Gun Question

[dr_mabeuse]

What's a caliber that's smaller than a .38 and bigger than a .22? Something a woman might carry for self defense? Isn't there a .32?

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Yes, there is a .32. Michael Keaton was shot with one in a dream sequence in Mr Mom.

 

[rgraham666]

Short list of bullet calibers.

 

[TE999]

A .32 cal Beretta Cheetah is an excellent close defense weapon, both light and powerful.
A perfect 'lady's gun'.

 

[R. Richard]

Beretta makes several very small pistols in .25 caliber. The Berettas are full function handguns, with typically seven or eight shot magazines and might be used by a woman as an easily concealable handgun with some small stopping power.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

DOC

Your friend can always throw a bullet by hand, I suppose. But what's important is the grains of gunpowder in the shell and the physical properties of the bullet. That is, do you want a nice clean wound or something dreadful?

 

[The_Fool]

38 cal is typically a revolver cartridge. 9 mm and .380 are semi-auto pistols with the .380 being not quite as powerful and usually appearing in smaller guns. .32 ACP and .25 ACP are also for semi-autos but are less common. Might see more of those in the old "Saturday Night Specials." There are derringers out that chamber everything from .22s up to the big calibers. So anything would play.

Unless there is a specific reason to give that much detail, you might just refer to the gun by type, semi, revolver or derringer.

 

[TxRad]

Doc, you might want to check on a .32 magnum. I believe it was brought a few years ago, or maybe a couple of decades ago by Ruger. It kicks like a .22 mag but hits like a .38. It was semi auto and compact. A friend of mine's wife carried one and I got a chance to shoot it. A sweet little gun even in my big hands.

ETA: Both Colt and Smith & Wesson made revolvers in a .32 Long caliber.

 

[john-the-author]

Doc, you might want to check on a .32 magnum. I believe it was brought a few years ago, or maybe a couple of decades ago by Ruger. It kicks like a .22 mag but hits like a .38. It was semi auto and compact. A friend of mine's wife carried one and I got a chance to shoot it. A sweet little gun even in my big hands.

ETA: Both Colt and Smith & Wesson made revolvers in a .32 Long caliber.

Agreed. A .32 caliber is a small, easy to carry weapon that still has enough stopping power to actually seriously wound someone easily.

 

[Weird Harold]

Short list of bullet calibers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_handgun_cartridges

The list of handgun cartirdiges is closer to what Doc's looking for.

9mm is technically within Doc's specifications -- .355" vs .357" for "38 caliber" bullets and would probably be the choice recommened as a "lady's self-defense gun" by most modern gun dealers/enthusiasts.

.25 Auto/ACP and .32 ACP would be more of a period piece "lady's gun" because they're "underpowered" and historically only effective at very close range. They also have a somewhat shady reputation as the common calibers of cheap, poorly made "Saturday Night Specials."

Some of Sam Colt's early "pocket pistols" were revolvers chambered for ".30 Colt" or ".30 Short" but that would only be found today as a legacy gun -- "the gun grandma carried in her garter" king of thing.

A woman of any era might carry a Derringer, but the most common Derringers were chambered for .44 or .45 caliber. I'm pretty sure Derringers were made in smaller calibers, but they aren't very common.

 

[redpaint]

I like the Beretta .380 small light and not much kick but hits hard. Witch I didn't realize was "The Cheetah" that TE999 was talking about.

http://www.beretta.com/index.aspx?m=74&idc=2&ids=23

 

[dr_mabeuse]

My story's set in the 40's, the Sam Spade era. Would they be using 9 mm's then?

 

[JagFarlane]

What's a caliber that's smaller than a .38 and bigger than a .22? Something a woman might carry for self defense? Isn't there a .32?

Doc,

What time period are you referring to?

My guess is something more current time period. If so, you have some play here. A few of the more popular types are:

Bersa chambered in a .380 Auto. Bersa models are less expensive than their more known counterparts, though are slowly gaining in popularity due to the rave reviews of current customers.

Berettas, Sigs, Rugers, Springfields, just about any manufacturer makes 9mm pistols. The ammunition for the 9mm is often available and relatively inexpensive due to the popularity of the round. The kick is relatively light, and small grips are readily available for female hands. Two recent guns gaining favor in the CCW groups are the Ruger LCP and the Sig 250.

You also shouldn't count out the .40 caliber weapons. They're very popular CCW, with less kick than a .45 but slightly larger than a 9mm. They are also readily available from any of the major manufacturers.

In choosing a CCW, your female character will be concerned with three things, grip [particularly for the smaller hands of a female], kick, and overall size. You have some leeway with the size vs a male charrie in that she could just put it in a large purse.

