cobra arms derringer any good?

[megatronrules]

I was thinking about getting one of these in .38 special as a back up gun or just something to mess around with,anyone here know anything about these as far as quality goes? How do they compare to say american derringer quality wise? Thanks for any input on this guys.

 

[orangeninja]

Bond Arms makes the best......I don't know squat about Cobra but am interested in what others have to say.

 

[Ron James]

I've owned a couple of Davis derringers ( same gun under Cobra ), They are not bad little guns but you get what you pay for. I have never shot mine enought to wear one out but they are cheap metal guns. They have a good warrenty and parts are easy to get from Cobra. The little 38 makes a dandy snake gun loaded with snake shot. However acurate they are not. Across a card table you can hit a man sized target, but don't expect to hit him between the eyes. They are really " belly guns".

 

[hoppinglark]

I have a Cobra Derringer in .32 ACP but I have not fired it yet, because I believe it would blow up in my hand.
I plan to either sell it to a pawn shop (possible guilt factor)
or fill it with J.B. Weld and use it as a paper weight.

 

[RyanM]

For a backup, you'd be better served by a small auto or a snubnose revolver. Better ergonomics, safer to carry, more shots.

 

[weregunner]

32,9mm. ,38 and larger calibers in revolvers and semi autos are a much better pick.Safety as well as possibly needing more shots are good reasons to rethink your choice.Recoil in a derringer of that weight is also a factor.Try out many examples of both types and see what best meets your needs.There are good points for both revolver and semi autos.Revolver use has less details for right then and there use.Autos bring are a little more training intensive,but anyone can learn easily.Revolvers have a double action trigger for most shooting for most circumstances.Autos have a different trigger type.I'll let others go into more detail.Good luck.

 

[Dienekes]

They had a display at the NRA convention in Milwaukee in May. My wife is interested in these things so we looked them over. I thought they were junk, and presumably they brought their good stuff.

As a kid I had a .22LR that wasn't too bad--at least it always went bang and was still working when I traded it off. I later got a Hy Hunter one in .357 that was miserable with full loads and at least bearable (but not fun) with .38 Specials. However it kept breaking lockwork parts and I finally put it into a shadow box about 25 years ago where it still resides. IMHO that is the proper place for it and others of its kind. The only derringer I would have around would be one of the old High Standard ones and they are appreciating fast. Derringers are toys and most of them are not very good toys at that.

Any decent police trade-in gun of any kind would be a far better investment and more useful, anyway you look at it.

 

[usmccpl]

Hoppinglark I got one just like yours and the only problem I got with it is that my wife steals it about twice a day.If you want to sell yours let me know I figure with two I should be able to keep one for myself.






one shot one kill

 

[Javelin Man]

I have a Cobra .38 derringer. It's a handful to shoot, especially with the hard trigger which is a safety feature. It takes me two hands just to pull the darn trigger and hold it steady as it shoots.

The novelty wears off quickly and it goes to the safe where it's replaced by my P32 which is thinner, easier to shoot and I have 8 rounds at my disposal.

The derringer does shoot and does not blow up in my hands, but I have a choice of other more efficient weaponry that I can carry.

A .32 derringer is much smaller, easier to conceal and probably much more fun to shoot, though the grip is down to only one finger to hold onto the gun.

 

[Lou22]

You want a very small, light, highly concealable gun, get a Kel-Tec P3AT. I have 2 of them. One was reliable out of the box, the other needed a "Fluff and Buff" (about an hour of your time and a little #400 sandpaper). I got my latest one at Bud's Gun Shop new for $207 plus shipping. A bargain however you look at it.

They aren't accurate at much more than 21 feet, but I bet they'll beat any derringer out there. Plus you get 7 rounds, not 2, of .380.

Lou

 

[CZJedi]

In a word: "crap"

I had one, and the trigger took two hands to squeeze. To make matters worse, after 5 shots the trigger just fell out. I sent it back and the trigger was manageable in terms of weight, but would still fall out at times. I ended up selling it to a gun shop as an "as is" project.

 

[rugerman]

Save your money, or carry a rock. I bought one of their 38's a couple of years ago because I'd always wanted one (bad misteak). The trigger pull was about 20 pounds, if a bad guy was farther away than 5 feet you'd be better off throwing it at him. After 5 shots it would only fire from the bottom barrell. I emailed the company and they told me that they would repair it if I would pay shipping both ways which would cost more than the gun was worth. So now its a paper weight and a reminder not to buy anymore of that company's crap. Better yet buy a cheap baseball bat, easy to use, no misfires. rugerman

 

[nstyn8]

I have the .22LR

I've used it it several times as just something to goof with. I've had no problems as of yet. Knock on wood. Trigger pull is heavy no accuracy at all as one of the posters said it is a belly gun. Just point and shot hope for the best I probabally won't get another from this company put for a cheap little thing it's fine if you don't mind not being able to hit a target center at 7 yards. But I have fun with it

 

[mgregg85]

I'd spend the same amount of money on an NAA mini revolver over one of those cobra derringers.

Five reliable shots of .22 magnum sounds better than maybe 2 shots of 9mm(I believe this is the biggest caliber they make) if it happens to work.

 

[Alan Fud]

Does anybody else make small derringers the size of Cobra but of a better quality? The ones from Bond are much bigger than the Cobra ones especially the .22 and .32 models.

