Gun Advice

[Aurora Black]

I originally planned to ask Colly ( ) about this, but now I'm creating this thread.

I'm currently working on a piece that will feature an assassination/suicide, and I'd like suggestions on what type of handgun to use. It should be small enough to fit into a woman's handbag. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[imalickin]

.22 or .25 Automatic if you are going to be close. A tap to the head will do it.

If you are going to be any farther away then a .380 auto.

Worried about noise, the go with the .22 and get close enough to put it against the back of the head.

 

[scottmcc]

snub nose .38 would work, compact but a bit of a report.
.22 would be a bit quieter.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I don't remember the name of it, but there is one that fits in the palm of your hand.

 

[imalickin]

Let's put it this way...

The .22 is the mob hit weapon of choice. Makes a small entry wound without blood splatter and no exit wound. Just kinda rattles around in the head for a bit scrambling the brain.

That's the way to go.

 

[scottmcc]

Let's put it this way...

The .22 is the mob hit weapon of choice. Makes a small entry wound without blood splatter and no exit wound. Just kinda rattles around in the head for a bit scrambling the brain.

That's the way to go.

Not to mention no one would look twice at you for buying a .22

 

[imalickin]

Not to mention no one would look twice at you for buying a .22

There is that... *shakes head knowingly*

 

[CopyCarver]

I originally planned to ask Colly ( ) about this, but now I'm creating this thread.

I'm currently working on a piece that will feature an assassination/suicide, and I'd like suggestions on what type of handgun to use. It should be small enough to fit into a woman's handbag. Thanks in advance for your help.

I don't disagree with anything anyone has said thus far, but I have to offer a cautionary note: whatever gun you mention, you'll get flames from the "gun nuts." Brian Garfield gots literally bags of mail complaining when he put a puny .32 revolver in the hands of his "Death Wish" antihero. When the movie version switched to a gigantoid pistol, gun buffs complained about that too. What bothered Garfield the most were the people who included autopsy photos and multi-page clinical decriptions of the wounds inflicted by their favorite guns. Many other mystery/crime writers have had similar experiences.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

'Rora...

Go with the .22 auto. It's small, compact and will get the job done. As Ima suggests, a shot to the head at close range will do just fine.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

North American Arms .22 five shot mini-revolver if it needs to be really compact (derringer size).

Revolvers have a more "traditional" look, automatics a more "modern" look. How does your character dress? Accessories make the outfit, Dahling, and you wouldn't want to mismatch, here.

Edited to add: Some small automatic have colored grip panel options that can be divine. A pink-gripped .25 is about as chic as it gets. I suppose a pragmatic mafia-type would sniff, though, and the caliber advice above is good.

 

[R. Richard]

If you want to use a standard gun, try the S&W Model 60 LS, "Chiefs Special Stainless Lady Smith." It is a 2 inch barrel revolver intended for use by ladies.

Perhaps a better choice is a derringer. A derringer is intended to be the smallest useable handgun of a given caliber. Derringers have been used by women as a weapon which is easily concealable in a purse, or as a stocking gun. [The stocking gun thing would seem to work well wioth a Literotica story!]

Perhaps the best derringer would be the Remington pattern [over, under, two shot] derringer in .38 Special. The .38 special gives good killing power and the two shot capacity allows for homicide/suicide.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

If you want to use a standard gun, try the S&W Model 60 LS, "Chiefs Special Stainless Lady Smith." It is a 2 inch barrel revolver intended for use by ladies.

Perhaps a better choice is a derringer. A derringer is intended to be the smallest useable handgun of a given caliber. Derringers have been used by women as a weapon which is easily concealable in a purse, or as a stocking gun. [The stocking gun thing would seem to work well wioth a Literotica story!]

Perhaps the best derringer would be the Remington pattern [over, under, two shot] derringer in .38 Special. The .38 special gives good killing power and the two shot capacity allows for homicide/suicide.

That's the one!!!!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

If you want to use a standard gun, try the S&W Model 60 LS, "Chiefs Special Stainless Lady Smith." It is a 2 inch barrel revolver intended for use by ladies.

Perhaps a better choice is a derringer. A derringer is intended to be the smallest useable handgun of a given caliber. Derringers have been used by women as a weapon which is easily concealable in a purse, or as a stocking gun. [The stocking gun thing would seem to work well wioth a Literotica story!]

Perhaps the best derringer would be the Remington pattern [over, under, two shot] derringer in .38 Special. The .38 special gives good killing power and the two shot capacity allows for homicide/suicide.

That would be good for a stand off killing. If you are going to do it close up and personal then you would want the .22, no blood splater.

http://www.calibersnm.com/Handgun rentals.jpg

These are all .22 handguns...

 

[Zeb_Carter]

And here is the derringer...

http://content.kapowwe.com/images3/1-1-337_5.jpg

 

[Aurora Black]

Did I mention that the character who's doing the shooting is under 21? Buying a gun is out. The bigger the noise, the better. I want it to be an instantly fatal, nasty gashy head wound for the victim, but the close range thing is going to be very tricky. I want my assassin to do it in a crowd, so there needs to be some distance involved. 10 feet, maybe. Is that still considered close range? Can the .22 handle that?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Did I mention that the character who's doing the shooting is under 21? Buying a gun is out. The bigger the noise, the better. I want it to be an instantly fatal, nasty gashy head wound for the victim, but the close range thing is going to be very tricky. I want my assassin to do it in a crowd, so there needs to be some distance involved. 10 feet, maybe. Is that still considered close range? Can the .22 handle that?

