Shooting a derringer is not easy

[gonoles_1980]

I bought a Bond Backup, nice gun. Fun to shoot, but I have a hard time getting my hand in position ready to shoot. Still working on that. I did notice the bullets make a tear and not a hole, it's a diagonal tear, but it could be me because I've shooting further left than normal, probably pulling the trigger too hard. It's a small trigger and you need to be low on the handle to pull the trigger right. Probably takes me 15 seconds to get the gun ready and in my hand right to shoot.

I think I'll look up some youtube video's. This is one solid gun, the backup is 18oz, 2oz heavier than my carry pistol.

 

[Starter52]

It depends on the derringer.

The old High Standard derringer is fun to shoot.

IIRC, you pulled the trigger with your middle finger.

 

[toivo]

I recently got an NAA mini-revolver in .22 WMR. With the stock grip, it's pretty hard to pull the trigger and maintain a good one-finger grip on the gun. So I got this grip for it:

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.

 

[Blkhrt13]

It depends on the derringer.

The old High Standard derringer is fun to shoot.

IIRC, you pulled the trigger with your middle finger.

My dad had a high standard 22 mag when I was coming up. I've always wanted one.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I've wanted a bond arms for a while. I keep going back and forth because I've heard they like any derringer are hard to make decent shots with. On the pro side the swapable barrels for caliber change.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I'm going to spend quite a bit of time using snapcaps to learn to hold. I watched this video by Hichok45, looks like anything higher than a 38spl would be hard on the hand. I notice with my 9mm and lighter loads, there is no recoil, just a bad grip on my part. It's a fun little gun to shot. And I was good, I could hit the gong like Hichok45.



BTW: I am dumping my little J-22 for this gun. Another fun little gun, but it jams too often and has come apart twice now. It's being retired.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I always had this vision of using O'Neal a back up for my back up. I'm itching to drop some cash as soon as I can. But I'm thinking another 38 first. Papa needs a 642. How many fingers can you get on that lil thing? It looks like may three counting the one on the trigger.

 

[1911 guy]

Someone offered me a case of beer to shoot a derringer. It was chambered in .45-70. I told him I'd quit drinking just that very minute.

Told me he'd owned it for six months, took it to the range every time he went (retired guy, I saw him there every week), and he still hadn't shot it himself.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Someone offered me a case of beer to shoot a derringer. It was chambered in .45-70. I told him I'd quit drinking just that very minute.

Told me he'd owned it for six months, took it to the range every time he went (retired guy, I saw him there every week), and he still hadn't shot it himself.

Best purpose for that is carrying in bear country. But I wouldn't shoot It for fun. I may be dumb enough to try it once to say I did.

 

[bearcreek]

I did notice the bullets make a tear and not a hole, it's a diagonal tear, but it could be me because I've shooting further left than normal, probably pulling the trigger too hard. It's a small trigger and you need to be low on the handle to pull the trigger right.

If the bullet is truly making a diagonal tear in the paper rather than a round hole, that's called key-holeing and is an indication that the rifling is worn out or poorly manufactured. Basically the rifling is not spinning the bullet properly, making it tumble erratically when it leaves the barrel.

 

[Blkhrt13]

If the bullet is truly making a diagonal tear in the paper rather than a round hole, that's called key-holeing and is an indication that the rifling is worn out or poorly manufactured. Basically the rifling is not spinning the bullet properly, making it tumble erratically when it leaves the barrel.

I'm almost certain it's not poorly made as they have a fair reputation I would suspect it's a sideffect of a tiny barrel length and a hot round.

 

[toivo]

I'm almost certain it's not poorly made as they have a fair reputation I would suspect it's a sideffect of a tiny barrel length and a hot round.

Maybe a damaged crown?

 

[bearcreek]

I'm almost certain it's not poorly made as they have a fair reputation I would suspect it's a sideffect of a tiny barrel length and a hot round.

How far are you from the target when it's doing this? If the gun isn't poorly made, worn out or damaged it shouldn't be keyholeing at any distance at which you'd normally shoot a derringer. It could be a damaged crown, like toivo said.

 

[bearcreek]

This is one solid gun, the backup is 18oz, 2oz heavier than my carry pistol.

BTW, what caliber is this derringer? Are you seriously carrying an 18 oz. 2 shot gun as a backup? Why would you do that rather than carrying a lighter, more compact revolver or semi auto with higher capacity?

 

[JFrame]

I recently got an NAA mini-revolver in .22 WMR. With the stock grip, it's pretty hard to pull the trigger and maintain a good one-finger grip on the gun. So I got this grip for it:

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.

Toivo -- I did the same mod to my Black Widow just this past week...

 

[CZ9shooter]

If the bullet is truly making a diagonal tear in the paper rather than a round hole, that's called key-holeing and is an indication that the rifling is worn out or poorly manufactured. Basically the rifling is not spinning the bullet properly, making it tumble erratically when it leaves the barrel.

Could be as simple as needing a backer behind the target. With just a hanging paper target the holes can tear out like that. Depends in the bullet size and shape and maybe even the velocity I suppose. If the OP has not already, he should use a piece of cardboard to see what the bullets are really doing.

