OT - Remington Derringer .41RF

[cshold]

Thinking about picking up a Remington Derringer (Antique)
in the .41 rim fire.

This would be a purchase more as an investment.

But if by chance I would decide to use it as an
occasional CCW, where would I find a small
quantity of recently made ammo in .41RF?

Anyone shoot or have any experience with the .41RF?

[Ysabel Kid]

Wouldn't it be easier to save the investment as an investment and get a second, modern-made "deringer" in a modern center-fire caliber? I know - not as fun to carry - but I'd be more worried about continued ruining of the finish by carry of a true antique to the point I would not be comfortable with it on.

[cshold]

“Wouldn't it be easier to save the investment as an investment”

Yes Ysabel that indeed would be the smart thing to do. BUT!!
I know me well enough to know, that it just aint a goin
to happen in my life.
Sooner or latter, it will get fired, fondled and carried.

[Pete44ru]

[But if by chance I would decide to use it as an occasional CCW, where would I find a small quantity of recently made ammo in .41RF?]

Of course, I'd rather not get shot with any kinda firearm, but (reportedly) those .41RF's barely entered a 1" pine board, with the bases protruding, when fired from one of those puppies.

JMHO, but I would never carry one of those for CCW, if even a .22 pistol was available, instead.

An original, however, is apparrently quite valuable, and a decent investment, if it can be bought "right".

[86er]

I had one a few years ago that I shot. I sold it when the ammo became increasingly scarce. Cabelas used to offer it in the obsolete ammo section. I have also purchased it from Old Western Scrounger and RTG Ammo. It is usually listed as 41 Short Rimfire. I think the 130 gr pointy bullet went about 450 fps. I was paying about $300 per cartridge then. I once shot a deer that was already mortally wounded and on the ground. A close range hear shot with the 41RF penetrated enough to pierce the heart and finish the deer. Past 12 feet I could never get any accuracy.

Good luck with your purchase!

[Comal Forge]

I have a single shot Colt in .41 RF I inherited from my dad that we shot a few times when I was a kid. One of my uncles had a massive live oak tree in their yard, which was our target but the slugs would not do much more than knock off a few pieces of bark and accuracy was nil. These things are simply belly guns for point blank and not much else - sort of the last resort in self defense when all else has failed...

[Ben_Rumson]

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_in ... ts_id=8157

[colo native]

make sure that the frame hinges have not been reworked, this is the week point on a rem der... if it looks like a rework, run away as fast as you can...

[cshold]

Hummm!!

I think I need to rethink this wanting an original derringer.
Sure is a pile of them for sale though.
They must have been quit popular back in the day in this cal.

Thanks guys for the input.

[Hobie]

I wouldn't carry one. As an investment remember, condition, condition, condition and provenance.

[cshold]

It’s interesting when you think about how very impractical the ballistics of this
little round truly are. They must have been a very popular little gun back then,
when you look at the amount that were produced and sold.

But then there are people that say the .30WCF is obsolete and couldn't pop a
pimple on a deer’s arrs.

From: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The .41 Rimfire Cartridge was first introduced by the National Arms Company in 1863 and was also known as the .41 Short and the .41-100. In most designations like this, the second number refers to the black powder load, though in this case, it is unlikely that it means 100 grains (6.5 g) of black powder. According to "Cartridges of the World," the .41 Rimfire consisted of a 130 grain (8.4 g) lead bullet propelled by 13 grains (0.8 g) of black powder in its original load. The round produced a muzzle velocity of 425 feet per second (130 m/s) and a muzzle energy of 52 foot-pounds force (71 J). In contrast, modern low-powered modern smokeless cartridges produce considerably more energy: .380ACP (200 ft·lbf), .22LR (100 ft·lbf).

Cartridges of the World states that when fired at a hard object such as a tree from a distance of 15 yards (14 m) or more, the bullet often bounces off. The .41 Short was created with the intention that it be used in a small, single-shot Derringer, which likely is the reason for the very low ballistics (most derringers were and are chambered for cartridges that were not originally intended to be used in such a small weapon). Remington Arms began producing their famous over/under double barrel derringer chambered for the .41 Rimfire cartridge in 1866.

A National Arms .41 Rimfire derringer was recovered from the battlefield of the Battle of Little Bighorn. Estate records reveal that it belonged to Brevet Major General George Armstrong Custer, the commander of the soldiers slain in the battle.

[Pisgah]

The Old Western Scrounger is usually the best place to look for obsolete ammo. But, the .41 Rimfire is pathetically weak as a self defense round.

[Ysabel Kid]

“Wouldn't it be easier to save the investment as an investment”

Yes Ysabel that indeed would be the smart thing to do. BUT!!
I know me well enough to know, that it just aint a goin
to happen in my life.
Sooner or latter, it will get fired, fondled and carried.

I would be disappointed if it were any other way! I expect - and I know I'm not alone - range reports and photos!!!

Naw... I just meant if you were going to carry it repetitively...

[Paladin]

Other than for intimidation you would be better off with a knife from the same period, say a Bowie.

[cshold]

Other than for intimidation you would be better off with a knife from the same period, say a Bowie.

That make's sense, and more than likly true.
But! taking a Bowie to the range just wouldn't be as much fun
as making a little Derringer go bang, even if yea couldn't
hit the side of a barn with it.

[Malamute]

Ammo is available, I believe Navy Arms has a run made every few years for the old guns. At the recent Antique Winchester gun shows in Cody, I saw probably a half dozen boxes for sale on various tables. I think the going rate was around $30 to $40 a box/50, but I wasn't paying very close attention.


If I had an original, I'd use it. Just me.