New Derringers?

halfmoonclip

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A discussion elsewhere here made me wonder if there is any future for Derringers?
The old High Standard, two barrel, double action was really pretty clever, outside the box thinking. It was flat, if not terribly small. I had one before there were better alternatives.
Bond seems the last word in conventional derringers, apparently nicely made, but every bit as big and heavy as a J-gun. The .45-70 Cyclops is the logical end of that thinking.
Handling a 19th Century Remington, it's really remarkably small, although not chambered in modern cartridges.
Realize that modern small autos (BG2.0/P365) have largely occupied the derringer's usual market.
So what says the group? Any place for a new, perhaps ground breaking derringer, or even modern, small iteration of the 19th Century Rem?
Moon
 
I have hankered for a 4 barrel Sharps. Awhile ago a company out of TX made 22 LR version and a single shot 380. They are long gone. I saw them for sale in FL when on a visit but it wasn't worth the FFL transfer fees. Now Iver Johnson for several years - at Shot - said they were doing a Sharps but it was a vapor gun as far as I know as it never appeared. I don't regard them as practical as some but why not - not main EDC.
 
I had 38 special davis that I liked because it was so small. Something failed inside. I have a bond 45 colt. I don't carry it much, to big. The davis would fit in a chest pocket of shirt. Make a reliable one in 38 and I might but it.

The problem with bond, is they built them to have interchangeable barrels, so they are over built for small calibers, IMO.
 
Love the look of Walkalong's guns. Presume they are .38s.
A weight watcher's version would suit me better.
Moon
Crossbolt safety on the Bond. AD is .45 Colt/.410 shotshell. Bond is .38 Spl/.357 Mag.

Bond makes a skinny aluminum frame lightweight derringer. 12 ounces

 

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The bond I have is an original recipe century 2000 in 410/45Colt. Being a southpaw I had to lock the cross bolt safety in the off position. During live fire it would torque and drive my thumb into it and setting it to on. As a result I treat it as a fun gun only and use my taurus public defender for the occasional copperhead getting into our human and dog spaces.

I like that American derringer, it has a very traditional look like the classic remington.
 
I have two of them. One in .45 Colt and another in .357 Magnum.

Here's my .357 Mag.

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It is the size of a J-Frame, only has a capacity of two rounds, is a single action, takes forever to reload, and somehow it breaks the laws of physics. It only weighs in at 19 ounces, but it feels like it weighs more than my Colt D-Frame King Cobra, which weighs in at 28 ounces.

In terms of modern defensive tactics, they're basically worthless comparatively speaking, since you have modern subcompacts like a Ruger LCP Max that are great BUGs.

But I still I think the Bond Arms isn't completely worthless. Are they a viable self-defense capable firearm? Yes.

But it is outclassed by my S&W Model 342Ti and many other modern arms.

But that doesn't matter. Why?

I've always wanted a Bond Arms derringer but didn't want to pay crazy prices for one. The Roughneck series is cost affordable and still reliable. It isn't like the Cobra Arms derringers made out of pot metal.

So, it is a horrible choice for self-defense? There are better options out there. But is it worthless? Not really, it beats a sharp stick and loaded with .38 Special +P, it is manageable.

Is it my primary carry piece? No. But it is in the carry the rotation as a BUG sometimes and it is fun for the range too.

I took the .357 Mag Bond Arms to a defensive course put on by WyoTac in Wyoming about a year back.

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I used it as a BUG to my main piece in the class, my S&W Model 686-3. During the drills with multiple targets, I'd run the 686 empty and pull the Bond Arms from the back pocket. Crank off the two rounds and take cover to reload the primary.

Basically, use it as a NY Reload piece. I wouldn't even fuss about trying to reload the Bond Arms.

Accuracy wise, the sights are regulated to the bottom barrel, the top barrel shoots high. I learned that it is best to aim at the crotch with the Bond Arms. The bottom barrel will hit the pelvic girdle, and the top barrel will hit center of mass in the abdomen.
 
