None of the 2 shot derringers that I've owned were very accurate, you only get 2 shots and they weigh as much and are as hard to pack as most light weight 5 shot revolvers or semis but if you have to get one I'd say go with one in 357Mag, feed it 38spl and shoot a few mag rounds every now and again to remind you of how it feels because these little guns don't manage recoil very well at all. JMHO, YMMV.

 

Bond arms quality is great & there are some nasty .410 rounds (winchester pdx). It is a cool gun to have just for the heck of it. I use mine as a BUG sometimes. Get a 2nd barrel if you want a different caliber option but you have to buy it with the .45/.410 it's alot of fun to shoot.

 

I've had short barrel 410 handguns (still have one) and I'm not a fan.

I bought my Bond in 45ACP.
A Derringer is awkward to use, so if you plan on getting one expect to put in some practice to get good with it.

My Bond's accuracy is pretty good, if you ever had to shoot it that far away.

Both barrels (on mine) don't shoot in the same place so you have to know which barrel will fire first, in case you have to adjust.

 

For no good reason I want one, too.

I'm thinking the 4.25" version with the .45/.410 first, then an extra set of bbls in .44sp.
I like the .44sp for the rimmed case, easier to extract, same ballistics as .45acp and can use a speedstrip.

I know, I know, it's impractical as hell, but I still want one.

 

I've always had a strange desire for a Bond in ACP. Luckily my logical half has kept me from wasting my money. I want it to throw in a pocket for quick trips out, but it is so damn heavy! It weight the same as my 6 shot ACP revolver!

 

I like mine.
It is a 10mm.
:wavey:

 

I've never considered my Bond to be a pocket gun. Large coat pocket, maybe...
Too big & heavy.

The .410 is a marginal defensive load in a shotgun, looses a LOT in the shortbarreled derringer.
I'd go for a dedicated handgun round if you're figuring on self-defense.
I have .357 & .45 Colt barrels for mine.
Denis

 

Loses, not looses.

 

45 ACP will be less expensive when you get the urge to go plinking and run a few hundred rounds though it. . . :supergrin:

 

Among some other wonderful gifts, the men that I worked with at the railroad took up a collection, and I was given this Bond Arms Derringer. They all knew of my love of guns. They also knew that I frequently walk around my place here in the country, and were thinking of the derringer as a means of snake protection.

This Bond Arms Derringer is rock solid, but as others have said, rather heavy, and the limitations in ammo capacity prevent concealed carry. The guys also gave me a holster for the gun, so in its primary role of snake protection, it is perfect.

It is the one gun that might get tossed in the casket with me. It is a prized possession, and will never be sold or given away.

 

I have the oversized grips on mine, and a holster. It makes a great snake gun with shot loads.
Denis

 

To be fair, the 2.5" .410 Federal 000 4 ball load seems to get decent ballistics from the long barrel version- about 900fps for a 280gr payload.

Not sure what that translates to in terms of jello or pine boards...etc, but it looks like a good step up from most non-handgun oriented .410 loads.

 

I had a Bond Arms Texas Defender with both .45 ACP and .410/.45 Colt barrels (both the 3" version, so the .410 had only 1/2" of barrel past the end of the .410 shell). It was a fun little gun, and I did carry it from time to time as a BUG. It went away when I had to put a new roof on my house. Hopefully I will eventually be able to afford another one.

That said, I don't think the .410 is particularly useful out of such a small gun. The .45 ACP barrel was reasonably accurate and didn't give up too much ballistically. Here is some chronograph data:

Winchester Ranger T 230 grain, Ave. Velocity 793 fps, Ave. Muzzle Energy 321 ft-lbs.

Federal "Handgun" .410 2 1/2" 000 Buck, Ave. Velocity 611 fps, Ave. Muzzle Energy 232 ft-lbs.

With only two shots, I'd take the bigger, heavier projectile with almost 100 ft-lbs more energy. The .410 was fun, and I expect it would work fine at extremely close range. On the other hand, the .45 ACP was accurate enough to get good hits at 15 yards with practice.

 

To be fair, the 2.5" .410 Federal 000 4 ball load seems to get decent ballistics from the long barrel version- about 900fps for a 280gr payload.

I haven't tried any of the new .410 handgun loads.
I have a 7 inch barrel TC .410. A couple years ago I tested the S&B 5 ball 00 Buckshot load. A pretty hot load.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/61952-1.html

I used a wood 2x6 and 1 inch plywood. Shot from about 6-7 yards.

The deepest any buckshot penetrated the wood was 3/4 inch measured to the front of the ball. This was not hardwood, just your normal house building lumber.
None of the buckshot made it through the plywood.

I think that any load considered as even a marginal defense load should at least make it through a two inch board. And consider this was a 7 inch barrel, not the very short barrel on a Derringer.


Years back I had a .410 Derringer that had about a 3 inch barrel. It kicked like a horse but from about 7 yards some of the #7.5 shot wouldn't even make it through both sides of a cardboard box.


Last week a lady brought the Taurus Judge to my range. She had a box of handgun buckshot loads.
Even from close range the spread of the buckshot pellets was IMO too great.

The 45 shot OK in the gun from close up.

 

I haven't tried any of the new .410 handgun loads.
I have a 7 inch barrel TC .410. A couple years ago I tested the S&B 5 ball 00 Buckshot load. A pretty hot load.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/61952-1.html

I used a wood 2x6 and 1 inch plywood. Shot from about 6-7 yards.

The deepest any buckshot penetrated the wood was 3/4 inch measured to the front of the ball. This was not hardwood, just your normal house building lumber.
None of the buckshot made it through the plywood.

I think that any load considered as even a marginal defense load should at least make it through a two inch board. And consider this was a 7 inch barrel, not the very short barrel on a Derringer.


Years back I had a .410 Derringer that had about a 3 inch barrel. It kicked like a horse but from about 7 yards some of the #7.5 shot wouldn't even make it through both sides of a cardboard box.


Last week a lady brought the Taurus Judge to my range. She had a box of handgun buckshot loads.
Even from close range the spread of the buckshot pellets was IMO too great.

The 45 shot OK in the gun from close up.

I have read that before and I agree the typical buck loads don't perform very well, mostly they flatten and don't have nuch energy to begin with.
I think what enables the Fed 000 load to perform better is the harder plated pellets....it also stays much tighter at handgun ranges.
The chrono data I've seen put it at 877fps from a 4.25" Snake Slayer. I have no idea how that translates to wood, since pellets have no SD like bullets, but it overlaps .32acp (x4), so it's 'something' for a 280gr payload.

IMO .410 doesn't accomplish much in handguns generally, even this disc and BB Win load sounds like a waste of time- I'd rather NOT have my shots spraying the landscape vs hitting my attacker- but the Fed handgun 4 ball 000 load looks decent at any realistic Derringer range.

 

Three is no such thing as .45LC. It is just .45 Colt. That is an incorrect Fudd term.

 

What's the term for someone digging up a 13 year old thread to correct terminology? 🤔🤦‍♂️😂

 

Loses, not looses.