Only if the person is a expert marksman...headshots are difficult at best. That's why everyone goes for center mass.

In a situtation as you describe, I take it the killer has no regard for bystanders so, a .38 to .45 would do just fine. A 9mm would work as well.

Of course you know it never looks like it does in the movies?

http://digilander.libero.it/giampingjack/handguns.JPG

 

[CopyCarver]

Did I mention that the character who's doing the shooting is under 21? Buying a gun is out. The bigger the noise, the better. I want it to be an instantly fatal, nasty gashy head wound for the victim, but the close range thing is going to be very tricky. I want my assassin to do it in a crowd, so there needs to be some distance involved. 10 feet, maybe. Is that still considered close range? Can the .22 handle that?

A .22 could certainly kill someone at 10 feet--if it hits the brain or spine--but it wouldn't inflict any "nasty gashy wound" and it certainly wouldn't make a big noise.

It you want massive wounds and "big bangs" you might consider a snub-nosed .357 magnum revolver--small enough to fit into a purse, extremely destructive to the human head, and LOUD.

BTW, in many states, 18 is the age limit for legal handgun purchase--unless that's been changed recently. In any case, handguns are available from "sidewalk salesmen" all over the country, and the only age requirement is possession of cash.

 

[Aurora Black]

Only if the person is a expert marksman...headshots are difficult at best. That's why everyone goes for center mass.

In a situtation as you describe, I take it the killer has no regard for bystanders so, a .38 to .45 would do just fine. A 9mm would work as well.

Of course you know it never looks like it does in the movies?

http://digilander.libero.it/giampingjack/handguns.JPG

I didn't know that. Thanks so much for the help, guys! I really appreciate this.

 

[Aurora Black]

A .22 could certainly kill someone at 10 feet--if it hits the brain or spine--but it wouldn't inflict any "nasty gashy wound" and it certainly wouldn't make a big noise.

It you want massive wounds and "big bangs" you might consider a snub-nosed .357 magnum revolver--small enough to fit into a purse, extremely destructive to the human head, and LOUD.

BTW, in many states, 18 is the age limit for legal handgun purchase--unless that's been changed recently. In any case, handguns are available from "sidewalk salesmen" all over the country, and the only age requirement is possession of cash.

I'll have to do some digging to see if Michigan is included in that roster. This piece takes place in 1994-95, so I have some heavy research ahead of me.

Dirty Harry's gun? YIKES!

 

[R. Richard]

That would be good for a stand off killing. If you are going to do it close up and personal then you would want the .22, no blood splater.

http://www.calibersnm.com/Handgun rentals.jpg

These are all .22 handguns...

Ummm, Zeb, the killer is going to kill, then suicide. I would think that the possibility of a little blood spatter would not be a real deterrent here.

JMHO.

 

[R. Richard]

Did I mention that the character who's doing the shooting is under 21? Buying a gun is out. The bigger the noise, the better. I want it to be an instantly fatal, nasty gashy head wound for the victim, but the close range thing is going to be very tricky. I want my assassin to do it in a crowd, so there needs to be some distance involved. 10 feet, maybe. Is that still considered close range? Can the .22 handle that?

As Zeb has said, a head shot, even a 10 feet is a marksman type thing. If you want to use a head shot, then you better develop your character as a marksman. Any normal caliber of handgun will inflict a fatal wound at 10 feet for a marksman. In fact professionals prefer a .22, as it does not make a lot of noise.

There are a lot of exotic handguns, including derringers, that would work for the killing. However, the .38 police special derringer has been around for a long time. The derringer could have been her grandfather's [hell, even granmother's] weapon and would not even need to have been purchased. In addition, her grandmother/grandfather taught her to shoot, for self protection.

 

[Aurora Black]

As Zeb has said, a head shot, even a 10 feet is a marksman type thing. If you want to use a head shot, then you better develop your character as a marksman. Any normal caliber of handgun will inflict a fatal wound at 10 feet for a marksman. In fact professionals prefer a .22, as it does not make a lot of noise.

There are a lot of exotic handguns, including derringers, that would work for the killing. However, the .38 police special derringer has been around for a long time. The derringer could have been her grandfather's [hell, even granmother's] weapon and would not even need to have been purchased. In addition, her grandmother/grandfather taught her to shoot, for self protection.

Thank you. I'll consider it.

This brings me to another question: Is the .38 the standard issue for police officers nationwide?

 

[Liar]

I only have one advice re: guns. Point the end with the hole away from you.

 

[Antfarmer77]

Does it have to be a handgun? A sawed-off .410 pump would fit a petite woman. Loud, intimidating, messy, everything that makes for a gory peice of fiction. (Hopefully it's fiction )

 

[CopyCarver]

I'll have to do some digging to see if Michigan is included in that roster. This piece takes place in 1994-95, so I have some heavy research ahead of me.

Dirty Harry's gun? YIKES!

Heavy research lightened: the legal purchase age in Michigan in 1994-95 was 18, and still is. For confirmation, see:

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/StateLaws.aspx?ST=MI

re your question about .38s in another post--the .38 Special was once the most common police handgun in the country, but most PDs have switched to either 9mm or 10mm S&W semi-automatics. This was mostly due to the increased cartridge capacity of the newer semi-autos.