(no subject)

[apocalypsos]

I know nothing about guns. Seriously, absolutely nothing. So someone help me out, and talk to me like an imbecile when you answer. How many shots can you take with a shotgun before you have to reload? And how do you shoot one, step by step, from loading it to pulling the trigger? Are there even any steps in between?

Sheesh. If this weren't the only time I plan to have anybody in this story fire a gun, I wouldn't even put it in. Not knowing about this stuff and trying to write it is too hard. *grumbles*

EDIT: Well, now I know who to go to for gun questions. Now all I have to do is find someone to go to for axe and tomahawk questions. :)

Comments

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

What kind of shotgun? What's it being used for, and who is using it? Makes a difference.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

There's different kinds?! *fears*

Okay, seriously, it's this farmer going after the main character. First, he shoots out the guy's tires (can you even do that with a shotgun, or should I pick another gun?) and then he chases after the main character into his backyard. (Then he gets eaten by a baby demon, but that doesn't matter.)

So basically, two shots to blow out the tires of a UPS truck, and a couple shots at the main character as he makes a run for it.

[mckenzee.livejournal.com]

You want a rifle.

Shooting a shotgun at a truck would spray little shells all over the entire back of the truck. They probably wouldn't have enough force to puncture a tire and would be too difficult to aim.

He might be able to do it with a pistol, but he would have to have great aim.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhh. Okay, if he uses a rifle, how many shots would he get? If there's one where he only gets two, I can just change the wording, but if it's more than that, I can find another way to work with it.

Make it simple...

[mckenzee.livejournal.com]

When deerhunting, my uncle would carry a double barrel shotgun, one side loaded with buckshot (a shell filled with BBs, basically) and the other loaded with a "slug" (one big bullet, about half an inch wide).

The first shot would spread out and be more likely to hit a moving target, the second had to be aimed more carefully, but would be more likely to kill quickly. There was a nickname for loading like this, but I can't remember it.

Firing the buckshot at the nearest tire should blow it, as well as peppering the back of the truck with pellets. Then he could shoot out the far tire with the slug.

Re: Make it simple...

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Ooo, that could work. Thanks! :)

[wiredwizard.livejournal.com]

Not entirely true. If the shotgun is loaded with slug rounds, as opposed to buckshot or birdshout, it would be effective for taking tires out.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Okay, so let me set up the situation. The main character runs out the front door towards the UPS truck. The farmer comes out with a double-barrel shotgun loaded with slugs and takes out the two tires he can see. He stops to reload, giving the main character time to run behind the house, then follows off and manages to get a shot or two fired off before the main character stops him.

Does that work?

[wiredwizard.livejournal.com]

Works for me. =official Plot Guru grunt of approval= ;)

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

Well, when I was a kid (and we lived out in the country), we usually kept the shotgun loaded with buckshot or birdshot, and it would really be a poor choice for blowing out tires of moving vehicles. Let me ruminate on it a bit, and I'll get back to you. :)

[mckenzee.livejournal.com]

yeah, a slug would do it, buckshot might be heavy enough, but probably wouldn't be what a farmer not expecting trouble would have loaded by default.

Wow, my rural childhood is flooding back.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Well, actually, the farmer's expecting trouble and wants to kill the main character, while the main character is the one not expecting it.

[nycdeb.livejournal.com]

there's an excellent book called "Armed and Dangerous: A Writer's guide to Weapons" from the Howdunit series. Has information on various types of shotguns. What kind are you looking for details on? Maybe it's in there and I can look it up for you?

[frogmajick.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest this book as well. The others are great too, I've checked them out of the library (but I only own the weapons one and the poisons one).

Trollprincess really ought to invest in them, every writer should! (No, I have no strong bias here. These are not the droids you are looking for.)

[nycdeb.livejournal.com]

I own about 7 of them -- got them in a bunch when the local mystery bookstore was closing one of it's locations but have thumbed through most of them at one time or another. Very useful, indeed. Sadly I think some have gone out of print but hopefully it's just temporary.

[mckenzee.livejournal.com]

Try http://www.shotgunworld.com and click on the howto links.

Some are multiple shot, but usually you get a singleshot (two from a double barrel, which is literally two shotguns side by side with one handle).

You "break" the breech (open the back, bending the handle down from the barrel), insert a shell, close the breech (if done one-handed, this is sometimes refered to as snapping it, especially in Westerns), turn off the safety (push a button), aim and squeeze the trigger.

It will feel like a donkey kicked you in the shoulder. The tighter you hold it, the better you absorb the recoil. Those guys who fire a shotgun onehanded, holding it away from thier bodies would break thier wrist trying that in real life.

That help?

Also, check this out: http://www.livejournal.com/users/sin_bed_comix/1311.html

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

That is absolutely perfect. Thank you! Maybe now I can get this chapter done sometime before I die and just get it the hell out of the way so I can go back to writing characters who just play with swords and fire. :)

[wiredwizard.livejournal.com]

First major question is what kind of shotgun is it? Single barrel, double barrel, clip loaded, or even something like an Atchisson Assault Shotgun which you can fit with a 50 round drum clip?

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

It's going to end up being double barrel, I think. Because the shooter needs to fire off two shots, then stop to reload and give the main character a chance to make a run for it. That works, right?

[wiredwizard.livejournal.com]

If he loads it with slug rounds, a double-barrel should work fine.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

A shotgun would most certainly be able to shoot out the tires of a pick up truck, granted you are using the buckshot ans not the bird shot, and granted it is a pick up and not a construction heavy duty truck. Actually, the husband wanted me to tell you that using a shotgun to take a tire out would probably be easier than a regular gun, since it fires a spray. He also says that the Remington A70 is the "most ubiquitous shotgun in the US." I suppose you could use the instructions above on how to fire it. Since I'm not a gun person either, my advice is to remember that a. shotguns do have barrels beyond the nifty stock/grip, and b. you can saw that barrel off, but if you take off too much it's illegal.

Also, it's easier in the US to get a shotgun, because you just need to be 18.

[vivian-shaw.livejournal.com]

I'm not up on my tomahawk research, but I am very conversant with blunt-force and axe-wound trauma.

[wenchamok.livejournal.com]

It looks like you got your question answered, but I'll throw in my Coke change as well.

Different types of shotguns have different ways to reload. The one I use (that belongs to Mom) is a Benelli and has the barrels stacked vertically. To load, I have to slide one shell in the bottom chamber, then put a second shell in the upper chamber and push a little button that slides it completely in place. When fired, the shells kick out the side, so when you reload, all you have to do is shove in new shells. For someone very familiar with the weapon and the shells in a convenient place (as in a pocket) it would take maybe 7 seconds to reload. Also, the shotgun actually could hold four or five shells, but the rest of the chambers are plugged (federal law and all that crap).

Hon, if you want detailed answers and full explanations, e-mail me. My dad used to be a firearms dealer. He's been hunting and shooting for 53 years now. He knows his stuff. (I would kill to see what his FBI file looks like....between the firearms dealing and working as a petroleum chemist, I know he just *HAS* to have one).

[jrosestar.livejournal.com]

I know a bit about axes...depends on what you want to know.

And I seem to remember that someone on my flist was a collector of tomahawks. I can't remember who though. If you want, I'll post an entry for you in my LJ. Just let me know.