A lot of people are what some radio talk show hosts refer to as "low information" voters. That does not necessarily limit itself to politics. Mel Gibson carried one in Lethal Weapon. The military carries them as standard issue for the troops that are issued pistols. What else do they need to know?

 

The gross ignorance of the movie-watching public, not to mention non-technical screenwriters, are probably behind that. Over the wide array of cop and military movies, it's the rare one indeed that actually pays attention to the technical side of weaponry. Nine millimeter has been in the LE community for around 40 years now, and the .40 wasn't even a decade newer, but you still don't hear much big screen or little screen reference to the .40. And forget the .357 Sig entirely! If you asked a non-shooting friend what caliber pistol the local cops carry, I'd bet you a donut he'd say (or ask) nine millimeter.

To misquote H.L. Mencken, "no one has ever gone broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

 

1. Movies and TV do have an effect on the buying habits of the shooting public. If that weren't so, the .44 magnum's popularity would not have skyrocketed the way it did after the "Dirty Harry" series of movies.

Yup. Movie madness ain't limited to just the summer blockbuster effects. The product placements, too, can have effects of their own.

I'm waiting for the "Bazoomercom" schwag to become available! (From the 2000 David Mamet film State And Main.) :tongue:

Would anybody like to weigh in on why TV and movie props being "9 millimeter" may make people want to buy and shoot 9X19 guns?

The "big" 9 millimeter has a certain ring to it, out there. 9mm came along during the "wonder 9" era, by and large, in terms of popularity. That was about the time the FBI was finding out it was a tad under-gunned in key situations (ref: the Miami shootout, in 1986).

If what folks hear and see are AK's, AR's and 9mm's, then that's what they'll be aware of when they go purchasing. Most won't know any different, or that other choices might be better suited to their situations.

Myself, I simply hate relying strictly on what I've heard. I want to experience it, first-hand. Until then, I have a hard time believing the advertised pap we've all heard. But then, I'm a skeptic, cynic and circumspect. (Ugly combo, when out looking for an item.) Can't imagine everyone's that way, though. Most seem to think about a few things they've heard, ask one or two questions, then spring for the buy. Whatever works.

To misquote H.L. Mencken, "no one has ever gone broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

Mencken had a lot right. :yup:

 

Glocks that are "hammer cocked" (you can hear it often ) every AR is full auto , really too many unrealistic things to mention on here; but yes I'd say that has a great deal to do with the sales figures -

 

Media influence has a lot to do with everything. We just hope people open their minds after the firearm bug bites. I know, I know... Hope in one hand.

 

I inadvertently made a double post earlier. Of the 2 the post below is my favorite. My computer while barely 3 years old has issues like you wouldn't believe. It's really giving me fits.

If I ever buy another PC I'm thinking about getting a MAC and flippin' old Bill Gates the bird!!



OldSkeetShooter Likes post #8 below.

 

Speaking of the Ruger "P series" I long had a P97 DC , I really liked that pistol

 

Man....the P97DC was a HECK of pistol. Wish I had kept one around....

 

'Cause "Mr. Nine Millimeter" sounds cooler than "Mr. Forty Caliber."

 

How about the 9mm is a great round dead folks around the world can attest to it. Is it the best in all categories? No. But it does many things well. It's cheap and available(In normal times) It's comparatively easy to shoot and a wide variety of platforms have been built for it. It works.

 

There was a time when Guns and Blammo and Dirty Harry movies were the main sources of influence on peoples' opinions. That time ended about the time we started flipping these laptop screens open.

 

C'mon folks it is the TV and the movies. Their grasp of reality is minimal at best. Their business is entertainment.

If you let your viewing enjoyment be tempered by technical issues related to weapons or by the politics of the actors then you might as well not watch at all.

That being said, the answer to the OP's question is YES viewers are influenced by what they see on TV/Movie Screen.To the uninformed cool outweighs functionality every time.

 

the answer to the OP's question is YES viewers are influenced by what they see on TV/Movie Screen.To the uninformed cool outweighs functionality every time.

I'd say lower ammo prices coupled with higher capacity and less recoil contribute more to the popularity of 9mm pistols than the simple fact that they are on TV. TV and movies may have some influence, but I wouldn't go so far to say it's the only thing keeping the 9mm popular even though a lot of LE agencies switched to .40. Anyways, there have been more than a few LE agencies go back to 9mm or let the officers pick between the two.

