+P in a Bond Arms 44 Special

[Trey45]

I'm getting conflicting reports from everywhere I turn, including Bond Arms themselves.
Does anyone have a definitive answer if +P is safe in a Bond Arms 44 Special.
I'm not planning on feeding it a steady diet of them, I'm planning to shoot standard velocity and carry +P if safe to do so.

It's a Cowboy Defender 44 Special.

[looseprojectile]

is chambered in 40 S&W and 45 auto which are much higher pressure cartridges.

I would take that to mean the gun would probably take the higher pressure of the +P 44 special loads.
I would not load my 44 specials to higher pressures than a 45 auto.

Of course I have enjoyed a lifetime of pushing the limit and have been lucky.

You are on your own


Life is good

[Lloyd Smale]

buddys got one in 44 mag and has run 300 grain heavy loads in it so 44 specials loaded warm should be no problem at all.

[Trey45]

buddys got one in 44 mag and has run 300 grain heavy loads in it so 44 specials loaded warm should be no problem at all.

I did a lot of reading yesterday and found the same thing mentioned several times, your thoughts on this mirror mine.

When I called Bond Arms and asked about +P, I was answered flatly "No" with no explanation given, just one word... NO. When I asked the guy a few more questions he really didn't seem to know what he was talking about and I have every indication that they connected me with the janitor to talk to about this. He didn't seem to know that +P 38's in a 357 mag chamber were safe, he told me no +P at all.....

In articles linked off of Bond Arms home page they mention the use of +P in several of them however. I'll be picking the derringer up later today, I have loaded 3 sets of data for 2 different boolits, and have a fresh battery in the chrono, I'll come up with something decent by the end of the day.

[Jim]

..... and have a fresh battery in the chrono, .....

A CHRONY? Where the dickens did you get a chrony?

[Trey45]

Some old fart mailed me one, postage due!

[Jim]

I'd keep an eye on that. Sounds to me like a set up for "You owe me....."

[W.R.Buchanan]

I personally think you should load some of these with about 6.5 gr of Unique and be done with it.

This is the Mihec 431-256, .44 SWCHP @ 240gr with the pentagonal hole in the end. Also available with 2 different round holes at 250 ish gr and as a solid at 260 gr. All from the same mould!

If this don't deal with your problem, a few extra FPS won't either. No need to push the gun, just the big gaping hole will do it's work.

These are suppose to fully open at 600 fps. That load should make at least 600 fps from a Bond Derringer.

I think this is the coolest boolit any one makes.

My .02,,,

Randy

[Trey45]

I've got a few molds to choose from already, I cast a bunch of pure lead 429215 GC HP for this pistol, and I'm using some very hard Ogival wadcutters as well.

I have a Mihec 432423 with penta pins I could use as well.

[W.R.Buchanan]

There you go. and those flying trash cans wouldn't be a bad option either.

Anything that gets hit by any of those boolits will experience a "Bad Day!"

My primary Sling Shot ammo is Lee 240gr SWC's.

They make a big impression on anything they hit, and that's at sling shot velocities.

I think you've got this covered.

Randy

[Gunslinger1911]

Ha ha I have an American Arms 45/410 derringer - about the same as your Bond 44. Yep, a real handfull with the origional grips !! Wish Pachmayer made grips for derringers !! But then, you have a bigger package thats not as easy to hide.

My 190 g hp at mouse fart velocity should ruin someones day.

Good luck with the experimenting !!

[Catshooter]

Trey,

I have zero experience with the Bond.

However, isn't it a bigger better version of the American Derringer? I can tell you that ADC has chambered theirs in such lovely calibers as 44 Mag, 30-30, 223, 50 Action Express. My ADC in 45 ACP/AR will throw my 265 grain Keiths at over 900 fps with no problems. They are quite strong. I would tend to think that the Bond is at least as strong if not stronger.

Good luck.


Cat

[.5mv^2]

If you get just the right powder and bullet you might get a nice fireball like in my avatar. If I use 8 grains of Unique and a 230 grain bullet I get them every shot in my 45 Colt Bond.

No way would I like shooting a +P in the Colt. You may find that your limit is reached before the gun has.

[Trey45]

I appreciate all the info! There's no way I would feed this little derringer a steady diet of +P, they would be strictly for carry, I don't think my wrists would put up with it for long.

[roverboy]

I'm sure your Bond derringer will be strong enough for a few +P loads, but the recoil may be rough. A friend of mine has American Arms .38 Spl., and I shot some +P 158 gr. in it and every time I fired I had to readjust the gun in my hand. It would be pointing straight up. I say don't worry, just have fun.