Ouch! That was a mistake.

Actually, I suspect that the shot was so anemic because it was being fired in a chamber actually designed for .410 shotshell. I understand that there is a lot of "windage" untill the bullet hit the rifled part of the barrel. Of course, when You load a .410, there is only about 1" of barrel in front of the shell, so they are really only good as a conversation piece.
crankshaft
paranoia is a good thing to have when they're actually out to get You!
 
tstr, glad you're okay. I blew out a pair glasses with a Daisy CO200 bb pistol in my mis-spent youth.

Anyway, couple of comments on various posts:
Shooting any bullet into a FLAT metal target will do one of two things; either destroy itself on impact (leaving the lead smear mentioned by xxero) or it will penetrate. Penetration in this instance is a matter of velocity, by the way.
I've put over 10,000 rounds onto metal targets, and have corroborated with men who have done more... trust me.
However, the bullet disintegrates and flies off tangental to the face of the target. So don't have anything off to the sides, except maybe splatter shields. Also, don't put the metal target over a cement walkway, you'll get a secondary splatter.

If a metal target has a "dimple" or cup shaped impression, one can (with suitable bad luck) put a bullet into one side of the depression, which will return it back at the shooter. Best returns are from softer (less likely to break), slower bullets.

LASur5r, rubber tires will "bounce" bullets with some good force. Not the hubcaps or wheels, the tires themselves. Also usually best (worst?) results come from slower bullets. The tires give, not allowing the projectile to penetrate, then rebound....

Probably the same thing that happened with the 45 Colt and the tree stump. "Green" wood is "bouncier" than older, dried wood. Go figure.....

Mike Irwin, I shoot one of the (North American?) derringers in 45ACP one time. Never griped about the recoil of my 1911 again.......

------------------
Archie
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jim Keenan:
The old .41 derringer rimfire round did it almost routinely. With softer wood, the bullets would stick and could be picked out with the fingers[/quote]


Jim, when I was a kid, my Grandpa once let me shoot his Remington .41RF derringer. (Had I known then how valuable the ammo was, I'd never have done it.) I found that the bullet would penetrate the side of a rusty paint can filled with sand, and that it would also penetrate to the base into the end grain of a pine stump.
This all makes me wonder if a knife might not be a better back-up than a derringer in ANY caliber.


------------------
Shoot straight & make big holes, regards, Richard at The Shottist's Center
 
Regarding metal targets, ricochets are greatly minimized by the use of swinging or springing targets, that give way when struck by the bullet.

Ledbetter
 
I would venture to say that most people discount the usefulness of a derringer either based on hearsay or a bad experience with an inferior gun or anemic round. Since it seems in vogue nowadays to say that a .32 or .380 is a viable pocket pistol, I would say that a .45 colt or .410 000 buck will do significantly more damage to a BG than one of these normal mousegun cartridges (For God's sake, people actualy look at the NAA mini as a better pocket gun!!).

I find my derringers to be as reliable as a revolver (can you truly say that about any mouse auto?) and packs a very potent punch at the intended range of 3 - 7 yards.

I have literally dintegrated melons and other targets with my derringers. I can also hit targets reliably out to 7 yards or so.

So - I would not in any way prefer a knife to a derringer for self defense. I carry one one of my derringers everyday and trust my life to it's 2 powerful shots.

Just thought I''d stick up for one of my favorite handgun styles... :)

Chris Canis
 
I have a 8"hexagonal shaped 1/4" thick stainless plate hanging from a tree with a piece of wire that I have shot 100's of rounds at. The 44 mag will knock big dent's in it and sometimes break the wire. I like to hear the "Ding" when it gets hit. I haven't ever had a round come back at me. The metal jacket rifle rounds like the sks's will zip thru it like a hole punch. Mainly it is my 22 target.
 
Did "you'll shoot your eye out" go through your head as the bullet bounced off your gourd? Maybe you should take that gun to the next buy-back in your area.

Glad it wasn't serious.

:)

------------------
bullet placement is gun control
 
Back
Top