Any Derringer fans out there?

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I have an American Derringer in 9mm. It has a a very heavy trigger pull as was mentioned. It is a very good looking gun but I would classify it as more of a collectable than a practical carry gun.

The American Derringer and Bond derringers are two of the better ones available. I do prefer the 9mm as a caliber for one.

Considering the size, weight, capacity, and accuracy issues the air weight j-frames are a better choice. But if you ever were to get in a jam a 9mm derringer at close range beats a sharp stick any day.
 
I was a fan of the American Derringer for one month. I saw a polished stainless version in .45 Auto Rim, with functional extractor. I always thought that would be the perfect chambering, since it would result in an effectively longer barrel than if chambered in a longer round like .45 Colt, and the extractor would work, unlike .45 ACP. I saw such a gun at a local gun show, and couldn't get it out of my mind. The following month, cash in hand, and the seller was no longer at the show! Arrrggghhh! The beef jerkey guy was still there. The NASCAR model guy was still there. The ultimate American Derringer guy had skipped town. I haven't been tempted, since.
 
I leave snakes alone, or use a stick if I need to move them (used to collect them for resale out west) *but* if I were the sort to shoot them, a .410 derringer would be a hoot. A lot easier to carry than the brick called a Judge (Note: Revolver content).
 
I think the .410 derringers make a lot of sense in snake country...esp. as a backup to your primary, hollowpoint-loaded pistol/revolver. No use wasting a good bullet on a bad snake.... :cool:
 
Bond makes a nice product,,,
I don't own one but I have shot their "SnakeSlayer a few times,,,
Really hard cocking action and a really heavy trigger,,,
Kills at both ends I tell ya.
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I own a Texas Defender in .45 /410 and at first it was both hard to cock and hard to pull the trigger. But after about 35-40 rounds or so it was MUCH easier on both ends. My wife even shoots it regularly and has no trouble either cocking it or pulling the trigger, and has NO PROBLEM with recoil with either load. I've shot well over 500 rounds through it now and the cocking and trigger pull has evened out. (It's not getting easier to do either) In other words it's not getting too loose on either end. I like the pull now and so does my wife.

I won't go into details here but I can tell you from experience that with .410 Federal 000 buck that it will work as a self-defense weapon at close range VERY WELL. Go to THR and look for the posts there about my experience with self-defense usage. I think you'll find all you need to know about that aspect of this little pocket cannon there under the thread Handguns: General Discussion / Bond Arms .45/410.
 
Of all the derringer options, the one I always liked best was the high standard, chambered for .22 rimfire magnum. I see them occasionally pop up, used, for around 300$.
 
I've got one and am not a fan. I have an American Derringer in .357 mag. It is very well made but is heavy, has a hammer that snags clothing like a fish hook, and is way too hard to cock. The recoil is not nearly as bad as you would think but it is simply a nice novelty. I'm not knocking the company, just derringers in general. The company makes a very nice product and is owned by good people. I would love to see them make some different weapon designs.
 
I own an american derringer in 357 magnum... that thing hurts to shoot. Cocking it is very difficult as well.

at 20 feet It is extremely common to shoot multiple shots from it before you actually hit the target.
 
Another vote for the Hi Standard .22 Mag. Take the grips off and is easily the thinnest gun on the market.

But, it is what it is. A two shot pistol with a horrific trigger pull. But, it can be concealed when others can't, so, it does have a purpose.


High+Standard+-+Derringer+Mod.+DM+101+-+pistol+-+.22+Magnum.jpg
 
I've got one and am not a fan. I have an American Derringer in .357 mag. It is very well made but is heavy, has a hammer that snags clothing like a fish hook, and is way too hard to cock. The recoil is not nearly as bad as you would think but it is simply a nice novelty. I'm not knocking the company, just derringers in general. The company makes a very nice product and is owned by good people. I would love to see them make some different weapon designs.
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I own an american derringer in 357 magnum... that thing hurts to shoot. Cocking it is very difficult as well.

at 20 feet It is extremely common to shoot multiple shots from it before you actually hit the target.
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There's a huge difference between American Derringers and the guns made by Bond Arms. It's like comparing apples to oranges. I screwed up and bought an American Derringer before I found out about Bond Arms. I actually had to give my American away cause I couldn't find anyone who wanted to buy it after they shot it. But I wouldn't consider selling my Texas Defender. It's a very high quality gun. And it shoots WAAAAY better than any other derringer I've shot. The trigger and hammer both soften up after about 35-50 rounds, and then it (for lack of a better term) levels off at a very manageable cock and trigger pull. As far as recoil goes, both my wife and my daughter shoot my .45/410 Defender and they both love it. Try one sometime. Give it a chance though. Don't judge it after just a hand full of rounds through it. Shoot 50 or so and see what I mean.
 
