Calling all Derringer Owners..

[kj44]

I don't own one yet, but they seem intriguing. Do you like or dislike? Actually taken one to the range, or more of a James Bond novelty item? Collector's item?

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[Supersapper]

Derringers are an interesting little item to me. I don't own one, but they come in a variety of calibers (at least they used to).

As a novelty, kind of fun to shoot item, they are great. I'd love to own one, especially a replica of an old one for the nostalgia of it. They just have a cool factor for me. As a practical defense weapon, not so much unless you are really, really in tune with what you would actually draw down on. I'll never forget the scene in Kenny Roger's "The Gambler":

RUFFIAN: ***looks back and forth between Kenny and other ruffians***
"C'mon... there's only two bullets in that bitty li'l gun. There's 4 of us."

THE GAMBLER (Kenny): ***staring deadpan at the main ruffian***
"That's right. But which of the two of you are gonna take the bullets so the other two can do the cuttin'?"

Seriously, though, I think they'd be good against 1-2 bad guys armed with switch blades or sticks uncomfortably close, but against a guy with a Glock or worse? I'd be really hard pressed to have it.

[alpha_romeo_XV]

I have Cobra with 38spl and 9mm barrels. The trigger pull is very hard and I can't hit anything past 7 yards. The standard 9mm hurts my hand so I reloaded some light loads and OK like that. I wish I had gotten the 22LR/22WMR model instead. It is still a cool curio for someone with a historical collection.


This YouTuber has a good channel and he gave a Bearman 9mm a bad review (They may have taken over Cobra as both are in Utah) The comments say you have to pull trigger downwards and not straight back and that a Bonds Arms is better I didn't want to spend the $ on one of them.

[kj44]

Thanks for the feedback.

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[swift]

Derringer

I always wanted a derringer until I had the opportunity to shoot two different ones. The trigger pull was finger-straining. I found the stiff trigger and the small grip made me concerned about not shooting the fingers of my support hand. I wouldn’t take one for free.

[M76]

get a Bond Arms if you go that route...

[sealocan]

I got to extensively test out a Davis Derringer in the .32 ACP. The the Davis derringers in .22, .25 and .32 were a smaller design, but basically the same gun as they're bigger more recoiling 38 special and 9 mm versions. Davis is the company that has morphed into or seems to have some connection with Cobra and now I think they're also connected to Beerman, because they All look like the exact same design but with a trigger guard added on the Beerman models.

Because of their general design and the fact that they don't have trigger guards almost all derringers have very heavy triggers compared to regular single action guns. The hammers are sometimes a bit heavy to cock and the trigger design means that you have to pull the trigger in a downward motion, instead of straight back like most normal handguns, which also hurts accuracy.
Then when you add to that they have very basic non-adjustable sighting system, that doesn't have much going for it except it's of a rugged design, makes any accuracy hard to achieve even at relatively close distances.
So that eliminates any fun plinking and shooting cans or taking it to the range and trying to hit paper so you're left with kind of a novelty gun.

And there are just so many other better choices as a defensive handgun it's not even worth thinking about them for that.

I guess maybe you could use it as a noise maker to scare away a feral dog or a coyote but if that coyote is attacking your dog and is more then two feet away from you , you probably won't be able to hit it.

Also in my opinion, the cross bolt safety on the Davis guns ( and I think the following Cobra and Beerman derringers) was also designed very poorly. You should be able to take the gun off safe by pushing it one direction easily with your thumb, but they had designed it backwards so you had to manipulate the pistol with even more steps to take it off safe than should be necessary. I guess their backwards design might be better for lefties ( or their safety lawyers) though.

On the bright side they are small but not really that the light compared to some of the micro semi-autos that are easily reloaded by magazines that other companies are making today.

also the cheaper versions that I've mentioned so far should come with a pretty low price tag.

There are also companies like a Bond Arms oh, they make a derringer from all ( or mostly) steel and not any cast pot metal parts like Davis and their related companies so they might me a different story but of course your paying a bigger price tag, almost the cost of a regular handgun.

To sum it up, it's a fun novelty gun but don't expect it to do anything quickly (like reloading it) or with accuracy.
And even though I don't have a personal experience with the more expensive Bond Arms models I feel they would fall into that same category.

[CessnaDriver]

As far as practicality, at best it's a get off me gun.
I would not want to qualify for CCW with one..... reload reload reload reload.

[RustyIron]

Yes, I have an American Derringer DA38 that I bought new many moons ago. It's a double action over/under .38 Special that was the best American made and most sensible derringer that I could find.

But to answer your question, I never really liked it. Even in .38 Special, it kicks like a mule.

If this is what you have in mind, I know where you can get one for a fair price.

[Dr Pete]

Davis in .38, NOT fun to shoot.
Trigger pull is insane.
I had to laugh at 7 yards, maybe to hit the side of a barn. More like 3 yards tops.
After 3 rounds you will have the start of a bruise on your palm.
Did I mention it's not fun to shoot?

[RANGER295]

I don't own one yet, but they seem intriguing. Do you like or dislike? Actually taken one to the range, or more of a James Bond novelty item? Collector's item?

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I have two or three Cobras. One is a .38spl and the other is a .22. I may have another .22 but I would have to look in my binder or in the safe. Horrible trigger and not comfortable to shoot. As someone above said, it is pretty sketchy after 7 yards. The mechanism that switches barrels sometimes does not work on the .38 making it unreliable. I am well into the novelty stage of my collection and they are just that. They are in one of my safes next to my Raven, Jennings, and other "Saturday night special" type pieces. I would not trust them with my life. I rarely shoot them and if I do it is only a couple shots or they come out because someone else finds them "intriguing" and wants to try them. I bought them with the intent of CCW but abandoned that idea quickly.

[nitroxdiver]

[hermosabeach]

I saw the bond at shot show years ago

It’s the same size as a Glock 19/23

Glock is a little bit thicker


So never purchased one

[nitroxdiver]

[plumbum]

Triggers are crap,
Sights are crap.
Heavier that you'd think.
Recoil is fierce.
Definitely a very, very, VERY niche weapon.
Still badass in my book