OpinionThe Clarys give us their ideas on the Bond Arms Snake Slayer Pistol, together with taking pictures it with some SIG Sauer Elite Efficiency Ammo.
The Bond Arms Snake Slayer is chambered for .45 Colt (generally known as the .45 Lengthy Colt) and .410 shot shell.
We’re clearly not speaking about James Bond’s Walther PPK, however Gordon Bond’s “Hand Cannon” that has extra energy and stopping energy than the previous.
That being stated, we wish to level out that despite the fact that the Bond gun can be categorized as a derringer by some people, we additionally desire the identify “Hand Cannon”. The Bond Arms Snake Slayer is chambered for .45 Colt (generally known as the .45 Lengthy Colt) and .410 shot shell.
Bond Arms Snake Slayer Pistol
The Bond body is machined from a strong block of high-grade chrome steel, in contrast to the actually low cost double-barrel pistols available on the market, whose frames are produced from alloys of unknown origin. Secondly, the Bond Bond Arms Snake Slayer is exclusive in that the barrels are interchangeable. You’ve got a alternative of 36 totally different barrels and 14 totally different calibers.
You learn accurately, one body and you may match barrels with 14 totally different calibers to it, relying upon your circumstances, the circumstances that you’ll use the gun and your private preferences. That attribute, in and of itself, is sufficient for most folk to contemplate shopping for this pistol.
The Bond Arms Snake Slayer is exclusive in that the barrels are interchangeable.
The Bond Arms Snake Slayer pistol is CAD-designed for optimum configuration. Nonetheless, extra importantly, the frames and barrels are machined utilizing Pc Numerically Managed (CNC) gear. This permits them to keep up tolerances of 0.001 of an inch. That’s what permits the Bond Arms Snake Slayer pistol to simply accept totally different barrels for varied cartridges with out custom-fitting by a gunsmith. Altering barrels requires solely a 1/8″ Allen wrench. The patented locking lever (which can be the speedy reloading lever) exactly locks the barrel to the body for an ideal match. To our data, that is the one derringer available on the market with the potential of adjusting barrels and calibers with no gunsmith being concerned.
They added plenty of further options to this gun, not discovered on different pocket pistols. For instance, there’s a chrome steel crossbolt security, a hammer that rebounds to a blocked place off of the firing pin, and a key entry inside Security Locking Gadget (SLD) which is an efficient youngster security machine.
You don’t incorporate these options right into a firearm except your goal is to supply the perfect available on the market. And, in our opinion, Bond Arms has succeeded in that purpose.
There are much more options. The chambers are honed to supply for a easy extraction of spent circumstances, and for rimless cartridges such because the 9mm Luger and .45 ACP, there’s a cutout on the breech finish of the barrel to allow their removing with a fingernail.
And, earlier than we overlook, the set off guard is detachable for many who need a extra “standard” look. We desire the guard because it makes it simpler to carry and hearth the gun with each fingers.
The one main questions that stay are: How does the Bond Arms Snake Slayer shoot & is the recoil manageable?
With that in thoughts, we headed to the Zia Rifle and Pistol Membership outdoors of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a number of containers of SIG SAUER Elite Ammunition. SIG was variety sufficient to supply us with each .45 Colt and .38 Spl. (our second barrel) for our exams. We’re appreciative of that, as a result of if you will take a look at a firearm for accuracy, you don’t want to make use of something besides high-quality ammunition. Our earlier exams of the SIG Elite Ammunition confirmed that it’s nearly as good because it will get.
We set our targets up at 15 yards. Given the quick barrel of the Snake Slayer, it’s unlikely that we might ever have to shoot it at greater than 15 yards. We used the Caldwell Tack Driver Taking pictures Relaxation for stability. Our targets had been Hoppe’s Bullseye Pistol Targets. We fired a number of 5 shot teams for document.
