Conclusions:
1. With a standard load, the Derringer
was a weak sister of a pistol. It
would not penetrate enough to reach
vital organs.
2. With a hot load, it penetrated
as well as a longer barreled pistol
and reached the required 12 inches
of penetration.
3. A modern .38 Special, even with
a very poor load of a RNL bullet,
out performed the black powder pistol.
4. The .44 caliber lead balls did
not expand at all and just punched
a .44 caliber hole right through the
jugs.
5. Cleaning up the nasty black powder
fouling ain't much fun. 
But one thing for sure... It's fun
to shoot stuff.  |
