Need help from fellow rifle enthusiasts!

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Walsh213

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Hi guys I just registered here. I am looking for some ideas on a project I am working on.

First off, let me say that I do not own, nor have even basic knowledge regarding firearms. I am currently in the process of writing a novel and i'm looking for a specific type of rifle and ammo.

(bear with me on this, as mad as it sounds)

The rifle must obviously be accurate and powerful. It needs to be able to:

- Shoot straight through the skull of humans. (with an entry AND exit wound. At short distances.)

- Not spit out (sorry, i'm a total noob) the cartridges when shot. (just releases a bullet) (does this even make sense?)

- Fire a single projectile per squeeze of the trigger.

- Be wielded by a young boy (standing up and around 10 years of age)


Whether it has a big recoil or not, doesn't really matter right now. As long as it's possible to shoot and do the above.

I don't need to know tons about the weapon. Just the ammo and the rifle will do. I had a look through rifle bullets on wikipedia and found that the .308 Winchester would be a good choice here. Is that correct in saying so?

Basically in the novel, a young boy will be wielding a rifle, shooting it a short distance to the head of another, and then I need the bullet to go directly through the skull and end up many metres away. Is this possible?

Full credit will be given to these forums btw.

Many thanks in advance.
 
The rifle must obviously be accurate and powerful. It needs to be able to
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Almost any will be at short range

Shoot straight through the skull of humans. (with an entry AND exit wound. At short distances.)
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Most rifles will with the exception of a 22 LR or any rimfire cartrage.

Not spit out (sorry, i'm a total noob) the cartridges when shot. (just releases a bullet) (does this even make sense?)
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Yes, all bolt action rifles will not spit out the cartrage untill the bolt handle is pulled back and a new round put into the chanber.

Fire a single projectile per squeeze of the trigger.
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All firearms will only fire one projectile at a squeeze of the trigger, unless they are fully automatic like a machine gun or sub-machine gun.

Be wielded by a young boy (standing up and around 10 years of age)
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Again almost all rifles can be shot by a 10 year old, the only question is how well. It will depend on the size of the 10 year old. Some rifles are made specifically for younger children and are called Youth Guns which have shorter stocks and are lighter weight. A yourh rifle in 243 Winchester buy Savage would fill your requirements.

Just my 5 and 1/2 cents
Jim
 
The Classic Model 1895
zoom_1895.jpg

The tried and true configuration of this famous 45–70 rifle. It features a 22" barrel with deep-cut Ballard-type rifling and an American black walnut pistol grip stock with cut checkering and swivel studs.

Caliber 45/70 Gov't. Order Online from Gallery of Guns
Capacity 4-shot tubular magazine
Action Lever action; side ejection; solid top receiver; deeply blued metal surfaces; hammer block safety.
Stock American black walnut pistol grip stock with fluted comb; cut checkering; rubber rifle butt pad; tough Mar-Shield® finish; swivel studs.
Barrel 22" with deep-cut Ballard-type rifling (6 grooves).
Twist Rate 1:20" r.h.
Sights Adjustable semi-buckhorn folding rear, ramp front sight with brass bead and Wide-Scan™ hood. Solid top receiver tapped for scope mount; offset hammer spur (right or left hand) for scope use.
Overall Length 40.5"
Weight 7.5 lbs.
Owner's Manual Download Owner's Manual
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Will not eject till you work the lever, cannot shoot again till you work the lever ejecting the old round and feeding a new round into the chamber and big enough for any bear or poor soft skinned human.
 
Many thanks for the replies so far.

Regarding the bolt action rifles, do they hold 1 bullet at a time?

And what would a bullet shell tend to look like after it has been shot through a target and then picked up later?
 
LOL, Don't use the above .45-70 as an example in the novel; though, a kid could probably hold such a rifle with the stock under his arm, aiming and firing would get him seriously hurt should the recoil run the hammer spur back into his face. A 44-40 Winchester has great romantic appeal for me ( and less recoil ). A friend of mine had access to one that belonged his uncle. In good hands this rifle could cut down corn stalks at 100 yards. I am very glad to see you are researching the firearms used in your story. James Patterson comes to mind because of his glaring mistakes. e.g. A Glock having a safety for example. Good Luck with your writing.
Best,
Rob
 
Hi Walsh,
My wife is an English teacher. BTW Some bolt action rifles hold 1 round, some hold 5, most current sporting rifles have a capacity of 5 rounds. Lever actions would hold between 5 and 10 rounds in general and in many cases are also used to shoot pistol rounds ( cartridges). This was a matter of utility in the old west, as having to only buy one type/ size of ammo was easier. Some, such as the British Lee Enfield series (bolt action again.) used from some time before WW1 through the early 50's held 10. If you could share a bit about the time and setting of your story it would help in picking a rifle to fit the time and place.

What happens with the spent bullet, after hitting the subject in the story, in a ballistic sense, will vary greatly depending upon the rifle/ cartridge combination is used.
The "shell" is the brass case that holds the combination of bullet, power, and primer together. "Cartridge" as above, is the key to understanding to how ammunition is put together.
Best,
Rob
 
Hi Rob,

Thanks for the reply. I like the look of that 'cowboy' 44-40 Winchester bullet.

I will drop you a PM in the next 5 minutes.

If anyone else wishes to add their input, please do. It's interesting learning!
 
What are you up to?

Why the question of entering and exiting a head.

Why worry about the brass after its ejected.

These are not questions you normally get from one wanting to learn to shoot a rifle.
 
Google "caseless ammunition", it's the only bullets i Know of that don't eject spent brass (ie, get rid of shell after the bullet is fired). There are many problems with the technology as a whole, but it's my understanding prototypes and the like have been made and used.
 
Hi Kraig,

I think you misunderstand. I am not looking to actually shoot a rifle. I am just trying to understand the inner-workings of the process.

It's for a novel I am writing and I don't want to look like a big idiot by making some silly mistake that later gets called upon. :)
 
Walsh, go to almost any gunstore and quickly learn all you'll need to know for the general-purpose novel.

But the questions are way too trollish for this forum...
 
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