Deringers

[Duckster]

Are Deringer effective and reliable firearms? I know personally nothing about them. I'm a pretty good shot, but the shortness of the barrel makes me have doubts about any accuracy. What would be the best caliber? Since it does seem to have been made in a wide availablity of calibers. I think it would seem a very nice size when you really need to hide a gun. Are they expensive?
Your replies would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

You might want to take a look at this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=181686


That said, a friend of mine wanted "something different" and bought the Bond Arms Snake Slayer in .45 Colt/.410. I can't testify to it's practicality, but it definately is "something different" and a hell of a lot of fun to shoot.

 

[Bobhwry]

Derringers IMO are "novelty" guns and not practical for self defense,but better than nothing!

 

[Outlaws]

There is nothing wrong with accuracy, they are not target pistols. Even if it shoots 3 or 4" groups at 5 yards you are still gonna hit someone. That said, only one shot could get you in more trouble than you bargin for.

 

[STAGE 2]

I must admit, I can't see the novelty of two .45 caliber bullets flying at me, but yeah other than that they are just toys

Sure, you wont be hitting pie plates at 100 yards, but different weapons are for different things. The bond cant do things my USP can do, but then again the bond can do things my USP cant do. I'm probably not going to take it with me to Custers last stand, but then again when I'm in public I'll be able to conceal that thing in 100 different places.

 

[1911Tuner]

Derringers

They don't have to be accurate. They're intended for a last-ditch, do-or-die effort that you deploy by pressing against your attacker's groin and pulling the trigger.

 

[Biker]

Yup, I don't expect I'd be happy to be on the 'bidness' end of Buck's .45 derringer. Not happy at all...

Biker

 

[atlctyslkr]

Would I rely on one as a primary?, no! I wouldn't even call it a backup but it's better than nothing. If you can pull a derringer from deep concealment faster than you can load a revolver I say go ahead and carry one.

 

[hoghunting]

I also have a buddy with the Bond derringer with the 45/410 barrel and he carries it with 410 loads. It is a big, heavy derringer and is only 2 oz lighter than my loaded Glock 27!! It doesn't take a genius to figure out which one to carry.

 

[GEM]

They were a nice BUG or hideaway gun for their time. However, we have similar sized but more effective options today in the small semis and J frame types.

That is not to say that they cannot be effective as a deterrent or if you actually shoot someone with one. You can find cases of folks defending themselves with them.

The question is finding a size efficient good one. The really small ones are the Cobra, Davis types that have a bad reputation. In 22 or 32 - they are small but have been used successfully.

The bigger guys from American Derringer, Bond or IAR have been reported to be of quality but again, you have better options in similar size and weight for carry.

So to conclude, they would be useful in lots of situations but you have better options.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I'd rather carry a 45 Kimber but the fact is most of the time I just have a Kel Tec .380 in my pocket.

I've thought that if the time ever came that I have to stick that .380 in a BG's chest I'm going to be wishing I had pulled my 45ACP Bond derringer, loaded with +P, from my pocket.

 

[James T Thomas]

clear vision

That is what is called insight, 'M2 Carbine.'

 

[Catshooter]

M2 said -
I've thought that if the time ever came that I have to stick that .380 in a BG's chest I'm going to be wishing I had pulled my 45ACP Bond derringer, loaded with +P, from my pocket.

That's one of the reasons I dumped the P-32 for my American Derringer in .45 AR.


Cat

 

[Golddog]

Be careful. Lots of them are gargage. I've seen some that wouldn't hit a 6' by 3' (!) sheet of paper at five yards. Given Kahrs, Kel-Tecs, or S&W AirLite revolvers, I don't get the point of carrying a deringer.

 

[Ultraman]

Are Deringer effective and reliable firearms?

You bet they are!!!
I love them and daily carry an American Derringer M1 loaded with 000 Buck Shot. I have 4 AD and a Bond and can easily hit a 9"X12" target at 7 yards. IMHO it only takes about one or two practice sessions.
Bill

 

[Freddymac]

my Farther's friend carried one in Nam

He carried it in a hide away holsted strapped to his thigh. I think it was more for him incase he was wounded beyond all hope about to be captured. Kind of a morbid story, but true.

 

[pharmer]

I have a Davis .22 mag. Paid all of $35 for it. Only one of my guns I can slip in a shirt pocket. Beats a stern talking to. Joe

 

[GEM]

About the Derringer in Viet Nam - I read a story that in WWII, sailors inside the main gun turrets of some battleships had derringers in case they were trapped inside by a fire with no hope of escape.

If that was true, don't know but I read it.

 

[Bobhwry]

They are novelties that fill a niche for someone that wants a toy or can't afford a real gun for self defense!!!

 

[Ultraman]

Novelty that fill a niche? Could be.
"For someone that wants a toy" Could be too.
"Can't afford a real gun for self defense!!!" That's just childish and was totally uncalled for.

Just a SMALL Sampling... I have MANY more.

 

[Catshooter]

Bob,

This isn't, in case you were wondering, GlockTalk. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. But expressing it that way on THR . . .

Like Alan Hagan says, You don't have to believe everything you think. And you don't have to say it, either.


Cat

 

[P95Carry]

for someone that wants a toy or can't afford a real gun for self defense!!!

Uncalled for comment and not even funny.

 

[Bobhwry]

Didn't see a derringer in your collection?Ok so I'm childish,thanks for the compliment!!

 

[Ultraman]

"Didn't see a derringer in your collection?"

Then look up a few post.
But seeing how you now like them so much, here are some more.

 

[southlandarms]

Wow! That is an impressive collection of derringers. I own only one derringer, a Cobra 22mag. I must admit that I bought it as a "novelty". It has never been shot.

I have always liked the look of a derringer since Kenny Roger's sported one in "The Gambler". I was a youth at the time, but I remember asking my father to get us one. The main point I want to make is that guns are important to different people for different reasons (e.g. tool, defense, sport, novelty, collecting, history, and most important practicing the 2nd amendment).

Personally, I love ALL guns.