Tell Me About Your Derringers

For a range toy they're fun to play with. For serious self defense, buy lots of ammo and practice, practice, practice...and then practice some more.

I like 'em, too. I carried a DAO High Standard 22 magnum as a back-up for maybe 10 years. I still carry it occasionally when I want something very thin.

BJT/ADC used to make/maybe still makes a stainless DAO derringer in 9mm, 38Spec, 357mag and 40S&W, that was similar to the High Standard. Hard to find, especially the 357 one. Mine's (38) very nice.

I've HAD an ADC in 45/410 and while it was a quality piece, it was a little hard to hold onto with full house loads.

I've also HAD a Bond Arms in 40S&W. Suprizingly accurate for what it was, but it was about the same size/weight as a Kahr Mk40.

If I had the urge for another derringer in 45/410 I'd go with the Bond Arms SnakeSlayer with the longer barrel (4" or 4.5", I forget which it is.)

Don't forget to practice.

Some folks call this loosely a "Derringer" tho that's debatable. OTOH it is small (very small!) and so inherently pocketable. With the .22 Mag rounds it is supposed to achive approx the same MV as a std .22LR from a rifle - maybe around 1200 fps . not stellar but not shabby either IMO.

Nicely engineered piece, tho reloads take some practice!! But maybe 5 of these could still be useful compared to just 2 larger cal rounds from what might be regarded as the real Derringer.

I have a .22 mag. HS Double Derringer that I bought new back in the 60's. As mentioned it is extremely thin and will hide in some watch pockets. It is okay as a back-up if you're comfortable with just two shots. But I think there are better options. I still drop mine in a pocket sometimes if I'm going on a short errand and am too lazy to put on a holster. I need to get one of the tiny .380's.

I have one of the Cimarron derringer's in .38. I bought it as a toy and that is all it is. I can't imagine a circumstance wherein I might use it for anything ofter than turning money into noise and not too much of that as I'm not at all certain that the frame is not pot metal. The Cimarron looks enough like the original Remington .41 to keep for the nostalgia quotient. Materials and workmanship are marginal however.

I had a Bond. These are fairly expensive, strong, well made derringers but still a toy in my opinion. They are larger and heavier than many real guns. I bought mine to use in derringer competitions. It is the best thing available for that very limited use. I didn't shoot enough matches to warrant keeping the gun. Every derringer I've shot had a very heavy, creepy trigger pull including the Bond. All but the HS DA are difficult to cock rapidly until you learn to cock with the thumb of the support hand.

Although I consider all derringers to be next to useless for anything even remotely practical, I would still love to have an all steel, well made "look alike" of the old Remington but with a good strong hinge and latch.

This one is a side-by-side in .45/410

I have a couple of derringers



I like my High Standard derringers so much I make and sell pocket holsters, grips and display boxes for them.







I made the matching butterscotch grips and knife handle.

I built three of the HS derringer from parts. If I can find frames I could build three more.

Dave - time you started collecting Derringers!! LOL.

Ya think?

In the late 70's I acquired a .38 derringer as a last ditch back up.
It rode perfectly in a clip on holster tucked in the top of my duty wear jump boot.

Late one night as I was leaving a friend's house, I was approached by an at large doberman, with ill intent, and since it was a casual visit, I had merely slipped the derringer in a pocket as my "must carry".

I can tell you that I have never felt less prepared for an event in my life. The dog didn't understand, as a man might , that the gun was a threat, and the inaccuracy inherent in that gun did nothing to convince me other than that it was essentially useless in discouraging an attack, short of firing before it charged. As this was in a residential area, that was not an option.

I did manage to get in the car before it could attack, and later the dog was dispatched by another officer when it attacked him.

I did still carry the gun as a backup for awhile (it was later replaced by a Gerber boot knife), but I never again carried it as an off duty arm.

I carried a High Standard Derringer in a Safariland pocket holster as a back-up when I was in LE in the 80s. I also carried a NAA derringer in a shirt pocket and a Beretta Jetfire in another pocket as backups. Last ditch weapons to be sure but something is better than nothing. However, I also carried a Colt Cobra in a coat pocket, not to mention the Colt Combat Commander in my unit as a spare and baton, mace, Gerber in my boot, sap, Buck on my belt, etc.

