Catching a handgun firing

[tharmsen]

I wish I had spent more time this year shooting the shooting sports (if that makes sense). It's an excellent opportunity to catch fasting moving action. I also need to get more creative when doing these shots...

This is a shot from last weekend. Nothing highly creative, but I like the over the shoulder shot, the unburnt powder in the air above the pistol and the spent cartridge sailing away.

http://www.intempusphotography.com/photos/669172842_h64CY-XL.jpg

Thoughts?

[ChasWG]

Great timing! Now that's fast action indeed! What is the muzzle velocity of that pistol? 1800-2000 ft per second?

Nice shot!

[Naturalist]

Looks to be a .45ACP. If so then the standard military load for a 230gr. full metal jacket (FMJ) [aka: Ball ammunition] is about 850 feet/second.

If this is a caliber .40S&W (Smith & Wesson) then the speed would be about 990 feet/second for a 180 gr. FMJ.

BTW: I like the OP's shot and that's about the only safe way to get one without having a remotely operated camera.

[tharmsen]

The Naturalist is correct about muzzle velocities for factory loads. The loads we were shooting are steel target loads using .45 ACP 185gr lead bullets loaded to about 800fps. They're designed to safely splatter when they hit the steel target.

[PicSniper]

Very nice capture!!! You nailed the focus right where it needed to be, in my opinion.

[advaitin]

I was shooting my camera one day for a story about the range and got a nice series with an older gentleman firing his M1 rapid fire (semi-auto, so trigger has to be pulled each time it's fired, for those non-shottists here)--two cartridge cases in the air and one halfway out of the chamber in one image. The old boy was hitting his target, too.

[tharmsen]

I was shooting my camera one day for a story about the range and got a nice series with an older gentleman firing his M1 rapid fire (semi-auto, so trigger has to be pulled each time it's fired, for those non-shottists here)--two cartridge cases in the air and one halfway out of the chamber in one image. The old boy was hitting his target, too.
I shot a friend of mine shooting my M16 (yes, it's legal) with three empties in the air.

http://www.intempusphotography.com/photos/669278075_6Y87v-XL.jpg

It's easy to do when shooting a M16 on full-auto though I suppose. :)

[mathogre]

Nice! Very, very nice. I need to take my .357 Magnum out for a spin (intended).

[lespaulowner]

Great timing on the shots!

[redrocket]

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt291/redrocketAG/38FLASH.jpg

night shooting is fun... behind both instruments..

[mathogre]

night shooting is fun... behind both instruments..

Very nice! I love the flash from the gun. How'd you do the lighting for the photo?

[redrocket]

Very nice! I love the flash from the gun. How'd you do the lighting for the photo?

the lighting was done by flashlight.....
light the shooter with a flashlight
when the flashlight is turned off pull the trigger...
(all within 3.5 seconds)

[mathogre]

the lighting was done by flashlight.....
light the shooter with a flashlight
when the flashlight is turned off pull the trigger...
(all within 3.5 seconds)

Makes sense. Very clever!!!