Derringers - For Serious Personal Defense

[logical]

The deterrant factor is great. Looking down those double barrels is enough to end most attackers interest in continuing.

I assume some sort of exhaustive scientific data backs this up?....Errrrrrr yeah

I had one but sold it when I realized I could take a fairly normal grip and have my fingers in front of the barrel. neat little guns but these days there are too many lighter, higher capacity, easier handling options to consider a derringer for SD.

 

[Ultraman]

YEP

I carry an American Derringer in .45 Colt / .410 quite often or a NAA Mini Magnum close to 24/7!

 

[longeyes]

You take the Derringer, I'll take the Glock 26.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Ultraman,
That's an impressive collection of Derringers and Mini Mags. For some reason I like small guns. I'm glad to see you have a J frame in there too, one of my all time favorite handguns.

Question.... How hard is it to hold on to your Derringer when you fire .410 rounds?

 

[Seamusalaska]

I had completely forgotten about the COP. What a concept. A bigger "pepperbox" looking pistol although I think the old riverboat pepperbox fired all barrels at once. I sold my two .22 derringers and eventually did the same with an assortment of .380's. There are just too many small reliable 9mm today. For some reason, though, the little 22's were great fun to shoot. A friend of mine shot a 44 cal. derringer Once. He said it was like putting his hand on an anvil and striking it hard with a ten pound hammer. Still, they certainly have their place in firearms history.

 

[Cerca Trova]

American Derringer 357/.38 as a virtually invisable to conceal, last resort, backup, SHTF, hand cannon, for 10 feet and under.
CT

 

[Scotticus]

A derringer is not a 25 yard gun. It probably isn't even a 10 yard gun. If you can smell on his breath what the BG had for dinner, I would think a .45LC /.410 BUG would be better than that J-frame. I'm not saying that I wouldn't RATHER start defending myself at 25 yards with a J-frame/+P, but I believe that a derringer could, in rare cases, fill a void.

 

[torpid]

...but I believe that a derringer could, in rare cases, fill a void.

Or create one, as needed.

 

[jeepmor]

I don't see Derringer chiming back in, I suspect the informercial angle as well. Regardless, neat firearms but not what I would choose for a pocket pistol personally.

I do have to appreciate the simplicity over an autoloader or a revolver though. But their weight to capacity ratio just isn't there in this day and age. I can get a Kahr PM40 for nearly the same price as a Bond derringer, carry 6+1, and still carry less weight.

 

[GEM]

My wife has informed me that since I have complained about her numerous pairs of shoes - perhaps I might consider the large number of gun magazines (paper) that have piled up.

Thus, I started through them. It is hysterical to read some old ones raving about this or that flopped gun.

I came across a Guns and Ammo special edition on 357/38s that I had. Forgot about it and started to read it. There was an article extolling the virtue of the new HJS Single Shot Sharps (but with one barrel) pattern derringer in 38 SW (not spl) as a hideout gun. Also the High Standard derringers as flatter than a J frame and thus better for concealment.

HJS is belly up now, I think. I think it would be neat, if not practical, if some replica company made an replica with modern materials of the 4 barrel Sharps in a 32 ACP or HR - just because I want it.

 

[skidmark]

I got your belly gun right here!

Bought this - in .45acp - years ago for grins & giggles. Based on personal experience, the maximum effective range seems to be under six inches. Never chron'd it, as the fireball out the front would probably incinerate the screens.

http://liberal-gunner.blogspot.com/2006/04/worlds-smallest-pistol.html

I have recovered the outrageously high cost via my standing offer: you get off two (2) shots inside 60 seconds and I pay you $10.00 You fail to beat the clock and you pay me $5.00. I even demonstrate the use of the "tacticle reloading tool" (not included in purchase of weapon) needed to extract/eject. Current favorite is the BIC stickpen that can be used to punch the round-key locks on RSC's.

If anybody happens to be in the Richmond VA area and wants to try earning a quick $10.00, let me know.

stay safe.

skidmark

 

[nibb]

Here is a Cobra for 140$ bucks.

http://gun-trade.com/trade/auctiondetails.php?itemname=DERRINGER&id=286

 

[Carl N. Brown]

wallet holster question

High Standard .22 magnum in wallet holster is
considered by ATF to be an Any Other Weapon
if it can be fired while still in the wallet holster.

A wallet holster without the finger cutout is
apparently just a holster, if the gun must be
removed and exposed as a firearm before firing.

 

[wdlsguy]

High Standard .22 magnum in wallet holster is considered by ATF to be an Any Other Weapon if it can be fired while still in the wallet holster.

I wouldn't mind owning one of those. The transfer tax is only $5 for an AOW.

 

[CountGlockula]

Welcome to THR!

