High Standard Derringer, 22 Mag

[Retired W4]

This is a far cry from what I am usually attracted to, but I could not resist. I think the trigger could be a little lighter but it is what it is. It should be a good one with CCI rat shot if a snake gets into the tent.

 

[Rpg]

If you have occasion to shoot that thing inside your tent, chances are you'll miss the rat and deafen everyone in the tent.

Years ago I owned one of those (a bit older version) briefly. Beyond arms length, I couldn't hit anything with it.

After trying to hit an IPSC target and only occasionally hitting it at 7 yards i decided it wasn't useful for me so I moved it along.

These are the best contemporary derringers available.

They avoid the massive size and weight of the Bond derringers so if you're planning to carry it it's possible.

They aren't single action so you don't need to thumb cock it: it's double action. This is a huge advantage because it's much easier to shoot quickly than a single action gun since you don't have to fiddle with it before each shot. The double action trigger pull is quite heavy which doesn't help hitting the target.

The barrels are only casually regulated so you'll find you shoot one barrel better than the other. This isn't a problem at arms length, but becomes apparent as the range increases: it's quite noticeable at 10 feet.

If you're going to carry it, this is the only derringer to buy.

 

[Tex1001]

If you're going to carry it, this is the only derringer to buy.

I politely disagree. Please hear me out.
For years I searched for a High Standard 22.
Back in the '90s American Derringer made a derringer with
identical styling, but in 38 special (And apparently also in 9mm).
I found a 38 model and promptly bought it (No pictures, yet).
The back strap is at least twice as wide as as regular design.
This is now my deep cover gun.
The High Standard 22 is a quality gun, but still a 22.

 

[mikerjf]

I shot mine (a 22LR) best by using my middle finger on the trigger, with the index "pointing" to the target. Still somewhat difficult.

Didn't last long; for it's niche I found the NAA much better.

 

[Tex1001]

Found a picture online.

 

[Rpg]

I politely disagree. Please hear me out.
For years I searched for a High Standard 22.
Back in the '90s American Derringer made a derringer with
identical styling, but in 38 special (And apparently also in 9mm).
I found a 38 model and promptly bought it (No pictures, yet).
The back strap is at least twice as wide as as regular design.
This is now my deep cover gun.
The High Standard 22 is a quality gun, but still a 22.

I certainly understand why you'd want a 38 instead of a 22, but the increased size for the 38 disqualifies it for carrying for me.

If I want a 38, I use my M38 or M42. They are as easy to conceal as the High Standard in 38. The revolvers are much easier to shoot and hit targets with at self defense ranges and have infinitely better triggers than the High Standard. They also offer 5 shots instead of two.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

From the perspective of literally shooting one of these things I can say from experience thank you, but no.

That includes any derringer, actually, but there are exceptions to my rule of no.

Everyone likes pictures:

This cute little antique ain't ever getting fired (a gift from a friend, literally, from his dad's estate):

Remington .41 centerfire derringer Illion NY

This even cuter, much more modern gun ain't ever getting fired, either ($200, as I recall, from the Winchester Gallery in Fort Worth, probably 20 years ago):

NAA Mini Revolver .22 Short

This next one is NIB so I see no reason to fire it:

HS 22 magnum derringer black grips

I have fired this next one and, trust me, it ain't a picnic, but I think I solved that problem, except for the decibels:

HS .22 magnum derringer white grips

If you're going to carry one of these, that's the way to conceal it. I carried it in my back pocket on a trip quite some years ago; otherwise, it's my bathrobe gun and doesn't leave the house. The ATF has approved this for me, BTW. $5.00.

As a former cowboy action shooter I have shot derringers in calibers that start with a 3 and thank you, but never again. Besides recoil issues they're just too hard to cock and fire.

These guns come up for discussions now and again and I frequently note that years ago a Forum member told the story of how a High Standard derringer saved his life. I'll try to do it justice for him and repeat it here.

He was a pilot and got shot down and captured by the NVA in Vietnam. They took everything from him and proceeded to march him to whatever POW camp they had in mind. The High Standard was in the breast pocket of his jacket and they didn't know about it. After a while they stopped and one of the NVA captors went behind some trees for personal business. The other captor wasn't very focused so our Forum member reached into his pocket, retrieved the HS derringer, and shot the captor in the eye (GREAT THINKING!!!!). By the time the other captor came running out our Forum hero had retrieved the deceased captor's AK and the rest is history.

