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Was reading my Blue Press magazine and saw an ad for something called "Snake Slayer" mfg. by Bond arms a two shot derringer. Does anyone have one of these or any of the Bond Arms derringers and if so, is there a bad recoil, how do they shoot and do you like the gun? How loud is it? Looking for something that I could actually shoot a snake with or rodents etc, in my yard. I got a 22lr pistol but was told unless I hit the snake between the eyes, most likely wouldn't kill it with a 22lr. Might not kill a rat, coon or opossum with it either. Nothing worse than a mad coon or opossum.

Seniorshootress if you want something for snakes you already have it, they make shotshells for that lil pink lady in 38sp. Also a lot cheaper than a Bond in a .410 would be a snake charmer shotgun. Short bbl, 18" and easy to shoot. Even holds 2 extra shells in the buttstock. CCI 38spl/357 shotshells, 1/4oz, #9 shot approximately 135 pellets. Wife just shot some today out of her Rossi 38 spl and liked them.

+ 1 on what Sidro said. Any Derringer that I have ever shot was nasty at its best.

George

If you want to know how those derringers feel when you shoot them do this; 1. get a big hammer 2. put your hand on a hard surface 3. hit your hand as hard as you can. If you like that you will love one of those .410 derringers.

Shotshells for your .38 or your .22 will do the job you are interested in.

Quote: "Shotshells for your .38 or your .22 will do the job you are interested in."

Maybe if interest is in getting reeeeal close to a snake. My experience with the handgun shotshells, both on snakes and on paper, is the shot density is just not there for quick stops beyond spitting distance. The .410 shotshells would be better, but preferably out of a real shotgun. Whether out of a handgun or rifle, the rifling in each has a tendency to make small shot pellets spread much more quickly than out of a smoothbore - which even the Bond "snake gun" derringers are not.

I am not real interested in getting close to snakes. Just wanted tohave something I could carry around in my pocket in case I see one wiggling around in my yard. I am really afraid of snakes. Thanks for all the info. I got the general idea that I wouldn't like trying to shoot the Snake Slayer so thanks to all for the input. Guess I will use my pink lady as it is a revolver and my 22lr is a semi auto. I am hoping I don't see any more snakes this year (yeah right) Had a water moc inside my garage last year and was scared it was going to get me before I got it with a sharpened hoe. Put out snake repellent so it had to have come in through the garage door while it was up, only place the repellent wasn't put. Corrected that mis calculation this year.

seniorshooteress,

I understand many of us are snake phobic, but please don't shoot every snake you happen upon. Most snakes are the non-venomous variety and are very beneficial, but of course you have to know how to identify them. I do, but if you don't, perhaps you could look them up on the internet. North America has only four venomous, all fairly easy to identify once you know what to look for.

That said, my yard has been quite the attractant for venomous snakes this Spring. Yesterday, I was forced to kill a Coral snake as it was within fifteen feet of a brick weep hole and could quite possibly have entered my house. This was the fourth Coral snake I've seen in my yard. The other three I was able to escort to the woods.

My wife encountered it next to her car door just as she was entering the car. She yelled and out of the house I came. I tried initially to re-locate it with two sticks, but it was extremely quick and promptly got away from me and was within 15 feet or so from the house and was heading directly for it. I felt terrible about killing it. Coral snakes are exquisitely beautiful, but quite deadly. Yes, I know they have small fangs and where those fangs are located, but no way am I going to chance having one get in my house.

Last week, while spraying outside, my pest control guy spotted a copperhead with four young, on the border of my house and the forest, on the west side of the house, quite close by. Week before that, I spotted one of the biggest Cottonmouths I'd ever seen sunning itself on a log next to a log I was trimming to turn into mulch. Since he was not in my yard (though close by) I simply marveled at what a beauty he was and left him alone.

I've seen approximately a dozen non-venomous snakes in my yard and breezeway in the last year. They keep rodents from becoming such a huge nuisance. Being in the country, we have a fairly distinct problem with rodents and snakes take care of many of them.

Generally speaking snakes are our friends.

Honestly.

Learn to identify the poisionous snakes and leave the others alone. Like Abraham, I won't kill a poisionous snake unless it's absolutely necessary.

I've seen the Bond Arms firearms, they look nice. What I have/use - an NAA .22 Magnum with CCI snakeshot/ratshot. It's small and amazingly concealable, holds 5 rounds, single-shot.

I own one. The triggers are a little finicky, but the overall design is nice.

MoJo's description of the effects on your hand of shooting .410 shotshell out of a Bond Arms Snake Slayer is a bit dramatic. I wouldn't say his assessment is accurate though. HOWEVER, after shooting about 10 rounds of .410 buckshot out of that puppy, I was disinclined to continue shooting.

It's a great, compact way to carry .410 though.

P.S. - the SS .45LC/.410 derringer weights about an ounce or two more than a Glock 19. It's not lightweight.

Seniorshooteress, I just bought a bond arms derringer about two weeks ago. I got the cowboy defender chambered in 45/410. My reason for purchasing it was simply that I have wanted one for years. There really was no practicality to it. I can tell you for a fact it is a lot of fun to shoot.

I do think that it would be a very effective snake gun. A #4 shotshell peppers a man-sized target from head to groin at 5 yards. It has a strong kick, but not as bad as I was expecting. I am not very recoil sensitive, so your mileage may vary. The Snake Slayer has larger handle than the cowboy defender, so this should help you manage the recoil.

The accuracy is better than I expected. I can put .45 colt center of mass at 20 yards. That being said, this is definitely a belly gun. While this baby would do some major damage at close range, it is somewhat limited as a self-defense weapon IMO. I must say, those two big bore barrels would be an intimidating sight for any attacker however!

It is quite heavy. The hammer is a very stiff and requires a fair amount of hand strength to cock. It has a heavy trigger, but given the fact that there is no trigger guard (on mine at least) this is probably good.

This would make a very effective snake gun, if the recoil does not bother you too much. I will take mine camping as it will make a nifty survival tool with minimal space requirements.

Overall I give it two thumbs up, understanding that it is not for everyone and I want you to know what you will be getting. If you get it with the intention of being a speciality tool, I don't think you will be disappointed. If you get it because you think it will be fun to shoot, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Remember the old rhyme:

Red and Yellow, Kill a Fellow
Red and Black, Friend of Jack

..as if anyone ever forgets it.

TLE2 wrote:Remember the old rhyme:

Red and Yellow, Kill a Fellow
Red and Black, Friend of Jack

..as if anyone ever forgets it.

Strange...I always thought is was:

AIEE!! SNAKE!!!! *BANG*

I mean, who the hell has time to recite poetry when you see a snake?

I feel the same way when it comes to ignorance...

lkd wrote:
AIEE!! SNAKE!!!! *BANG*

That's my snake mantra...