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| 4 | %% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks! |
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| 9 | [[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/Gen13 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gangsta_2.jpg]]]] |
| 10 | [[caption-width-right:350: On the right is the "logical conclusion".[[labelnote:*]]It may also bring [[Manga/SoulEater Death The Kid]] to mind[[/labelnote]]]] |
| 11 | |
| 12 | ->''"Holding the hand crossbow sideways 'gangsta style' does not add to my intimidate check."'' |
| 13 | -->-- '''''Blog/ThingsMrWelchIsNoLongerAllowedToDoInAnRPG''''', #1033 |
| 14 | |
| 15 | Turning a weapon, frequently a pistol, so its grip is horizontal rather than vertical. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | [[CoolButInefficient Showy, flashy, and generally useless]] as a marksmanship technique. Normally, recoil lifts the barrel against gravity. When firing in this manner recoil pulls the gun sideways instead and tends to turn the shooter around in a circle. Additionally, it makes the sights much less useful. Worse, if the pistol is turned in this manner, its ejection port faces up, and the extractor isn't designed to work directly against gravity.[[note]]If you're holding it with your right hand, that is. Gangsta Style with the left hand will have the ejection port facing the ground[[/note]] Sideways recoil and improper extraction combined may make an ejected shell fly out at the wrong angle and hit you in the face, and also increases the chance (especially if you're wearing loose clothing) of getting a shell ejected into your clothes, which is actually not an unheard-of occurrence when firing ''normally''. Bear in mind that, depending on the ammunition and load, the shell can be hot enough to cause small burns on contact with the skin. Spent cartridges are also very likely to not be thrown clear, or even fall back into the port, either of which will jam the gun. All of which ''may'' be of some concern to a person who is in the middle of a gunfight. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Visually, it emphasizes the fist of the gunner. In other words, RuleOfCool wins in fiction. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | Most probably, the reason why this technique came about is for use in robbing stores. When holding a gun correctly, it is nearly impossible to keep the gun pointed at the clerk should they duck behind the counter without re-positioning your entire body. When holding the gun sideways, however, it is much easier to quickly aim downwards at a ducking clerk. As store robberies are generally carried out at close range, and the gun is more a tool to intimidate the clerk than anything, the loss of accuracy is generally considered an acceptable trade-off in order to keep the target under the gun at all times. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | There also seems to be a persistent myth that doing this somehow increases the lethality of the pistol, which makes no sense for the following reasons: 1) How the heck would simply rotating the gun affect the inner working of the gun in such a drastic manner? 2) Even if it was the case, wouldn't guns therefore be ''designed'' to be held and professional soldiers ''trained'' to hold their guns in such a way? |
| 24 | |
| 25 | The technique has ''sometimes'' been used with specific guns for practical reasons. For example, it saw much popularity in 1920s China in conjunction with the Mauser C96, where the technique negated the pistol's awkward upwards ejection, and allowed automatic variants to more effectively sweep rooms. Wheellock pistols were routinely held this way to reduce the chance of a misfire. It is the safest method of firing the AK and derivatives ''when lying prone'' — due to its awkwardly large magazine, holding the weapon vertically elevates the angle of the barrel upward by a good 20 degrees, which means you have to lift your head well off the ground to look down the sights, presenting a large target for any hostiles and thus defeating one of the points of firing from a prone position. Additionally, it is utilized when you need to shoot around a ballistic shield during a close-quarters forced entry operation. |
| 26 | |
| 27 | Combine this one with GunsAkimbo, and you have something spectacular, but God help us all if it goes ''too'' far... MoreDakka may be employed in an attempt to counter accuracy issues. To slice the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief into little bits, have someone pull [[OffhandBackhand Offhand Backshots]] this way... [[ImprobableAimingSkills and hit]]. Without suffering from a sprain and[=/=]or dislocated joint after this. A way to make ImprobableUseOfAWeapon. See also ReverseGrip, for edged weapons. |
| 28 | |
| 29 | This trope, along with various other Hollywood gun styles such as GunsAkimbo, [[JustForFun/TropesExaminedByTheMythBusters was examined by the]] Series/MythBusters. They proved that both tropes are just as inefficient as you think. |
| 30 | |
| 31 | Despite the similar name, has no relation to and is not used in Music/GangnamStyle. |
| 32 | |
| 33 | Compare with OneHandedShotgunPump, which is RuleOfCool similarly applied to shotguns. |
| 34 | ---- |
| 35 | !Examples: |
| 36 | |
| 37 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 38 | |
| 39 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 40 | * Kiriyama, from ''Literature/BattleRoyale'', only shoots this way. This is only in the manga; in the original novel and the film adaptation he shoots normally. |
| 41 | * Dutch from ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' fires a pump-action shotgun Gangsta style. Considering that he is a Vietnam war vet, he should by all accounts know better, but it sure looks [[RuleOfCool cool]]. It might be justified because of his shades, having accidentally gone into the gas mask routine from his army training, during that scene. (See Real Life examples) or, it may reflect the fact that that particular model occasionally suffers from feeding problems in real life, and that particular posture is recommended to ensure proper cycling. Played straight again when we find out that [[spoiler:he never served in the military, or at least not in Vietnam]]. |
| 42 | * ''Manga/CrashBDaman'' had marble shooters designed specifically to look like guns of various types. The trigger grips attach to the back sideways, giving this look for practical purposes.[[note]]Specifically, to keep the size and price of the toys close to prior ''B-Daman'' products and allow for clearance when sitting flat without needing oddly shaped parts.[[/note]] This also means that when the players challenge each other in the manga and anime, they look like they're about to have a ganglands shootout. |
| 43 | * One of hired thugs in ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'', when he tried to intimidate the people present at the scene of a kidnapping attempt. He could have spared himself the trouble, though[[spoiler:, as a [[BullyingADragon successfully scared]] PersonOfMassDestruction killed him and almost everyone around in the next 15 seconds or so.]] |
| 44 | * Mello of ''Manga/DeathNote'' occasionally holds his gun like that, but since he never actually fires from this position it may count as a means of intimidation. |
| 45 | * You would think a well-renowned killer like Brandon Heat of ''VideoGame/{{Gungrave}}'' would know better than to exhibit this trope, but you'd be wrong. Notable in that he often uses two guns this way, with his arms crossed above the wrists. Imagine the potential for sprains and broken bones there... Even after dying and reanimated, he still does it--and capable of destroying enemies [[OffhandBackhand without even turning around]] [[GunKata to aim]]. |
| 46 | * While giving a firearms training lesson, ''Manga/GunsmithCats''' Rally Vincent gives a student who uses this style a thorough explanation as to why this (followed by GunsAkimbo) is so prominent in movies and television: "The shell casings flying past the firer's face are '[[RuleOfCool a cool image]]', but without the sights, you can't hit anything." She does demonstrate that Gangsta Style is good for hitting targets flying through the air, as the bulk of the gun doesn't obscure the firer's vision as it moves upward or downward, by plinking a thrown can like a sporting clay - but then goes on to say that it's still a pretty useless technique, as targets on the ground move sideways, not up and down. She also mentions that using the gun that way may be good for shooting around corners, but you need to look out for flying brass. |
| 47 | ** She ''also'' gets chewed out by the owner of the firing range: he wanted idiots to line up and burn ammo with stupid shooting, and teaching them to shoot properly means they shoot less, and therefore ''buy less of his ammo.'' |
| 48 | * Nanoha of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' fires her magical staff using this style. Justified as 1: It's magic; 2: She has a long staff shaft to deal with and putting that pistol grip in a proper vertical configuration would put the staff over her shoulder like a rocket launcher (giving the wrong impression); and 3: She's not using said pistol grip to aim her shot, she's using magical targeting systems. |
