Why do derringers suck so bad?

American Derringer in 45 LC

I have one that is heavy enough to smack someone in the eye with....

It's neat, but a pain to shoot. I have stashed in a jewlery box.

What you have very nearly described is the new Ruger LCR. It gives you 5 shots, though. That thing is insanely light. I handled and shot one on Saturday; Ruger had a table at a firearms expo at the local range. All their displayed firearms (pretty much their entire product line) were available to shoot, including the new LCR. Ultimately, compact revolvers and autos have all but rendered the Derringer concept obsolete. Modern alloys allow less material to be used on the cylinder, resulting in reduced size and weight. Derringers were conceived in a time when unlicensed concealed carry was legal or at least common, and guns were big, bulky things. They made it small, but at the expense of usability and effectiveness. And they were still heavy compared to modern compacts.

To the OP:

They suck because for the same size, one can get an 8 shot Semi-auto (like the KT P3AT which has a 7+1 capacity), or a 5-6 shot revolver instead of 1-2shots.

Bond Derringer action job by Munden

I've got a Bond Derringer Texas Defender, and barrels in .45 bolt, .45/410 and 357 mag. The Bond as it comes from the factory has a pretty stiff trigger which makes shooting one accurately difficult.

I just got mine back from Bob Munden who does action jobs on these for $130. Now the action is smooth as silk, and a light, crisp trigger, just wonderful.

Here is a pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nonseven/3398529383/

Now if I could just shoot like Munden....

they are good in theory, but with a hammer than must be cocked with both hands (extremely cumbersome in such a small gun) and a trigger that is more than horrible, they are hard to handle appropriately. that being said, they are definitely better than nothing, and I doubt anyone would like to hear the sound of a gunshot coming from their next victim, whether they are actually hit or not.

The only one that was moderately good was the old DA High Standard, but they were only made in .22 LR and .22 Magnum. And the barrels never shot to the same place.

Awkward to use, hard to cock, hard to hold onto, and a horrible trigger pull about sums up most, including the vaunted Remington. Worse, many of the moden guns are unreliable, one or both barrels failing to fire every time.

Jim

nonseven do you have a video link to the long range shots Munden made with one of his Bond derringers?

If I remember some were out to 100 yards on a balloon!

If I were going to make a derringer today, it would be like this old time Remington-Rider magazine pistol.
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin/product_details.php?itemID=19471
I have seen some of these at antique gun shows and they are no bigger than most .32 cal modern made derringers, maybe a little longer in the barrel, but hold more than a standard 2 shot derringer. I kind of wish they would make some modern version of this little pistol, center fire of course. LM

I owned a Cobra derringer in .38 special. As others have posted mine failed to fire one of the two barrels (can't remember which one). This was brand new out of the box. I sold it to a friend who said he wanted to see if he could fix it. I never brought the pistol up again, but then again neither did he. I'm sure if he had fixed it he would have mentioned it.

Here's a link to some Munden videos

http://www.bondarms.com/ivideos2.php

I think the one that he shoots two balloons with two shots is the most amazing.

BTW, the Bond can easily be cocked with one hand and has a nice light crisp trigger after Munden worked on it.

hey for all you guys who are saying the derringer is worthless..... just watch a few episodes of HGWT. ole paladin surely relied heavily on his over the seasons.

Yeah, those are the ones. 65 yard shot is not bad. Those who say "all" derringers are inaccurate should take a look. This probably be good enough accuracy for a carry gun.

American Derringer corp. makes very high quality derringers. I have one in .357. I can hit a paper plate twice at 10 yards. But, it is kinda heavy and not quick to bring to action, you have to cock the very strong hammer(i can't do it w/one hand) and you have only 2 shots. I think their double action derringers would be a much better option, and although not a derringer, their new Semmerling reproduction.

nonseven

Shoulda' had him put a clipdraw on the side. I had my gunsmith tap and drill mine for a clipdraw instead of using that double sided tape. Works really well and doesn't look bad!

seriously, why? if you want tiny, why not get a LCP and be done with it? at least you'll have more than 2 shots.

I had a Davis Derringer in .22LR for many years. I carried it CCW sometimes. My father-in-law fell in love with the thing so I gave it to him as a present. I am not in the habit of giving away guns, but the old gent lets me shoot on his land! I have a Kel-Tec P-32 in .32ACP now, a much more serious piece of ordinance.

The Semmerling goes for about $3000. Fascinating little pistol, but it would break a lot of people's budgets. Has anyone here shot one?

