4 Best Derringers: Our Favorite Tiny Bois

Looking at a super small and concealable gun that can fire big bullets?

The concept of a Derringer has remained immensely popular since its inception.

And that idea has kept these tiny defensive powerhouses in production for over 150 years.

Today, many people choose to carry a Derringer as a backup weapon or as an easy pocket carry option that still has the power to stop a threat with authority.

That said, most people default to similarly sized pocket guns like the Ruger LCP and the like now, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

A small gun with a heavy trigger, a difficult-to-operate hammer, and a perilously short sight radius isn’t exactly an ideal self-defense gun, especially when there are so many easier-to-use options available.

But if you're interested in a modern derringer, we put together a list of a few solid options to choose from.

How We Tested the Best Derringers

Various members of the Pew Pew Tactical team contributed to this post. Most of us have had time behind various derringers, including some of the ones on this list, so we know a thing or two about what goes into a good tiny pistol.

Our picks were evaluated based on reliability, caliber options, sight radius, concealability, ease of use, and price. We constantly test guns and regularly update articles as new models become available, so if you’re favorite isn’t here, check back soon!

Best Derringers

1. Bond Arms Snake Slayer - Editor's Pick

Editor's Pick

Bond Arms Snake Slayer

$449

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$449 at BattleHawk Armory

Kygunco (see price)

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .38 SPL, .357 Mag, .45 Colt/.410
• Barrel Length: 3.5"
• Overall Length: 5.5"
• Weight: 22 oz.
• Capacity: 2

The Snake Slayer is Bond Arms’ most popular model. It comes with a 3.5” barrel and is available in either .357 Mag/.38 Special, or .45 LC/.410.

You get a little more barrel, a little less recoil, and a lot more accuracy over the Backup model, especially with the .357/.38 Mag version. The sight radius, such as it is, is almost usable, and the caliber options give you a little more flexibility as well.

As with most of Bond Arms’ products, you can swap barrels out to your heart’s content, but I like the .357/.38 one an awful lot. You will never struggle to find ammo, and you’ll be well-equipped to deal with almost anything short of a bear.

The .45 LC/.410 option provides good defense against snakes and other small pests and can even offer some good survival weapon potential. It can be a great little gun for a lightweight bugout kit or just as something to keep in your pack when wandering the backcountry.

I think the survival gun last ditch truck gun tackle box gun is where derringers really shine anyway, and something like the Snake Slayer really makes sense in that respect.

2. Bond Arms Backup - Easiest to Conceal

Easiest to Conceal

Bond Arms Backup

$408

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$408 at BattleHawk Armory

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .45 ACP, 9mm
• Barrel Length: 2.5"
• Overall Length: 4.5"
• Weight: 19 oz.
• Capacity: 2

Bond Arms is a name you'll hear a lot when looking at derringers, and with good reason.

They're basically the industry standard and, to my knowledge, one of the very few manufacturers that puts serious effort into derringers these days.

The Backup is one of their most popular models and is chambered in .45 ACP.

This one ships with a 2.5” barrel, which is plenty of barrel for the type of “get off me” shooting these guns are designed for.

It’s definitely not perfect, and any kind of multi-target engagement is going to be a problem, as a backup weapon for pocket carry or to keep in an ankle holster, I think it’s pretty reasonable for most common self-defense scenarios.

Like most of their products, however, you can quickly and easily do a caliber swap and drop in one of the many different lengths and caliber barrels Bond Arms offers.

Like most (all) derringers, the trigger is stiff, and the hammer is hard to pull back, so make sure you have the hand strength to handle that and don’t expect to be hitting reliably past “bad breath distance.”

3. Bond Arms Ranger II - Easiest to Shoot

Easiest to Shoot

Bond Arms Ranger II

$572

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$572 at BattleHawk Armory

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .45 Colt/.410
• Barrel Length: 4.25"
• Overall Length: 6.25"
• Weight: 23.5 oz.
• Capacity: 2

The Bond Arms Ranger II is probably the easiest derringer to shoot on this list.

It comes with a 4.25” barrel, which is honestly bigger than what most people would expect from a derringer. However, it is a very useful and usable barrel length no matter how you slice it, and it does well with the .45 LC/.410 barrels.

You get all the solid upsides of a derringer in that it is simple, easy to use, and virtually bombproof, and comes in a fairly usable package that you can take into the woods or keep on you for self-defense.

And, of course, for something that’s just plain fun to shoot at the range or to be a little silly with, there are few things better.

This derringer won’t beat your hand up like the others either, so you won’t shoot it once and leave it in the back of the safe until you decide to trade it in towards a J-frame or something similar.

What's your take on the Bond Arms? Rate them below!

