Smallest, lightest derringer in .410-bore?

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Swing

Swing

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The title kind of says it. I'm looking to add a double-barrel, single-action (or double, if it exists) derringer in .410 bore for the dispatching of pests. I handled a few Bond Arms and they seem well made, but they are on the chunky side. Who produces a quality, small, light derringer in .410-bore? It can be either 2½" or 3" shells.

Thanx all.
 
I believe there is a Cobra Cimmeron 410/45LC derringer however I don't believe it is of the same quality as the Bond Arms guns.

I agree wholeheartedly with JeffG. A 3" 410 shell is going to be unpleasant in a derringer size package.
 
I’ve owned a Bond Arms and the recoil is awful when shooting 410.
 
You might consider a .38 special derringer loaded with something like Speer shot capsules. I won't carry one anymore unless it is all that is available and I absolutely got to have something, but many folks like them. Perhaps you might borrow one and give it a try.

Some one once made a .38 Special version of the old High Standard DA derringer, but I thought it big and clunky.

-kBob
 
I had an American Derringer in 45Colt/.410. Very handy and as small as I'd be comfortable with shooting. Patterns were rotten and it took both barrels to dispatch a big velvet tail that wandered up my driveway. An Airweight J frame takes up about the same pocket space and a 5 round `burst' of CCI Bigshot would probably be more effective.
 
Cobray.jpg
Recoil often opens it; not a fun gun to shoot with .410's. I load really light .45 LC's for it. I got it for $20, I keep it as a 'get off me' gun for in the house.
 
I don't know of anything any smaller than a BA with a short barrel.

If you haven't, I would suggest shooting a BA with whatever loads you think you might use. They are rather unpleasant.

A better option for snakes and such would be CCI shot out of a more reasonable caliber in a more reasonable sized gun.
 
I had one of those death traps entropy shows. Was the most unpleasant gun I have ever shot. I carried it a lot and it saved my bacon with a few air-lickers but it was downright awful. If it had even a J frame sized grip it wouldn’t have been bad, but that tiny birds head would beat up my palm and the plate steel frame behind the spur trigger would shred my middle finger under recoil. It did kill a lot of snakes, but it was worthless beyond 5 yards. I once shot it over water to see the actual pattern, about 5 ft wide at 10 yards. Mine also would open itself under recoil and the safety broke on it.

Painful, worthless, painful, death trap, worthless junk. That pretty well covers it. A 38 with shot shells is far less painful and almost as efficient with shot shells. Put actual 38s in it and the 38 wins by a landslide.
 
WestKentucky said:
I had one of those death traps entropy shows. Was the most unpleasant gun I have ever shot. I carried it a lot and it saved my bacon with a few air-lickers but it was downright awful. If it had even a J frame sized grip it wouldn’t have been bad, but that tiny birds head would beat up my palm and the plate steel frame behind the spur trigger would shred my middle finger under recoil. It did kill a lot of snakes, but it was worthless beyond 5 yards. I once shot it over water to see the actual pattern, about 5 ft wide at 10 yards. Mine also would open itself under recoil and the safety broke on it.

Painful, worthless, painful, death trap, worthless junk. That pretty well covers it. A 38 with shot shells is far less painful and almost as efficient with shot shells. Put actual 38s in it and the 38 wins by a landslide.
Click to expand...
You said it, brother! ;)
 
I've got an American SS .38Spl. O/U which is small but extremely well made and has both barrels pretty well regulated. It shoots CCI Snake shot fairly well out to 5 yards and I'm confidant that it would take out any Mohave Green's that we have slithering around here. Further shooting 158grn wad cutters it will generally print 2 rounds within 2" of each other at 7 yards perpendicular to the other. I've shot the .410 Derringers before and I'll attest to how unpleasant even the Bond is for confident shooting, and that is like was stated before is a chunky hunk of metal.
 
I have a Bond Arms derringer with a 4" 45 Colt/.410 bore barrel. With Bond's rubber grips it is barely tolerable to shoot .410x2-1/2 shells but the trigger makes accurate shot placement difficult. It has a strange pull angle that is difficult to get used to. I'd hate to try it with a shorter barrel.

A while ago, Bond Arms sold a 6" barrel on special, I got one but I have not tried it yet.

38 Special or 32 H&R Mag with 2" barrels are fairly easy to shoot well, at least for a light weight, 2" barreled gun.
 
entropy said:
View attachment 798807
Recoil often opens it; not a fun gun to shoot with .410's. I load really light .45 LC's for it. I got it for $20, I keep it as a 'get off me' gun for in the house.
Click to expand...



This was it. Cheap and it worked. Not horrible with 410's. I never fired it with 45 Colt due to the cost. I bet if you hand loaded some light loads it wouldn't be that bad.
I looked them up on Gunbroker. They have them listed all the time for under $200 some are now on there for over $200. No way I would pay that.
 
i wouldn’t go lighter than a bond arms derringer, and use rubber grips, large for “4” calibers, small for all others.
 
Swing said:
The title kind of says it. I'm looking to add a double-barrel, single-action (or double, if it exists) derringer in .410 bore for the dispatching of pests. I handled a few Bond Arms and they seem well made, but they are on the chunky side. Who produces a quality, small, light derringer in .410-bore? It can be either 2½" or 3" shells.

Thanx all.
Click to expand...
I too had an American Arms in .45/410.

Sorry I sold it off,but as stated above = LOUSY with the tiny buckshot loads past about 5'.

BUT it was spot on with cowboy loads in .45LC.

Or .410 slugs too,bit heavy but a REAL comfort in my pocket as a BUG.
 
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