>> it does have gun powder. it has a primer in it. this is what's called a modern theatrical blank. >> reporter: but under safety regulations, such a bullet -- >> is a dummy cartridge? empty shell case, no gun powder in it, totally inert primer. it can't go bang. there is a projectile on the end of it. but you can see, there's a bb. i can rattle it next to your ear. >> no gun powder in it. >> if means that cannot go bang. >> reporter: there many other mandated precautions. >> so we have our single-action revolver. we have our blank cartridge. you can see there is no projectile. i've measured out 20 feet for you here, which is the minimum-safety distance on a film set. we have a target there. i am going to load up the blank into the gun, and i am going to announce that the gun is hot. so, hot gun on set. >> and it's a hot gun when there's something in the gun, in the chambers that will go bang?