In Defense of Small Pistols in Fiction

February 23, 2017February 23, 2017 / Ben / 8 Comments

Mouse guns are small handguns that are easy to conceal, but hard to use accurately. While exact definitions can vary, they are generally considered to be the smallest handguns that still retain practical value. This .32 caliber Kel Tec would qualify as a mouse gun.
By James Case from Philadelphia, Mississippi, U.S.A. (Kel Tec P32 .32) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

I’ve defended the use of small pistols, aka “mouse guns,” in fiction before, and it appears I’m not the only one with the belief that getting shot sucks no matter the caliber. Michael Connick, who recently contributed a great piece about everyday carry setups, is here to back me up. Enjoy!

~Ben Continue reading →

Writing U.S. Military Characters: Out With the M9, In With the M17

February 22, 2017February 22, 2017 / Ben / 3 Comments

The Sig P320 is the New Sidearm of the U.S. Military

Ever since it was adopted in 1985, the ubiquitous M9 Beretta semi-automatic pistol has been the United States military’s default sidearm. That’s about to change.

This is no longer the case. (Image via Beretta)

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5 Small Pistols for Your Story’s Protagonist

November 17, 2016November 15, 2016 / Ben / 12 Comments

Handguns are some of the most common weapons in fiction. Here are some small selections worth considering that aren’t Glocks. That’s right. Not every pistol in fiction is a Glock. ~Ben (Image by Jon Campbell via sxc.hu)

Following up his post about close quarters combat and clearing rooms, Michael Connick is back with another great guest post. This one is about five small pistols perfect for your story’s protagonist. Enjoy!

~Ben Continue reading →

Heads Up: Your FBI Characters Will Now Carry Different Pistols

July 14, 2016July 12, 2016 / Ben / 1 Comment

Best guns for FBI characters agents writing fiction

The FBI will switch from .40 caliber Glock pistols to 9mm Glock pistols. The rest of the country’s law enforcement agencies, which frequently use .40 caliber pistols, will likely follow suit. (Image via Wikipedia)

TLDR: If your story is set in late 2016 or beyond, depict FBI characters carrying 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistols instead of .40 caliber Glocks.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a change to its standard issue semi-automatic pistols last month that could impact some works of fiction. The agency will switch over to 9mm Glock pistols, a departure from .40 caliber models standard since the late 1980s. Continue reading →

Will a Gun Go Off If It’s Dropped?

March 31, 2016March 31, 2016 / Ben / 14 Comments

Just for the record: That’s moss, not the carpeting in my house. (Shutterstock photo)

TLDR: Despite how it might benefit a fictional scene, it’s extremely rare for a gun to off accidentally, even when it’s dropped. It’s far more likely the “accident” is due to negligence.

Pictured: Life. (GIF via giphy)

I have great luck with my push lawnmower. It’s old, missing a few bolts and requires just the right touch to operate, but it gets the job done. If I’m lucky, it’ll start before pull number three. If it doesn’t, I know there’s a mechanical error. I might not know exactly where, but I follow a logical path to find it. Is there gas in the tank? Is the spark plug throwing a spark? Is the throttle adjusted correctly? Is there grass preventing the blade from spinning? Continue reading →