From: cash@convex.com (Peter Cash)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Davis Derringers
Date: 29 Jul 92 15:01:19 GMT
Organization: The Instrumentality

In article <9207281541.AA02447@smrtstr.smartstar.com> smrtstr!"DONALD!PAUL"@uu.psi.com writes:
#Has anybody ever shot one of those Davis Derringers?  They are small 2 shot
#derringers that come in .22LR, .22Mag, .25acp and .32acp.  I was considering
#getting one for camping.  I used to have an FIE .38 special derringer, and
...
#Which caliber would be the best?  I have never shot a .25acp or a .32acp
#before.  I question the knockdown power of a .25acp, though.  The .22Mag
#sounds like a good choice, but it would loud as a mutha.  The .22LR would
#be good, because the ammo is cheap and you could still shoot .22 shorts
#and shotshells.  Let me know what you think.

Why would you want one of these things? Is it the money? A masochistic
desire to buy something shoddy that will drive you nuts with frustration?
If you want a small gun to pop tin cans with, why not a Browning BuckMark
or S&W 422 or Ruger .22? If you want something small for self-defense, why
not a S&W J frame in .38 special? Or if you're strapped for bread, you can
get one of those South American snubbies (Taurus or Rossi?) for under $190.

I don't think caliber is going to make much difference, if you have to get
a derringer. I'd probably get the .22--as you know, the configuration of a
derringer makes it terribly difficult to shoot accurately--no point in
making it harder by adding more recoil. As I said, I wouldn't get a gun
like this at all. If you _have_ to get someting in this weight and size
class, get a Beretta .25 auto. That way, you've got six or seven shots
anyway. 

#Another question I have is the .25acp VS. the .22LR.
#I saw a bunch of cheap .25acp semi autos advertised in Shotgun News for
#$50-$100.  What would be the advantage of getting one of these over a
#.22LR like the Jennings J-22?  The .25acp shoots a heavier bullet, about
#50 gr, but it is much slower around 700fps.  It sounds pretty wimpy 
#compared to 1000-1200fps from a .22LR.  Out of a 2 inch barrel, wouldn't
#the .22lr be less though?  

_much_ less. There wouldn't be any measurable difference between a .22 and
a .25. However, the .25 gives you more reliable ignition, since it isn't as
susceptible to oil contamination as the .22. 

#I shot a Jennings J-22 before and it was a
#fairly accurate gun, and didn't jam very much.  

_very_ much? If it jams at all it's out of the question as a defense gun.

#One comment I have is about the Jennings .380acp.  It is a small gun,
#almost the same size as the J-22.  This guy at the range let me shoot
#his, and the .380 in that small of a gun kicked like a mule.  I couldn't
#hit anything.  He had blood on his hand where the slide came back and
#cut his hand.  I give the Jennings .380acp a thumbs down rating.

Yeah--it's surprising how painful the .380 can be in a tiny gun--I shot an
AMT Backup once. It was no fun--in fact, I didn't bother finishing the box
of ammo. In my opinion, you shouldn't go any smaller than a Walther PPK/S
for .380. (Even the real PPK is better in .32 ACP.)

I think you need to think about why you want to buy a gun, and what you
want to use it for. 
-- 
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             |      Die Welt ist alles, was Zerfall ist.     |
Peter Cash   |       (apologies to Ludwig Wittgenstein)      |cash@convex.com
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