I love that story.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I certainly understand why you'd want a 38 instead of a 22, but the increased size for the 38 disqualifies it for carrying for me.

If I want a 38, I use my M38 or M42. They are as easy to conceal as the High Standard in 38. The revolvers are much easier to shoot and hit targets with at self defense ranges and have infinitely better triggers than the High Standard. They also offer 5 shots instead of two.

I agree completely.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The Wonderful World of Derringers!

I have both the 22Mag and 38 Special High Standard design. With the right ammo, they both shoot fine. Try 38 wadcutters, and Federal actually makes a Handgun 22 Magnum load: Product 757. Doesn't say handgun or rifle anywhere on the package! 50 grain Jacketed HP. The faster powder and longer bearing surface were specifically chosen to be used in Ruger Single Six back in the 80's. It is also fine for rifles but not as flat of trajectory. In the HS it shoots 2.5 to 3" at 15' (4 shot group).

I also have 3 Davis Derringers 2 in 32 ACP + one in 22 Mag. The 32 ACPs came with a recommendation to use Winchester Silver Tip Hollow Points. Typically I get 4" at 15' for 4 shots. In SASS shooting we aren't allowed jacketed ammo. So I loaded up 200 with 94 grain LRN and used 32 S&W (short) loading data (this load functions 32 Autos also) I typically got 1.5" 4 shot group at 15'. The 22 Mag is almost as accurate as the High Standard with the "757" load.

American Derringer 357. Looks just like older Bond Arms. with just about any ammo the barrels shoot 17" apart at 21'. I got it to 4" group with 357 125gr STHP 357 in top barrel, and 158 LSWC standard velocity 38 Special in lower barrel. If you get it backwards they are 34" apart!

Holsters: I have a pair of leather suspenders that has interchangeable holsters for the Davis and a 38 S&W Lemon Squeezer.

I found a home made pocket/belt holster for the Davis 22 Mag that also carries 4 extra rounds. (Who reloads a derringer?)

Over the years I've bought and sold several others. Cobray (same guys as the MAC-10 full auto I had) made a 45/410 sxs for awhile. Too bulky for CCW! Took awhile to find 45 Colt that would group (230 gr hand load @ 700fps) 410 patterns were 6' diameter at 10' for #9 shot! and 4' diameter at10' for #4 shot. 2 1/2" shells.

Ivan

 

[Tex1001]

I have both the 22Mag and 38 Special High Standard design. With the right ammo, they both shoot fine. Try 38 wadcutters, and Federal actually makes a Handgun 22 Magnum load: Product 757.

I also have 3 Davis Derringers 2 in 32 ACP + one in 22 Mag.

Ivan

I also have 2 Davis Derringers, both in 9mm. With their skinny
backstraps they are a handful to shoot. The American 38 is
much less painful. I also have an old Hawes in 22 magnum
that was a deep cover BUG in my Dallas PD days.

Could you measure the frames on the High Standard 22 and
the American 38. To the best of my memory they are about
the same size.
ETA: I used to have a 32 Davis, but it quickly broke a firing
pin.

 

[rockquarry]

I bought a High Standard .22 magnum derringer more than fifty years ago. I fired it twice at a paint can just a short distance away at dusk. Complete misses, but a giant fireball and an incredible blast. Kept it several years, but couldn't bring myself to ever shoot it again. That mighty double-action pull makes a good safety.

 

[Buford57]

One of those was my Onion Field gun on the job. It lived in the right hip pocket. I intended it for use at contact range a la the war story above, but found that using the index finger method it would put both rounds about 4 inches apart at 7 yards. That said I now have a Remington RM380 that has a slightly larger footprint and holds 3 times as many rounds that would take its place.

 

[Rudi]

I had one many years ago, traded it off. Makes an OK BUG.

 

[inspcalahan]

Owned three over the years. Sold each one at some point. Enough said.

 

[NFrameFred]

Okay, I'll be the odd man out and go with the minority. I've had a couple throughout the years in .22 mag and fwiw I personally use the index finger on the side of the barrel/middle trigger finger method for firing it.

To each his own, but I have to ask "Really ?" to anyone who complains that they got rid of theirs because they couldn't keep the hits in a silhouette target at 21 feet. (as an aside I, like most others, have experimented with shooting it at extended range and I find that if I have plenty of time and bear down on the shooting fundamentals it is reasonably accurate [minute of trash can lid] out to even 10 yards or more). Obviously, those with large paws would have a different perspective on the little biter, but I have an average hand span and acknowledge the little gun was never intended to plink beer cans at even ten or fifteen feet.

