Gun Advice

[Aurora Black]

Many good points have been touched on. I hope that the guy who gets shot deserves to get shot somehow and the story isn't too depressing (assassination/suicides usually are). Best of luck, Aurora. I say go with the 38.

I admit that I'm leaning towards the .38 at the moment.

Jesus Christ, WOK! Does it make me weird if I said your post got me excited?

What if the suicide isn't a head wound? I'm aware that it's more straightforward for the character to do it that way, but I have a thing for symbolism so I want a self-inflicted gunshot to the heart. Would the .38 work for that?

 

[Aurora Black]

Many good points have been touched on. I hope that the guy who gets shot deserves to get shot somehow and the story isn't too depressing (assassination/suicides usually are). Best of luck, Aurora. I say go with the 38.

Thanks. He does deserve it, believe me. And I don't know if it's really depressing, but if I write this well, it'll definitely be eye-opening.

 

[AchtungNight]

You have to have good aim to hit the heart. Especially on yourself. Maybe a gut shot- slow and painful? Nah, that'd be too graphic. Going for the quick easy shot seems most realistic- in the mouth or under the chin would probably work best. Remember, most suicidal people aren't interested in symbolism. They just want to die. So unless your heroine is a terrorist bomber... I take that back. Most people who are suicidal and actually want to committ suicide are not interested in symbolism. You want to do it, you do it. You don't want to, you dick around a lot, try to make a big statement, and then do it almost by accident after debating with yourself and possibly negotiators for a long time. It depends on what kind of suicide you as an author and your character want.

 

[wornoutkeyboard]

I admit that I'm leaning towards the .38 at the moment.

Jesus Christ, WOK! Does it make me weird if I said your post got me excited?

What if the suicide isn't a head wound? I'm aware that it's more straightforward for the character to do it that way, but I have a thing for symbolism so I want a self-inflicted gunshot to the heart. Would the .38 work for that?

Outside of a shotgun pulled with your toe this would not be possible/probable.

Holding a gun with your wrist twisted is difficult at best and only even remotely possible with a small caliber (22) snub nose. See my notes on the chances of death with a 22.

To hold the gun without twisting your wrist will cause the gun to recoil outward (and out of your hands) and will drastically skew the shot making a quick death (or any death) less probable.

Now I am sure that there is someone out there somewhere who killed themselves this way - but there are also cases of people slitting their wrists the wrong way who died of it if given enough time.

There is plenty of symbolism in shooting yourself in the head. And the only real way to kill yourself effectively with a handgun.

~WOK

EDITED TO ADD: Make sure you also know the jam rate of the gun. All guns can (and do jam) and some do it on every 3 shot practically. This would really be a bummer if you were going for murder suicide.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

You have to have good aim to hit the heart. Especially on yourself. Maybe a gut shot- slow and painful? Nah, that'd be too graphic. Going for the quick easy shot seems most realistic- in the mouth or under the chin would probably work best. Remember, most suicidal people aren't interested in symbolism. They just want to die. So unless your heroine is a terrorist bomber... I take that back. Most people who are suicidal and actually want to committ suicide are not interested in symbolism. You want to do it, you do it. You don't want to, you dick around a lot, try to make a big statement, and then do it almost by accident after debating with yourself and possibly negotiators for a long time. It depends on what kind of suicide you as an author and your character want.

And don't forget about us ex-cops who know that 99% of women commit suicide by poison or an overdose. Very few would even think about using a gun, especially to the head, as indicated by Aurora's desire to have her shoot herself in the heart.

It's just a woman thing.

 

[Aurora Black]

Damn. I guess symbolism really would be the last thing on someone's mind at a time like that. And I will look into the jam rate, thanks.

And as for it being a woman thing, my character isn't just any woman. It's a part of her personality to resist copping out with poison. Besides, how would she be able to get a clear shot if she was doubled over under the effect of the chosen substance?

 

[R. Richard]

EDITED TO ADD: Make sure you also know the jam rate of the gun. All guns can (and do jam) and some do it on every 3 shot practically. This would really be a bummer if you were going for murder suicide.

True. However, the jam rate for a properly maintained revolver is near zero. Automatics jam, they jam easily and the cheaper ones jam frequently.

