A writer needs some firearms info

[evil tendencies]

Let's say that a very skilled shooter was going to carry a concealed .22LR pistol for personal defense...what kind would he use?

I'm writing such a character in a story, and my firearms resources have kind of petered out.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Ok You've left open a lot of questions:
Hidden.....ie not apparent as a bulge under the armpit
Capacity
Holstered (and where)
Range

And one thing not specified how big is the person, as I'm average and once had to opportunity to fire a Colt .22 Automatic (Described as a "Pocket Pistol") but it was too small for my hands to be comfortable.
Personally I think you are looking at either the Walther P22 or the Sig Sauer P226 for Automatics, Revolvers not so sure anymore.

 

[cassar]

22's emmm reconsider

i would forget about .22's not worth carrying, 9mm glock g26 compact , no hammer to snag on clothing 10 round capacity its also very light plus the safety is in the trigger you carry a round up the spout point then pull the trigger no fiddling with safety's they are also very accurate and reliable ive used a 17 for years without ever having a stoppage g26 is the baby of the family but very good all the same. if you are going to wear it concealed in a pancake holster always wear it with the butt facing front it allows you to draw with either hand should you need to.

walthers to prone to stoppages the sig's to bulky looks aggressive but not practicle for concealment

 

[Donga]

Why do I feel worried when there's someone in Northern Ireland who's an expert in concealing firearms? Were you in 'the regiment'?

 

[evil tendencies]

Cassar, thanks for the advice! I should have said this, but my guy has specific reasons for carrying a pistol chambered for .22LR. I wanted to give him a Glock, but I couldn't find a .22LR version and the ammo is a storyline thing. Just curious, how good is that off-hand draw with the holster as you described?

Umm, as for the specifics that Mike mentioned...

As concealable as possible without hindering a reasonable draw speed. The holstering could be anywhere on his torso, both trying to meet the above needs. Capacity needs to be 7 or 8 rounds in the mag, though he doesn't mind a reload if need be. Range isn't an issue; his concern is engagements within 10-15 yards.

Accuracy of the weapon trumps all of these concerns, though, just to satisfy his personality quirks.

 

[Rodnik]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_TPH
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_21_Bobcat

If they're used for defense, you have to augment the stopping power of the pistol---you'll want to pick a good, light, hollow-point round. As alluded to, .22s are just not a good choice for this type of thing.

For the .22 to be a viable option, it needs to be clean--at all times---and a person must be extremely accurate with the weapon (practice, practice, practice).

A .380 is a good compromise between 9mm/.40 and the .22

Cheers,

 

[Einion]

Let's say that a very skilled shooter was going to carry a concealed .22 pistol for personal defense...what kind would he use?

There's no one answer to that unfortunately, since people have different tastes and biases (see cassar's reply) when it comes to guns, just like with everything else.

Presume this is concealed about his person? If so, tucked into pocket or waistband or in a holster of some kind? If it's a holster, belt or under the arm? Decide if the character would train to be ambidextrous so he'd want a holster positioned for

If you want to break it down in terms of your protagonist's character:
revolvers are completely reliable, but smaller capacity;
semi-autos (what people too often refer to as autos today) have higher capacity but might jam due to their mechanical complexity;
longer barrel = higher muzzle velocity, so within reason a longer-barrelled handgun could be preferable to a short-barrelled one in a smaller calibre like .22 LR, assuming the barrel (and any foresight) doesn't pose a problem with quick draw;
being ready to fire instantly is the revolver's traditional key advantage, but many modern semi-autos have multiple safeties, meaning they are now safe to carry with a round chambered;
possible brand preference;
last but not least, country of manufacture might be a factor - a European (or at least non-American) might have no desire to carry around a US piece, while the same could be true in reverse for an American shooter.

Since you just say .22, that's actually not one calibre. While .22 Short and .22 Long are now obsolete, .22 LR is the norm, there's also .22 Magnum. Any revolver chambered for the magnum version could theoretically fire LR as well (just like .357 Magnums can fire .38 Special and .38).

So, choices:
older S&W revolvers, J frame, with a shrouded hammer
S&W 317 revolver, 8-shot cylinder
S&W 617 revolver, 10-shot, stainless steel

Ruger Mark II (older) or Mark III semi-auto, available in a variety of finishes and barrel lengths
Ruger 22/45, with Bull barrel or Slab-Side

Taurus (Brazilian firm) model 941 revolver
Taurus PT-22 semi-auto pistol, rosewood grips, blue or nickel finish

Baretta model 71 semi-auto pistol (older, all-metal gun, used my Mossad)
Baretta model 87 semi-auto pistol Cheetah (modern version of above, all metal)
Baretta U22 neos semi-auto pistol (modern, futuristic looking, polymer frame)

Walther P22, polymer frame and metal slide in various colour combos

SIG Sauer Mosquito, polymer frame and accessory rail, metal slide in various finishes

Einion

 

[Einion]

i would forget about .22's not worth carrying

Hahahahaha, tell that to Mossad!

Not everyone is as hung up on calibre, depending on exact use; in addition to the idea of shooting like a surgeon, bullet design plays a large part in damage potential.

