Bond Arms Cyclops “Thumper” .50 AE: Not for the Faint of Heart

So, I did a thing. Last year, Bond Arms released the Cyclops in .45-70, and clearly, I had to shoot it (below). It’s not every day you get to shoot a rifle round out of a derringer. However, for some reason, Bond Arms didn’t think that was big enough and released the “Thumper” in .50 AE. Also, for some reason, I thought I had to shoot it, too.

Shooting the Bond Arms Cyclops “Thumper” in .50 AE

I’m not going to waste a bunch of time rehashing the details of the Cyclops. You can read more about it below. This update is just about shooting the .50 AE (Action Express).

Last year, we set up a pumpkin for our target and learned that pumpkins are hollow. As a result, we did not get the pumpkin to explode as we had hoped. So, this year was about getting retribution and making a mess.

We set up three pumpkins because I wanted to shoot the first with the .45-70 and then the other two with the .50 AE. Likewise, I wanted a direct side-by-side comparison of the two rounds.

As with the first video, the .45-70 was actually fun to shoot. However, it is still a big round and very heavy trigger—and I dipped. Shame on me. But, oddly enough, I hit the pumpkin in the same spot as last year.

As with most Bond Arms offerings, swapping out the barrel was as easy as removing one screw. Within just a couple of minutes, I had the “Thumper” barrel installed and was ready to shoot .50 AE.

I have shot .50 AE out of Desert Eagles before, and it is quite the ride. So, I’m not going to lie. I was a little nervous about this one. But I wasn’t going to let it stop me. Oh, the things I do for you.

My first shot was pretty much what I expected—a whole lot of wallop. It definitely earns the name “Thumper.” Even though I expected a hard hitter, it still took me by surprise a little. However, in the interest of science and because I know you would want to see it, I took a second shot. Yep. My first impression was right. Oof!

Observations

Although I did hit all three pumpkins, I failed to hit center mass. So, no evisceration. Sorry.

In retrospect, since this is a derringer, I should have been a little closer. Derringers are not known for accuracy at distance, but I still gave it a go. However, I was on the pumpkin with each shot and I wouldn’t want to get hit anywhere with either of those rounds. So, I’ll take it.

If you still want to see a pumpkin get eviscerated by a Bond Arms derringer, check out my video on the Honey B.

There are a couple of things worth noting that also make a difference in the accuracy of the Cyclops. First, the angle of the grip to the bore has a slightly upward cant. So, to line up the sights, it feels like you are aiming really low. It creates a bit of a disconnect that can throw off accuracy.

Second, the Cyclops has a very heavy trigger pull, at approximately 10 pounds. When you are anticipating the recoil from a .45-70 or .50 AE round while also wrestling with the trigger, it can cause inadvertent dips.

So, due to the combination of grip angle, heavy trigger, and (admittedly) nerves, it was a bit hard to stay on target. After a few more shots to get used to the trigger and grip angle, you can tighten things up. But two shots with the .50 AE was enough for me in one range day. So, I’m just going to call it good.

But hey, I shot a derringer in .50 AE. There ain’t no shame in my game.

That said, sorry, Bond Arms, if you come out with a Cyclops in .50 BMG, you’re on your own. I’m not shooting it. I have my limits.

On October 26, 2023, Personal Defense World reported:

Earlier this year, Bond Arms released its Cyclops derringer, chambered in .45-70, and it promised to be a beast (below). From the moment I got my hands on it at SHOT Show, I knew I had to shoot it. There are just some things in life that you have to do. And shooting cool, crazy guns is right up there. So, recently, Bond Arms got a Cyclops out to me, and I got to have some fun.

The Bond Arms Cyclops in Hand

With Halloween on the horizon, I set up a pumpkin to use as my target. The only thing that would make shooting something like this more fun is an exploding pumpkin.

