Handgun vs Hanging

[TBONTB]

Hi folks. I've been lurking and just became a member. I am in the US an am a retired female. I'm evaluating methods that seem effective and feasible to me, and I believe the contenders are handgun and hanging (full or partial). These seem the most reliable and relatively quick. I would need to purchase and learn to use a handgun, which isn't my favorite. I understand the superiority of a bigger gun but I don't think that's feasible for an older female first time gun user in an urban environment. Hanging seems a little easier to prepare for, but potentially not as quick. I'd be interested in the groups pros and cons for these methods (or any brilliant alternatives)

 

[henryM4]

In my personal view, choosing to end one's life through the use of a firearm—particularly a handgun—is among the quickest and least painful methods that exist. This is due in large part to how the human brain works. When a bullet is discharged into the head (especially a direct shot to the brainstem or temple), the neural pathways that process pain simply don't have the time to transmit any sensation to your consciousness. The process occurs in milliseconds. Before your brain even begins to comprehend what happened, it's already too late. Some refer to this as "instant," and while nothing is truly instant, the difference is negligible when it comes to human perception. It's faster than falling asleep

One small pistol is enough. It doesn't take anything extravagant or military-grade. A simple, reliable handgun—something compact, easy to conceal, and with a caliber capable of penetrating the skull—is more than sufficient. The United States, being a country with the most privately owned firearms per capita in the world, offers an abundance of choices when it comes to pistols. Whether you're browsing local gun stores or exploring the ever-expanding online gun marketplaces, there is an overwhelming number of firearms available for legal purchase (assuming you're of age and meet the background requirements). Many dealers offer direct shipment to licensed local dealers (FFLs), and depending on the state, the process can be surprisingly fast. I'll share a few examples of handguns commonly found in such stores—these are popular not just because of brand reputation, but also due to their reliability, concealability, ease of use, and pricing. Below is a curated list of leading pistol manufacturers based in the U.S. and internationally that saw strong popularity. Alongside each manufacturer, you'll find some of their most trusted and widely used handgun models:

• SIG SAUER – One of the most trusted names in the firearms industry, known for precision engineering and reliability.
  — Popular models: P365, P320, P365 SAS, P365 XL
• Ruger – A longtime staple of American firearm manufacturing, producing affordable and dependable handguns for civilian use.
  — Popular models: LC9s, LCP II, Mark IV
• Smith & Wesson – A legendary American brand recognized worldwide, especially for their M&P line.
  — Popular models: M&P 9, Shield 2.0, Shield EZ
• GLOCK – An Austrian manufacturer whose pistols are synonymous with reliability and are widely used by law enforcement.
  — Popular models: G19, G17, G43, G45
• Taurus – A Brazilian-based brand that offers affordable handguns, often chosen by first-time buyers.
  — Popular models: G2C, G3C
• Springfield Armory – Known for their compact and concealable handguns that offer high capacity and smooth handling.
  — Popular models: Hellcat, Hellcat Micro, Ronin
• Kimber – Specializing in high-end, aesthetically pleasing pistols, often preferred for concealed carry or as collector items.
  — Popular models: Micro 9, Ultra Carry
• Palmetto State Armory – Offers budget-friendly handguns made in the U.S. with rising popularity.
  — Popular models: Dagger
• Beretta – One of the oldest firearms manufacturers in the world, based in Italy, but with a strong presence in the U.S. market.
  — Popular models: 92FS, 92X Compact
• SCCY – Known for producing ultra-affordable pistols aimed at self-defense and concealed carry.
  — Popular models: CPX-2

Of course, if access to a firearm is not feasible due to legal, logistical, or financial constraints, other methods may come into consideration. The second-fastest and often discussed alternative is asphyxiation by hanging. While not as instantaneous as a gunshot wound to the brain, it can be surprisingly rapid if done in a precise and well-calculated manner (e.g., drop hanging that severs the spinal cord or cuts off cerebral blood flow instantly). Anything that interferes with breathing—be it rope, plastic bags, or gas—generally ranks high in terms of speed and lethality. Still, it should be noted that these methods can come with a higher chance of failure or suffering compared to the near-certainty and abruptness offered by firearms​

You can check this too
Thread 'Guns/firearms megathread' https://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/guns-firearms-megathread.9042/
Thread 'Gunshot Wounds in CTB/Suicide/Self-Inflicted Injury' https://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/gunshot-wounds-in-ctb-suicide-self-inflicted-injury.206154/

 

[AreWeWinning]

Still, it should be noted that these methods can come with a higher chance of failure or suffering compared to the near-certainty and abruptness offered by firearms

I'm camp hanging, but I think the above statement is debatable. When I search for it, there are too many examples of botched suicide attempts using guns. I have not researched this method extensively, so there might be more nuance to it, but here are my thoughts anyway.