4. American Derringer Model M-4 Alaskan - Heaviest Hitter

Specs

• Caliber: .45 Colt/.410, .45-70 Govt.
• Barrel Length: 4.1"
• Overall Length: 6"
• Weight: 16.5 oz.
• Capacity: 2

Are you looking for a survival derringer? I mean, a derringer that will help you survive almost anything? Well, the American Derringer Model M-4 Alaskan may be exactly what you need.

This thing has a 4.1” barrel chambered in .45 LC/.410, which is pretty standard for derringers like this.

But this derringer has another barrel chambered in something else we’ve talked about so far --- it’s chambered in .45-70 Govt.

If you’ve ever shot a rifle chambered in .45-70, you probably felt it in your shoulder the next day. I personally have no desire to ever shoot one again. In a pistol? A derringer, no less? I hope you have good insurance cause your wrist is in peril.

So why put it on this list? Why is it even a thing that exists? Surely it’s just a joke gun, right? A meme cannon to let your buddies shoot at the range with no practical value? Well...not quite.

While the better backup bear gun is something like a .454 Casull revolver, a light backup chambered in .45-70 is a whole lot better than nothing.

The M-4 Alaskan is a survival gun that can pack down extremely light and be used as a practical(ish) backup hunting weapon. Finally, it’s just a freakin’ hilarious thing to own, and it makes a good conversation starter and head-turner.

There is one problem...you can't get these new anymore, so you have to fend for yourself on ArmsList or Gunbroker.

Honorable Mention

NAA Mini Revolver

Highest Capacity

North American Arms Mini Revolvers

$207

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$207 at GrabAGun

Sportsman's Guide (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .22 Short, .22LR, .22 Mag
• Barrel Length: 1.13" - 4"
• Overall Length: 3.63" - 7.88″
• Weight: 4 oz. - 10.8 oz
• Capacity: 5

There are a few guns out there that a lot of people call a “derringer,” even though they don’t technically meet the accepted definition or aren’t quite a normal derringer.

The NAA line of mini-revolvers is something you might be interested in if you are also interested in the derringer concept.

NAA specializes in some really well-designed, good-looking, and surprisingly functional mini revolvers chambered in .22 LR, .22 Short, and .22 Mag.

You can get a gun that is 4” long, weighs less than 5oz, and carries five rounds of .22 in a shockingly usable package. Your biggest problem might be leaving one in your jeans and forgetting it's in there.

While .22 LR isn’t the world’s best self-defense round by any means, I don’t think anyone wants to get shot by one either. As a "get-off-me" weapon, it’s certainly better than nothing.

Beyond self-defense, good lord, are these things fun. They have almost no recoil and are surprisingly accurate, if a bit challenging to use.

History of the Derringer

Way back in 1852, John Deringer (one “r”) came up with the idea for a small, easily concealed pistol with a large bore that could be conveniently carried in the outer pocket of a gentleman's coat.

He called it the Philadelphia Deringer, and it immediately caught on and spawned a huge number of copies, which, to avoid trademark issues, were sold as Derringers (with two “r”s).

Capitalism happened, and the name of the copy stuck.

Today, derringers are sold all over the world and are still incredibly popular with those looking to defend themselves, but they are mostly novelties, range toys, and just interesting things to have around.

That said, they’ll still put a big hole in a threat, so don’t discount them for self-defense, even if there are better options out there these days.

So, without further ado, here are some of the best and most practical derringers on the market

Why You Should Trust Us

This article was written by Pew Pew Tactical contributing writer Megan Kriss. Megan is an avid recreational shooter and part-time writer and editor. She has an extensive linguistics and writing background, having written for Recoil, Allstate, Pew Pew Tactical, and even celebrity plastic surgeons. She also has experience in international affairs and political policy analysis.

This review was edited by Pew Pew Tactical Editor Wyatt Sloan. Wyatt is an NRA and USCCA-certified instructor with previous experience as a competitive shooter. He personally owns over 200 firearms and has experience behind various Bond Arms products. He also has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. Wyatt uses his extensive experience with firearms at large to test guns for Pew Pew Tactical — evaluating them based on our standards and metrics.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers and edited this review. She is an NRA-certified Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Thoughts

The derringer may be a little old-fashioned, but it hasn’t gone the way of the dodo just yet. There are still some people out there who carry them every day, whether because they like the idea of a small pocket gun or because they’re just plain cool.

Then again, they can be surprisingly fun at the range as well and will certainly stand out from all the black rifles and polymer pistols that will be taking up the lanes all around you.

Whatever your reason, if you’re looking to own a derringer, there are some great options out there, including some ones that make great carry guns, great survival weapons, or great range toys.

What do you think of derringers? Which one of these is your favorite? Let me hear from you in the comments! For some more...normal CCW weapons, check out our Best Concealed Carry Guns guide!