The davis I had would fit in a flannel pocket, a LCP wouldn't do that. Yes, I know you can dress for it.
 
Bond makes a skinny aluminum frame lightweight derringer. 12 ounces
Now that is interesting, and the .380 might well be the way to go. My 940 Smith is really no fun with 115s, and can't imagine .38 version is much better...there just isn't a lot of grip there, unlike a Centennial.
Of course, a BG2.0 is less than 10oz, so most of this is just spitballing.
I disabled the safeties on mine, but they're carried hammer down.
Tell me about the safeties on the Bond guns, how you disable them, and how do you carry them? Can the striker be centered, between the firing pins?
I've handled the pot-metal .22s with the crossbolt; their only claim to fame is their size. Both cocking, and clearing the cross bolt, can't be done in a hurry on any of these.
This is all news to me.
Moon
 
I like the Detonics 6x9 Grim, this is a 6 barrel I guess derringer in 9mm Flobert. Would be cool if someone in the US licensed it and made it in .32 as I'd imagine that's all the frame could take.



For the more traditional derringer, I got the Bond Stinger this year in .38 and can't say I care much for it. I'll have to see where everything is going on paper, but shooting steel was a disappointment. I actually think I had better results with a Cobray .410 derringer using .45 in it and I hated that thing, I could never tell what the proper sight picture was.

If there's any derringer that I'd actually be interested in carrying, it would either Detonics or Great Gun because they make muzzeloading derringers and that means you can go up to .50 caliber and above.

 
Now that is interesting, and the .380 might well be the way to go. My 940 Smith is really no fun with 115s, and can't imagine .38 version is much better...there just isn't a lot of grip there, unlike a Centennial.
Of course, a BG2.0 is less than 10oz, so most of this is just spitballing.

Tell me about the safeties on the Bond guns, how you disable them, and how do you carry them? Can the striker be centered, between the firing pins?
I've handled the pot-metal .22s with the crossbolt; their only claim to fame is their size. Both cocking, and clearing the cross bolt, can't be done in a hurry on any of these.
This is all news to me.
Moon
There is a set-screw in the frame that allows you to keep the safety from being engaged or disengaged. The manual states that if you tighten it with the safety engaged, it acts as a "child lock" for the firearm for storage.

It is a accessed via a small hole in the frame between the two firing pins.

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As for carrying it, the gun has a rebounding hammer. So, with the hammer down and safety disengaged, the hammer doesn't test on the firing pins.
 
I disabled the safeties on mine, but they're carried hammer down.
That is how I do it too. I carried the davis at times cocked and locked at times.

One thing I do like about single action, is not like it can go off on accident, hell even cocked it has 50 lb pull.

I bought some suspended with a built in holster for wearing with my wool pants in the winter, but never did. I bought 22mah NAA, I would never buy that caliber in anything bigger, but it fits in a pocket.


There is just a set screw on the safety to disable.
 
I really like the new thin/light aluminum framed Bond Stinger in 38 with snake shot in it for things which want to bite me. They also make that in 380 and 9mm. Then, the same thin/light frame in 327, I think that is the "Fireball".

There are 2 Stingers, the Al framed one and a steel framed Rough Series version. Similar but for the weight/color and the barrels won't switch between them. The Stinger barrels are rather specific and limited but I wanted a 38 so that didn't bother me much.
 
Some interesting things here, though I'm not sure I'll part with the money.
The Czech work-around is interesting, though I've read the Czech Republic is rational on gun restrictions.
As for carrying it, the gun has a rebounding hammer. So, with the hammer down and safety disengaged, the hammer doesn't test on the firing pins.
Interesting the MFGs taking a CYA attitude with the rebounding hammer and the crossbolt.
Miami JBT, how is the pattern with the .410 shotshells? Got a Governor, with high hopes of a concealable snake gun. Pattern had a huge donut hole at 21'. If I were really serious about snakeslaying, I'd take the '97, but it would really make the folk on our nearby bike trail hear banjos.
A buddy did kill two big buzztails with .38Spl snakeshot, so I'm likely overthinking .
Moon
 
Some interesting things here, though I'm not sure I'll part with the money.
The Czech work-around is interesting, though I've read the Czech Republic is rational on gun restrictions.

