Why did John Cale remove a bullet from the gun?
A few days ago, I watched White House Down (2013). At one point, John Cale gives his gun to someone to be stored, and after removing the magazine, he takes one bullet out of it.
Why did he do that?
Best Answer
Most semi-automatic pistols that use a magazine (versus a revolver), have the bullets in a removable magazine. In order to fire the pistol the first time, the operator slides the barrel assembly to the rear and releases it, which both cocks the weapon and loads the first round (bullet) into the chamber.
In order to completely 'safe' the weapon, which would be done before turning it in to the armory or to someone to hold, which is what that scene is showing, the operator might,
- Put the weapon on safe, by clicking the safe lever
- Remove the magazine
- and again, pull the barrel assembly to the rear, which ejects the round from the chamber
- Finally, the operator would then slowly lower the hammer to un-cock the weapon.
You may have seen this being done in many movies and TV police procedurals.
Pictures about "Why did John Cale remove a bullet from the gun?"
John Cale documentary (1998)
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