Opinion on .22 derringer wanted.

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Hokkmike

Hokkmike

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There is a used .22 American Arms derringer with case at my LGS. The "out the door" price is $250.

It is stainless, two shot alternating barrels, transfer bar, single action only, and with case.

I would appreciate any opinions on the advisability of purchasing this gun at this price for pocket use.

Thanks.
 
If it's an American Derringer for $250.00 out the door jump on it. They are definitely quality arms. Just don't think that your getting a target gun by any means.

I've got the American Derringer in .38 with DAO and it is a sweet little CCW gun w/I 7 yards. I paid new $300.00 several years ago.

They are a lot of fun to shoot, and are a quality arm.
 
Just an FYI if you buy it. I’m not personally familiar with the American Arms derringer or any in 22, but I do have two other brands in 38 Spl. Both of them will rest the hammer on the firing pin pressing it against the primer of the round in the active barrel. The hammer must be partially cocked (Maybe 5 degrees) to engage the safety notch to prevent this contact. Just something you should be aware of in case the AA derringer has a similar mechanism.
 
When it comes right down to it a Derringer is more of a novelty than anything else. When I was going through our state police academy, one of our instructors advised the class to stay away from buying and using a Derringer. He said they caused too many accidents. I didn't heed his warning, I own two Hi Standard Derringer's and neither of them amount to much. If you ever need a self defense gun, two shots might be worse than none. Spend your money on something that is worthwhile.
 

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I have owned 3-4 derringers over the years, and at the moment I own two. One is a Cobra .22 Magnum and the other is a single shot .410. My overall experience with them is that they are just for novelty rather than any serious application. They are tough to shoot, aren't that accurate, and usually have horrible triggers.

If you feel you must get a pocket derringer, look into the North American Arms revolvers. They aren't your typical derringer but they are far more practical. Otherwise, look for a used derringer on the private market. I see them sell for $100-$150, and I bought my Cobra for $110. To be honest, I don't think you will see many quality differences between the companies that sell for under $200.
 
IMO, AA or Bond Arms derringers are good small handguns as well as the NAA revolvers. Cobra's do have terrible triggers and my .22 Mag Cobra would be more reliable as a thrown weapon rather than depending on it firing due to the trigger.
 
If I ever bought a derringer it would be as a novelty item, without any implied consideration as to any kind of practical application.
 
I have a NAA mini and it is as small as a derringer. If you decide that is the way to go be sure and get the 22lr and 22wmr cylinders. If you want a derringer I would go with a Bond Arms. The Bond will give you flexibility of adding other barrels later and is the best made and safest derringer available.
 
As a novelty gun, I say go for it if it floats your boat. For a CCW or HD type, for just a bit more money you can get into used guns that are a world away better.

As far as CCW, I'd actually carry a decent knife before I'd carry a derringer.
 
To me, it's a novelty gun and I would have no use for it. For a defense gun, I would want something more practicle and in a caliber that it suited for the job.
 
The NAA minis are a better choice for a very small firearm, IMO. 5 shots of .22 Magnum with good accuracy potential if the shooter is willing to put in a little practice.
 
Again, I don't recommend the Derringer for use as a CCW arm, but it is a neat little gun to shoot and just have fun with. The reason I bought mine was because of the novelty bit, I have quite a few revolvers and semi-autos, as well as shotguns, and rifles.

Further, I'd be a liar if I said I never carried it in my cargo shorts in the dead heat of the summer, as someone else mentioned it beats a sharp stick. I can keep both rounds (Hornady Critical Defense .38 SPL) in the thoracic cavity, on a TQ-15 NRA target at 7 yards. The biggest problem I see with that is if you have multiple adversaries.

Granted the trigger pull takes two men and a boy to activate it, and the double action on the American seems to take forever for it to activate; however with a lot of practice this can be accomplished.
 
The reason for the horrible trigger in most derringers is due to the trigger pivoting at the top. The motion to depress the trigger should include a little downward force. It makes a BIG difference on my Davis and my bond.
 
