Need general info re handgun - writer

Question
I have a question for you that might be perceived as somewhat strange, but I'm in the process of writing a play and have no knowledge of guns. My character would like to intentionally shoot herself--her intent is not self-mutilation but merely to understand what being shot (in a relatively harmless area of the body) feels like. Would it be possible for one to position a handgun in order to shoot oneself, and what type of handgun would incur the least amount of damage?

Thank you.

Answer
I've had peculiar questions from writers before, but this is admittedly the most peculiar.

A number of people I have trained and trained with have, in fact, been shot. I am thankful not to be a member of that elite fraternity. One gentleman has been shot on a number of occasions, and some other trainees (this was a class I was taking, not teaching) asked him, "So what's it like to be shot?" He paused for a moment, searching his memory, and with all seriousness he asked, "With what caliber?"

If I had to be shot, I'd rather be shot with a .22 than anything else, as it would do the least tissue damage. A revolver that would handle .22 Shorts (as opposed to a .22 Long Rifle cartridge [handguns are also chambered for it]) would do even less damage.

I certainly would not want to be shot anywhere in the thoracic cavity, or any place there were organs. Large muscle, such as the thigh, would constitute the least dangerous of the evil choices. Even at that, there is always the chance of severing an artery and bleeding to death before medical help arrived, so this would not be particularly smart.

When people are shot "for real" it is generally not a surgical event. It happens in the midst of a fight, and if they are not killed or disabled outright, often times they do not know they've been shot, although they often know they were hit with something.

For this reason, you might consider as an alternative your character taking a training course in which Simunitions are used. These are plastic, paint filled projectiles fired out of actual firearms. They instill fear, hurt like the dickens, but do not do any more than superficial damage when coupled with the proper protective gear (mostly for eyes and face).

Good luck with your play.