 

[gonoles_1980]

It's a 9mm, I am using loads I made originally for my wife with titewad, but she had too many FTE's, so I went back to titegroup for her's. I had about 200 of these, haven't tried a hotter load (and these are obviously not hot), so it could be the slower velocity combined with the faster burning powder. Loading 3.2gr titewad with a CPFP 124gr, 1.084 COL. I am shooting at 10ft. I should try a round of the loads I do for my wife and see if I get the same effect. I just noticed a few holes were like that on the target. Right now I'm more practicing on getting my grip right After that I'll work on accuracy. I'm sure if the problem continues Bond Arms will make good on the barrel.

Right now I don't have a backup CC, my primary is a 357 LCR with 38+p for my SD rounds. I usually don't need to carry a backup, since my wife carries, so she'd be my backup. Don't confuse the name of the gun which is Backup, with it being my backup.

 

[sgt127]

I've owned several American Derringers in different calibers.

Derringers are cool. I have a vision of carrying it as a last ditch backup. Perhaps tucked under my thigh as the next round of cards is being dealt as we cruise down the Mississippi in a paddle boat. Palming it as a bad hombre steps through the swinging doors of the salloon.

And then, I go out and shoot the miserable little sob. And try carrying it in my pocket and it feels like it made of lead.

You can't get a grip worth a crap. I've had Craftsman staplers with better triggers. Trying to thumb cock under pressure is dang near impossible. The sights suck swamp water and, neither freaking barrel hits at the same place. Though its a moot point as the sights (if you can see them) just generally tell you where the muzzle is.

But, they are cute. Harken back an older day. I still have one...just...because.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Had s bond arms. Decided I didn't care enough about it to keep it. Traded it towards an XDs.

It was an interesting gun but I wouldn't call it s fun shoiter. I was alright at 12 feet with it but past that was s real challenge. Good luck op. I hope you master that little beasty.

 

[Jim K]

I guess to some folks those little guns are fun, but the idea of trusting my life to one doesn't excite me. Better than throwing stones, maybe, but why would anyone throw stones if a real gun was available?

(P.S. I have several "originals" I have fired, including the "classic" Remington double derringer in .41 RF. I think that mainspring came off a Ford truck and accuracy is a joke. The TV heroes can have them.)

Jim

 

[Mn Fats]

I've owned a Cobra .38. Payed $45 for it. I carried it on walks in the summer to the lake when this nasty Rottweiler would come and take a look at me every once in a while. Why? It fired all my .38 reloads flawlessly. It was cheap and functioned perfectly after abuse. I'm not going to discredit a derringer, they are what they are. It wasn't a fun plinker, nor did I care about the trigger pull or groupings (minute of pop can at 5 yds consistently) fine by me for what it is. Bond prices have always seemed high to me but to each thier own. I have a j frame that was cheaper than a new Bond but I still chose that $45 cobra as a beater to stuff in my shorts sometimes. Once you realize a derringer for what is, that 15 second hold time may shrink a smidge

 

[cpt-t]

I was in Viet Nam in 1968 & 1969. And one of the guys in my platoon got a 38 Cal Derringers in the mail from his Dad. It was bright and shinny and we all thought it was really cool. But then we tried to shoot the darn thing. The trigger was unbelievably heavy probably at least 10 or 15lbs. And the recoil was fierce even with the Army`s weak 38spl ball ammo. And actually hitting anything with it was just pure luck. We spent a lot of time at night sleeping in the bunkers on the prominenter`s of the Firebases we worked out of. And those bunkers were full of rat`s and some of thoes rats were pretty good size. Well that Derringer become our ((( RAT KILLING GUN ))). And the way I remember it the Rats definitely won all the battles we had with them using the Derringer. We never killed a Rat with that Derringer as far as I remember. I really don`t believe any of us ever even drew blood on even one of the Big Rats. And the range that the Rats were engaged at were from Point Blank to maybe 5 or 6 ft. We about killed our ears but it was fun to shoot. The kid that owned the Derringer was KIA so it was sent home in His hold baggage. This thread brought back that memory and made me think of that fine Young Man, my very good friend. His name was Marc C. Gorham he was killed on 12-30-68 at 0915 hrs. He was from Portland Or. I wear a bracelet on my right wrist, with Marc`s name on it. He was just 18 years old. It just doesn't seem possible, and I can't think of any reason to justify His death even after all these years. He was a fine Young Man. You would have liked Marc. His name is on the Wall panel 35W line 9.
ken

 

[Bad Ninja]

I have a Cobra CB9 derringer.
The trigger is impossibly stiff, hammer is awkward, its difficult to hold, jumps like a jackrabbit when you pull the trigger, and beyond about 5 ft, throws lead all over the place.
And I love it.
$150 ish, looks the part, goes bang everytime.
It's not practical for SD, or CC.
There are much better options.
That said, it's a hoot to shoot, and everyone always wants to give it a try.
I will always have a derringer in my collection.

 

[Davek1977]

i recently inherited, with several other firearms, a cobray 45lc/.410 derringer..... its an amusing conversation piece, oddly fun to fire a few times, but i can't see me using it in any serious capacity whatsoever ever....theres just not much that gun can do that i don't have something else that does it better

 

[gonoles_1980]

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.