The mob and their use of a .22

[KillerFord1977]

They made quite a few hit jobs with a .22.
Article from 1977

The Nation: Fingering a .22-Cal. Killer

Break in the hit-team hunt The Mafia's current version of Murder, Inc. is a squad of professional hit men armed with silencer-equipped, .22-cal. automatic pistols. Although they have accounted...

time.com

 

[Bassbob]

I was told a long time ago, by a guy I know for a fact was a hit man, that the preferred weapons were a .22 at some distance or an ice pick if you could get close.

 

[Mr.W.]

Yes, history has well proved the .22 a near perfect, one shot, executory device.

 

[Old_Me]

from what i recall, it is a favorite gun as the bullet ricochets when it hits the inside of the skull, making a mess of everything

 

[Mr.W.]

from what i recall, it is a favorite gun as the bullet ricochets when it hits the inside of the skull, making a mess of everything

Exactly. It possesses enough power for entry only, leaving the bullet to ricochet to and fro inside the skull. With proper muzzle placement, blood loss can even be minimal, if desired.

 

[HansGruber]

Exactly. It possesses enough power for entry only, leaving the bullet to ricochet to and fro inside the skull. With proper muzzle placement, blood loss can even be minimal, if desired.

Yeah…no.

Head wounds—particularly anything getting into to gray stuff—bleeds explosively.

 

[Mr.W.]

Yeah…no.

Head wounds—particularly anything getting into to gray stuff—bleeds explosively.

Yes, indeed, inside the skull. Considerably less bloody, less messy than larger calibers, was my meaning.

 

[KillerFord1977]

I think the mob dropped the use of a .22 in recent times for this more quieter approach for their “inside” jobs …

 

[Brawny]

Exactly. It possesses enough power for entry only, leaving the bullet to ricochet to and fro inside the skull. With proper muzzle placement, blood loss can even be minimal, if desired.

There's a lot to that. On the opposite end of the scale, I had a 90 plus year old patient once who tried to end his life with a .38 revolver. He placed the muzzle directly against the top of his scalp (pointing down) and fired. However, the bullet did not penetrate the skull; it just flattened out and left a quarter size round wound on the skin. And a mild concussion with a helluva headache.

Post script is that the wound healed with the care of a wound care nurse, and his family helped with the living situation that prompted him to to want to end his life. He eventually died of natural causes after living a happier life.

 

[HansGruber]

Yes, indeed, inside the skull. Considerably less bloody, less messy than larger calibers, was my meaning.

No.

The cranial cavity is pressurized.

Punch a hole in it, and it jets blood. Violently.

 

[Mr.W.]

Whatever you say. I've not shot a human being in the head with as much as a pea shooter, let alone a firearm of any caliber. I relied on information read many years ago, from testimony given by an organized crime informant. He expanded on not only this subject, but many more, from vehicle explosions to the garrote.

 

[Belt Fed]

I think the mob dropped the use of a .22 in recent times for this more quieter approach for their “inside” jobs …
View attachment 60552

100% truth right there

 

[FNFAN]

No.

The cranial cavity is pressurized.

Punch a hole in it, and it jets blood. Violently.

To say nothing of backsplash!

 

[HansGruber]

Whatever you say. I've not shot a human being in the head with as much as a pea shooter, let alone a firearm of any caliber. I relied on information read many years ago, from testimony given by an organized crime informant. He expanded on not only this subject, but many more, from vehicle explosions to the garrote.

Doesn’t have to be humans.

Large mammals are no different.

 

[Belt Fed]

Used to shoot does in the head to keep from wasting meat, no pics. was always too knarly lookin. the things a 54 caliber maxi ball will do to a skull is a nightmare.

 

[Mr.W.]

Doesn’t have to be humans.

Large mammals are no different.

Once again, whatever you say. We all believe as we will.

 

[HansGruber]

Once again, whatever you say. We all believe as we will.

I guess I’ll go with what I’ve seen; you can go with what you’ve read.

 

[Mr.W.]

I guess I’ll go with what I’ve seen; you can go with what you’ve read.

Fine by me. I have seen as you have seen, and didn't intend to dispute. What I have not witnessed is a small caliber head shot (if I recall correctly, the assassin favored .22 short) minus an exit wound. That made his rather descriptive details seem to make a bit of sense.

 

[jschmidt]

The CIA favorite for decades.