American Derringer makes more than derringers.
The LM-5, or Semmerling. This is not the .45 cal. manually operated repeater that runs some $1500 plus, this is their new product. It's a semi-auto, that's advertised MSRP is $358. Usually that means less at the shop.
The kicker? It's a .32 MAGNUM. Only four shot capacity, but NOT .32 ACP. That allows more bullet weight, which is MY primary objection to .32 ACP's. I'm unimpressed with 60-71 grains of bullet. I like the concept of 100-110 grains MUCH better. Velocities will be comparable between the two calibers in short barrels, with the weight advantage to the mag.
Note: The .32's are not in production yet, at least, they weren't on the price list on ADC's sight. All they have listed now is the .25 ACP. But if they ever get them in production, I want one. Of course, my state probably won't allow them to be sold, but perhaps ADC will be willing to jump through the hoops and pay the Kaliforny Extortion fee. That'd be neat. .32 mag in a non-revolver vest-pocket mini. Cheap, too. ADC has always priced their stuff well, in the context of how solidly they make their products.
I'll even endorse 'em. I've got a .45 ACP M-1 standard derringer. That thing is BUILT. Shoots good too. At seven yards, it'll put the bullets about a foot apart, vertically. At ten feet, they're usually about 4-6 inches apart, about 4 inches above point-of-aim. Recoil is not pleasant, but it won't break your hand. Bought it for $225, ANIB. A very intimidating-looking gun from the front. Something about a huge figure-eight of dark bores surrounded by white metal. Shows up good in the dark, too. In the context of a defensive gun, that mostly gets displayed to, but not shot at, a would-be mugger, the intimidation factor is a big plus. (*C-clic-click*, "D'you still want that wallet?")
Trigger pull could be better, though. Heavy, with a funny direction of travel to it. Consequense of the design that goes back to the original Remington double derringer, from 1866. Not a lot of choices on pivot-point in such a dinky gun. But hey, it's not a match gun, and it doesn't interfere with function. Hanging on to the thing is a good idea in heavy calibers. They only weigh one pound, after all.
Their safety system works good, too. Allows a gun with no trigger guard to ride around in your pocket, although any pocket gun should live in a pocket holster.
Short barrels affecting ballistics? Not hardly. If that mattered, why do all those 3-inch barreled 1911's sell so well? .45 ACP loses all of about 75 FPS off of most loads out of snubbies. The difference between "big 'n slow" vs. "big 'n a-little-bit-slower" is basically inconsequential.
I would suggest not running plus-p's, though. The gun doesn't care, but you will. Plus-p's, particularly in the heavier bullets, hurt more on the back side of the gun.
Derringers can make a pretty good "always gun". They'll go places a snubby revolver won't. Side by side with my S&W M-36, the derringer is a BUNCH smaller, in all dimensions, except bore size.
Mmmmm, gigantamous bores. Droool...
"Big bullets let in a lot of air, and let out a lot of blood."--Elmer Kieth.
Ok, after all that product hyping for ADC derringers, I must admit that I can shoot the snubby revolver a lot better than the derringer. But at a distance of a few feet, I can shoot them exactly the same, in terms of shot-placement and rapidity of delivery. The same can be said for my small autos like my Makarov and CZ-70. 5 .38's, or 2 .45's? Tough one. Scary appearance? .45's, hands down. 99 times out of 100, scary appearance is all you need.
[opinion] But the revolver is more FUN to shoot, encouraging more practice, it'll shoot further with much more accuracy, and it'll go everyplace the derringer will, about 95% of the time. Better take a close look at snubby .38's before you get that Guardian. They're not that much different in size/weight. [/opinion] (Like the rest of this post isn't.
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Have you looked at a Kel-tec .32? They're about half the price, and they weigh even less. Just a thought.
Edit: Missed the bit about trying snubby revolvers already. Oops. Endorsement withdrawn.
Note: AMT Backups, of all stripes, have 1) an indifferent track record as far as quality goes. AMT's come in two classes: just fine, and POS. And 2) ALL of them have VERY heavy triggers. They're all blowbacks, and the 2-ton hammer springs are part of their operating system and can only be improved so much. Typical trigger pulls for most back-ups is in the twenty-pound range.
