Airsoft vs Blank firing replicas

[RyanMKincaid]

If I might chime in, blanks are good for the sound. But involve many more legal aspects since they are pyrotechnics. Many jurisdictions require PD and FD on set, as well as a licensed pyro tech on set. Insurance is much higher, permits are nastier to get. And the flash is wrong for the one's people get on the internet cheaply. Get caught using blank firing weapons anywhere near the public without the proper permits, and I can almost guarantee you or someone on set some jail time.

On the other hand, using Gas Blow Back airsoft pistols give you a more realistic, yet safer alternative. And yes, they also make rifles and carbines as blow backs. But you have to add flash and brass in post. Most of the time, just flash. For example, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCPCCxxcdqg at 1:23, that is a gas SCAR I have. Looks pretty realistic to me. The camera angle helped, but it also took some of the difficulty out in post.


I always suggest airsoft to productions with a low up front budget. It will be cheaper, less hassle, and less messy in the long run.

Unless you have a real budget, then I can talk to you about "converted" pistols and Class III's.

Basically what he said. If you're independent you will find that gun rental and getting the permits and required people and etc, costly and time consuming (to coordinate). One aspect when we shot with blanks was that the muzzle flash doesn't alway happen each time you shoot the gun and you'll still have to add it in post.

Personally, I've begun to think of doing gun scenes a little more artistically. Using different camera angles, setting the tone of the scene a little differently, changing the focus in the shot to the subject holding the gun instead of the gun.

Of course this won't work for all scenes but I think for low end, low budget projects, thinking outside the box will help a million times more.

Just for an example: What would look cooler on the screen? A wide shot of a revolver with muzzle flash or a macro shot of the chamber as rotates the next round into place?

I'm just sayin'

 

[HansSteinert]

Yeah airsoft props are cheaper and safer.

He even expresses how important it is to notify people around he filming location that they are not using real guns. I think it's just a matter of being creative. They do remove the orange tips from the airsoft guns for filming or cover them up with tape but they put them back on when they are done.

I thought taking off the orange tip is permanent?

 

[lowercase]

it depends on the maker of the gun. i have several with orange plastic barrel sleeves that are removable but just as easily put back.

 

[Doc Bernard]

It is supposed to be "permanent", but manufacturers know many people take them off and replace them, so they occasionally make it easier to deal with. Some have a "band" of plastic that is glued on and easily cracked off. Others have a tip that can be replaced with an aftermarket tip that is realistic. Some are just painted.

Regardless of the method........ you must find out if it is legal or not to modify an airsoft by removing the tip or orange coloration in your jurisdiction. Many places, you can go to jail if you are caught with a previously mentioned modded airsoft. Contact your local law enforcement FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!

This is your warning.

 

[DaCamDude]

You aren't supposed to remove the orange tips on the airsoft guns since some of them look like real guns. Especially with the replicas that have metal parts and what not, without the orange tip, those could easily be confused as a real gun. Note that obviously it doesn't really apply to the transparent guns lol

What you can do (which is safer and cheaper than using blanks) is cover the orange tip with tape. If you are not planning on doing any close-ups on the gun then it should look convincing. Then you can just add the muzzle flash later on.

But if you do cover the orange tip with paint or you simply remove it, make sure you let everyone around the area they are not real guns. If you are gonna film in a closed location then I don't think there is a problem

 

[Doc Bernard]

DaCamDude: in some areas it is legal to remove the orange tip. It is here in Southern California for me. You just cannot sell them without the tip. Notification, with or without orange, is always prudent and a requirement on any location shoot for me.

Here is the US Commercial Statute about selling and buying airsofts:

15 USC Sec. 5001 is the law 15CDR1150 is the Rule as implemented in the Federal Register

-CITE- 15 USC Sec. 001 01/16/96
-EXPCITE- TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 76 - IMITATION FIREARMS
-HEAD-
Sec. 5001. Penalties for entering into commerce of imitation firearms
-STATUTE-
(a) Acts prohibited
It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, enter into commerce, ship, transport, or receive any toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm unless such firearm contains, or has affixed to it, a marking approved by the Secretary of Commerce, as provided in subsection (B) of this section.
(B) Distinctive marking or device; exception; waiver; adjustments and changes
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) or (3), each toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm shall have as an integral part, permanently affixed, a blaze orange plug inserted in the barrel of such toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm. Such plug shall be recessed no more than 6 millimeters from the muzzle end of the barrel of such firearm.
(2) The Secretary of Commerce may provide for an alternate marking or device for any toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm not capable of being marked as provided in paragraph (1) and may waive the requirement of any such marking or device for any toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm that will only be used in the theatrical, movie or television industry.
(3) The Secretary is authorized to make adjustments and changes in the marking system provided for by this section, after consulting with interested persons.
© ''Look-alike firearm'' defined For purposes of this section, the term ''look-alike firearm'' means any imitation of any original firearm which was manufactured, designed, and produced since 1898, including and limited to toy guns, water guns, replica nonguns, and AIR SOFT guns firing nonmetallic projectiles. Such term does not include any look-alike, nonfiring, collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior to 1898, or traditional B-B, paint-ball, or pellet-firing air guns that expel a projectile through the force of air pressure.
(d) Study and report The Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics is authorized and directed to conduct a study of the criminal misuse of toy, look-alike and imitation firearms, including studying police reports of such incidences and shall report on such incidences relative to marked and unmarked firearms.
© (FOOTNOTE 1) Technical evaluation of marking systems
(FOOTNOTE 1) So in original. Probably should be ''(e)''.
The Director of (FOOTNOTE 2) National Institute of Justice is authorized and directed to conduct a technical evaluation of the marking systems provided for in subsection (B) of this section to determine their effectiveness in police combat situations. The Director shall begin the study within 3 months after November 5, 1988, and such study shall be completed within 9 months after November 5, 1988.
(FOOTNOTE 2) So in original. Probably should be ''of the''.
(f) Effective date This section shall become effective on the date 6 months after
November 5, 1988, and shall apply to toy, look-alike, and imitation firearms manufactured or entered into commerce after November 5, 1988.
(g) Preemption of State or local laws or ordinances; exceptions The provisions of this section shall supersede any provision of State or local laws or ordinances which provide for markings or identification inconsistent with provisions of this section provided that no State shall –
(I) prohibit the sale or manufacture of any look-alike, nonfiring, collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior to 1898, or
(ii) prohibit the sale (other than prohibiting the sale to minors) of traditional B-B, paint ball, or pellet-firing air guns that expel a projectile through the force of air pressure.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 100-615, Sec. 4, Nov. 5, 1988, 102 Stat. 3190.)

This is on the Federal side of things. These regs are directed at manufactures, distributors and retailers. No mention of personal ownership, but each jurisdiction (State/County/City) has their own modifications to this. And the rule of thumb is it can be more stringent, but not less.


So I re-iterate: contact law enforcement in your area first to find out one way or the other.