Looking for good bad and indifferent info on the two shot derringer.

Looking at it as a last chance belly gun. Thanks in advance.

One of the few handguns I sold(traded) was a 357 derringer, shot 38’s in it. It was O.K., generally speaking. One can easily get a handgun with more rounds, same or lighter weight, much better ‘manual of arms’. That is if carrying is planned.

I traded with a guy who was into ‘cowboy action shooting’. I don’t really miss it.

I've shot several, parents had 3 or 4 when I was growing up.

I'd say any tiny 9mm or .380 semi (Ruger, etc.) would be a better idea.

I'd even go with a 5 shot .22 mag NAA before a 2 shot derringer.

Recoil is a bitch and they really are not that small given today’s world.

Why limit yourself to a low capacity, hard to load, comparatively heavy for the capacity expensive novelty when you can get any number of tiny 9mm handguns today that are better in every way?

Hell you can get .380’s that would be a better option that are small enough to hide in yer prison purse.

^^^^ This.

I carry a BUG along with my primary. Any of the modern BUGS would be superior to a derringer. In the unlikely need to deploy a BUG, it's nice to have something that will do the job beyond arm's length...and with more than two shots.

Derringers are fun guns with the added capability defense if needed. I've had several. My favorites were made by American Derringer, a single action .45/410 and a double action 357 on the old Hi-Standard platform. They were fun and useful. I sometimes carried the 357 in a wallet holster. I also enjoyed a Bond Arms model with three different caliber conversion barrels. If you want one, go high quality and weight is a benefit in the larger calibers. A glove is useful for prolonged range sessions. (Anything much more than 5 rounds can be prolonged.)

Happy shooting!

Just whack yourself in the web of your hand with a framing hammer. Really, really hard. Almost perfect simulation. You can get a 6 or 7 0r 10 rd. 9mm that's hardly larger.

I prefer the 16 tap Glock 19 for that purpose.

Derringers are one of those novelty guns that are more for fun and recreational shooting than anything else. I’d pick a micro-auto or even a J-frame as a last ditch gun. Years ago I had an Intratec double action derringer in .32 magnum. It was not too bad in the accuracy department, all things considered but impractical when compared to a small frame .38 special. By all means, buy one for fun but there are much better, faster, more accurate choices for a last ditch gun.

As the former owner of a High Standard Derringer, I can say its .22 Magnum was the max load I could deal with in that design.

Derringers are best used in card games in saloons.

Unless you get down into super-duper-tiny .22 derringers, they aren't really that much smaller than an ultra compact semiauto or J-frame revolver, but have some serious drawbacks with their capacity, ease of reloading, sights, and grip/recoil management.

No upside, with some major downsides. If you want one just to mess around with, that's fine. But for defensive use, even as a "last chance belly gun", it's a poor choice.

And the Double Taps in particular are large for a Derringer anyway.

I have only looked them over in gun shows. That slab-sided, sharp-cornered, barely one-and-a-half-finger grip looks awfully painful to shoot.

Belly gun?

Just buy and carry a decent subcompact IWB. Buy pants a size larger if you need to.

$569 for a two shooter? 2.9 ounces less than the P365. Fractionally smaller than a 10 +1 P365. Not for me.

I had one with the 9MM barrel set with a spare barrel set in .45 ported, The gun rarely failed to fire one of the barrels. The cartridge went off with the second hit. It was so narrow in the grip and fairly light so it was not fun to shoot. Fired 28 9MM's and decided that was enough punishment for one day. I was never brave enough to shoot it in .45 even with the ports. Sold everything.

They kick, hard. my local shop has several in stock at less than retail.. This is one gun where i would beg the bad guy,

"Please dont make me shoot you!"

You'd be much better off with 5 shots of .22 Mag

NAA PUG:

Thanks for all the responses. What I should have said was this is a novelty not a practical use I have a p365 and a j frame for back up this was more of I want it. I’m looking around between that and the .38/357 cop 4 shot.