Cobra .38 Derringer. Thoughts?

[Gebe]

I'm thinking about getting one of these just for fun. They're cheap and they're Calif., (unfortunately where I live!), approved.

Please don't lecture me about how a Smith J-Frame or the .380 Wonderkinds would be better for self defense as I'm thinking about getting one just to play around with it. Besides, I have a bunch of defensive handguns already.

I live very rural and I can shoot in my own backyard and I like the looks of this derringer.

So, who has one and what do you think?

 

[curtmini14]

very hard to hold make sure your standing on soft ground when i let people shoot it 50 /50 chance it flips out of there hand. and there no fun to shoot. good luck.

 

[rock doc]

I bought one a few years ago, just for the heck of it. I do not use it for SD. It’s not very accurate, at least not for me, and I don’t intend to practice…practice…practice with it, because it’s a handful to shoot it. I don’t know what the trigger pull pounds are, but it must be approaching triple digits

About four rounds at a time are enough for me and I have a strong grip. It’s well-built considering the price. Mine is the chrome long barrel.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Are the Bond derringers legal in CA? If they are- even though they are much more expensive- they are a much more shootable piece with a variety of options and even longer grips. I've shot two of them and really liked them.

Is American Derringer still in business? Or are they just too expensive to be in general circulation?

 

[PattonTime]

Derringer

I own two of them, one a Bond Arms Snakeslayer in 45 Colt that is very fun to shoot with either light Colt loads or 2.5 inch 410 shotshells.
It is huge for a Derringer but is a well built piece and lots o' fun !
The other is a American arms in 38 Special, its trigger is so horrible it is no fun to shoot, I have a Lyman gauge that stops at 12 lbs and I guess at least 20lbs
I shoot wadcutters so recoil is no problem but trigger is .

 

[walnutred]

I've never owned a Cobra brand but I've shot a couple. The trigger pulls in the ones I've shot seem to range from marginally usable to terrible. However I've owned several of the old Davis brand over the years in 32 ACP, 32 Long and 22 Mag. I kind of like them because they fit real nice in a jeans watch pocket.

 

[bmcgilvray]

They're not really heavy enough for use as a trot line weight so don't really see any purpose in them. As noisemakers, common fireworks are more fun.

 

[therevjay]

I have a 'Davis'. (which is the same thing) It won't hit much beond about 5 yds, is difficult (actualy semi-dangerous) to cock with one hand, and is not made of the finest materials avalible.

That said I like it. Not for SD, just 'cause. It reminds me of the old "Mavrick" TV show.

 

[mjr]

That said I like it. Not for SD, just 'cause. It reminds me of the old "Mavrick" TV show.

If I wanted a gun to remind me of an ancient TV show, I'd get me a Mare's Leg.

 

[Gebe]

Are the Bond derringers legal in CA? If they are- even though they are much more expensive- they are a much more shootable piece with a variety of options and even longer grips. I've shot two of them and really liked them.

Is American Derringer still in business? Or are they just too expensive to be in general circulation?

No, both American Derringer and Bond Arms are not certified to own in liberal Calif. It's a shame because the American derringer is what I really wanted.

Sometimes what we want isn't practical or might even be downright silly to others to purchase but I don't care. I have a small derringer collection, (Freedom Arms, NAA, HJS, etc.), and I've always wanted a copy of the original Rem.

I'm sort of recoil sensitive with rifles but not so with handguns. Heck several years back I had a COP 4 barreled .357 mag derringer and THAT was a handful but I still shot it as much as I could and enjoyed it.

To me, when it comes to guns, they're ALL good!

 

[merrkat]

We had several "used" cobras come through the shop.

You should pass.

These guns are on the same level as bryco. The guns would come out of the boxes messed up. I have seen screws work loose in people pockets. My favorite one was the guy that pulled one out of the box in two pieces.

We gave 25 bucks for one in the box at the shop and sold it for 50 if it had never been shot.

 

[Bat Guano]

I have had a couple of generic Remington-style derringers over the years. The first was a .22LR pot-metal one back in the 60s which was actually a fun toy and always worked. Of course I traded it off. The second was a Hy Hunter in .357 that kicked like hell and had mechanical problems. It's been in a shadow box for about 25 years now.

The wife got a .22LR Cobra for the pink color about a year ago. Very heavy trigger, so-so quality, best suited for a conversation piece and not much more. I tried to talk her out of it, and told her that if it acted up I was not even going to attempt to fix it. It's only been shot about fifty rounds. The "sights" are way off.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I had a 38 Derringer also. No fun to shoot. Not accurate. And it didn't last long.

IMO, ALL Derringers are a novelty and a waste of money.