be noticed until someone pulls the trigger

Automatic,&  semi automatic weapons are usually field stripped w/ out tools & the firing pins can be broken.

Messing w/ the extractor will sometimes allow a round to be chambered & fired usually only once if  the pin is intact.

A broken firing pin is the best "sure not to fire option" it will sound & feel right when the weapon is ****** , but click...no bang.

Answer 4

File down the firing pin. Then when someone pulls the trigger and the hammer hits the firing pin it won't hit the primer of the cartridge hard enough to detonate. It will just be a dud. He would have to file down the firing pin more than just a little though. If your character has a swiss army knife even those should have a file in them.

Answer 5

you can field strip the gun and remove the firing pin (or just about any other part) put it back together, voila, it no longer fires.

Answer 6

Easiest way Chris, is to have your character unload the gun without the knowledge of the shooter.  If it is a revolver (also known as a 'wheel-gun, or six-shooter') your character could replace the real bullets with snap-caps.  These look like real bullets.  A person can see the cylinder and tell a revolver is unloaded when he fails to see the end of the bullet filling the cylinder.  With snap-caps he'd have to open the cylinder to tell they're not real bullets.

With a semi-automatic it is simple on some models (like the new Smith & Wesson autos) to merely remove the magazine.  Even with a shell-in-chamber these pistols have a magazine safety that'll keep the gun from shooting unless the magazine is in place.   Of course, the shooter may realize that there's no magazine in his pistol (I would), so have the character load the chamber and magazine with snap-caps.

Good luck with your novel.

H

Answer 7

remove the bullets or, field strip the gun and take out the firing pin or any other part of the gun.

Answer 8

You can disassemble the gun and remove the firing pin.  That's usually the simplest way.

Answer 9

The villain has a Smith and Wesson 38 Special snub nose revolver. The hero gets the revolver for a couple of seconds. With his trusty McGyver Gerber Multiplier the hero c***s the hammer and breaks off the protruding firing pin. The hero replaces the revolver where he got it from. And begins his escape.

The villain enters the room. retrieves the revolver and opens the cylinder to check for ammunition, seeing it fully loaded he attempts to fire at the hero but the revolver fails to fire.

second scenario

Any type of 357 magnum revolver. Hero opens cylinder and removes one round. He closes the cylinder indexing it to the 12 o'clock position. He next sticks a pencil down the barrel into the unloaded chamber and snaps off the excess pencil.

The villain later draws the revolver and attempts to pull the trigger to no avail, he can not c**k the hammer or open the cylinder and throws the revolver at the hero in a fit of rage....