It’s what keeps your insides in
In an update to this post, Tam points out that your head is actually pretty resilient and handgun calibers suck.
Also, from comments there, a reporter who shot herself in the head, on air with a 38 took 14 hours to die.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
I was living in Florida when this occurred. I recall (faintly) seeing the footage replayed on local stations – her hair being pushed out to the side from the muzzle blast, then her collapsing on the desk. It was pretty shocking for ’74. They didn’t show it much. But it’s an image that sticks with you.
August 26th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
So is this post leading to another “What pistol caliber for zombie” comment thread?
What? Too soon?
August 26th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
I ran a call last year where a man shot himself in the head with a .38… twice.
He still had enough gumption to try to refuse treatment and ambulance transport, too. And no, the bullets didn’t lodge in a sinus or something. Both were deep in his brain.
I took that same dude from the local hospital to the neurosurgeon 200 miles away 5 hours later, and he was still in good shape, albeit chemically paralyzed and sedated. As far as I know, she’s still alive.
August 26th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
I have met two people who had been shot in the head with revolvers (prolly .38 special) and they seemed OK. This is why one should try for the eyeball. (Sorry, that’s just my nasty mind.)
August 26th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
You actually want a mediocre caliber that will penetrate one side of the skull and rattle around a bit.
August 28th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Or place the gun in that pocket below the ear with the barrel at a 70 degree angle up and 10-20 forward. Or dead center in the back of the head where the spine meets the skull. Just because some people are incompetent with the placement of their weapon does not mean it’s an inefficient form of suicide.
August 29th, 2011 at 10:28 am
The original article on the Alabama couple indicated that a “.32 caliber” handgun was used.