Most Realistic Cop Shows

Finding realism on television is a lot like finding a hidden treasure: If you see it and recognize how real it is, it becomes even more amazing to watch. Finding realistic cop shows is a little challenging because, unfortunately, most cop shows and crime dramas are comically pretty bad.

Here, we have a list of the most realistic cop shows on television, whether it be moments of realism or overall accuracy.

realistic-police-show

Realistic Cop Shows

Cops

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. Cops was arguably the first of its kind. Before The Bachelor and Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Cops was an actual reality show, depicting real police officers and their day-to-day tasks. It’s famous amongst daytime television viewers for its intense and often humorous events—and for its iconic theme song.

 

The show, if you haven’t seen it, follows one or two cops at a time as they respond to a call. More times than not, the call is a domestic dispute… Something that officers of the law have to deal with on the daily. And you can tell, judging by the generally monotonous and tired nature of the cops.

 

The show doesn’t try to excite the drama in any way. It just shows what is actually happening. For this reason, not everyone is a Cops fan. However, Cops teaches us that you don’t need a script: The world is crazy and unbelievable enough as is.

Law and Order

Everyone’s favorite police procedural makes the list, despite a few very inaccurate and dramatized details. Since its debut in the early 90s (making it the longest running crime drama in America), Law and Order has had a lot of time to research police tactics.

 

There are a few flaws in this show, though. For example, Law and Order shows investigations take place over the course of a few days whereas, in real life, it averagely takes months. The officers in the show seem to be able to trace a gun’s owner in a matter of hours. This isn’t the case, because tracking down who owns a gun is a lengthy and inconvenient task.

 

In terms of firearms, the cast of Law and Order all use their weapons appropriately: proper weapon handling and hardly any excessive use (there are always exceptions). The investigations themselves are all handled professionally and near up to par with police standard procedure.

True Detective

This bizarre psychological crime anthology shows a philosophical and darker side to crime drama, but it’s actually more accurate than you realize.

 

In the show, two detectives who really don’t like each other get paired up to solve a bit of a weird crime. The crime involves an unraveling cult murder and sacrifice scenario in a swampy Louisiana setting, which obviously isn’t something that happens often, but that’s the point: normal detective work used to solve a much different than normal crime.

 

But at the same time, it’s kind of a true story…

 

Detectives often take years and years to solve a crime, which the show takes one full season to solve on crime (most crime shows take one episode). Throughout True Detective, the officers use real detective skills such as evidence collecting, forensics, interviews, and the boring sifting through old files. They do what real detectives do which, in real life, isn’t an action packed adventure. The show keeps you watching with its psychological aspect and character building.

 

There are two major gun fights in True Detective: one in a drug-riddled ghetto and the other with (no spoilers ahead, don’t worry) the culprits. The latter gun battle lands the detectives in the hospital for major injuries, showing how human they are. The show’s creators also had the two actors, Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, train for their firearm usage and it really shows in those shootouts.  

The Wire

Everyone’s talking about The Wire. The show is based in Baltimore, a city that wasn’t explored much in television before, with the goal of showing the darker side of most American cities. The show is praised for its accurate and often intense portrayal of police work.

 

The Wire was co-created by a police officer and a reporter, both from Baltimore, so there might not be a more accurate procedural crime drama on television. It gives the audience a very authentic look into what happens when your city is ravaged by the war on drugs and drug-related crimes. The Wire isn’t shy to delve into the real issues of drug-use, and that it isn’t just the gangs, it’s the working class and the upper class citizens.

 

Since the show was developed by those who have experienced what it’s like to be in law enforcement, accuracy becomes second nature. The cast and crew were educated in what street crime really is and how officers really deal with it. The brutal message in The Wire is that crime is resilient.

The Police Experience

In order to understand how realistic cop shows can be, actors will undergo professional weapons training. Having access to police and SWAT team weaponry allows for greater understanding for those curious about what it is like to actually be a cop. You can learn how to handle and fire an arsenal of police guns, so schedule your experience today!

 

Legendary Cowboys: Billy the Kid

This outlaw has earned his place in history as one of the most notorious cowboys in the West… But how much of it is true?

legendary-cowboy

Legendary Billy The Kid

The Legend

You may have heard the story of Billy the Kid. He’s the unstoppable outlaw responsible for killing 21 men, train robberies, bank robberies, etc., right? The young gun with a short temper who killed his first man at age 12?

The story goes that Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty, was born in New York City on November 23, 1859, to a single mother. Following the death of her husband, Henry’s mother Catherine took her son and moved to Indianapolis where she met William Antrim. They soon moved to the New Mexico territory to start their new lives. Henry was 15 when his mother died.

