Nicolas Lenze 02.22.23
What features should a defensive firearm have? Do they all need 17 rounds on board? Is a red dot necessary? While these technological advances have changed what some people consider a minimum standard, remember that many bad guys are underground right now thanks to well-placed shots from gut guns. The idea of a derringer is an old one, but what works then still works now. Following this philosophy, Bond Arms has been selling two-shot, short-barreled defensive pistols since 1995, and has been extremely successful. The latest of these pocket-sized pews is the Bond Arms Stinger RS, available in .380 ACP, 9x19mm, and .38 SPL.
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The Bond Arms Stinger RS: Specifications
- Caliber: .380 ACP, 9x19mm, .38 SPL
- Capacity: 2
- Barrel length: 3”
- Operation: Single action
- Weight: 16-18 ounces
- MSRP: $279.00
Initial Thoughts
I picked up two Stinger RS pistols from Centennial Gun Club; one in .380 and one in 9mm. As with twins and their fingerprints, these firearms are completely identical, except for their calibers. Both feature three-inch barrels, fixed sights, and stainless steel construction.
Swinging down the lever on the left side opens the firearm for loading and unloading. These guns are single-action only and use a cross-bolt safety.
This Might Sting A Bit
Small guns are rarely fun to shoot, but with these being chambered in such light calibers, I expected this to be a pain-free session at the range.
These guns aren’t meant to take 15-yard shots, so I won’t force them to. That’s not their purpose, and I don’t see a reason to test them that way. If you want a Glock 19, carry one. The Bond Arms guns fit into a very different role. So, I shot some groups with each gun from five yards. The .380 mirrored what I saw with the 9mm version. What I found was that ammo selection really matters. First up were some bulk FMJ remanufactured rounds.
With the same point of aim, the bottom barrel hit dead on and the top barrel flew pretty high. It’s still within the torso of the average-sized bad guy, but I wouldn’t try to stretch this to 10 yards. So, I loaded up some 147-grain Sig V-Crown defensive loads. Take a peep at the difference. Also, spicy ammo hurts. There’s no way around physics, and the force put into my palm from those V-Crown rounds was almost unbearable. This won’t be a fun range toy.
When it comes to defense, speed is your friend. Being the first one to get a shot off can mean the difference between being a crispy Greedo or a free and scruffy-looking Han Solo. Unfortunately, I don’t have a holster for these, which I’m sure would cut down on my time. Instead, I carried like a real G. On the beep, I drew from my Spiritus Systems Fanny SACK and put two rounds on paper.
On average, carrying the gun with the hammer down and safety on, I got both shots off in about six seconds. That’s not great, but with practice, that number would come down pretty easily.
Twinning ‘Til the End
The Bond Arms Stinger RS isn’t going to be my first choice every time I leave the house. When I choose to carry a Bond Arms derringer is when I’m on the water and don’t have space for a larger gun. There’s a stream near my apartment where I often take my four-year-old son. There are some less desirable types who camp nearby at times, and I like to be armed even when I’m in shorts and a smile.
For that purpose, I actually carry the Bond Arms Grizzly with two rounds of Hornady Triple Defensive .410 shotshells. I think this is much more practical than 9mm or .380 when dealing with people. The Stinger RS will probably live in my chest rig while fishing. With 9mm shotshells, this would be a perfect snake gun. That gives me the option of having a more potent predator-defense gun on my hip.
About half the time I was emptying the chambers, I would have to pick one of the empty cases out with my nails, so don’t count on any speed reloads. The only thing operationally that I really don’t care for is the safety. It can be difficult to reach and lives pretty close to the frame of the Stinger. Call me crazy, but I just carry it with the hammer down and the safety off, since it’s the thing that really slows me down. There’s nothing else in the main pocket of the Fanny SACK, and it’s completely enclosed, so I’m not worried.
If you decide to use the Bond Arms Stinger RS for defense, I’d recommend the 9mm version. If I only have two shots, I want to make sure they hit as hard as possible.
If you’re considering picking one up, head to the Bond Arms website. If you’d like to see more from Bond Arms, be sure to follow along on social media. They have some cool stuff in the works. Bond Arms can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Stay safe!
