Derringers

[Stevens]

How about some opinions on using a derringer as a CCW. Either the classic style or one of the modern designs. Something about .38 cal.
I realize only 2 shots, but how do they compare in dependability with a revolver, or subcompact 9MM semi auto.
Thanks!
Steve W

 

[ACP230]

A friend just bought one, in .22, and made himself a pocket holster for it. It's an interesting little piece but he's also got a .38 snubnose that
would do everything, except being concealable, better than the two-shooter.

Another friend told me he's got a collection of derringers, started in the
days when he didn't have a lot of money to buy guns with.
I have never seen one of his, or seen him shoot one. He said most of his shot to different points from each barrel.

I think they make better collectables than using guns.
Have always liked the look of the old High Standard .22 caliber derringers but have never managed to convince myself to buy one.

 

[safearm]

I have a nickel Davis derringer in .38 Special that I use more for my Cowboy Mounted Shooting costume than for actual shooting. The trigger is way too stiff for any kind of accurate shooting. It's literally a belly gun; you have to be close enough to stick it in the other guy's belly to guarantee a hit!

 

[BubbaBlades]

7 yard target with two rounds of Hornady Defense Loads and two rounds of Winchester HPs. Both ammo shoots to the same points. Lower barrel is dead on upper barrel is 3" low.

I have been using various High Standard Derringers for over 40 years. I carried a .22LR model as a back up on the job and got my first .22 magnum High Standard Derringer about 10 years ago. They are not the best choice for carry but they do have two separate rounds, two separate barrels and two separate firing pins. A blocked barrel, dud round or loss of one firing pin will not leave you unprotected.

I have recently acquired the .38 special BTJ derringer. It is about the same overall size as the High Standard derringer but heavier and a little thicker. I do like the ability to use the wide range of .38 special ammo that is available.

Mark

 

[smokey04]

I would NOT carry a two shot anything as my primary CCW. Having said that I'll relate a personal experience.Without all the filler, the story is, I was shot down and captured by soldiers of the NVA.I had previously carried a privately owned Python through two tours in the "Pearl of The Orient". Knowing the Army was getting tough on privately owned weapons[POW]I chose not to risk the confiscation of my gun the third time around,I started looking for alternatives. I had about settled on a J frame lightweight until I gave a thought to my High Standard .22 Mag Derringer.Testing on blocks of laundry soap and wet phone books showed me that the .22 Mag Winchester 40 gr. jacketed HP was as good or better than the .38 Spl. To put a point on it , I smuggled the High Standard into country. When captured by two stalwarts of the NVA, they took all 3 of my knives , my .45 pistol, my wallet[Geneva Convention card] my cigarettes,lighter and my boots.What they didn't find was the High Standard hidden away inside my flight jacket. After several hours of walking the wrong way[for me!] they took a break on the trail. One went into the woods to answer the call of nature, the other was eating a rice ball. Since he wasn't going to share any food with me,I mimed that I wanted a smoke. He gave me my cigarettes and lighter. When I put them in my pocket he looked askance at me. The last thing he saw was a.22 Mag in the eye.His partner came running out of the woods with his AK in his left hand and his britches in his right. My next shot hit him in the collar bone and disabled him 'til I could get the first ones AK.Two observations,first their mother raised stupid children, second, the .22 Mag,when well placed IS DEADLY.Again, I wouldn't want one for a primary carry gun but as a deep concealment back up I trusted my life to it and it did not fail me.I still have the High Standard but if I need deep back up these days I carry a NAA .22 Mag revolver.I hope I haven't bored anyone with this recollection. Nick

 

[sipowicz]

If i were Adam or Eve...maybe.

 

[Smith357]

I have a nickel Davis derringer in .38 Special that I use more for my Cowboy Mounted Shooting costume than for actual shooting. The trigger is way too stiff for any kind of accurate shooting. It's literally a belly gun; you have to be close enough to stick it in the other guy's belly to guarantee a hit!

I had one of those a few years back, I carried it a couple of times, but decided I did not want have to get within knife range to use it.

 

[jlrhiner]

It's better than a rock...........

 

[GKC]

The Bond Arms derringers are quality pieces, and probably the only brand I would want to own...but they cost about as much as a small revolver and they are HEAVY! They are, IMO, a niche gun for almost all average gun owners, and could be a fun piece...but I don't see them as a serious CCW gun.

 

[Old cop]

Unless you really like them they don't make sense w/the selection of modern handguns in .32, .380 & .38.

 

[smokemeister25]

Re derringer

Nick

Thanks for the read on being captured. Although I've never had to use a 22 mag for defense, bill Jordan also wrote he thought the 22 mag was a damn deadly caliber. Your story seemed to prove the point.

Glad you're with us today to have you share your story.

Les

 

[Jellybean]

I have a Davis .32 mag. and an American Derringer .41 mag. They are both fun to shoot, in a painful sort of way, but I wouldn't consider either of them for CC. Unlike the High Standards, and their clones, they are single action and cocking their hammers and working their safties are not a good set up, unless you are shooting someone under the table or in the back.

 

[1911a2bphil]

I agree with GKC. I shot a Bond Arms 357. It was too heavy. The quality was nice though. It shot both barrels to point of aim.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I despise them and think they are worthless for self defense. But that's just me. Too many better options exist to simply settle for one.

I had a Davis 38 and it hurt to shoot. Accuracy was amazingly inaccurate and the gun broke after only 20 rounds.

