Derringers - For Serious Personal Defense

[AStone]

The ultimate derringer, the COP.

"Weight: 1.75 lbs (0.8 kg) empty."

SW 642
Weight: 15 oz. (15/16th lbs)

Why settle for 2 when you can have 4?

Why settle for 4 when you can have 5?

 

[obxned]

Bond .38: 20oz.

Smith & Wesson .38: 15oz

Keltec P3AT: 8.3oz

 

[AStone]

Bond .38: 20oz.

Smith & Wesson .38: 15oz

Keltec P3AT: 8.3oz

SOG Seal Pup Elite: 5.4 oz



(Only kidding.
I think we made our point.)

 

[MCgunner]

NAA .22 mini 5.0 ounces and five shot!

 

[VA27]

I like derringers. My first backup gun was a High Standard in 22Mag. Back in the 70's you could hardly find a cop without one. I read a story about a guy who thwarted a kidnaping by killing his two attackers with one! So I guess it does what it was designed to do. I still have mine and shoot it a coupla times a year. I wouldn't be afraid to carry it today. While it might look like it's the same size as a Kahr Mk40, it's actually much thinner and lighter, easy to conceal and a delight to carry.

I had a Bond Arms in 40S&W. It has a rebounding hammer and a crossbolt safety and is very accurate, after you figure out the trick to shooting one. (Pull the trigger DOWN and back, not just straight back) It was almost the same size and weight as a Kahr Mk40. The Bond is a well built, quality gun. I never got a set of 45/410 barrels for it, but one set up so would be a dandy fishin' gun. (I traded it for a Remington 7600 '06 Carbine. If it had been the 45/410 I probably wouldn't have.)

I lucked on to an American Derringer DA38 a while back and it's a nice little gun. Built along the lines of the High Standard, but has a much nicer trigger pull. It even has a thumb safety that easily flicks off and on in the manner of the 1911. A little thicker than the High Standard but with it's aluminum frame it's light and conceals easily.

The American Derringer M1 in 45/410 is just a hoot to play with. Yeah, you have to remember to put the safety on before you load it, since it doesn't have a rebounding hammer, and yeah, the 45 Colt bullets keyhole. But at 10 feet who cares? It never was a target pistol. And shooting shotshells out of it...well, it's minute-of-snake, not a skeet gun.

Derringers have their place if you're willing to train with 'em.

 

[skeeter1]

My little toy. High Standard DM-101 .22 Magnum derringer that I inherited from my dad, vintage 1962. Can't hit the broadside of a barn with it, but the fireball that comes out of that little barrel is a hoot! Only two shots, but it was only intended to shoot the cheat on the other side of the poker table.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

It satisfies rule number one "Have a Gun". I'd rather have a derringer than nothing at all.

Yes, a derringer is better than nothing when it comes to self defense. So is bad body odor. "Nothing" is an easy standard to beat. In fact, it is the first level above something being detrimental for self defense and yet the first level below being something positive for self defense. It is just that, nothing. For most of us, the choice isn't between a boat anchor derringer like a Bond Arms and nothing, but between some other firearm.

The Bond doesn't have great sights, isn't terribly fun to shoot, isn't quick to reload. Sure, it is better than nothing. Of the folks I know that own Bond Arms guns, the Bond is NOT a first choice carry gun, is not a gun used for much range time, and instead seems to be a novelty item. That isn't to say that a Bond won't work, only that most folks realize that there are other better choices.

I do applaud M2 Carbine's shooting with his Bond. That is a very good 10 yard target for a Bond gun. Of course, it use 4 reloads to accomplish the feat.

 

[M2 Carbine]

5 reloads

Personally I never have resolved the two big bullets or seven small bullets thing.

It all comes down to what actually happens, which you have no control over.

If I was facing one BG close up I think I'd rather have the 45 ACP Derringer.
If two BG's I probably would want more rounds, even low power ones.

