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When North American Arms says “mini,” they mean it. The gun isn’t much bigger than its ammo.
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Read more at NAA: https://northamericanarms.com/firearms/magnums/mag.html
Buy one on GunsAmerica: https://www.gunsamerica.com/NAA Mini Revolver
The NAA Mini Revolver is many things. Cute, well crafted, and small. In fact, North American Arms’ Mini Revolver series are the smallest handguns produced today. The guns are beloved by some and hated by others. Some believe the NAA mini revolver is a practical weapon for serious self-defense work. Others see shortcomings and relegate the NAA Mini Revolver to the novelty drawer. Both camps have legitimate points to make, but which side ultimately wins out?
Can a gun this big be an effective self defense tool?
The Mini’s Mission Statement
North American Arms has been manufacturing the NAA Mini Revolver since 1990 and these dandy little guns are touted as being Convenient, Reliable, and Effective. These tiny five shot single action revolvers chambered in 22 Short, 22 LR, and 22 Magnum are the kind of guns you can have with you at all times, and in situations where a larger gun is just out of the question. This series has become so popular that there are now variations on the theme (like top break and swing out cylinder versions, and even target models). And there are a multitude of accessories for these little five shot guns.
Design and Features
The base model NAA Mini Revolver is made of stainless steel and features bird’s head style wooden grips. Despite being all steel, the guns weigh in the neighborhood of 4 ounces unloaded. The base model guns will either have a 1 1/8 inch or 1 5/8 inch barrel with a fixed half-moon front sight milled above the barrel. The rear sight is a simple notch.
This version’s cylinder must be removed in order to load the gun.
The revolver is a single action. Cock the hammer and squeeze the spur trigger to discharge the weapon. The cylinder holds five rounds of ammunition and is released by pushing a detent on the cylinder pin and pulling it out. The cylinder can then be removed for loading and unloading. Pulling the hammer back to the half-cock position allows for easy re-installation of the cylinder. Half-cock only, though.
The revolver has no passive safeties but the gun can be carried with all five chambers loaded. Once the loaded cylinder has been installed, simply put your finger on the trigger and pull the hammer back slightly so you can index the cylinder to one of the machined catches. This allows you to drop the hammer in between the chambers.
As previously mentioned the guns are chambered in either 22 Short, 22 LR, or 22 Magnum. And this alone may be the ultimate determination of effectiveness. .22 caliber rounds are lethal, though they may not stop threats immediately. The magnum, though, adds some punch.
The pin can be used to push out shells, too.
What Do The Detractors Say?
The guns are, without question, convenient. The revolver design is reliable. With certain loads and good shot placement, the gun can prove effective. Still, there are others would beg to differ. Here are the primary complaints of the Mini Revolver detractors:
- The gun’s small size limits accuracy.
- Rimfire ammunition is more prone to duds than centerfire.
- The short barrel means a lack of power, even with Magnum loadings.
- The limited capacity could prove to be an issue.
Are any of these points valid? Let’s find out.
Range Time, Accuracy, and Initial Impressions
My Mini is a base model wearing a 1 1/8 inch barrel and chambered in the 22 Magnum. I selected three 22 Magnum ammunition varieties to test as well as a .22 LR as a point of comparison.
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I tested the Mini with a variety of rounds.
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- CCI Maxi Mag 40 grain FMJ
- CCI Maxi Mag 30 grain HP+V
- CCI VMAX grain
- 22 LR Remington Viper 36 grain Solid
Shooting was done at a distance of ten yards, which is almost ludicrous for a gun this small. But if the Mini can connect at this distance, closer distances should be easy. Loading all the above mentioned rounds was easy as was ejecting them with the cylinder rod after firing, though the 22 LR should only be fired in a Magnum revolver if you have a conversion cylinder provided by NAA.
Not the world’s tightest five shot group, but not bad for a gun this small from ten yards out.
Holding the NAA Mini with its stock grip takes some finesse, but when mastered it’s just as natural to cock the hammer and fire the gun one handed as it is two. The serrated trigger feels good and is not overly light, breaking at five pounds of pull. A firm squeeze does the job and recoil is quite manageable. The curvature of the grip allows the gun to roll up into the hand rather than jar back, allowing for instinctive cocking of the gun for fairly rapid follow up shots.
The sights, however, will fail to impress. There is no rear sight notch to sight down the half-moon front sight and the proper sight picture to use is putting the tip of the front site on the target while looking over the top strap of the frame.
So what about power and accuracy? I tested the three 22 Magnum loads and one 22 LR load for a comparison to understand how fast these little bullets are going out of the NAA Mini’s… miniature barrel. I shot three shots of each through a Caldwell Chronograph. Here are the averaged results:
- 22 Mag 40 grain FMJ 813 fps
- 22 Mag 30 grain HP+V 1021 fps
- 22 Mag 30 grain V-Max 941 fps
- 22 LR 36 grain Viper solid 691 fps
There’s a gun out there at the end of my arm.
I can get five bullets into the size of a twelve inch pie plate at 10 yards. That is pretty good, given the gun’s size and intended role. 10 yards would be a long shot in a self-defense shooting anyway. If you take your time, you can get hits out to 25 yards, but I don’t want to take much time in the heat of an engagement.
As for reliability, the CCI magnum rounds aren’t likely to disappoint. I shot 250 rounds for this review and had no failures. You get what you pay for, and CCI is some of the best rimfire you can buy.