I have a Bond Snakeslayer IV (.45/.410) IMO it is a very costly ($500) and heavy(24 oz) two shot weapon. What do I use it for? Something different to shoot at the range.

Quote; batjka The Semmerling goes for about $3000. Fascinating little pistol, but it would break a lot of people's budgets. Has anyone here shot one?
I found this one on gunbroker, don't know how they can call it a derringer!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=125797349

They really don't suck much

After shooting the Bond Texas Defender in 45 colt, after the action job by Munden, it's much easier to shoot accurately with the light trigger. Highly recommended. At about 5 yards, I can touch bullet holes if I do my part.

Just shot the .45 colt magsafe loads (96 grain pre-fragmented bullet at nearly 1700 fps, +P loaded) in the Bond. A little kick but not too bad because the bullet is so light. Would seem to make a formidable self defense round. Somehow, I don't feel underarmed with this gun.

I think the deal with the derringer is carry a big round that can't be used in similar size guns. I don't see the sense in a .22lr or even a .38 special derringer for defense since you can find a gun that's smaller and lighter with many more shots. But there's nothing else as small or light that will shoot full charge 45 colt loads.

I got a black powder Derringers in .45 Cal. Never shot it yet hopefully this summer. Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth with one.

Model 1872 Derringer History
One of the most colorful figures in American folklore is the Mississippi Riverboat gambler. If legend is right, the gambler was the most sophisticated and subtly brutal man in the West. He was a professional who played to win, and the stakes were always high. Diamonds, slaves, plantations and immense sums of money were lost to him. He was a perfectionist. He dressed in style. And, almost invariably, he carried a Derringer.

In his choice of weapons, at least, the gambler was a typical frontiersman. By the middle of the 1850's, a pair of Derringers was standard equipment for all those who chose to protect themselves with concealed weapons. Their small size made them perfect "second" guns, and they were often carried in addition to the larger revolver. The expansion westward in the mid nineteenth century was perhaps the most violent period in American history. Law and order was something a man had to carry with him, and the demand for precision small arms grew as the country grew.

Henry Derringer, a Philadelphia gunsmith famous for the quality of his rifles and dueling pistols, created the first efficient pocket weapon, the small percussion cap pistol of superior design which he marked "Derringer Phila." The percussion cap pistol, which had to be loaded from the muzzle, came into use in 1807.

With the advent of breech loading in 1856 and the switch to metallic cartridges, efficiency was increased, and the Derringer boom was on. Many other gunmakers began producing copies of the popular Derringer pistol; one even reproduced Derringer's trademark on his own products.

Daniel Moore patented the first breechloading Derringer in 1861. It was a short, single barrel pistol chambered for .41 caliber rim-fire ammunition, which was originally sold by the National Arms Company. In 1870, a new Derringer, which had a side-swinging barrel complete with an ejector, was patented by Model employee F. Alexander Thuer. Model introduced this Derringer in 1872 using .41 caliber rim-fire cartridges, and retaining the "bird's head" grip design of the old percussion type Derringers. Production of the Model Derringer continued until 1912, when the small automatic pistol replaced the Derringer in popularity.

In late 1959, Model reintroduced its 1872 Derringer as the Model No. 4. It was chambered for the .22 caliber short cartridge, which is both inexpensive and widely available today, unlike the original .41 caliber ammunition. It was primarily offered to interest the collector of Model arms, an d was a close replica of the original Thuer Model No. 3 of 1872. The manufacture of Model No. 4 by Model continued until 1962.

Ms. Kitty used one with great effect.

My wife has lost two Colt 25s so I picked up a NAA 22 mag five shot derringer. She said it was too loud and quit carrying it so I just dropped it into my side pocket on my Carharts. It has become my backup and I have no qualms about it being a get off me gun. If the bullet doesn't drop him the blast will burn off all his hair and probably set his clothes on fire. I know 22s get laughed at but don't be on the receiving end of one. They do crazy things inside a body, wc

the gun shop in my region that always has a good selection of 2 shot derringers in stock now has nothing larger than .22lr;

what sucks about derringers is their lack of availability due to the 'Obama' stimulation plan of the gun industry!!!

Federal Premium Handgun ammo .410

Federal has a new product - a .410 shotshell load designed for handguns like the Taurus Judge. This should prove interesting for the Bond Derringers as well. It come in 000 buck (4 pellets) and #4. Claimed velocity = 1200 fps. They also claim 15" penetration in ballistic gelatin. With 4 pellets instead of 3, and faster burning powder for short barrels, it may make .410 a viable self defense load.