| 49 | * The Strike Noir Gundam from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDCE73Stargazer'' fires its laser pistols in this manner. Being a HumongousMecha with computerized targeting systems, it's quite accurate, but there are still no ''advantages'' to shooting this way... other than the RuleOfCool, of course. |
| 50 | ** In the video game ''Alliance Vs. ZAFT II'', the rapid shooting is just one of many factors that makes the Noir a GameBreaker banned from TournamentPlay in Japan. |
| 51 | ** Gundam Nadleeh from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' can wield [[MetaMecha Virtue's]] {{Shoulder Cannon}}s like this. However, the only time it does that is as a singular stunt where it dual-wields said cannons and fires a single offhand shot from each, [[OneHitPolykill killing six opponents with a single attack]]. |
| 52 | *** The season 2 finale has Lockon's Cherudim engaging Revive's Gadessa which destroys his beam pistol, blowing off the Cherudim's index and middle fingers. When Lockon finally corners his opponent, he pulls out his remaining pistol and fires it like this but upside-down, pulling the trigger with his ring finger. |
| 53 | * Natsuki from ''Anime/MyHiME'' is fond of doing this with her [[GunsAkimbo pistols]]. They're very small, so they don't have much recoil to begin with, [[RuleOfCool but hey...]] |
| 54 | * How Kirika in ''Anime/{{Noir}}'' occasionally holds her Beretta M1934. She fires her gun right-side up most of the time, but holds it horizontally when she runs or is going to run sideways. |
| 55 | * Mukuro from ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'' wields his pistols in the Gangsta style. Notable because the series takes place in feudal Japan the style is [[AnachronismStew super anachronistic]]. Of course, the entire show is fully intended to be an AnachronismStew. |
| 56 | * Death the Kid from ''Manga/SoulEater'' takes this trope to its logical extreme, holding GunsAkimbo ''upside down'', firing the weapons with ''his pinkies'' instead of the more conventional index fingers. He frequently uses them as [[PistolWhipping bludgeons]], making it visually evocative of tonfas. |
| 57 | * Played for laughs, surprisingly, in ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', with Kamina pointing his pistol at a Beastman pilot in order to [[GrandTheftPrototype hijack a Gunmen of his own.]] Take note that he's holding the gun upside down ''AND'' pointed at himself. Luckily he never fired it. It was even funnier when before Simon assisted, he was trying to pry open the hatch doors ''with the same gun.'' AND of all the ways to use it, ''as a hammer, no less''. The pistol promptly goes off and barely misses his groin. All of this is because Kamina didn't even know what a pistol ''was'', but didn't want to ruin his image by admitting that when offered one for the upcoming battle. |
| 58 | ** Played with in the ''Lagann-Hen'' movie with the Tengen Toppa Grapearl's fight with the Anti-Spiral. After a cool, SIDEWAYS establishing shot, we are treated to dakka, dakka, reaching MoreDakka with a dual wield SMG and pistol loadout, before executing a sweet flip, sticking the landing in formation with the whole team's Tengen Toppa level mechs, with a badass pose, holding BOTH Gangsta Style, then unloading in one massive skirmish line. |
| 59 | * ''Literature/TrinityBlood'''s second episode features Tres firing one of his guns held upside down, over his shoulder, in two directions at once, and yes, even this way. Of course, he is a combat android and can probably get away with that. |
| 60 | [[/folder]] |
| 61 | |
| 62 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 63 | * The page illustration is from the ''ComicBook/Gen13'' arc "Grunge: The Movie", where writer/artist [[ComicBook/{{Empowered}} Adam Warren]] parodies the tropes of Hong Kong {{wuxia}} and HeroicBloodshed through Grunge's [[HerCodeNameWasMarySue fantasy movie script]], featuring other Wildstorm characters in supporting roles (like [[ComicBook/WildCATsWildStorm Grifter]] there). |
| 64 | ** [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gangsta-resize.jpg Not shown]] is the character who's holding the gun upright as normal, but attempting to pull the trigger with his "[[Music/{{KISS}} Gene Simmons]]-like tongue". |
| 65 | * In "Up is Down and Black is White", a StoryArc in ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'', Frank Castle (the titular crimefighter) is fired upon by a hoodlum in true Gangsta Style -- and each shot misses him by a mile. Once the criminal's magazine is exhausted, Frank calmly walks up to him, says "[[PreMortemOneLiner They put the sights on the top for a reason]]", and shoots him in the head. The hoodlum otherwise said "screw MookChivalry" and told his gang to all go after Frank at once, but [[http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n161/EspanolBot/Comic%20scans/punish0r.jpg they ruined the plan by their failure to aim.]] |
| 66 | * A dime-store crook tries this in ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan''. He misses completely despite being mere feet from Spidey, who actually complains that he didn't get the chance to show off by dodging. |
| 67 | [[/folder]] |
| 68 | |
| 69 | [[folder:Films -- Animated]] |
| 70 | * [[IntrepidReporter Roxanne Ritchie]] invokes this trope in ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'', when dealing with the threat of Titan: |
| 71 | -->I say we go back to the evil lair, grab some ray guns, hold 'em sideways and just go all gangsta on him. |
| 72 | * Vincent from the ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' movie often holds his gun diagonally. |
| 73 | [[/folder]] |
| 74 | |
| 75 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 76 | * [[AxCrazy Jim Harris]] in ''Across 110th Street'' holds his Smith & Wesson M76 this way while having it pointed at multiple mobsters during the opening robbery. When one of them foolishly makes a grab for a handgun, Jim points the gun at the left-most mobster and fires, the gun's recoil allowing it to effortlessly sweep along the row of targets. |
| 77 | * Ironically, the only character in ''Film/AmericanHistoryX'' to do this is [[FatBastard Seth]], a white supremacist. Its impracticality is shown in that Derek is able to disarm him with relative ease. |
| 78 | * ''Film/BattlefieldEarth'''s villains use guns that are apparently ''designed'' to be shot this way. Not surprisingly, they're all [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy terrible shots]]. |
| 79 | * Blade in the ''Film/BladeTrilogy'' and [[Series/BladeTheSeries the short-lived TV series]] does this. |
| 80 | * In ''Film/TheBourneIdentity'', Jason manages to disarm a mook by flipping the gun towards him (which would be a forward flip away from the mook), and then, without bothering to correct it, he sticks his pinky in the trigger guard and shoots the mook. He then comes under attack before he's able to correct the grip, and [[GunsAkimbo dual guns]] the other mook down. |
| 81 | * In ''Film/BringMeTheHeadOfTheMachineGunWoman'', the Machine Gun Woman holds her automatic like this when she is interrogating Santiago. Tellingly, she never holds her guns like this when she is actually killing someone, so Santiago was probably never in any real danger from her and she was just holding the gun like this to scare him. |
| 82 | * In ''Film/BrotherhoodOfTheWolf'', Fronsac fires two flintlock pistols this way during a target practice sequence. HilariousInHindsight if you know anything about flintlock weapons: not only would aiming them that way make an already-inaccurate weapon even more so, but they simply wouldn't be able to fire in that position. |
| 83 | * Madison Lee in ''[[Series/CharliesAngels Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle]]''. With a [[HandCannon Desert Eagle .50 AE]]. [[ImprobableAimingSkills And she hits]]. |
| 84 | * ''Film/{{Copycat}}'': Detective MJ Monahan does this at one point during a training exercise, despite being a trained and experienced police officer who would know full well what a bad idea this is. This is not two seconds after advising her partner on how to aim for a perp's shoulder instead of the torso so as to merely wound instead of kill him, something else someone in her position would know is implausible. |
| 85 | * In ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', when Stryver is attempting to kill Selina Kyle at the bar, he holds his pistol in this manner as a way to threaten her. |
| 86 | * In ''Film/DateNight'', Phil, already panicking at being held at gunpoint, really freaks out when it's turned on its side: "He's turning it sideways! Kill shot! That's a kill shot!" |
| 87 | * ''Film/Deadpool2016'': Deadpool manages to fire his Desert Eagle this way at least once, most memorably when [[ImprobableAimingSkills he shoots a hand grenade from the hand of the goon who is about to throw it]]. |
| 88 | * Subverted in ''Film/DeathNote2006''. Naomi Misora fires her gun sideways at [[spoiler:Shiori]] and manages to hit her (much to her shock and surprise). Shortly after, its revealed that [[spoiler:Naomi had been shooting with the intent to miss, and had only been successful because Light had dictated with the Death Note that Shiori would die of being shot, and that Naomi would fire warning shots and commit suicide out of horror for having killed someone]]. |
