Foxee

Some do. Some don't. Research over imagination.

Cool, Talia, then here's a little more for the thought mill. Someone who is carefully considering which weapon to buy considers:

Stopping power: a larger caliber has more stopping power than a small one. A bodyguard would probably be shooting from middle to close range and he'd want a caliber big enough to knock a guy down rather than just puncture him. (if you have a big, drunk, drugged, or very determined attacker who's built up some forward momentum you probably cannot stop him with a .22. unless you choke him with the gun)

Size/concealability: it's material for comedy if your gun's so big or awkward that it's hard to conceal or gets stuck on your clothing when you try to draw it.
Does it fit their hand well? (I found that the Glock and the Tarus had grips far too large for me to feel comfortable with them). Also consider your holster options as there are several different types..

Weight: something I'd consider because I'm relatively small. A big guy might not think so much about it.

Recoil vs Barrel legnth (accuracy): Generally speaking a shorter barrel will produce a bigger recoil or kick. A longer barrel will be more accurate over longer distance. Pistol shooters have to practice shooting targets not only so that they are accurate but so that they can practice NOT flinching in anticipation of the recoil. I've shot a Glock and I didn't find the recoil nearly as bad as a smaller gun, the Firestar although the Firestar was much better than some other guns the same size.

Features: What kind of sights, trigger, hammer, etc. does the gun come with? What are the character's needs? Blued (black) finish, nickle, steel, or polymer construction? Is it customizable?

I'll see if my hubby has anything to add the next time I talk to him. He's more knowledgeable than I.

Since you've been researching the Glock you know about it's polymer construction which makes it a light weapon in spite of its size. It is also more simple and versatile than some other handguns.

As for your character...if he is a consummate professional he will only carry the latest weapon IF he thinks it is the BEST weapon. It very well may not be. Some serious gun owners consider new weapons to be fads until they've tested out in police forces, military, etc. This is one of those areas where you can say something about your character by how he thinks about new vs old.

Oh and a reality note: A bodyguard will probably be aiming for an attacker's biggest body mass (torso) rather than the head. This is another reason why the stopping power of your caliber is significant. A large target that is politely sitting still to be shot is hard enough to hit. A head is much smaller and bobbing around all over the place when someone is rushing you. A lot of the shooting you see in movies and TV is pure fantasy.

That's about all I can think of at the moment. Hope it helps.

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Talia_Brie

Yes it does, and, lets be frank, it frightens me just a little.

Thanks heaps. I think I was already across most of that, espcially this:

which was basically the genesis for this question, but the details are brilliant.

Thanks again.

TB

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Foxee

LOL! Sorry to scare you. I've only killed targets...

Okay, I'll be more truthful...I've only wounded targets. They're pretty safe from me with a pistol although whatever is around them gets well-ventilated.

I'm better with a small-caliber rifle.

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Talia_Brie

Good to know.

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lin

But so frequently: does it look cool and butch.

Cops are the worst style queens with pistols. They flock from the latest cool sidearm to the next...and it's always a quality weapon, but now cool because it looks cool.

Same way departments change the paint jobs on their cars everytime a TV series shows a new style.

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Foxee

You are aware that cops often don't get to choose their own weapon, right? The departments would usually buy them 'standard issue' weapons of which they may have a choice of three. With department approval they may be able to get one of their choosing at their own expense.

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lin

I am very, extremely aware of what cops carry for handguns and the regs surrounding them.

For one thing, it should be obvious from the comment on cars that I'm talking in part about departments as much as individuals.

Cops are more concerned about arms they carry off duty than the ones they carry on duty. Trust me on that one.

Not all cops are uniformed cops.

So, yeah. Since you ask, I am really, really, really aware of what goes on with guns people carry.

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Mike C

I prefer to be blissfully unaware.

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lin

So do I, as a generally prediliction.

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MarkG

Its a detail like anyting else. Its the difference between saying a 1954 thunderbird and a musclecar. Very few people really know the difference but its a detail. I think its a little like prose. It stops and makes you think- of course not too hard. Anyway, Glocks are a good idea. They are international. Parts are available everywhere. 9mm is the same way. A .45 ACP like you mentioned is pretty much a States only thing. A .45 Gap is really an odd duck everywhere. Also, he needs a Glock 19. The 17 was the original twenty years ago. the ninetenn is basically the same, but its a detail. Another is that it will have grooves along the frontstrap for your fingers and a rail for a light/laser. A light is probably a thing a bodyguard would attach, or if not on the gun he would have a penlight.

Lyonidus

alot of bpodyguards tend to carry a handgun known as a CZ-75 i suggest you google it. Its a highly efficient weapon with bothan automatic and a manual cocking action and alot of bodyguards who use it tend to also dish out for a personally made shoulder holster.

Also, you mightwant to give your bodyguard a knuckleduster. I know its something simple and often referrred to as barbaric but in a fistfight it can prove invaluable.

Other things such as retractable knightsticks, knives and metal detector knives are also used by them alot.

The handguns used by the bodyguard will sometimes be silenced but very rarely and only on certain occassions, perhaps if you tell us of the occassions the characters getting himself into we could tailor it more to your needs, also, with the CZ-75 a silencer can be fitted and it can still be carried easily in a custom made holster.

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sdavis2k

Being a completely non gun geek, I did have a friend who just got out of the Army. he bought a Desert Eagle 50 caliber gun. It seems very large to me, but I am small guy. A big buff bodyguard type would have little trouble with it.

Mark Carter

Whenever I needed gun stats I used to go to an index of weapons used in the RPG Shadowrun. They use the real stats from several real firearms; both older models and state of the art stuff. Because their RPG depends so much on combat realism they were very anal about stats and details. Sadly, the index page I used went down. You might find a similar site. Just be sure to use only weapons that are real. I believe the Shadowrun RPG also uses some fictional weapons which are exclusive to the game. Once you pick a suitable weapon you can Google it for more info. Sometimes you can even download instruction manuals from company websites. Lastly, just go to the bookstore and browse some of their gun manuals.

Sam Winchester

Depends who your bodyguard is guarding. The President? A movie-star? From my knowledge, most security guards go for stopping power when choosing a pistol. No point in being discreet if your gun isn't going to do the job of stopping the assailant. If I was a bodyguard, I'd go for a Glock 18. This gun uses 9x19 Parabellum rounds (pretty darn powerful) and you have the option of switching from single-fire to fully-automatic with the flick of a switch. That means, essentially, that you have both a pistol and a machine-pistol at your disposal for when the shit really hits the fan.

Another option is the SigSauer. It is highly reliable and greatly powerful. A .45 is also good, but I think it's a matter of personal preference. The FBI director in my novels is an old-fashioned man, and carries with him on duty an old six-shooter. His motto is 'if you can't shoot 'em dead with six shots, what the hell chance have you with fifteen?'

Sam.

Sam Winchester

The Desert Eagle, or 'Deagle,' is the most powerful handgun on the planet along with the .500 Smith and Wesson Magnum. Both of them are serious weapons, the recoil of which would knock most people on their asses! You only need one shot with this gun, 'cause it kills pretty much everything its fired at. It really is overkill, and as such, a bodyguard would not think of owning one.