I did have some problems with how the bullets landed on paper, though. The gun wanted to keyhole just about any bullet that was run through it. Some would excuse this and call it effective. I’m not so sure. There’s not much barrel to stabilize bullets, but keyholes at 10 yards may indicate an issue with quality control. Apparently, this is not an isolated occurrence.
The .22 Magnum compared to .22 LR (left), and .32 and 9mm (right).
That said, it is worth noting that NAA was quick and eager to fix the problem. They fixed it promptly. I was a happy camper for the next range trip. The most accurate ammunition I used was CCI’s 30 grain HP+V and I was able to coax a five shot group into a pattern of under five inches at seven yards. Not bad at all.
Relevance
So what is the verdict? Is the NAA Mini Revolver a novelty item or a serious consideration for carry? In my experience, it will probably be the easiest gun you could ever carry–so easy that even gym carry is actually practical. The NAA Mini’s small size also lends it well to being a good back up gun, especially if you can’t reach your primary gun in a close encounter.
The Mini is a gun you can surely take with you when other modes of carry are impractical.
Are five shots of 22 Magnum enough to solve a problem? Maybe. As we can see from the readings, there is an actual advantage to the 22 Magnum round over the cheaper 22 LR round in terms of power. Also, it’s a better designed and produced round, so failure is unlikely. The NAA Mini is built out of worry free stainless steel, though I am curious what an alloy framed version would be like if NAA made one.
Is it fast enough to get into action? Despite the small grip, I would say yes–though such a small gun is hard to shoot well. The way the grip is designed, it makes for pretty instinctive thumb cocking of the gun. It won’t be as fast to fire as a pocket .25, but with practice you can make it work for you.
In many ways the NAA has somewhat taken the niche the little .25 ACP pistols used to fill and they do quite well as pocket guns. With that said, I highly recommend you give a NAA Mini a try to see for yourself.
Read more at NAA: https://northamericanarms.com/firearms/magnums/mag.html
Buy one on GunsAmerica: https://www.gunsamerica.com/NAA Mini Revolver
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Not much of a sight picture, but practical for a gun this small.
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And from the top.
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I just read through a couple dozen posted comments and almost every one was positive and sung the praises of this remarkably well engineered & manufactured firearm. I’ve owned one for over 25 years, carried one for over 10 years when the circumstances did not support carrying my standard CC 9mm.
Unfortunately, I will no longer be carrying my NAA .22. Last Wednesday while removing it from my SUV driver side door pocket, I lost my grip on it and it fell to my concrete driveway and discharged shooting my in the left calf with a .22 hollow point Stinger round. Surgeons elected not to remove the slug, and I am healing up nicely despite a massive hole the size of a large blueberry. I was extremely lucky. No bones hit. No arteries. But I now know that an uncocked fully loaded weapon, inadvertently dropped, has the potential to discharge and send a round flying in a dangerous unknown direction. I have children and grandchildren and simply cannot afford the risk. Henceforth, I will return to CC my Springfield Hellcat 9mm, carried Condition II.
My friend I would assume you left the hammer on a live round and not on a safety notch. I don’t believe that’s a fault of the gun.
We own the .22lr model…on the bright side: the gun is remarkably sturdy, reliable, and concealable…the dim side: no hope of rapid reload, difficult to aim, and small projectile…so, we looked and looked at derringers, found none that fit the bill, and bought the NAA…you shot at 10 yards, we shoot at 10 feet…that is what the gun is, a last chance get-off-me gun that can be effective and accurate enough at 3 feet…honestly, if bad guy that close a person has already messed up, but a chance is just that, a chance, and beats no chance…a .22lr between the eyes can drop the bad guy just like a .45, but better to not be in that position…last note: we really enjoy shooting the gun, it goes to the range every time we go, and weekly practice does help with this little monster…
I routinely carry TWO NAA .22 Mags, both with 1-1/8″ barrels. CCI Solids and CCI HP’s. 3 and 2 in one and 2 and 3 in the other. Safety cock so that they fire solids and hp’s at the same time. If nothing else, the noise and muzzle blast scare the defecants right out of a malefactor! Super light to carry, easy to conceal, perfectly reliable so 10 shots and about 10 ozs. What’s NOT to like?
I have owned my NAA 22 Mag Black Widow Mini Revolver for several months now. It has not disappointed me. I probably fired 400-500 rounds out of it using CCI 22 mag second shot. I never had a dud or weapon jam on me. At 10-15 feet the shot group is very tight. I can hit silhouette targets at 20-25 feet out. Weapon comes with fixed front and rear sights. It is easy to conceal and is comfortable to carry inside the waist. The only negative thing would be having to remove the cylinder to reload. Even so, this is a well made reliable revolver and I would highly recommend buying it.
