Derringer

[Genghis77]

I have had a number of people laugh at me for carrying a 2 shot .38 Special Derringer. But I have shot more accurately with it than anyone I ever met with a .44 mag and to about 30 feet about everyone else. I also have some old Velex ammo that has explosive charges in the hollow points. When purchased it was said to be the same as a 12 gauge with 00 on the hatcher scale. It may be small but it does pack enough punch and I use it well.

A note: I never utilize sites on revolvers or the Derringer. I am a point shooter and literally hit where I think. That makes me very accurate with the short barell Derringer that has rather useless sights. Good enough that I hit ariel targets. I use the sights on autos, especially my favorite Colt .45 Series 70 Gold Cup.

[VegasGeorge]

Genghis77, I'd sure like to see a video clip of you drawing, and shooting your belt buckle Derringer. It's hard to imagine that kind of accuracy from such a small weapon. It would be very instructive.

[Bill of Rights]

I also would like to see that. Any chance of you getting us a video? :)

Don't sweat anyone else laughing at your choice of weapon. When it comes down to it, they may laugh now, but they'll be hiding behind you and wetting their pants when you're armed and they're not at the moment of truth.

Blessings,
M

[Genghis77]

I did not mean to imply a fast draw with the Derringer. And as to shooting ariel targets, that I do with my Colt Single Action Armies. While the Derringer is ignored in public, the Colts are very much noticed. They have real ivory grips and are 23k gold inlaid. While it has been some years, I used to put on shooting demonstrations at fairs, rodeos and a few other places, mostly in Arizona. Much of my shooting ability had to do with the fact that I had 20/05 vision in both eyes. No longer the case, I now have only 20/20 in my left eye and 20/15 in the right. So, my accuracy has correspondingly diminished. Age itself also a factor. And no, in spite of having a double draw rig, I shoot only one at a time right hand only. You see, my left arm was crushed in an accident in 1972 and had 8 operations to put it together with pins, rods, screws and bone grafts. Yes, I can still draw and fire with the left hand, but it is very much slower and less accurate. Still works fine holding the forestock of a rifle.

Explaining my claim to accuracy with handguns, I fired 5,000 to 8,000 rounds of high power pistol monthly. I didn't bother counting .22's. I have slowed down to only 250 - 500 a month. Can't afford what I once could.The key to accuracy is practice.

And I was trained by some of the best Army Experts. Especially my mentor that held 3 Presedential Rifle Citations aand shot yearly for the Army at Camp Perry. He also had a Congressional Medal of Honor from Korea. I'll give you one of the great shooting tips from him: "Never clean from the muzzle, always from the breech." I have always done that though sometimes inconvenient. I will if necessary insert the cleaning rod to pick up the brush, swab or patch in the breech and pull forward. That step gets repeated rather than lazily back and forth sawing the lands and making the diameter wobbled.
I rarely shoot factory ammo either. Much consideration is given to pressure, erosion from combustion as well as the more obvious bulett performances associated with velocity, bullet drop and ballastic coefficient.

Speaking of wetting pants. Happens in combat all the time. That and worse. If not out of fear, taking time to go will get you killed. It becomes a joke among combat vets getting them to admit to it. The ones that don't either liars or they never saw any serious action.