Derringers

[Unkei]

Hello all,
Just wanted to talk a bit about Derringers. Now before everyone starts in about how useless they are and how almost any other gun would be a better self defense gun..please hear me out! That being said, I do welcome insights from anyone who has Owned and Used any Derringer. I am a retired LEO with over 35 years of service. I own and shoot...45 Colts, 45 acps, 9 mms, 38 Specials, 380 acps, 32 revolvers, 32 acps, as well as 3 different NAA revolvers, a Bond Arms with 3 different barrels, 2 Davis Derringers in 38 Special, and 22 lr, and a Cobra Big Bore in 9 mm.
Are Derringers the best option for self defense? Absolutely Not! Can they be used reliably for self defense? Absolutely Yes! Are they good range guns? No way!
Still..they have a use as up close..personal..in your face defensive weapons.
For those who complain about the horrible trigger pull..keep in mind how the trigger mechanism is meant to function in Almost all derringers. It pivots on a pin. The trigger pull is Always back and down, at which point the pull is quite manageable! This is a design feature for safety, and Not a design flaw.
Hope this post will create some thoughtful and somewhat civil discussion.
Thanks for reading my long post!
Unkei

 

[MedWheeler]

I find Derringers to be limited choices for defense, near useless at the range, and easily usurped in practicality.

But I still want one.

(I also want one of the NAA micro-revolvers, too.)

 

[Old Fuff]

As a close range defensive weapon they're better choices. With few exceptions they require the hammer to be cocked for the first, and then second shot which is all that are available, and the manual safeties are not quick to be released. The sights are meaningless, although this may not matter given the probable use. They do represent a potential threat to someone who proposes to attack you, but if they aren't impressed you may wish you were carrying something better and more accurate.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Back when a 5" revolver was considered your small concealed handgun the Derringer was very handy. I have one in .38 Special right now and have had a few in the past. I just can't get past how extremely heavy the trigger is on a Derringer. I'm told the trigger on an American Derringer is much better than those on Cobra or Davis Derringers and even better than on Bond Derringers too but I have never held one let alone shot one.

 

[WYO]

Is this a derringer? (I think so or I would not have posted.)



Here are some results from this week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S1l6n6a0Wk

That's really not too shabby for a 6-1/2 ounce gun (.22 WMR version) with a 1 inch barrel.

 

[jr45]

I owned an America derringer in.38spl a few years back and used it as a bug. Pros: very easy to hide, very easy to carry, durable construction (unlike Davis and cobra), and firing it did not hurt as much as I thought. Neg: two shots, single action only, very slow to reload, needed to keep it at half caulk during reload as firing pin purtuded, and not accurate.

 

[jstert]

im a fan of bond arms derringers. they are built like brick outhouses; your unborn grandchildren will enjoy them. they are not battle pieces. they are expensive, niche, danger-close, defense pieces. i view the 410 as a point and shoot sixshooter, 2x3 balls. i ccw a 410 or a 9mm when i want something rock solid that doesnt print.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MICHAEL T]

Ive owned a couple . I think today I would throw at person as I attacked with my knife .
Trigger horrible , accuracy so so , A KelTec in 380 or the Ruger copy be better choice

 

[Unkei]

Is this a derringer? (I think so or I would not have posted.)



Here are some results from this week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S1l6n6a0Wk

That's really not too shabby for a 6-1/2 ounce gun (.22 WMR version) with a 1 inch barrel.

Hi WYO,
That one is a five shot revolver from NAA. I've got that one,(it's the Pug) as well as the original Mini, and a Sidewinder...all in 22 mag..all 5 shot revolvers.
Cheers,
Unkei

 

[Unkei]

Back when a 5" revolver was considered your small concealed handgun the Derringer was very handy. I have one in .38 Special right now and have had a few in the past. I just can't get past how extremely heavy the trigger is on a Derringer. I'm told the trigger on an American Derringer is much better than those on Cobra or Davis Derringers and even better than on Bond Derringers too but I have never held one let alone shot one.

Hi ArchAngelCD,
Remember, the trigger pull is Always back and down, due to the way the mechanism is designed to work. Not quite so hard that way, but still a safety feature.
Unkei

 

[sgt127]

I've owned several American Derringers. I have one left in 45/410. I've tried carrying them as BUGs. It's just too heavy.

I'm also certain I'll never get it cocked and fire a round under stress. The grip is awful. It feels like you're trying to hold a bar of soap and pick a hair off it. With one hand. Just awkward.

From a purely practical standpoint. Lets say I lad it with the triple ought loads. Three (33 or so) caliber projectile every time I pull the trigger. X 2. Six "shots".

A Seecamp, for example, will fire 7 rounds (.32 cal) with the same or better accuracy, just as fast. And, it's infinitely easier to carry.

That said. I still have one. They are neat. They are a fun range toy. Loaded with 6-8 shot, great snake gun. For defense, no real value for me.

