Derringer Recommendations

[Sheriff Dill]

Looking into Derringer’s. 
 

What would everyone recommend for .38 special. 
 

Thanks 

 

SD

[X Mark]

In a word -----Bond !

Steer clear of Cobra derringers !

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

see above 

 

  BOND 

[Blackwater 53393]

You’ll find that the Bond derringer is the most popular with the cowboy crowd.  Solidly built and versatile.

 

For the “classic” derringer, I like the American Derringer.  It most closely resembles the original old west “over and under” models seen in the movies and on television.  It’s also well made and durable!! They even make one in 45-70 and mine’s a .45 Colt gun.

 

I’m not fond of the Cobra/Davis units. I won one at a match several years ago. A .38 spl. model with steel lined aluminum barrels and aluminum frame. I never fired it, but my son, Hatfield, has carried it for backup with light cowboy loads and fired it a few times to see how it shoots. It does go “bang”!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

If you are willing to the used route, and if you can find one, I'd not hesitate to get one of these...



This is my derringer.   Well, it was my Dad's.   It is surprisingly accurate, and it is a .38 Special.   I sometimes use .38 Short Colts in it with good results.  And from this side, it looks very much like an original Remington.

But, why did I say, "from this side," and what is it?

 

Well...



Okay, it has a ridiculous looking and not needed safety.   But let that go.  I just don't use it.  It's an RG17.   RG has a kind of a bad rap, deservedly so for SOME of their pistols, but this derringer is actually very well made.  I understand that the safety was a feature added later, (maybe because of GCA 68?) and have seen non-safety versions.   I don't think this'd be a bad way to go.

 

[X Mark]

My Cobra didn't go bang on the first try ,or the second. from one barrel.

I sent it back to the factory. They said something about  "the wrong firing pin ".

Got it back and it would not go bang intermittently..........

  I was disappointed that this American made gun was so poorly built  !

[Sheriff Dill]

Thanks for the advice on the Cobra’s I was just about to buy one before posting here. 
 

 

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

I used to have a HIgh Standard derringer in 22 magnum.  It was a neat gun.

Horace

[Griff]

I have a Great Western in .38S&W, about as close as you can get to a Remington.  It's not anodized aluminum, it's "plumed" steel.

I also have 2 Davis derringers, in 25Auto & 38Auto, both door prizes from shoots, both are, and shall remain unfired.  "Junk" is over-rating them!

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

At one time Cobra made a "Bond clone" larger derringer for Cimarron in .45.  They were not very good and so didn't last long.  If you find a used one, avoid it rather than thinking you are getting a bargain compared to a Bond.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Bond, you can trust!  

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

I've got a Cobra 38 and a davis (pre-cobra cobra) 22.  Not completely horrible once you learn to work the trigger.  The trigger pivot is positioned oddly so the trigger pull is kind of a downward motion rather than just a rearward motion.

 

Not the best for sure, but considering the cost new ($100 for the 38 and $45 for the 22.... I've had them a while) they aren't horrible.  Fine for the occasional fun use.

 

If you want something you can count on in any situation, as others have said.... Bond.

[Hoss]

Bond. Pretty easy to lighten up hammer spring. (They come with one from a 59 Buick!)

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

These are mine and very dependable. Mostly they just stay in the safe

[Trailrider #896]

I had one, years ago, made in Germany, chambered in .357 mangle-em, which had a crossbolt safety, in addition to the half-cock notch.  Never tried it with magnum rounds, but used to carry it with shot loads in case I ran into rattlers out on a missile site (strictly against regulations). Never had to use it for that purposes, however.

[X Mark]

Now if we could just talk Smokestack into slicking up derringers ,we'd all be happy .

 I watched him shoot a derringer side match in ......wait for it ....... point 39 seconds !!

 And I thought I was good at .94 seconds !

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

3 hours ago, Griff said:

I have a Great Western in .38S&W, about as close as you can get to a Remington.  It's not anodized aluminum, it's "plumed" steel.

 

Sigh...

I REALLY want one of these.   I'd take anything in .38 S&W, to be honest, but this is the one I want specifically.

[Rance - SASS # 54090]

Bond!!

I think you can buy different caliber barrels and they switch with same

Main frame..…

 

Just sayin’

[Rye Miles #13621]

None!😂

[Jackalope]

7 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

For the “classic” derringer, I like the American Derringer.  

