Bond Arms Snake Slayer

Bond Arms Snake Slayer.

The Bond Arms Snake Slayer  is probably my favorite handgun. There is a story behind how I got it that starts with a snake in the house, a friend sending me a link to the Bond Derringer website with the Snake Slayer as a joke and resulting in my family ordering one for Fathers day a number of years ago.

A little background, I have been conceal and carry for a long time with many different handguns throughout the years. I’ve tried numerous methods of carry. I have also read and listened to so many different  opinions on what, how, where and how much ammunition to carry that it became overwhelming and confusing.

The thing I learned through 30 plus years of carrying is, it’s all someone else’s opinion.   If you don’t like what, where and how you carry, you won’t carry.  It’s always good to hear new ideas, and try new things, but in my opinion, find what you are comfortable with, what works for you and be good at it. Being good at it is one of the most important.

Carrying based on a TV version of a “defensive” situation has never been my plan. I think of carrying a concealed handgun like having a fire extinguisher. I never plan to use it, but I like knowing I have it.

That said, I carry my Bond Arms Snake Slayer as my everyday choice.  And before all the comments about its faults…let me say…

Yes, it is only two shots. I use the Winchester PDX1 410 which combines three plated Defense Disc™ projectiles and 12 pellets of plated BB shot. Good for up close.

And yes it is heavy for a small gun that only has two shots. Compared to other semi auto’s available, it’s a tank.

Which is another good thing. It is built solid and simple. There are safety features such cross bolt safety, rebounding hammer and yes, single action.

In my State there is  duty to retreat. no castle doctrine, etc. So in my mind a CCW is a means of last resort. The Bond Arms Derringer does exactly that. Practicing drawing from concealed position includes pulling the hammer during the draw from the holster.

And comfort, I have never liked the line that basically says “CCW is not supposed to be comfortable, but comforting”.  For me if its uncomfortable, I probably wouldn’t carry as much and I wont think about it a s a natural part of my outfit. So, if I am to carry everyday, it needs to be just part of getting ready to leave the house and feel comfortable and secure. Which brings me to holsters.

If you are like me you have a closet full of holsters. Inside the waistband, outside, pocket, sticky, Remora,and  Bond Arm driving holster. It takes a holster store in your closet to find what works and what I found recently (that has become my new favorite) is the “Galco JAK212 Jak Slide Belt Holster ,The Jak Slide”  It fist my Bersa and my Bond. Its fits under the belt but outside the pants. I can change to shorts or jeans and it doesn’t matter. It has been carried in the 1 o’clock or 4 o’clock and even the 11 o’clock position.  It’s very versatile.

On another side note, I don’t like buying clothes in bigger sizes just to cover my weapon, so this has been the perfect solution for me. I also don’t always wear a heavy leather belt. I have found that this holster works under most types of belts. The gun is held in place by the belt pressure and keeps it in tight to your body.

But I did have it slightly modified, I took it to the local leather shop and had him punch a couple holes and add a small leather  loop that fist over the hammer.  It gives me a bit more security, especially if I am doing a lot of activity that includes a lot of bending over etc.

You’ll probably think that is just slows the draw down more, it can slow it down slightly, but since for me drawing  the single action derringer includes pulling back the hammer, slipping the loop off and pulling the hammer seems to work into a simple movement.

Here are a few pictures of the holster and mod.