new derringer just brought home today has anyone tried this brand?

Is this like it?



If so, Bearman is made or distributed by Cobra Firearms out of Utah, I think. Steel barrels with an alloy frame.

^^ Yep. Hit or miss in quality. I've read the rimfires to be (slightly) more reliable. Decent little snake shooters around the property with shotshells in whichever barrel works. The rose grips are usually pretty handsome; I prefer them to the other available choices.

I wanted a nickel-plated one just to add to my "Western-themed" accumulation. Was gonna break down and buy the Cobra just because I couldn't fine what I wanted. Wandered into a LGS that I hadn't been into in a couple of years and they had a Nickel-plated Davis in .32ACP that looked unfired, for a good price, so I bought that. Would have preferred .38 Special, though. I'm glad to have it, but I've never shot it. Not sure I even will ever get around to it anytime soon; have too many other "unfireds" ahead of it in line.

midland man said:

i just bought a beararms derringer today in 9mm with 2 3/4in barrel hadn't shot it yet but soon will! mine was only $159 new and its black with rose grips!

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I want one in .22 only because no one else makes .22 derringers anymore. But, they are um ring of fire guns. Also not drop safe

MedWheeler said:

^^ Yep. Hit or miss in quality. I've read the rimfires to be (slightly) more reliable. Decent little snake shooters around the property with shotshells in whichever barrel works. The rose grips are usually pretty handsome; I prefer them to the other available choices.

I wanted a nickel-plated one just to add to my "Western-themed" accumulation. Was gonna break down and buy the Cobra just because I couldn't fine what I wanted. Wandered into a LGS that I hadn't been into in a couple of years and they had a Nickel-plated Davis in .32ACP that looked unfired, for a good price, so I bought that. Would have preferred .38 Special, though. I'm glad to have it, but I've never shot it. Not sure I even will ever get around to it anytime soon; have too many other "unfireds" ahead of it in line.

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Oh I’d buy the .32 acp one in a second. I’ve only ever seen the .22, .38, and 9mm cobras/bearmans

I've got an old Davis derringer I bought new in 1995 for $90.00 including tax. Davis went defunct about 1999 - 2000. Cobra acquired the manufacturing equipment and took over production. Cobra went bankrupt in 2020.

Bearman took over their derringer line at that time. Most if not all parts are interchangeable between the three brands.

Some people love to hate these derringers. I think my Davis branded in 38 Spl is the bee's knees. I've primarily shot standard 148gr wadcutters and 158gr semi-wadcutters through it. 27 years later and still going strong.

One nice thing about them is that they're switch barrels. I've been looking for a 3.5" 9mm barrel for mine. It takes about 2 minutes to switch out the barrel to a different center fire caliber. Pretty nifty.

PS: You'll still see the name Cobra associated with Bearman, but Cobra Arms out of Utah is no more.

I’ll probably get a .22 version at some point.

Beck said:

I've got an old Davis derringer I bought new in 1995 for $90.00 including tax. Davis went defunct about 1999 - 2000. Cobra acquired the manufacturing equipment and took over production. Cobra went bankrupt in 2020.

Bearman took over their derringer line at that time. Most if not all parts are interchangeable between the three brands.

Some people love to hate these derringers. I think my Davis branded in 38 Spl is the bee's knees. I've primarily shot standard 148gr wadcutters and 158gr semi-wadcutters through it. 27 years later and still going strong.

One nice thing about them is that they're switch barrels. I've been looking for a 3.5" 9mm barrel for mine. It takes about 2 minutes to switch out the barrel to a different center fire caliber. Pretty nifty.

PS: You'll still see the name Cobra associated with Bearman, but Cobra Arms out of Utah is no more.

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i didn’t know Cobra went under

I've had one for a while... I use it as a back up to my back up... It works good and is easy to carry... Hard to set off but that could be a good thing to some. Plus a derringers velocity in 38 spl is slightly better than some "snub" nose revolvers... Some gas escapes at the barrel / cylinder junction on a revolver... A revolver does have several more rounds though... As an addendum... I have three of these from the previous guys also... The current and the former have all been great for me.

