best derringer load?

[Dr.Rob]

Have a buddy bought a Davis .38 Derringer. Anyone have experience shooting this lil beast?

I'm going to take him a variety of .38 loads i have laying around to play with.. just wondered if anyone had a 'best' load for such a critter?

[critter]

Since it is an ultra short range application anyway, I think I might look into the multi-ball loads if you can find them. They can be reloaded as well using 2 #000 buckshots in a .38 special case.

[Gordon]

148grain Mid range Wadcutter OF COURSE!

[makdaddy03]

158 gr. Lead SWCHP. ;)

[Dr.Rob]

I was thinking of trying some 130 gr ball, some 158 gr lead swc and some 147 gr hydra shocks.

I know its only a derringer, but that's all the 38 special I have on hand.

[Okiecruffler]

With a barrel that short, I'm betting a HP is a waste of time. I'd try a 158gr WC, but the recoil would have to be brutal.

[Greybeard]

Might wanna consider Win Pers. Defense 130 grain JHPs in +P. I suspect velocity would be similar to that out of j-frames, maybe a little better since no cylinder gap. These rounds have a big brutal looking hollowpoint cavity - and might not make too large of a "temporary cavity" in shooter's hand. ;)

[WonderNine]

Well, I have a 9mm derringer and I prefer to use the lighter higher powered stuff like 124gr. NATO or 127gr. +P+. If you're into the whole "expansion" thing (I'm not), then lighter and faster is the way to go. And they tend to recoil less as well.

[scotjute]

My best results have been using 148 grn wadcutters that were rated at around 800 fps (from std pistol). I can hit paper plate at 10 yds with my Am. Derringer. Always figured hollow-points would be waste of time in a barrel this short due to decreased velocity and hence probably no expansion of the bullet.

[tbeb]

I would use standard pressure Federal Nyclad 125 gr. lead hollowpoint.

If you can't find any, then try ammoman.com

[WonderNine]

EFMJ (Expanding Full Metal Jacket) might be worth a try. They expand more reliably than most hollowpoints don't they? I guess if you really want expansion, some expansion is better than none although I prefer FMJ myself.

[Big_R]

I own one of these, and mine will not stabilize any jacketed bullet (keyholing). It will also not stabilize 158 grain lead. I wound up loading 180 grain DEWC and that works OK although I can't hit anything. It's got a strong recoil, but it's not painful.

Ryan