I have the NAA 22 magnum with the 1 1/8 barrel. The gun is only for last resort self defense or for defense of others in need. The report is louder than almost all handguns and this alone will scare many away, whether you hit them or not. A shot fired into the ground will definitely convince many you are serious and most likely wouldn’t stick around to see how big of a gun that bang came out of. I don’t use a holster. I have modified mine by wrapping cloth around the cylinder and barrel which keeps dust, lint and sand out of the barrel when I carry it in my pocket. I use two velco straps, one around the cylinder, which does not keep it from turning and one around the barrel. I cut the straps to abut 1/4 to 3/8 wide and have used the same straps now while replacing the cloth five or six time over 5 years. To shoot it, I simply shoot through the cloth. This makes for a very fast response time in moments of need. The only drawback to this is that the gun is so small that the cloth surrounding the barrel completely hides the gun when it fits in your hand and any opponent won’t see or recognize it as a gun until it is fired or hears you cock it. The reason I feel totally safe about carrying this gun this way is the unique way the gun is in safety when the hammer is in the notch position and not over a shell.
I’m a full time Police officer who has been carrying a .22 Mag Version of these N.American Arms Pistols for over 22 years and it has been one of my best pieces of duty equipment, which I swear saved my life numerous times. Any questions, please contact me but in my opinion this is one of the best designed revolvers of all time due to the ability to conceal it in even the thinnest clothing. Respectively submitted.Officer Sean Collins, Stow MA police dept.
Good afternoon just read your post about the NAA .22 MINI revolver. I have been considering one as an EDC. You mentioned you carried it up to 20 years and it even saw action. As a conceilable piece in such a small caliber, how would you rate it as a defense weapon for someone well trained in pistols? Thank you,
Anthony
Thank you for taking time to post your opinion, one I value over most others being in law enforcement. Not a primary carry weapon but a great back-up or light clothing if not on duty. Thanks for the comment and you service.
I’ve carried mine around for at least 25 years. I have snake shot in the first two chambers and the rest are .22 magnum hollow points, just in case I don’t discourage someone attacking me with two shots to the eyes. the other three are into the head.. I don’t look for trouble, but if it comes my way I want to make a difference between “them” and me. I don’t rely on this back-up as my primary personal protector, but it is a fallback just in case. It would be my first to repel an attack and if that didn’t do the trick, I also carry a .45 ACP Officer’s Model Colt. I’ve never had occasion to use either in any kind of a defensive situation but if I had to, I would use them both. My NAA is a work of art and I admire it since the day I saw and bought it.
NAA mini revolvers have been around since the 1970s. CCI .22 ammo is the worst choice in a defense gun as they have primers that are hard to ignite.
possibly the most erroneous statement uttered on the internet, and that’s saying something.
……better than NO protection? Sure. In every situation. But if the ‘other guy’ has a ‘real’ gun, you’re in trouble. He’s likely to get you before he falls. And that is the problem with the small pea shooter.
catalog
Ma dealers prices
My role for the NAA revolvers are as a back-up to my primary carry gun. One is concealed in my POV in .22 Magnum and the other is .22LR in a folding grip which never prints through my pocket. In the case of .22LR, I have tested penetration against hard pine and found that the .22LR Aguila 60 grain sub-sonic was the most effective even though it tends to tumble at 15 to 20 feet.
What do you mean that the gun ‘keyholed’ the bullets? I’d like to keep an eye out for issues that the manufacturer may need to resolve. Thanks for the review.
Key-holing is when the bullet is no longer forward-facing by the time it hits the target. The target is penetrated by the side of the bullet rather than the front, resulting in an elongated, “key hole” shaped hole. I’d quite like to see this issue resolved in NAA’s manufacturing.
(While I’m not the author, I am familiar with this issue.)
Thank you for looking into it R.D., & thank you Terril for the well written review.
Where do I get larger grips for my Sidewinder 22WRM?
Anybody ever carry a naa mini revolver in a multitool sheath?
THANKS
Shove it into their mouth and they will leave you alone .
An old man standing on a midnight chgo subway was cornered by two mutts demanding his stuff. He held out his hand holding a bullet and said “I don’t have money but ya can have my extra bullet”. The whole time his other hand was in his jacket pocket, strangely pointing at their bellies. In that neighborhood if ya got the bullet, ya gots the gun. Now, a .45 makes a bigger hole but those punks knew any mouse gun can put a bloody tunnel in them, a 4″ or a 14″ deep bloody tunnel will both require an ER visit. Also, that .45 would probably be in a hip holster , which those punks would NEVER allow him to grab.
Mine saved me from a beatdown by two A Holes .. Tiny gun yes. Aim it at their genitals and it I’m quite sure it will look bigger to them .. Just don’t forget it’s in your pants pocket when you do your laundry . Gun laundering ? 😂
22 mag at 5-10 ft,is very effective and deadly round,
I just got the 22LR for my birthday, and I LOOOVE IT!!! I work from home, and feel so much more at ease carrying this little thing around the house. My other one is just too bulky to comfortably carry all day. I hope to get another one someday…. I have my eye on the Black Widow and Pug. I love these!!
I have four of these mini revolvers and have carried one almost daily for over 20yrs,I have two of the freedom arms versions in 22LR. with the heavy brass buckles and a NAA in 22 LR and 22mag,I prefer the freedom arms over the North American arms version.The buckles that NAA offers are junk compared to the freedom arms buckles, the NAAs are great guns but their buckles suck.These guns are loud and very loud in 22 mag.but they get the job done and are of excellent quality.I would much rather be carrying my 44 Mag when things go south but thats not always an option and any gun is better than no gun.