The first thing that stands out when you get the Cyclops in hand is its massive weight. For a derringer, it weighs a beefy 28 ounces—and thank God for it. Likewise, as reported below, unlike other options from Bond Arms, the Cyclops is a single shot. This allows for a lower bore axis and a lot of meat under the muzzle to help reduce muzzle rise and felt recoil.

Since it is built to handle the powerful .45-70, the derringer is larger than other Bond Arms offerings. This includes the grip, which filled the hand better than I thought it would at first glance. I didn’t struggle to get two hands on it at all, and everything was very comfortable.

However, something I have noticed with Bond Arms pistols is that the grip angle raises the muzzle when the wrist is straight. In order to properly align the sights, I had to angle my wrist downward, like I was aiming low. But it wasn’t a game changer or uncomfortable, just something to be aware of when shooting Bond Arms pistols.

Shooting the Cyclops

Shooting the Cyclops ended up being even more fun than I had anticipated. To be honest, I almost couldn’t stop shooting it. Of course, ammo selection plays a big part in that, and I was shooting Remington Core-Lokt 1330 fps, 405-grain rounds.

The only disappointment was that the pumpkin didn’t explode with either shot. So, after finishing the video, I set up another pumpkin and shot it twice. Still no evisceration. But that’s not the fault of the Cyclops or the ammo. Stupid pumpkins.

A couple of my friends shot it as well, and both agreed that it was a lot of fun to shoot. Although, all three of us found the trigger to be very stiff. You have to pull it like you mean it. I kind of like that for a pocket derringer, but one of my friends said he would have preferred a slightly lighter trigger.

The Cyclops isn’t the kind of gun you take out for a day of plinking. However, it is definitely something that would wrap up a range day nicely. And it is absolutely the gun to bring out and challenge your range buddies to see who has the stuff to pull the trigger.

On March 30, 2023, Personal Defense World reported:

More power! Although Bond Arms is no stranger to big bore derringer pocket pistols, they have outdone themselves. If you thought shooting .45 ACP or .410 from a small frame pistol was a lot, wait until you get a load of this. Bond Arms introduces its latest big bore with the Cyclops, and carrying a payload of .45-70, it’s a doozy. But I totally want to shoot it.

The Bond Arms Cyclops .45-70

Featuring similar construction and frame/barrel materials as others in the Bond Arms line, the Cyclops does vary from the rest. Specifically, it is the only single-shot derringer to come from the company. This is mostly because it is built to fire the .45-70 rifle round.

The 4.25-inch barrel uses the extra space from the missing second chamber to lower the bore axis slightly. Likewise, the extra steel adds to the 28-ounce overall weight of the Cyclops. These two things work together to help mitigate the felt recoil, making shooting it more manageable. The Cyclops comes in at an overall length of 6.75 inches and features a 7-pound trigger pull.

Although the barrel differs from other Bond Arms’ pistols, the sights are the same and are still fixed to the barrel and the frame. The barrel is fitted into a single action frame and is built stronger and more durable than ever. Additionally, the updated extended grip is more ergonomic and contains a proprietary B6 resin grip.

If you like the idea of moving into larger rounds in a pocket derringer, keep an eye on Bond Arms. The company is planning more big bore action in .50 AE, .454 casull, and .44 Mag soon.

Editor’s Note:

Unfortunately, Bond Arms did not have the Cyclops at Range Day during SHOT Show. So, I did not get to shoot it. However, the company did have it at the booth, and I was able to hold it. Although it is a big round for a smaller framed pistol like this, the Cyclops had some heft to it. The pistol’s weight, along with a lower bore axis, should help mitigate the felt recoil to some degree. But a single shot from this bad boy will make a clear and resounding statement.

Availability

The Bond Arms Cyclops .45-70 is available now with an MSRP of $699.00. For more info, please visit BondArms.com.

Bond Arms Cyclops Specifications:

Caliber: .45-70 Government or .50 AE
Barrel Length: 4.25 in.
Length: 6.75 in.
Weight: 28 oz
Trigger Pull Weight: 7 lbs
MSRP: $699