Throwing Lead: A Writer's Guide to Firearms (and the People Who Use Them) by J. Daniel Sawyer and Mary Mason

Mystifying. Frightening. The perfect medium for murder, mayhem, martyrdom, and mastery. A research nightmare, a continuity minefield, firearms in fiction spells frustration for writers everywhere.

But no more. Written by two veteran shooters, Throwing Lead gives you the low-down on firearms. From the history of hand cannons to far future energy weapons, this rigorously apolitical guide to guns shows you the how, where, why, and when of every major class of small arms—everything you need to build realistic action to satisfy even the pickiest fan.
Learn about:

Mistakes criminals make that spell their doom
Medical science of gunshot wounds
Urban warfare, snipers, and gunfighters
The tactics and psychological tools employed by cops and criminals
Period-appropriate terminology, and where it comes from
How to stay safe handling all types of guns
How to bend reality without breaking your audience's trust
Tricks for creating believable combat-scarred characters
And much, much more...

Delivered in a witty, entertaining style spiced liberally with movie moments and true stories, this hilarious and grisly guide gives you everything you need to navigate the weird world of things that go boom.