I have been carrying the “Black Widow” in .22 magnum for many years. I got it when I traded in the standard model because it was just too small to shoot safely with my bear-sized mitts. The “Black Widow” has a larger, MUCH more comfortable grip, a two-inch barrel, and REAL sights good enough I can keep center mass shots at 15 yards. I love it, and right now the only thing I would consider trading it for would be the four-inch “Mini Master.”
Likewise, I love my Black Widow – I have found that it is even accurate enough to do some “trick” shots with – love it.
After my daughter was robbed at knife point–she was night manager of a Star Mart–her brothers got her a NAA .22 LR. Instructions were to use at close range and not pull it out except to use it. She took it to the range and fired 30 rounds at the pistol target at 50 feet. All thirty were within an 8 inch diameter.
A friend of mine once stopped an attack on him by three men with a lead pipe with a .22 derringer with bird shot. The first guy broke the back window out of his car, then came around to go to work on him. One round in the face was all it took to dissuade the others from joining in. Mouse gun yes, but useful in a pinch.
I have the NAA PUG 22mag mini revolver. The good is that you have 5 rounds of 22 mag in a tiny pistol that makes it so easy to carry no matter what you are wearing. The bad is that as I train with it at the range to improve my shot placement, I keep getting hit pretty hard in the face with powder particles. If I were not wearing eye protection, I know that some of these particles could damage my eyes. Some of them really sting when they hit my cheek. Anyone else notice this? You know how it feels to get poked in the eye. What if you need to use your little NAA revolver and you miss with the first shot and you get stung in the eye enough to prevent you from delivering another round?
I load the first chamber of my Black Widow model with shot shell. At close range, the damage would be devastating to the bad guy’s face. Note, as well, a FMJ WMR will penetrate a 4X4 pressure treated beam. No slouch, by any measure.
I have both, the black widow,and by george i can’t remember the name of the other. I have been thinking about myself another so
i can place them in different posistions around my house. I have had them both for about 5 years.When i carry , all the time in the
winter. In the summer i sweat so bad i just leave it in my truck. But they are great conceal guns.I have seen what a 22 mag will do
to a deere several years ago.I would not want to be on the receiving end of it.
I had no idea these little guns were so popular until reading this article. My Dad and my Aunt both bought a NAA .22mag. in the mid 1980’s. They would carry it on walks in the country, and once shot a attacking dog, It saved them, and Dads dog from injury . I thought it was a neat little gun, So I purchased one 8-9yrs ago, and they are identical. The designed hasn’t changed at all. I have not put enough rounds though it to notice any problems, but it functions great. And the stainless steel and treated wood grip still looks like new, despite being carried in less than ideal places like on an ankle or waist band and seldom being cleaned in Nebraska’s humidity and elements. I have carried it regularly off duty, and as a back up from time to time. Options are endless, in a ankle holster, inside the waist band, or just in my pocket. I have never had to use it in a self defense situation, but I love the little gun. I will say that I always have a bigger gun in the car. And often found myself just carrying the NAA as even the G27 was often bulky and uncomfortable. I have sense bought a Ruger .380 and added a crimson laser to it. I often carry both of these together for concealed carry. The people that laugh at a .22 round for stopping power, I have put down numerous injured full grown cows with a .22LR with cheap target rounds. A few well placed rounds is quite effective. I would recommend anybody get a NAA .22Mag and add it to an arsenal or carry options.
Carried one of these fine little pistols in my pocket in San Francisco a while back. Showed it to a bad guy who decided to follow me and a friend late one night in the BART station. He just turned and walked away.
47 years of carry every day. I never found it impossible to carry a Kahr PM9, in the last 10 yrs, before that a seacamp, if I had to, in 32 before the 380, and prior to that in NYC, a 5 round S&W or Taurus Ultra light in +P. I am in FL 25 yrs. today it was 88, and humid, I had a Glock 26 and a PM9 on me all day, and I have a disability for 25 yrs, so I don’t get why some average size males can’t find a place to stick a snubby, or a 17 oz Kahr 9mm, it’s your life not a game. Get the right gear abd the styff will disappear, a Remora in your pocket works darn well.
I absolutely love my NAA 1 1/8″ 22 WMR 5 shot mini-revolver. Mine model came with a 22 LR cylinder as well, which serves as a great extra set of rounds; HP-Stingers for that up-close & in your face moment! I’ve carried mine with me everyday for the last 8 years that I’ve owned it. It is not a range targeting pistol in any way shape, or form. For me it serves as my last ditch effort “get-off me” back-up. Momma, even after 28 years of service NYPD & retired, still preaches & practices what she instilled in me, “Always carry a back-up!”. On certain dress-up days it makes for a great pocket accessible pistol. And if you’re like a friend of mine who has Parkinson’s disease & lupus, a mini-revolver is better than nothing, since he can no longer handle a semi, or a larger revolver. Besides with a little practice, and some range time, you can get fairly accurate at 10′-15′. My friend did. Not only that, but the after-market accessories are quite vast, to include lasers, and holsters! For about $25.00, I put an over-sized rubber grip on mine. It made all the difference in the world firing 22 WMR rounds! And because of it’s small size, you can conceal and carry it virtually anywhere on your person. Something else to consider: the “Mob” used the 22 LR as it’s standard execution round for years, more people have died from 22 caliber rounds of one sort of another, than other single caliber. One 22 WMR straight through the heart is just as effect as three 9mm’s to various torso areas. Food for thought. Remain calm & CARRY on.
