Is that a Pocket Shotgun in your Pants or are you just happy to see me?

[Feuer Frei!]

True enough, these little 'toys' have been around for a while now...

Heizer Defense, inventor of the “Pocket Shotgun” .410/.45 Colt single-shot derringer. It is an extremely thin and light pistol for deep concealment and back-up use

SOURCE



What a joke this thing is, .410 rounds, penetration and energy transfer would be, bad.
That's an understatement.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

True enough, these little 'toys' have been around for a while now...What a joke this thing is, .410 rounds, penetration and energy transfer would be, bad.
That's an understatement.

During one of the eternal arguments between fans of 9mm and .45 ACP, Gunsight Academy founder Colonel Jeff Cooper, himself a .45 fan, quipped "In a street confrontation a .22 in your pocket is far more effective than a .45 in your bedroom drawer."

I think given the purpose for this gun it could be a good thing to have when the need arose.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

During one of the eternal arguments between fans of 9mm and .45 ACP, Gunsight Academy founder Colonel Jeff Cooper, himself a .45 fan, quipped "In a street confrontation a .22 in your pocket is far more effective than a .45 in your bedroom drawer."

I think given the purpose for this gun it could be a good thing to have when the need arose.

Most definitely...would hate to be on the receiving end.

[Feuer Frei!]

A .410 wouldn't be the first choice for self-defense.

This thing is more a novelty weapon than anything else.

Sure, it's better than nothing, 410 ammo was designed for hunting, not self-defense.

Ammo designed for long barrels but used in short barrels doesn't really gel.

I hazard a guess but this particular model has shallow rifling? If so, they are not true smoothbores, ie the shots spread out too much. Not really what you want in greater ranges.

Gimmick gun, good for a novice.

Total energy of a loadout is important, as you gun nuts know of course.

The only advantage of this thing would be the low recoil.

Edit: As Ducimus points out at close range it may be ok, ie 3 yards or nearer, which is the key number for self-defense, in relation to this model.
Anything outside of that, and a guy wearing a leather jacket coming at you from a range greater than 3 yards, (keeping in mind the scattered shot pattern) getting hit by 6 pellets, rather than 9 (from a 12-gauge) may still keep on coming. May is the word i stress, that's the issue, not a certainty.
Which then defeats the purpose o self-defense. You don't want the doubt of something that MAY stop an attacker.
A 12 or 20-gauge on the other hand? Well....

[Ducimus]

Well its not my first choice either, but as any firearms enthusiast will tell you, some guns work well for some people for varying reasons, and some don't.

[Feuer Frei!]

Haha yea, maybe if you have squirrels or rabbits invading your appartment.
Fair point.

[August]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

410 ammo was designed for hunting, not self-defense.

These 410's are indeed designed for self-defense.

Delivering effective shot patterns that place all projectiles on a man-sized target at seven yards, the Critical Defense® 410 features a unique Triple Defense™ projectile stack consisting of two 35 caliber round balls topped with one non-jacketed FTX® slug. Unique to the Critical Defense 410, the 41 caliber FTX® slug actually engages the gun's rifling, and contacts the target nose-on, enabling the patented Hornady Flex Tip® technology to assist in expansion for greatly enhanced terminal performance. Each 35 caliber round ball is made of high antimony, cold swaged lead to resist deformation and provide excellent penetration. The 410 Critical Defense is loaded to 750 fps at the muzzle with 294 ft lbs of energy.

http://www.hornady.com/store/410-Critical-Defense-Ammo/

[Aktungbby]

^

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

What a joke this thing is, .410 rounds, penetration and energy transfer would be, bad.
That's an understatement.

It's a belly gun, up close and personal defense weapon. Say, a couple feet away maybe, or worse yet, pressed right up to your attackers gut. You definitely wouldn't want to get hit by it. Maybe a bit too close for taste, but it is better then nothing.