There are THREE different kinds of "Replica" firearms that many movie studios use, in fact usually in a movie or a mini series like
Band of Brothers, if the camera isn't on main characters shooting a rifle, pistol, shotgun etc... then it's not an actual firearm at all. All the background ppl are carrying one of three types.
The first type are made of all resin and have no moving parts. These are usually made in the Phillipines and from a distance you really can't tell it's not real, they're THAT detailed. They're great for low budget films where one cannot afford or don't have the ability to deal with zoning rights for a film shoot (in other words Guerrilla filmmaking at it's best) and the actors have to bascially "Pretend" to shoot the respective firearm, having spent some time with the real deal at a range somewhere, and trying to give a faked approximation of the recoil. Later in post production you can go back and add in the actual noise of the respective weapon, and digitally add in the muzzle flash and ejected brass casings should it be a semi or fully automatic type weapon. *Robert Rodriguez actually used this method for the shoot out in the Catholic Church in
Once Upon A Time In Mexico. It's a nice loop hole around permits for firing/discharging weapons (even with blanks) within a city limits and such.
The second type is made of all metal, and usually weigh about the same as the real deal, with SOME moving parts. Some might be able to be feild stripped but most won't be. Usually they run about $150 to $300 bucks depending on what you want. Unlike a resin version if you drop it, it won't break pieces off. These are also used in theatrical productions and work well with CU/DT (Combat Understanding & Deployment Tactics) in mock up battles conducted by both Police Departments, "Action Groups" => (law abiding non comitted felon "Gun & Tactics Enthusiast Clubs") or Militia organizations who practice battle tactics from everything of Rural/Urban/Jungle/Desert Guerrilla Warfare to more conventional methods of Squad to Column based formations. Until one is familiar with it all, it's easier to have non firing weapons in the hands of even the most gun safe individual until paint ball sessions teach out the final execution of mastery, with maybe a bit of live fire over the heads for realism. This 2nd Type of "Replica Gun" are almost always manufactured in Japan, and you should see some stuff they come up with. I picked up an FG-42 a few years ago thinking it was real and it was a Type 2 non firing replica.
The final type (Type 3) are basically the Type 2, but they allow for the ability to fire .8mm blanks ONLY. They cannot be made to fire an actual bullet of any calibre. These are what you see in most Japanese produced films because of their draconian gun laws, and is the reason you'll often hear a .357 Magnum sound more like a .9mm, not to mention they're too lazy to add in the appropriate sound effects in post production. If you're going to make an Independent film however, a lot of city ordances see this as no different than firing a real gun with blanks in it. Thus is the reason many will use the all resin or Type 2 deals for circumvention with property owner permission.
I don't know if you intend to purchase any "Replica" guns, but I hope this information is elaborative enough that it helps you out.
