Here's a 'pair' to draw to... they look good on the poker table and menacing from across it, but how well do they shoot and which one would be the best choice for an up-close encounter of the most dangerous kind?
Some years back, I bought a "New Orleans Ace" kit gun from Dixie. I opened up the barrel for a .440 PRB and had some fun shooting it.
Just recently, I picked up "Philadelphia" Derringer, forum member "Walks Alone's" compliments... and a more honest fellow to trade with you couldn't hope to find.
A comparative examination of the two seemed to be a logical next step.
Barrels: At first appearance, the "Ace" seems to have a much longer tube, imagine my surprise to see that this isn't entirely true. Inserting a dowel through the muzzles and measuring revealed the difference to be less than an inch! The Ace is longer, but just by a haze.
The Ace barrel is a smoothbore while the Philly is properly rifled.
Balance/Feel: The grip on the Philly seems a bit small, chunky and cramped in my hand. The Ace, however, feels 'slicker' and seems to come to point a bit easier. The grip fills the hand better as well and positions the thumb a tad closer to the hammer.
All-in-all, the "Ace" just feels 'faster' in the hand...
Accuracy: Now, some may feel that seeking accuracy with guns of this type at any range further than across the Faro-table is moot. For my part, I'm always looking to stretch the limits with my guns, so I decided to try them on a standard 'duellist' target at 7 yds.
The load here is 13 gns of FFF grade Triple 7 under a .440 PRB (thin patch for ease of loading).
The Ace is difficult to hit with during deliberate shooting, the hammer sits smack in the way! With a little practice, it would keep 5 shots in the chest area of the target:
Now the Philly hit well just sighting down the barrel, but this little pocket-rocket seemed to be just begging for a proper set of sights... with a spare set of CVA sights laying around and a little time, I made it happen... and what a surprise!
That little Philly wants to drive tacks!
In fact, once I got the sights drifted and filed a bit, it makes a decent little kit-gun for plinking along the creek. No way you can shoot as well with that Ace.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get good chrony readings for the load I was shooting. I will say that both guns hit with authority... shooting a 55 gal drum from safe distance would deliver whopping dents through which there would be a crack of daylight. Wouldn't quite shoot through though, not with just 13 gns of the 777.
Conclusion:
For "belly-gun" distances, I still favor the Ace, it's a little faster.
For a back-up field gun/plinker, get the Philly. It's a heckuva lot of fun to shoot. My kids love it too, they think it's a tiny "Pirate Pistol".
But lay-up plenty of round balls if you do get either one, once you start shooting them it's hard to stop!
One last pic of the Ace in a small holster made-up from saddle leather (silver dollar for size comparison)
Good shooting to all!
Skillet
Some years back, I bought a "New Orleans Ace" kit gun from Dixie. I opened up the barrel for a .440 PRB and had some fun shooting it.
Just recently, I picked up "Philadelphia" Derringer, forum member "Walks Alone's" compliments... and a more honest fellow to trade with you couldn't hope to find.
A comparative examination of the two seemed to be a logical next step.
Barrels: At first appearance, the "Ace" seems to have a much longer tube, imagine my surprise to see that this isn't entirely true. Inserting a dowel through the muzzles and measuring revealed the difference to be less than an inch! The Ace is longer, but just by a haze.
The Ace barrel is a smoothbore while the Philly is properly rifled.
Balance/Feel: The grip on the Philly seems a bit small, chunky and cramped in my hand. The Ace, however, feels 'slicker' and seems to come to point a bit easier. The grip fills the hand better as well and positions the thumb a tad closer to the hammer.
All-in-all, the "Ace" just feels 'faster' in the hand...
Accuracy: Now, some may feel that seeking accuracy with guns of this type at any range further than across the Faro-table is moot. For my part, I'm always looking to stretch the limits with my guns, so I decided to try them on a standard 'duellist' target at 7 yds.
The load here is 13 gns of FFF grade Triple 7 under a .440 PRB (thin patch for ease of loading).
The Ace is difficult to hit with during deliberate shooting, the hammer sits smack in the way! With a little practice, it would keep 5 shots in the chest area of the target:
Now the Philly hit well just sighting down the barrel, but this little pocket-rocket seemed to be just begging for a proper set of sights... with a spare set of CVA sights laying around and a little time, I made it happen... and what a surprise!
That little Philly wants to drive tacks!
In fact, once I got the sights drifted and filed a bit, it makes a decent little kit-gun for plinking along the creek. No way you can shoot as well with that Ace.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get good chrony readings for the load I was shooting. I will say that both guns hit with authority... shooting a 55 gal drum from safe distance would deliver whopping dents through which there would be a crack of daylight. Wouldn't quite shoot through though, not with just 13 gns of the 777.
Conclusion:
For "belly-gun" distances, I still favor the Ace, it's a little faster.
For a back-up field gun/plinker, get the Philly. It's a heckuva lot of fun to shoot. My kids love it too, they think it's a tiny "Pirate Pistol".
But lay-up plenty of round balls if you do get either one, once you start shooting them it's hard to stop!
One last pic of the Ace in a small holster made-up from saddle leather (silver dollar for size comparison)
Good shooting to all!
Skillet