Your comments on "the neural pathways that process pain" are probably correct, but there is no guarantee that a gunshot to the head kills a person. I don't know the exact statistics, but apparently it can happen. No method is perfect, of course, but the problem here is that it's outside of the person's control as far as I know. (Unless there is a technique that ensures effectiveness, which I don't know of.) In contrast, with hanging, the person is much more in control. If the setup doesn't fail and the attempter is not found, the chance of survival is virtually zero. Note that I don't want to go into discussions about what happens if the person is found prematurely – I'm comparing the two methods when both are executed correctly.

The other problem with gunshots is that a person can flinch at the last moment, which will result in the attempter shooting themselves in a way they did not intend. These often result in survival with horrific gunshot wounds. It is caused by SI kicking in at the very last moment and is very difficult to guard against. In comparison, with hanging, there is no such risk. There is a clear threshold (the point of stepping off) before which there is no harm, and after which there is no realistic risk of failure (again, assuming full suspension, executed correctly). SI kicking in at the last moment can't interfere with the method in a way that leads to a disastrous outcome.

I don't know much about guns, but if I were to use one, I would rather use a shotgun that blows half of my head off rather than a pistol. There is still the risk of flinching and missing aim, but at least using a shotgun eliminates the risk of the bullet not killing the person.

Based on these concerns, is there anything about using guns that I don't know?

 

[gottacheckout]

The most effective way to ctb is with a shotgun in the mouth, I've not found a case that is not fatal. People who are concerned about this method mention controlling the gun. Make it easy by setting the butt of the gun in the floor or chair or??? Lean over and put the barrel in your mouth, I'm not going to muddy the water by mentioning any angles for the barrel. Pull the trigger and it is over.

With a handgun you can go intraorally or just behind the ear. I strongly discourage a temple shot because there's is to much to go wrong. You might miss the brain or only damage one hemisphere, people can and do survive only to have traumatic brain injury. Often times a person will flinch and the gun moves, sometimes through si. Intraoral is the best way because your mouth will support the barrel of the gun in the correct angle.

 

[TBONTB]

In my personal view, choosing to end one's life through the use of a firearm—particularly a handgun—is among the quickest and least painful methods that exist. This is due in large part to how the human brain works. When a bullet is discharged into the head (especially a direct shot to the brainstem or temple), the neural pathways that process pain simply don't have the time to transmit any sensation to your consciousness. The process occurs in milliseconds. Before your brain even begins to comprehend what happened, it's already too late. Some refer to this as "instant," and while nothing is truly instant, the difference is negligible when it comes to human perception. It's faster than falling asleep

One small pistol is enough. It doesn't take anything extravagant or military-grade. A simple, reliable handgun—something compact, easy to conceal, and with a caliber capable of penetrating the skull—is more than sufficient. The United States, being a country with the most privately owned firearms per capita in the world, offers an abundance of choices when it comes to pistols. Whether you're browsing local gun stores or exploring the ever-expanding online gun marketplaces, there is an overwhelming number of firearms available for legal purchase (assuming you're of age and meet the background requirements). Many dealers offer direct shipment to licensed local dealers (FFLs), and depending on the state, the process can be surprisingly fast. I'll share a few examples of handguns commonly found in such stores—these are popular not just because of brand reputation, but also due to their reliability, concealability, ease of use, and pricing. Below is a curated list of leading pistol manufacturers based in the U.S. and internationally that saw strong popularity. Alongside each manufacturer, you'll find some of their most trusted and widely used handgun models:

