Traditions Vest Pocket 31 Cal Black Powder Derringer Review

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I have been debating for over a year whether or not to get 1 of these. Some reviews on the net lead 1 to believe it is non any better that a sling shot..they are wrong.
When I opened the box, I saw some discoloration on the terminate. At first I thought well damm...so I broke out my "Mothers" mag wheel polish and BAM, sparkled like a diamond.

Adjacent bankrupt it down All the way. My nipple wrench that I apply on all of my BP big guns fit perfectly. At that place are not many parts. The screws are tiny, dont drop them.
Reassemble was quick.

At present was the test. The paper from DGWs indicated 12 g of BP. I wasn't sure because some reviews used 9 to x.

I didn't take whatsoever .310 or .311 balls so I used the .330 that I apply in my other 31. Cal.s.

Loaded up with 12g and a .330 rb.
Wow I was impressed. These are not intened to be target practice guns.
At viii feet it was spot on and the first shot went all the way through one 1x4 board and lodged in the second board.
Five more than reloads and got the aforementioned results.
I am impressed!!! Honey it!!!
I have looked at that gun a bunch just based on its toll bespeak and the design existence so close to my Butler 22 brusk pistol. I might just get ahead and put that on the listing for Santa to consider...
They are pretty scarce correct now just like all the other blk powder guns on the inner web.
I lucked out and got the last ane that DGW had.
damoc Member

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My testing of the Traditions vest pocket derringer.
Looks like it works meliorate than I idea, nifty footling pistol.
Watching your You Tube and the spam can convinced me to come off of the ledge.
TTv2 Member

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I've seen them, great price and all, simply when NAA makes their own cap and ball revolvers for non much more, only concur four more shots and the cylinders can be changed apace like the 1858 NMA, I don't see what make these unmarried shot .31'south worth the money.
I tin't find the NAA C&B's in stock anywhere which makes their current toll unknown.
Whereas the Traditions Vest Pocket Derringer is listed equally depression as $162.97 at Erstwhile Due south [backorder] and in stock for $169 at Cage-loaders.com
- Contributing Member
Gordon Contributing Member
I bought my Pedersoli screw barrel .44 that takes regular .452 revolver assurance onto the butt with no wad and you just top off the powder chamber in pistol frame which is 15 grains. When you lot screw on the two" barrel the ball is forced into the rifling tightly and the ball is against the sealed powder chamber. The little affair is accurate to 7 yards pointing it with no sights and the ball makes a .45 pigsty in 2" of redwood ! I paid $200 at a sale acouple years agone from Dixie.
https://world wide web.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/production/product_id/8500/category/321/category_chain/312,318,321/product_name/PH0530+Pedersoli+Screw+Barrel+Pistol
TTv2 Member

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$261 on NAA's website, but I've seen them sold for less online around $225. Check gunbroker and they'll pop up on occasion and they ordinarily come in a kit with bullets, loading tools, holster, and a spare cylinder, so you get a lot for the money.
For me information technology wasn't the price or single shot vs 5 shot or Traditions vs NAA, I just wanted the belong pocket.

robhof and Tony50ae similar this.
There'due south also a visitor that was on Ebay, selling conversion cylinders with push style firing pins to fire 22 LR in your 22 mag B/P NAA, I got one before they were removed and it works fine every bit an alternative to B/P shooting the petty pistol, even the mag load is below the penetration of the 22 LR in the aforementioned pistol. I tried 4f real Black and 4F tripple7, nonetheless less than the 22 LR.
ruger357 and robhof like this.
I like that footling pocket Companion. I sent them an email. I hope it is in stock...
Thanks for the lead....
So I poured some .311 assurance thismorning. MAJOR disappointment. They were snug just not like the .330s.
I meet now why some say that their circular assurance bounce off the target with this little gun.
This offset picture shows ii shots at a 1x4 board. The ane in the white is from the .311 RB, merely a paring in the woods. The 1 on the left is from the .330, all the fashion through. Both rounds were loaded with 12g of Goex.
The 2nd picture shows how tight the .330 is when loading.
Do yous take a thin .005 patch to try with the .311 brawl?
I wasn't or rather, didn't fifty-fifty remember of using a patch.
Thank you for bringing me back down to earth.

robhof and damoc like this.
damoc Member

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I constitute that if the brawl is not a snug fit the pulverisation does not go a take chances to build enough force per unit area before the ball is exiting the barrel.I think it even mentions in user manual not to employ a patch. The exact correct brawl makes all the difference in this fiddling gun. .323 or .324 seems nearly perfect.
You're right that the manual does say not to employ a patch, but that would seem to be an error since it likewise says to only use a .310 round ball.
And in another office of the manual it says that "shooting patches are not required for this pistol."
I guess that a person needs to utilise their own judgement when interpreting the directions since information technology clearly warns against using loose projectiles.
And the directions are contradictory.
Hither's the Vest Pocket Derringer manual. --->>> https://world wide web.traditionsfirearms.com/data/product_owner_manuals/P1381Derringer_manual_1362674682.pdf
CAUTION: Any gap between powder and brawl is a unsafe situation and could cause a burst barrel.
Caution: Do not use any type of shooting patch with a round ball.
CAUTION: A projectile which does not enter the butt under force per unit area may not stay seated on top of the powder.
I just bought this Derringer and glad I found this thread. It should exist hither no later than Sabbatum. I had plant damoc'southward video on YouTube also.
Earlier I bought this Derringer I currently only had a fifty cal rifle muzzleloader. So this volition be my second black pulverisation gun.
I just happened to come beyond the Derringer on the internet did some research and thought it was a nifty little gun for the price. Plus I like shiny guns LOL.
I await forward to shooting it. I now know to make sure I have a tight fit with the lead ball to get the maximum functioning out of it.

damoc and arcticap like this.
I really like mine. I had taken some wood dowel and made several loading rams.
After trying several dissimilar hammers I found a hard plastic one at Harbor Freight that works best for my liking.
Guess I will be making a trip to Harbor Freight