Sample Movie Guns
We have a wide range of movie guns and can access many more as required
We are licensed as Film Armourers and under this license are able to provide both real and replica weapons to film, TV and stage productions.
These days we actually prefer to specialise in making set safe and screen accurate replicas look and act like the real thing onscreen for ultimate cast and crew safety. Actors can focus on their character and performance without any underlying concerns (be they conscious or sub-conscious) about their own safety or that of other cast and crew members.
Many can be modified with C02 gas actions that can cycle for great onscreen effects and for the actors to react to. Below is an image gallery with some samples of what we have on offer, and we can source many other options and also large quantities of many models as required for your production needs.
From Pirates, Cowboys and World Wars to Street Crime, Sci-Fi and Current Conflicts
Pros and Cons of Real Guns with Blank Fire vs Replica and / or C02 Gas Actions
Replicas / C02 Gas Actions
ADVANTAGES:
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Look the same but are far safer in terms of risk of injury or death from muzzle blast, fragments, or live ammunition being accidentally brought to set.
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Cheaper to obtain (handy for multiple hero guns and replace breakages than real), use and insure for.
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Actors not familiar with weapons (which is most) are far less consciously and sub-consciously concerned with handling a real weapon, so may look more confident with them / can focus on their natural performance more.
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No hearing protection required.
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Less impact on public / civil authorities if filming on open sets.
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Faster set ups / much easier for production as proximity and angles for camera, cast and crew to firing much less concern.
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Less stoppages and takes from jams and resetting of guns.
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Cannot chamber any live rounds.
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More relaxed cast and crew with non-lethal guns and high tolerance for mistakes / errors. Most actors, stunt professionals and production crews seem to feel safer using replica / C02 actioned guns than having real weapons onset these days.
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Post-production effects are now excellent and can easily add desired onscreen impacts.
DISADVANTAGES:
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Some models may have slightly less functionality than real ones and require cut aways for some close up reloading actions on some autos.
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Less visceral recoil / blast so reliant upon actor’s technique and post effects.
Real Weapons with Blank Fire
ADVANTAGES:
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Mostly full functionality.
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Muzzle blast and some recoil.
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Actors that are highly weapon familiar (typically in the minority) may prefer real guns.
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Possibly fewer post-production effects required.
DISADVANTAGES:
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Even blanks are dangerous and muzzle blast / fragments can injure or kill.
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Expensive to source, use and insure for so harder / more expensive to have multiple hero guns or replace damaged items.
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Longer set ups and rehearsals required for angles, proximity, stunts and safety.
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Hearing protection required for all in proximity and set cleared of all non-essential cast and crew.
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Higher chance of public alarm / issues with authorities on open sets.
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Blanks can jam and fail frequently requiring more takes.
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In the unlikely event that a live round is loaded into one, it will fire it.
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Actors not familiar with guns (most) may take a long time to look confident with real blast and blank firing, so may look less confident / have more startle reflex and overreact to firing onscreen than they would using a replica / gas gun.
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There is zero tolerance for mistakes and errors when using real weapons and so there are higher levels of oversight and tension on set required to professionally manage and oversee this.
NOTE: By QLD Law / The Weapons Act a Theatrical Ordnance Suppliers License is required to take any real weapon or a replica / imitation onto a stage or film set (including replicas, gel blasters, gas guns etc).