FIDELIS AD MORTEM
Lethality you ask? Well, my brother in law was getting beat up by some big raucous dude and it looked like he was gonna get killed. My BIL pulled the NAA 22 Mag as a last resort and fired one shot at approx. 5 feet. It went straight through the chest, heart, and lodged in the spine. Long story short, assailant was dead.
Familiarity of your weapon and bullet placement are what matters.
i bought a 22 long riffle the gun seems to be made very well has good cylinder lock up if it gets scratched thats all you have to do is use a good metal polish on it i love a gun that you can clean up easily and make it looking brand new every one should rember that most of the time a 22 round will stay in a body and bounce around and cause good amount of damage while a 9 mm or higher can easily penatrate and just make a whole
If I have the misfortune to have to go someplace that wants to restrict my 2nd Amendment rights, I carry one of these in .22 mag. It’s so small that you can stand right by a cop and carry on a conversation and he will not know that you are carrying. That’s something to consider if you have to go to NYC or Chicago.
I had one years ago in Ohio, and liked it just fine – it was the 22 magnum. I did have it misfire once. I hated to sell it, but I got rid of everything in order to move west to much greener pastures (and much more restrictive gun laws). And I am soon to get another one. A friend of mine has a business and keeps one with him at all times, and I trust his experience. I always enjoyed having it around – this article has gotten my interest again, for sure.
Horrible pistol. Get on North American Arms website and look at the “ammunition” warning. What is this about. Every year they add more ammunition to the list instead of fixing a major design flaw. I signed a non-disclosure statement or I would elaborate.
It’s ONE brand, and their subsidiary manufacturers. Put up or STFU.
My wife and I both have the 22 mag Earl with 5″ barrel and find accuracy no problem and the added barrel length add to velocity and accuracy. The quality is excellent and my wife doesn’t leave the house without it.
Very easy to handle and feels natural in hand.
My wife and I both have the 22 mag Earl with 5″ barrel and find accuracy no problem and the added barrel length add to velocity and accuracy. The quality is excellent and my wife doesn’t leave the house without it.
Very easy to handle and feels natural in hand.
Mine is a .22 Mag with a 1 5/8″ bbl. I think the 1 1/8″ bbl (any bbl under 3″) is too short. It is generally carried as a backup or second back up only, but in 100 deg + weather in shorts and shirt never tucked in, it sometimes but rarely, has been the #1 and only option.
It fits comfortably in the watch pocket in my jeans, in an ankle holster, in an IWB holster, in an OWB holster with or w/o a flap, in a hanging neck holster, in a sleeve pocket on shirts with one (or in any pocket for that matter with or without a pocket holster). I have even worn it in a home made wrist holster under a long sleeve shirt in the winter, a bicep holster under a short sleeve shirt, clipped in the headband of a ball cap, a cowboy hat; inside the top of a hiking boot or a cowboy boot; in the ID pocket of a swim suit, running shorts, shoelace key holster on my NB 990s, palmed inside a winter glove, in a belt slide flip phone case (actually too big until I modified it), inside a horizontal belt pistol magazine holster, a pocket knife belt holster, a plain shirt flap over pocket double pen holder w/separator stitching removed and more.
The point is, I hope I never have to use it or reload it but as a backup, deep concealment type weapon with the hottest ammo one can buy it can be carried almost anywhere due to its size and shape with certain reliability. Only time to draw, cock and point are required. I just don’t want to ever be close enough to use it accurately, if so, I’m too damn close.
But, I sure wouldn’t want anyone thumbing and firing hot 40 grain JHP .22 mag Gold Dot or Hornady loads into me, as fast as they can at any distance close enough to hit me.
How about photos of all those? They all sound great!
I carry the 22 mag Black Widow. It is a little larger ( not too large) and the 2″ barrel has better ballistics.
I have the featured gun and its brother, the Pug. I agree with the thought that there are better stopping guns but as mentioned, a gun in hand is much better than one in the glove box. I often carry mine in the zipper pocket of an action shirt. No print and not enough weight to bother during normal activities. Both good pieces.
i bought a pug 22mag with the rubber grips on them when they first came out and i love the little thing. we fish the colorado river in lake havasu city ariazona and the mohave dessert. i carry always 2 snake shots and 3 mag holo points always and that little thing always work. great for snakes and the magnum should scare the hell out of anybody great little piece. luv it jock.
I have had two of these for about 5 years (22 LR and 22 Mag), and even though I have a conceal license and usually carry a bigger gun, the .22 mag goes everywhere with me. I added a set of the bigger wood handles from their website and they make all the difference in the world. I carry this little jewel in the watch pocket of my blue jeans with my shirt over the top, and it is perfect because it is always there, yet easily available. The only dislike I have about either gun is when you want to show it to someone (except a police officer) you should first unload it which requires pulling out that control rod and dumping the cylinder. I just have not yet decided to buy one of the top break or swing out cylinders….although this is a super high quality gun.
mafia loves them. I like mine too.