I'm with Blackwater.  I'm not a Bond fan.  I have an American Derringer in .357 Magnum.  Three grains of Bullseye and a 125 grain lead bullet showed a velocity of 546 fps.  I would not rely on it for prairie dogs much farther than arms reach, nor would I try to take a Cape Buffalo with it.  On the other hand, it's a hoot with 21 grains of FFFg and a 158 grain bullet...a real crowd pleaser!

[Sheriff Dill]

Is there a specific model of Bond or American Derringer you guys would recommend to get and any to make sure to stay clear of. 

 

[Three Foot Johnson]

3 hours ago, Rance - SASS # 54090 said:

Bond!!

I think you can buy different caliber barrels and they switch with same

Main frame..…

 

Just sayin’

 

Yep - .22 LR, .38/.357, .44-40, .44 spl, .45 acp, .45 Colt  

There are a bunch more too.

 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I have several Davis Derringer in 3 different calibers .

All three of mine seem to work just fine.

I must have the only three in them calibers that work according too everyone else lol 

Also have a American Arms Derringer in 45 .

Never liked the big bulky Bond Derringer guns .

Just too big and ugly .

But they work good so I'm told .

Rooster 

[watab kid]

dang it - now i want one , sometimes yall lead me astray , but ill admit to being susceptible to persuasion 

[Blackwater 53393]

The M1 American Derringer is what I have.  It is stainless and shoots.45 Colt.  I used to carry it in my back pocket when I was performing with my band in bars where carry was prohibited.  Most of the owners knew I had it and didn’t complain.  It’s pretty rowdy with Hornady Critical Defense, but I had the grips checkered and it stays really stable as a result.

 

It’s damned reliable!  We used it on a stage now and then as a bonus string for a stage at Possum Trot!  The shooter started with it in hand and shot two rounds at a stationary target five yards away. Two shots, must hit the target once for the bonus. Two posses of fifteen or more and it never failed to fire.

 

 

[Whitey James]

Bond has been on my radar for a few years. Price has kept me away.

 

[Rip Snorter]

Bond are great, but big and heavy.  The 22 Mag High Standard is good until it fails.  it was a female friend's  EDC then became unreliable.  When I took it apart there was a nylon part - couldn't be fixed, by me at least, or even replaced back closer to when the gun was made.  Much more recent Rancher friend, same gun, same issue.  Have had a couple derringers, none at the moment.  I like the ones close to the original double design.

[Whitey James]

Is anyone carrying a derringer for SD nowadays?

No judgement, just curious because it seems to me that anything a derringer was designed to do a j-frame can do better (except the flat part in the back pocket). 

 

[Sheriff Dill]

I just want something to shoot side events at shoots with. I carry a Glock 27 or 26 for self defense.  

[Blackwater 53393]

35 minutes ago, Whitey James said:

Is anyone carrying a derringer for SD nowadays?

No judgement, just curious because it seems to me that anything a derringer was designed to do a j-frame can do better (except the flat part in the back pocket). 

 

Mine has been my backup for places where I am prohibited from carrying. I figure I got a couple of shots to get me back to my carry weapon.  

[Hoss]

4 hours ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Is there a specific model of Bond or American Derringer you guys would recommend to get and any to make sure to stay clear of. 

 

This is a goodun!

[Equanimous Phil]

Initially I was looking for a derringer in .45 Colt but then I stumbled across a used but really purty stainless steel American Derringer Model 1 chambered in .45 ACP. In hindsight I was lucky I went with that cartridge because it is way easier to come up with manageable reloads. I just use it for fun. If I strove for fast times at side matches I'd need to have the hammer spring a bit lightned.

Bond Arms derringers somehow just do not look right to me. It may be the octagonal barrels or the size or the somewhat more modern look..?

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

Bond Texas Defender.....Besides the .357 Mag / 38 Spcl barrel I got with it I also have a .22 LR barrel that I use for stages calling for a pocket pistol.

[Rip Snorter]

A great big old guy I  knew and did business with carried a tiny Colt single shot Lord Derringer .22 Short in his shirt pocket.  Someone attacked him and he shot the guy who looked down, saw blood and ran away.   Nothing in the news or papers, so apparently nobody died.  Brings to mind the old adage "No one wants to be shot with anything."

[Rye Miles #13621]

I’ve had several over the years the best was the American derringer.