Saw a guy shoot himself through the palm of his left hand with a NAA mini 22 mag because he was trying to get used to drawing and shooting the little gun fast.

Also saw a guy buy one for his wife and immediately took it out to the range. The gun was so little and awkward for her that she was dangerous with it. And she couldn't hit the target which was five yards away!

No thanks.

 

[Chaosrob]

I would NOT carry a two shot anything as my primary CCW. Having said that I'll relate a personal experience.Without all the filler, the story is, I was shot down and captured by soldiers of the NVA.I had previously carried a privately owned Python through two tours in the "Pearl of The Orient". Knowing the Army was getting tough on privately owned weapons[POW]I chose not to risk the confiscation of my gun the third time around,I started looking for alternatives. I had about settled on a J frame lightweight until I gave a thought to my High Standard .22 Mag Derringer.Testing on blocks of laundry soap and wet phone books showed me that the .22 Mag Winchester 40 gr. jacketed HP was as good or better than the .38 Spl. To put a point on it , I smuggled the High Standard into country. When captured by two stalwarts of the NVA, they took all 3 of my knives , my .45 pistol, my wallet[Geneva Convention card] my cigarettes,lighter and my boots.What they didn't find was the High Standard hidden away inside my flight jacket. After several hours of walking the wrong way[for me!] they took a break on the trail. One went into the woods to answer the call of nature, the other was eating a rice ball. Since he wasn't going to share any food with me,I mimed that I wanted a smoke. He gave me my cigarettes and lighter. When I put them in my pocket he looked askance at me. The last thing he saw was a.22 Mag in the eye.His partner came running out of the woods with his AK in his left hand and his britches in his right. My next shot hit him in the collar bone and disabled him 'til I could get the first ones AK.Two observations,first their mother raised stupid children, second, the .22 Mag,when well placed IS DEADLY.Again, I wouldn't want one for a primary carry gun but as a deep concealment back up I trusted my life to it and it did not fail me.I still have the High Standard but if I need deep back up these days I carry a NAA .22 Mag revolver.I hope I haven't bored anyone with this recollection. Nick

Not to deviate from the thread, but that is an amazing story. Someone should put together a good collection of Vietnam Veterans Memoirs before they start leaving us in large number too

 

[Stevens]

Thanks to all for the replies, I'll stick with my S&W 642.
To Smokey04 thanks for your service and the facinating post!
Steve W

 

[Gray_Rider]

I would NOT carry a two shot anything as my primary CCW. Having said that I'll relate a personal experience.Without all the filler, the story is, I was shot down and captured by soldiers of the NVA.I had previously carried a privately owned Python through two tours in the "Pearl of The Orient". Knowing the Army was getting tough on privately owned weapons[POW]I chose not to risk the confiscation of my gun the third time around,I started looking for alternatives. I had about settled on a J frame lightweight until I gave a thought to my High Standard .22 Mag Derringer.Testing on blocks of laundry soap and wet phone books showed me that the .22 Mag Winchester 40 gr. jacketed HP was as good or better than the .38 Spl. To put a point on it , I smuggled the High Standard into country. When captured by two stalwarts of the NVA, they took all 3 of my knives , my .45 pistol, my wallet[Geneva Convention card] my cigarettes,lighter and my boots.What they didn't find was the High Standard hidden away inside my flight jacket. After several hours of walking the wrong way[for me!] they took a break on the trail. One went into the woods to answer the call of nature, the other was eating a rice ball. Since he wasn't going to share any food with me,I mimed that I wanted a smoke. He gave me my cigarettes and lighter. When I put them in my pocket he looked askance at me. The last thing he saw was a.22 Mag in the eye.His partner came running out of the woods with his AK in his left hand and his britches in his right. My next shot hit him in the collar bone and disabled him 'til I could get the first ones AK.Two observations,first their mother raised stupid children, second, the .22 Mag,when well placed IS DEADLY.Again, I wouldn't want one for a primary carry gun but as a deep concealment back up I trusted my life to it and it did not fail me.I still have the High Standard but if I need deep back up these days I carry a NAA .22 Mag revolver.I hope I haven't bored anyone with this recollection. Nick

Smokey04,

Bored anyone!!?? That was the best "It happend to me" story I have ever heard! I'm glad for your sake you chose the derringer over the .38 and the NVA didn't find your High Standard as they almost certainly would have found the SW.

I read one other High Standard story years ago where a man was in a barber shop when two thugs burst in and began to rob the customers and barber. The HS man managed to shoot both robbers in the head, one died instantly and the other was left seriously injured and out of the fight.

God bless. Thanks for your service. Great survival story, and welcome home!

Gray_Rider

 

[Gray_Rider]

I have a Davis .22 Mag derringer. It has a heavy trigger and is hard to cock the hammer back quickly, but has about the same pattern as the HS pictures above. I found that beyond the three yard limit the .22 mag bullets start to tumble. The fireball and report is quite substantial too!

I rarely carry it as a CCW, but it is a fun little gun to shoot just the same. Usually I carry it as a 3rd gun to my KelTec P32, SW 642, Glock 26/30.

Gray_Rider
Deo Vindice!

 

[TACC1]

I have had a couple HS in 22Mag. I'd love to have another.
The weight of the HS is almost the same as a j-frame, and
would pull down any piece of clothing I carried it in.
They're great to Have, not to carry. P32 or NAA Mini-Mag
are better, and easier to conceal. JMHO...
TACC1

 

[Yiogo]

Nick, no, you did not bore me. I thank you for your service. Yiogo