derringer for self defense?

[marcus]

I am new to the forum and will be listening mainly. However I have one question that has long interested me. Of what use. if any. is the derringer pistol in 44special410 shotshell inself defense? With the short rifled portion ahead of the chamber the 410 would not have much velocity and the 44 special would not be particularly accurate. Thank you. Marcus

[Drifting Fate]

Any weapon is better than none, but I would take a pocket knife over a derringer any day.

Debating the mechanical advantages of a derringer is kind of like contemplating nipples on a bull, it kills time but doesn't really mean anything.

[Deaf Smith]

No. And here is why.

The derringers have
a) very small grips and thus hard to get a hold on, like FAST

b) very slow to cock (yea there are a few DA versions but they have small trigger guards.)

c) zero sights for all practical matters.

d) extremely hard to shoot past pissing distance.

e) extremely limited rounds (1 thru 4)

f) extremely slow reloads.

g) if in a large cal. they kick like heck (and if in small cal. then what the heck are you doing with it?)

Other than that they are good guns for SD.

[Dr. Snubnose]

Certain Derringers are easier to shoot than others. I have derringers by ADC in 45ACP, 44Magnum,45Long Colt and the monster 45/70. All are difficult to shoot fast at ranges beyond contact distance for the reasons already mentioned. That being said I also have another one made by ADC called the DA 38 that shoots double action only in 357 magnum, there is a cut away trigger guard for fast shooting and it has the flat profile and similiar look of the old High Standard Derringers. Though I enjoy shooting all of my ADC the DA38 in the only one I would carry in a back up role for self-defense. I can shoot this one very fast and accurate out to 25 feet, in the potent 357 magnum caliber...recoil is not as bad as the other classical derringers with the birds head grip.

[DaveJames]

They can serve a good purpose,but are not best for a SD carry gun,, those in the large bore calibere's are very hard on the hands when shooting,due to grip angle and size,those from ADC,which in MO are the best, are as big as a good J frame or a Charter Arms.

Now with that said,I do have one of the 45cotl/410 versions and have carried it on UC jobs,always loaded with the buckshot loads,never shot any human with it but did shoot a large doberman,and it DRT.

This could be again IMO the best ankle carry gun for those who just don't want to bother with semi's or wheelies,the ADC has a very positive safety,and works basicly just like a single action colt in cocking it

[InTheBlack]

I've handled a couple of those Bond derringers, and I don't have enough strength/leverage in my trigger finger to make the hammer fall.

Derringers are also restricted by Sat Night Special law dimension limits or prohibited in some states.

[Matthew Temkin]

Wouldn't something like a Kahr pocket 9mm or a Kel-tec/Beretta .32, make more sense?
Deringers are not all that small/light and are limited to 2 shots.

[Al Lipscomb]

All good points already made. If it is what you have, and there is no chance of getting a decent SD firearm then use what you have. Given the choice a five shot .38 J frame would be a better tool for SD use.

[BILLYBOB]

Originally Posted by marcus

I am new to the forum and will be listening mainly. However I have one question that has long interested me. Of what use. if any. is the derringer pistol in 44special410 shotshell inself defense? With the short rifled portion ahead of the chamber the 410 would not have much velocity and the 44 special would not be particularly accurate. Thank you. Marcus

I know an older guy who carries a 2 shot Derringer. He says if he misses, he'll just hurl the gun at the perpitrator like in the movies. I was like "R U nuts. Get a semiauto old man."

[Rex G]

I would not carry a derringer as my primary defensive weapon, as I want something powerful that I can deploy quickly and shoot well, such as a Ruger SP101, as a minimum. I would not use a derringer as a backup because the firepower/weight/bulk equation favors other firearms designs, such as small-frame snubby revolvers and compact autoloaders, IMHO.