I’ve been a fan of Bond Arms for many years, since the handling quality of the heavy-framed Texas Defender first impressed me at a writers’ conference in Florida. Company founder Gordon Bond was demonstrating the firearms at an indoor range, touting the controllability of the .357 Magnum barrel assembly.

Though his claim had me originally skeptical, I decided to give it a try. I loaded the Texas Defender with two rounds of full-power .357 Magnum, cocked the hammer and fired. The result was a satisfying but painless “boom.” Any discomfort was mitigated by the 20-ounce solid stainless-steel construction and well-shaped rosewood grips. I need to shoot more!

After apologizing to Bond for thinking him a used car salesman, I requested a sample. Through the years, I’ve tested the Texas Defender with additional barrels in 10mm, .410 shotshells and .45 Colt.

Across all configurations, the results were consistent: recoil was manageable, accuracy was solid, and the design inspired confidence. Bond Arms had taken a platform long associated with cheap, fragile .22 derringers and turned it into something entirely different.

Bond Arms has continued to expand, modernizing and revitalizing the derringer, transforming it into a viable defensive tool and a heritage firearm meant to last generations. The difference between Bond Arms derringers and the lightweight, poorly made derringers that came before them is night and day.

The Honey B Derringer

One of the newest additions to the Bond Arms lineup is the Honey B derringer, part of the Stinger “Rough” series, which features a more subdued polish and finish. The goal of the Rough series is to balance lighter weight, controllability, versatility and compact size. The Honey B accomplishes that by trimming 2.5 ounces off of the unloaded weight compared to the Texas Defender. Any reduction in weight can make all-day carry easier, especially for older shooters.

The Bond Arms Honey B is a compact, 17.5-ounce, two-shot derringer with a 3-inch barrel on a stainless-steel Stinger RS frame with extended B6 resin grips. It’s available in a wide range of calibers, including .22 LR, .22 Magnum, .380 ACP, 9mm, .38 Special and .327 Federal Magnum. The .327 barrel also chambers .32 H&R Magnum, .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long. Additional barrels cost $140 each and must be Honey B-specific, an important consideration when configuring the pistol. It is not compatible with Hand Cannon or original Stinger barrels.

Honey B Specifications

Caliber options: .22 LR, .22 Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, .380 ACP, 9mm and .38 Special.
Not compatible with hand cannon or original Stinger barrels.
Barrel length: 3 inches
Frame: Stinger RS
Length: 5.5 inches
Height: 4.19 inches
Weight: 17.5 ounces
Capacity: 2 rounds
Action: Single-action
Trigger pull weight: 7 pounds
Safety: Frame-mounted crossbolt
Extractor: Manual, barrel-mounted
Locking Lever: Frame-mounted left side/push down to release
Sights: Fixed/stainless steel
Hammer: Wide spur type
MSRP: $320
Additional barrels $140/each

The Honey B is, simply put, a very shootable derringer. One of its biggest advantages is the ability to swap calibers using barrels designed specifically for the Honey B. That’s flexibility few two-shot handguns can match. It has several features that make it one of the best examples of a modern derringer while remaining affordable and practical.

Caliber Options and Shootability

The calibers Bond Arms offer for the Honey B strike a good balance between controllability and close-range power, making for fun and accurate shooting. While .22 LR and .22 Magnum are not my first choice for self-defense rounds, both have a long history of success and generate next to no recoil in a 17.5-ounce derringer. The grip design also includes a pinky notch at the bottom, improving control.

For testing, I selected the .38 Special, a cartridge with a wide range of available ammunition, with bullets typically weighing between 95 to 200 grains. Most .38 Special loads can be easily managed by the average shooter, and its rimmed cartridge make extraction easier.

Size, Weight & Handling

At just 17.5 ounces, the Bond Arms Honey B strikes a perfect balance between easy carry and manageable recoil. And with barrels just over ½ inch wide, the Honey B is narrower than the heavier Hand Cannon series. This narrow width and flatter profile contribute to the derringer’s balance and how naturally it sits in the hand.