| 89 | * In ''Film/DeathRing'', Matt, who is supposed to be an ex-Green Beret OneManArmy, holds an ''AK-47'' like this when he fires on full auto at the guards at Vachs' mansion. Somehow, he still manages to be accuracte. |
| 90 | * In ''Film/EagleEye'', after the protagonists are forced to rob an armored van, the Feds question the guards. One of them picks up a shotgun and asks if the robbers held it like they do in rap videos. The guard replies that they looked like they knew how to handle firearms. |
| 91 | * Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) in ''Film/TheFifthElement'' holds his gun/blaster sideways when a mugger meets him at the front door. Since he's at point blank range, his accuracy isn't going to suffer, and he's just trying to scare the mugger off anyway. Intimidation factor of it all. |
| 92 | * Craig Jones (Music/IceCube) in ''Film/{{Friday}}'' holds his gun this way in two separate scenes. |
| 93 | * In an early example from TheWestern film ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'', Tuco finishes off a bounty hunter using this technique, during the famous "When you have to shoot, ''shoot'', don't talk!" scene. |
| 94 | * In ''Film/TheGreatWhiteHype'', Shaabazz, Hassan and two {{Mooks}} ambush Sultan and co at Sultan's mansion brandishing guns horizontally. Cue lots and lots of pretty [[LaserSight red lights]] focusing on Hassan. Even some of the trained bodyguards are guilty of this: |
| 95 | -->'''Hassan:''' See this is what happens see when you been living lavish, you know, sippin' wine an' everything then we come in here [[Film/NewJackCity Neno Brown Style]]. Huh-yeah! |
| 96 | * Invoked in ''Film/TheGreenHornet'' with an actual gangster, played by Christoph Waltz, who has his custom double-barreled gun upside down when he "[[YouHaveFailedMe punishes]]" a minion. |
| 97 | * In ''Film/TheImmortals'', Deke holds his revolver like this when threatening Gina. Justified because Deke, like most of the crew, knows nothing about guns and is a loudmouth fool who thinks he is 'ghetto', so he undoutedly thinks it looks cool. |
| 98 | * Actually used correctly in ''Film/JohnWick'' and its sequels. John uses the Center Axis Relock style of shooting, which is explained in the Real Life section below. You can see it during the fight at the bathhouse - he tilts his gun about 45 degrees to the side. |
| 99 | * Spoofed in ''Film/KickAss2'', when [[BigBadWannabe The Motherfucker]] tries to hold a gun like this and is warned (by the old man he was trying to menace, no less) that he's holding it improperly. He disregards the warning and tries to fire the gun in this position anyways. [[EpicFail It doesn't work out too well for him.]] |
| 100 | * In ''Film/LayerCake'', some of the Duke's bodyguards have a habit of doing this with GunsAkimbo. Notably, that whole group is comprised of [[StupidCrooks stupid wannabe gangsters]]. |
| 101 | * In ''Film/MacheteKills'', La Chameleón offers to MercyKill a dying cartel member "straight up" (holding the pistol properly) "or flair" (holding the gun gangsta style). He replies, "[[RuleOfCool Whatever is more interesting]]". So she turns the gun upside down and fires it with her pinky. |
| 102 | * Near the climax of ''Film/MalibusMostWanted'', [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy Brad]] fires [[GunsAkimbo a pair]] of machine pistols like this at a bunch of South Central street thugs. He doesn't succeed in actually hitting anybody, but he does send them running for cover. When asked how he learned to do that, he replies "''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto''". |
| 103 | * In ''Film/TheMask'', when the [[BigBad Mafioso]] and one of his mooks fire shot after shot at Ipkiss as The Mask, the mook holds his gun gangsta style while his boss holds it in traditional style. It doesn't make much difference, because the closest either of them gets to hitting him is grazing his pajamas. Notably the {{Cool But Inefficient}}ness of this shooting style is subtly [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] when, after failing to hit him with the first few shots, the mook switches to a proper two-handed shooting style to improve his aim (albeit to no avail). |
| 104 | * Apoc from ''Film/TheMatrix'' takes out several policemen in a shootout, with his Uzi turning sideways as he fires at them from left to right. This might make a bit of sense considering that the recoil would be pushing his gun across rather than above his targets' heads. |
| 105 | * Creator/RussellCrowe [[SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou is about to shoot you]] on the [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Nowayback_5099.jpg poster]] of ''Film/NoWayBack''. |
| 106 | * The police in ''Film/RoboCop1987'', when shooting the eponymous hero after his brawl with ED-209. This was done (with ''sighted'' weapons, to be precise) in order to prevent hot brass cartridges from flying at the actors. |
| 107 | * Chris-R does this in ''Film/TheRoom2003'', like any stereotypical Gangster. |
| 108 | * ''Film/SpeciesII'': For some reason Preston holds his gun sideways when he arrests Patrick, despite being both a [[InformedAttribute supposed]] counter-terrorism expert with firearms training and aware that his target is a highly dangerous alien masquerading as a human. |
| 109 | * Subverted in ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'': Dr. Tolian Soran fired his energy pistol with the grip in a sideways position, but the gun itself and its sights automatically aligned itself to an upright position. Also, it was an energy weapon, so no recoil, and no curved trajectory. |
| 110 | * ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'': Deadshot is seen firing pistols like this a few times. Justified, kinda, in that he usually has pistols mounted on the arms of his outfit, which automatically puts them in that position; when he needs to fire by hand, he'll be more familiar firing that way. |
| 111 | * [=McLovin=] in ''Film/{{Superbad}}'', played for laughs. |
| 112 | -->''Break yo self, foo!'' |
| 113 | * Alonzo Harris (Creator/DenzelWashington) in ''Film/TrainingDay'' holds his off-hand gun in this fashion while spraying some gangsters with GunsAkimbo. This could be to prevent the left-hand gun from ejecting hot shells onto his right arm. |
| 114 | * We see Keyzer Soze hold his gun in this way at the beginning of ''Film/TheUsualSuspects.'' This acts as a Red Herring later when we see Hockney hold his gun in this fashion later in the film. The filmmakers jokingly referred to this grip as "Nineties Style." |
| 115 | * The trailer for ''Film/VampiresSuck'' has Edward declaring "I'm a killer!" like in ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', then goes on to emphasise this by shooting [[Literature/AliceInWonderland Alice.]] With the gun held sideways for emphasis. |
| 116 | * The Fraternity assassins in ''Film/{{Wanted}}'' fire their guns gangsta style combined with some fancy GunFu to [[RuleofCool "curve" the path of their bullets, like baseballs]]. In the climactic shootout, Wesley even fires GunsAkimbo ''upside-down'', having snatched them out of the air from a couple of killed Mooks. |
| 117 | [[/folder]] |
| 118 | |
| 119 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 120 | * In ''[[Literature/SixteenThirtyTwo 1636: A Parcel of Rogues]]'', Daryl [=McCarthy=] indulges in gangsta style firing at the people pursuing him, something he's always wanted to do. He was intentionally missing to bait on his pursuers, though, so the inaccuracy of the method wasn't an issue. |
| 121 | -->''Sure, you can't hit shit that way, but if you don't want to, it surely is fun.'' |
| 122 | * ''Literature/{{Aeon 14}}'': Protagonist Tanis Richards holds a pistol this way in the SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou version of the [[https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1421804730l/15705859.jpg cover]] for ''Outsystem''. [[ShownTheirWork As pointed out by the author]], [[JustifiedTrope Tanis doesn't have the usual problems with this trope]] due to her body being heavily {{cyborg}}ized: she can't be injured by the recoil (assuming it's meant to be a slugthrower in the first place and not a [[EnergyWeapon pulse pistol]]), and she doesn't aim with the sights but rather with an in-head HUD. |
| 123 | * Alas, the Creator/AndreNorton book ''Literature/{{Firehand}}'' had the time travel project's ''weapons trainer'', no less, use this technique (in a flashback) -- in fact, it was presented as one of the clues telling the main character early on that this trainer knew her stuff. Ouch. |
| 124 | * In Roberto Saviano's non-fiction book ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomorrah_(book) Gomorrah,]]'' about the businesses, influence and actions of Camorra (a mafia-like organization active in southern Italy and particularly powerful in Naples) the author explains that one reason for the awkward length of some gang gunfighting throughout the city is that gang members, imitating movies, hold the guns sideways, resulting in poor aim (which combined with fighting behind cover results in [[ATeamFiring nobody hitting each other for a quite long time]]). |
| 125 | * According to ''Literature/NobodyLivesForEver'', Stechkin machine pistols tend to pull upwards when fired in automatic, so Literature/JamesBond turns it sideways as he shoots three mooks. |
