Why do rappers hold their pistols sideways?

[Cynosure]

The short answer is, because it looks so Hollywood, i.e. most rappers are not very bright, and they hold style over substance – even in a firefight where their life is at stake.

The long answer is....

Why Do Rappers Hold Their Guns Sideways?

As police chased Raymond "Ready" Martinez through Times Square on Thursday, the street hustler and aspiring rapper fired two shots, holding the gun sideways "like a character out of a rap video." According to the New York Post, Martinez's side grip caused the gun to jam, enabling police to shoot and kill the suspect.

What's the point of holding a gun sideways?

To look Hollywood, of course. Journalists and gun experts point to the 1993 Hughes brothers film Menace II Society, which depicts the side grip in its opening scene, as the movie that popularized the style. Although the directors claim to have witnessed a side grip robbery in Detroit in 1987, there are few reports of street gangs using the technique until after the movie came out. The Hughes brothers didn't invent the grip, though. In 1961's One-Eyed Jacks, Marlon Brando used it, as did Eli Wallach in 1966's The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Directors may prefer the style because it makes it easier to see both the weapon and the actor's face in a tight camera shot.

While the New York Post reported that Martinez's side grip caused the gun to "stovepipe" — that's when the spent casing gets caught in the ejection port, jamming the weapon — it's unlikely that the horizontal orientation caused the failure. In theory, tilting a gun sideways — 90-degrees counter-clockwise for a right-handed shooter — means that gravity works against the ejection of the spent casing. As a practical matter, however, gravity is so weak compared to the force of the ejection that jamming is no more frequent in the sideways position than in the customary one. The more likely cause of the jam was Martinez's choice of weapon and ammunition. The MAC-10 is prone to stovepiping — a problem that's exacerbated by the use of hollow-point bullets, which may become deformed and scrape the inside of the barrel, or underpowered ammunition, which can slow the slide and throw off the mechanism's timing.

While the side grip does not increase the risk of stovepiping, it is terrible for aim. It's extremely difficult to properly use the top-mounted sight on a handgun that is turned sideways. Not that this matters much to the average street criminal. According to an FBI study, 60 percent of them don't even use the sight. Aiming a gun sideways has long been shorthand for risky, indiscriminate shooting. The title character in George Washington Cable's 1894 novel John March, Southerner, exclaims, "No man shall come around here aiming his gun sideways; endangering the throngs of casual bystanders!"

During the first half of the 20th century, soldiers used the side grip for the express purpose of endangering throngs of people. Some automatic weapons from this era — like the Mauser C96 or the grease gun — fired so quickly or with such dramatic recoil that soldiers found it impossible to aim anything but the first shot. Soldiers began tilting the weapons, so that the recoil sent the gun reeling in a horizontal rather than vertical arc, enabling them to spray bullets into an onrushing enemy battalion instead of over their heads.

Nowadays, the only time professionals use the side grip is while holding riot shields, which limit their field of vision. Turning the gun and raising it up make the sight slightly more visible.

http://www.slate.com/id/2238560/

[loki44]

Well thanks for clearing up that burning issue.

[Rusty Halo]

I recall a Law & Order episode where the detective suspected the shooter responsible for a street killing was a wanna-be because he'd likely used the "side grip" when shooting given that his aim was so lousy.

[Vermicious Knid]

[Dacke]

Originally Posted by Cynosure

Soldiers began tilting the weapons, so that the recoil sent the gun reeling in a horizontal rather than vertical arc, enabling them to spray bullets into an onrushing enemy battalion instead of over their heads.

That doesn't work as well as you'd think it does. The reason a firearm's recoil makes the weapon climb has to do with the mechanics of the human arm combined with the fact that the barrel is on top of the weapon.

It's likely that the sideways guns were inspired by Hong Kong movies by way of Menace II Society. The reason they used the sideways stance in HK movies was practical - it reduced the chances of actors getting hot brass casings in their faces, and it's not like you have to care about aiming when you're only firing blanks anyway.

[Morrus]

And this was a mystery to... who exactly?

Thanks for the important bulletin from the Department of Obvious Stuff Everybody Knows.

[sassafras]

Originally Posted by Miracle on loki44th Street

Well thanks for clearing up that burning issue.

Finally, tonight I can sleep.

[Cynosure]

Originally Posted by Miracle on loki44th Street

Well thanks for clearing up that burning issue.

Haven't you ever wondered? I have. The first time I saw a gangsta holding a pistol sideways while firing it (on TV, about 15 years ago), I found myself thinking, "Oh, for Pete's sake! Why hold it like that? Where did this ass-backwards practice originate from?" I wondered if this was the same sort of street "smarts" that tells a gangsta it's cool to wear his baggy pants hanging down at his thighs, with his underwear hanging out – which will probably be to his detriment if and when he has to run away from the cops or from other gangsta's.

[Cynosure]

Originally Posted by Morrus

Thanks for the important bulletin from the Department of Obvious Stuff Everybody Knows.

[loki44]

Originally Posted by Cynosure

Haven't you ever wondered? I have. The first time I saw a gangsta holding a pistol sideways while firing it (on TV, about 15 years ago), I found myself thinking, "Oh, for Pete's sake! Why hold it like that? Where did this ass-backwards practice originate from?" I wondered if this was the same sort of street "smarts" that tells a gangsta it's cool to wear his baggy pants hanging down at his thighs, with his underwear hanging out – which will probably be to his detriment if and when he has to run away from the cops or from other gangsta's.

See, real gangstas don't roll like that.

