Saftey concern shooting .410 outta derringer

[Joshboyfutre]

Today I bought one of those little Cobray/leinad fmj model D derringers. It only says .45 colt on the side but everyone seems to think that its made to shoot .410 also. This one does not say .410 on it anywhere so I have some reservations about it. I can't pick it up until next tuesday because I always get delayed. Can anyone tell me if all of thrse little pistols were made to be a 45/.410 combo or if some were simply made to shoot .45LC only? I always seem to get good info here so I figured I would throw it out there. Thanx

 

[Snyper]

If it's not marked on the gun I wouldn't try it.

Here's an older thread about them and some problems:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495502

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I had a Model D and currently have a Model DD and both are designed to shoot 410 Shotshells as well as .45 Colt ammo. The Model D is limited to 2.5" 410 shotshells while the DD can also shoot 3" 410 shot shells. On the barrel is says Model DD Cal .45. It does not specify 45 Colt, only the barrel caliber. The box does specify .45 Long Colt and .410 3". I don't remember exactly but I think your box will list the model and .45 Long Colt and .410 2.5".

 

[WestKentucky]

If you go to shooting stout loads through it, do so with a glove on. The way the trigger housing is built and especially with no trigger guard you can get some pretty nasty cuts where it hits your middle finger under recoil.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This is true. I found that out when I tried to fire the second barrel quickly without being sure my grip was correct. It took a while to stop bleeding.

 

[Sammael94]

The SAAMI maximum average pressure (MAP) regulations for .410 bore shotshells are stated at 125 copper units of pressure (CUP) for 2 3/4 inch shells and 135 (CUP) for 3 inch shells. The MAP regulations for .45 long colt cartridge are stated at 140 (CUP). If the shotshell will fit in the chamber, it will be safe to fire.

 

[Joshboyfutre]

Cool I really appreciate the input fellas, didn't just want to load one up and fired off without having some idea of what it could handle. I kind of felt like 45 lc would have more pressure than a 410 but you just never know without the numbers. I'm still going to wear a glove and some safety glasses just in case LOL

 

[entropy]

They're a fun range toy; mine tends to pop open with 2 1/2 inch .410's, I load light .45 LC's for it. As mentioned, gloves are a good thing, and eyes goes without saying.

 

[Joshboyfutre]

Well I finally got out and ran a few rounds thru the derringer. It shot fine, first shot was a little perplexing, but it was actually a dun little gun. Gotta say the Winchester PDX-1 .410 round from about 5 yards would probably drop someone. Those disks are cool! Lol. Thanx again fellas

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Oh that Winchester SD 410 ammo will do what it was made to do. It is a fun little gun to shoot alright. Only trouble us keeping it fed without going broke. lol

 

[Joshboyfutre]

Yeah its not cheap. Kinda used to it at this point. I have two .44mags and a .308 among others that r money holes too

 

[stoky]

Shooting an American Derringer, I've had buckshot come back from wooden target frames (from a. bout ten yards) and hit me in the face. Maybe not really dangerous, but unsettling to be sure.

 

[Joshboyfutre]

When I was about 18 me and my buddy took a single shot 410 and cut it down to about 12 inches or so, just past the fore stock and cut the stock into a pistol grip that little thing was fun until my buddy shot a broken VCR with it with bird shot and it all came back and burned all three of us up pretty good lol I got rid of it shortly after that

 

[WestKentucky]

I feel like that has happened a whole bunch, but fair warning admitting to certain things may not bode well if you ever get asked about it. Young and dumb is the truth 99% of the time along with it being harmless fun, but certain kinds of harmless fun have federal statutes associated. I think it's a rule here too not to talk about things that may run afoul of the law unless it's purely hypothetical (and hasn't happened yet).

 

[Joshboyfutre]

I appreciate the heads-up but I'm 37 years old and this was twenty years ago and maybe I'm a habitual liar ;-) LOL but no in all seriousness I keep it within the boundaries of the law and nowadays. That does make me think so I wonder what the legality would be if you were to put rifling in a 410 on your own and turn it into a pistol for 45 Long Colt. Theoretically of course because I know that 45 is to high pressure

 

[WestKentucky]

I think that still is technically a SBS is you go under the legal lengths per the ATF field guides little cartoons depictions. One a long always a long gun. One a pistol, it can dance around to whatever it wants to as long as it never is assembled in SBS or SBR configuration.

The way to do that would be to make a new pistol frame to accept a 410 barrel that had been reworked to .45 with rifling, but still it would be stamped .410 and could be viewed as a DD and still get you into hot water. The answer for me is always in the form of a contender hotshot setup or a Comanche pistol. I don't care for the "Judge" type revolvers. Of course a pump action pistol does sound like fun now that I'm thinking about it...maybe in 357 though.

 

[gbran]

Just curious. How short a barrel can you shoot 410's from? Or how much longer should the barrel be over the shell?

 

[WestKentucky]

The folded plastic is about a quarter inch on 410, so really all you "have to have" is essentially she'll length plus 1/4 inch... but I would want quite a bit more. I believe shotshells are sold as their opened length, I may be wrong on that though. So a "2.5" 410 if I'm right should be about 2.25" before being shot.

And at the absolute theoretical minimum you have very very little velocity.