If you had to choose between these 3

[Scott13]

I would choose the 22 Mk 2 . It would be much easier to actually
hit the attacker , than the derringer would . Especially from across
a room , and if you could place the shots correctly such as head
shots , which would be very helpful in a 22 . I dont think any guy would keep coming .

 

[cratz2]

Well, I'd probably have to go with the Ruger as well. Just don't have enough experience with cap & balls to rely on them. Maybe after 200 or 300 rounds with no failures...

 

[CWL]

Revolver with bad load? Keep pressing trigger/working hammer and the cylinder will revolve until fresh round is selected. Advantage of revolver over semiauto.

This is true for C&B as metallic cartridges.

Doubt if the Ruger MKII would jam though, just don't trust the .22lr to be an instant incapicitator...

 

[Marshall]

I'll go with the Model 8 Derringer in 357 or 45. No Jamming and a big ol nasty bullet. Reloading ain't tough either, if needed.

 

[Ewok_Guy]

No contest.
6 shots of .44 should put em down nicely.

 

[foghornl]

When it was the only handgun I had, the 1858 Army Rem in 44 was quite nice to have. 'Course, I also lived out in the sticks, so firing each day and then a cleaning and fresh load was no problem. Pushing a pure lead ball w/30Gr or so of P Pyrodex was fairly effective.

And, I have never been very good with the sub-mini rodent weapons.

 

[Onslaught]

I remember reading on more than one occasion (on TFL and in Gunrags) where someone would ask if their black powder revolver was adequate for self defense... The answer was ALWAYS NO!

Reason was the humidity in the air cause the primers to deterioriate, and could dampen the powder, etc...

So if I had not personally loaded that capNball myself that evening, I'd grab the .22. If I HAD loaded the blackpowder revolver myself that evening, I'd STILL grab the .22, because I've never loaded one before, and would most likely $crew it up

 

[Bainx]

Definately the MKII.
Rapid semi-auto fire will supress about anything.

 

[cowdawg]

Howdy Howdy, .44 charcoal burner(loaded with .44 pyrodox pellets and a round ball)# 11 cap and it will go BOOM and smoke um out of their holes, THEN finish um off with the .22

 

[mrelijahgardner]

The Fact of the matter is.

I keep a 1860 Colt Amy Revolver loaded and ready for home defense. The reason why you may ask? Well, it's the gun that I am the most profecient with.

I've seen arguments about why people would use the .22 or the Deneringer or the Cap and Ball Revolver. The thing that no one seems to keep in mind is that no one really has easy acess to additional ammo. Chances are if you shot all your bullets and still have a threat to deal with you are SOL. I'd recomend keeping what ever gun you were the most accurate with. With my cap and ball revolver I could have a bullet though the heart before he knew what hit him. The smoke which really isn't that bad wouldn't be a factor and I could still get aditional shots of accutatly.

The other thing is how likley is a home invasion robbery. I have been robbed quite a bit when I lived in downtown Los Angeles. Out of 5 times being robbed I had never been home once. Most theives are cowards and will choose an easier target. I finally got wiser and moved to a better neiborhood.

I work nights and my wife is at home by her self. We live in a very good neiborhood. There is not really any threat of robbery or rape. She keeps her single shot 12 Ga loaded and on the wall. She is a crack shot, and It stays loaded with buck shot. We both feel confident that she is defended even with just one shot. The neibors would be calling the police as soon as the gun fired. If the guy was still Alive he would be making his retreat. or she would be beating him with the rifle. Rember the days of meele combat?

Anyway what ever gun you choose pratice is reallly important. People who buy a gun and never shoot it untill they need it get killed. Shoot every weekend for a year before you feel confident enough to be protected with a gun.

 

[robert garner]

Here lies Les

Three shots from a fourty-four
no Les
no more!
Hygroscopic?
Had my ruger loaded once for nearly 3 yrs
one chamber didn't fire,till the second try!
the round ball IS highly effective for the same reason it is ballistically inferior,
it is as wide as it is long.
and very soft.
keep'em tween the nipples an chin!

 

[Brian Williams]

Hi and welcome to THR mrelijahgardner,

My thoughts about this, give me the 22, My Colt Woodsman will put your eye out at 25', Not sure about blackpowder, It should be reloaded just about every day as the lube from the bullet or from the front of the cylinder would eventually mess up the powder, if the humididty didn't. Blackpowder is Hygroscopic, it picks water out of the air, which will cause it not to fire when needed.


just a mild suggestion about thread dredging, this thread is 3+ years old and some are not here any more.

 

[kennyboy]

The .22 pistol.

 

[gopguy]

I am puzzled as to why you have given us three crappy choices. .....Go out and buy a REAL defensive pistol. None of those are ideal for home defense.


The .22 may misfire,The black powder may fail for so many reasons mentioned earlier and the derringer is just silly.

 

[kennyboy]

Out of the 3 guns you listed, I think the .22 rimfire is less proned to misfires and other problems.

 

[Ultraman]

I think I'd pick the large caliber 2 shot Derringer.
A chest full of 000 BUCK SHOT will wreck a home invaders whole day for sure!

 

[albanian]

I think this a great thread! The classics really are the best. Great ideas never go out of style.

Anyway, I think the Ruger MkII would be the best choice because it is fast. I could empty 10rds into the attacker's chest and then even I could out run the guy! My wife and dogs are probably faster than me, so no need to worry. I will come back in a half hour and see if he is still around.

 

[Matt King]

I would take the .22lr

 

[Ol Retired Gunney]

The 44 every time

One solid hit and the fight is over.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I'd probably also have to go with the .44 C&B. My "little" Euroarms .44 is a pretty decent shot with some Triple 7 and Hornady round ball. I'd trust those six shots before I'd bet my life on the derringer or the little 22 (eventhough I really like my 5.5" Mark II bull-barrel with Hi-Viz front sight).

 

[Atchafalaya]

choices

Govern'ed by the options I'd go with the .22 using .22 Federal solid's. The .22 is definately a kill pill; I speak from what I've seen. Light recoil, it can be aimed and fired accurately. Terminal performance, while certainly not a "stopper" it is a very acrobatic pill, and that is it's strength. Given the choices I'd stake my life on my old Ruger T512A.

 

[Atchafalaya]

22

The .22 is the best choice only if solid lead rounds are used; they are definetly a kill pill. While not a stopper, a 22 solid is an acrobatic round and that is what makes it effective. I have an old Ruger T512A that is used weekly and I would hang everything on it in a pinch. Solids only!

 

[Atchafalaya]

22

Redundant but consistant!

 

[[email protected]]

consused

OK, I', a confused amateur here. .45 or 9mm? 1911, wheelgun or what? I live in Californastan, so concealed carry is out, but when I can move back to the US, do I carry the full-size gun I know I can hit with, or something smaller that I am less sure of? How would I conceal the full-sixe gun, and how many rounds do I carry without looking like I'm 'alooking for a fight? I'm sure this has been discussed to death before, so forgive me. I'm new here.

 

[c_yeager]

Very few problems cannot be solved with 6 rounds from a .44 cap and ball revolver. Since there isnt an option of reloading with either weapon I will go with 6 .44 caliber balls over 10 .22s It is an easy choice for me, but you could do worse than having a .22 pistol.