Return of the derringer?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Why would you carry two rounds when you can carry five or six or seven in a package of similar weight? I'm not a fan of derringers for anything but attracting interest at the range ... got rid of my 9mm (admittedly, it didn't weigh 15oz) when I realized it was pretty much useless for self-defense ... Mine was nothing but a range toy, fun to shoot but incredibly inaccurate, hard to cock, slow to reload ...
 
Very good comparison, C0untZer0. Something tells me that the new gun isn't going to be cheap either.

I think the porting is a very bad idea for a couple of reasons. First is the additional flash. Then is the additional noise. Then there is the issue of reducing the the velocity of what is already a very short barrel.

I have no idea what "1911 Ergonomics" means except to note that there is nothing remotely 1911 about the derrigner except for the calibers it fires.
 
American Derringer sold o/u double action derringers based on the old High Standard design some years back in .22lr, .22WMR, .38SPL., .357mag., .9mm, 40S&W and .45ACP.
They were well made but a failure. Only 2 shots.
 
Last edited:
Because it doesn't have to feed or cycle you can do some neat things with it, like load it with 125gr .45 Auto ammo... crazy stuff you might not get away with in a semi.
 
I wonder about all the porting, and losing muzzle velocity.
It’s not even toward the muzzle so how much is it going to counter-act muzzle climb?

For the 9mm, I would think that if you port that barrel that much you’d move the 9mm more toward the range of a 380 auto coming out of the longer barrels of some of the larger 380 pistols.
 
It looks like it may be a bear to shoot. Hopefully someone will buy one and give us a range report as to recoil.
 
I look at it this way: (9mm)
.........Double Tap..........KT PF-9
Weight 14oz .................12.7oz
Length 5.5" ....................5.85"
Height 3.9" ....................4.3"
Width .665".................. .88"
Barrel Length 3"................3.1"
Capacity 2 ........................7+1

Interesting BUG, but only that, AFAIC. It certainly doesn't have much over the KT PF-9 and even gives up some, such as capacity, which I consider important. The fact that it is titanium tells me it's going to be expensive also. No thanks.
 
Last edited:
The one thing that would give me second thoughts is the,,,
Loaded rounds are visible feature of the gun,,,
Do cases ever blow out at the rim?,,,
I don't know so I'm asking.
Click to expand...
No, that section of the case is solid brass.

35+firingd+cross+section+of+head+line.JPG


I would love to fire one with .45 ACP rounds,,,
It would be a trip to experience the ported barrels,,,
I am very curious as to how well they would tame muzzle flip.
Click to expand...

I wonder that too. I wonder how much all that porting is gonna hurt ballistics.

What keeps the rounds from falling down the barrel?
Click to expand...

Same thing that keeps rounds from falling down the barrel in an autoloader. 45 auto and 9mm head space on the case mouth.

Short barrel + ported + SD ammo = MUZZLE FLASH
Click to expand...
Yea, but that's true of basically every small SD gun, an LCR and LCP both have quite a bit of flash as well and not like we're gonna be shooting this at 25 yards.

It seems like you are losing a lot with insubstantial size reduction.
Click to expand...
The width reduction is quite significant and in my experience, width is what screws you over when trying to CCW. My DA38 goes with me everywhere everyday with no worries about printing or anything else. Need to get a better holster for my Bond.
 
I had an American Arms derringer in .357 & it was a bear to shoot, not too bad with .38's. Can't imagine shooting .45's in one. I have several .22 & .38 derringers that are good to stick in my pocket for snakes with snake shot.
 
The ex-cop in me immediately said, 'Vest gun!' when I saw that; a last ditch gun that rides UNDER your ballistic vest (to make it harder to find in a pat-down) and that's used to get back your primary after something terrible's happened. In those circumstances, how flat the gun is makes all the difference...

Larry
 
I think this is going to be a great PD gun in 45. Given the light weight bullets in some of the specailty PD loads recoil wont hurt as bad as some might think.
This shoud be a great pleasure to carry in the summer
 
Neat toy, not for carrying IMO. 2 shots is nothing, maybe for a third gun, that lays flat in a pocket. Only reason I can see one is there is no jamming? that is going to happen? No magazine jam,, cylinder jam.

I rather carry something else TBH. Makes a good fun gun though.
 
IF you read the entire ad, at the bottom it claims "M.S.R.P. for the titainium ported is $799.00"

Not in this lifetime, I'll stay with my American derringer mod. 1 .45 acp.
 
Yea, but that's true of basically every small SD gun, an LCR and LCP both have quite a bit of flash as well and not like we're gonna be shooting this at 25 yards.
Click to expand...

Muzzle flash from short barrels is often noteworthy, but combined with a very short ported barrel and muzzle flash will be huge. Putting light weight bullets with this gun will increase the amount of flash as the lighter bullets leave the barrel faster and thereby expose more unburned powder and gasses to outside of the barrel where they finish combusting.

Not shot at 25 yards? Probably not, but then again, how far away is the threat you need to stop and how dark is it when you fire? The muzzle flash remains the same regardless of the distance of the threat.
 
The point, I suppose, is to create the smallest possible firearm for a given cartridge. Whether or not that goal is worth the tradeoffs necessary to get there is debatable.
 
Unless it utterly fails to function, or turns out to malfunction dangerously, I have to get one. If I don't get one I'll be kicking myself for it for years...

I have to snicker at the commercial though...

A tactical reload? What exactly is a tactical reload? If there was such a thing as a tactical reload - wouldn't it be something more like exchanging a spent 30 or 40 rd magazine for a loaded 30 or 40 rd mag? Can two rounds held together with a clip, (speed strip) be called a tactical reload?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top