Let's talk Derringers

[Chief Wiggums]

Changing my original post as located above me via Daniel Howe , an outstanding use case has been presented.

 

[oldiegoldie]

I believe the NAA Mini revolvers have largely rendered derringers obsolete.

Still, I would someday like to have one of the High Standard derringers in .22 Magnum.

try one before buying. trigger pull is probably 20+ lbs. i carried one with shot shell for a long time for snakes. actually started carrying one in the late 1960's with regular .22 mag ammo. had one of the holsters that are now illegal. still have the derringer but it's buried in the back of a safe. i tried to trade it but was offered $75 in the trade, so kept it. the weight of the 351pd [7 shot .22 mag] and hi-Standard are both 10.85 oz empty. the 351pd is very concealable, though less so than the Hi-Standard

 

[Imissedagain]

American Derringer made a 38spl that was similar to the High Standard 101..... the DA38..... and one was made in 9mm if memory is correct.
People charge thru the Bush with a double so doing the lawn with a HS 22 Mag ..... why not.

 

[jag312]

I carry what I call a modern derringer. A Walther TPH. I have seen pictures of a single shot derringer in .45-70. I don't want one, but I sure would like to see someone shot it.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

Someone needs to bring out a true small frame pocket derringer in .380 or 9mm. Model it after the original Remingtons and offer in full stainless.

Like someone said the Bonds are enormous and HEAVY for what they bring to the table. As heavy as an all steel J-frame but you only get two shots and a bunch of other disadvantages.

The American Derringer is stainless and the exact same dimensions as a Remington. The ADC is chambered in just about every caliber you can imagine to include some rifle calibers.

 

[BEEMER1]

I would call this a derringer. A very unique gun and kinda fun.

The 4 barreled COP in 357 shown with a Rohrbaugh.

 

[DocB]

The only derringers I have or have any interest in are my High Standard in 22 Magnum from the 1970's and my Remington double derringer in 41 rimfire from around 1900. The High Standard shoots pretty good once you get used to how to pull the trigger. The Remington doesn't get shot at all since I don't want to expend my only 2 rounds of 41 rimfire. About 10 years ago, a veterinarian in my church bought one of those new 357 magnum ones. Looked like a piece of crud, but he was really proud of it until he shot it. Took out his hearing in both ears. He has been wearing hearing aids ever since.

 

[max503]

My brother gave me a Davis 22 derringer. Exactly like the middle one in the original posting. It's a portentous noise maker.

 

[JayFramer]

The American Derringer is stainless and the exact same dimensions as a Remington. The ADC is chambered in just about every caliber you can imagine to include some rifle calibers.

They aren’t made anymore are they? Which model specifically are you referring to that is, in fact, the same size as the original Remington’s Double?

 

[fatcat3]

I can keep both shots from my F.I.E. 38spl on a paper plate with whatever i have put in it, at about ten yards. Nice to know if I am ever attacked by a rouge paper plate. Better than a harsh word and a mean look but not as nice as a cobra gunship. I find a pocket knife more useful every day than any ccw that I have ever carried.

 

[Jellybean]

"Novelty" is the best word for the NAA Mini Revolvers. I have two and have to use two hands to shoot either one.

I have two Derringers also, a Davis 32 magnum and an American Derringer in .41 magnum. If you feel the need to carry a high capacity firearm, a derringer isn't for you. As a back up to a main carry weapon that happens to be in the same caliber, a derringer isn't all that bad of a choice. As an only weapon, that would depend on the circumstances.

 

[Farmer17]

I bought a Davis .32 chrome derringer about 25 years ago, my local gun store had a big stack of em' in blue or chrome for $32.95 and I hid it in my van under the ashtray. Its range on a man size target was maybe 10 yards and yes it had a very hard trigger pull which it needed for safety since it was so small to hold. I wouldn't be too upset if something happened to it and it was more concealable than my LCP II .380 and
I would buy one again if it was under 50 or 75 bucks.

 

[lrrifleman]

I think it was back in the 1980s that I saw a stainless destroyed advertised in 38/357, it may have been an American. At the time it seemed like it would make a great close range last ditch arm loaded with 148gr 38 Special.

Today, purchase permits add hard to obtain and I would not want to waste a permit on one. Many of the current retrievers look (to me) to be too cheaply made to risk firing.

 

[Rudi]

I like the NAA mini revolvers for what they are, a last ditch back up. "Just step back a couple steps and let me put one in your forehead." Never any takers. A small gun is better than no gun.

 

[jimmyj]

I have owned four (4):
1. a Great Western dbl .38spl (1963 era)
at 25 yards both shots in the "Kill Area" of a B-27 target

2. High Standard dbl .22 magnum (1966 era)
at 25 yards both shots in the "Kill Area" of a B-27 target

3. Maverick .dbl .357 magnum (1970 era)
at 25 yards both shots to who knows where

4. High Standard bbl .22 magnum (2003 era)
at seven yards both shot in the "Kill Area" 0f a B-27 target

 

[MRH]

I have tried to love them ... finally accepted there are just times that I want one. The best I can say is that 45acp shotshells work on snakes, 410 2-1/2” is iffy and low velocity; 3” 410 hurts pretty bad and doesn’t work much better than the 45 acp. I have a bond with stag grips and several barrels. The only one in use is 45acp.

 

[JayFramer]

Watched a recent jelly test of a 3"bbl Bond loaded with the 2.5" .410 000 4 pellet loads.

Penetrated between 8-12".

Would be like getting shot four times with a .380. Nasty!!

 

[Dump1567]

So I took both my .32 Davis and my new to me ADC out to shoot. Both can hit a sheet of paper at 10 feet if you can overcome the horrible trigger. .45 Colt wasn't too bad on recoil. I load 250 gr lead w/7.5 grs of Unique. Probably clocks around 850 fps out of a real barrel. The 2 1/2" 000 buck gave me a wallop. I was only good for a few rounds. I think the bird shot would serve the best purpose for this gun against snakes or critters. It also had a good spread.

I think the .32 loaded with some hot S&B could serve as a deep concealment back-up due to it's small size.

Who knows how much velocity is lost with these super short barrels.

 

[revolvergeek]

I would call this a derringer. A very unique gun and kinda fun.

The 4 barreled COP in 357 shown with a Rohrbaugh.

They are fun to play with, but not in my experience not much fun to shoot. I was fascinated with them when I was in high school because of a book series that I was reading, and when older bought the first one I could. All four barrels shot to different points of aim, and two barrels would not regularly stabilize bullets. It was very heavy yet due to the grip shape it was pretty rough with .357 mag ammo. Being a broke college student I sold it off quite disillusioned. I bought another one about 10 years later with almost the exact same results, so I sold it off too. Kinda wish that I would have kept it now just for the retro oddball value.

Over the years I had two ADC derringers, both in .38 special, but due to weight and the lack of barrel regulation I sold them both off. The .410/45 colt were popular around here for years as snake guns before all the dual use revolvers came onto the market. The 2.5" .410 loads didn't really kick and were effective at short range on snakes and according to local stories a would be rapist that got shot in the face with one at about 3 feet.

The 22 High Standards (mag and LR) where hugely popular here in 70s and 80s was backup / undercover / offduty guns.

 

[old tanker]

Great Western made a pretty good looking copy of the Remington. Chambered in .38 S&W, the stubby cartridge struck me as a practical choice. Never shot one so have no idea of its merits or lack thereof.