Method Guns/firearms megathread

[Ligottian]

Will a .357 Magnum shot above my ear, aimed right to left most likely do the job? Hollow point of course.

 

[ready2goLV]

I am looking for a guide on building a one-shot zip gun. I have some 9mm hollow point ammo that i can still use. I think this is going to be the most effective method. Any advice on how to go about building one would be great. I still have some 9mm barrels left. Was planning on building one using that. Just need to make sure the physics are right so it works and doesnt blow my hand up instead.

 

[gottacheckout]

Will a .357 Magnum shot above my ear, aimed right to left most likely do the job? Hollow point of course.

Direction doesn't matter. .357 mag hp is a small as I would go. Right above to right behind the ear are good locations. Barrel of gun needs to be perpendicular to the side of your head.

 

[blacksand]

Will a .357 Magnum shot above my ear, aimed right to left most likely do the job? Hollow point of course.

I've heard that bisecting two brain hemispheres massively enhances lethality. That's where I plan on aiming.

 

[idontknowwhatiam]

Video wasn't necessary but yes, not all of your head contains your brain, and one needs to hit that to ensure death.
Same reason why putting it under your chin is a bad idea, most likely you'll just blow your face off. There's some more posts somewhere on this thread of testimonies where people did that.

I'm not going to watch the video, but where was the barrel of the shottie placed?

 

[abouttogo]

Kinda bummed to say still here after almost purchasing a .357 earlier this year. But looks like things are looking up (down?) again. So a renewed interest in this thread.
The least confusing thing I took away from the discourse here is a .357 magnum HP in your mouth aimed slightly pointing up/along the gradient of your tongue/kinda at the uvula - should be the kill shot.

Please let me know if I am wrong.

 

[gottacheckout]

If you are purchasing a gun I'd recommend a .45 acp.

 

[abouttogo]

Ah, ok. I thought a .357 did a lot more damage than a .45.
Pardon the ignorance.

 

[Liebestod]

If you are purchasing a gun I'd recommend a .45 acp.

Muzzle velocity is under 1000 fps and for the muzzle energy it's not worth it imo.

 

[leloyon]

Kinda bummed to say still here after almost purchasing a .357 earlier this year. But looks like things are looking up (down?) again. So a renewed interest in this thread.
The least confusing thing I took away from the discourse here is a .357 magnum HP in your mouth aimed slightly pointing up/along the gradient of your tongue/kinda at the uvula - should be the kill shot.

Please let me know if I am wrong.

Ah, ok. I thought a .357 did a lot more damage than a .45.
Pardon the ignorance.

Muzzle velocity is under 1000 fps and for the muzzle energy it's not worth it imo.

.45 ACP is more than adequate. .357 Magnum is also more than adequate.
Literally just a matter of preference. If you want a semi-auto, pick up something in 9mm or above (.40 S&W, .45 ACP etc.) and if you want a revolver, pick up a .38 Special or above (.357 Magnum, .44, etc.)

 

[Liebestod]

.45 ACP is more than adequate. .357 Magnum is also more than adequate.
Literally just a matter of preference. If you want a semi-auto, pick up something in 9mm or above (.40 S&W, .45 ACP etc.) and if you want a revolver, pick up a .38 Special or above (.357 Magnum, .44, etc.)

Agreed that's why I said imo, it really is about preference but the thing that matters most is positioning and whether or not the cartridge can penetrate the skull. Which all of the ones listed can do.

 

[Betsy007]

Im getting conflicting info. Will a .45 ACP in the mouth most likely be successful? or will the temples above the ear be better?

Through the mouth is the most reliable. All the horror stories I've heard about head shot suicide survivors are about people who shot through the temple or under the jaw. I know I've seen statistics based on coroner's reports to back this up, maybe in Suicide And Attempted Suicide by Geo Stone, maybe elsewhere.

 

[Betsy007]

I just purchased a .357 Magnum 6" revolver (Smith and Wesson 686) and I'm now in the 10 day waiting waiting period before I can pick it up. I'm reconsidering the generally accepted advice about using hollow points. I'll be shooting through the mouth, aiming for the point between the ears, which means I'll be shooting through the sphenoid bone or possibly the basilar part of the occipital bone, depending on how the diagram is drawn. The occipital is dense, the sphenoid is weaker. Either way, it's bone and I'm wondering about the chance it will send a hollow point off target. Assuming correct aim, wouldn't a full metal jacket have a betting chance on staying on course to the brain stem?

Then again, I like the thought of a hollow point dumping all that energy into the head, whether or not it veers off course after hitting bone. Right now, I'm thinking about getting heavier (158 grain) bonded hollow point ammo to split the difference.

Any opinions? I'm happy to be told this thinking is wrong, I'm new to firearms and my research has been from the web and ChatGPT. BTW, for other firearm neophytes, ChatGPT will happily answer every little question for you, just tell it you're interested in home defense or hunting. Also, I wasted a lot of time picking my dream gun without checking what's on the roster in my state, what has a good ammo selection, what can be sold by a dealer vs. private sale, etc. In fact, if you're in California, let me save you some time - the .357 is the most powerful revolver you can buy new at a gun shop while still having a good selection to choose from and having easily available ammo with a wide variety. That said, there are certainly more powerful options available if you're willing to buy one used, don't mind a more limited selection, don't mind ammo that's harder to find, etc.