SIG Sauer Elite Efficiency .45 Colt, 230 grain V-Crown @ 850 fps (JHP) at 15 yards:
Smallest group: 1.75″
Largest group: 4.25″
Imply common group dimension: 2.25″
SIG Sauer Elite Efficiency .38 Spl., 125 grain V-Crown @ 965 fps (JHP) at 15 yards:
Smallest group: 1.50″
Largest group: 3.75″
Imply common group dimension: 2.00″
In case you’re questioning, We weren’t those who shot for accuracy. We enlisted the help of Dr. Donny MacDougall, DVM, who’s a champion shooter within the CMSA venues. We decided that if there was anybody who may “do justice” to the accuracy potential of the Snake Slayer, it might be Dr. Donny. And, we had been proper. As you may see from the outcomes above, the Bond Arms Snake Slayer is a fairly good taking pictures little gun. The recoil from the .45 Lengthy Colt is sort of stout. It’s positively not a caliber that you’d wish to shoot for enjoyable in a pocket pistol. Nonetheless, altering to the .38 Spl barrel, the Bond Arms Snake Slayer grew to become a enjoyable gun to shoot (and deadly). It’s not a goal pistol, however nonetheless able to respectable teams.
Dr. Donny MacDougall
The Snake Slayer has a fairly “heavy” set off, averaging 6 lbs. You possibly can blame that on the litigious liberals on the market who will sue firearms firms on the “drop of a hat“. Firms who put out weapons with “mild” triggers are their favourite targets.
Bond Arms suggests the next as the popular method to fireplace their weapons and stay on the right track:
With the hammer within the full cock place, grasp the grip together with your taking pictures hand ensuring that your hand isn’t touching the cocked hammer. Any quantity of strain utilized to the cocked hammer by your hand will enhance the set off pull considerably.
Make contact with the set off utilizing the pad of your set off finger. Keep away from pulling the set off with the bend of your first knuckle.
Pull the set off down, as an alternative of straight again. That solves the “heavy set off drawback” for most folk (together with us).
All in all, it is a very good gun for hid carry. That being stated, one nonetheless wants to contemplate a holster that can match this uniquely designed piece. We purchased every of the next Bond holsters:
“Within the Waistband Holster, #BAJ: This holster comes with a stout metallic belt clip and is made for hid carry within the small of your again, cross draw or with a robust hand presentation.”
Bond Arms Snake Slayer proven within the Waistband Holster, #BAJ
“Western Holster, #BWB: That is the Bond premium leather-based Western Holster. It comes with a hammer spur strap and belt loops for belts as much as 1 1/2″ width and two bullet loops for both .357/.38 or .45/.410.”
Bond Arms Snake Slayer in a Western Holster, #BWB
These holsters are made in Texas from high-quality leather-based supplies. The BAJ prices $62, whereas the BWB runs $73. not low cost, however high quality not often is.
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The specs of the Bond Arms Snake Slayer are:
Calibers: .45 Lengthy Colt / .410 or .38 Spl. / .357 Magnum
Total size: 5.5″
Barrel size: 3.5″
Sights: Entrance blade & Mounted rear
Weight: 22 oz.
Grips: Prolonged Rosewood
Origin: Granbury, Texas
What you get with a Bond Arms Snake Slayer is a hand-crafted firearm with a Lifetime Guarantee. The MSRP of the Snake Slayer is $568. (much less on-line) Given the truth that your preliminary Bond gun may be configured for a number of calibers and totally different barrel lengths, that could be a whole lot. Nonetheless, a phrase of warning: After you purchase one, you’ll positively wish to purchase a second, or no less than a number of extra barrels…. They Are That Good. Within the following image, Gordon Bond is holding what might be our subsequent acquisition, the Bond Texan with a 6″ barrel in .45 Colt / .410 calibers.
Doc, Gordon Bond and Mary on the 2017 SHOT Present
Creator’s notice: Common jacketed ammunition, FMJ or JHP, shot very effectively within the Snake Slayer. Nonetheless, we DO NOT advocate taking pictures any of the brand new copper-polymer matrix bullets. Matrix bullets are too mild (with too excessive a velocity) to stabilize in a brief barreled derringer. They tumble and can “print” a keyhole on the goal, in case you handle to even hit it. Whereas these bullets carry out very effectively in most semi-automatic pistols and revolvers, they’re simply not good for derringers.
About Jim and Mary Clary:
Jim and Mary Clary have co-authored over 300 and fifty articles (and counting) on taking pictures and looking. You possibly can learn lots of them on AmmoLand Information.
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