As far as 9mm goes, I'm sure you're aware that lots of people don't give that the time of day - and quite rightly so given its often-poor ballistic performance (compared to .45 ACP for example).

Einion

 

[Tercha]

hmm concealed eh,.....a custom made weapon out of ceramic ( avoid detection by x rays well at least the older machines ) in a walking stick? single shot though......concealed in a book say 8 short barrels that fire simultaneously? good to deal with multiple targets. a laptop / briefcase with automatic capability, the germans in WW2 had belt buckle guns, all very 007 or day of the jackel, but if he had to have a pistol I think his choice would depend very much on the character, his training and experiences and of course when the story is set. the le-mat is an interesting choice around the american civil war, though the caliber(s) are wrong, but set in the present day with accuracy one of the prime concerns - maybe a target pistol?

 

[airhead]

Beretta or Walther with extended barrel with the end threaded for a suppressor. (I am presuming that is the reason for the .22?)

You have to shoot subsonic ammo, and have a lock up device to avoid any blow back. This effectively makes it a one-shot weapon as you have to undo the lockup and manually cycle a new round into the chamber.

But why a .22 unless for suppression? I can carry a full sized 1911 .45 in slacks and a t-shirt or dress shirt without anyone noticing.

If noise is the issue, 9mm subsonic ammo is also available. Add some of the modern suppressors along with an H&K delayed action and you can actually hear the firing pin hit the bullet.

 

[cassar]

please allow me to retort

9mm is a common round easily available it has stopping power but also allows for a larger mag capacity as for .22 you dont need to be that good a marksman for the weapon to be effective it should realy be used close quarters (all praise to mossad) the muzzle being placed against the base of the skull behind the ear or at the back of the head where the spine joins the head or placed into the orbit of the eye and fired probably requiring several shots to have the desired effect he would have to be quite the marksmann to achieve that at a distance with a 22 as ive seen even high velocity 7.62 rounds removed from the orbit without damage to the eye. oh by the way did i mention that the marine version of the glock can be fired underwater the only difference between it and the standard glock is the barrel is coated with salt water resistant stuff also its parts are interchangable you can change the slide/barrel assembly to suit 40 38 both 45's and 357 as well as 9 and 10mm calibres.

the draw position is important in case you are shot/injured in your favoured hand/arm/shoulder you can still remove and fire with your weak hand the glock's capacity for already having a round chamberd and no safty is also handy and stops you having to cock the gun on your boot heel (try cocking a slide one handed)

 

[supervike]

You people sure know alot about guns.:tremble!:

 

[Dragonsreach]

You people sure know alot about guns.:tremble!:

And Poisons, Knives, Nerve Strikes, Blunt Force Trauma.........



You have a right to be worried:sinister::agent:

 

[Donga]

And Poisons, Knives, Nerve Strikes, Blunt Force Trauma.........



You have a right to be worried:sinister::agent:

See my previous post...

Guns don't kill people, people do! But people with guns can kill MORE people...

:tremble!:

 

[airhead]

Particular reason for a .22?

I wouldn't carry one as a backup.

KelTec PF-9
9mm 7 rounds - useful as a BUG (Back Up Gun) carried in either a pocket wallet or ankle holster.

Pirmary carry, I'd want something with a bit more barrel and prefer a bit more caliber, but a 9 mm will do with some decent rounds.

I'm not a fan of the Glocks, they just don't fit my hand well - fine guns, just not for me.

 

[Einion]

9mm is a common round easily available it has stopping power...

Stopping power, as it's commonly defined, is a myth.

Regarding availability, .22 LR is not exactly hard to find. It could be the most-sold round ever, despite the ubiquity of 9x19 in handguns and submachineguns in military and police use.

as for .22 you dont need to be that good a marksman for the weapon to be effective it should realy be used close quarters...

Besides the opening post defining the user as a very skilled shooter anyway, unless one imagines contact range or close to it only, which can't be assured, then good marksmanship is vital. It's more and more important the smaller the calibre because of limited penetration and the small permanent cavity the bullet forms in tissue, with the requirement being instant incapacitation.

...concealed in a book say 8 short barrels that fire simultaneously? good to deal with multiple targets.

What, with independently-targeted smart bullets? :smirk:

You people sure know alot about guns.:tremble!:

And you're surprised? :glasses-nerdy:

Einion

 

[cassar]

load of ballistics

stopping power? myth, ho hum.. some folks are extremely proficient at talking out of their huhummm's its simple physics mass velocity etc thats why a large meteor took out a large area of tunguska and small ones make pretty patterns in the sky. large subsonic rounds have a larger shock wave travelling in front of the round which causes more cavitation than a smaller round. the same applies to supersonic projectiles only the shock wave travels behind the round,the larger the round the more energy transfered to the target more trauma is caused the greater the effect on the nervous system hence more stopping power, simple ballistics really.

 

[supervike]

See my previous post...

Guns don't kill people, people do! But people with guns can kill MORE people...

:tremble!:

Unless those people are Chuck Norris.

 

[Tercha]

(try cocking a slide one handed)
press the front bottom of the slide against a hard surface (allowing space for the barrel to be revealed)one firm solid push (to eject any stoppage) and release. It works on a browning 9mm

 

[Tercha]

try this, http://www.chuckhawks.com/naa_mini.htm