In a WIP, I have a character who takes a bullet while guarding an important personage. I know absolutely nothing about guns or gunshot wounds. What kind of gun, and what kind of gunshot wound, could have the character back on the job within 3 months. I have read a lot about such weapons,but have found nothing online that provides the kind of specific information I need.
Anybody here willing to share that kind of information, or point me to a place where I can research it myself?
Depends on a lot on what kind of weapon, what kind of ammo, where the person was hit, and did it hit bone.
https://www.quora.com/How-long-does-it-take-to-recover-from-a-gun-shot
https://brainly.com/question/32752688
Depends on a lot on what kind of weapon, what kind of ammo, where the person was hit, and did it hit bone.
Also depends on the individual. Some people heal better than others. I smashed my jaw to bits and was back at work within two weeks as I was bored to tears... I know of a few that have been shot and were back at work within a couple of weeks. But they had either been pass through shots or 'mere flesh wounds'.
*Added a 'was'.
What kind of gun, and what kind of gunshot wound, could have the character back on the job within 3 months.
I would strongly urge that you have the character that gets shot wearing Body Armor.
What era does your story occur? This is extremely important in terms of firearms, ammo, body armor, medical treatment and physical therapy, all determining how long it takes to recover.
After c.1995 medical care in the USA becomes significantly better. After c.2006 (because of medical advances treating personnel surviving combat wounds) (both SWAGs) depending by where your character is shot, and where they get treatment.
Lacking any specific information, I will provide a generic answer. If you wish to post more information on this thread, or PM me, I am willing to provide more specific information.
{For my bona fides while neither a doctor, nor medic, I have received considerable training in the treatment of various traumas, mostly focused on battlefield and military training since civilian IFAT and then EMT from the early 1980's; then a couple years later training in the US Army. From the mid-80's I received training from Special Forces Medics, but I was never a Special Forces Medic! SF have training as a primary mission, and fantastic realistic Training is available from them.
Post 11 September 2001 I attended the "Combat Life Saver" Course and received addition medical training from 18Ds (SF Medics); it was remarkable the significant improvements in field care of trauma, both techniques and equipment.
I have treated both injuries and wounds. I was wounded several times myself, including non-penetrating wounds to my body armor/helmet. I have had to go through physical therapy to return to duty.) That and $3.25 will get me a cup of coffee at Starbucks.}
A generic answer (presuming post 1980): Have the assailant use a .22 Long Rifle caliber pistol, presuming they don't believe the Principal (VIP) is not wearing body armor. Presuming an assailant is willing to get very close 7 meters (21 feet) or less. .22LR pistols and ammo are easily available, typically 10 rounds in a standard magazine; minimal recoil, and not very loud even without a suppressor (on a big city downtown street), easy to conceal, and minimal recoil.
Even using standard ammo it can be deadly, multiple shot trauma (multiple bullets striking a person) to their torso; to include upper thighs; similar to being hit by several OO pellets from a shotgun.
Potential wounds/injuries to your MC: pistol bullet striking their upper torso, off center, resulting in a cracked rib. Even commonly available Class IIA soft (concealable) body armor will typically prevent a bullet from penetrating, but only distributes the impact over a larger area. (Some people compare it to being hit by a baseball bat.) Perhaps a second bullet striking below where the body armor covers (most only protect the vitals aka upper torso; trauma plates usually only protect a rather small square or rectangle in the center of the torso front {and back, if wearer is smart}) So, say a "through and through" bullet passing through their body low on their torso, say just above their hip, without striking any vital organs.
Injuries cause by being punched, kicked by the assailant, or trampled upon by other bodyguards, security, or just hustling out of there. A misstep upon a stair, or even a curb, may cause foot or ankle injuries.
For your research, I recommend going to websites covering the Physical Therapy of LEO (Law Enforcement Officers) who have been shot. Often these LEO will have suffered more serious wounds than you want, however, those types of injuries you may want for your story are often "additional" wounds, and their physical therapy is discussed as part of the recovery process.