The grips on the Honey B are the best I have felt on a Bond Arms derringer. Though the original wood grips were never bad, those on the Honey B extend past the bottom of the stainless-steel frame, forming a pinky rest for a secure hold.

Sights & Trigger

Though not an XS sight, the Honey B’s plain stainless-steel blade sight is prominent and wide. I tested the Honey B on an indoor range with less-than-ideal lighting, but my first shot from 15 feet landed dead center in the bullseye. The ramped front sight is large enough to be effective and won’t snag on clothing during the draw.

The single-action trigger pull measures approximately 7 pounds and breaks cleanly, comparable to a good 1911 trigger. It’s crisp, with no excessive take-up, and should be manageable for most adult shooters. The safety and instruction manual specifically warns against dry firing the Honey B and other Bond Arms derringers.

Safety & Operation

The frame-mounted crossbolt safety is located on the left side of the frame. It is clearly marked as “Push for Safe” and “Push for Fire.” According to the owner’s manual, which includes two Allen wrenches, one of the wrenches can be used to lock the safety in the “on” position, effectively child-proofing for long-term storage. Though useful, other storage options may be more practical for quick access.

Loading and extraction are straightforward, though I found the locking lever to be a bit stiff. With the hammer down, engage the crossbolt safety, then press down on the locking lever to unlatch the barrels. Rotate the barrel assembly up and back toward you. The muzzles will be pointing at you, but the gun can’t fire from this position.

Spent cases, especially if they are nickel-plated, will simply shake out. But if they don’t, just push up on the manual extractor located on the latch side of the barrel. To load, insert two .38 Special cartridges into the chambers, and slowly rotate the barrels back down. Do not swing the barrels closed with a one-hand flip. It’s just as hard on a derringer as snapping a revolver cylinder closed.

Shooting the Bond Arms Honey B Derringer at the Range

I brought three different .38 Special loads to the indoor range for testing: 158-grain round-nose lead practice ammo from PPU, 110-grain frangible hollow-point ammo from Sinter Fire and 125-grain +P V-Crown JHP form SIG Sauer.

I loaded two rounds of the PPU and moved the Baker Targets BE 5B full-size target out to 15 feet. With a two-hand grip, my first round landed dead-center. My group for my first four shots measured 4 inches. Recoil was a mere push, with the synthetic grips absorbing most of it.

Moving the target back to 20 feet, I loaded up the Sinter Fire ammo. Recoil was again quite manageable, and muzzle flash was limited. This four-shot group measured 3 inches without one major flyer, which opened it up to 8 inches.

I stayed at 20 feet for the SIG Sauer +P .38 Special. This round has a muzzle velocity of 965 feet per second and has historically performed well in clay block tests. Though the difference in recoil wasn’t substantive, the muzzle blast was flashier than that of the other loads. Firing faster with these, my rounds landed in the 9-, 8- and 6-rings, as well as just ½ inch to the left of the bullseye.

Every round out of this derringer was fun!

The Bond Arms Honey B: A Practical Modern Derringer

Once again Bond Arms has delivered a fine derringer. The Honey B is lightweight, has a narrow profile and is at the top of my favorites list. It is accurate, easy to clean and comfortable to carry, all at a very reasonable MSRP of $320. Chambered in handgun calibers that balance power with controllability, it offers real-world practicality in a compact package.

The two-shot capacity is often cited as a limitation, but the stacked double barrels present a formidable sight from the wrong end. The Honey B derringer would make a great backup gun or serve as primary defensive handgun in areas where extreme threats are less likely. For those looking for a durable, affordable and well-thought-out derringer, the Honey B delivers exactly what it promises.

Sources

Bond Arms: BondArms.com
PPU Ammunition: PPU-USA.com
Sinter Fires: SinterFire.com
SIG Sauer: SIGSauer.com
Baker Targets: BakerTargets.com