Gun learning problems?

[magycmyste]

So, I have a scene in my NaNovel (this is actually the same one I was talking about in the guns and technology question) where Main Character's Fiance (Tiresse) has joined the military squad that's been assigned to hunt him down (she's taken the place of a new recruit that this was going to be his first mission anyway - why they're sending an utter newbie as part of the squad to hunt down a "dangerous criminal" and why they have a squad made up of people who have never met each other before from all over their military - I don't know. Those are plot holes that are going to need fixing later).

In this scene, the squad is traveling, Tiresse takes out the gun which she's never actually used before, screws something up, and one of the more experienced squad members (who she's seen before and is hoping that he won't recognize her during the journey) decides to help her out and teaches her how to use the darned thing.

 

1) Any recommendations on a gun I ought to be using here specifically?

I had looked around here (ok apparently my trying to direct you straight to the firearms page results in me breaking the link, so that's the main page) and liked the look of a lot of those, but I'm not sure which ones would be more of a military-style gun, aside from the muskets (and I was hoping to find something with a shorter barrel)

I also looked at this: http://www.amazon.com/18th-Century-Pirate-Flintlock-Pistol/dp/B000MGID10 and thought that as I've got pirates, something like that might be good for them to carry around, but I don't know that it would do me as much as military weapons.

 

 

2) what kinds of problems would a complete newbie have with firing a gun in general, and 19th century guns in particular? (I looked for beginner guides online, but what I've found looks geared towards automatic/semi-automatic pistols. Which isn't what the military's going to have, at least, at this point).

Comments

[feathertail]

what kinds of problems would a complete newbie have with firing a gun in general, and 19th century guns in particular?

I've used a gun exactly once, on a firing range about ten years ago. (Well, I fired it more than once, but that was the only time that I've used one.)

I wasn't given any real formal training, but I still remember just how heavy that thing was in my hand. It was just a tiny revolver, but it was made of solid metal and it must have weighed several pounds. And it was loud, so loud it was painful even with giant ear covers on. I couldn't bring myself to fire a rifle later on out in the woods, because I didn't have ear protection.

The recoil was also surprising. It's like the gun jumped in my hand every time that I fired it. I could imagine the thing striking me in the head if I let go. Finally, if I remember right it was amazing how even trying my best to aim, standing still, I couldn't hit a stationary target nearly as often as I'd have liked. I'd line up my shot and fire, and nothing would happen.

As far as training would go, about the only thing I can remember is that you should always treat a gun as loaded, and never ever point it at someone else. I don't know what you'd teach someone if you were trying to help them to learn how to hit something with it, though. I imagine that once they got the basics of loading it down the biggest thing would be to practice.

And if you're using 19th-century technology, a Colt .45 or a Magnum might be interesting. I barely know what either of those are, but I remember hearing they were very significant. Flintlocks I know less about, except that black powder weapons are slow to reload and create lots of smoke.

[magycmyste]

Well, as someone who has never fired a gun in her life, that was very, very helpful. Thanks, m'dear!

[feathertail]

Welcome! Have fun out there. ^.^

[feathertail]

And it was loud, so loud it was painful even with giant ear covers on.

Er, I should point out that I'm autistic and have a bit of hyperacusis, so your mileage may vary with the loud noises part. >.>b It obviously didn't bother the other people as much, that one time later on with the rifle.