The crime started shortly after when McCarty famously stole laundry, a notably minor crime for such a notorious character. This landed McCarty in the spotlight as a first time wanted man.This led him down a path of stealing horses and small petty crime that would soon escalate even further.

Over the course of his outlaw career, Billy would solidify his reputation as a cold-blooded killer who would end your life for so much as looking at him funny. He only lived to be 21 however, but many believe that his death was a hoax and he would live to be much much older. So, how much of this is true?

The Truth

There are a lot of myths surrounding The Kid, a lot of which have been put into films and literature. These stories have been told again and again, so you might be surprised to find out the truth of Billy the Kid.

Not only is most of the story inaccurate, but also the truth is that most of it is a mystery. The problem is that most of it has no historical proof.

Here are some of the most commonly believed myths of Billy the Kid:

His kill count

Probably the most polarizing discussions of Billy the Kid involves the grizzly matter of just how many men he killed. A very popular myth is that he killed 21 men (one man per year he lived). It didn’t help that he was part of a vigilante group known as the Regulators whose collective kill count spilled a little into his.

The truth is that Billy was only solely responsible for four deaths—Frank Cahill, Joe Grant, James Bell and Bob Olinger. Two of which were self defense situations and the other two were from one event of escaping from prison. Hardly seems like an outlaw when he’s just defending himself.

His intelligence

Many people believe The Kid to be illiterate and uneducated. Possibly due to his age and the environment of the south western territories at that time was a bit baron and didn’t have a lot of resources.

The fact is Henry McCarty really enjoyed reading as a small child. Although he didn’t have a formal education, people around that time considered him to be bright young man. He was also fluent in Spanish.

His left-handedness

It’s a classic quirk the legend is known for. It’s another very interesting thing that makes him stand out against all the other outlaws of the time.

The truth is actually more interesting than that: he was ambidextrous, which is far more impressive than being a lefty. The misconception began when a picture of Billy was found where Billy had his holster and revolver on the left side of his body. However, after observing a Winchester rifle in the same photo, it was revealed that the picture was flipped, making the right-handed gun fighter look left handed.

His family

A lot of stories go around that he had a younger brother named Edward. There’s also a lot of non-clarity about his birth mother and step parents, how they died, where they’re from, etc.

Billy had a younger brother named Joseph… not Edward. It’s unknown where Edward comes from.

His Temperament

Probably one of the most widely believed things about Billy is that he would shoot a man for simply looking at him wrong. There are countless stories of people being afraid to even approach the Kid, as they were afraid of what he’d do.

According to testimonies of his closest allies, Billy was one of the easiest going people they came across in a time of the wild west. As stated earlier, he only killed four men, and it was out of self-defense. Billy was, apparently, a kind-hearted caring soul.

The Truth about Billy the Kid, Summarized

Billy the Kid is a legendary cowboy who went down in history as a ruthless brute, but the truth is a bit far off. He was, in fact, an intelligent, easy-going and sober-minded individual who gets a rep for evil-doings and maliciousness. Obviously, it goes without saying that he may not have been the shining example of how someone should be, but the truth is still far more interesting than legend.

Be Legendary

There are lots of legendary cowboys who are experienced shooters and adventurous souls, but those are all just legends, right? There’s a lot of truth in these stories of famous gunslingers, but only experiencing guns can set apart fact from fiction. So, test your gun firing skills in an authentic environment and experience what it’s like to fire real guns!

How to Handle Accidental Discharge

accidental-misfire

“Oops.” That’s what you say when you “accidently” slip up or doing something wrong. However, accidental discharge could be a little different. It may just cost you or someone else their lives. It makes owning a gun a little scarier, to say the least, but there are ways you can keep it from happening and handle an accidental discharge after it’s already happened.

 

How to Avoid Accidental Discharge Altogether

 

Obviously, this is key. As a gun owner, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of yourself and others. So let’s look at the things you can do to avoid an accidental misfire.

1. Safety first

You don’t have to be a gun lover to know what the most important part of the gun is: the safety. The safety should always be on unless you are firing. As in, you set your gun down after discharging your weapon, you immediately turn the safety on. No matter what.

2. The gun is loaded (even when it isn’t)

It is very beneficially to a gun owner to act like their gun is loaded at all times. There have been countless stories of gun owners unloading their guns, taking them apart and *BAM!* They didn’t realize there was one in the chamber. This can happen to the most experienced gun owner. All it takes is one slip up, so just pretend there’s one in the chamber until you’re sure there isn’t.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger

Pull the trigger, the gun goes off. You can never be too careful, even with the safety on. So, just keep your finger off the trigger unless you’re planning on shooting whatever it is you’re pointing your gun at.

