Derringer Vs Side by Side Shotgun.

[triggerhappy2006]

Alright so I've read the usual slew of posts "You're Brainless if you buy a derringer for self defense" or "Derringers are worthless for self defense, buy a J frame or subcompact anything" but here's my question, Why is a side by side an acceptable self defense/home defense piece but a derringer is not? Sure a 12 gauge is more powerful than a 410 or 45 colt and I get this is an apples to laptops comparison, but it just seems a lot of people bash the derringer but shrug off a coach 20gauge as "acceptable".

 

[Doyle]

WAY more range. WAY more tissue damage. WAY more accurate.

 

[FITASC]

Shotguns give you three points of contact to make your shots more accurate.

 

[dakota1911]

I have both but would take the 12 gauge over the derringer. I sleep with a 1911 under the pillow. In a bad case situation it will hopefully allow me to get to a locked cabinet where I can deploy an assault rifle.

 

[dakota.potts]

To be fair, I don't think all that many people generally recommend side by side shotguns as the best options. They are good if it's all you have, but most people recommend pump or semi autos with at least 4 or 5 round capacity.

Although, if you only have two shots, the shotgun is probably easier to hit something with them and I have to give the edge in stopping power to the shotgun easily. Even a derringer in .45 Colt (if you could effectively shoot such a thing) with a hollow point is less incapacitating than, say, 9 .36 caliber lead shot. Not to say that either of them are incapable of stopping a threat efficiently or that even a full 3" shotgun shell center of mass is a guaranteed stopper. Neither is the best option, but I think most people would prefer the shotgun and would likely shoot it better.

 

[JimmyR]

To be fair, I don't think all that many people generally recommend side by side shotguns as the best options. They are good if it's all you have, but most people recommend pump or semi autos with at least 4 or 5 round capacity.

Dakota is right on this one. Most people reccomending a shotgun reccomend a pump action or semi-auto. This doubles or triples your capacity.

But even a SxS is head and shoulders better for HD than a derringer. As has been said before:

Shotguns give you three points of contact to make your shots more accurate.

In addition, a SxS shotgun has more mass (meaning less percieved recoil and more control), a longer barrel (more velocity) and probably a higher caliber. (h/t Doyle). Derringers are much harder to control because of their smaller grip and minimal mass.

If, however, you disagree, then feel free to take your derringer as your only weapon next time you go deer hunting, and report back on how it went.

 

[TimSr]

Although, if you only have two shots, the shotgun is probably easier to hit something with them and I have to give the edge in stopping power to the shotgun easily.

I heard from a high ranking government official that you don't need to hit anything with a double barrel shotgun, and you just go outside and empty it in the air.

 

[Mosin-Marauder]

I heard from a high ranking government official that you don't need to hit anything with a double barrel shotgun, and you just go outside and empty it in the air.

Same here!

Surely the government wouldn't lie to us!

 

[FITASC]

Joe can afford to do that, he has an armed security detail 24/7 and will for the rest of his life................

 

[steelbird]

Well, a derringer IS easier to hide when you're sittin' at the table......
But that's the only advantage a derringer has on a SxS.

 

[Dragline45]

You cant even compare the two, I am kind of perplexed that you had to ask the question. The amount of damage a shotgun does compared to a short barreled derringer in a pistol caliber is so far apart, I mean not even in the same universe let alone ballpark.

 

[Gunfixr]

Not to mention, anyone who has ever fired a derringer of sufficient caliber to accomplish anything knows how bad they are to try and control, and hit anything with that is farther away than across a table. Then, after only two shots, they are very slow to reload. With some practice a side by side can be loaded decently fast.

 

[tirod]

Neither are commonly used for self defense. A pocket revolver has been far more popular, and when the auto pistol was made reliable, it became another option.

Derringer vs shotgun has very little tactical overlap. One is a deep concealment last ditch firearm, the other an open carry statement of self defense. Of course the shotgun is the better choice - but social dynamics also gets a say. Carrying a double shotgun has restricted and limited windows of opportunity. It's not the weapon of choice sauntering down the Mall on a Saturday afternoon. The derringer comes in second place to a revolver or auto pistol there, too.

Not much to really discuss when the practical uses of either are rare. Internet fodder.

 

[JimmyR]

Neither are commonly used for self defense. A pocket revolver has been far more popular, and when the auto pistol was made reliable, it became another option.

Derringer vs shotgun has very little tactical overlap. One is a deep concealment last ditch firearm, the other an open carry statement of self defense. Of course the shotgun is the better choice - but social dynamics also gets a say. Carrying a double shotgun has restricted and limited windows of opportunity. It's not the weapon of choice sauntering down the Mall on a Saturday afternoon. The derringer comes in second place to a revolver or auto pistol there, too.