 

[GRIZ22]

I've owned a few derringers in the past. They can work but very limited in capacity and accuracy. I think you're better served with one of the small 380s or even a 25.

 

[cfullgraf]

I bought a Bond Arms 45 Colt/.410 derringer to carry on the tractor while bush hogging in the fields. I occasionally run over something that needs to be put out of its misery. I figured it would be as effective as I need and not so monstrous as a Judge or Governor.

On a lark, I got a 38 Special and 327 Federal Magnum barrels for the gun and they are fun to shoot.

The trigger pull is Always back and down, at which point the pull is quite manageable!

I need to try this out.

 

[KevininPa]

The Bond Arms Derringers......

...are strange animals. Definitely niche guns. I had the .45 long colt/.410 SnakeSlayer. Fun gun. Live rural so I carried as a dog walking gun. Actually for copperheads and fast moving rabids. Had it while driving as an anti-carjacking gun with winchester buck. Even had my gunsmith drill and tap to install a clipdraw directly to it. Fit nicely in my cowboy boots as a back-up or on my belt as my dog-walker.

As far as the trigger, SNAP CAPS. And extensive dry firing. You would be amazed at the results. The trigger doesn't turn buttery smooth, but it will improve greatly. From what I understand the new ones have a better trigger.

I no longer have my Bond Arms. Sold it to finance a Grail gun. Didn't care at the time because the barrel was only 3.5. Now I want one again due the the longer barrel offerings. Would like a little more grouping.

They are large and heavy to carry. But if you want a small shotgun for extremely close range then this is it. The one I had with a 3.5 barrel would roll a feral cat when shooting from two yards away with Remington #4s 3 inchers. it was rabid. It did a few tumbles and was down for the count. No suffering.

So yes, they have their niche spot. There is a more detailed post by someone going by the moniker of "preacher" who has a detailed version of how a Bond Arms saved his and his wife's life in car-jacking. Makes you think twice about these as a back-up or car gun. I used to use mine for this role a lot. Kept mine in the door pocket on the clip.

So yeah, they still have their uses.

 

[BSA1]

In the 1970's and 1980's I carried a High Standard 22 Magnum as my Onion Field gun. (Those who don't know what a Onion Field gun is needs to read the book titled The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh).

It was small, flat and carried well in back pocket in a holster designed for that purpose. The 22 magnum was loud and had a lot of flash. The biggest drawback was it's heavy trigger pull.

Bond Derringers for self-defense against humans makes no sense to me. There are several excellent multishot handguns about the same size and the more shots you have the better your odds of survival.

As for protection against snakes and small pests the .410 should discourage them.

I have a Davis derringer in 32. It is just a range toy.

 

[worldtraveler119]

what brand is that holster? been looking for one like that

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Had one...... past tense. Not much fun and lots of other guns of similar size and weight carry more ammunition. No thanks. Unless you are carrying a truly tiny one, I see no point. Mine went away after I shot it a few hundred times. Just never warmed up to it.

 

[sgt127]

In the 1970's and 1980's I carried a High Standard 22 Magnum as my Onion Field gun.

I agree. Totally different animal. I still own two of those. I can actually use that to get two quick hits!

 

[bottom shelf]

I have one of those NAA revolvers in 22 short. I didn't buy it with self defense in mind, or really any practical purpose. I just liked it. It's fun to take to the range and try to hit paper plates with at 10 yards. If I put a group of 4 plates on the stand, sometimes I can even hit the plate I intended!

 

[joem1945]

I've worked on one and was talked into firing it by the owner. If I remember correctly it was .45 Colt. Took a chunk out of the web of my hand. They look neat but I'm not into firing them.

 

[Tallball]

(Those who don't know what a Onion Field gun is needs to read the book titled The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh).


Kinda depressing. His police novels are a lot of fun, though. I have them all. The crazy characters in some of them just make me smile.

 

[Jim Watson]

I kept a Great Western for CAS derringer side matches. I didn't mind the heavy trigger pull in the heat of the moment, but getting the darned thing cocked was tough.

I once had a High Standard .22 WRM. It was adequately accurate at self defense ranges with the Smoke Em Joe technique. But I quit carrying it when I realized that while two shots would be better than none, it wasn't much more trouble to have five tries.

 

[alexander45]

Consider I can pick up a 7 - 9 shot duty caliber semi auto the exact same size for about 100 bucks less the derringer really is dead for that use

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I've worked on one and was talked into firing it by the owner. If I remember correctly it was .45 Colt. Took a chunk out of the web of my hand. They look neat but I'm not into firing them.

You should have tried 3" 410 loads with 000 buckshot. It's about as fun as a root canal.

 

[yugorpk]

Ive got one in 41 rimfire remington that I actually have ammo for. I also have one of the cobray ones in 45 colt/410. I dont find the recoil all that but I'm not really recoil sensitive. I cant imagine a scenario where I would be shooting at anyone more than 20 feet away and I could hit them with a 45 slug from that far ... then run. I dont find it impractical at all.