4. Pay attention to your surroundings

Just like with anything that can potentially cause harm to others, it is important in gun safety to be fully aware of what’s going on around you and who may be close by. There have been far too many tragic stories of someone accidentally hurting or killing someone because they weren’t paying attention. It is, without a doubt, the easiest rule to follow because all you have to do is PAY ATTENTION.

 

Accidental Discharge: What Do You do?

 

In the event of accidental misfire, what should you do?

1. Assess the situation

And assess it fast! That means making sure that no one was hurt. If someone was hurt, call 911 immediately! It is vital that help gets to you as quick as possible, so before you do anything else,  you make the call.

 

If no one was hurt, move onto the gun. Take the necessary precautions in ensuring the gun won’t discharge again. Make sure the chamber is fully depleted, and once you’re done with that, put the gun away where it won’t hurt anybody.

2. Assess the damage

No matter what, make sure the gun is put away immediately before moving on to any sort of damage that may have been done to your surroundings. Depending on the firearm and where you’re at, the distance and damage will vary, but in any case, you need to make sure that nothing took a hit: belongings, homes, structures, etc.

3. Take responsibility

No matter the severity of the event, you must step forward and take action. Not every case of accidental discharge will require you to inform the police (use your best judgment), but it’s important to own the situation. This includes taking care of damages, injuries, etc.

4. Make sure it never happens again

We get it. Accidents happen. But that doesn’t mean it’s unavoidable. It’s easier to find articles online discussing how to avoid it in the first place than it is to find what you should do after it happens.

 

Safety at Machine Gun Experience

Safety is number one for gun owners. Here at Machine Gun Experience, we take the necessary precautions to ensure the safest environment and educate on proper gun use. Our team of professional gun users will provide a safe space for you to enjoy yourself.

 

See our packages for more information.

 

Historic American Firearms: Spencer Repeating Rifle

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Throughout history, some guns have made a name for themselves. Even fewer hold up as well as the Spencer Repeating Rifle. Since its production during the Civil War, the Spencer Repeating Rifle has become quite the collector’s item.

 

And with good reason. If you love historic american firearms, this one’s for you.

 

Spencer Repeating Rifle

Christopher Miner Spencer was a 19th century inventor, famous for being a sort of jack-of-all trades in terms of inventing. He could invent whatever it was he wanted from cars to rifles. Spencer has many patents under his name, most of which were gun related.

 

On March 6, 1860, Spencer knocked out another patent, this time on a lever-action repeater.

The rifle

It was revolutionary. In a time of muzzleloaders, the Spencer Repeating Rifle surely stood out as ingenious design. Simple to use and reliable, it would soon out-shine everything else on the market. Working the gun was quick to learn and didn’t take much: insert cartridge nose first, put hammer on half cock, lower the lever, chamber the round, cock, aim, and fire.

 

Its most brilliant and revolutionary feature is the rotating block, something no other gun at the time had and what makes the repeater so special. The device allowed the gun to be fired quickly and more frequently than the standard rifle. It was also popular for its sleek design.

Usage in the war

During the Civil War, muzzleloaders were ordered by the hundreds, so switching rifles wouldn’t be cost effective. However, after demonstrating the rifle to officials, Spencer got an order from the Navy for 700 rifles, plus another 300 after he convinced them. Some soldiers, preferring Spencers rifle, purchased them on the side and Lincoln himself was so impressed, he ordered a total of around 230,000 by the time the war ended. By mid-1860’s, it had become the second most widely used carbine.

 

A rifle’s influence

The Spencer Repeating Rifle has its place in the hearts of historic american firearm collectors, but as far as repeaters go, they became obsolete. Repeaters were a costly and resource draining production, so by the time another war came around, America had moved on to more efficient ways of combat. Still though, nothing at its time was anything like the Spencer Repeater and for that alone is enough for it to go down as one of America’s great historic firearms.

 

Check out Machine Gun Experience today!

At Machine Gun Experience, we give you the opportunity to fire an arsenal of unique guns. Semi to fully automatic, we have the rifle you want. Come visit our range today and experience our one of a kind range.

 

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Special Ops Training: Green Berets

Many men and women who enter the military dream of taking part in special operations units. These units use unconventional methods to carry out unique missions. Depending on which branch of the military the unit is located, specials ops training programs will vary. To become a Green Beret, the special forces of the U.S. Army, it will take wit, brawn, and discipline.