Using it as the designers probably intended, effecting a drill where one slaps/punches/pushes the target in the face/eyes/throat with the off hand while drawing the derringer with the strong hand and rapidly dumping two shots center of mass at contact distance of two or three feet while backing away, my experience is two centered shots 2-4 inches apart. Ideally I'd rather be somewhere else altogether and never be in that situation or at least be a lot farther away with a much bigger gun. But on vacation in shorts or trunks with a tee shirt you carry lighter than you normally would. It's not my ideal first choice but I have carried it from time to time.

A short while back I had the opportunity to pick up a .22 long rifle set of barrels for mine, and with some minor fitting it interchanges with my magnum I've had for years in a few minutes. I love the .22 mag, but given the cost these days of magnums it's much more fun to shoot the little gun with affordable standard .22's and I've shot it more in the last few times I stuck it in the range bag than I had for years. But if I chose to carry it as a deep cover/secondary/back-up I'd go with the mag barrels. Hits with a .22 magnum at any range inside 25 yards even in that pea shooter is nothing to sneeze at.

Most importantly having one on you fulfills the first rule of gun fighting, which is have a gun.

 

[SuperMan]

Carried one while I was with Dallas PD in the 70s and 80s...didn't have to qualify with backup weapons back then...Oh the "good old days"...

It was actually a third stringer to the duty gun and a S&W 42 that was worn the left leg...

Still have the gun...shoots great...

Bob

 

[forindooruseonly]

Mine keyholes in just about any ammo I put in it.

All the better for it's intended purpose...

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Way back, knew guys who back pocket carried the HS Derringer in the wallet - holster with the trigger finger hole.
Not sure about accuracy, did hear a guy down Texas way claim he shot an assailant outside a Honky Tonk with one.
Meanwhile, up in CO knew a Senior Gent who dropped his 38 Special older style Derringer on a garage floor.
It discharged and shot him in the leg.
No Hammer Block.

 

[Retired W4]

Okay, I'll be the odd man out and go with the minority. I've had a couple throughout the years in .22 mag and fwiw I personally use the index finger on the side of the barrel/middle trigger finger method for firing it.

To each his own, but I have to ask "Really ?" to anyone who complains that they got rid of theirs because they couldn't keep the hits in a silhouette target at 21 feet. (as an aside I, like most others, have experimented with shooting it at extended range and I find that if I have plenty of time and bear down on the shooting fundamentals it is reasonably accurate [minute of trash can lid] out to even 10 yards or more). Obviously, those with large paws would have a different perspective on the little biter, but I have an average hand span and acknowledge the little gun was never intended to plink beer cans at even ten or fifteen feet.

Using it as the designers probably intended, effecting a drill where one slaps/punches/pushes the target in the face/eyes/throat with the off hand while drawing the derringer with the strong hand and rapidly dumping two shots center of mass at contact distance of two or three feet while backing away, my experience is two centered shots 2-4 inches apart. Ideally I'd rather be somewhere else altogether and never be in that situation or at least be a lot farther away with a much bigger gun. But on vacation in shorts or trunks with a tee shirt you carry lighter than you normally would. It's not my ideal first choice but I have carried it from time to time.

A short while back I had the opportunity to pick up a .22 long rifle set of barrels for mine, and with some minor fitting it interchanges with my magnum I've had for years in a few minutes. I love the .22 mag, but given the cost these days of magnums it's much more fun to shoot the little gun with affordable standard .22's and I've shot it more in the last few times I stuck it in the range bag than I had for years. But if I chose to carry it as a deep cover/secondary/back-up I'd go with the mag barrels. Hits with a .22 magnum at any range inside 25 yards even in that pea shooter is nothing to sneeze at.

Most importantly having one on you fulfills the first rule of gun fighting, which is have a gun.

Great short tutorial on close-in self defense action.

 

[old tanker]

A buddy of mine who was a deputy in Larimer county, Colorado tells of a gas station hold up he worked. After the crook emptied the till and took the coin changer, the Attendant said, "I suppose you want what's in my wallet too."

He said 2 rounds of .22 magnum to the face effectively ended that criminal career on the spot.