defence against handguns

Question
In movies, i see someone disable a handgun by removing the top part of the barrel.  How do they do that?

Answer
Thomas,

They do that because it's in the script. In real life, such a move will get you shot most of the time.

On Beretta 92-series pistols made up until maybe five or six years ago, it was rather easy to strip the gun apart, even when it was loaded. On the right side of the pistol's frame, forward of the trigger-guard, is small button. On the left side just opposite the button is a small lever. When the button is pressed in, the lever can be pushed down; doing so releases the slide from the frame, allowing the slide to be pulled forward off of the frame.

So, in "Rush Hour," Jackie Chan was able to quickly field-strip an agent's Beretta M92, one handed, in record time.

A few years ago, Beretta added a part that rests between the barrel and recoil spring that needs to be carefully aligned with the frame before the pistol can be disassembled. I doubt this was done to address any concerns about having the gun taken apart on the user, but at any rate, doing so is even more impossible on a newer Beretta than older ones.

In all reality, if you found yourself struggling with someone armed with an automatic pistol, if you could get your hands on the gun you can render it temporarily inoperable without taking it apart. All automatic pistols have what's called a battery-disconnect safety. Basically, unless the slide is all the way forward ("in battery") the gun won't fire. So, keeping the slide pushed back even a little bit would prevent the gun from firing.

The first rule of being in a gunfight is: Don't be in a gunfight. The second rule is: If you must be in a gunfight, have a gun.

If you're interested in how firearms work, Hollywood is a poor teacher. I'd be more than happy to address any other questions you may have.

Kyle