Derringer for Carry?

[Glenn R. McMannly]

I know an old hunting buddy who carries a Bond Arms derringer as his carry piece. He carries it in an OWB holster and his is the .45 Colt and .410 shotgun chambering.

With only two shots onboard, it seems like he’s a little undergunned. I do know these derringers are somewhat popular for carry.

Do you consider these Bond Arms derringers effective defensive handguns?

 

[alwslate]

I sure wouldn't want to depend on one. Two shots and two hands required to cock the hammer, no thanks.

 

[petepeterson]

Not effective in the way most of us view it, but two more rounds than most people have.

 

[s&wchad]

A friend on mine carried a Bond Arms .410 Derringer for snakes while hunting out West. It weighs almost twice as much as a S&W 340PD, which hold five .357 Magnum cartridges. A derringer is better than nothing, but there are much better choices.

 

[03hemi]

I had that gun, fun toy to shoot, but it's literally the size of a J frame or Walther PPK/S with only two shots?
What's he gaining by carrying this?

 

[Pisgah]

When I can get a 5-shot .357 smaller and lighter than a 2-shot derringer that is hard to shoot accurately beyond arm's length, it doesn't take me much thought to say, "No, thank you..."

 

[jbull380]

No. Much much much better options available.

 

[haywood]

J-Frames for my pocket and 9mm’s for the waist. I’ve played with small derringers and NAA minis. They were kind of fun at the Range but, I sold them. I know the odds are I will never need my carry guns but, if I ever did, I don’t want any size derringer and I don’t want the small NAA.

 

[Photog]

In a town I lived in we had a police chief who was very, very anti gun. He carried a .38 special derringer the same way Paladin did on Have Gun Will Travel. Yep, behind the belt buckle on his trousers. One day he went into the gent's room to do his "duty". Unbuckled his pants, derringer fell out, discharged, killed the toilet. Apparently, when you discharge a firearm in a police station it tends to draw attention....he was literally caught with his pants down.......I understand that he stopped that carry method after the incident...

 

[robertrwalsh]

A two-shot derringer is an amusing conversation piece and is probably better than throwing rocks but it wouldn't be my first choice, or second, or third.

 

[murphydog]

If the presence of a gun stops the attack, the derringer works. If you are attacked by (preferably) one person, maybe. Wouldn’t bet my, or your, life on those scenarios happening if you really need a gun.

 

[jaguargolf]

"j" frame is the best option for a small carry gun.

The Bond I held once seemed as heavy as my Lt. Wt. Commander.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Do you consider these Bond Arms derringers effective defensive handguns?

Absolutely not. Some reality here.
Bond Arms 18-19 Oz. 2 rounds
S&W 442. 14.6 Oz. 5 rounds .38 spl.
S&W 340 11.8 Oz. 5 rounds .357 mag.
Glock 42 13.7 Oz. 7 rounds .380
Glock 43 17.9 Oz. 7 rounds 9mm

I guess it all depends on how much you want to spend. I love my 442 but sure would rather carry a 340 with .38spl. With arthritis in the hands that's a consideration. The flat sided Glocks are very discreet. I carry the 42 again because of arthritis. YMMV. There are a lot of better choices out there. I like the extra capacity of autos but the J frames have a dependability factor through the roof. Plus the "hammerless" models can fire all five rounds concealed in a pocket. Well except for the resulting fire.

Shoot a Derringer with these heavy loads, then a J frame or Glock. That will answer all questions.

 

[Imissedagain]

A J Frame in 38/357, loaded with factory snakeshot or
homemade, would be my first choice for those chores.

If a Derringer, the old double action HS 22Mag from '80,
was something I carried as a backup, to my M59, and without grips when crawling around yachts doing electronics work. The LCP replaced the Derringer.

The American Derringer double action, in 38, would be an okay snake gun, if it had to be a Derringer.

Pic of the HS guts. Fun at the range at 15 yds or longer.
Double Action Derringers

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I sure wouldn't want to depend on one. Two shots and two hands required to cock the hammer, no thanks.

I 100% agree............Clumsy.........2 hands to operate........HEAVY.......A small plastic 9mm will hold will 7-12 shots......Lighter weight-easier to shoot(faster)

Personally. Choice between a clunky BA derringer and a sharp machete.....I'd take the machete.......Don't have to reload machete after 2 swings.

 

[BAM-BAM]

A Derringer would make a nice.................Paperweight!

 

[Onomea]

I agree with everybody above. No, I do not consider a Bond Arms derringer an effective self-defense handgun.

(Wouldn't mind having one as an entertaining paperweight though.)

 

[NYlakesider]

Not for me! I carry a J frame sized revolver.(Ruger LCR.) it has 3 more shots and is a heck of a lot easier to control.

A Derringer or my fists I would opt for the Derringer.

A Derringer or a rather decent edged weapon I would go for the knife.

 

[Dump1567]

Wouldn't be my choice.

A few years ago I went through a derringer/.410 Judge phase. Most of the .410 loads are rubbish. Probably better just to use .45 Colt for SD. I use mine as a snake gun for when I go set-up my target.

The derringers were neat to play with, but weren't really practical for SD. Hard to draw, hard to cock, hard to shoot accurately. Most have a heavy trigger and a grip hard to hold onto. They might serve as a deep concealment gun, but a Kel-Tec .32 is lighter and not much larger. I still have a Davis .32 in my Cowboy room, but it's mostly for display.

But everyone is free to decide what they want to carry.

 

[Old cop]

Like someone said, it’s better than nothing & likely to cause the bad guy to rethink his choices. A few officers carried a derringer as a b/u in uniform but my choice was a .25 auto laced into my boot.