| 126 | * A character in Christopher Farnsworth's ''Literature/ThePresidentsVampire'' turns his gun sideways, counter to what his instructor told him again and again, and the hot casing is ejected into his eye. |
| 127 | * A street thug employs this style when threatening Jack in one of F. Paul Wilson's ''Literature/RepairmanJack'' books. Jack informs him that it's not a very secure grip ... and proceeds to prove it to the hapless lowlife. |
| 128 | * ''Time to Murder and Create'' by Lawrence Block has a knife variant. A thug comes at private investigator Literature/MatthewScudder with a knife, and begins switching it from hand to hand. Scudder's narration says that this is the kind of thing that looks cool in movies, but pegs this guy as an amateur. Since the guy had the knife in his right hand during the initial rush, Scudder knows that he'll attack that way again, so Scudder can relax a little whenever the guy has it in his left hand. |
| 129 | [[/folder]] |
| 130 | |
| 131 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 132 | * The leader of the short-lived series ''Series/AcapulcoHeat'' had a variation on this. He held two pistols at once, but fired one normally and the other horizontally, lining them both up at once at a 90-degree angle. This is probably very unwieldy and not at all recommended for use in real life, but it's also the only way you could conceivably try to aim down both sights of two pistols at once while dual-wielding. |
| 133 | * ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'': [[TheDitz Scully]] proposes holding the guns upside down and firing with your pinkies (the "logical conclusion" seen in the trope picture), calling it "upsie donwsies". [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jake]] immediately dismisses the idea. [[spoiler: He actually uses in when he [[ISurrenderSuckers fakes a surrender]] in a paintball game against the other precincts, winning the game for the 99th precinct and telling Scully to [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain never talk about it.]] ]] |
| 134 | * In an episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'', Michael tries to get on a gang leader's sidekick's good side in order to put the leader away and get a cop off his back. When Michael is given a gun in order to rob a dry cleaners, his associate corrects his handling of it, turning the gun sideways. Michael, who is certified on pretty much every firearm known to man, winces appreciably. |
| 135 | * In the ''Series/{{Community}}'' episode "[[Recap/CommunityS1E23ModernWarfare Modern Warfare]]" a continuity goof has Britta holding a gun this way whenever the camera's on her and right way up when it's OverTheShoulder. |
| 136 | * In an episode of ''Series/{{CSI}}'', Catherine Willows tells a smug gangster that this amateurish way of shooting caused a suspicious burn on the gangster's neck from the hot ejected shell casing, as well as leaving traces of the shooter's DNA on the shell casing. |
| 137 | * Played with in an episode of ''Series/DiagnosisMurder''. Creator/DickVanDyke's character Mark Sloan is at a gun range being shown how to use a pistol. He fires off a few rounds normally (with realistic loudness and recoil) and then asks the man who was showing him whether he could fire it sideways "like on TV", twisting it to the side to show him what he meant. While the instructor starts saying why it's a bad idea, Mark fires the gun anyway by accident and the recoil flings it out of his hand with great ease and force - which creates a big enough diversion for another character to sneak past. |
| 138 | * In the Polish series ''Series/FatherMateusz'' a teenager falls in with a gang of gangster wannabes. They manage to obtain a pistol and start shooting bottles with in an abandoned warehouse. They insist on holding the gun sideways which illustrates that they are mostly just posers and probably not responsible for the brutal crime currently investigated by the police. |
| 139 | * ''Franchise/KamenRider'': |
| 140 | ** Ryutaros/Gun Form from ''Series/KamenRiderDenO'' sometimes uses this. Perhaps because this is his preferred style, his aim is terrible. Considering his Chinese Dragon motif, this may actually be a reference to the Chinese example above, rather than Gangstas. |
| 141 | ** Daiki Kaito/Kamen Rider Diend from ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'' shoots gangsta style just as frequently as he shoots properly (though only out of suit)--his aim is impeccable, either way. |
| 142 | |
| 143 | * ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'' mocked this, when the detectives are instantly able to identify a murderer as being an amateur - because the location of fired bullets demonstrate that when he tried to hold his gun sideways, he quickly lost control and started shooting everywhere but his target. The cops even point out that this was foolishly done in imitation of "gangsta flicks." |
| 144 | * Used in a sketch on ''Series/MindOfMencia'', wherein Carlos taught gang members to be more effective. After being corrected one remarks "Wow, it lines up and everything!" |
| 145 | * When ''Series/MythBusters'' tested the "{{Blown A|crossTheRoom}}way" myth, the intro video showed a stereotypical hunt-the-fugitive scene, complete with Adam taking aim at fugitive-Tory gangsta style. But when you're not actually pulling the trigger [[note]](Tory went flying courtesy of a special harness, a rope, and the rest of the team)[[/note]], it doesn't ''matter'' that this method is inaccurate. They visited it again when testing how effective various firing stances are, with Adam remarking that he [[IAlwaysWantedToSayThat "always wanted to hold a gun like this!"]] It didn't hold up all that well, greatly reducing accuracy. |
| 146 | * In ''Series/TheNewsroom'', Will discovers that his date carries a pistol in her purse. After he removes the bullets, she points it at him to demonstrate what would happen to an attacker. He deftly disarms her and points her own gun back at her gangsta style, saying that ''this'' is more likely to happen. |
| 147 | * One episode of ''Series/{{Numb3rs}}'' showed two gangsters firing their guns like this. They missed. |
| 148 | * All of the blasters in ''Series/{{Otherworld}}'' are meant to be held upside-down. This means that guns are all impossible to aim, but maybe that justified the [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship]]. |
| 149 | * On ''Series/PartyDown'', Kyle tries to hold a gun sideways and Roman immediately tells him "no one holds a gun like that". |
| 150 | * {{Deconstructed|Trope}} and {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in the pilot of ''Series/PersonOfInterest''. The protagonist John Reese walks in on a gun buy (to ''acquire'' weapons), and asks the people involved if they've taken a firearms safety course. And then demonstrates it to them as he [[CurbStompBattle wipes the floor with the entire group]]. |
| 151 | -->'''[[DeadpanSnarker Reese]]:''' Take you, for instance. You're holding that thing sideways. You can't aim it, and two: it'll eject a shell casing right into your face. See? ''(grabs gun and demonstrates, with a slow-mo shot of the casing bouncing squarely off the schmuck's nose)'' |
| 152 | ** Given a CallBack in the season 4 premiere, "Panopticon". A pair of goons come in holding guns on him like this. He starts to explain the cartridge-ejection thing and then goes, "Ah, screw it," and beats the crap out of them just like before. |
| 153 | ** It is justified in one instance when Reese ends up firing his gun like this. He has to hold the gun below waist level out-of-sight, and it is very difficult to fire a gun normally from that position. Twisting his wrist to hold the gun sideways allows him to fire it perpendicular to his body. It is also clear that he was not actually trying to hit anything and was shooting simply to scare off the bad guys. |
| 154 | * Ethan in ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' often does this, but no point is ever made of it. |
| 155 | * In ''Series/TheShield'', the Strike Team robs an evidence van with bandannas over their faces and fake gang tattoos, and with their guns held gangsta style to reinforce the notion that the van was hit by a street gang. |
| 156 | * ''Series/TheSopranos'': In "[[Recap/TheSopranosS1E246Long 46 Long]]", Brendan berates Special K for holding his gun this way during a truck hijacking. The idiot immediately goes back to holding his gun this way afterwards. This is primarily to show them to be StupidCrooks; the hijacking inevitably goes bad and they end up dead as a result when word gets back to the boss. None of the actual soldiers or hitmen of TheMafia are shown doing this. |
| 157 | * ''Series/StrikeBack''. While it's somewhat understandable that the bad guys would do this, it's inexcusable that the members of S20 would occasionally do it, being trained and experienced military personnel who would know full well what a bad idea it is. |
| 158 | * Jimmy attempts this in ''Series/TheWalkingDead2010'', causing [[LampshadeHanging T-Dog to tell him to "cut out that gangsta shit."]] Jimmy stops missing his target after he turns the pistol the right way. |
| 159 | ** A few episodes later, Sean, one of the members of Dave's group, shoots his pistol this way. It prevents him from hitting Glenn and causes him to get shot by Hershel. |