I carry one daily. If its just to run down to the mailbox or something I’ll just roll with it. When Im unfortunately having to visit a part of town Im not comfortable being in but have no choice I’ve got more potent hardware along for the ride and it becomes my backup option. I have the folding grip installed on mine. With the tiny grip it came with it was almost unshootable. The folding grip serves several purposes. It covers the trigger in case the hammer somehow is cocked in your pocket. The clip is amibextrious, you can do right or left hand which is awesome for a southpaw like me. The belt clip allows you to put it just about anywhere. In your waistband, top of your pocket, even clipped to the top of your sock, boot etc…. for a hasty ankle carry in a pinch. Its a great upgrade option if yours didn’t come from the factory that way. Bonus it provides a full size grip to hang on to. Finally the author utilized the wrong loads for this firearm. All tested are meant to be shot from your typical rifle length barrel. There are several self defense loads that are tailored for the short barreled NAA minis, Gold Dot from speer, Hornady Critical Defense and Winchesters PDX. I’ve got the Hornady stuff currently in my cylinder but the other two options are just as equally good. If the original author or anyone else reading this comment hasn’t tried these three yet out of your NAA mini do so. YMMV as usual.
I have one of these but with a 4 inch barrel. I ordered it with both 22 lr and 22 mag cylinders. The barrel length does not affect concealment near as much as the grip size. I made my own holster for pocket carry.
I had a Black Widow with the .22lr and .22wmr cylinders in 2001 or so. I fired a box of each through it (CCI ammo), and found that the cylinder pin was walking forward, that little ball and spring are not enough to retain it under recoil. It was worse with the WMR ammo. I took it back to my dealer where I had just purchased it new, and they sent it back to NAA. It was returned to me rather quickly.
A quick test session revealed that the problem was still present. I traded it for another gun and never looked at anything by NAA again. Less than 100 rounds total through a brand new gun, this is not acceptable. It is also dangerous. If I had not been paying attention between shots, this could very well have been a kaboom.
Hi Jerry,
That’s sad to hear about the trouble you had with your mini. As I said in my earlier post, their repair and custom shop has always done impeccable work for me. Being a gun collector for over 40 years and a former FFL for ten years, I’ve had the opportunity to examine and handle some very high end firearms. The quality of North American Arms products have in my opinion always been right up there with the best, especially for the price. I shoot a lot, and I know without a doubt my first NAA .22mag has had over 1000 rounds fired through it without a hiccup, or a spring detent problem.
And if they didn’t fix it right the first time I believe I would have called them and asked why. I can assure you, you would have gotten results.
They have changed the design of the cylinder retention pin. I had the same problem & NAA changed it for no cost.
You can go to their website & look at the picture of the new pistols. The change is quite obvious & effective.
JERRY, WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL THEM AND RAISE A LITTLE HELL ! I HAVE AN OLD PLAIN NAA .22 SHORT FROM LONG AGO. IT STILL WORKS FINE. I CONSIDER IT A LAST RESORT WEAPON.
Mine keyholed also. I had NAA fix it while they made the 22lr cylinder for it ( you have to have it made and fitted to ensure the timing, they wont just send you a drop-in). It shot well afterward. I carry stingers or velocitors, because I feel the 22mags wont expand at these velocities due to the real jacketed bullet. Meant to try it in gel last time at the range, but had left the gun at home. Word of warning: these are so small you can easily send one through the washer by mistake, especially if your spouse does your laundry without asking. The folding grip with beltclip is worth every penny.
I have had My NAA .22 mag for many years and never leave home without it. Primary is a Glock 23. As previously stated, it takes some practice to get accurate with it, but my NPA with this little giant is spot on to 10 yds or more into an 8 inch pie plate. Just shot it a few days ago with my stepson just to stay current “so to speak”. As a side note, I have used it on more than once to put down injured animals with one shot. As for construction, I lost it for nearly 4 months on my property some time back. One day, I found it under some leaves, very dirty, but the wooden grips were still like new after cleaning them up. Had it back in operation in 30 minutes and very happy!! After all these years and reading some of these posts I am ordering alternative grips. The shock and awe effect especially after dark is quite amazing with the .22 mag. Would recommend it for alternative back up especially in the summer lightly clothed.
I have rather large hands and the problem I encountered with my NAA magnum was the size of the grip. The problem was easily solved by purchasing a grip set for the Mini Master. Its large enough to make a real difference. I now have a very usable BUG.
I’ve been reading comments from the naysayers about the NAA mini’s diminutive size and lack of power since I first bought a .22 mag 1 1/8″ version right after they were introduced. Ask yourself a couple of questions; are there better self defense weapons available? Of course.
Does that compact .380, or 9mm, or .38 snubbie, do any good sitting in a draw or in the car because it’s too hot outside in the summer time to wear clothing designed to conceal anything bigger than a coaching whistle, or your excitement from seeing that pretty lady in the skimpy bikini walk by on the beach – especially here in the deep south? NO!
Would YOU be willing to take a round for the team to prove it’s ineffectiveness, even the tiny little .22short? HELL NO! It’s definitely going to leave a mark. And I can assure you any knucklehead shot by one is going to not only stop and take pause, his dumb ass is going to be seeking medical treatment too – if he lives. And I can assure you the law will be contacted by the hospital about a gun shot wound showing up at their door, so the perp won’t get off scot-free.
Being a diehard Glock fan, I usually carry a Glock 29SF or my 36 as my CC weapon depending on the weather. But here in the deep south there are more times than not it’s just hard to carry my Glocks – especially wearing swim shorts.
Speaking of that, I got my first .22 mag mini wet once after falling off the boat in salt water and took the mini out of my pocket and put it in a storage compartment in the boat and forgot about it. Laying in that wet leather holster for a week the SS barrel corroded badly and after cleaning it was left with ugly black spots all over it.