I would rather have the NAA revolver. It holds 5 rounds and with a lot of practice very accurate. The 22lr coming out of a one inch barrel drops a foot and a half at 30 feet. Pracrticing on a silhouette target I aimed at the head and all hits were in the chest area or around the X and close, the group could be covered by my fist.

I recommend you use stingers or aguila velocitors. The aguila launches the bullet faster than a stinger. If you decide to go this route you could also get a pistol that shoots 22 magnum and 22lr.
 
I'm not certain but I don't think the American Arms derringers have a transfer bar. Might want to double-check on that.

Mine has a very sketchy hammer-block safety that automatically disengages when the hammer is nudged back. I have little confidence that it would not disengage itself during normal carry, but I do not carry the thing so it is a non-issue for me.
 
rcmodel said:
Just don't think that you are getting a good SD pocket gun either.

A 2-shot .22 derringer that has to be thumb cocked each shot is better then a sharp stick.

But not much better!

You can do much better for a SD pocket gun for less money!!

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/12546077/pistols-for-sale/kel-tec-p32-used-with-clip

rc
Click to expand...

I really agree with this. That gun is somewhere between a plinker and a novelty.

I bought my P-11 Keltec for $249 new, and while it took some getting used to, it has 10 or 20 times the fire power of that .22.

And yes, I CAN put that P-11 in my pocket (I have big pockets.) Best Wishes.
 
I carried a .38 Spezial DD for a while yep made in Germany And I think it was likely an RG product made for someone else.

The barrels were not "regulated" that is did not shoot to the same place at any range. Oddly the lower barrel was dead on the sights out to 25 meters or so and the upper was noticeably high and left at 7 and got worse with range.

I had two modes of carry, swamp mode, and town mode. Swamp mode meant I had a Speer shot capsule loaded .38 Special in the upper barrel and a LSWC in the lower and had it set so the upper was the first to fire. My reasoning was that I was more likely to need the shot in the swamp and if I needed a solid shot it should be in the barrel the sights worked for.

Town mode was two DEWC with the gun set for the bottom barrel to fire first, this was again because that was the barrel the sights worked on AND ALSO because the gun did not rotate upward in the hand as badly when the bottom barrel fired allowing quicker recovery and a faster second shot. I figured that the reason I was shooting would likely be closer two me by the time I needed a second shot so the sight was not as critical.....and at that point that sharp stick might have been looking pretty good.

In a .22LR DD I would play with different ammo to see what shot "best" and play to see what had most effect on targets. Before I did that if I was forced to carry such as a self defense tool I would load it with Augilla SSS 60 grain solids or just plain old 40 grain round nose solids to insure deep penetration as I really doubt any of the go fast and upset bullets would do much of either in those short barrels. I used 40 grain solids in a Barfetta M21A I carried for a few years, because they seemed to work best in that gun.

Just be darned careful with those little Remington 1871 knock offs of any stripe as they have a reputation for shooting the wrong "targets"

-kBob
 
For the same or a drop more money, and a bit more in size, you can get a Ruger LCP in .380.

Seven shots that reload by themselves, no hammer pull required, more powerful cartridge.

Unless you have a thing for that particular gun, I'd pass.

.
 
I got my Davis .22 Mag as part of a trade. Bought some snake shot loads and carry it in the desert on ATV rides. Kind of fun, so I got the Bond .410/.45Colt.

They are niche weapons. A very particular niche. Fun to shoot though too! Like someone else has said. "Its better than a sharp stick".
 
Bottom line

Are you buying this as a toy or as a last-ditch SD weapon?

If the former, a two-shot .22 derringer is a fine way to spend some money.

As a tool, there are many better choices. In a small caliber, the NA minis are at least a marginally practical tool for their size.

An LCP costs a few dollars more and is almost as small and light...and far more capable. And so on...
 
I've never heard of American Arms. Is it American derringer out of Waco? If so, that's a decent price. It's also an absolute brick in .22. That same gun is made in .45 LC/410. An awful lot of steel for a .22.
 
Think about this. If you absolutely must take lethal action in defense of your life or your wife/kids, are two shots(not necessarily hits) from a puny cartridge and marginal pistol gonna do the job?
 
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