 

[AchtungNight]

I've found most murder-suicide perps tend to want to do the murder fast and the suicide slow. Kill the bad guy, then wallow in their guilt for a while before dying. Either that, or they go out fast and furious, as seems to be the case for your story. Whatever you do, good luck. Death always makes for a disturbing event.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I came for smut and discoverd Guns & Ammo! It's interesting how weaponry has a fascination for so many, firearms especially. There are those who turn their nose up, but I'm suspicious of how sincere most of those are . I suspect the fascination has something to do with being human - we didn't get from trees to laptops without becoming pretty good in the weaponry field in between. I don't know if the word "fascination" would have applied to your intended expert - Colly - but I'm sure "knowledgeable" would have. That woman would have been listing specifications, with page number citations from Janes All the World's Small Arms!

One minor detail: Revolvers don't have safeties. The equivalent is to keep the chamber under the hammer empty, but I think that really only applies to old fashioned single-action models (like cowboy guns), where you have to cock the hammer back manually. On modern double action revolvers (almost all the .38s and .357s) the first part of the trigger travel cocks the hammer for you, which makes it harder to pull, and harder to be accurate. On most of them you can also cock the hammer manually, in which case the trigger pull will be lighter and it's easier to be accurate.

I don't think most derringers have safeties either, but some modern ones may.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Death always makes for a disturbing event.

That's why there are so few TV shows and novels dealing with the subject.
There's no doubt that this is very, very true in real life, however.

 

[AchtungNight]

Just finished "The Last Dance." Great effort. I too experimented with crime drama in my youth and I have to say that was shorter, sweeter, and overall better than anything I ever did. My only complaints are that it seemed a little bleah in the beginning, but you made up for that quickly, and that you never finished it. Come on, what's gonna happen next? Does he get the bastard? Maybe someday you'll finish it up.

 

[Aurora Black]

I've found most murder-suicide perps tend to want to do the murder fast and the suicide slow. Kill the bad guy, then wallow in their guilt for a while before dying. Either that, or they go out fast and furious, as seems to be the case for your story. Whatever you do, good luck. Death always makes for a disturbing event.

Thank you very much, and it's meant to be disturbing.

 

[Dhalgren150]

Model 60 S&W

3 inch barrel

stainless steel.

either .38

or

.357 magnum.

j framed smaller easily hidden.

 

[wornoutkeyboard]

True. However, the jam rate for a properly maintained revolver is near zero. Automatics jam, they jam easily and the cheaper ones jam frequently. - emphasis is WOK and WOK alone!

True (although any gun can theoretically jam - particularly the older ones as they have suffered distortion from the heat from repeated firings). My note was added for the Semi's. Now -if she was using an automatic (not a semi)...there would some SERIOUS issues as to where she got it...lol. Remember that an automatic is not the same as a semi (even a double action which seems to be fully automatic is not classified as an automatic weapon but an automatic with double action. The term -for us artillery nerds- automatic assumes full automatic capability such as a machine gun, submachine gun, gatling gun etc) . Although it would be fun to see the scene done with a Beretta M12.

~WOK

 

[wornoutkeyboard]

I came for smut and discoverd Guns & Ammo! It's interesting how weaponry has a fascination for so many, firearms especially. There are those who turn their nose up, but I'm suspicious of how sincere most of those are . I suspect the fascination has something to do with being human - we didn't get from trees to laptops without becoming pretty good in the weaponry field in between. I don't know if the word "fascination" would have applied to your intended expert - Colly - but I'm sure "knowledgeable" would have. That woman would have been listing specifications, with page number citations from Janes All the World's Small Arms!

One minor detail: Revolvers don't have safeties. The equivalent is to keep the chamber under the hammer empty, but I think that really only applies to old fashioned single-action models (like cowboy guns), where you have to cock the hammer back manually. On modern double action revolvers (almost all the .38s and .357s) the first part of the trigger travel cocks the hammer for you, which makes it harder to pull, and harder to be accurate. On most of them you can also cock the hammer manually, in which case the trigger pull will be lighter and it's easier to be accurate.

I don't think most derringers have safeties either, but some modern ones may.

G&A, MJQ, etc pay me to be fascinated. Personally I have been writing FT for gun and military publications for so long I don't find the topic interesting. Just something I happen to know wayyyyyy too much about because I am paid to.

~WOK


PS~ Revolvers don't have safeties (none that I have ever seen anyway - again I do big stuff usually) - but it is always good to check these kinds of facts on ANY gun - don't assume because the gun nuts will know better.

My reccomendation is for a semi. I just don't think a revolver is a good choice.