 

[doc2rn]

three letters LCP

 

[RyanM]

Does anybody else make small derringers the size of Cobra but of a better quality? The ones from Bond are much bigger than the Cobra ones especially the .22 and .32 models.

American Derringer Co. derringers are much smaller than Bonds, though I dunno how they compare to Cobras. Problem is, their prices are very high, last I checked.

 

[Scotticus]

I used to have a Davis .38 sp derringer. Extremely heavy trigger pull, horrible accuracy, and very significant recoil. I would not recommend this type derringer in that large of a calliber. I also use to have an American Derringer in .45LC / 2 1/2" .410. MUCH better quality than the Davis. It, too, had significant recoil, but that is apple to oranges due to the caliber. I think an American Derringer in .38 would be fairly reasonable in the recoil department. I traded my AD .45lc/.410 for a Ruger LCP and am very happy with the increased accuracy and capacity.

 

[krs]

I have a .22 Cobra derringer that was given to me as a bonus when I bought my Lew Horton M27-8.

My dealer was giving them out to good customers instead of calendars or mints (his words).

I haven't fired it but it's loaded in my top desk drawer now for lack of knowing what else to do with it. Silly little thing.

 

[jackstinson]

Quite honestly, the Cobra/Davis .38 derringer is large compared to the Cobra/Davis .22/.22mag/.25/.32 derringer frame. For what they provide, the K-T P32 or P3AT are better options for carry (about the same size, lighter, easier to shoot, and carry more rounds).
I have the Davis D-22 and D-32 models. Both of those are on a smaller frame than the .38 "Big Bore" derringer. Both of mine have never given me any trouble...no failures, no parts falling off. The hammer-block safety is solid. Both are far easier to shoot than my NAA Mini-Revolver. Using a two-hand hold on the .32 derringer and thumbing the hammer with my left thumb, I can get off 2 aimed shots in less then 2 seconds and actually hit a plate at 5 yards. Although the lower barrel hits slightly right of the upper barrel. My NAA Mini-Revolver requires a hand repositioning after each shot due to it's minuscule grip. I do carry the Davis D-32 now and then as a backup.
Jack

 

[ufonightowl]

My : Cobra (38 cal ) Derrinager It's Good for what I

It's good for what I use it for ( NOT TARGET SHOOTING ) C/L Texas.
I have a belt hoster easy to hide.
I have only shot it twice the 38 special does what you expect.
I shot mine at 18'-20' ft. at 3/4" plywood little hole front big hole back side, not bulls eye but 1st shot I was worried 1st time to see it shoot. One hand shot one hand behind the hammer to pertect my eyes. Hit 9" low and 14" to left. Not sure which top or botom barrell. 2dn shot good stedy hand ( as you can with one hand ) 18" to left of bulls eye 1" low. Not bad for size.
It is a hammer cock easy triger pull NOT HARD for sure.
The slide left and right safety is ok.
The guy I got it from said he fired it about 10 times ( so it's new ) not burned out, barrell looks good Kinda ribed like.
It was easy to hold on to. I had consern of it jumping out of my hand, No way. I beleave if a 400# man comming at you would have problems after one shot two for sure.
Never had a Derrinager so can't compare it to other ones. My colt 38 revolver 6" Dub Act is to big and heavy to hide. So this one will work for what I use it for.
Now I have NO WORRIES as to how it shots or dependiable of it.
YOU DO HAVE TO CARRY IT WITH THE SAFETY ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE HAMMER SETS ON THE FIREING PIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The break is tilt up not down like I expected.
It does over lap the barrel/chamber to the head ( sets inside of ) (base handel frame ?) so no flair or preasure or anything can come out the back or sides.
Like a six gun ( revolver ) it leaks out between the cylinder and barrel. a cheep relover will spit led out do to line up of the cylinder and barrel (sometimes ) .
So for so good JUST KEEP THE SAFETY ON ALL THE TIME until you need it.
Ride Safe: Shoot Straight: and Vote!
PS:: Get your LICENSE B 4 you can't, they may change the law.

 

[makarovnik]

Not really.

If you want a decent cheap little gun go for a Jimenez JA-22 or JA-25. The .380's and 9mm are hit and miss as far as reliability.

Some also like the Phoenix Arms HP-22. I don't like 'em and sold mine. I like my JA-22 more better.

I would not recommend carrying any of these cheap little striker fired auto-loaders with a round in the chamber.

 

[m43ma1l]

It is what it is

Mine shoots good out to about 2 feet.
It is not my CC choice - but fun to fool with at the range or to use
as a pocket pistol for CAS.

 

[J. Muldoon]

I recently bought a Cobra Arms 9mm derringer. It shoots great, but you must hang on to it.
There is a problem with the firing pins. The bottom one is fine, but the top one does not seem to protrude far enough to give a hard strike. Sort of hit and miss. I hate ammo that has been hit and not fired.

I will probably send it back to the manufacturer to get it fixed.

As far as quality of the Cobra Arms derringer and the American Derringer, I find the American Derringer a much higher quality. I have an American Derringer that shoots Colt .45 ammo, and/or .410 shot gun shells. Very smooth and reliable, but again to have to hang on to this critter pretty tight also.

Mul

 

[J. Muldoon]

KRS: Let me know if you want to sell that .22 Derringer.

Mul