| 160 | * Sometimes done on ''Series/TheWire'', but anyone (cop or criminal) who actually knows how to use a gun will fire it properly, image be damned. Deconstructed in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhbrAkY_58s one scene]] where an inexperienced drug soldier suggests using a GanglandDriveBy to attack a rival crew's corner ("yo, let's go all West Coast with this") because it looked cool in ''Film/BoyzNTheHood''. After they fail to hit a single rival dealer, one of his more experienced comrades steps out the car, calmly sights her fleeing target, and shoots him in the back of the head. |
| 161 | -->"''Fuck them West Coast niggas, 'cause in B-more, we aim and hit a nigga, you heard."'' |
| 162 | [[/folder]] |
| 163 | |
| 164 | [[folder:Miscellaneous]] |
| 165 | * [[http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/sailorptah/heartbreaks2.png This]] bit of Creator/StephenColbert fanart (from [[http://www.erinptah.com/zen/heartbreak.html this story]]). Given Stephen's obsession with doing what feels good rather than what makes sense, it's not surprising that when he snaps and decides to shoot up the set, he's going to do it Gangsta Style. |
| 166 | * On a weaponry-themed {{Image Board|s}}, some anonymous posters had possibly TruthInTelevision pictures of gangsters in an African town shooting in all sorts of "gangsta" styles; it was mentioned that they followed a [[ATeamFiring spray and pray]] principle and did it as macho posturing. |
| 167 | * [[http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=340 Birdman HoMeBoy Night Sights.]] "...have your Glock modernized with side-shooting capability!" |
| 168 | * When Franchise/{{LEGO}} first released their ''Franchise/StarWars'' line of toys, the battle droids had arms with only sideways hands, which caused them all to be holding their guns in gangsta style. It wasn't until the release of ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' that LEGO finally corrected this, but seeing a literal army of "gangsta" battle droids was pretty amusing. |
| 169 | [[/folder]] |
| 170 | |
| 171 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 172 | * ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' addresses this in ''GURPS: Tactical Shooting'' under "Things not to do". Specifically, all attacks are treated as "Unsighted Shooting" with all the usual benefits and drawbacks thereof. However, the stance encourages limp-wristing (penalty to Guns) and, if used with an automatic, increases the likelihood that the weapon will malfunction. |
| 173 | * In ''[[TabletopGame/{{Champions}} Hero System]]'''s combat handbook, holding a gun sideways incurs a penalty on attack rolls but adds a bonus to Presence when attempting to impress people. |
| 174 | * A now-discontinued ''TabletopGame/{{Infinity}}'' model, one of Yu Jing's Yan Huo Invincibles, was doing this [[https://assets.corvusbelli.net/store/products/wargames/infinity/lightbox/lg/invencibles-yan-huo-ml-3.png with a unique spin]]: instead of behing handheld, the gun is a {{Shoulder Cannon}}, being tilted over by a handheld control unit. |
| 175 | * The TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness supplement [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Armory]] talks briefly about this trope, noting that it incurs massive penalties but could impress/intimidate people. |
| 176 | * ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' has "Gangsta Style" as a special attack. It has two drawbacks: reducing your accuracy and increasing the chance of a misfire, and provides ''absolutely no benefit whatsoever''. |
| 177 | [[/folder]] |
| 178 | |
| 179 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 180 | * Generally (and surprisingly) ''averted'' in the ''Music/FiftyCent'' game series. Mr. Jackson and his cohorts fire their armament in the standard manner, though foes will occasionally cant their guns the ninety degrees required of this trope. In ''VideoGame/FiftyCentBloodOnTheSand'', Fiddy will only hold guns like this if he's [[GunsAkimbo pairing them up]] in gameplay. |
| 181 | * The Gold Edition of ''VideoGame/AliensVsPredator'' gives the Marine new ([[AwesomeButImpractical and mostly useless]]) pistols as a weapon. When alternate fire is used with a pair of them, he turns them sideways. |
| 182 | * In ''VideoGame/BloodIITheChosen'' the alternate fire for the single pistol fires the gun this way and increases the rate of fire. It's apparently an emergency mode to quickly empty the pistol into a close-range attacker. Notice how Caleb points the barrel downwards as he shoots. |
| 183 | * It's possible to fire some weapons (such as Mini Uzi) this way in the Wii version of ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty4ModernWarfare''. |
| 184 | ** The special sniper rifle from ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare3'''s "Eye of the Storm" mission can be fired in this manner if the player switches to using the red dot sight on it. Said sight is mounted 45 degrees on the ''left'' side of the barrel, though, so the gun is tilted in the opposite direction you'd expect, and not to the full 90 degrees either. |
| 185 | ** In ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2019'', in addition to expanding on offset optics, the player character will tilt his rifle 45 degrees instead of looking down the gun's optics during night-time operations, aiming instead with the mounted IR laser as most optical attachments are not compatible with [=NVGs=] (either the goggles are too bulky to line up properly and/or the reticule blooms too heavily under night vision to aim with). Its two sequels expand on this to various degrees: ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfareII Modern Warfare II]]'' offers specific LaserSight options that are aimed like this in place of the standard sights even in daylight, and ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfareIII Modern Warfare III]]'' makes this an inherent game mechanic with "Tac Stance", an option when using any non-hybrid sight that acts as an inbetween - faster than proper aiming and more precise than hipfire, but without the zoom of aiming or the faster speed of hipfire. |
| 186 | * ''[[VideoGame/CityOfHeroes City of Villains]]'', {{Troperiffic}} as ever, has the Thugs summoned by Masterminds (and the Masterminds themselves) use [[GunsAkimbo dual pistols]] like this. One of the reasons the players have been begging for years for a fully fleshed-out powerset to be given to the ranged combat classes. |
| 187 | ** And now those who have pre-ordered 'Going Rogue' have access to the Dual Pistols power sets for Blaster, Defenders and Corruptors that employs ''Gunfu'' with liberal amounts of sideways shooting. |
| 188 | * In ''VideoGame/{{Deadhunt}}'', you hold your Uzi sideways when wasting through hordes and hordes of zombies, knights, and enemies. Incidentally this is averted with the pistol which you hold the normal way. |
| 189 | * In ''VideoGame/DeadRising2'', Tyrone "TK" King holds his gun this way. Due to an animation goof, his finger isn't even on the trigger when he fires, and the gun shows no recoil. |
| 190 | * ''Franchise/DeadSpace'': The alternate fire mode for the Plasma Cutter rotates the entire barrel 90 degrees (making the gun resemble a crossbow). Depending on the angel of the target, this may be a significantly more accurate way to shoot. |
| 191 | * Dante in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' fires his twin pistols this way when firing while sidestepping. In addition, in the third game, he often turns one pistol or the other sideways if firing at separate targets in his Gunslinger fighting style. Also, in cutscenes, or if using gunslinger mode to fire at a single target, Dante will hold both guns sideways and hold his arms across each other, left gun on the right side, right gun on the left side. First done in the series at the end of the first game, coupled with Dante's Catchphrase: "Jackpot!". Vergil - who usually doesn't use guns - does this when he and Dante momentarily team up to finish off [[BigBad Arkham]] in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening''. |
| 192 | * ''VideoGame/DungeonFighterOnline'' has a gunner class. Most of their shots are normal, but Multi-headshot and Moving Shot skills turn sideways like Dante. |
| 193 | * In ''VideoGame/EscapeFromTarkov'', small offset sights exist that can be mounted to a player's gun, which causes it to be tilted 45 degrees when aiming with it. While the idea is to allow a gun to accommodate a second sight system in case the primary one is a magnified scope, they can still be mounted standalone, meaning players could -- and have -- run around with guns they have to tilt to aim, just because. |
| 194 | * Male [[OurElvesAreDifferent Elvaan]] from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' tend to hold guns and crossbows in this fashion, as well as firing bows in an awkward diagonal position. [[FridgeLogic Now it makes sense why their DEX is so crappy.]] Female Elvaan, however, seem to know what they're doing. |
| 195 | * Pico's ending in ''VideoGame/FzeroGX'' shows him shooting targets in various styles with his [[GunsAkimbo dual pistols]] and one of said styles is firing his gun sideways. He doesn't miss a single shot. |
