O/U derringer--double range visits

[PT7]

Rarely do I get out to the range more than once per week. But this week I somehow managed three afternoons. Since my newer firearms are two handguns, I focused mainly on my .357 magnum derringer (barrel is 4.25" in length). It was again hard to leave my Henry SGC at home......but got some good things accomplished with the derringer this week.

Yesterday, I went to the MDC Lake City range. Stayed focused again on seven yards distance. I'm still working on getting the fixed sights down on this gun. Plus handling the weight of the longer stainless steel barrel is taking some practice, too. The recoil with this derringer when shooting .357 magnums is fairly easy to handle, but definitely is stout.

I shot 60 rounds, 20 of each brand: Fiocchi 142gr FMJTC, Rem Golden Sabre 125gr JHP, and Zero 130gr FMJ reloads. Consistently, I was really missing my POAs with the top barrel, shooting it second. Did quite well with the lower barrel, as it's the one that lines up most directly with the hand & extended arm. I didn't save any photos to post. My shooting was fairly good, but nothing to write to the Forum about. This range day ended up to be simply a day of practice, practice, and more practice.

Today, I went to our other nearby MDC range at Parma Woods. Again shot the derringer at seven yards. Shot only 30 rounds of the Zero 130gr FMJ reloads this time. Both yesterday and today I started out using 8" splash targets. I decided to make a change and mounted a 12" round splash target with a 2" bull for my last 15 rounds. I was determined to figure out how much I needed to lower my sight picture to get on target with that upper barrel. This target change helped quite a bit.

Again I shot the lower barrel first, then the upper. I shot the lower with POA dead on to the bull. Pretty darn quickly I found that setting my POA about 1" below dead on bull got me really close to some good POIs. My practice and determination finally paid off today. Below is my final target showing my results:

7 POIs in the 10 ring (2 barely touching the bull).
6 POIs in the 9 ring.
1 POI in the 8 ring.
I bet number 15 bullet is in the Parma Woods berm!
Quite content with my placement and total of 14/15 in target.

More practice sure won't hurt, and that means more fun as well. Then I'll do some practice with the derringer .22LR caliber barrel and see how I can get on target with that shorter barrel. It's a little spendy to shoot the .45LC/.410 calibers with this gun, so for now the .357s, .38 Specials, and .22LR will do just fine.

Still find it hard to believe that I got out for three range days in one week. How did that ever happen

[JEBar]

The recoil with this derringer when shooting .357 magnums is fairly easy to handle, but definitely is stout.

I shot 60 rounds,

I have to tip my hat to you .... I've fired one and to characterize the recoil as "stout " is a major understatement .. .. now days there is no way I could fire that many rounds out of a 357 derringer in a single outing .... by the way, really nice target ...

[PT7]

Appreciate your comments, Jim. And it made me think of some other "stats" from these two days in a row at the ranges.

Day 1 = 60 rounds; day 2 = 30 rounds. Plus I didn't mention I had an extra 5 rounds of the Fiocchi 142gr ammo in my case, so let those go downrange, too. Ending total = 95. Wish I had made it an even 100.

Remember, too, that I had to follow the cease fires at MDC ranges. So there were those short 5-minute rest breaks while we changed targets.

Your comment also helped me to notice a "mild ache" in my right hand this evening.
It really is a lot of fun to shoot this gun!

The recoil with this derringer when shooting .357 magnums is fairly easy to handle, but definitely is stout.

I shot 60 rounds,

I have to tip my hat to you .... I've fired one and to characterize the recoil as "stout " is a major understatement .. .. now days there is no way I could fire that many rounds out of a 357 derringer in a single outing .... by the way, really nice target ...

[JEBar]

I'm very familiar with 357 but don't know enough about 327 to make any sort of intelligent comments .... I have read that the recoil from a 327 is considerably less and that there is a derringer available in that caliber .... to me, that sounds interesting

[RetiredSeabee]

I have been fascinated by the Bond Arms guns for a long time. I just haven't quite convinced myself that I need one yet. But I am working on it.
Glad that you got in some extra range time.

[North Country Gal]

Three range sessions in one week is way ahead of our "maybe one" so far this spring, but hope to change that as our weather improves (We don't have any indoor ranges in our area.)

That is excellent work for that tiny gun. I have enough experience with small handguns to appreciate how hard they are to shoot with that kind of accuracy, all the more so when that little gun is a 357 mag.

Jim, I have a lot of experience with the 327. As to 327 recoil in comparison to a 357, it's a mixed bag. The 85 grain 327 SD loads are easier to shoot, for sure, than standard 357 loads, but the American Eagle 100 grainers or other full power 100 grain 327 loads aren't going to give you very much recoil relief over a 357 and that recoil comes with a lot of blast and concussion, to boot. Wicked, sharp recoiling loads. That's been my experience out of a Ruger SP with a 3" barrel, so I'm sure it would be even more of an issue with a lighter derringer. Of course, with a 327, you can always drop down to the much milder 32 H&R and there are some nice SD loads in that 32.