To backup, yes there are .32's and .25's, both of which are good at short range. As a note, the .22 is deadly within the hands of a skilled shooter at short range and does offer hollow points, which HP's are the ammo of choice for CCW. These calibers are also offered in "derringer" style pistols, which chamber one to two rounds in a break-open barrel. At a very short range [we're talking a few feet] they're accurate and deadly. She will also most likely, if she has any training, to shoot for one of three targets, the "T" which is a head shot [instant drop], torso shot [9mm and below the target, pumped on adrenaline may still move forwards in the attack], or pelvic area shot [will drop anyone instantly].

One more note: I'm not sure how familiar you are with CCW regulations. Every state has their own regulations for CCW, and you MUST be registered in order to carry concealed. This often involves a class, written exam, and often a live fire. Generally, you are required to recertify in live fire once a year.

Hope this information does help.

 

[R. Richard]

My story's set in the 40's, the Sam Spade era. Would they be using 9 mm's then?

In the 40's, the character would probably use a .32 pistol. The only 40's era 9mm weapon in general circulation was the Parabellum [miscalled Luger].

 

[JagFarlane]

In the 40's, the character would probably use a .32 pistol. The only 40's era 9mm weapon in general circulation was the Parabellum [miscalled Luger].

Hmmm what about the .380? Its been around since the early 1900's and always does seem to be a popular self-defense choice [these days, particularly among the ladies].

 

[TE999]

In the 40's, the character would probably use a .32 pistol. The only 40's era 9mm weapon in general circulation was the Parabellum [miscalled Luger].

Sam Colt made some lightweight six-shot wheel guns (revolvers) in .32 and .38 caliber with stubby barrels that were used by police detectives and anyone else who wanted an easy to conceal firearm with short range stopping power.

They were manufactured from the 1920's well into the 1970's when automatics became preferable.

 

[TxRad]

My story's set in the 40's, the Sam Spade era. Would they be using 9 mm's then?

For the 40's I might suggest the S&W .32 long Police Positive. It was a hammerless revolver carried by many detectives in their coat pockets. MY grandfather carried one up until he retired from the police force in the early 60's

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

.32 or .25 most likely. .380 less common then but a signifigantly more powerful cartridge. As for the gun, a small semi-auto, naturally with pink handgrips. (I'm serious, and I kinda wouldn't mind having one like that for myself. )

 

[starrkers]

Always had a soft spot for the Walther PPK (link)- it's an elegant weapon. But I have small hands and on many standard handguns the grips are desgined for much larger hands.

 

[JagFarlane]

.32 or .25 most likely. .380 less common then but a signifigantly more powerful cartridge. As for the gun, a small semi-auto, naturally with pink handgrips. (I'm serious, and I kinda wouldn't mind having one like that for myself. )

I have seen shotguns with all pink stocks for female skeet shooters...so that wouldn't be too off the mark

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

M: Yes, I thought so. This damn Beretta again. I’ve told you about this before. (to Boothroyd) You tell him — for the last time!

MAJOR BOOTHROYD: Nice and light — in a lady’s handbag.
No stopping power.

M: Then from now on you carry a different gun, show him armourer.

MAJOR BOOTHROYD: Walther PPK 7.65 mil with a delivery like a brick through a plate-glass window.

M: Any questions Double-O Seven?

JAMES BOND: No sir.

M: Alright then. Best of luck.

JAMES BOND: Thank you sir. (Bond picks up the Walther in its box, hiding the Beretta underneath, and walks to the office door)

M: (without looking up from his desk) Double-O Seven!

JAMES BOND: Sir?

M: Just Leave the Beretta.


(The Beretta was a .22. "7.65" is a .32. RA)

 

[The_Fool]

I actually have just the gun. Wanna borrow it? Okay the gun in the link is not mine, but it is pretty much a duplicate...

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=103551059#PIC

 

[Wildcard Ky]

.25 or the .32 autos would be the most common. There's several wildcats out there that fall within the caliber range you're suggesting, but the two I mentioned are quite common.

 

[JagFarlane]

.25 or the .32 autos would be the most common. There's several wildcats out there that fall within the caliber range you're suggesting, but the two I mentioned are quite common.

Something I dug up. The women that worked for the TVA during the 40's were issued .38's. Something to consider, that they would be familiar with that particular caliber.

 

[Weird Harold]

My story's set in the 40's, the Sam Spade era. Would they be using 9 mm's then?

I'd have to agree with TxRad and The_Fool -- A short-barrelled S&W .32 long, top break or hammerless, double action revolver.

9mm parabellum was available in WWI surplus Lugers and interwar models. The Walther PPK was still restricted issue to German police and Military and AFAIK, that was pretty much it for 9mm (other than various German military sub-machine guns.) Most civilian handguns were still revolvers although automatics in .32 ACP .380 Auto and .45 ACP (surplus or souvenier M1911's) were availble.