My father inlaw is an old man and has a small Davis Derringer 22 that he keeps around with hollow point magnium bullets in it for protection.
My question is when gun fires does it shoot both rounds off at one time or one round at a time we do not know he has never fired it.

 

michael,

I read a bit about those guns and I believe that once you fire one barrel and re-arm the hammer, the other barrel is automatically selected.

You should really take your father in law out and let him become familiar with firing the thing before he hurts himself or an unintended target.

 

I have to agree with what you said but he is a stubborn old coot and in poor health.The only good thing is he grew up with guns as he is from TX and was a security guard in his younger days.
He has a 357 magnium chained to his bed why I do not know since he can barley lift it.
I will see if he wants to go to the range on a nice warm day as he will not come out of his house unless it is 70 and no wind.
His brother just died and he lived next door and we pulled several loaded guns out of his house as well as a few rifles all loaded.(I unloaded several).
We still have to search the rest of the house but I am sure there are more stashed someplace.

 

if you're reasonably confident he's in a secure situation i'd remove the ammo from the derringer and get rid of the others as well. if not, maybe some glaser ammo or some blanks for the 22. either way it's a tough position to be in. good luck

 

Thanks for the info but he is in a very bad part of town and is the only old man that lives there and he is not of Hispanic roots.
We are trying to get the old coot to move but he has lived in his little house since he was a kid.As a matter of fact my wife grew up in that old house 50 or so years ago.
I myself would carry a gun if I had to live there and we go there everyday to take care of him.

 

how about something a little safer mike ? that 22 is only gonna tic somebody off if they get shot. is the .357 a large frame ? maybe a smaller .38 would work for him. he needs to be comfortable with it, and a d/a revolver will let him keep the gun on an empty tube requiring he only pull the trigger to shoot. sometimes ya gotta lay down the law. be sincere with him and let him know you have concerns. if he can't get off more than on round of the .357 what good is it ? offer to get him something he likes and trade out the rest. good luck. ps, it's nice to see you care

 

He has a choice of guns there is a Taurus 38 in the house also a 22 ruger mark 2 and a 9 shot 22 HK.The 357 is I think a large frame I have only seen it as I walk past his bedroom chained to the bed.
My wifes sister has 4 guns at her house why I do not know she has no training on firearms and I am ticked off about that.There are two rifles still in the brothers house that I need to get out of there before someone breaks in and does it for me.(it is just a matter of time over there).
I think he likes the little gun because he can slip it in his pocket and stroll around his brothers house to see if all is secure.

 

a nice little 380 auto with a hammer block would fit in his pocket. he could leave a round chambered and just have to **** it to go. the 22 is really a waste of time and effort. take him to a gun shop with the 357 and see if there's something he likes.

 

I took a look on the web at some .380s I like the Bersa thunder .380 I might get one for myself and show the old man and maybe he will trade his little 22 for it.Or maybe the 22 and his Smith&Wesson 357.
Looks like a fine pistol small but yet has some stopping power.I am going to show my wife and see what she thinks.