Derringer

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Karate

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I'm thinking of getting a 45/410 derringer...something small and durable for use on a farm around ponds where snakes are seen quite a lot...want like a 3.5 barrel ...so narrowed it down to either a Bond Arms or a Cimarron Titan by Cobra...I would like some opinion on both but please only if you havehad either a
Cimarron/Cobra derringer or a Bond...
 
For snakes I would rather carry a revolver over a 2 shot Derringer with an extremely heavy trigger. 5 or 6 shots are always better than 2 especially when the revolver is probably lighter than the Derringer. .38 Special snake shot from CCI does a great job on snakes and rats as does their other snake shot offerings.

Derringers are hard to shoot and are single action so there's an extra step that can be missed if you're not used to shooting a SA handgun. DA revolvers are quicker and you want quick if a snake is about to strike.
 
I am not fond of derringers either; many seem to have mechanical problems and/or are dangerous to carry.
Also as an old amateur herpetologist I'm generally against destroying snakes....

If you feel you must a walking stick is a lot cheaper.
 
I really like my Bond Arms .410/.45 Colt derringer. Fun to shoot that little niche/novelty gun. Deadly on vermin to 5-7 yards with #8 shot.
 
haven't considered using a revolver...I have a 3 inch 5 shot 357...that could work out good

KenW what bond arms do you have

I looking at the Cowboy Defender
 
I bought a Cobra Derringer for a snake gun while mushroom hunting. I found that I would much rather put a few CCI shot shells in my EDC. The Cobra has a trigger pull that puts funny faces on everyone I've had shoot the little thing. Awkward to carry as we'll, but that may be because I just carried it in my pocket.
 
tried using shot shells in my 220 but the mags are too rounded at one in the front...I can put one in the barrel and then the top round will feed but past that they hang up...tried a Keltec PF 9 will not eject...next taurus pt145 same will not eject...HK P2000 (9m)works great and I have a 627 that I'm sure will work..hadn't thought about it till now and the taurus 605
 
I love derringers, but would never use one for any kind of defense against 4 legged, 2 legged or No legged vermin; they're slow to shoot, hard to manipulate and only have two shots. Seems to me a better plan would be to get a 2" .38 and fill it with shotshells if you really feel the need. I'm wondering if there is really a necessity to shoot snakes anyway...not a tree-hugger, but I've never had any critter become brave enough to come near me (my wife says it's because I smell funny) with any bad intent. All the snakes I've ever seen have been beating a hasty retreat when I disturbed them. I know there are some aggressive species, but I think you'd be OK with a good stick, a sharpset of eyes and a heathy sense of respect.
 
There's not much need to kill snakes, except when the poisonous ones begin to interface with your habitat. No one wants a den of rattlers on your kids playground or on a well established picnic ground.

People who live in areas without poisonous creatures are more forgiving than some others.

BTW, I armed myself this morning with a .410 derringer loaded with 000 buck instead of my j-frame because it fits my jeans front pocket better.
 
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I am extremely very completely totally pleased with my Bond Arms Century 2000. I understand its limits (capacity, firm trigger and hammer ) but I have 100% faith in mine going BANG BANG when I need it. I love the safety features too.Despite its weight, it disappears in a pocket holster in my jeans, and I don't go to to town (especially in a bank, food mart, liquor store, or even emergency room) without it. Often pondered different scenarios, and for me, it seems it will do the job heaven forbid I ever need it. Shot it for the first time with 2.5 inch #6 shot (only thing they had that day at Walmart) and I was quite suprized at the 3/8 inch penetration into dry oak tobacco sticks used as a target frame. At 30 feet , the pattern was also tighter than I expected. I carry it with 45 Colt rounds, fearing that if I ever had to shoot it in a crowd, with shotshells or buckshot, it would be a repeat of the tragedy in NYC with innocents hurt. Just my opinion. Don
 
Bond derringers are not very small. I would suggest you go with the above recommendation of a jframe with snakeshot.
 
This is a 3" I carry it with shorts and a T shirt, all summer, don't even know it's there. No one else does either! Very concealable for 45 acp.
_MG_5260.jpg
 
To each their own, but can't understand why anyone would choose a derringer for anything other than a couple of laughs when you're done shooting the real guns. I have a Davis 38 that I shoot every once in a while. With shot shells, it will make a real mess with the water snakes that come around my houseboat. But so do my other guns all of which perform better, have more rounds, and are much more accurate outside of 5 feet.
 
My paper targets don't laugh when with each pull of the trigger they get another five .36 cal holes in them.

And they are fun too! We have people carrying .22 mags and .25 ACP and some will disparage .410 buckshot and .45 Colt.

It is better at delivering lethal force than a balled up fist at the same or similar range. And fits my jeans pocket beter than my J-frame.
 
bassdogs said:
To each their own, but can't understand why anyone would choose a derringer for anything other than a couple of laughs when you're done shooting the real guns. I have a Davis 38 that I shoot every once in a while. With shot shells, it will make a real mess with the water snakes that come around my houseboat. But so do my other guns all of which perform better, have more rounds, and are much more accurate outside of 5 feet.
Click to expand...
You may laugh but with no problem putting 2 230 grain Ranger T's @815 fps. in a 6 inch target at 30 feet should should be considered BAD A$$ MEDICINE, what do take to town in shorts sandal's and a tank top??? ! This is the least I ever walk out of my house with. And quite often carry it with my CC gun. Never hurts to have 2
_MG_0085.jpg
 
I am enjoying this conversation....I know that derringers have a lot of limits...I was unsure how well the 38 shot shells would work against snakes...and I think I also am looking for an excuse to buy another gun...keep the talk coming
 
If someone can hit something at 30 feet with a short barreled Derringer, all the better to them. With the small [very small] grip, finger cramping trigger pull, and short sight radius; you're a better man than I. Are they fun to shoot? Occasionally. Are they potentially deadly? For sure if you hit your target. Is it better as someone said than your fist? If you hit your target before they continue their planned mayhem.

OK, no need to get angry on the issue. I always say carry what your want, after all its america. I have a Judge Public Defender that I often carry. Its in my wife's console as we speak. Loaded with 2 rounds Federal 000buck followed by 3 45LC hollow points. Many will disparage my choice and I say you don't like the Judge, don't buy it. So in fairness I will say I liked the derringer well enough to buy a cheap one and I may pull it out of the lock box now and shoot it a few times just to remind myself why I would never rely on it for personal defense when I have many other better choices.

For the record, just about anything is better than my fists, but after 2 quick shots from a derringer my fists would be all that I would have left.
 
Derringers are definately a niche gun. They will not work for everyone's needs, but they fill a small void in mine.
 
I'd forego the derringer option as well. These are the two I use for our very real and potentially very deadly snake encounters here 'bouts. Oddly, I consider them more to kill the snake after a bite for identification as I find some of them a bit difficult especially when all dusted up.

To date I've been tagged 3 separate times with not one envenomation (takes a while to know that :mad: and chasing, stomping and otherwise freaking out to kill it is not the way to go) and had two dogs envenomated.

Three shot rounds an a couple of pills in case the snake has legs.
 

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