Years later I sent that original gun, along with a couple others I purchased used that didn’t have the notched cylinders, to NAA to be refitted along with a note about the corrosion issue and fully expected to have to pay at least for the new barrel. All three were returned in like new condition – no charge! They also sent me a new holster – no charge! I also have two NAA Guardians, a .32 and a .380, both dehorned that I also carry from time to time. Great company!
AND – if you’re really concerned about the mini’s lack of fire power do like I do. Carry two, one in each pocket. Problem solved.
GO AHEAD, Take it apart Mr gun-writer man, I dare ya.You will find that while the outside is well made, the tiny moving parts on the inside are an embarrassment to any real gunsmith or machinist. And when it craps out on you as mine did,you will be forced to send it back to the factory.
Yes they will get it back to you real quick,maybe too late then.
It is a novelty at best, I see people with one and think,’Another sucker,so sad’ .
They are easy to assemble if you know how . A factory tech shared it with me years ago and it is so simple . I replace my own springs in minutes .
I have 3 of these. the 22short. the LR and the mag. I love them all. the short model is crazy tiny. the LR is perfect size. the magnum is what I carry daily.
don’t forget they have a black powder version
It’s called the ‘Companion’ and best of all it designed to also use smokeless powder. Just pry off the bullet from a .22lr and use the bullet and the powder and seal it with bullet lube or Crisco. Then put a #11 cap with a light coat of nail polish around the nipple to keep out moisture. Much more power than using Goex. But ALWAY keep the hammer on an empty chamber if you don’t have a cylinder with a safety notch between chambers (don’t know if they have that yet for the Companion).
I have 2, And it’s easier to carry two of these one of just about anything else. Lack of sights make the groups wider than they have to be. Rubber oversize grips are an improvement in my eyes. Obviously a gun meant to be carried a lot and shot little. I did the opposite and one locked up once . Sent it back to the factory and it came back with all new springs in a timely manner and a brand-new set of grips. No more issues hundreds of rounds later between 2. Customer service can’t be beat. Buy one, you won’t be disappointed.
I have 2, And it’s easier to carry two of these one of just about anything else. Lack of sights make the groups wider than they have to be. Rubber oversize grips are an improvement in my eyes. Obviously a gun meant to be carried a lot and shot little. I did the opposite and one locked up once . Sent it back to the factory and it came back with all new springs in a timely manner and a brand-new set of grips. No more issues hundreds of rounds later between 2. Customer service can’t be beat. Buy one, you won’t be disappointed.
To all the big ballers who tout the big ball ammo and laugh at the lowly .22… People survive all types of gunshots as well as die from all sizes. I had a friend that survived 3 shots from a .50 cal. BMG in WWII and when I was young my father used nothing but a .22 short to slaughter our hogs. Placement counts. Distance does factor but the lowly 22 will kill just as dead as anything…
I think somebody gave you a B.S. story, no one survives 3 hits from a 50 bmg.
I have carried a NAA .22 mag for about 30 years. In hot and muggy Florida it is almost an ideal carry weapon. Light weight, stainless, five shot, and now I have added the Mighty Mouse Laser grip from Laserlyte. Loaded with short barrel ammo, it now has the power and sighting ability to inspire confidence in almost everyone. While I have only had to fire it once (to kill a 73″ rattlesnake) I have pulled it three times in personal defense situations. In all cases the perps turned tail and ran. Vastly underrated as a self defense weapon that can be carried in almost any circumstance.
I have the NAA Pug and can keep the 5 shots in a paper plate-size group at 25 feet. The one issue I have noticed with the 22WMR rounds is that I am often being hit fairly hard in the face with particles of burned or unburned powder. These particles hit hard enough to sting and without out eye protection could do some serious hurt to an eye. Other than that, I love the size and weight of the NAA pistols…so easy to take with you no matter what you are wearing. For me, that is the key, because too many times, even a sub compact pistol like a Kahr P380, Glock 42 or 43, PF-9, Shield or LCP are just too big and they stay at home. The Pug goes with me every day that I don’t carry something bigger. It’s like dropping my keys in my pocket. 5-Rounds of 22WMR HPs is plenty of power in a CQ situation.
I own 3 of these, a 22 short model that I have owned forever, and a 22LR version. I also bought the new Sidewinder with the 22mag & 22LR cylinders.
As people have pointed out, if your dressed for summer, this pistol can still be carried. And with a laser mounted on it, it can also get out a bit farther, and 22mag hollow points will definitely get their attention!
My NAA 22mag 1 5/8bbl” model has been carried daily since day one of getting it, as a backup to my G20.
First shot is snake, (snakes are real concern here) but after that it’s 4 rds of Mini+V w/5 more rds for a reload if needed.
With lots of practice hitting a soda can at 10yards is easy.