Autodidactic said:

I didn’t know Cobra went under

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It was just over 2 years ago that Cobra filed for bankruptcy at the beginning of the pandemic. Cobra's domain is currently for sale. cobrafirearms.com

The newest classic derringers are marked Bearman. You can still find new-in-box Cobras because it hasn't been that long. There's no significant difference between Davis, Cobra, and Bearman. Bearman has the funky trigger guard. The first thing I would do if I bought a new Bearman is ditch the trigger guard.

My Davis D38 has a nice trigger. That comes with shooting it enough to break it in.

I just hope everyone that has one of these things makes use of the cross bolt safety!

-kBob

kBob said:

I just hope everyone that has one of these things makes use of the cross bolt safety!

-kBob

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Does the crossbolt automatically release when the hammer is thumbed?
For the OP, I've a Smith 940 with a surprisingly sharp recoil, compared to the same gun in .38 Spl.
Solved the problem by shooting 147s instead of 115s.
Moon

I just bought a Bearman in .22LR yesterday. I haven't been to the range yet but could not help pulling the bullets on a couple of .22 cartridges. I was surprised that I did not hear the primers go off and thought they were duds but for the little odor of burnt power from the primers. I was wearing hearing proteciton which ws probably way overkill.

Anyway, I learned why it is called the Bearman Derranger. Because if you try to pull the trigger, its a bear man. I had great difficulty pulling the trigger and you almost have to pull straight down. Ya think this gun might need a trigger job. Oh if I hadn't hesitated on that .22 WMR NAA swing out revolver they wanted .$325 for last winter. But I like this little Bearman .22. It is a cool-looking gun and should be a bit of fun at the range (maybe I'll borrow my wife's thimble to help my trigger finger mash down on that stiff trigger).

Anyway, I was dissapointed in how quiet the .22 primers are. I was hoping to get some primed .22 cases to use for scaring off deer from my urban backyard garden. Just as well I guess. One of my neighbors might see me popping off primers with a Derringer in the back yard and red flag me.

I would hope the Bearman reboot of the Cobra brand came with a significant quality improvement, but something tells me not…

I own two Cobras, a black finished 38spcl and a matte silver 22LR, which I bought when I was shooting CAS/SASS for costuming and side matches. Both go bang reliably (how would they not with hammer springs like this?) and accuracy is commensurate with expectation for their design (you CAN hit a refrigerator from inside it) - but they’re both turds. Ridiculously heavy hammer draw and trigger pull, terrible geometry in the trigger, finish quality which looks exactly as it is - poor quality finish applied over poor quality prep work - no obvious fitting work, as everything is loosey-goosey, and calling the notch and nipple on top “sights” is being generous… but they go bang, and they generally hit what I’ve asked them to hit, at least as far as I’ve asked them to hit something… something large…

This is actually a good reminder that I have them in my life, and no longer want them…

It satisfies my desire for a tiny, good-looking, near-useless gun that goes bang. Most important it hugely increases my appreciation of Bond Arms Derringers. But I still prefer the .22 in the Bearman Cobra vs the Bond. The.22 in bond just does not look right to me, those tiny bores in that massive Bond barrel, and the bores offsets to use the same firing pins as center fire, makes it look stranger yet. Bond should come up with a smaller frame gun (they did, the Stinger, but that was only width and the same massive barrel) for the .22 and .32.

Bond .22 showing the inward offset bores in massive barrel. You could put three .22 bores in that massive chunk of steel.

So I tried the trigger again today with the spent cases and, knowing to pull down instead of back, it actually was quite easy to fire. So, it is all in getting used to the trigger. I'll save my empty cases when I go to the range for practice dummies. I already dented about 8 locations on the two cases I fired primer only. The other thing is that maybe the trigger has to break in and lightens up with use. Either way, I am pretty happy with this gun, and a nice looking gun too. Here it is side by side with the Bond .45.

MedWheeler said:

^^ Yep. Hit or miss in quality. I've read the rimfires to be (slightly) more reliable. Decent little snake shooters around the property with shotshells in whichever barrel works. The rose grips are usually pretty handsome; I prefer them to the other available choices.

