Why do derringers suck so bad?

[TimboKhan]

you know, I had a Davis Derrigner in .32, and it was fun to shoot, and it always got alot of attention at the range. I ended up giving it to my friend as a b-day gift, and he still shoots it. Now, was it accurate? NO!!!!!!!!!!!! I could get hits within maybe 5-10 feet, but that was about it. Speaking solely on the Davis, it was a gun I used for breaking out on the range and making a little noise - in other words, it was cool. I do happen to think that Derringers represent a viable alternative when no other gun will do, depending on quality and caliber, but to be perfectly honest with you, I would prefer to have a knife to that particular Davis gun, because I honestly think that at its effective range, I would be able to do more damage with a knife. Thats not an indictement against the .32, either. I think we all can agree that the .32 is a poor choice for a defensive round, but it does have its place, and it is definitly better than a sharp stick. I am specifically referring to the gun: I. E. someone physically attacking me and me having to cock, fire in such a way as to not shoot myself (which I would think would be pretty easy in a close engagement where blows are being exchanged, especially given the exposed trigger), and then having to repeat.

 

[Technosavant]

IMO, derringers are only useful when the other party doesn't want to get shot, such as getting mugged by a knife-wielding assailant. If the other party has a gun, the derringer gets outclassed pretty quickly.

I still would like to get my hands on one. Even 2 shots of .45LC or .410 bore with 000 shot beats nothing. But, I would probably go for something like a mini Beretta in .32 first.

 

[p35]

I once had a case where a woman shot her brother in law 4 times with a .22 Davis Derringer. He drove away from the scene, but at the hospital the doctors gave him a 10% chance of survival. He pulled through after 2 weeks in a hospital and another month or so in a nursing home.

Probably says more about the .22 than the gun- won't stop a person but it will kill him. A Beretta 21 would have been a lot more practical as a .22 thrower for not much more size. OTOH, she knew almost nothing about guns and still almost killed the guy.

Bottom line, a derringer satisfies Rule #1 (HAVE A GUN) but for the size/weight there are better choices.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I once had a case where a woman shot her brother in law 4 times with a .22 Davis Derringer.

She reloaded?

He must have been either somewhat disabled by the first two, or inordinantly stupid!

 

[Old John]

We have Bond Arms

Hi Y'all,

I have a Bond Arms Texas Defender in .45Colt/.410ga.
DSW has a Bond Arms Texas Defender in .45acp.

We each can hit COM at 7yrds./21 ft. consistently.
They weigh about 20oz. or so.
They have a completely different lock-up than Davis
or American Derringer. Bond is much easier & quicker to load.
Lighter trigger too.

The .45Colt is not bad to practice with, loaded with Cowboy
Loads, 200gr. at 700fps.
The .45acp is not bad with lighter loads too.
We have a Davis Derringer in .38 Spec. also.
I've had .22 Derringers & a .357 Mag.

I like Derringers. They are fun.
Yup, there are probably better choices, in littler guns & calibers.
I carry a .45acp C.Commander when I'm out & about.
But Derringers are easy to drop in a jacket pocket to
run down & pick up a Newspaper at Casey's.

They are just about like anything else. Some Folks like them
and Swear by them. Some Folks Hate them.
They say,"That's what makes a horse race".
Heyy, if you don't like them,- buy something else.
I won't make you buy mine. I'm happy with it.
Best to get something you like, I do.
Have Fun.

 

[Pointblank]

3 of 000, that would be the S&B load, right? Winchester makes a .410 load with 5 pellets of 000, which may be a better choice.

-------------------------------------------------

The 5 pellet load is a 3 inch shell, her derringer won't handle that. Same goes for my Marlin 410 levergun.

 

[p35]

"He must have been either somewhat disabled by the first two, or inordinantly stupid!"

It's been a long time, but they were in an isolated area and, IIRC, she was between him and the car. Apparently she was having a flashback to past sexual abuse when she did it.

 

[vesmcd]

Derringers(actually Deringers) were originally made in .41 rimfire, about 600fps, and intended to kill someone 5-6 feet away(across a poker table). IMHO, a Deringer,in any caliber, is a last ditch,better than nothing, contact range gun. I have worked in gun shops off and on for the past 18 years and the biggest complaint I have heard about the cheap Deringer type guns is that they won't go bang about half the time.

 

[BluesBear]

A doible derringer beats no gun at all.

For the most part they are too big for what you get.

There are many guns that are the same size ot smaller that are much mre efficient.



But then I almost always have an old .22 High Standard DA derringer in one of my pockets even when I'm carrying one of my .44s.

 

[GEM]

I just think the little ones are cute. I wish someone made a quality version in the size of the little Davis/Cobra guys.

It's like my NAA 22s - a real powerhouse! But so cute.

However, I do know cases where they helped out. A geezer with a 22 mag drove off a shotgun wielding crook. A buddy nailed a threatening rattled with a Hi-standard and snake shot.

It's still a gun!

 

[M2 Carbine]

Just shot my 45 ACP Bond Arms Derringer.

Would everyone agree 10 yards isn't exactly "stick it in his ear" range?

I haven't shot the derringer in a couple months, but when I do my part it will easily keep the shots in the elliptical circle.

Mostly what I like to do is point shoot from 5-7 yards at a 12x16 inch piece of steel. The gun never misses, but I do once in a while.

8x11 inch paper
10 rounds, no misses.