[PT7]

We really enjoyed living in southern WI, and especially travelling through the state. Still have one sister and family there, so we'll be visiting again someday. At that time I wasn't involved in shooting, so the weather was just what it was. But it would be definitely a longer winter time awaiting warmer shooting weather.

I checked out some weight specs: your Ruger SP101, 3" barrel is listed at 27 oz.; my Ruger SP101, 4.2" barrel is listed at 29.5 oz.; the BASS IV derringer with 4.25" barrel weighs 23.5 oz. So the revolvers are not that much heavier than the derringer..

I'm uncertain how to "compare recoil" between the revolver and derringer. They both are stout. Sometimes I think the revolver kicks harder, then at other times the derringer feels like the stronger mule. From my experience, they are really close. I have Hogue grips on both of my guns, so that is a plus, and a needed hand protection against recoil. Both guns have beautiful stock wood grips, but as I tried both out-of-box grips, changing to the Hogues has been the best way to go.

Thanks, NCG, for saying "That is excellent work for that tiny gun." I'm getting a little better at it, and like the challenge.

Three range sessions in one week is way ahead of our "maybe one" so far this spring, but hope to change that as our weather improves (We don't have any indoor ranges in our area.)

That is excellent work for that tiny gun. I have enough experience with small handguns to appreciate how hard they are to shoot with that kind of accuracy, all the more so when that little gun is a 357 mag.

Jim, I have a lot of experience with the 327. As to 327 recoil in comparison to a 357, it's a mixed bag. The 85 grain 327 SD loads are easier to shoot, for sure, than standard 357 loads, but the American Eagle 100 grainers or other full power 100 grain 327 loads aren't going to give you very much recoil relief over a 357 and that recoil comes with a lot of blast and concussion, to boot. Wicked, sharp recoiling loads. That's been my experience out of a Ruger SP with a 3" barrel, so I'm sure it would be even more of an issue with a lighter derringer. Of course, with a 327, you can always drop down to the much milder 32 H&R and there are some nice SD loads in that 32.

[JEBar]

Jim, I have a lot of experience with the 327. As to 327 recoil in comparison to a 357, it's a mixed bag. The 85 grain 327 SD loads are easier to shoot, for sure, than standard 357 loads, but the American Eagle 100 grainers or other full power 100 grain 327 loads aren't going to give you very much recoil relief over a 357 and that recoil comes with a lot of blast and concussion, to boot. Wicked, sharp recoiling loads. That's been my experience out of a Ruger SP with a 3" barrel, so I'm sure it would be even more of an issue with a lighter derringer. Of course, with a 327, you can always drop down to the much milder 32 H&R and there are some nice SD loads in that 32.

per Spock, "fascinating" .... as stated, I have no experience with a 327 so your info is appreciated .... I would have never figured on the wide range of felt recoil

[Sir Henry]

My hat is off to you for even shooting the 357 once.

[tx gunrunner]

I love my Bond . Recoil don't bother me so I never shot 38 in my 357 . I used my 44-40 SASS/CAS matches and only shoot it on steel targets so no paper targets . Remember if you shoot a derringer shoot the bottom barrel 1st for faster target recovery . I've owed a ton of derringer in my life and Bond is the safest and best of them all .

[PT7]

Ditto on how much you said you liked your Bond, TGR. I do, too. It is a top-of-the-line, quality stainless steel hand gun.
I had not thought much about one of your comments before, but you're correct that the Bond is a very safe gun to handle. That's a real plus. BTW, I do always shoot the bottom barrel first....that sequence works quite well. I also stick with shooting .357 magnums, and rarely might shoot some .38 special + "P" ammo just to test it.

A couple of days ago the Bond Arms company sent out an email with a link to a Hickok45 review on the new BA Texan derringer with the 6" barrel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYEUd9tyg0 The comment from the BA president in the email was this:

WOW!! Watch this review by Hickok45 on the new Bond Arms "TEXAN"
It has created a frenzy of both negative and positive comments!
What are your thoughts on this review?

I've watched quite a number of Hickok45 reviews, and the majority of the time he is an accurate shooter. But the thought crossed my mind when watching him shoot the Texan that he might not know how to handle this derringer very well. His shooting was definitely off, I thought, for this gun review. In fact, he commented how the trigger is not easy to pull, etc. It's a good thing the newer derringers are made with the upgrades to the trigger and hammer. The older design was definitely a challenge for me to shoot well. These new ones are just fine. So for whatever it's worth, I'm posting that video link. And appreciate your comments/support on these derringers. Yup, they are a great firearm!

I love my Bond . Recoil don't bother me so I never shot 38 in my 357 . I used my 44-40 SASS/CAS matches and only shoot it on steel targets so no paper targets . Remember if you shoot a derringer shoot the bottom barrel 1st for faster target recovery . I've owed a ton of derringer in my life and Bond is the safest and best of them all.

[tx gunrunner]

The gun that Hickok was shooting was the new designed trigger . I tried the new trigger and is not a big improvement over the old one and the $125 they get to install it on your old gun in not worth it in my opinion . They wouldn't sell the parts to you . I already ask . I found this a good way to reduce the pull on trigger .