Shooting script

Posted By Iain Coleman on March 13, 2009

If you put the name of any type of firearm into the search box on YouTube, you will almost certainly find a bunch of video clips of enthusiasts firing these weapons off. These are quite remarkably dull, but they can be an excellent tool for research. For example, I’ve just written an action scene in which our heroes have to defend themselves using rifles they have hired on Svalbard. A bit of googling established that these would be Mauser M98s (in a 30-06 calibre variant), but it was this video that gave me a clear idea of the use and limitations of this particular weapon. It’s good to get these details right, particularly when they constrain the characters’ actions, and thanks to the curious video posting practices of firearm enthusiasts you can now do it without having to so much as chamber a round.

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About the author

Iain Coleman

Science writer by day, screenwriter by night. Past exploits include gaining a PhD in astrophysics, researching the solar wind and the aurora, training and performing in experimental theatre, standing for Parliament, and helping to run a city council.