20 Gun Myths I Used to Fall For (And What Actually True Instead)

I used to believe a lot of dumb things about guns. Some were passed down at the range, others came from movies or forums, and a few I just never bothered to question. Then I started listening to folks like Clint Morgan and Kaya Erdal from Classic Firearms, who have a knack for slicing through gun lore like a hot knife through butter. In this article, I’m sharing 20 of the biggest myths I once believed, along with what’s actually true, straight from Clint, Kaya, and my own experience.

1. Translucent Magazines Give Away Your Ammo Count

Clint Morgan opened with this one, and it genuinely made me laugh because I used to believe it. The myth goes like this: if you use a translucent or windowed magazine, the “bad guy” can see how many rounds you have left. It sounds tactical, but it’s completely backwards. Clint points out that if your enemy is close enough to inspect your mag, your situation is already FUBAR. Plus, these mags are now standard issue for U.S. troops – if there was a disadvantage, the military wouldn’t use them. In a gunfight, no one’s squinting at your PMAG window. They’re either running, shooting, or hiding. You should know your round count, not them.

2. The M1 Garand “Ping” Gets Soldiers Killed

Ah, the legendary ping sound of an empty M1 Garand. I used to think, “Well yeah, if the enemy hears it, they’ll charge while you reload!” Clint shreds this myth. In real-world combat, with gunfire, shouting, explosions, nobody hears a tiny metallic ping and reacts like it’s a signal to attack. He points out that if you’re fighting at any kind of distance, an enemy isn’t clearing 100+ yards before you’ve already reloaded. The ping is nostalgic, not tactical. If anything, it’s a beautiful sound that means you just sent eight rounds of .30-06 downrange.

3. 5.56 Was Designed to Wound, Not Kill

This one’s everywhere: the 5.56 NATO was made to wound so two soldiers have to carry the injured guy off the field. Sounds like classic Cold War chessboard logic, right? Except it’s wrong. Clint cites the original military requirements, which demanded it penetrate helmets at 500 meters. That’s lethal intent, not “light wound for strategic drag-back.” And having fired plenty of modern 5.56 loads myself, I can tell you – this round is more than enough when aimed right. Shot placement and modern ammo type matter way more than some outdated battlefield rumor.

4. Just Rack a Shotgun and the Bad Guys Will Flee

Clint calls this one out hard. We’ve all heard it: “Just rack the shotgun and scare them off!” It’s a bad plan. First, you’ve just announced your location. Second, if you didn’t already have a round chambered, you’re wasting time in a life-or-death moment. And third, what if the intruder is deaf, high, or just doesn’t care? Clint jokes that if your home invader is hard of hearing, your intimidation tactic fails instantly. Relying on sound as a weapon is a Hollywood fantasy. Have a round chambered and be ready to act – not warn.

5. The Glock 7 Is a Real, Airport-Invisible Gun

This Die Hard 2 myth has had real staying power. In the movie, Bruce WIllis mentions a “Glock 7, porcelain gun made in Germany” that doesn’t show up on airport X-rays. Clint can’t help but laugh at this one. The Glock 7 doesn’t exist. Glocks are made of polymer, not porcelain, and still have metal barrels, slides, and internals. They show up on any proper metal detector just like any other handgun. Porcelain is for toilets, not guns. The Glock 7 was made up for dramatic effect, and the real Glocks are no less detectable than any other firearm.

6. Suppressors Are Only for Assassins and Totally Illegal

This myth still runs rampant thanks to movies and video games. Clint breaks it down: suppressors aren’t “silent” death machines, they’re safety tools that reduce hearing damage. They’re legal in most states and don’t require a special license – just a $200 tax stamp. They also don’t completely silence the shot, especially with supersonic ammo. The movies have exaggerated the “pew-pew” effect beyond recognition. A good suppressor is about hearing protection, not James Bond tactics. And yes, I own one – and I still wear ear pro.

7. Mil-Spec Means Indestructible

I used to think if something was “mil-spec,” it was the best. Clint absolutely dismantles that. Military specification just means it meets the bare minimum standards set by the government—it doesn’t mean the part is top-tier. In fact, Clint jokes that “milspec MREs suck” – and he’s not wrong. Commercial firearms often exceed mil-spec standards in durability, precision, and ergonomics. Don’t worship “mil-spec” like it’s some divine stamp. Test your gear and choose what works for your needs, not Uncle Sam’s budget.

8. 9mm Will Blow Your Lungs Out / .45 ACP Is Always Deadlier

Here’s another myth I held onto for too long. “9mm is weak. .45 ACP is man-stopping power!” Clint goes after this one hard. Terminal performance today is about bullet design, not just size. Clint even jokes that 9mm doesn’t blow your lungs out – and we’ve all seen enough police and military footage to know 9mm works just fine. In fact, most law enforcement agencies and NATO forces now use 9mm. Shot placement is king. A well-placed 9mm hollow point is more effective than a poorly placed .45. Period.

9. M855 Green Tip Ammo Is Armor-Piercing

I heard this myth a lot – green tip 5.56 is “armor piercing” and capable of punching through tanks (seriously, someone told me that). Clint clears it up: M855 has a mild steel core to help it penetrate barriers like glass or light cover, but it’s not rated to defeat body armor. He even mentions that Guard Dog’s armor stops it cold. Green tip is better at barrier penetration, not body armor. It’s not some magical AP round. Know what your ammo is designed for.

10. The SKS Has More Knockdown Power Than the AK-47

I used to think this made sense because the SKS has a longer barrel than the AK. Clint admits the longer barrel gives the same 7.62x39mm round a bit more velocity, but then asks – how do you even measure “knockdown power”? The round is the same. Whether it exits at 2,350 fps or 2,200 fps doesn’t matter much inside 100 yards. It’s still a 7.62 slug coming your way. “Knockdown power” is one of those phrases people throw around without knowing what it means. Use real data – not buzzwords.

