Shooting a derringer is not easy

[Bad Ninja]

Yeah, I can't see it being fun to shoot with the larger calibers. But with light loaded 9mm, it has little recoil. My wife even liked shooting it. While all guns could be used for self-defense (except my J-22, I wouldn't trust it), not all guns are bought for self-defense. My LCR 357 work just fine for that and if i needed a backup I'd use my wife's Beretta Pico 380, or my Charter Arms 38spl undercover. My Ruger Vaquero Bisley 357 isn't for self-defense, but it is a fun gun to shoot, maybe a backup going hunting, though I'd take my 44 mag for that or borrow one of my dads rifles. It's a novelty gun, and sometimes those are just fun to have and shoot. Kinda like Bad Ninja was saying. One of these days I may break down and buy a pistol, but I prefer revolvers, I can always shoot my wife's guns.

Good post.
In fact, now that you mention it...most of my firearms really aren't meant for SD/HD unless dastardly Dan is comin for my cattle.
I buy for different reasons.
Usually whatever moves me at the time.

I love the old and weird stuff best.

Impractical derrringer?
Right up my alley.



Shooting this separates the men... from the crazy men.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Nice vintage gun Bad Ninja, is that black powder by any chance? I'd like a black powder sometime, but have no where to shoot it. I shoot at an indoor range, they're pretty flexible in what you can shoot, but not black powder, not sure if they allow shotguns either. I could go to an outdoor range, but that would get a little expensive. You can see my single action in my sig picture. Love shooting that gun, but I wouldn't want to use it for self defense.

 

[HoploDad]

The thing about a derringer, unload it and if you watch the trigger carefully as you cycle the hammer, it does not "pull"... the trigger works itself in a slight downward, then inward motion. On that Bond Arms you will significantly reduce trigger pull if you kind of massage the trigger in a downward motion. Don't pull it. Hard to explain but easy to prove to yourself when you try it.

Several years ago I had a beautiful Bond Ranger first edition. I'd argue with anyone who said they were not well made guns, mine was a jewell. Solid. Each barrel shoots to a slightly different point though, you have to know which barrel is about to shoot if you want to hit something exactly and aim a bit up or down accordingly. Bond Arms even has a video about this on YouTube. Shooting factory .45 Colt is expensive and 410 is very punishing to your hand after a very few rounds. So practicing a lot has some obstacles. Next I bought an interchangeable barrel in .22 for easier, cheaper practice. That was kind of fun but at the end of it all I sold the gun and the spare barrel. If you use that little cannon as a last resort, up close belly gun it will do its job. It's a good piece. For most people, if you handle one you'll want to take it home. But for similar weight and form factor (my Ranger had the 4" barrel) there are semi's that will arguably be more flexible. To each their own and I wish the B.A. people working in Granbury, TX all success with their very well made derringers. Try changing your trigger pull technique and you may be happier.

 

[Big7]

Easy is not the intent.

Last ditch belly is what they are made for.

Just sayin'.....

 

[mavracer]

The birdhead grip rolls in your hand and velocity is so low that invariably the top barrel will shoot much higher than the bottom. To minimize this you have to squeeze the grip like you're trying to break it.
I've had a few different derringers over the years Davis,Bond and American, I still have an American in 45 Colt I keep for cowboy side matches and only way it gets carried is for backup to a SAA at the family BBQ.

 

[HoploDad]

Easy is not the intent.

Last ditch belly is what they are made for.

Just sayin'.....

Yep, I'm with you. "If you use that little cannon as a last resort, up close belly gun it will do its job. It's a good piece."

 

[dbmjr1]

My only derringers don't have much of a problem with recoil, although I wouldn't know as I've never fired them.

They were new in '63 and cost $29.60 plus tax then. I'm not the original owner, but I've got the receipt.

 

[kBob]

1911guy,

I shot the .45-70 derringer. Looked worse than it felt. Store owner handed my bud and I a round each and set us to his out door range. I shot first. The fire ball was impressive in daylight and the gun pointed straight up in my fist and my arm came up a bit.

It frightened my bud so much he refused to shoot it, so I shot his round as well. I did not die an my arm did not fall off and I could still use that hand to write with.

It was interesting an a Chinese way, as with the Chinese curse "May you live in Interesting Times."

The west German .38 Special I had for a bit shot point of aim from the bottom barrel at 12 to 15 yards. The top shot a good bit high and to my left as in a foot and some inches at 15 yards at ten thirty. It was of course much closer to point of aim at 3 to five yards so I always planned and loaded such that when I cocked it I could hit what I aimed at out to 15 yards with the top and had the way ward barrel for so close it did not much matter. Given the short barrels I used DEWC lead fairly hotly loaded for ammo in urban situations. For woods walking I set up the top barrel for the first shot and loaded a Speer .38 SPL shot shell in the top barrel (Walking away from Water mocs is not always an option) and left the bottom DEWC in place.

I was always "GONNA" do something about the trigger but thoughts of reducing that short throw hammer to the point that it would not reliably set off a cartridge when I needed it kept me from it. Now that that gun is a safe queen maybe I should give it a go with the files and stones, just for giggles.

-kBob

 

[V-fib]

In post #3 tovio said: "It doesn't hurt the pocketability much at all, and it makes a HUGE difference in the shootability. Maker is CVANG, and they cost $35." he was writing about a larger grip for his NAA mini. I purchased a grip like that also from chong vang but mine was a little fancier and cost around $50 (see pic) however it was still too small for my hand and so I got a clip holster grip from NAA which fits my hand much better. If anyone is interested in my wood grip send me a PM and I will sell you the grip and a leather Desantis pocket holster (which I paid about $18) both for $35 postage paid. sorry pic is a little blurry see my ad in buy sell accessories for a clearer picture thanks.
v-fib

 

[gonoles_1980]

Shot 60 rounds at the range, 10 were normally loaded 9mm for the wife, the other 50 were the light loaded 9mm. I could definitely tell the difference, and if I shot factory loads, it wouldn't be fun. I found I tended to shoot up and right, so I adjusted for that. Sure wouldn't win a marksmanship contest, but would hit a body. The target below was from 10ft. I'm guessing the higher shots are from the upper barrel and the lower ones from the lower barrel.



I just realized I never posted a picture of the derringer.

 

[Jim NE]

I paid 98 bucks for an old FIE .38 Derringer in good shape. Got rid of it quick...incredibly stiff and less than accurate. If you're shooting it a distance of more than 10 feet, you couldn't count on accuracy. Bond Arms are better, I'm sure.