Not much to really discuss when the practical uses of either are rare. Internet fodder.

I think you are taking an overly narrow view of "self defense" and equating it with "carry." Self defense involves everything from open carry, concealed carry, home defense, car carry, etc. Trying to apply the same uses to both will just cause confusion and consternation.

The discussion that the OP started was about why a SxS and a derringer aren't considered equal in terms of their applicability to SD/HD situations, when they both can use similar calibers and have the same capacity. He even admitted that it is a "apples to laptops comparasin." Saying that there is "Not much to really discuss" completely ignores home defense and car carry, and really misses the breadth of discussion to be had.

 

[44 AMP]

The derringer and the SxS shotgun have two things in common. ONLY. They hold two shots. And if you hunt for them, you can find ones that fire .410 shells.

And, despite the current fantasy about how wonderful the .410 is as a defensive round from a handgun, note how no one is recommending the SAME round as a good defense choice from a SHOTGUN.

Also, have you ever fired a derringer in .45 Colt / .410? I never have, but I have fired a T/C Contender (10") with .410 a bit, and trust me, shooting that round in the tiny, light derringer with its small, oddly shaped grip will NOT be a pleasant experience.

Also, the shotgun gives you several pounds of wood & steel to bash someone with, should your two shots not solve the issue. The derringer does not.

 

[Glenn E. Meyer]

That is true. I did an exercise where you were give a double barrel, you wore a smock to duplicate being surprised out of bed naked, and a box of shells. You have to navigate through a shoot house with the gun and box of shells.

There were stationary targets and moving life like ones. After negotiating a door and two targets, a surprise one popped out and I butt stroked it.

That's why I avoid the huff and puff of the shotgun and go for the AR if I have to go zombie hunter with a long arm. I do have a shotgun good to go if the AR doesn't solve the invasion but that's real apocalyptic home invasion.

 

[barnbwt]

Also the not-unimportant factor of a quality SxS trigger vs. the "trigger" on derringers that makes them practically unshootable.

TCB

 

[natman]

Two shots is a serious limitation in both cases, but there is a huge difference between two accurate and effective shots with the shotgun and two feeble shots you hope will hit something with the derringer.

 

[jstert]

the only derringer that merits serious consideration is by bond arms. yes, they are expensive, heavy, niche, backup guns. no they are not battle weapons. their single action manual of arms takes some practice. here are some thoughts: 2 rounds of defensive 410 buck puts 6 stout balls downrange fast, which can be useful in a fast-moving, adrenalin-fueled, close-in, last-ditch defensive encounter, where precisely aimed shots and simple evasion are not feasible. they are handy in size and built like a tank. easily interchangeable barrels make for easy ammo scrounging and practice. sometimes one would like a shotgun for one hand. some good rules of thumb for a bond is any "4" caliber needs the extended wood or rubber, or perhaps short rubber, grip to be shot comfortably. only use handgun specific defensive 410, or cowboy load or hornady defensive 185 grain 45lc, loads. avoid 357 magnum. shooting either 9mm or 38 makes for nice range and practice time. if you have the money, like single action revolvers too, and understand their limits and advantages, bond arms derringers are the best.

there is a better choice for persons on a limited budget, but it is not a double. a decent, used single shot shotgun can be had for $100 at a pawn shop. they can be cut down to a handy, yet still legal, size. dont dismiss a lowly single boomstick for self defense before watching some youtube videos. for travelers thru unfree states, where a handgun is problematic, a properly secured single in the trunk is a reliable, inexpensive, under the radar, legal alternative to being totally defenseless.

 

[jstert]

the only derringer to be seriously considered is by bond arms. yes, they are expensive, heavy niche guns. no they are not battle weapons. their single action manual of arms takes some practice. here are some thoughts: 2 rounds of defensive 410 buck puts 6 stout balls downrange fast, which can be useful in a fast-moving, adrenalin-fueled, close-in, last-ditch defensive encounter that cannot be outran or evaded. they are handy in size and built like a tank. easily interchangeable barrels make for easy ammo scrounging and practice. sometimes one would like a shotgun for one hand. some good rules of thumb for a bond is any "4" caliber needs the extended wood or rubber, or perhaps short rubber, grip to be shot comfortably. only use handgun specific defensive 410, or cowboy load or hornady defensive 185 grain 45lc, loads. avoid 357 magnum. shooting either 9mm or 38 makes for nice range and practice time.

there is a better choice for persons on a limited budget, but it is not a double. a decent, used single shot shotgun can be $100 at a pawn shop. they can be cut down to a handy, yet still legal, size. dont dismiss a lowly single boomstick for self defense before watching some youtube videos. for travelers thru unfree states, where a handgun is problematic, a properly secured single in the trunk is an under the radar, legal alternative to being totally defenseless.