• SIG SAUER – One of the most trusted names in the firearms industry, known for precision engineering and reliability.
  — Popular models: P365, P320, P365 SAS, P365 XL
• Ruger – A longtime staple of American firearm manufacturing, producing affordable and dependable handguns for civilian use.
  — Popular models: LC9s, LCP II, Mark IV
• Smith & Wesson – A legendary American brand recognized worldwide, especially for their M&P line.
  — Popular models: M&P 9, Shield 2.0, Shield EZ
• GLOCK – An Austrian manufacturer whose pistols are synonymous with reliability and are widely used by law enforcement.
  — Popular models: G19, G17, G43, G45
• Taurus – A Brazilian-based brand that offers affordable handguns, often chosen by first-time buyers.
  — Popular models: G2C, G3C
• Springfield Armory – Known for their compact and concealable handguns that offer high capacity and smooth handling.
  — Popular models: Hellcat, Hellcat Micro, Ronin
• Kimber – Specializing in high-end, aesthetically pleasing pistols, often preferred for concealed carry or as collector items.
  — Popular models: Micro 9, Ultra Carry
• Palmetto State Armory – Offers budget-friendly handguns made in the U.S. with rising popularity.
  — Popular models: Dagger
• Beretta – One of the oldest firearms manufacturers in the world, based in Italy, but with a strong presence in the U.S. market.
  — Popular models: 92FS, 92X Compact
• SCCY – Known for producing ultra-affordable pistols aimed at self-defense and concealed carry.
  — Popular models: CPX-2

Of course, if access to a firearm is not feasible due to legal, logistical, or financial constraints, other methods may come into consideration. The second-fastest and often discussed alternative is asphyxiation by hanging. While not as instantaneous as a gunshot wound to the brain, it can be surprisingly rapid if done in a precise and well-calculated manner (e.g., drop hanging that severs the spinal cord or cuts off cerebral blood flow instantly). Anything that interferes with breathing—be it rope, plastic bags, or gas—generally ranks high in terms of speed and lethality. Still, it should be noted that these methods can come with a higher chance of failure or suffering compared to the near-certainty and abruptness offered by firearms​

You can check this too
Thread 'Guns/firearms megathread' https://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/guns-firearms-megathread.9042/
Thread 'Gunshot Wounds in CTB/Suicide/Self-Inflicted Injury' https://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/gunshot-wounds-in-ctb-suicide-self-inflicted-injury.206154/

Thank you, very informative. Regarding firearms, do you have any perspective on caliber? I plan to purchase in person so I can get a lesson or two, and will be talking about my new found interest in self-defense as reason for purchase.

 

[gottacheckout]

If I were to buy a handgun to ctb with it would be a .45 since it is the largest readily available caliber. A .40 or 9mm would be other choices I'd consider.

 

[TBONTB]

The most effective way to ctb is with a shotgun in the mouth, I've not found a case that is not fatal. People who are concerned about this method mention controlling the gun. Make it easy by seeing the butt of the gun in the floor or chair or??? Lean over and put the barrel in your mouth, I'm not going to muddy the water by mentioning any angles for the barrel. Pull the trigger and it is over.

With a handgun you can go intraorally or just behind the ear. I strongly discourage a temple shot because theirs is to much to go wrong. You might miss the brain or only damage one hemisphere, people can and do survive only to have traumatic brain injury. Often times a person will flinch and the gun moves, sometimes through si. Intraoral is the best way because your mouth will support the barrel of the gun in the correct angle.

Thank you. Clarifying, the shotgun base is placed on the floor, a person leans over to put the muzzle in their mouth. The trigger will be reachable?

 

[gottacheckout]

Yes, butt of the gun on the floor barrel in mouth.

I have a couple barrels for my shotgun, one is 28" for field or flight hunting and the other is a home defense barrel that is 18.5". I can easily reach the trigger with the short barrel. 18.5" is a standard length these days, you can ask for it or if you ask for a home defense shotgun they will hand you one with a barrel between 18" and 20" in 12 gauge. 20 gauge will also work, smaller numbers are larger diameter.

 

[finallydone]

When I search for it, there are too many examples of botched suicide attempts using guns.

i think i can only agree with you on the fact that full-suspension hanging (not drop hanging) is more effective than a hand gun, in fact i remember seeing a yt video about people surviving gunshots to the head and having to live with severe disability afterwards .
one of them was a kid who shot himself in the mouth, the bullet was a hollow-point which resulted in him losing most of his teeth, a part of the upper jaw and the entirety of his lower jaw .

