what kind of handgun would a professional assasin carry?

Question

This is a kind of random question. It's for a story and the gun would have a silencer attached to it.

Answer 1

A 9 mm, or a .22 cal.

Answer 2

An assassin would most likely carry a relatively small caliber hand-gun (anything bigger than a 9-mm would be the equivalent to a cannon)... and remember that hand-guns of this variety would only be effective for (relatively) short range attacks. (i.e., walking up behind a target - pointing a .22 caliber pistol to the base of a target's skull at less than a foot away and pulling the trigger. This is a popular method because the .22 typically does not have enough power to blow THROUGH the skull)

A true professional assassin would probably also carry a "backup weapon" of some sort - a knife or stiletto dagger (quick and just as deadly as a small caliber pistol - and better because it doesn't run out of ammo ...EVER) ... the needle-like blade of a stiletto (or ice-pick) to the eye produces a wound similar to a brain hemorrhage and can easily be mistaken for one to the casual observer. (the eyeball rolls out of the way and the blade sticks straight into the brain).

A long range sniper attack is also good (especially if the assassin is a really good marksman -- a .50 bullet fired from over a mile away drops almost STRAIGHT DOWN into a target's head) ... and since the sniper is a MILE away ... getting away is a LOT easier. And you wouldn't worry about a silencer (because it wouldn't be necessary at that range - AND it can effect the trajectory of the bullet)

...do I know way too much about this stuff???

Answer 3

Ok, see it this way. A professional assasin can kill with the least powerful gun and use some piece of.... I have heard a potato can work as silencer if put on front of the barrel (of course taking care your fingers are not on front of it).

So the kind of gun really does not matter, as also a pro can fit a metal silencer to almost if not any gun. Still I'd say a .45 or .38 caliber semi automatic is a must have for any proffesional killer.

Answer 4

Well, most pistol rounds can travel at a "subsonic speed" which is the first criteria for being a "silent shot", along with having a silencer.

It will have to be a semi-automatic, or a single shot pistol.

Revolvers loose too much gas out of the cylinder when you fire them, so silencing them would not be too effective.

If you're looking for something cool, and well known, I'd choose an HK.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=78389253

Also, the Walther PPK is a classic that James bond made famous, that can also be silenced.

If you want to have a really really cool long range pistol that can be silenced I would choose a savage bolt action pistol.

http://i.timeinc.net/outdoor/images/fieldtested/savage50handgun.jpg

They can be chambered in .300 whisper which is a very large, and accurate chambering that travells below the speed of sound. It has been suggested that the assassin on the "grassy knoll" was shooting one of these.

Answer 5

Most are saying a .22 and they are right. The wise guys, when they wanted little noise, went for .22 target pistols, like a Colt Woodsman. It doesn't always work even in the hands of experienced killers. For your story you might want to look up the Kenny Ito hit. It is hilarious and shows some of the problems with a hit.
I also had a guy who, to prove to his mother his .22 wasn't loaded, pointed it at his temple and pulled the trigger. It was an over/under revolver and it was loaded. When I got there he was talking and walked to the ambulance. We thought it did not penetrate his skull since we saw a lump on the other side. X-Rays showed that the skull had fragmented the bullet, some pieces traveled outside and some penetrated. When I told his mother that he had bullet fragments in his brain she said "well he ain't no stupider now than he was before".

Answer 6

A 22 revolver with a silencer and about 1/3 of the powder taken out of each shell so the bullet travels at less then the speed of sound (traveling at more then the speed of sound makes the high pitch crack of the bullet). By placing the pistol up against a persons head the bullet makes a nice clean entry then rattles around in the brain looking for an exit.

Source:
Israel

Peace

Jim

.

Answer 7

Depends on the job. A .22 semi-automatic can be silenced, and is especially quiet when used with sub-sonic ammunition. However, it would only be good for a close-up "hit". If he could not get close to the target, he would be more likely to use a rifle.

Generally, when a .22 is used, two or three shots behind the ear, into the brain work well.

Dang, I hope I'm not helping you get into the "hit man" business.... :)

Answer 8

A Pro Assassin would NEVER use a hand gun.
you'd need to be too close to use a hand gun, a Pro would either take the long shot with a high powered rifle or, set up an accident or explosive device

Answer 9

probably none until immediately before making the hit

then it would be an automatic [revolvers don't silence well] and the planned circumstances would dictate the caliber. Assume a high quality piece, new or newly so -- jamming can't be allowed to happen.


enjoy

Answer 10

I'd say a .22 calibur, with a silencer. it is still powerful but still weak to not leave a lot of trails. the bullet is small to not leave much evidence. The gun doesn't make much sound either since it's small.

Answer 11

I prefer the Walther P-38. check out the ebay thing I just found on the secret agent version with silencer