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

It's secretly a plot by whitey to create a generation of inner-city youth that can't shoot straight. I'd bet it's the same people that invented those shoes with the lights in the heels that blink when you walk.

[loki44]

Originally Posted by Rodrigo Inamangir

It's secretly a plot by whitey to create a generation of inner-city youth that can't shoot straight. I'd bet it's the same people that invented those shoes with the lights in the heels that blink when you walk.

Couple that with the lack of strong, black men in their lives, men who could teach them the proper manner in which to discharge a firearm, and you've got a recipe for disaster.

But I think it's the guys who heavily promoted hair extensions and fake fingernails.

[AuroraGyps]

Originally Posted by Rusty Halo

I recall a Law & Order episode where the detective suspected the shooter responsible for a street killing was a wanna-be because he'd likely used the "side grip" when shooting given that his aim was so lousy.

I think I know that episode. The one I'm thinking of is a L&O: Criminal Intent episode and the shooter loses control of the gun, because he's was holding it "gangsta style", and sprays bullets wildly at a open doorway, but manages to hit his target anyway.

Joel Grey is in that one and he's really good in it.

[Diehard Murphy]

I tried shooting a pistol like that once at the range.

26 bullets...not one hit on the paper at 30 meters.

I mean, I'm not great shot, but come on.

[Dark Jezter]

Originally Posted by Yulelog Myrrhphy

I tried shooting a pistol like that once at the range.

26 bullets...not one hit on the paper at 30 meters.

I mean, I'm not great shot, but come on.

I had a similar experience on a camping trip a few years ago where one of my friends brought his pistol. We set up some targets (mostly empty soda cans) and tried shooting them rapper-style. None of us scored any hits.

[Rusty Halo]

Originally Posted by Dark Jezter

I had a similar experience on a camping trip a few years ago where one of my friends brought his pistol. We set up some targets (mostly empty soda beer cans) and tried shooting them rapper-style. None of us scored any hits.

FIFY.

[Diehard Murphy]

Originally Posted by Dark Jezter

I had a similar experience on a camping trip a few years ago where one of my friends brought his pistol. We set up some targets (mostly empty soda cans) and tried shooting them rapper-style. None of us scored any hits.

Maybe we just haven't sold enough crack to be "real" enough yo.

[loki44]

Originally Posted by Yulelog Myrrhphy

I tried shooting a pistol like that once at the range.

26 bullets...not one hit on the paper at 30 meters.

I mean, I'm not great shot, but come on.

Originally Posted by Dark Jezter

I had a similar experience on a camping trip a few years ago where one of my friends brought his pistol. We set up some targets (mostly empty soda cans) and tried shooting them rapper-style. None of us scored any hits.

See, aiming at targets and shit ain't the same as bustin' a cap in some dude's ass. Totally different maneuver. Yo, get yer nomenclature right.

[Advocatus Diaboli]

Originally Posted by Morrus

And this was a mystery to... who exactly?

Thanks for the important bulletin from the Department of Obvious Stuff Everybody Knows.

Remember, kids, you should always cheque with Morrus before posting.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Rodrigo Inamangir

It's secretly a plot by whitey to create a generation of inner-city youth that can't shoot straight. I'd bet it's the same people that invented those shoes with the lights in the heels that blink when you walk.

Why do you hate my shoes?

[Kwyjibo]

Originally Posted by Christmas Duck-eh

That doesn't work as well as you'd think it does. The reason a firearm's recoil makes the weapon climb has to do with the mechanics of the human arm combined with the fact that the barrel is on top of the weapon.

That's OK most of the rest of the author info about firearms is pretty shady as well.

It jammed because he was using hollow point bullets. Soldiers turned their weapons so they can shoot throngs of people.

Uh huh

The title should be "why are journalists even less knowledgeable about firearms than gangstas?"

[loki44]

Originally Posted by Cynosure

Why do rappers hold their pistols sideways?

Because they have Asian groupies?

[3catcircus]

None of you recognized the obvious.

Its so they don't have their aim ruined by being blinded by reflections off their "grills" and "Jury*."

*That's "jewelry" for those of you not fluent in Ebonics.

[Eldorian]

Originally Posted by Santa's Advocate

Remember, kids, you should always cheque with Morrus before posting.

Should I Czech with him before I make this joke?

[Little Drummer Spoony]

If I ever make a movie with gangsta's in it there has to be a seen where the hero faces the punks and they pull guns at range and start popping rounds out all over the place with their shitty aim; and the hero calmly sights his pistol properly and puts a round between the eyes of the first one, through the heart of the second and the others start running. He looks to someone else and scoffs, "Gun control is hitting what you aimed at."

[loki44]

Originally Posted by Little Drummer Spoony

If I ever make a movie with gangsta's in it there has to be a seen where the hero faces the punks and they pull guns at range and start popping rounds out all over the place with their shitty aim; and the hero calmly sights his pistol properly and puts a round between the eyes of the first one, through the heart of the second and the others start running. He looks to someone else and scoffs, "Gun control is hitting what you aimed at."

Racist.

[PWD]

The important thing is it gets rappers and rap fans killled and that's something we can all appreciate.

[Diehard Murphy]

Originally Posted by Power Word Decorations

The important thing is it gets rappers and rap fans killled and that's something we can all appreciate.

I'm glad you are around to focus us on what's important

[Kwyjibo]

Originally Posted by Power Word Decorations

The important thing is it gets rappers and rap fans killled and that's something we can all appreciate.

Ask Kiz to show you his scars sometime.

[Chastity Pariah]

Because they're crooked?