Shot the Philly Derringer today to check penetration.

[Eutycus]

I always heard Booth had a .44 caliber.But it seems like most kits come in .45. Is there a reason?

 

[morehops52]

i'm guessing that it's because those are standard calibers offered. Pistol barrels are just smaller length rifle barrels.

 

[earlwb]

Somebody created a video recreating the derringer shot in the back of Lincoln’s head. He used a dummy ballistics gel head for the test too. Except for screwing up the disection afterwards, it does show that these little derringers are much more effective than we think they are.

 

[Eutycus]

What did he mean when he said "These replicas aren't built like the originals were"? I think they are better , metal wise.

 

[earlwb]

I always heard Booth had a .44 caliber.But it seems like most kits come in .45. Is there a reason?

I always thought that they did it to prevent fraud, fakes and forgeries. But it can also be convenience as it is easier to find bullets for the .45s than .44s as that was a standard years ago before the .50 cal became a standard.

 

[CyrusP]

I am tempted about using a derringer as a belly gun for self defense. It sure fits in the pocket really well. Please tell us "country folk" what a T-111 is?

I know this is an old post but I feel I must reply for everyone’s benefit. The T-111 was the immediate replacement for the Original T1 terminator sent back in time to save John Connor. For the OP to shoot a derringer at a T-111 Cybernetic Organism overlayed on a titanium skeletal super structure is suicidal at best. A phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range is considered the bare minimum.

 

[earlwb]

What did he mean when he said "These replicas aren't built like the originals were"? I think they are better , metal wise.

I think it’s really a comment about the replicas are stronger and made with much better steel alloys than what they used in the past. Many guns back then used cast iron. There would be flaws in the metal that can cause them to fail. Steel was much harder to get and more expensive way back then.

 

[Eutycus]

How about the 44 balls (454) in a 45 (440) caliber gun? Is that advisable?

 

[morehops52]

How about the 44 balls (454) in a 45 (440) caliber gun? Is that advisable?

A 454 ball in a 440 bore? You could probably hammer it into the bore but why? No room for a patch either. Now if you flipped it and used a 440 ball in a 45 bore that should work with correct patch.

 

[nick_1]

it sems like with the revolvers they call 45s 44 cal? but if you get a conversion cylinder it shoots 45LC? instead of .44 sepcial but its called a .44..

 

[Eutycus]

A 454 ball in a 440 bore? You could probably hammer it into the bore but why? No room for a patch either. Now if you flipped it and used a 440 ball in a 45 bore that should work with correct patch.

Isn't that what Brandon Herrera did in post 83, that video when he loaded his derringer? Loaded a .454 ball into a .440 barrel with no patch.

 

[morehops52]

Isn't that what Brandon Herrera did in post 83, that video when he loaded his derringer? Loaded a .454 ball into a .440 barrel with no patch.

Well I did go back and look at it. Fortunately I got to the size Q before I fell asleep. What I heard was a 45 bore with a non-patched 45 (457) ball. If the bore was stated as 440 then I missed it.

 

[smoothshooter]

I built the derringer from a Traditions kit. I bought it for a camp gun and a novelty. I only shot it a couple of times but I've wondered what it could do for it's intended purpose, which I consider to be a "belly gun". So with the idea that this is a last line of defense to be used at just beyond an assailants reach, I scrounged what I thought would give me a target for a (non-scientific) indication of penetration. I had just received some large artwork and I had multiple sheets of corrugated cardboard plus the box. I added a piece of T-111 picked from the neighbors scrap pile and headed down the river bank.
The target ended up being 7 sheets of cardboard, a piece T-111, plus 2 more layers of cardboard. All in front of a old stump. To keep it simple I just used a charge of 20gr fffg. Then 30gr and 40gr. 1 shot each and check penetration after each shot. I used a .440 RB with a tight patch fired from about 3-4 feet..
SHOT 1 - 20gr Hit close to mark. Penetration : 5 sheets cardboard. Almost no deformation of RB
SHOT 2 - 30gr Hit 2 in from mark. Penetration: 7 sheets cardboard and almost thru T-111. Front flattened on RB.
SNOT 3 - 40gr Hit 3 in from mark Penetration: Passed thru all but did not embed in stump. RB not found.
So what does this all prove? Nothing more that it's great to create smoke and have fun on a beautiful fall day! No need to discuss whether this is a good choice of armament or not. Obviously there are better choices. But I can tell you that at 40gr the boom and recoil is serious enough to get your attention and be glad that you're on the right side of the muzzle!

What is T-111?

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

What is T-111?

T111 is the sheathing used on the outside of Houses.

 

[briantllb]

Did you ever receive an answer? My derringer is a .45 and uses 440 balls. But then mine isn't Dixie, it's a CVA (Dikar or a Jukar)Who makes this derringer for Dixie?

Probably the same people make them all in Eibar, Spain. I think mine is Jukar but I have yet to build it. Just had a look, yep it's a Jukar.