I have had

Two Bonds in 45 Colt/410, an American Derringer in 32 H&R Mag and one in 9mm. I also had a Davis in 38 special (piece of junk). The Bonds and the American Derringers are high quality well made guns and each of mine were in good defensive calibers. That Said, I would never carry one for self defence. There are several good reasons not to. Probably the best reason is that I could carry my S&W chiefs special just as easily as my Bond. My LCP is way lighter than any of those Derringers and has 7 shots compared to two. Fumbling with cocking the hammer of a derringer under high stress is not what I consider a good idea nor is carrying one of these cocked.

i have a pretty good variety...cobra, high standard...naa...with home made holsters...

I have a old el-cheap-o Davis 38 spl that I keep hidden on my Motorcycle, I normally forget I have it until I see a thread about derringers. LOL
I also have a NAA mini-revolver, it is pretty much only used on Sundays but it has some sentimental value so I really do love it.

EDIT:

ArchAngelCD

Can you tell me a little about that 410 Derringer.
Is it a Leinad?

I have thought seriously about buying one for snakes but wonder about the quality. I'm not real concerned with fit and finish I just want something that will work reliably.

While the derringers are neat to play with, I just can't see them for serious SD use, when there are so many better weapons with the same or less weight and much more ammo.

Late one night as I was leaving a friend's house, I was approached by an at large doberman, with ill intent, and since it was a casual visit, I had merely slipped the derringer in a pocket as my "must carry".

Click to expand...

I understand the feeling. The only time I have ever used a handgun in self-defense was against a doberman. And NO, I didn't kill the dog.

I was out walking in a wooded section of our property, when a doberman with a collar, most likely owned by an adjacent property owner, charged me with his head low, running fast, and making no noise except the rustle of the leaves. I turned and saw the threat, and without time to think, drew my Colt Commander in .45 ACP and fired a 230gr FMJ about a foot in front of him right before he reached me. At that instant, he stopped in his tracks, turned tail and beat the path the same way he came. He must have decided I was not worth it - at the point that he saw the muzzle flash and heard the report a foot from head. I was only 17 then, 48 now. To this day, I feel uncomfortable walking in the woods without a gun.

I have always wanted a Derringer. Earlier this year I finaly broke down and bought a Bond Arms Cowboy Defender (.45LC/410). I absolutely love it. It's built like a tank, has less recoil then an Air Weight S&W and has tons of style

Sometimes you buy what's practical. Sometimes you buy what you want.

PS ... out to a few yards it's as accurate and effective as anything else

Here is a Deringer made by Deringer. It is in good shape and I have fired it.

Jim

Davis D-38 .38 Spl. Sights work for the bottom barrel fairly predictably... not dead on but good out to... 5 yards Top barrel shoots wicked to the left. With that top barrel I would hate to be the person to your right. BUT... when loaded with shot it patterns great and POA is POI (both barrels)

P95Carry said:

Some folks call this loosely a "Derringer" tho that's debatable. OTOH it is small (very small!) and so inherently pocketable. With the .22 Mag rounds it is supposed to achive approx the same MV as a std .22LR from a rifle - maybe around 1200 fps . not stellar but not shabby either IMO.

Nicely engineered piece, tho reloads take some practice!! But maybe 5 of these could still be useful compared to just 2 larger cal rounds from what might be regarded as the real Derringer.

Click to expand...

I had one of those mis-fire at a critical time a few years back.

That's when I bought my Beretta Jet-Fire.

Over the years, I've owned three American Derringers. Years ago, I had a .44 Special, and five rounds seemed to make my hand numb. Recently, I acquired a .45ACP, but didn't like the lack of ejection on that rimless cartridge. Just last weekend, I landed a .44 Magnum for a good price at the local gunshow (seems .44 Mags don't get fired much...duh.) I fired a couple handloads, 240XTP/9.0gr Unique, and the recoil was stout, but not debilitating. I just fired two, then switched to .44 Special loads of 6.5gr Unique. Both loads would be great for defense. ADC derringers are great fun, and might be options for carry CCW when larger guns are out of the question. .44 Shot loads might be great to pack along for field use.

Derringers tend to be butt-heavy so they usually land with the muzzle(s) facing up when dropped.

If they go off that means the bullet is heading your way so make sure you chose one with a firing pin / hammer block.

Sorry but a little late coming to show. Here are mine. (Top pistol a lighter.)

That Semmerling is sweet!

Can you post a video of shooting it? I've read a lot about them, but have never see one fired.

Come on, make it a New Year's present for us all.

P.S. And what the hell is that little microscopic thing at the very top of the picture?

My Semmerling is a 27 year old virgin and she will stay that way.