| 196 | * Naturally, this affects the gangstas in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas''. You even see CJ using it with GunsAkimbo - he even fires a pair of SawedOffShotgun[=s=] this way if you level your skill with that weapon up all the way. Note that all other weapons are held conventionally (well, as conventionally as possible, for the minigun). This is also the standard stance for Mafia, highway patrol, and SWAT teams – as an exception, standard police patrols hold their pistols with both hands.[[note]]A rather simple GameMod allows all characters to do the same.[[/note]] |
| 197 | ** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' lets the player do this unintentionally when inside a vehicle. The franchise does this from time to time, but the two HD Universe games are the most promient example, since you normally don't aim this way. |
| 198 | * In ''VideoGame/HacX'', this is how the player character holds the Uzi. |
| 199 | * At the end of the first trailer for ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'', 47 tilts his gun before he fires it. This is purely so that the casing will fly straight upwards and he can [[RuleOfCool snatch it out of the air.]] |
| 200 | * In ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami'', one-handed guns are always held in this fashion. |
| 201 | ** The sequel ramps this up. Fat characters will hold all guns (including assault rifles and shotguns) with only one hand sideways. |
| 202 | * While you can't actually see your weapon being held like this in the original Wii version of ''VideoGame/TheHouseOfTheDeadOVERKILL'', the game recognizes when you hold the Wiimote sideways and will give you a $1337 post-chapter bonus for killing 50 mutants in this manner. |
| 203 | * ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'''s Jak occasionally does this when firing the scatter gun. |
| 204 | * This can be done in ''VideoGame/JurassicParkTrespasser'', since the game lets you rotate the objects in your hand (including guns) in any manner you like. It serves no practical purpose and absolutely kills your long range accuracy (assuming you don't line the sights back up), but it does look cool. |
| 205 | * Con and Coyote Smith in ''VideoGame/{{Killer7}}'' fire their guns in some manner resembling this. Coyote actually holds his gun almost upside-down, and sure enough his recoil is much stronger and random than most of the other characters'. Con is closer to the traditional example; he's not actually holding his guns out in front of him, so much as he has one arm outstretched to the side and the other crossed over his front, so ''both'' guns are angled to the left. His case may be in part because Con is actually blind; the sights wouldn't do him any good anyway, and if he's turned to the side, that means one of his ears is turned towards his target for his super-hearing to help. |
| 206 | * In ''VideoGame/LegoStarWars: The Original Trilogy,'' Lando would hold his blaster sideways. |
| 207 | * In ''Videogame/MadnessProjectNexus2'', the Arena Mode protagonist holds handguns in this fashion by default as the game's way of showing their mediocre firearms skill. Upgrading their gun-handling has them hold guns properly. |
| 208 | * ''Franchise/MegaMan'': |
| 209 | ** Axl from the later ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' games fires an energy pistol this way. |
| 210 | ** The box art for ''VideoGame/MegaManZX Advent'' depicts Grey holding two energy pistols gangsta style. |
| 211 | ** Also, Omega in '' VideoGame/MegaManZero3'' shoots his pistol buster like this, which is odd considering that, since they went to the trouble of making a new sprite for it and that he's supposed to be in Zero's original body, why not give him an ArmCannon? |
| 212 | * ''VideoGame/MetalGear'': |
| 213 | ** Used by EVA in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' with her Mauser C96 (see below for the entry on that gun, under RealLife). The technique of turning a C96 sideways so the recoil guides your hand to the next target in a sweep is referred to as Bandit Shooting; Snake and Sigint [[ShownTheirWork have a discussion]] about using a Mauser this way. [[spoiler:The fact that it's primarily a Chinese technique with that gun is one of the hints that she's not who she claims to be.]] |
| 214 | ** In a small handful of cutscenes in ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear Solid 4|GunsOfThePatriots}}'', Snake cants his M4 the full 90 degrees. However, on the one occasion he actually fires the weapon in this manner, he has legitimate reasons for doing so - primarily, it's to keep as much of his body behind cover as possible rather than presenting it for the numerous enemies he's exchanging bullets with to shoot him; a minute earlier he takes a shot with his right hand at the front of the rifle to stabilize it against the corner of the wall in question, [[RightHandedLeftHandedGuns using his left to actually fire]]. Also, towards the end of the game, a Navy man can be seen briefly with a canted weapon, to more easily clear the consoles and equipment on the bridge of the battleship he's fighting from. |
| 215 | ** In the beginning of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'', the XOF operators hold their submachine guns like this. In this case, it is because they are all wearing [[GasMaskMooks breathing masks with large protruding filters]], and they need to tilt their guns this way to line up the sights, because said filters make it difficult to hold the gun normally in front of them. |
| 216 | * In ''VideoGame/{{Paladins}}'', Talus holds his gun this way while using his overcharge ability, which gives his gun [[MoreDakka two barrels]]. |
| 217 | * In ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'', characters in single and multiplayer are able to do this - however, it only happens when they are right next to their target. |
| 218 | * [=RAmarls=] (human female Rangers) in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' fire pistols like this. |
| 219 | * In ''VideoGame/{{Poke646}}'' you can do this with the nailpistol, which lowers the accuracy and heightens the fire rate. But because the weapon in question looks like a big blue drill, it does not look cool here either. |
| 220 | * In the ''VideoGame/QuakeI'' total conversion ''Malice'' the protagonist fires his .44 automatic like this. |
| 221 | * In the ''VideoGame/RainbowSix: Vegas'' games, characters do this when using a ballistic shield, so it's not as awkward to fire; ''[[VideoGame/RainbowSixSiege Siege]]'' averts this due to a different design for the shields used by some operators, allowing for them to hold the pistol normally while protecting themselves. |
| 222 | * The second cheat you unlock in ''VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked'' lets Ratchet do this with the [[GunsAkimbo Dual Vipers/Dual Raptors]]. |
| 223 | * In the Wii video game ''VideoGame/RedSteel'', the player can fire his gun gangsta style if he turns the controller sideways. |
| 224 | * ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'': |
| 225 | ** Leon's special costumes give him the ability to rapidly fire his handgun like this, which he loses if you clip on the custom stock - that fires even faster, so it's an acceptable loss. |
| 226 | ** Ada also holds her pistol 45 degrees sideways, although her stance is that of the Center Axis Relock (CAR) mentioned below, [[FridgeBrilliance which justifies her far faster firing speed compared to other characters]] – only Jill in [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis the next game]] can match Ada's fire rate, and that's exclusively when using the STI Eagle custom pistol. |
| 227 | * In ''VideoGame/SaintsRow1'', all gang members ([[PlayerCharacter the Playa]] included) hold one-handed firearms at a 90° angle. In ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'', pistols and [=SMGs=] are held at a less-pronounced angle when hip-fired (the default stance for gang members and the odd civilian). From ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' onward, however, pistols are wielded using the Weaver stance outside of cutscenes and dual-wielding. |
| 228 | * In ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld,'' the pistol consumer ability Shootout combines this with GunsAkimbo. |
| 229 | * Mike [=LeRoi=], the protagonist of ''VideoGame/ShadowMan'', fires all his guns this way in the first game, despite having no other "gangsta" traits whatsoever. He holds them correctly in the sequel, though. |
| 230 | * In ''VideoGame/SilentStorm'' German soldier-class characters fire ''heavy machine guns'' sideways on full auto ''with one hand''. |
| 231 | * Local gunslinger Gilder from ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' shots this way for close-range attacks (though for him, close range means walking up to the enemy and dropping the gun ''right in the enemy's face''). However, for long range attacks he uses the more practical two-handed grip. |
| 232 | * In ''VideoGame/SlayersXTerminalAftermathVenganceOfTheSlayer'', Zane alternates holding dual pistols sideways and upright. |
| 233 | * In ''VideoGame/SplinterCellConviction'' and ''[[VideoGame/SplinterCellBlacklist Blacklist]]'', Sam Fisher and other agents hold his gun heavily tilted to the left while holding it with both hands, although it's more a realistic depiction of Center Axis Relock (see 'Real Life' section below) than typical examples. |