 

[Derringer]

Just a follow up. My post was not an ad for Bond, I just like the company, and I'm happy to give praise when do. There probably is a bit of nostalgia, but I don't feel undergunned with my Bond. I also am not an LEO where I am in gunfights with multiple assailants. I have every reason to believe that if I EVER get into a defensive gunfight it will be at the statistical close range with a few shots fired or none at all. Yes the bond weighs more than a model 60, but I have no doubt if I drop it it will keep on working. It's flatter and shorter, but machined out of a heavy block of stainless. If I lived in the big city I would probably want something with more shots, but here there is not much going on. I feel comfortable with the solid little Bond in my pocket, and at 15' I can put two .357 rounds in a silver dollar size target. I don't pretend to rank the Bond up there with a kimber or S&W 686, thats not it's intended use.

 

[Bobhwry]

Derringer's are novelty guns at best! Anyone serious about self defense should consider all the other options available.

 

[No Quarter]

I love derringers. I have a Bond Texas Defender in .45acp loaded up with two rounds of 450 Bond Super in my pocket right now. Why? Carries easy in the pocket and will put a big, messy hole in what I aim it at.

I am currently looking to add an ADC in .45 Colt or .44 Special. Ultraman's collection makes me drool every time he shows it.

I have shot a ton of rounds through them and feel comfortable with their limitations and capabilities. For a major caliber pocket gun, they are a nice alternative to the usual.

Anyway, Bond makes a great gun.

NQ

 

[CZ223]

Derringers for SD.... No freakin way

I have a Bond Derringer in 45Colt/410 and I love it. I had an American derringer Lady in 32 H&R Mag, a respectable caliber for SD. I also had an American Derringer in 9mm, also respectable. Once a long time ago I bought a Davis,now Cobra, derringer in 38 special. It was a piece of crap and I owned it for a week I think. The point I am making is that I really like derringers but, I would never consider carrying them for self defense, not even as a back-up. Would I use it for SD if it was the only thing on hand at the time,surebut then I would use a sharp stick if it were what I had. My first reason is the same as what the first guy said, I can carry my model 36 just as easily and it has 5 shots. If it comes down to buying an affordable gun for the same price as a derringer there are a lot of old 38 specials out there for less than the price of a new Bond or AD and, for that matter there are some for the same money as a used Derrringer. Simply put there is no GOOD reason to carry a derringer and a lot of good ones not to.

 

[Notch]

"Derringer's are novelty guns at best! Anyone serious about self defense should consider all the other options available."

Anyone serious about self defense carries. And folks WHO CARRY know that sometimes a little something ( not like a .410 is little ) is better than nothing at all. Now for the folks out there who still rely on someone else to protect them, the folks out there who dont own a single handgun, this might not be easy to see. Ya just got to push the wool from in front of your eyes. I carry a derringer as a second most of the time. It fits in a front pocket much better than a small semi auto, I think thats due to the rounded and shorter butt. Just a half inch can make a big deal.

Tiny is not the best, but nothing is stupid.

 

[ice1]

Another derringer fan here.
I have owned a Cobra 38spl. for years and it is my favorite warm weather carry. It is light weight and you can put in places that even a J frame won`t go.
The first shot to the chest, then if he keeps coming, the next goes in the face.
I`m pretty sure it would be enough to let you escape an attack unless you are in a riot.

 

[psyprofessor]

Just how safe is a Bond Arms Derringer .45? (for carrying) I am considering it...I will carry my SW 638 in an ankle holster and carry the derringer in front pocket. It has a slimmer profile than my j frame. but my question is...how safe is it to carry with hammer down? (Safety off)
Can it accidentally discharge if dropped (when the safety is off)?

 

[glockdriver]

used to have a C O P . the trigger pull and length of travel was just awful. If you think it was bad with .357 rounds, we shot some Thompson Contender .357 hotshot rounds thru it , Lord those hurt.
The question just about everyone asked was"can it shoot all 4 barrel at once ? "

 

[Mountie855]

In my early LE days, I had a Hi Standard 22Mag deringer as a BUG- $29.95, I think, or not much more, brand new!

We had to qualify with anything carried when we had a badge or ID on our person, and IIRC I was allowed to qualify at 7 or 10 yds, with an appropriate time allowance. Six rds had to be loaded and fired and kept in the 7 or 8 ring, I believe, of the B27 target. This was a concession to those (like me) who deviated from the usual Chiefs' Special, Det Spl, etc. carried by most off-duty or as a BUG (which were not encouraged then!).

Wish I still had the HS Deringer- I occasionally see them used now for upwards of $150-200.

 

[PRM]

Got their place

I have had a Model 1, American Derringer in .45LC/.410 for close to 20 years. It has its place. I spend a lot of time in the woods and the .410 with field shot makes a great snake charmer. American Derringer also sells a OOO Buck that is fairly comfortable to shoot and is awesome at close range. The .45 LC is the least pleasant to shoot out of the little gun. Considering all its pros and cons, it fills a neat place an a collection, and is quite a novelty. For serious CC/SD, I would go with something "easier" to shoot and more fire-power.