Blank cartridges have long been used in film, theatre and training to create the sound of gunfire without firing a live round, which is why the effect is instantly recognisable even without any visual context. On soundboards and in short-form video, the clip is usually shared as a prank effect rather than as a recording from a particular movie or show, passed around for fake shootouts and startle reactions. Its appeal has lasted because the bang is unmistakable, safe to imitate and easy to drop into almost any scene.