North American Mini Rev. .22 Your thoughts

[CenCali]

Thinking about getting one of these for fun, what is everyones thoughts on them? Like to see pics too, belt buckles , holsters etc.

Thanks

[cudakidd]

As a toy, OK. But hard to use and hold. I'm not sure what "fun" there is in trying to use it...One of those revolvers that looks fun in theory but really no way to "plink" with it.

As a personal defense maybe better then nothing but not much! I had one on my CCW as a handy carry in the pocket gun. But due to it's tiny grip, non-existant sights and single action spur trigger almost impossible to sight in or use!

If you can stick it in someones ear and get off that one round of .22LR it might do. But that's kinda letting somone get awfully close to use for self defense.

And I had a incident where that was the firearm I would have to rely on. And after thinking about it after the fact, I sold it! Didn't look back either

[VegasND]

I have one and it's a pretty cool novelty. It's of no practical use--hitting empty shotgun shells with it at more than a few feet is pure luck. It moves in your hand so repeat shots are very slow. But folks still get a kick out of shooting it.

I have small semi-auto pistols that hide as well and would work better for any self defense situation I can think of.

If you're looking for a revolver and don't have a problem with those limitations, go for it.

[bluestaterebel]

Stockng stuffer!

[RogueSniper]

I prefer my Bond Arms to the NAA. Both are single action. Both are minuscule. But even if you have your five shots, it's hard as hell to hit anything with almost non-existent sights. Purely novelty, but if that's your backup pistol, by all means, carry the little bugger. I like my Bond Arms because of the grip (extended), heft, and ability to change out barrels from .22 to .44Magnum. How do you like them apples? Of course, the range is limited. If you get one, practice A LOT! Get the .22LR/.22WMR combo. Have you seen their Pug model? Pretty cool. The Black Widow and the Mini-Master are the only ones with a decent grip. Reloading is a pain! Pull the pin, remove the cylinder, POKE out the casings, reload, reinsert pin, shoot.

Only a few places here in the Bay Area that has them new. Krausewerks had one or two earlier this year. Some you might find on consignment.

[50BMGBOB]

I got one a long time ago. My buddy had it for years in his toolbox from when he worked nights in a shop in Oakland. When I finally got him to bring it to the range he found out that he had the magnum version but only LR ammo for it. I got him the right ammo for the next trip to the range. His first shot, it came out of his hands. He picked it up and set it on the bench and told me it was mine and never fired another shot with it. Funny thing is he is a really gun shot with handguns. I wouldn't use it for defense but it is a fun toy.

[50BMGBOB]

I should add that NAA is a great company. I sent mine in and they replaced the old style cylinder to the new one with safety notches at no charge with a quick turn around. Even though I told them I was at least the 3rd owner of this old gun, over 15 years at the time.

[IDPA4U]

I have the PUG and Black Widow. They are tough to find in California but I like them much better that the models with poor sights and grips.




With each I can easily put five rounds of .22 Magnum or .22LR (for practice) in the head of an IDPA target at 7 yards in under 3 seconds. In slow fire, I can even keep the black widow in the head at 25 yards. They are very accurate and well made guns and NAA is a fantastic company.
If I was going to get a NAA available in CA, I would go for the Mini Master, its like the Black Widow but with 4in barrel. Or I would get the Earl, which looks more like an 1860s revolver with a 4in barrel. Both are exempt from the roster and have true practical value as a fun range gun, but could actually be concealed easily in an IWB or cargo pocket. With a 4in barrel the .22 MAG has some decent ballistics...30gr bullet @1550 fps, 40gr at 1232 fps.
Overall, these are mainly just great conversation pieces and range novelties but I do usually throw them in the range bag when I head out (they certainly don't take up much space). For self defense, they are better than nothing or as a good backup but not as a primary unless you have no other option.

[Motor Man]

I know of one situation that occurred back in about 1983 where one of these little .22 LR revolvers was used on someone from a few feet away. One shot to the head and he was down and dead instantly. Don't think of this little gun as a toy, it's serious business just like any other gun. The .22 LR round may be small but it has been responsilble for many, many shooting deaths. They are nasty little bullets when used on people due to their tendency to ricochete around inside the body.

[IDPA4U]

A South African man used one of the NAA .22Mags to fend off multiple attackers and I believe he killed a couple of them. He was wearing a tux and the mini was the only thing he felt he could conceal, however he would have rather had something bigger.
Great story:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=433867&highlight=south+africa+tuxedo

[Spyder]

I've been toying with the idea of getting one and keeping it loaded with snake shot for hiking in rattler country... And, dangitt, I can't remember who, one of the old timers on this forum has one and did some testing that showed it wouldn't be a bad idea to do that.

[cudakidd]

Um, isn't it going to be uncomfortable getting your hand out of the rattlers throat? Seriously, these are real short range toys with limited accuracy. For a little bit more money get an S&W 317, almost as light, Double action and holds eight shots! Plus you may actually be able to hit a snake with it!

[peter455]

Takes a bit of getting used to but it's a well made and reliable little gun.

[RogueSniper]

That Pug looks heftier than the Black Widow. Have you shot any snake shot out of those? I'll have to try out my Bond Arms with a couple rounds of CCI ShotShells to see what it can do.

[IDPA4U]

The Pug essentially is a 1" barreled Black Widow (frame-wise). At 5 feet the snake shot patterns and penetrates great in each. Push back much further and things open up big time. In snake country I'll carry the snake shot in the first two chambers and .22Mag in the rest. Snake head shots at 10 feet would be no problem with JHPs as long as it wasn't moving.