Derringer for Carry?

[djohns6]

I owned one Derringer in my life and I disliked it so much I gave it away .

 

[SMSgt]

What makes you think they are even "somewhat popular" as a carry gun?

 

[Rpg]

Having only two shots isn’t the disqualifying feature of a Bond Arms derringer: they are excruciatingly slow to present, cock the hammer (a two handed operation), find and align the sites and finally drag the trigger through a 10+ pound single action trigger.

That’s what it takes to make these things go bang. The next problem is hitting anything. At literally arms length, you’ll hit the target most of the time. At across the table distance you’ll probably miss 25% of the time. At across the room distance, getting good hits half the time is realistic.

The Bond Arms derringers are terrible defensive and edc weapons. They are novelties.

 

[Ingramite]

I LIKE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE

I have a Bond derringer that I occasionally carry.
It's the 9mm with a 2.5" barrel.

Mine is a model called "Roughneck" and boy, the finish was rough alright.
It's a finish that allows Bond to kick them out for not much more than a double c note. The models with a more refined finish from the factory go for around 400.

Anytime these come up in discussion folks are very quick to list the "better" alternatives with a long laundry list of the Bond Arms negatives.
Well, no kidding. Capacity....gee really?

I don't think you could put them in any other category but their own. I like them for what they are....a TEXAS made firearm. Crafted by Texans out of stainless steel. Solid as a rock and just about as heavy. The ease in which you can change out the barrels is cool, considering all the different calibers and lengths available.

Listen, I have all of the "better" alternatives too. It's not like it's "either or". It's more like sometimes I just like carrying the Bond for exactly what it is, with no apologies.

If I had to pick only one firearm, would it be a Bond derringer? Of course not. If that's a "gotcha".....then I guess ya got me. But if your looking for something to tinker with that does present some value....

I have enjoyed hours of tinkering and shooting with mine....oh yeah, and I have carried it now and then.

If you're curious, get one.

 

[sigp220.45]

I carry the real deal, and three reloads.

 

[RobertJ.]

This is my American Derringer in .45 Colt. A fun little novelty, but I'd never carry it. Well, perhaps as a back-up to my back-up, but so far I haven't seen the need to.

 

[smoothshooter]

For something that big and heavy I would want something with more shots, and more generally useful.

 

[Donn]

Not for me, but, half of something's better than all of nothing.

 

[hardluk1]

Glenn You should time your buddy draw cock and fire time and split times between his 2 shots on target of course .

Tell your buddy if he hung up on 45 cal to go buy a kahr cm45 and carry it and hope he will never need to rely on that bond derringer . heck might be he would be better off with a micro sized 380 double stack like a ruger max over that 20oz + ammo 2 shot bond .

 

[chief38]

Not for me! A very bad choice IMO unless it's all you got!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

An awful choice, except, MAYBE, for the cool factor.

Just discussed today:

Derringers

 

[BE Mike]

If someone is a terrible shot with a handgun anyway, then why not carry something that is even harder to shoot? You won't know the difference!

 

[balin]

I have a Bond Derringer but never considered carrying it. I am guessing the vast majority that own one don't carry it. They weigh about as much as a full size gun. But they are cool.

 

[Shibadog]

I’ve had two of the “Snake Slayers”, and with a 3” .410 and 6 or 7 1/2 shot they are effective on a snake, BUT the triggers are bloody awful. Shooting at any distance is “interesting” at best. With .45 LC,off a rest, accuracy remained lousy (long free bore before rifling, lousy trigger). I wanted to like one as a tractor gun, but after trying, twice, I gave up. I would never consider one of these things for SD against a two or four legged predator. Those supperposed .45 barrels do “look” intimidating, but if God forbid you needed to actually use it…��

 

[oldiegoldie]

High Standard .22 mag derringer was my first concealed carry gun, 1966 purchase date. i lost it getting bucked off a cranky horse, but bought another i still have. shot a few rattlesnakes with it. horrible trigger, but it served me well.

 

[BE Mike]

High Standard .22 mag derringer was my first concealed carry gun, 1966 purchase date. i lost it getting bucked off a cranky horse, but bought another i still have. shot a few rattlesnakes with it. horrible trigger, but it served me well.

I carried one as a last ditch backup gun. Of all the derringers, I think that the Hi Standard in .22 mag. was/ is the best. The only issue I had was the nickel finish flaked off, but Hi Standard grudgingly re-plated it. Carrying a gun, deeply concealed, in Florida, is a real test of any finish.

 

[Norton 750]

Have your friend do some actual ballistic testing on the .410 out of such a short BBL. Will NOT stop a human. Well, unless you blind him. Terrible choice for defense. And yes, I have one. Won it at a Boy Scout fundraiser. Still have it because I would not sell it to anyone that thought they were getting a viable defense gun.

 

[walnutred]

I like derringers. I have a 410/45 Colt derringer that I always carry, in my camper. For dispatching a raccoon behaving oddly at close range I think it will work as it's worked well for that purpose on my back porch.

For personal defense and CCW I choose other options ranging from a P3AT to a M&P 40C.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

High Standard .22 mag derringer was my first concealed carry gun, 1966 purchase date. i lost it getting bucked off a cranky horse, but bought another i still have. shot a few rattlesnakes with it. horrible trigger, but it served me well.

We once had one in .22 mag.........Boy! That thing was L_O_U_D!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Miracle Man]

This is my American Derringer in .45 Colt. A fun little novelty, but I'd never carry it. Well, perhaps as a back-up to my back-up, but so far I haven't seen the need to.

That's my take on a Derringer. Backup gun kinda thing? OK But not as my main carry gun.

Perhaps a situation will arise one day where I might feel the need? But I doubt it?