Go to the Second Chance body armor web page, they used to publish a newsletter of people, mostly LEO who survived due to their product. https://safariland.com/ (acquired Second Chance c.2005)
https://rtstactical.com/pages/dtp-home
https://www.bodyarmornews.com/
https://www.ntoa.org/
https://forum.officer.com/
Thank you very much for your answer, which has all the information I need for my story. I have no intention of going into great depth about the gun or gunshot wound, Following your advice, I'll have the characterwho is shot, dressed in body armor, get hit with a .22LR bullets fired from about 20 feet away that hit him in the upper thigh with a "through and through" wound, a rush trip to Walter Reed hospital with about a 10-day stay, followed by a couple of months of physical therapy at a mountain resort owned by his family. You see anything there that doesn't work?
Just to keep you up to date for the nitpickers (like me)
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center closed in 2011. By Act of Congress, the hospital was merged with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and was redesignated "The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center."
for the nitpickers (like akarge)
It was redesignated "The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda."
It is now a Joint services facility combining the facilities of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Bethesda Naval Hospital; along with newer buildings built due to the increase of casualties c.2006 to 2008 and the scandals of the conditions of too many older wards put back into service post 2001. Of course, it takes years to put contracts to bid, and then actually construct them. But it is both facilities, just with New Signage.
If it is someone who knows weapons that is trying to kill him, and they are able to use a rifle, from beyond 200 hours, it could be one of the well known cartridges, 308 or 30-06 or a few others. These calibers have well studied ballistics and are typically used as sniper rifles. If it is a handgun round, from someone within 10 feet or so, and. the uses what he has at hand, popular cartridges are 9mm and 45. Wikipedia is your friend, and the articles wrt weapons and bullets are well curated. Once you decide on a weapon and cartridge I would search on people who have been shot by that calibre, and see what you get.
70 year old President Ronald Reagan was shot with a .22lr revolver on March 30. He nearly died.
The sixth and final bullet ricocheted off the armored side of the limousine, passed between the space of the open rear door and vehicle frame and hit the president in the left underarm. The round grazed a rib and lodged in his lung, causing it to partially collapse before stopping less than an inch (25 mm) from his heart
Reagan's staff members were anxious for the president to appear to be recovering quickly, and the morning after his operation he saw visitors and signed a piece of legislation. Reagan left the hospital on the morning of April 11. Entering the limousine was difficult, and he joked that the first thing he would do at home was "sit down".
Reagan's recovery speed impressed his doctors, but they advised the president not to work in the Oval Office for a week and avoid travel for several weeks. No visitors were scheduled for his first weekend;initially, Reagan worked two hours a day in the White House's residential quarters. Reagan did not lead a Cabinet meeting until day 26, did not leave Washington until day 49, and did not hold a press conference until day 79. Ruge, the physician to the president, thought recovery was not complete until October.
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Reagan's recovery speed impressed his doctors, but they advised the president not to work in the Oval Office for a week and avoid travel for several weeks. No visitors were scheduled for his first weekend;initially, Reagan worked two hours a day in the White House's residential quarters. Reagan did not lead a Cabinet meeting until day 26, did not leave Washington until day 49, and did not hold a press conference until day 79. Ruge, the physician to the president, thought recovery was not complete until October.
Excellent points. However, that particular bullet, entering under POTUS Reagan's arm, bypassed his body armor, and lodged near his heart. At least one member of POTUS Reagan's Secret Service protective detail "tackled" him into the Limo' initially there was concern that POTUS's ribs had been cracked by that; the gunshot wound was discovered at the hospital.
POTUS Reagan was likely significantly older than the MC in the story, so the character in the story will likely recover more quickly.
Also, in the OP is was stated that the MC be "recovered enough to resume his duties" which implies the MC may have not fully recovered (and provides plot opportunities).
The post by akarge reinforces my suggestion that injuries other than a gunshot could occur, to provide a realistic situation to fit the parameters of the OP. Something too often ignored in movies, TV, and books.