Since it's Movie Trivia Time What was the error in Dirty Harry's famous 44 Magnum speech?

[Carl Huber]

Since it's Movie Trivia Time What was the error in Dirty Harry's famous 44 Magnum speech?

[Gary Devine]

Harry said his 44 magnum handgun "Can blow your head clean off".
Is that false? Just a wild guess?

[bayouwoof]

Seems like he said it wz the most powerful handgun in the world.

[bayouwoof]

Gary -

Thet's whut Yosemite Sam said he wz going to do to to a certain rabbit.

[99explorer]

I may be wrong, but to my count, Harry only fired four shots in that scene.

[2Poppa]

I think 99explorer may have hit the nail on the head!

[99explorer]

Sorry. I take it back. I watched that scene again and counted five shots.

[Carl Huber]

That's what they say about eye witness testimony. Counting the shots and looking at Eastwood's recovery from the recoil I counted 7 shots. Extra credit what model shotgun did the bank robber carry?

[bayouwoof]

Looked a lot like a Model 97.

[MattM37]

I just watched it again and think I might have found another problem. If you pull the hammer back on a revolver, the cylinder rotates as it puts the shell in position to fire, right? So why does it rotate again when Harry pulls the trigger? I don't know much about handguns, but that doesn't seem right.

[Carl Huber]

Correct bayou; there was also the idea of the 44 Mag being the most powerful cartridge. The 454 casull was developed 2 decades before. I'm not sure if it was offered in a production hand gun at the time of the movie.

[FirstBubba]

At that time, the .454 Casull was only offered in a single action handgun.
That's a nasty "no-no" for LEO's. Even back then.
Plus, the S&W M29 was the latest "thing".
After "Dirty Harry" came out, B&B Sporting Goods, two doors down from the Texas Theater, couldn't keep M29's in stock! They showed up about six months later at the local pawn shop due to recoil! LOL!
The first one I ever laid eyes on was $369.95, NIB!

[99explorer]

I think the shotgun was a Winchester Model 12.

[99explorer]

Matt - I looked at the scene again, and I think you may be right. Just as Harry pulls the hammer back and aims at the perp's head, the camera angle changes and we see the muzzle end view. Just then, the cylinder seems to turn at the sound of the click.

[Treestand]

That's a laugh a Month later you could buy the S&W 44Mag Used! they all came with a half a box of Ammo.