What makes it "whine?"

[FfNJGTFO]

Here's a question for all you "ol' western" fans.


In old western gunfights, as revolvers (primarily) are being fired, one often hears a "whining" sound, either as the projectile is leaving the gun, or the gun reacting as a result of it being fired. Not sure which.


I'm wondering if anyone here knows what makes that noise... what causes it to whine like that. I'm curious, as I'll explain below.


I have made the decision to delve into the world or "wheel guns" (revolvers). For the longest time, I had overlooked revolvers, simply for capacity reasons. I was interested only in pistols that would provide me excellent capacity (10 rnds. minimum) for self defense purposes. But, recently, I now see merit in acquiring the "skills" associated with mastering revolvers. I currently possess my departed Uncle's SW Model 10 in .38 SPC. but, for my first "acquisition," I'm considering a "Colt SAA in .45 Long Colt 7" barrel (ie. a "Peacemaker")... I won't use them in my HD/SD plan, but they are very good pieces for skill mastery.


Thus, I'm watching a lot of videos of people shooting Peacemakers. One of the most well known TV drama scenes is from Miami Vice where Willie Nelson stars as a retired Texas Ranger. In his final battle, he has a gun fight in a cemetery and you can hear him firing his Peacemaker. As he fires, the gun (or the projectile exiting it) makes a "whining" noise. I'm very curious as to what makes that noise. I don't hear it in other videos where I see Peacemakers being fired. I guess the Miami Vice people dubbed the firing effect so it would sound cool on their new "Stereo Broadcast Channels." But I know I've heard it before.


So, if anyone knows what makes that whining noise as an old western gun is fired, I'd appreciate any insight you might have.


Thanks much.

[DrHenley]

I'm going to say it's due to a ricochet.

After ricocheting off of a hard object, the deformed bullet makes a whining sound. That sound effect is commonly used in old westerns especially when they are using boulders for cover. But sometimes they throw the sound effect in even when it's not appropriate. (sound editors may not be gun savvy and not even know what actually causes the sound, just that they are supposed to use it)

[Rick McC.]

Originally Posted by DrHenley

I'm going to say it's due to a ricochet.

After ricocheting off of a hard object, the deformed bullet makes a whining sound. That sound effect is commonly used in old westerns especially when they are using boulders for cover. But sometimes they throw the sound effect in even when it's not appropriate. (sound editors may not be gun savvy and not even know what actually causes the sound, just that they are supposed to use it)

I’ll second that. 👍

[FfNJGTFO]

Thanks so much. Update: I re-watched the TV Show scene that piqued my interest. Apparently, it's not a whine at all, but just projectile exhaust from the gun barrel. Still, I think it was a fake effect. Peacemakers don't really sound like that.

[DrHenley]

There are four different sounds that can be made by a gunshot.

1) "BOOM" - that's the sound the "projectile exhaust" makes. It's instantaneous, not an extended sound.

2) For supersonic rounds there is a "CHEOWWWW" made by the bullet breaking the sound barrier and continues as long as the bullet is supersonic and in the air. It is not a whining sound.
You can usually tell whether a gunshot came from a duck hunter or a deer hunter because the duck hunter's shotgun goes "BOOM" and the deer hunter's rifle goes "BOOM cheOWWWW". This may be what you are thinking of. Subsonic handguns like 45 Colts only go "BOOM."
Suppressors can dampen the "BOOM" but not the "cheOWWWW" because that sound is generated after the bullet leaves the muzzle.

3) If there are objects for the sound to bounce off of, there is an echo which may be extended and often reverberates (lasts longer than #2) The exact sound of the echo depends on how many objects and how far they are. Much of the echo from a rifle shot is actually from the "cheOWWWW" not the "BOOM" and can reverberate for several seconds in the right conditions.

4) If the bullet ricochets then you get an whine from the deformed bullet. This is the only kind of actual "whine" a gunshot can make.

Movie and TV gunshot sound effects are mostly unrealistic, so you cannot base anything off of what you hear in movie or TV.
IT'S JUST MAKE BELIEVE!

If you will tell me what show you were watching and which episode and time, I'll try to find it and listen to the sound.

[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by DrHenley

There are four different sounds that can be made by a gunshot.

1) "BOOM" - that's the sound the "projectile exhaust" makes. It's instantaneous, not an extended sound.

2) For supersonic rounds there is a "CHEOWWWW" made by the bullet breaking the sound barrier and continues as long as the bullet is supersonic and in the air. It is not a whining sound.
You can usually tell whether a gunshot came from a duck hunter or a deer hunter because the duck hunter's shotgun goes "BOOM" and the deer hunter's rifle goes "BOOM cheOWWWW". This may be what you are thinking of. Subsonic handguns like 45 Colts only go "BOOM."
Suppressors can dampen the "BOOM" but not the "cheOWWWW" because that sound is generated after the bullet leaves the muzzle.

This is the most likely thing I'm hearing, although I tend to believe the sound I heard was "manufactured" and not natural. So it may very well have been that the sound effects people took that "CHeooowwww" sound and pasted it upon a .45LC, even though it would not be accurate to do so. I just "sounds" cool.

Originally Posted by DrHenley

3) If there are objects for the sound to bounce off of, there is an echo which may be extended and often reverberates (lasts longer than #2) The exact sound of the echo depends on how many objects and how far they are. Much of the echo from a rifle shot is actually from the "cheOWWWW" not the "BOOM" and can reverberate for several seconds in the right conditions.

4) If the bullet ricochets then you get an whine from the deformed bullet. This is the only kind of actual "whine" a gunshot can make.

Movie and TV gunshot sound effects are mostly unrealistic, so you cannot base anything off of what you hear in movie or TV.
IT'S JUST MAKE BELIEVE!

If you will tell me what show you were watching and which episode and time, I'll try to find it and listen to the sound.

It would be Miami Vice, year 3, episode "El Viejo." It's the final gun battle in the graveyard. It's where you see Willie Nelson (playing a Texas Ranger) firing his Colt SAA Peacemaker, making that sound.


BTW, If you watch that episode, If you can tell the barrel length of his Peacemaker I'd appreciate it. I'm torn between 5" and 7".


Thanks!