11. Suppressed Handguns Always Run Fine with Any Suppressor

Kaya Erdal kicks this one off by showing exactly why that’s not the case. I used to think that if a handgun had a threaded barrel, you could slap a suppressor on it and be good to go. Turns out, it’s not that simple. Kaya explains that without a booster or “Nielsen device,” many handguns will struggle to cycle properly. That’s because a suppressor adds a ton of weight to the end of the barrel, throwing off the slide’s ability to move freely. A spring-loaded booster temporarily decouples the suppressor from the barrel during recoil, making the whole system function correctly. Without one, your pistol could jam or fail to cycle entirely. Lesson learned: don’t cheap out and expect every suppressor to work on every gun.

12. .45 ACP Is Just Plain Superior to 9mm

As someone who’s heard the “because God made .45” joke more times than I can count, I used to think this one was true. Kaya takes this on with some actual data. He points to FBI testing that showed modern 9mm loads, especially jacketed hollow points, can have terminal performance equal to or better than .45 ACP. Plus, 9mm gives you higher capacity, less recoil, and better accuracy under stress. I still appreciate the heritage and thump of a .45, but I don’t buy the superiority myth anymore. Today’s 9mm is simply more versatile.

13. You Shouldn’t Dry Fire a .22 LR – Ever

This was one I heard early on in my shooting journey. Kaya explains the origins of this myth and gives it some context. Rimfire ammo, like .22 LR, doesn’t have a center primer. When dry fired without a cartridge, the firing pin can strike the chamber edge, potentially causing damage over time. But Kaya shows how many modern .22 firearms, like the Ruger 10/22 and Taurus TX22, include firing pin blocks that prevent damage. If your gun is designed with that feature, dry fire away. If not, maybe get some snap caps. I now dry fire my TX22 all the time without worry.

14. Smaller Guns Recoil Less

I used to believe this one because it sounds logical. Smaller gun = smaller explosion, right? Wrong. Kaya points out that small guns are lighter, and less mass means more felt recoil. A tiny Hellcat or P365 shooting 9mm will feel snappier than a full-size steel-frame 1911 shooting the same round. It’s simple physics. If you want a softer shooting pistol, go bigger. It’s not about the gun’s size – it’s about its weight and how it manages recoil.

15. If You Have Small Hands, You Need a Small Gun

I fell for this one when helping a friend pick out her first pistol. We went straight for the tiniest gun on the shelf. Kaya debunks this myth by showing how grip ergonomics matter far more than size. A slim full-size CZ P10 can actually fit small hands better than a compact FN 509 with thick grips. The takeaway: don’t assume compact equals comfortable. Try out a few guns before deciding what fits best.

16. If You Drop a Gun, It Will Fire

This myth terrified me early on. Kaya explains that modern striker-fired guns, like Glocks, come with internal safeties – including a drop safety. That little plunger blocks the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled. That said, not all guns are built equally. Kaya notes that 2011s and AR-15s with free-floating firing pins can discharge if dropped hard enough. It’s not a total myth, but it’s very situational. If your gun is modern and reputable, you’re probably fine, but it doesn’t mean you should treat it carelessly.

17. A Rifle That’s Accurate Is Always Accurate

This one surprised me. I figured if my bolt-action rifle grouped well once, it would do so every time. Kaya walks through how barrel heat, mirage, carbon buildup, and even barrel whip can degrade accuracy mid-session. As the metal heats up and expands, harmonics change and your point of impact can shift. It’s not that the gun’s “broken,” it just needs to cool down or be cleaned. Now I know to take breaks and watch for environmental changes.

18. Suppressors Make Guns Hollywood-Quiet

If you’ve watched John Wick, you’ve probably fallen for this one too. Kaya says no suppressor makes a gun whisper quiet unless you’re using subsonic .22 or specialized setups. Even then, you’ll hear the action cycling and the gas pressure releasing. For anything supersonic, you still need ear protection. Suppressors reduce volume, but not to the level of cinematic fiction. I’ve shot suppressed .300 Blackout and .223 – they’re quieter, but not silent by any stretch.

19. You Can’t Mix Steel and Brass Ammo

This one came from the range – people warned me never to mix steel-cased and brass-cased rounds in a magazine. Kaya calls BS. He’s fired mixed mags of both in Glocks, M&Ps, and SAR pistols with no issue. He notes that steel doesn’t expand as much as brass and can run dirtier, but for most modern guns it’s a non-issue. If your gun is super picky, sure, maybe separate them – but for the average shooter, this myth is overblown.

20. You Don’t Need to Aim a Shotgun

And here we are – my favorite myth of all. I used to hear this in gun shops: “You don’t even need to aim – just point and shoot.” Kaya drops the hammer on that idea. At typical home defense ranges (10 to 15 yards), the spread of buckshot is still so tight that aiming is essential. A miss is very possible if you’re lazy with your sights. Plus, you’re legally responsible for every pellet. Shotguns are devastating – but only if used with precision. They’re not magic wands that clear rooms on their own.

Myths Make Us Dumber – Until We Break Them

After watching Clint Morgan and Kaya Erdal from Classic Firearms tear through these myths with facts, tests, and a good dose of humor, I realized how much bad info is still out there. Some of these myths are relics from older generations, while others are just internet nonsense that refuses to die. The truth is, gun ownership comes with responsibility, and that means knowing how things really work.

If you’ve ever repeated any of these myths like I did, don’t feel bad. Just do what I did: learn, adapt, and keep improving. Got a myth you still hear all the time? Drop it in the comments. You never know – we might end up busting it in a second part of this article.