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I finally figured out Penn & Teller's bullet illusion...

I noticed that Penn did not allow the participants to hold the cartridges after the bullets were marked. I had to watch it more than twice before I figured it out.

I can catch a bullet in my mouth too, as long I put it in my mouth with my hand. :)

Ranb
 
volatile said:
I can't for the life of me work it out. It's one of the best tricks I've ever seen...
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I spoke to Jamy Ian Swiss about the bullet catch at TAM 4 (I think. It might have been 5. Or 3. ). We were discussing magic tricks, and he said that most magicians know how most magic tricks are done. Or at least one of the many ways that a given trick can be done. However, he went on to say that very few magicians know how the P&T bullet catch is done. It's that good. Which leads me to believe that the OP is most likely wrong in stating that he has figured it out.
 
I... (do I have to?) ... agree with Scrut.

I have tried to figure it out, and have failed on numerous occasions. Perhaps someone else has, or perhaps not.

It is a wonderful illusion. I take P&T (and JIS)'s word for it that it is indeed an illusion.

Scrut is a bastard, but perhaps the best bastard I know. (That has nothing to do with the illusion, but I just wanted to point out that Scrut is indeed a bastard.)

yadda, yadda.

M
 
The Central Scrutinizer said:
I spoke to Jamy Ian Swiss about the bullet catch at TAM 4 (I think. It might have been 5. Or 3. ). We were discussing magic tricks, and he said that most magicians know how most magic tricks are done. Or at least one of the many ways that a given trick can be done. However, he went on to say that very few magicians know how the P&T bullet catch is done. It's that good. Which leads me to believe that the OP is most likely wrong in stating that he has figured it out.
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This is a skeptical forum and I am skeptical. It's very easy to say on a forum which bans you actually telling us that you have worked out the trick. Doesn't mean that you have.

I did see an interview with Penn & Teller (well Penn) and he said that they have to employ five different methods to pass the bullets to each other during the trick and he said that while people may get three or four of the methods they will not get all five. I did like this description of the trick (there are no spoilers to how it's done) and I particularly like how they have managed to get the smell and rifling marks onto the bullets. However it is done it is a great trick, probably one of the best ever.
 
Well, as I cannot say how I think they did it, you are free to think I don't know. But At the very least I could now do it myself with stage setting consistent with what they have in a manner identical to how they do it.
 
I read somewhere the secret involved certain items they are wearing.I shall not elaborate ;)
 
This trick never much appealed to me. I like tricks of the mind, but this one seems like too much of a puzzle. So I watched it again on teh Youtube and realized how much more I hate it. I guess it helps that Penn has to do the talking for both of them, but what happens if one of the audience members signing a shell casing asks, "Can I see my initials again?" Maybe it's just the video I watched, but the initials on the bullet were covered.

They walk all the way to the rear of the stage to do the whole tapping thing :rolleyes: , then walk all the way back into the audience so we can watch the shells loaded into the guns, then walk all the way back to the rear of the stage to put on protective gear. Protective gear they will not need.

I prefer the cups and balls with the clear cups.
 
Cain said:
They walk all the way to the rear of the stage to do the whole tapping thing :rolleyes: , then walk all the way back into the audience so we can watch the shells loaded into the guns, then walk all the way back to the rear of the stage to put on protective gear. Protective gear they will not need.
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Wow, I thought they were actually in danger. :rolleyes:
 
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