 

[crackerjack]

I have a High Standard 22Mag that I have carried off & on billfold style for 20 years plus. It is one of the most concealable firearms I own and can easily hit a target at self defendance range (point shoot) . I realize it is not a 45ACP, however it may change a person's mind and change the playing field after 2 hollow points and the powder burn it expells at point blank range. It is not my first choice, but to have to shoot someone, I will not be given any choice. It has always been a comfort knowning it was there in the event it was needed. They have limitations , but as weapons of last resort they fill a need . Fairly accurate had a one shot kill on a rattler before they were protected.

my $.05 worth (inflation you know)
Frank

 

[M2 Carbine]

In the mid 60's I bought a Hi Standard 22LR derringer for my wife to carry, especially to work. I carried a 1911A1 in the car.
All illegal then, but my Wife came first.

When we moved to TX we each had 1903 32 Colts in the cars.

I sold Her Hi Standard without telling Her. She liked that gun and never stopped giving me heck for selling Her gun.

 

[BIGDAVE54]

I usually find enough crap on these firearms threads to fertilize the entire world. This one is no different. How many here have ever been shot by a derringer?....NONE!!!! How many have ever shot anyone with a derringer?....NONE!!! Let me say this. Any firearm is better than none in a situation where you are being beaten or assaulted. If all you have is a derringer....that will do nicely. If all you can afford is a derringer....It's fine. These yahoos with unlimited funds ,unlimited advice,and no experience or scars will talk all night. If you have a derringer,you shoot the bad guy and live...It is the best weapon on the face of the Earth. I have been poor in the past and I know what it is like to have only one marginal firearm to protect myself and or family...It is much better than no firearm.

 

[IMTHDUKE]

They don't suck...I carry one everyday....mine is the souped up version....

 

[Molasses]

Now playing at THR:

"Ranting Return Of A Zooooombie Thread From 2005"


Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Any firearm is better than none in a situation where you are being beaten or assaulted. If all you have is a derringer....that will do nicely.

In my experience, most disasters happen because people plan for them to happen. If you choose to carry a derringer, you are planning to have nothing but a derringer when the chips are down.

Now, I admit I've never shot anyone with a derringer. I have used a .357 in a couple of life-or-death situations (in Viet Nam.) I had that .357 because I planned to have a powerful handgun, and chose a Colt M357 instead of something of marginal power.

 

[WardenWolf]

Derringers were originally designed to be a woman's purse gun. After concealed carry was outlawed for so long, development on these guns effectively stalled for several decades. As a result, they're stuck in the past,and have long been surpassed by compact revolvers and autos.

 

[James T Thomas]

blew my chrome off. Cheap or what?

The post from "Goose;" #22 made me chuckle.
I remember my younger days and the fascination any thing that went bang held for me. And the fun I had seeing how things were.

In place of Herters, "Moose," I bought Stoeger.
Now, my crome never blew off -what a hoot, but if I could scrounge up a few bucks I would by "cheap" just to try it out and experiment.

Thanks also to the posts from M2Carbine. It was good to read actual and factual experience versus so much conjecture.

 

[KevininPa]

I love my derringer

It's a Bond Arms SnakeSlayer with that little pinky extension on the slightly larger grips. It shoots .45 colt and 3 inch .410s. It fits a niche for me, do the search. What I'll say now is that its accuracy sucks with normal derringer grips. I'm sorry I bought them. Does make it more pocketable, but isn't worth losing the accuracy. That pinky extension makes the difference. And stated in many posts here and on many forums, PRACTICE! Gotta learn the firearms you own. With the .45 Colts I do pretty good out to 10 yards. I ignore the sights, throw my arm up, and point. This thing isn't built for long range and I don't use it for it.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I want one - mostly because I don't have one and they look challenging to shoot well.

I don't expect to defend myself with this little gun, nor do I expect any kind of precision. I just want to have some fun!

 

[Deaf Smith]

Why a Derringer???

The derringers have:

a) Very small grips and thus hard to get a hold on, like FAST

b) Very slow to cock (yea there are a few DA versions but they have small trigger guards.)

c) Zero sights for all practical matters. And pointability is the pits.

d) Extremely hard to shoot past pissing distance.

e) Extremely limited rounds (1 thru 4)

f) Extremely slow reloads.

g) If in a large round they kick like heck (and if in small cartridge then what the heck are you doing with it?)

And as a result I'd rather have a good strong 6 inch bladed knife to a derringer! But I'd take a snub over either.

As Jeff Cooper said, "It's a good weapon for your opponent to have"

 

[jackstinson]

I am really surprised cobra makes such a crummy product

The Cobra derringer line is a reissue of the Davis derringer line. Cobra bought the tooling and rights to the entire Davis line and currently produces the D-series and BigBore-series Davis derringers, as well as the Davis P-32 and P-380 (as the CA32 and CA380) semi-autos. Oh yes, the Cobra FS32 and FS380 are reissues of the old Lorcin L32 and L380.
I own a few old Davis derringers. The most useful for me is the .32acp version. Since it is based on the Davis D-22 derringer frame, it is quite small. It hides well as a backup and I can thumb off both barrels in under 2 seconds. It does fine at 7 yards on torso size targets.

Are there other options out there? Sure there are.

BTW: Jennings never actually made a copy of the Browning Baby. Bruce Jennings' J-22, J-25, M38, etc designs were essentially based upon his father's (George Jennings) Raven design...which was a very basic non-locking blow-back similar to the BB and countless others.
One of the better clones of the Baby in that era (1970's) is the Bauer...a stainless steel clone of the BB. Current BB clone is the PSA.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I had one and it was a great little gun for 2 shots I sold it.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I think there would be a market for a QUALITY derringer that matched the frame size and heft of an original Remington, perhaps chambered in .38 special or 9 mm (or a nifty modern .41 RF ). The current American Arms and Bond Arms product are way too big, bulky and heavy. In addition, this "New Model" derringer could have an inertial type firing pin, allowing it to be carried hammer down for safety, and permitting easy loading and unloading (no half cock/cross bolt). Don't slam the derringer platform until you has handled an original Remington.