Interesting the MFGs taking a CYA attitude with the rebounding hammer and the crossbolt.
Miami JBT, how is the pattern with the .410 shotshells? Got a Governor, with high hopes of a concealable snake gun. Pattern had a huge donut hole at 21'. If I were really serious about snakeslaying, I'd take the '97, but it would really make the folk on our nearby bike trail hear banjos.
A buddy did kill two big buzztails with .38Spl snakeshot, so I'm likely overthinking .
Moon
Never put a round of .410 through mine.
 
A 21 st Century Derringer I carry regularly if nothing else. It fits in cell phone pockets in vests , disappears in pants pocket and is very flat. 16 .oz in holster. Two shots DA with a 15 pound pull , it's fully 25 foot accurate in real world . The Hoage small Handall grip softens the baseball bat to Palm recoil of the Remington Ball 230 grain ammo recommended. It also covers the trap door for the two extra rounds in the grip. The barrel porting I am sure works well, two quick ones on a shilo at 7 yards A couple times a year refresher. It's almost all Titanium. It has twin ball bearing lock up . It has worked 100 percent five years now and forty painful rounds centered to sights, slightly high . 1735667284609781143600943954787.jpg 17356673732193181088000093167268.jpg 17356674020867949027108652252798.jpg
 

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i miss the old high standard dao derringers. Would love to have one again in 22 mag.

i have a couple of Bond derringers. They are more of a want than a need in my stable.

A derringer is practical if all you own is the derringer and you need a gun.

I have other guns. So the Bonds are rarely carried except as back up if i get the notion i need a back up.
 
The Hoage small Handall grip softens the baseball bat to Palm recoil of the Remington Ball 230 grain ammo recommended.
Interesting, outside the box design. The porting on both barrels is interesting. You do have to wonder if a lighter caliber/smaller gun wouldn't serve better.
Ever clock what kind of velocity that makes with ball?
Moon
 
i miss the old high standard dao derringers. Would love to have one again in 22 mag.

i have a couple of Bond derringers. They are more of a want than a need in my stable.

A derringer is practical if all you own is the derringer and you need a gun.

I have other guns. So the Bonds are rarely carried except as back up if i get the notion i need a back up.
The Hi-Standard was revolutionary when they came out back in the day. A modern DAO hammerless design that was flat, easy to carry, and mostly snag free.

In the 1970s and 1980s, they were extremely popular with cops as a BUG.

My old man told me back when he worked the streets, a partner of his carried one in a shirt pocket. Got into a scuffle with a suspect. The suspect was reaching for the duty gun, his partner pulled out the Hi-Standard and shoved it in the suspect's face, and well, that was the end of that.

It really was the start of the modern carry movement.
 
A 21 st Century Derringer I carry regularly if nothing else. It fits in cell phone pockets in vests , disappears in pants pocket and is very flat. 16 .oz in holster. Two shots DA with a 15 pound pull , it's fully 25 foot accurate in real world . The Hoage small Handall grip softens the baseball bat to Palm recoil of the Remington Ball 230 grain ammo recommended. It also covers the trap door for the two extra rounds in the grip. The barrel porting I am sure works well, two quick ones on a shilo at 7 yards A couple times a year refresher. It's almost all Titanium. It has twin ball bearing lock up . It has worked 100 percent five years now and forty painful rounds centered to sights, slightly high . View attachment 1243958View attachment 1243960View attachment 1243961

Sort of reminds me of the four shot 357mag COP.

WB
 
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