Philadelphia Derringer?

[Smokey Plainsman]

Hey guys! I was at Cabelas yesterday and saw a small black powder pistol next to the usual Pietta cap and ball revolvers. It was a Pedersoli made Philadelphia Derringer, a repro of the gun used to shoot President Lincoln:

It is a .45 caliber pistol, and man it looked very sharp and well made in person. Has a nice browned barrel and well inletted mountings. Very attractive wood that looked nicely checkered. It was a little high, about $400, but Pedersoli makes good stuff and I own their Harpers Ferry repro and love shooting it.

Any feedback on these little guns? I think it would be a fun little piece for range use and would consider carrying it for CCW as well (as a backup gun). Thanks!

 

[hanshi]

I love those little pistols.

 

[Zonie]

It might be fun at a range. Range of about 6-8 feet that is.

That's about the distance those little Derringers were made to be shot at.

 

[tenngun]

Card table guns. Last ditch defense. But...very cute.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

It does have a front and rear sight and rifling... Will 8 feet really be the maximum accurate range?

Anybody know of a way to safely carry one loaded and capped?

 

[George]

If you are a pistol shooter you can do much better than 8 feet. I have a old CVA Philadelphia Derringer I built as a cheap kit in the mid 1970s, and I find it pretty accurate. Front sight only, but in the action these were built for it's a point and shoot weapon, sights are not a consideration.



It's not much of a powerhouse, but would get your attention. There is an online site showing a guy shooting 40 grains FFFg in a kit gun like this and getting ballistic gel penetration of 12". Here's a target I shot with 20 gr. FFFg Goex, patched .440" ball at 7 yards, 21 feet. Bull is 1/2", group is 4 3/4", shot one-handed.



Spence

 

[Flintlock_bob]

Did you have to do anything to the Harpers Ferry to get the lock to burn powder? I have one and it just doesn't light the pan with any regularity.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Did you have to do anything to the Harpers Ferry to get the lock to burn powder? I have one and it just doesn't light the pan with any regularity.

It's a .54 cal smoothbore percussion one:

 

[Flintlock_bob]

Ahh, that explains why it fires.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Ahh, that explains why it fires.

Must have fired it at least 300 times. Never a misfire of any kind. But hey, flintlocks are better right? :rotf:

 

[Many Klatch]

Pedersoli's Harpers Ferry flintlock rifles have miserable frizzens and geometry. Looks like the pistols must have gotten the same lock.

 

[azmntman]

If you are a pistol shooter you can do much better than 8 feet. I have a old CVA Philadelphia Derringer I built as a cheap kit in the mid 1970s, and I find it pretty accurate. Front sight only, but in the action these were built for it's a point and shoot weapon, sights are not a consideration.



It's not much of a powerhouse, but would get your attention. There is an online site showing a guy shooting 40 grains FFFg in a kit gun like this and getting ballistic gel penetration of 12". Here's a target I shot with 20 gr. FFFg Goex, patched .440" ball at 7 yards, 21 feet. Bull is 1/2", group is 4 3/4", shot one-handed.



Spence

Had one in the 80,s. Totally different experience. I (IMHO) am a good pistol shot but at that range with my (cheap) derringer I could throw more accurately and would maybe hit a paper plate once. I believe I put out $69.00 for mine though. Bad taste left in my mouth and wouldnt buy another.

My derringer in a book was much more accurate but I couldnt get enough powder in it to keep the balls from coming back at me when shooting a 2x4 :idunno:

 

[Patocazador]

I've always thought that Perdersoli's price for a derringer was ridiculously high. I have a CVA (Jukar) derringer I put together from a kit back in the 70's. It was about $50. Not as nice but after shooting it a few times the novelty wears off whether you paid $50 or $400.

 

[hawkeye2]

I think your last sentence pretty well says it all. The Pedersoli is a high quality piece and very interesting but the price is and always has been way over the top. A friend assembled one from their kits back in the 70's, don't know if he ever fired it or what became if it but it was pretty. I always though I would like to have one of the CVA derringers and if I could find a really nice one or a kit I would give the full '76 retail price for it. :wink: :grin:

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I have a couple of the CVA Derringers. All are kit guns. One is still in the box with a whopping price tag of $19.95. They are a little bit of fun. I was able to hit a 14" gong at a hundred yards with one. I walked away a winner on that... Never looked back. :rotf:

 

[hawkeye2]

Some things which have no practical use when approached with low expectations can turn out to be an amazing amount of fun.

 

[Pete G]

Some things which have no practical use but when approached with low expectations can turn out to be an amazing amount of fun.

Sounds like my first marriage. :rotf: :rotf:

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Anybody else fire a PEDERSOLI P. Derringer?

I am not interested in the cheap Jukar stuff.

 

[Jumpshot]

and would consider carrying it for CCW as well (as a backup gun). Thanks!

Very bad idea in my opinion, if you're serious (not sure if you meant that as a joke or not).

 

[curator]

Better have a serious back up like .45ACP after you use your Philadelphia Deringer to antagonize a serious opponent. I had a LEO friend who recalled shooting a miscreant with a .41 R.F. Derringer and there after having a serious conflict with him requiring six other officers to subdue him. It turned out that the bullet had only raised a large bruise on his torso. The .41 Rim Fire Remington round was the ballistic equivalent of the Henry Deringer load for his cap & ball pistol.