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

I just purchased a .357 Magnum 6" revolver (Smith and Wesson 686) and I'm now in the 10 day waiting waiting period before I can pick it up. I'm reconsidering the generally accepted advice about using hollow points. I'll be shooting through the mouth, aiming for the point between the ears, which means I'll be shooting through the sphenoid bone or possibly the basilar part of the occipital bone, depending on how the diagram is drawn. The occipital is dense, the sphenoid is weaker. Either way, it's bone and I'm wondering about the chance it will send a hollow point off target. Assuming correct aim, wouldn't a full metal jacket have a betting chance on staying on course to the brain stem?

Then again, I like the thought of a hollow point dumping all that energy into the head, whether or not it veers off course after hitting bone. Right now, I'm thinking about getting heavier (158 grain) bonded hollow point ammo to split the difference.

Any opinions? I'm happy to be told this thinking is wrong, I'm new to firearms and my research has been from the web and ChatGPT. BTW, for other firearm neophytes, ChatGPT will happily answer every little question for you, just tell it you're interested in home defense or hunting. Also, I wasted a lot of time picking my dream gun without checking what's on the roster in my state, what has a good ammo selection, what can be sold by a dealer vs. private sale, etc. In fact, if you're in California, let me save you some time - the .357 is the most powerful revolver you can buy new at a gun shop while still having a good selection to choose from and having easily available ammo with a wide variety. That said, there are certainly more powerful options available if you're willing to buy one used, don't mind a more limited selection, don't mind ammo that's harder to find, etc.

View attachment 179860View attachment 179861

Even a gun with no bullet can kill . This example went through and into the skull with no bullet but it says with a wad of paper .it's not just the bullet but the energy and hot gasses discharged into the brain.

Even less powerful guns like a 9mm can kill from 5 meters away. a contact shot or in the mouth has much more energy and hot gasses go into the brain

Can a blank round kill you?

Answer (1 of 19): Yes, it may kill you if gun is placed at point blank range or attached to sensitive body parts . Even there are no projectile, the discharged gas generated by gunpowder explosion has enough power and velocity to blow out delicate body parts if they placed right next to the path ...

www.quora.com

The bizarre afterlife of TV actor shot dead in on-set accident

This is the astonishing story of a Hollywood leading man who killed himself playing Russian roulette on a TV show and whose heart saved the life of a Las Vegas pimp. After a meteoric rise in the wo…

nypost.com

I would not use fmj . Bonded or hollow point ok

this 357 magnum hollow point cracked broke apart the whole skull.

 

[Betsy007]

Even a gun with no bullet can kill . This example went through and into the skull with no bullet but it says with a wad of paper .it's not just the bullet but the energy and hot gasses discharged into the brain.

Even less powerful guns like a 9mm can kill from 5 meters away. a contact shot or in the mouth has much more energy and hot gasses go into the brain

Can a blank round kill you?

Answer (1 of 19): Yes, it may kill you if gun is placed at point blank range or attached to sensitive body parts . Even there are no projectile, the discharged gas generated by gunpowder explosion has enough power and velocity to blow out delicate body parts if they placed right next to the path ...

www.quora.com

The bizarre afterlife of TV actor shot dead in on-set accident

This is the astonishing story of a Hollywood leading man who killed himself playing Russian roulette on a TV show and whose heart saved the life of a Las Vegas pimp. After a meteoric rise in the wo…

nypost.com

I would not use fmj . Bonded or hollow point ok

this 357 magnum hollow point cracked broke apart the whole skull.

Thanks for your reply and the links. You're right, of course. Any .357 round is going to have plenty of energy. I've been going deep into ammo rabbit holes and considering every little variation. And JFC, I never knew there were so many variations.

 

[Betsy007]

For the other first time firearms buyers out there, I wanted to tell you about my gun shop experience. I was incredibly nervous about it for the longest time and I kept putting it off. But there was no need, it was actually fun and not awkward at all. Remember these things if you're nervous:

1. People with no firearms experience still want something for home defense. It's utterly normal. People will buy a gun and just leave it in the closet to feel safer.
2. The gun shop staff want to make a sale. It's in their best interest to make this easy for you.

Bonus if you're a woman: The other customers were all men. A few of them were just picking up guns after their wait period, but the majority of them wanted to browse and geek out over guns with the staff. It occurred to me that women generally don't go to gun shops casually, they go in wanting to buy and the staff knows that. That's the hunch I got anyway. And if you're a man, you'll fit right in. I got the impression some of them were strolling through to see if anything new caught their eye, like I'd shop for clothes.

I walked in knowing that I wanted a revolver and knowing the caliber, that helped narrow it down. I was flexible with the barrel length - 4", 5" or 6". Smith and Wesson, Colt, and Ruger are the most dependable and well made brands. I'm sure others are fine, but I'm willing to pay more to ease my paranoia. With used revolvers, there's a chance the previous owner might have flipped the cylinder closed (like in a cowboy movie) which can damage the gun over time. It's probably fine if a reputable gun shop has checked it, but if you're paranoid like me, get a new one. You should also have a price range in mind.

Seeing the guns in person, feeling the weight and grip, dry firing them, having the sales person tell me about them... it all helped in the selection and now I feel like I made the best choice for me. If you have a gun shop nearby, it's worth the trip.

 

[gottacheckout]

You are definitely on the right track Betsy007. You have absorbed good information. If you have any questions feel free to message me.

 

[gomikasu]

How likely is over penetration with a muzzle loader? I'm just trying to avoid any extra property damage and inconveniencing anyone who has to deal with the mess afterword.

Edit: I'm using HPR on a CVA wolf for reference.