I wanted a nickel-plated one just to add to my "Western-themed" accumulation. Was gonna break down and buy the Cobra just because I couldn't fine what I wanted. Wandered into a LGS that I hadn't been into in a couple of years and they had a Nickel-plated Davis in .32ACP that looked unfired, for a good price, so I bought that. Would have preferred .38 Special, though. I'm glad to have it, but I've never shot it. Not sure I even will ever get around to it anytime soon; have too many other "unfireds" ahead of it in line.

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I have two Davis 32acp derringers, nickel plated. Both are very accurate at 7 yards, all shots within the 7-9 rings on the target. Super lightweight, about 6.5 ounces, can palm the firearm in your hand to hide it. Can carry it in a small camera case on the belt.

midland man said:

i just bought a beararms derringer today in 9mm with 2 3/4in barrel hadn't shot it yet but soon will! mine was only $159 new and its black with rose grips!

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Note that the owner’s manual says not to dry fire them.

SterlingBullet said:

Note that the owner’s manual says not to dry fire them.

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But if he using empty brass or ones with just the primers, wouldn't that be sufficient to protect the firing pins?

The Bond Derringers are nicely done, but wildly overbuilt (maybe Bill Ruger designed them).
It would be nice to see Bond quality in a minimalist size and style, much like the old time Remingtons.
The OP has never reported his experience firing the 9mm version; I'm pretty sure it's an ugly handful to shoot.
Moon

This is my “beach gun”. A kinda rare all aluminum .38 Special American Derringer pistol.

I keep it loaded with 148 gr wadcutters.

I spend some time in California, visiting my kid. I don’t go unarmed. We spent the day at Malibu beach. I had a Ruger SP101 on me. That I kinda like. And didn’t want to take into the ocean. So I played up the my shorts hems.



The next week, some homeless POS attacked a family with a machete. Almost killed the father.

Cementing the fact that I’m never going anywhere without a gun. Period.

I’ve got a can of WD-40 in my trunk. I’ll carry that in the ocean if I want to. Rinse it it. Spray it and toss the ammo.

As much as people malign the derringer. It has a place. It’s infinitely better than screaming for help.

Old thread…

I have a Davis Derringer .38 that I bought in ‘97 to use for CAS side matches. Never used it in a side match. What an unsafe POS - firing pins protrude without the “safety” pushed on. Even with the safety on the top firing pin still protrudes a little.

I’d give the darn thing away if I could legally do it and not have to pay for anything for the transfer.
I keep waiting for a buyback event so I could offload the thing but the heavy little piece of junk came with a heavy dose of Murphy’s Law…
I made the grip panels out of oak back in 97. This gun was a demo gun that someone dropped. The front sight is smushed and one of the original grip panels had a crack so I made these grip panels.

JTHunter said:

if he using empty brass or ones with just the primers, wouldn't that be sufficient to protect the firing pin?

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Well, you and I might assume so, but the manufacturer, Bearman, has stated in their manuals not to dry fire.

Then again, there is some information on line, in a products liability action, that purports that Cobra sold their business to Bearman to shield assets, and the same person who owned Cobra owns Bearman.
Now, according to Bearman Industries’ website,
“Bearman Industries has sold the intellectual property and the rights to the Big Bore and Classic Derringer to Old West Firearms, a subsidiary of High Mountain Defense.”

So, these derringers are now on their fourth manufacturer, Davis, Cobra, Bearman, Old West, with their origins possibly Raven Arms. Is there anyone that was involved with designing, making and testing these derringers available with any real technical knowledge to provide any answers to safety questions. Seems to me that ensuring that manufacturers make guns that operate safely is what the ATF should be spending more of their time on.

midland man said:

i just bought a beararms derringer today in 9mm with 2 3/4in barrel hadn't shot it yet but soon will! mine was only $159 new and its black with rose grips!

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I think that's the same model I had. I bought it on impulse while I was picking up a Bond Arms 45ACP. I shot the Bearman one time. It barely kept bullets on a 30" piece of cardboard at 5 yards. They keyholed.

Let me know if you find a load that works well for it. I was thinking maybe a very light bullet.