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Post by erich on Feb 25, 2013 12:49:22 GMT -5
The quality of construction is just remarkable - I have a great deal of pride of ownership in this one that I picked up brand new earlier this month on GunBroker for $290 (feel like I got a screaming good deal - lucked out with an auction that ended during the Super Bowl).  Even though Bond has this one chambered in ".45 Long Colt, it still chambers my .45 Colt rounds.     It's accurate . . . considering. Windage is pretty dead-on. Bottom barrel (which really does recoil straight back into the palm - definitely the one you want to go off first) shoots from 1-3" low (depending on the loading) and the top barrel shoots from 8-10" high at 10 yards. Velocities were interesting. With the 225-gr Hornady FTX, max loads of Blue Dot gave around 745 fps average, 4756 gave around 715, and Green Dot gave about 870. With the 200-gr LSWC, a heavy loading of HS-6 (mag prmr) gave about 850 fps. A moderate load of Unique under a 255-grain LSWC did about 745 fps (and was the most accurate on windage - dead on. A warm HS-6 (mag prmr) loading under a 255-grain LSWC gave me a remarkably consistent 775 fps. The gun was right on the cusp of being unpleasant to shoot in the windy, overcast 36° F morning. The 200-grainers were noticeably more pleasant to shoot than the 255s, and the Green Dot loads were notably more powerful than the other loads with the Hornady FTX bullet. Absolutely nifty!  |
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Post by Admin on Feb 25, 2013 18:55:10 GMT -5
Great Pics.That gun is beautiful. You got a heck of a deal.
Everything on that gun looks well made. From the grips, barrel, and frame.
I have seen a cowboy defender very similar go for around 389 and that was used.
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Post by graytr on Feb 25, 2013 19:18:08 GMT -5
swweet gun. the results seem pretty good with the ammo. Do you reload your own ammo?
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Post by erich on Feb 26, 2013 12:03:33 GMT -5
Thanks, amigos. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I lucked-out with a screaming good deal. I'm also quite pleased that the hammer on this one is one of the easier ones to work (I've noticed that there's some variability on this between different specimens) and that is has a nice trigger. I do roll my own ammo - it just occurred to me that I have yet to fire a factory round through this gun!  |
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Post by Admin on Feb 26, 2013 20:42:19 GMT -5
It is really gratifying to shoot your own reloads. I reload 380 acp and every time I shoot, I feel a sense of accomplishment. Its a lot of fun to reload and have so much control over the outcome of the ammo.
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Post by erich on Feb 26, 2013 21:22:40 GMT -5
I started 'loading in '86 or so, just to be able to shoot as a poor college student. I've gotten decently serious about it in the past 25 years. |
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Post by Admin on Mar 4, 2013 19:44:18 GMT -5
erich, How is the 45 colt and 410 to handle in your bond arms. Also do you typically use magnum primers in all 45 colt reloads or just some?
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Post by erich on Mar 4, 2013 21:50:11 GMT -5
Mine is .45 Colt only. No .410. Better rifling in the .45 Colt only barrels equals more velocity. The stiff handloads are just on the cusp of being unpleasant to shoot (without quite making it to unpleasant). I use magnum primers when the powder calls for it: HS-6 requires magnum primers for best results. I used standard large pistol primers with the 7625, Unique Blue Dot and Green Dot loadings. |
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Post by mic214 on Mar 6, 2013 14:06:39 GMT -5
Erich, You got one heck of a deal on that Defender! I have been checking the auction sites and the lowest I found one was for $350.00 (Used) and those didn't last long at all! The other Bond derringers were in calibers that I didn't want (9mm, .40, .44-40, etc....). I wanted one in .45 Colt so I could use it for Cowboy action shooting and have all of my guns (handguns and rifle) be the same caliber. I finally did get a deal on a Snake Slayer in .45 Colt/.410. I got it (NIB) for $420.00, which I thought was a pretty decent deal. Mine should get here on Friday. I also ordered a Hunter Holster for it as well and, according to UPS, that should get here on Friday too..... ! I will post some pics when I get everything home. Eventually I plan to get a .38spl/.357mag barrel set for it, so my lovely bride can also use it for Cowboy action shooting as well. |
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Post by erich on Mar 6, 2013 15:35:28 GMT -5
Hi Mick, Great to see you here, partner! Man, I really did luck out - it was clear that the seller wasn't thrilled with the auction price, but he was very professional about it. You're going to love that Snake Slayer - the quality of these things is really pretty remarkable. I've been thinking about more barrels, too, and have even bid on some, but haven't found the right set at the right price yet. I'll look forward to seeing your pictures - maybe you can strap it to one of those tom turkeys whose photos you put up on the other forum.  |
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Post by mic214 on Mar 6, 2013 20:38:36 GMT -5
Hi Mick, Great to see you here, partner! Man, I really did luck out - it was clear that the seller wasn't thrilled with the auction price, but he was very professional about it. You're going to love that Snake Slayer - the quality of these things is really pretty remarkable. I've been thinking about more barrels, too, and have even bid on some, but haven't found the right set at the right price yet. I'll look forward to seeing your pictures - maybe you can strap it to one of those tom turkeys whose photos you put up on the other forum. I can't wait for Friday to get here!!!! I would like to USE it on one of those Tom Turkeys..... |
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Post by erich on Mar 6, 2013 23:01:30 GMT -5
You and my mom! (She's got quite the flock that comes every morning.) Well, maybe with an extra full choke . . . |
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Post by erich on Nov 3, 2013 17:09:45 GMT -5
Loaded up some .45 Cowboy Special handloads to see about maximizing performance in the short tube. Those are .45 ACP +P loadings in brass that has the .45 Colt rim, so they'll work in the .45 Colt gun.  Sent from my DROID BIONIC using proboards |
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Post by outlaw on Nov 12, 2013 16:53:26 GMT -5
How is the recoil with the small grips ?
I have only fired mine with the extended wood grips in the 45lc.
You really did get a good buy on your derringer
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Post by erich on Nov 12, 2013 17:47:15 GMT -5
No doubt! The stocks are short, but they're fat. Bond really did a great job of re-designing the traditional derringer gripframe: relatively heavy .45 Colt loads (I'm talking ones that are throwing 255-grainers at just south of 800 fps from the 3" tubes, and others that are throwing 225-grainers at 865 fps) are tolerable in the little beastie. They will wear on a fellow (shoot 20 of them in a row with no glove and you get a little tired of it), but it's nothing like the unpleasantness in your wrist after rapid DAing 6 240-gr .44 Magnum loads or even the ping-pong-paddle-against-your-outstretched-palm feel of Buffalo Bore ".380+P" loads in a Ruger LCP. |
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