| 234 | * Falco holds his Blaster this way in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee''. Granted, a laser gun probably wouldn't have the same issues facing it as a real gun. |
| 235 | * ''VideoGame/{{Syndicate}}'' (2012) had 45 degrees offset iron sights on the ACR assault rifle, with an attachment. This meant you could fire in automatic, then tilt the gun back to vertical and start firing in a more powerful scoped semi-auto mode. |
| 236 | * Alvin from ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'' almost always fires his handgun in this fashion. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that his gun is specifically designed so it can be sighted just as effectively when held sideways as when it's vertical. |
| 237 | * In ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', the user-created randomizer mode randomly assigns you a class and weapons. If the Medic gets a gun, he holds it this way due to the way he usually holds his [[HealingShiv Medigun]]. |
| 238 | * In ''VideoGame/TurboOverkill'', Johnny holds pistols and uzis sideways. |
| 239 | * Enemy [[GiantMook Brutes]] in ''VideoGame/Uncharted3DrakesDeception'' can do this with the PAK-80 LMG. The worst part about it is that they still hit you. Repeatedly. |
| 240 | * Played straight in ''VideoGame/{{Unreal|I}}''. Hitting the [[PunchPackingPistol Automag]]'s SecondaryFire turns it sideways and gives you a much higher rate of fire for some '''nasty''' DPS, but it's ''hideously'' inaccurate and isn't likely to hit anything outside of melee range. Very effective at dispatching a fast PersonalSpaceInvader like a Skaarj warrior, or when you're being the invader to a [[MightyGlacier strong but slow]] enemy's personal space, but otherwise it's highly situational. |
| 241 | ** In the spin-off sequel ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'', the secondary fire of the default Enforcer pistol does the exact same; the manual specifically calls it [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "gangsta style"]]. Pick up a dropped Enforcer, and you can [[GunsAkimbo double the fun]]. Realistically (if anything in [=UT=] can be called realistic), and faithfully to the first game's usage, this does decrease your accuracy. |
| 242 | ** The beloved Enforcer returned in ''VideoGame/UnrealTournamentIII'', and while there's no dedicated mode (secondary fire on this Enforcer is a faster three-round burst), keeping an opponent in the crosshair long enough will make your character automatically turn his gun(s) sideways. This is a cosmetic quirk that doesn't affect gameplay in any way. |
| 243 | * In ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'' you don't actually get to use this mode of fire, but Romero the Ghoul provides some advice on gunfighting that includes "keep that glock-to-the-side crap in the movies." |
| 244 | * In ''VideoGame/TheWonderful101'', the Wonder Stinger for the gun turns the gun sideways and fires off several bullets in rapid succession. |
| 245 | * Daigo Dojima's Poundmates summon in ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'' has him aim a pistol this way, both for coolness effect and also that he's being backed up by ''the ghost of former chairmen and leaders of the Tojo Clan'' all armed with firearms so being accurate isn't a problem considering [[MoreDakka they're slinging enough lead to clear out an entire gang]]. |
| 246 | [[/folder]] |
| 247 | |
| 248 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 249 | * ''VisualNovel/GalaxyAngel'': An animated cutscene of Forte in the first game has her briefly holding her gun this way as she points it towards Tact, who has a small freak out. Of course, she's just messing around and immediately pulls it back before smiling and greeting him. |
| 250 | * ''VisualNovel/PhantomOfInferno'': Drei holds her pistols like this, owing to her love of dumb action movies. While the man who trained her actually notes that it's totally useless as a marksmanship technique, Drei later moves on to giving her opponent a chance to shoot her, twirling her guns and yelling out catch phrases in the middle of a gunfight, so she's clearly not at all concerned with anything but RuleOfCool gun-handling techniques. She's sixteen, which might explain it somewhat. |
| 251 | * In ''VisualNovel/RoseGunsDays'', Leo wields his gun this way. As a former instructor in the army he probably knows it's completely useless, but since the character basically runs on RuleOfCool, that's not too surprising… |
| 252 | [[/folder]] |
| 253 | |
| 254 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 255 | * ''Calamities of Nature'' points out that it can be easy to [[http://www.calamitiesofnature.com/archive/?c=339 mistake cancer patients with gangsters,]] including an example of holding a gun gangsta style. |
| 256 | * ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'': Archon firearms-safety training materials are [[http://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1773 less than amused]] with the idea of "gangsta style". |
| 257 | * ''Webcomic/TheWhiteboard'' has Doc customizing a marker so that a customer may shoot in this style. |
| 258 | [[/folder]] |
| 259 | |
| 260 | [[folder:Web Originals]] |
| 261 | * [[WebVideo/LoadingReadyRun Crapshots]] episode 69: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbhVKbYQv6g The Aim.]] Also features increasing amounts of crouching. |
| 262 | * Like so many other things here, [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] has [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_grip an article]] about this. |
| 263 | * Behold a glorious mocking of this trope [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDnEkFSMRik here.]] |
| 264 | * Used a lot alongside other gangsta tropes in the WebVideo/PistolShrimps [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a6WO1g0yGk "Boyz N the Ring"]] video. |
| 265 | [[/folder]] |
| 266 | |
| 267 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 268 | * ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'': During the big shootout in ''Coming of the Fuzors'', ''Waspinator'' of all bots is going full gangsta with his gun held sideways. It's hilariously in-character, considering Waspinator's moronic SmallNameBigEgo antics and that he's doing this during what's otherwise framed as a western-style ShowdownAtHighNoon complete with ''tumbleweeds''. As if to illustrate the power of this trope, anyone who didn't know Waspinator was the show's primary source of comic relief would [[https://i.imgur.com/2wxL7YT.png look at this scene and think he was the coolest bot in the series]]. |
| 269 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'': |
| 270 | ** Riley is seen doing this with two guns during the opening for Seasons 1 & 3. |
| 271 | ** Many characters are seen holding guns one-handed at various angles, but nobody actually [[ATeamFiring hits anything in the show]]. |
| 272 | * R2 shot down a "Thai" Fighter with a sideways gun in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuyPresentsLaughItUpFuzzball''. |
| 273 | --> '''R2-D2:''' That's how we do it in my neighborhood, [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch]]! |
| 274 | ** Also lampshades by Stewie in a different episode. |
| 275 | ---> '''Stewie''': What if I hold it sideways like a black guy? |
| 276 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Trilogy of Errors", one of the cops asks Chief Wiggum if he can hold his gun sideways like they do in the movies ("It looks so cool!"). |
| 277 | --> '''Chief Wiggum:''' You can do whatever you like, birthday boy. |
| 278 | [[/folder]] |
| 279 | |
| 280 | [[folder:Real Life -- General Practice]] |
| 281 | * It's believed this trope was invented by Hollywood's actors showing off to the camera. Actors don't like anything that blocks their faces, leading to lots of laughably unsafe things -- see also military movies where soldiers don't wear the chinstraps on their helmets (if [[HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic they wear helmets at all]]). |
| 282 | * Another possible origin of the trope is film stuntmen, who turned their guns sideways to avoid ejecting hot shells onto each other. That said, ejecting straight upwards tends to drop spent casings directly down the shooter's collar; definitely a lateral move. Except the case in which the gangster is using is left hand in the case of a weapon designed for being held by right-handed people or using the right hand in the opposite cases. |
| 283 | * On Website/YouTube, you will actually find several videos of people wielding guns sideways, from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQM8sEjtr_s random guys with dual 9mm pistols]] to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owKowHKhpxQ experts doing it one handed.]] |
| 284 | * Occasionally police officers using armoured shields will hold their pistols like this so they can see their sights through the window in the shield. That's about the only time you will see someone competent playing the trope dead straight in real life. |
| 285 | * Members of the United States military are trained to hold their rifles sideways when wearing gas masks, as the design of the mask is too bulky for standard sighting. The M16 has a selectable rear sight with a larger peep hole designed for quick acquisition of targets at shorter ranges or in low-light conditions, however it also makes it easier to use when looking through a gas mask. |
