What do you think of this quote?

If you are the one staring down someone else's barrel, sure. If you are the one doing the shooting, no. Shooting someone is not about killing them. It is about stopping them before they can harm you. All esle being equal, larger more powerful calibers do that better. If a pistol was a pistol, special forces would carry 25's.

I also agree, that under certain circumstances, it really won't matter.
 
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It's fiction, the author is a novelist, not a gun writer. I just read an "alternate
history" story in which the two protagonists are "William S."-as in William S. Hart, and "Bronco Billy"-Bronco Billy Anderson, famous cowboy stars from the Silent Era. The author describes Bronco Billy's "45 Colt" correctly but refers to the "ejector rod" on William S's. ".36 Colt Navy".
When pointed in your eye the bore of a 22 or 25 ACP looks awfully menacing.
Then there's what Charlie Askins said about a belly gun-"Yoy stick in your enemy's belly and pull the trigger."
 
Interesting comments and thoughts posted so far.

I suppose I might have been more specific in my own posting, though. When I'm making the comment that "it's just a handgun", it usually involves one of the common center-fire calibers reserved for duty/service/defensive usage ... meaning nothing less than .38 Spl for revolvers and not less than 9mm for pistols.
 
"... he knew that the guys who worried the most about muzzle velocity and trigger pressure were guys who'd never shot to kill. Up close, a pistol was a pistol."
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Lame quote in my opinion.

Having confidence in one's weapon is very important.
If a shooter doubts that his handgun is up to the given task, that doubt can negatively affect his performance.
 
The writer created a character. He then wrote something that he thought his character would say and possibly further the writers plot concept. He is just a writer working his craft.

My only thought on this is pretty simple, A big hole will let more blood leak out faster if you shoot the badguy in the core which means he dies faster.. Plus, a big hole will take out more brain goo if you shoot the bad guy in the head so he dies faster.

Making big holes just makes good sense to me. Small holes don't.

If I have my druthers I would druther make a big hole than a small one if pushed to the killing point.
 
I do agree with that quote. Up close a pistol is a pistol. Head shot with any calibre at very short range is deadly.
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Boy there is a lot wrong with this statement. Given that most of the head isn't CNS or major arteries, then a shot to most of the head isn't necessarily deadly at all. People get shot in the head at close range with some regularity and don't die. Many fight back quite a bit.

People miss human size targets at very close range; poor triggers and unfamiliar weapons won't help. Stress plus movement (by both shooter and target) are bad enough, without adding in a crappy trigger or unfamiliar platform.
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Yep.

Add to that the fact some really crappy pistols don't work worth a darn with any sort of reliability.

If a pistol was a pistol and those folks who have to shoot and kill up close would go with what is least expensive, but I don't see them buying Ravens and the like.
 
"... he knew that the guys who worried the most about muzzle velocity and trigger pressure were guys who'd never shot to kill. Up close, a pistol was a pistol."

Remember 1st that a storyteller is in charge of our spy's mind. Storyteller may or may not have any idea what he is talking about. Might have just heard someone say this and thought it was cool. (This applies to any story.)

Personally, I can't imagine someone who's survival depends on shooting to kill not being concerned with what happens after pulling the trigger or how dependable and predictable that trigger is. If, however, that was their first and only concern, they would probably never leave the range, the gun shop, or their magazines.

Yes, in the hands of someone who knows much about weapons and has much experience with such, up close, a pistol is a pistol.
 
I certianly agree with the spirit of it. I prefer to use a gun that is at least 9mm on up. Know I'll get penetration and expansion with the right JHP. All pistols are weak compared to a centerfire rifle or shotgun. I don't count on a pistol of any caliber putting someone down right away. I've seen it happen a few times. But mostly I think multipul hits in the right places is what does it.
 
Ian Fleming knew next to nothing about firearms. He received a letter from noted English firearms expert Geoffrey Boothroyd pointing out his mistakes.
In the next James Bond novel "Major Boothroyd" was James Bond's armorer.
 
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