I have 2, a Davis .22 Mag. and another in .38Spl. The .22 rode around in the pocket of my jeans for about 10 years. I never had any problem with it and it was much easier for me to shoot accurately than my Freedom Arms mini revolver. Shoots minute of oil drum at 25 yards with no problem. Same for the .38 which fits nicely in a custom boot holster which rides outside my cowboy boots. I seldom carry either as primary but think they would be more effective than harsh language in an armed encounter.
 
This is interesting reading. I always admired how Paladin was able to take out bad guys at 7 yards with his derringer.
As for my experiance with derringers, I only shot one once. I was a 357/38. When I managed to put what I consider a tremendous amount of trigger pull on it -- it fired and the barrels unhinged and it was pointed back at me.
Nie Wieder
 
I have a Bond Arms Texas Defender. I have both .45 ACP and .410 Bore/.45 Colt barrels for it. Its a fun little gun, and despite many of the comments here, its reasonably accurate and wouldn't make a bad defense gun under the right circumstances. I think the Bond shines in its large caliber versions. It doesn't make much sense to carry a Bond in .32 H&R, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm, or .40 S&W when one can get an Airweight or small automatic so chambered. However, there are not a lot or really small, flat handguns chambered for 10mm, .44 Special, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, or .410.

I chronographed some .45 ACP Winchester Ranger T 230 grain out of my Bond. It averaged 793 fps from the 3" barreled Bond. That is nothing to sneeze at. Yes, it only has two shots and its slow to reload. Its not ideal, but it could be effective.

Here is a video of the recoil with the Ranger T ammunition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR4Z8iO6R5E

I use my Bond for carjacking defense on driving trips (with the .410 barrel loaded with Federal 000 4-pellet buck). I also recently carried it as a BUG in my off-side pocket during a week long trip to Missouri and Kansas (with the .45 ACP barrel).

I don't think I'd carry the Bond as an only gun, but in specific roles it does well.
 
Selling an FIE in 38spl. Fairly accurate at that minute of oil drum size. Fun to shoot but now have different BU. Liked it for the fun factor........

It's in handgun 4 sale area
 
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Great News for Derringer Lovers!

I just got off the phone with the people at Bond Arms today. I called about .45 cal. barrels for my Texas Defender. I currently have the .410/.45 - 3 inch "stock" barrels on my gun. I knew they had both 3.5 inch and 4.25 inch in the same caliber/bore configuration, but I wanted to see if there was any chance they would be producing barrels in these lenghts for the .45 cal only. Rifled all the way down and drilled for the .45 only. The answer is they are already doing this! You have to order them special because they have to as they put it, "hand make these barrels". This means you can now get longer more accurate .45 cal barrels for the Bond Arms derringers. Longer barrels would also tend to silence SOME of the critics of the Bond Arms guns as not having enough muzzle velocity because of the short barrels.

I have owned this gun long enough to know that for the distance it was made to shoot, it has PLENTY of muzzle velocity to get the job done with either load, (.410 or the .45). But something most of the critics have overlooked is the fact that these barrels have a great seal because there is virtuously NO gap in the chamber and ALL the powder charge is used to propell the projectile/s out the end of the gun. This IMO makes up for the shorter barrels to a large extent. Now that we can get barrels as long as many of the semi-autos but in .45 Colt, we have a pretty potent little gun.

I know some will still knock this little pocket cannon as being useless because of the 2 shot handicap, but this will make the gun a potent 2 shot BUG or as in my case primary carry gun. (I have used it for self-defense with Federal 2.5 inch 000 buck .410, and it served me very well thank you.) I would love to carry my XD .45, but it just doesn't conceal as well as my Texas Defender. Just my opinion.

These new barrels are QUITE expensive though. $220.00 for the 3.5 inch and $250.00 for the 4.25 inch. I'm going to order the 4.25 inch myself.
 
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For the same size/weight as a Bond derringer with a 4 or 5" barrel, why not just get a Keltec or J-frame. Two shots and a heavy hammer and trigger don't sound too handy. Just my 2cents.
 
I had a BA .45 Colt Texas Defender............

I loved it. But, I didn't carry it much. For just a few ounces more, I can carry my Ruger SP101, 5-shot .357 mag.
My DS talk me out of mine, as a back-up to his Taurus .45Colt Judge.
He loves them both. And he frequently just carries the BA Texas Defender.
Whatever floats y'ur boat, hunnh.;)
 
For the same size/weight as a Bond derringer with a 4 or 5" barrel, why not just get a Keltec or J-frame. Two shots and a heavy hammer and trigger don't sound too handy. Just my 2cents.
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That is basically the argument. It makes some sense if you want to carry a .380 or .38 Special, perhaps even a 9mm or .357 Magnum, but find a Kel-Tec or J-frame chambered for .44 Special, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, or .410 bore. If one wants to carry a small, easily concealable gun in one of those cartridges, there are not so many choices.
 
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