FMJ BP Derringers

[batjka]

Does anyone here have any experience with those double barrel FMJ derringers? There are a few of them for sale on gunbroker and such. they have SxS rifled barrels and 209 ignition.

Just wondering if anyone owns or had shot one.

 

[Donny]

I have one of the smoothbore ones that used #11 percussion caps. The safety was useless so I ended up drilling a hole in the frame so I could put a pin through it to block the hammer. Cheaply made but seem to be safe to shoot. I've loaded mine with 25 grains of 777 3f and a patched .433 diameter ball. Velocity averages 674 ft/sec with 123ft/lbs of energy. Not a magnum but at close range it will put a hurt on someone.

Don

 

[batjka]

Thank you for your reply, Donny. I didn't even know they make a smoothbore with #11 caps. All I've seen were rifled with 209 ignition. I wonder if one can use a .45 cal saboted bullet in them. Should give better performance than a .433 ball.

 

[arcticap]

Their bores are .451 so sabots should fit.

 

[Erich]

Donny, thanks for the data; yours if the first I've seen. I've been wondering about a saboted .40" 180-grainer in these - just for fun.

Thanks for following-up on it, Batjka: you're keeping me interested. FWIW, I'd wonder about whether the SxSs are tightly fitted at the back - hate to have a chain-fire. :-/ Also, I have seen at least one user complain online that he had consistent difficulty with one of his barrels firing (though I recall this was in one of the Cobray-marqued .410/.45 Colt versions of this gun).

 

[bigbadgun]

I have one of the single barrel with 209 primer
I like mine
with 30grains works like a champ

 

[batjka]

What do you use for a bullet? A .45 sabot or a patched ball?
Would be interesting to run a 180 gr sabot with 30 gr of powder to find out the ballistics. I'm willing to bet it's a lot more impressive than 125 ft.lb.

Does the rifling actually stabilize the bullet?

 

[batjka]

Another question I have regarding these things - how does the selector switch on the hammer work? Is it relatively easy to operate or is it a two-hand affair?

Thank you in advance.