Derringer: Primary Carry?

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I should mind my own business, but...

I carried a HS .22 mag as my "Onion Field" gun for years. In uniform that meant it was my 3rd. In plainclothes it was 2nd or 3rd depending on assignment and once or twice when I knew for a fact going in that I'd be patted down for a wire it was my primary. Others used .25 autos, but I wasn't convinced they provided any advantage. Today I also own a Remington RM380 that isn't much bigger and the derringer gathers dust in the safe.

If the fact that I relied on such a pathetic weapon makes me a moron in the eyes of all the expert arm chair commandos out there, excuse me while I drool on myself. I did my job and went home alive when it was over.
 
Muss Muggins said:
Stuff like that goes on all the time in the Academy. The general public way underestimates what goes into the making of a law enforcement officer . . .
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Yes, and some might be surprised to know how many recruits underestimate the process and resign. My wife works for the State Police at the academy, she often comes home saying they lost another one. It's intentionally grueling to see who can and cannot make it. I can respect the ones that come to the conclusion on their own that its not for them and resign...that's a job that definitely isn't for everyone. Few here don't make the FTO phase though, some get extended and sent back to the academy for remedial training, but if they get through the academy most finish the field training and succeed.
 
Muss Muggins said:
We will have to agree to disagree. Having a gun, any gun, is always better than not having a gun . . .
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"At least I have a gun" doesn't mean it's okay to have a useless piece of trash. Better than nothing, but you're still bad.

But hey, I guess having standards is harder than empty mottos.
 
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Back in the 1980s I was a dealer for American Derringer. Sold a lot of them to LEOs as a backup gun to their primary mainly because they could be had in the same caliber the officer was carrying...

Right off, I can't think of a harder to shoot "small" gun. There are so many better choices for it's size, weight and cost not sure why anyone would buy one other than some Yancy Derringer nostalgia fixation....

I also carried a High Standard .22 Magnum Derringer, but only as a backup gun in uniform and would gladly do so again. It is small, slim, light and DA fast....

Bob
 
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Muss Muggins said:
We will have to agree to disagree. Having a gun, any gun, is always better than not having a gun . . .
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I said it in the other thread but better than nothing does not equal optimal.

The problem that I have with that statement is that so many people use it as an excuse to carry a gun that's really not adequate for self-defense and then claim that "Any gun is better than no gun."
 
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I'm intrigued; please tell me...

...what kind of gear I should have been wearing whilst wearing shorts and a polo shirt in NYC? How about whilst wearing a suit in Boston? While we're at it, how about in San Francisco? Seattle? Honolulu? Anchorage? Detroit? Beverly Hills?

Specifically interested in YOUR 'knowledge' re: what type carry...IWB or OWB? How/where should I have carried handcuffs? Credentials?

Though now retired, wondering how I should have done things. :confused:

fredj338 said:
?...
No I am not telling anyone how they should respond to a potential threat. I can only offer how I would. Same for gear. If someone asks for my informed opinion on gear, I am pretty sure my knowledge of what works & what does not is a lot higher than most LEO or someone who survived an altercation with a drunk. ...
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Having something that will go bang is better than an empty motto. By the way, what's your motto?

Edit: Define "Useless Piece of Trash"

Wise_A said:
"At least I have a gun" doesn't mean it's okay to have a useless piece of trash. Better than nothing, but you're still bad.

But hey, I guess having standards is harder than empty mottos.
Click to expand...
 
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Any gun on the scene is adequate for self defense if deployed properly . . .

Smoke said:
I said it in the other thread but better than nothing does not equal optimal.

The problem that I have with that statement isn't so many people use it as an excuse to carry a gun that's really not adequate for self-defense and then claim that "Any gun is better no gun."
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When I was younger, I use to drop a .22 Derringer into my pants pocket when I went somewhere that required me to wear a shirt tucked in. This was before the days of lightweight polymer semi-autos. Today I could do the same thing with my LCP.

There was a time not too long ago that a Derringer was a viable option. Now small lightweight higher capacity multi-shot guns are everywhere, making the Derringer almost obsolete. But any gun still beats no gun.

I probably won't carry a Derringer today except as a back-up. Although I do see a place for a .410 Derringer in certain scenarios, but still not as a primary.

rhTCKyl.jpg
 
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For those that do carry a .410 derringer, what loads are you using?
 
Muss Muggins said:
Any gun on the scene is adequate for self defense if deployed properly . . .
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Personally, I'm not comfortable with less than 10 rounds of 9mm.

The smallest gun I would carry is a Glock 43 and only then if I absolutely couldn't conceal my 26.

YMM (and probably does) V
 
Muss Muggins said:
Any gun on the scene is adequate for self defense if deployed properly . . .
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I don't think a two-shot derringer is adequate for dealing with three attackers :rolleyes:

(and no, I don't think two cartridges is reasonably sufficient for even a single Angry Dude, I just went with the funny one)
 
Returning home from his first outing with his "license" and the
HS 2shot..... what if there are three attacking? ..... asked my son.
Use your Aikido/Judo training and get two of them in a line.... was not a response he liked.
So he put on the old M59 and returned requesting JHP reliability. :rolleyes:

The newer HS 38 Spl 2shot made into a 357 size smoothbore snakeshot gun would be nice.

Tough to beat a Sig 238HD for accuracy and carry in South Florida.... or the S&Walther PPKs.
 
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JayFramer said:
For those that do carry a .410 derringer, what loads are you using?
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I would carry one of the two loads in my pic above (shown under the Derringer) based on what my application is.

That bird shot spreads out pretty well and would work great for snakes (or someones face to hopefully stop an attack without killing them).

The 4 pellets of 000 buck should also be fairly effective at close range.

But manufactures are offering a ton of options in .410 SD loads these days. I haven't heard of any first hand reports of effectiveness though.

Drop that derringer in your pocket as back-up option two or three. You basically have a SBS (short barreled shotgun) in your pocket.:)
 
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( I'm going to have to look up the SA Revolver thread , I have interesting thoughts on those .)

It's a Semi- Free country , and this is within your prerogative to choose as you see fit .

But speaking as a former Derringer owner , this is reaching to point to seriously question the truism that * Any Gun is better than No Gun * . Given their slowness to get into action , and very marginal capabilities to actually hit anything , at even the farther portion of literal bad breath distances , I could more effectively defend myself with an ASP ( expandable baton ) than a Derringer in my hand . Heck I'd have to think hard about Derringer vs Blackjack .

And as noted , Derringers in ( seemingly ) serious cal are heavier , and at least similar in size to either Airweight .38spl , or polymer Subcompact 9mm .

I've regalated my .25acp to collectable plinker quite a while back , but not too long back , I cleaned and tested one for a friend ( 1948 Astra Hammerless ) . It went bang everytime, shot pretty close to the sights , and I could plink 12oz cans @ 10yds at a decent pace . I'd carry that one in preference to any Derringer in any cal .

Added - Yes , the ability to be discrete is important . But unless I were to wear Speedo, it's no problem to be unseen with a .38 snub , or subcompact full caliber semi .

And yes, I have had workmen that turned out to be felounously inclined , so it's not far fetched concept .
 
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