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Green Beret Special Ops Training

Selection process

Prior to participating in the selection process most applications will have:

  • Earned a college degree and/or postgraduate degree
  • Mastered a second language
  • Been in the armed forces for at least three years

Special ops training workouts are designed to push potential soldiers to their physical and mental limits. Before they can take part in the training course, they must pass a physical exam selection course. Each potential Green Beret must pass with a minimum score of 260. It is recommended before you take the exam you can:

  • Finish a two mile run within 12-14 minutes
  • Do 100 sit-ups in two minutes or less
  • Complete 100 push-ups in two minutes or less

The rest of the initial exam will take place at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The three-week course is split into two parts: physical training and teamwork ability. The tests will include:

  • Running
  • Swimming
  • Push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups

“Q” Course

After excelling at phase one of SFQC, Special Forces Qualification Course, during the initial selection process at Fort Bragg, some soldiers will enter the remaining five phases. Each is more excruciating than the following, which is why it’s recommended to participate in some special ops training for civilians workouts before attempting the programs.

SFQC Phase II-13 weeks:

  • Strong focus on individual skills
  • Training in Small Unit Tactics
  • Survival skills
  • Language and cultural training

SFQC Phase III-15 weeks:

  • Military occupational specialty code training (MOS)
  • Further language training
  • Common tasks training
  • Advanced technique special ops training
  • Interagency operations training

SFQC Phase IV-14 weeks:

  • Combative skills training
  • Continual language training for specialty assignments

SFQC Phase V-four weeks:

  • Collective training
  • Realistic unconventional warfare

SFQC Phase VI:

  • Graduation
  • Initial assignment

 

Shoot like a Green Beret

On top of possessing elite athletic skill, Green Berets are experts at their weapons. Lucky for you, you don’t have to complete special ops training workouts to fire a military grade, special ops weapon. At The Vegas Machine Gun Experience, a gun range near the Strip, you can handle:

  • 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun
  • M4 Machine Gun
  • AK47 Machine Gun
  • Glock 17 9MM Pistol

Book Your Special Ops Training Experience

Book your Special Ops training package online today. The Machine Gun Experience is an indoor gun range located right off the Strip. We’ll even pick you up!

Women Who Shoot Guns in Movies

Shooting is no longer a man’s game. Although men may have their fair share of action movie heroes, women who shoot are slowly taking over the big screen and the gun world. Here’s our list of top five leading ladies who have mastered their tactical shooting stance and their weapons, all while capturing our hearts.

Women Who Shoot in Cinema

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Lara Croft, Tomb Raider

Weapon: Twin Heckler and Koch USP Match pistols

 

Angelina Jolie has played many kick-butt women in films, but her most iconic role is probably Lara Croft. Although Tomb Raider is an empire consisting of books, movies, and video games, Jolie’ bodysuit clad figure, adorned with hip holsters holding her signature pistols is the immediate image that comes to mind. Even if she carries pistols with her, don’t disregard her ability to show off a proper rifle shooting stance too.

Trinity, The Matrix

Weapon: Two Beretta 84FS Cheetahs

 

Carrie-Anne Moss plays Trinity in The Matrix. Her weaponry is often minimal, but she can hold her own in a room full of agents with what little she carries. Film creators opted for a Beretta 84FS as opposed to a full-sized Beretta because Moss has small hands. She is also seen yielding a Micro Uzi in the film. Like many other women who shoot, Trinity is skilled in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat.

Imperator Furiosa, Mad Max: Fury Road

Weapon: Taurus PT99AF

 

Charlize Theron is almost unrecognizable as Furiosa in Fury Road. Her mechanical arm does not stop her from taking her tactical shooting stance and fearlessly defending the wives of Immortan Joe. Eventually, Furiosa enlists the help of a tribe of women from “The Green Land,” where she grew up and kills Immortan Joe. Not only does she save his wives but the city he once ruled over too.

Selene, Underworld

Weapon: A pair of Beretta 92FS sidearms

 

Kate Beckinsale plays a vampire named Selene in Underworld. With the help of her signature Berettas, she defeats lycans in several films. The cruel death of her family sparked her plan of revenge. She exhibits tactical expertise in several films, escaping from situations that seemed nearly impossible.

Alice, Resident Evil

Weapon: Beretta 92FS Inox

 

Mila Jovovich is another actress who has played several female empowering characters during her career. Alice is one of her most memorable roles and the lead in the films, which depict her conflict with the Umbrella Corporation. Like a couple of other women who shoot on our list, Alice knows Berettas do it betta when you’re in a tactical shooting stance.

Join the Women Who Shoot at an Indoor Gun Range

Women who shoot may have been born with a kick-butt mindset and some inherent talent, but their expertise came with practice. Master your proper rifle shooting stance at an indoor gun range near the Strip. Book your Vegas Machine Gun Experience online today.