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

 

[LKGMADMAX]

I like my 2 shot Bond Arms derringer.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Professor Frink]

I briefly owned a 45 Colt/410 Bond Arms Derringer. I must confess I was pretty disappointed with it. The 45 colt was fine, but inaccurate (I wasn't expecting much, but I think due to the very short amount of rifling due to the 410 shell space, no spin was imparted on the bullets). They flew pretty far afield as to my point of aim.

The 410 was the surprise. I fired buckshot rounds from it and what I would call a duplex load (had three lead discs with some #4 shot as well... I think, don't hold me too that). The buckshot and the discs bounced off my pine target stand. I didn't expect that. Were I to do it again, I'd get something in 9mm/.38.

 

[Jim1392]

Don't under estimate the power of a NAA 22 Magnum. When I take my dog out for a walk in the mornings and sometimes late at night I usually drop a NAA 22 Magnum Pug in my front pocket in a holster. I carry it with Hornady Critical Defense 45 grain FTX .22 Mag. ammunition in it. The picture I have attached is the first time out with it at the range. All rounds were fired at 7 yards, and at that distance there was some keyholing of the rounds. But you can see after my first few rounds it can be very accurate once I got a feel for it. Closer up it's spot on. I feel very confident carrying it for my short trips around my neighborhood. Other then that my 640 Pro goes with me when I venture out into the real world.

 

[David Sinko]

Not long ago a guy at the range had a .22 Magnum derringer that he was actively using for concealed carry. I asked to see it and he offered to let me shoot it. Neither one of us could get it to go bang with the ammo he was carrying. He was absolutely horrified and my distrust of derringers was reinforced. If you're gonna use one, make sure it functions properly and will fire the ammo that you're carrying in it.

Dave Sinko

 

[vipermd]

I have or had all of the calibers of American Derringer, 38,357,44 mad, 45 acp,45 colt, they shot extremely well and with improved triggers are very accurate. The most accurate are the Buffalo Arms derringers 357 mag, made in the late 1980, by a LEO. They are legitimate 7 yd head shot guns. Davis , now Cobra, make reasonably accurate derringers which can have their trigger pull improved by the company. I have the cobras in 38,380,9mm, 22 mag and also have a pair of High Standard 22 mag, top barrel is dead on, bottom is 3-4" low. I have never had one fail, ( do not DRY fire, it will damage them, bearing falls out, safety would not work till replaced.) As for CC I would prefer an AA12 or a slicked up Saiga- 12 with 00 buck, that said I have many custom holsters and I put them all over for fun!! I would if all I was wearing was a bathing suit, but I prefer to go only down to a 638 or two for walking to the mailbox. I want to try a NAA 22 mag rev since I really like Hornady's Critical defense load in 22 mag. They do require practice just as a 500 SW does. New shooter-NO! Some one who carries most every day for 37 yrs OK. I have found that when you can not change clothes ( OR Scrubs) a 638 can make your pants fall down. Be Safe,

 

[Cal44]

Derringers have an old west appeal, but if you want a really small hide-out gun it seems to me something like a Kel-tec p32 would be better.

Less than 10 oz with 7+1 shots of 32 acp would beat a two shot derringer IMHO.

 

[RobzGuns]

Another Zombie Thread.
Thanks for resurrecting it, as I missed Smokey04's story when the thread was new.

As others have written, derringers make a good backup. I have both a Cobra 9mm O/U derringer and an NAA MiniMag and both shoot extremely well (as short barreled as they are).

I did consider the Bond Arms 45LC/.410, but when you have so many lightweight 9mms out there now-a-days, why settle for a heavy 2-shot option as a primary?

 

[Erich]

+1 on the thanks for the thread resurrection: I'd also missed Smokey04's story. Wow!

My experience is that my Bond Derringer is utterly reliable (centerfires with fixed barrels are funny that way ), both with its original .45 Colt (only - none of this shotshell nonsense) and its .45 ACP barrel sets.

Size is pretty small, tho the thing is decently heavy. It's great IWB or in the pocket with a Remora.

I presently have thinner rubber stocks on the derringer, and like them better for carry.

A couple of barrel inserts (bought a single set of six with two other derringer owners - came out to under $20 for each of us) allow the use of .22 LR for practice (which is pretty helpful, actually - these guns do require some practice with regard to drawing and cocking them).

I've only fired the .45 Colt barrels with handloaded .45 Colt and .45 Cowboy rounds (see below) and gotten decent results with higher pressured stuff, but I've found .45 ACP handloads and factory loads are decently speedy out of the 3" tubes.

For instance:
Hornady 200-gr +P TAP - 895.6 fps
Winchester Ranger Talon 230-gr +P 853.5 fps

That should leave a mark.

 

[italiansport]

I have a COP derringer(4 shot) that's new in the box in 357 Magnum. IMO: It's far too bulky to actually carry.
Jim

 

[NYlakesider]

I also just saw this thread and glad as heck that SMOKEY made it back to tell the tail.

It worked out well for him due to the dumbness of the enemy in not finding that little gun. With that said the only two shot weapon I would want to trust my life to would have barrels measured by gauge not caliber (Remember the 4.10 is a bore size) This is a case where bigger barrels are better than small barrels.

We had an incident here a couple years back when a legally licensed derringer was dropped and it went BANG in a public space and put the anti gun crowd into indignant overdrive.

IMHO guns that are just a little bigger, carry more shots, hopefully much safer and in most cases are much more accurate are far better to carry.
Hey whatever floats your boat, it's your decision, and for me I want bigger oars on my boat!