For a quick trip to Wal Mart I feel well armed with the 45 Derringer or ARMA laser equipped P3AT.

If I actually had to use a defensive hand gun I hope I have my 45 Kimber with me but everything is a trade off, so mostly I just carry the P3AT.

 

[slow944]

I'll keep my little Kel-Tec P3AT with 7+1 in 380 thank you very much.

 

[GEM]

Anybody know if American Derringer is still in business. I read how they were sued out of business but never saw followup.

The web site is unchanged for years and I haven't seen new guns at shows in years also.

 

[RyanM]

Anybody know if American Derringer is still in business. I read how they were sued out of business but never saw followup.

The web site is unchanged for years and I haven't seen new guns at shows in years also.

They're still in business. If you shoot them an e-mail, they'll snail mail you a brochure and price list. Prices have gone way up, though.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'll keep my little Kel-Tec P3AT with 7+1 in 380 thank you very much.

slow944,
Isn't the P-3AT a 6+1 round pistol?
I know the P-32 is 7+1 but the P-3AT is 6+1.

 

[ibanda]

About 15 years ago I had an American Derringer .357. After about 2 years of ownership I finally got around to shooting it. Shot it 4 times with full house rounds, found out what my recoil tolerance level was and promptly sold it.

I much prefer my 642 now as a BUG, or always gun.

 

[gpr]

i have to fess up...chrome cobra 9mm...cute, fun to shoot, some times back up....out dated for primary carry...gpr

 

[03Shadowbob]

ArchAngel,
With the +1 extension the P3AT is 7+1.
I love the nostalgia and history of the derringer and that alone will probably make me buy one one day but it would never be my carry piece.

 

[outofbattery]

I think of my Seecamps as self-loading derringers.


Just wondering,is there any other place outside of Western NC that insists on calling them Dillingers? I used to hear that all the time and it drove me nuts!

 

[M2 Carbine]

OK, lets see your age.

Anyone remember a TV show called "Yancy Derringer"?

 

[fattsgalore]

Maybe one of those 45LC derringers or the one's chambered in 410 gauge. But besides that, no. Two bullets ain't gonna cut it.(but in truth something is better then nothing)
Now a days with Hi-cap mags and machine pistols readily available also a new breed of pocket pistol, Derringers are more a status thing then a self defense thing.

 

[GEM]

I loved Yancy Derringer. He carried 4 barrel Sharps in his sleeves, vest and hat plus a sword cane. Back up was his buddy - Wolf who stands in Water - forgot the name with a double barreled shotgun.

I've always wanted a 4 barrel Sharps but never can afford an old one. I missed getting the HJS replicas.

 

[nelson133]

Aside from being heavy, the COP just didn't work reliably, which is why it is rare.

 

[Claude Clay]

C O P

had one....could hit the broad side of a barn
IF i was inside it
ps H S 2 x 22mag in a wallet holester~may not be legal now~ is the only alternativer to a KTp3at

 

[James T Thomas]

Don't mess with X

GEM:

Who could forget "Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah?" Played by X Brands.
Now, he had a novel hidden carry method for his double barrel.

Or the memorable Miss Mai Ling played by Lisa Lu for that matter.

 

[Geronimo45]

Pause for thought here... a revolver in .454 Casull can chamber .45 Colt. Could a derringer in .45 Colt take 'em, too? Then you'd have the ultimate power in a deep-concealment gun... for dealing with rogue elephants or whales.

 

[RyanM]

Pause for thought here... a revolver in .454 Casull can chamber .45 Colt. Could a derringer in .45 Colt take 'em, too? Then you'd have the ultimate power in a deep-concealment gun... for dealing with rogue elephants or whales.

Well, you've got the first one right, but the second part is backwards.

Plus, they make derringers in .45-70, anyway. That blows away .454 Casull by a fair margin.

 

[torpid]

I still crack up at the first "not spam" post.