Not everyone chooses their pistol based on what cops carry. What is best for a cop isn't always best for a civilian. The 9mm is arguably the better choice for a civilian where the marginal ballistic advantage isn't necessarily worth the loss in capacity, increased price, and snappier recoil.

But hey what do I know, I'm just an uninformed guy who apparently chose 9mm because Mel Gibson made it cool....not for any functional reason listed above.

OP, also wanted to add that in my unit we referred to our Beretta M9's as "9 mils" just like we referred to M2 machine guns as "fifties."

 

What I want is one of those subcompact single-stack 9's that holds like maybe 60 rounds. :scratchchin:

 

Because vee liebe
die Deutsche Tachenpistole in zee 9 Millimeetah.

 

9x19mm parabellum is a global standard round, and many, many guns are already chambered in it. The .40, .357sig, etc aren't universal rounds, and you can't go nearly anywhere on Earth and find ammo for them. This is a primary reason the 9mm has stayed relevant. I won't go into my feelings on the .40S&W being a compromise round invented solely for the FBI to save face, but while the .40 is a competent round, it really isn't nearly as popular or common. 9mm is also used more frequently in submachine guns like the MAC-10, H&K MP5K, and so on and so forth, keeping it yet again relevant in today's marketplace.

 

I guess a guy can't win.

If he carries a 9mm pistol he is now a knuckle dragging idiot hopelessly entwined with Hollywood.

If he carries a .357 Sig or .45 GAP he is a wanna-be cop/poser who probably can't afford to practice with the gun he carries.

If he carries a .40 S&W he has a "comprimise" round.

If he carries a 1911 in .45ACP he is old fashioned and out of date with modern technology.

If he carries a Glock he has a "plastic girlie gun".

 

I guess a guy can't win.

If he carries a 9mm pistol he is now a knuckle dragging idiot hopelessly entwined with Hollywood.

If he carries a .357 Sig or .45 GAP and is not in law enforcement, he is a wanna be cop, and poser who probably can't afford to practice with the gun he carries.

If ge carries a .40 S&W he has a "comprimise" round.

If he carries a 1911 in .45ACP he is old fashioned and out of date with modern technology.

If he carries a Glock he has a "plastic girlie gun".

That's why God invented things like the .41 magnum and .460 Rowland.

 

I can assure you that my choice of 9mm has nothing to do with what I see on a movie. Rather than get into that decision... which for some reason I'm tempted to do I'm going to focus on why movies stick to easy concepts.

We often lose sight of the fact that most people don't have any clue about guns. Heck when I come home with a new gun my wife usually thinks it is a gun I already have. When I tell her it is a new one she thinks I already have the same kind. In her mind there are 4 kinds of handguns. Blue revolver, stainless revolver, black pistol, stainless pistol. Other than those differences she has no clue. If I hand her a Sig 226 and a Glock 17 she will think they're the same thing. As comical as I find the whole thing I'm hard pressed to say that someone that graduated college with a 4.0 and then waltzed through med school without difficulty stupid- so there's something to the fact that people just don't really care enough to know the differences.

All that said most people have heard of a few guns and bullets. The 45 and 9mm along with 38/357 are going to be familiar with most people, so movie makers are going to stick with that. And of course the 45 has to be the Colt government 45. It isn't that the people making movies are stupid, it isn't an agenda they're trying to push. It just doesn't make sense for them to put things into movies that they don't know about or that the average viewer won't know about.

 

Nor do most non gun folks have any desire to know

 

I think Hollywood likes to have lots of bullets flying, and 9mm is good for that. Alternatively, they sometimes go with the biggest frackin' gun out there, like .44's or Desert Eagles. It's all about showmanship, and .40 and .45 are more, well, businesslike.

 

I think Hollywood likes to have lots of bullets flying, and 9mm is good for that...

Heck, in Hollywood, a J-Frame can shoot upwards of 100 rounds without reloading!

 

Been in the army for 13 years (infantry) and EVERY MOS I come across, we ALL say "9 mil" Special guys included.

 

Id say that the public has it right, as re 9mm. Its a proven round, you get higher capacity, (and no one ever said "Boy, Im glad I dont have more ammo"), its a NATO, and Army round, so availability is normally good.