9mm or. 38 for a Bond Arms Stinger?

[T-Unit]

Looking at getting one and can't decide on which to get. Something I should mention is I intend to buy a .327 barrel and will reload that from mild .32 S&W to full house .327, but I have to choose either a 9mm or .38.

The appeal for the .38 is I load that too, but with 9mm it's cheap to shoot and more powerful.

Come on NES, haaaaalp.

 

[In God We Trust]

I’d go for the 9mm as it will give more barrel for the bullet to spin. I had a cobra in .38 and it was useless beyond 8 feet. I know that’s about the intended range for a derringer, but I still say 9mm is the way to go.

 

[Lennypeters]

Without looking it up I'm not sure I would agree that 9mm is more powerful than .38 special especially if you load .38's.

 

[drgrant]

Derringers are f***ing dumb, but @In God We Trust has a good point, and in 9mm it makes it slightly less dumb. (but not much, they are still pretty f***ing terrible once you get beyond the novelty factor).

 

[drgrant]

Without looking it up I'm not sure I would agree that 9mm is more powerful than .38 special especially if you load .38's.

38s struggle to get anywhere near 9mm velocity, that derringer will suck either way but it will suck slightly less with 9mm over a chrono.

 

[gerrycaruso]

I don't think it makes enough of a difference to matter. Aren't you going to shoot 327 most of the time anyway?

 

[Lennypeters]

I

38s struggle to get anywhere near 9mm velocity, that derringer will suck either way but it will suck slightly less with 9mm over a chrono.

I looked it up and stand corrected and am surprised at the difference in working pressure. 9mm is nearly double non +P ..38 special.

 

[Wickedcoolname]

It makes virtually zero difference. Flip a coin.

 

[Broc]

No need to reload for that gun, you will get bored of it within 20-30 rounds.

 

[EddieZoom]

45ACP....2 world wars /thread

Seriously, my bond arms is 45 but different caliber barrels are interchangeable and fairly inexpensive so....why not both ;-)

 

[rep308]

Have you fired one first? I have and no, nope, nada........

 

[T-Unit]

I don't think it makes enough of a difference to matter. Aren't you going to shoot 327 most of the time anyway?

IDK, depends if one caliber shoots better than the other.

 

[T-Unit]

45ACP....2 world wars /thread

Seriously, my bond arms is 45 but different caliber barrels are interchangeable and fairly inexpensive so....why not both ;-)

9mm is the largest caliber the Bond Stinger is available in. They were purpose made with that as the largest caliber.

 

[EddieZoom]

Got it. I've got the "Roughneck" with 45 and 9 barrels. I prefer 45.

Assuming there wasn't a big price or weight diff, I'd go with a model that allowed easy barrel swaps...one of the Bond Arms best features IMHO.

 

[Dennis in MA]

I'll never understand it. Ever. Ever-ever.

I owned a Bond Arms derringer for cowboy shooting years ago. It was cute for that.

But draw, COCK, sorta-aim, fire is NOT a smooth process. It is the least ergonomic system out there short of throwing bricks at your assailant. Odds are high you'll flub the cocking or drop it during some sort of movement.

You are 100x better off with a micro 380. You'll get 3x more rounds and pull and pull. Pull from concealment, pull trigger. BOOM!

But if you MUST to scratch that wild ass (or something like that), get the 9.

 

[EddieZoom]

I'll never understand it. Ever. Ever-ever.

I owned a Bond Arms derringer for cowboy shooting years ago. It was cute for that.

But draw, COCK, sorta-aim, fire is NOT a smooth process. It is the least ergonomic system out there short of throwing bricks at your assailant. Odds are high you'll flub the cocking or drop it during some sort of movement.

You are 100x better off with a micro 380. You'll get 3x more rounds and pull and pull. Pull from concealment, pull trigger. BOOM!

But if you MUST to scratch that wild ass (or something like that), get the 9.

micro 380's are so uncool its not even funny...but a Derringer on the other hand is cooler than the other side of my pillow ;-)

 

[Sf Becket]

I had an American Derringer lightweight in 38 special years ago. It carried well and didn’t have too much recoil….not much for accuracy though. I would go and I have gone with a tiny 380. No problem putting 6 shots on target with it.

 

[whatluck]

 

[Dennis in MA]

At least it doesn't have a front sight so when the bear shoves it up your b-hole it won't hurt as much.

 

[Qwikdraw45]

JMHO. 38spl. I've shot 9mm in an all-steel Ruger SP101. It felt like a .357. I've shot .38 in an aluminum J-frame, snappy but no where near as rough as the 9mm in steel. Ammo availability wise, yeah, 9mm all day long.

 

[jamison55]

Whatever caliber you choose, make sure you leave some budget for a decent optic…

 

[Endangered]

I have a .22 derringer, a .38 spl and a B.A. Rowdy .45LC/.410 . Shoot one first, for me they are novelty only. I have carried the rowdy with hornaday critical defense ammo, just to see what it felt like pocket carrying it (my edc is a LCP .380, I'm a small guy). Hard to operate and aim without lots of practice. The .38 spl was probably the most reasonable compromise for what I had, but the .410 made more sense in my head for close encounter problems. .45LC +P rounds will do some serious wrist damage with the rowdy Derringer.

 

[In God We Trust]

I’m the happy owner of a bond century 2000 in 45LC/.410 and I have no regrets.

I’ve never carried it, only shot it a few times in 8 years but I’m glad I have it. I think it’s cool and that’s enough for me.

 

[T-Unit]

Update: I decided not to make the order and will give this more time to consider. I figure stuff like the "Rough" series of Bond derringers, especially the Stingers, will be given some decent discounts on Black Friday and if not then I'll wait for the Spring and see if they make the .327 Stinger and not force me to buy a .38 or 9mm and then get the spare .327 barrel.

 

[MisterHappy]

We've had enough real answers.

.88 Magnum, or nothing.