 

[gottacheckout]

According to the chart on lost all hope hanging is equally as effective as a handgun to the chest. 3 of the top 4 are shotgun to the head, handgun to the head and shotgun to the chest. The other method is cyanide. Train and jumping are 5&6 with handgun to the chest and hanging coming in at 7&8.

It sounds like the kid actually shoot himself under the chin and not in the mouth, not sure how a shot in the mouth would take out his lower jaw and part of his upper jaw unless it was a magic bullet.

From what I've read m
ost of the handgun failures are flinching under the chin and either flinching or poor aim on a temple shot.

From what I've read on this site there appears to be a lot of failed or aborted hanging attempts.

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

Thank you. Clarifying, the shotgun base is placed on the floor, a person leans over to put the muzzle in their mouth. The trigger will be reachable?

Imo the 12 gauge shotgun barrel should be put into the mouth at least 2 inches deep inside the mouth . 3 inches in and angled up aiming at brain stem

 

[DoomCry]

Frankly, reading that someone shot themselves in the mouth with the barrel inside and completely destroyed their face sounds like nonsense to me. Obviously, that person didn't actually shoot themselves in the mouth, because there is no documented case of anyone surviving a gunshot to the mouth with a weapon exceeding 600 joules of power. If such a case existed, I would be curious to read the study, but there isn't one. So, testimonies on YouTube and stories from alleged survivors should be taken for what they are: entertaining tales to read.

 

[JesiBel]

I will only speak from my position.

I have never been near a firearm or owned one in my life.

Shooting requires practice and precision, as well as the strength to properly hold it when you pull the trigger and ensure that the bullet's position and trajectory do not change.

I chose the hanging method because it is the easiest, once you lose consciousness (maximum 15 seconds) you will no longer feel anything and you will achieve certain death. It will always be necessary to have a good, strong rope and a strong anchor point that can support your weight. And learn the knots that will be used. The key is that no one finds you or rescues you in time, you should be alone without interruptions. After all, it is an ancient and lethal method. You can always leave the chair aside and come back to it if you feel something isn't right.

The key to all methods is to always be well-informed. Don't rush into anything.

 

[henryM4]

I'm camp hanging, but I think the above statement is debatable. When I search for it, there are too many examples of botched suicide attempts using guns. I have not researched this method extensively, so there might be more nuance to it, but here are my thoughts anyway.

Your comments on "the neural pathways that process pain" are probably correct, but there is no guarantee that a gunshot to the head kills a person. I don't know the exact statistics, but apparently it can happen. No method is perfect, of course, but the problem here is that it's outside of the person's control as far as I know. (Unless there is a technique that ensures effectiveness, which I don't know of.) In contrast, with hanging, the person is much more in control. If the setup doesn't fail and the attempter is not found, the chance of survival is virtually zero. Note that I don't want to go into discussions about what happens if the person is found prematurely – I'm comparing the two methods when both are executed correctly.

The other problem with gunshots is that a person can flinch at the last moment, which will result in the attempter shooting themselves in a way they did not intend. These often result in survival with horrific gunshot wounds. It is caused by SI kicking in at the very last moment and is very difficult to guard against. In comparison, with hanging, there is no such risk. There is a clear threshold (the point of stepping off) before which there is no harm, and after which there is no realistic risk of failure (again, assuming full suspension, executed correctly). SI kicking in at the last moment can't interfere with the method in a way that leads to a disastrous outcome.

I don't know much about guns, but if I were to use one, I would rather use a shotgun that blows half of my head off rather than a pistol. There is still the risk of flinching and missing aim, but at least using a shotgun eliminates the risk of the bullet not killing the person.

Based on these concerns, is there anything about using guns that I don't know?

All of what you said over there is accurate in relation to the snippet you cut from my words. I myself also—well, I kind of did, or maybe I didn't really—put emphasis on exactly what I meant in that part. You could say my stance was fairly neutral, yet it tilted a little this way and a little that way; I wasn't really certain, that's the essence of it. Maybe it's what you'd call perception undermining? I don't know\... perhaps it's about some sort of professionalism that, realistically, you'll only ever employ once in your entire life—because it's for a, the CTB​

 

[Masonfight]

I've chosen hanging because if done correctly it's certain.