| 286 | * The Website/DarwinAwards gave an Honorable Mention to a man who attempted to fire a high-power pistol this way at a firing range, the recoil causing it to fly back and smack him in the mouth, knocking out several teeth. |
| 287 | * The guy in the front seat during a GanglandDriveBy would hold his weapon on its side so that the ejected casings wouldn't be propelled into the rear window - instead they would be ejected up onto or over the top of the car. Additionally, when using machine pistols or firing rapidly this compensates for muzzle rise and makes their spray pattern horizontal instead of vertical. More practical when you only have a second to aim at a moving target from a moving vehicle and don't give a damn about collateral damage. It is also to avoid having to deal with having the window get in the way of the gun's butt, allowing faster usage and retreat. |
| 288 | * There are some gun training tips that will advocate ''some'' tilting of the gun, though almost never to a full 90 degrees. |
| 289 | ** When one has not been formally trained in shooting, the heft of the gun can make a sideways hold "feel" more natural. Indeed, tilting a handgun about 20-30 degrees can help recoil management, and is often taught as a technique for shooting one-handed with the off hand. However, a 90 degree tilt results in a weaker grip than normal. |
| 290 | ** There also exists a shooting system in which the firer cants their pistol 45 degrees or more to the side. It is known as Center Axis Relock (CAR) and it is used by many law enforcement, security, and armed forces groups as a method of close quarters shooting. The technique is actually extremely effective for trained shooters and can be applied to rifle and shotgun shooting in close quarters as well. Watch a demonstration [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SASDcZFCXzQ here]]. This technique is ''scary'' effective at helping the shooter cope with recoil, as seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y70mxsqTxrs here]] where a shooter fires a 12-gauge shotgun as though it were a pistol. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_e18qAbQpo Here's]] an explanation of the physiological flaws of Gangsta Style and the strengths of CAR. |
| 291 | ** Canadian firearms safety instructor Terry Pratt developed a system for people with cross dominant eyes to effectively fire a pistol. If, for example, your dominant eye is your left eye but your dominant hand is your right hand, you would tilt the pistol 45 degrees to the left as to allow your left eye to line up the iron sights. On the flipside to Pratt's logic, in the US Army people are allowed to choose their firing side; about half of left-handed people fire right, while 10% of right-handed people fire left. If someone is having difficulty, a drill sergeant may check their eye dominance, and if they have cross dominance, suggest they switch hands. It is not hard to fire a US military [=M16A2=] or A4 with your non-dominant hand (especially since the A2 added a small wedge-shaped outcropping just behind the ejection port, which empty casings are at least supposed to bounce off of to eject forward rather than into your face) unless there is something wrong with your hand - in which case, you probably won't be in the army. |
| 292 | * Similar to the CAR system above, some military units practice the Ambi stance, a near-90-degree tilt. It's used when breaching a room, if you catch a hostile in your peripheral vision, to bring the gun to bear as fast as possible, before following round into a proper shooting stance. It's not used for protracted periods of time. |
| 293 | * Another consideration is that many techniques for disarming a guy with a handgun are meant to be used when the opponent is holding it vertically, and need to be adapted and practiced in order to deal with an opponent holding it in this manner. Though in some cases, being held up this way allows for easier disarming. |
| 294 | * The trope doesn't become any more effective with airsoft guns that use hop-up to add extra spin to the pellets and make them fly further. Such systems are supposed to make them spin backwards, which makes them fly farther; firing one in this manner makes them spin sideways instead, which can cause the pellet to [[BizarreAndImprobableBallistics curve in-flight]]. |
| 295 | [[/folder]] |
| 296 | |
| 297 | [[folder:Real Life -- Specific Weapons]] |
| 298 | * The famous Mauser C96 'Broomhandle' was only used as a service pistol by one nation: the Republic of China. During the Warlord Era, Yan Xishan's soldiers produced a copy, the Shanxi Type 17, in a much larger cartridge (.45 ACP, shared with the unlicensed Thompson submachine guns they also used at the time) and imported large numbers of the select-fire Mauser [=M712=] and its Spanish copies when they were invaded by Japan. Both weapons could only be effectively used firing sideways (in Gangsta Style), or else the huge recoil would spray the gun straight up (when held sideways the recoil would shift accordingly, which is actually highly effective as it can sweep a room out), or the already-fired cases would fall back into and jam the gun. |
| 299 | ** Many mafia men back in the days of Prohibition would likewise turn their Thompsons sideways and allow the recoil of the gun to fan the bullet stream over their target. This actually made some sense, as the Thompson was very prone to muzzle climb on full automatic due to the rate of fire, heavy cartridge, buttstock placed well below the line of the barrel, and heavy trigger pull. |
| 300 | * A police officer in Missouri related that a gangsta took a shot at him with a Calico M950. The [=M950=] has a 50-round magazine, but it also has idiot-proofing -- it ejects spent casings downwards, using gravity alone. The gun jammed on the first shot and the policeman tackled his assailant. |
| 301 | * The {{Nerf}} N-Strike Deploy [=CS-6=] gun has its targeting light flipped to the ''left'' of the barrel, which may necessitate this. Sure it's got regular sights, but being sponge darts launched at safety speed, the drop in the trajectory makes a targeting light ''below'' the barrel more practical. |
| 302 | * Going back a few generations in firearms design, this was the only practical way to ensure that a wheellock actually fired. Given the design of the action, turning the gun at least 45 degrees (but ''not'' the full 90 degrees) was the best way to make sure that the powder was close enough to the sparks to actually go off. Specifically, it puts the sparks directly over the priming charge so that they fall into it, rather than some of them going over the side and being wasted. |
| 303 | * Cavalry using flintlock pistols have been artistically depicted as firing their pistols in this trope's manner, (such as this one of [[https://collection.nam.ac.uk/images/960/141000-141999/141914.jpg a London and Westminster Light Horse Volunteer]] or [[https://www.warhistoryonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2018/07/hussar_by_lev_kiel_1816-390x640.jpg another of the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment]]). This may have been because flintlock pistols were not very ergonomic so tilting it that way was easier to keep stable it on horseback, and it could have prevented misfires by keeping the powder and sparks in the proper spots of the mechanism... not to mention that one of the biggest reasons to not fire a modern pistol sideways, the sights on top of it for aiming, were not a feature of flintlock weaponry in their heyday. |
| 304 | * [[http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/side_show_doomed_thug_vct6JLQrWau8DRZpdvdaFO December 10, 2009:]] fleeing from police through crowded Times Square, scam artist and sometime rapper Raymond "Ready" Martinez draws a Masterpiece Arms pistol (basically a modern clone of the Ingram MAC-11), holds it sideways in the best "gangsta" fashion and pulls the trigger. The weapon jams after two shots (with a spent casing falling back into the ejection port), both shots fail to hit anyone, and police return fire, bringing "Ready's" criminal career to a swift conclusion. Had he held the gun correctly, the jam would have been averted and the loss of life could easily have been much worse. |
| 305 | * [[http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2011/02/28/double-glock-full-auto-pistols/ Dual Glock full auto pistols.]] |
| 306 | * Spoofed with the [[http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/08/22/sideways_gun_sight.jpg Birdman Weapon Systems]] "Homeboy Nyte Sytes" for Glock pistols, adding secondary sights to the right side of the gun that can be used when firing the gun sideways. |
| 307 | * The proper procedure for firing rifle grenades at area targets with the French FAMAS assault rifle involves [[https://i0.wp.com/www.forgottenweapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/famasgrenade.jpg turning it onto its right side]] to use the launcher sight inside the carry handle. |
| 308 | [[/folder]] |
| 309 | |
| 310 | ---- |
| 311 | ->'''Q:''' Why do gangsters shoot their guns sideways?\ |
| 312 | '''A:''' Because that's how they came in the box. |
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