 

[Cromm Crauch]

What ever gun you choose if your character has a military background (at least US military) make sure that your character doesn't refer to it as a gun. As any artillery soldier will point out its a pistol, revolver, shotgun, or rifle. Arty and ship mounted weapons are called guns to US military personnel and they really do try to drill that in to you when you are training.

I would offer my suggestions as to model but not a big firearms person I just work with what I have to. (btw the army is trying to get away from the 9mils just for the fact that they don't have the stopping power necissary for most military operations.)

 

[Aurora Black]

What ever gun you choose if your character has a military background (at least US military) make sure that your character doesn't refer to it as a gun. As any artillery soldier will point out its a pistol, revolver, shotgun, or rifle. Arty and ship mounted weapons are called guns to US military personnel and they really do try to drill that in to you when you are training.

I would offer my suggestions as to model but not a big firearms person I just work with what I have to. (btw the army is trying to get away from the 9mils just for the fact that they don't have the stopping power necissary for most military operations.)

I appreciate whatever comments I can get on the subject, thanks.

She doesn't have any association with the military. She's an 18 year old civilian.

 

[rgraham666]

(btw the army is trying to get away from the 9mils just for the fact that they don't have the stopping power necissary for most military operations.)

Sort of a threadjack.

Aren't most 9mm weapons for military duty SMGs? To make up for the lack of stopping power?

End sort of a threadjack.

 

[Aurora Black]

Just finished "The Last Dance." Great effort. I too experimented with crime drama in my youth and I have to say that was shorter, sweeter, and overall better than anything I ever did. My only complaints are that it seemed a little bleah in the beginning, but you made up for that quickly, and that you never finished it. Come on, what's gonna happen next? Does he get the bastard? Maybe someday you'll finish it up.

Thanks. I made the mistake of plunging into writing that story without having a plan in mind. I played the whole thing by ear, but I've learned in the years since that that's not the thing to do where I'm concerned. Now I like to set guidelines for myself and follow them, allowing for the occasional idea to come from left field and insinuate itself in the story. Glad you liked it for the most part.

 

[AchtungNight]

Thanks. I made the mistake of plunging into writing that story without having a plan in mind. I played the whole thing by ear, but I've learned in the years since that that's not the thing to do where I'm concerned. Now I like to set guidelines for myself and follow them, allowing for the occasional idea to come from left field and insinuate itself in the story. Glad you liked it for the most part.

I too have learned these lessons.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

True (although any gun can theoretically jam - particularly the older ones as they have suffered distortion from the heat from repeated firings). My note was added for the Semi's. Now -if she was using an automatic (not a semi)...there would some SERIOUS issues as to where she got it...lol. Remember that an automatic is not the same as a semi (even a double action which seems to be fully automatic is not classified as an automatic weapon but an automatic with double action. The term -for us artillery nerds- automatic assumes full automatic capability such as a machine gun, submachine gun, gatling gun etc) . Although it would be fun to see the scene done with a Beretta M12.

~WOK

But to us in the real world the the word automatic implies a hand gun that automatically realoads and cocks itself then is ready to fire again at the pull of the trigger.

A fully automatic weapon is one that will keep on fireing until you let go of the trigger.

Just saying there is military jargon and civilian jargon.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

PS~ Revolvers don't have safeties (none that I have ever seen anyway - again I do big stuff usually) - but it is always good to check these kinds of facts on ANY gun - don't assume because the gun nuts will know better.

My reccomendation is for a semi. I just don't think a revolver is a good choice.

I believe Colt made a line of Revolvers with a safty a few years back.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

What ever gun you choose if your character has a military background (at least US military) make sure that your character doesn't refer to it as a gun. As any artillery soldier will point out its a pistol, revolver, shotgun, or rifle. Arty and ship mounted weapons are called guns to US military personnel and they really do try to drill that in to you when you are training.

I would offer my suggestions as to model but not a big firearms person I just work with what I have to. (btw the army is trying to get away from the 9mils just for the fact that they don't have the stopping power necissary for most military operations.)

This is my rifle.
This is my gun
This one's for killing
This one's for fun

 

[Aurora Black]

This is my rifle.
This is my gun
This one's for killing
This one's for fun

Enjoying yourself?

 

[Aurora Black]

But to us in the real world the the word automatic implies a hand gun that automatically realoads and cocks itself then is ready to fire again at the pull of the trigger.

A fully automatic weapon is one that will keep on fireing until you let go of the trigger.

Just saying there is military jargon and civilian jargon.

An example of an automatic, please? I'm still a bit lost at sea here.