The first murder I ever investigated was committed with a Beretta Minx chambered in .22 short. One shot to the heart and instant death. Possibly a fluke, but still lethal. I also investigated the death of an armed robber. He was attempting to rob a Mom and Pop motel, and Pop shot him with a High Standard derringer chambered in .22 Mag. Dead on the spot. I never sell a .22 short on lethal ability. Any projectile that will pierce the body cavity can be lethal, and how soon treatment is commenced, and how competent the medical team is generally the determining factor as the the mortality of the wound. The .22 Mag would not be my first choice as a defensive round, but it sure beats nothing, and the NAA Mini is one most people will carry even in hot weather with minimal clothing. Just remember that a person will have to practice to become proficient with a revolver that small. If you are willing to spend the time to master it, I say go for it. I personally carry a .38 S&W alloy as my primary back up, and the NAA Mini as a boot gun. Paranoid maybe, but I’m still alive and intend to stay that way.
All of the rounds tested were designed for rifles. I wonder if any of the three(speer, hornady, Winchester) that are designed for two inch pistols would have been faster?
speer gold dots are slightly hier in spped than the hornady ftxs, The Hornaday has the weight (5 more grains) and apparently has deeper penetration out of the designed 2 ” barrel . Gold dots are about 1150 fps and Hornadys run 1100. Gold dots have the more consistent expansion. I carry gold Dots in my Black Widow and Hornady’s in a full size 22 mag with a 4″ barrel, which can make better use of the extra weight, as my house mouse. I have a lot of scar tissue in my hands so more recoil is no fun.
Love mine . I put a boot grip on it much better than the birdshead grips .Get some primer only 22 shells , they are a blast plinking around the camp fire . Everybody always wants to shoot it .
I had the original Freedom Arms version, in .22LR….. (Designed by Dick Casull maker of the .454 too… They touted to be the makers of smallest and largest production handguns back in the 80’s.) They offered three or four main basic versions. The first was a mini percussion gun that used a C/F primer and cast bullet and could fire with just a primer and lead ball or a couple grains of BP with the cast. The best load being a grain of Red Dot , CCI primer, and cast conical bullet. The most popular model was the .22LR version and a smiliar .22WMR model was also offered or also you could optionally send the gun into the factory and have a second cylinder fitted for either the magnum or the long rifle.
I owned the .22rf model.
The big claim to fame was that these guns were originally offered with an optional rodeo styled cowboy belt buckle that the gun actually locked into and looked like a cowboy fashion statement.
In my opinion the Freedom Arms version were much better piece of work. The fitting and function very tight and precise. With solid cylnder timing and lockup. Mine had a much more pronounced rear slot along the topstrap to align the front blade sight up with. This gun was not intially easy to shoot and would require some getting used to. However once I got the hang of it, I got amazingly good with it,,, easily plinking cans out to forty yrds on the first or second shots. I once knocked down a ground squirrel at close to that same distance. I also took home cottontail rabbit with it more times than I could count . Best ammo for such work was CCI Stingers but they were pretty hot with a smart sharp recoil and loud too. My favorite thing to do was load it up with .22shorts , CB caps or .22 snakeload cartridges. The snakeloads made for very effective less lethal protection round, that i once found myself using to breakup a party that became unruly. I just could never imagine shooting such gun in the mag version !
Also, almost anyone and everyone would see it and wanna try shooting it, which was not good idea at all. Most folks unfamiliar with the gun would have a scary tendenancy to get their fingers too close to the end of the barrel. Fortunately , i witnessed a few close calls but good fortune saved the digits of a few people trying it out .
Yes it is and was a novelty but i can attest to the usefulness and much better results I had with the orig. Freedom Arms version.
I loved the thing , unfortunately it was lossed when i had my automobile stolen from my driveway.
I just wom a FA Mini with buckle on GunBroker tonight. This was the most informative article I’ve read to date on the NAA or FA .22LR . It answered alot of questions. Thanks for taking the time. Cary
I have had the 22mag/22lr convertible with the 1 1/8 barrel since August of 94 and have been very pleased with it. It has been my companion many times and I never have felt under-gunned. And like Tug quoted:”Any gun is better than no gun at all.
I have sold many NAA’s from my shop and at gun shows over the years, and have never had a dissatisfied customer. My slightly older version is the type where you line up the front sight with the tip of the trigger when cocked, and I have found that it is pretty accurate even out to 25 yards, getting most of my shots on paper using an 8 1/2 x 11 target. And that is accurate enough to put a few rounds into the boiler room of any perp at defense range.
I once read an article in the magazine:”Guns and weapons for Law Enforcement” that was written by a gentleman who while in the military carried the NAA 22 short version on a covert military OP, and he said that he could not give the details, but that was the only piece that he had, and on that mission it saved his life.
At some of the shows, I would have some one say that the NAA is not accurate past 10 feet. Then I would ask if they would want to put money on that, because about 50 yards below my house in the country, we have an old artesian well that still trickles water from the old rusty pipe which has a puddle around 8 feet across. I can take my NAA from my deck and with CCI 22WMR hollow points, and one handed, hit the area around the pipe for about two feet or so consistently. Not a tack driver, but would certainly have someone keep their head down.
The only problem that I have had with it over the years, was for some reason, the front sight came loose, and the little detent ball on the cylinder pin came out. NAA repaired those problems in short order, and they also had re-bead blasted the frame because it had some carry wear on it, all at no cost, and I have not had any problems since.
I do like the safety slot in between the chambers so you can carry all five rounds. This is one gun that I definitely would not part with.
I have one with both cylinders, .22 and .22 WMR. I carry it with either my .45 ACP or Kimber Solo as a LAST DITCH backup. If nothing else works, for whatever reason, I have 5 rounds of .22 magnum left. It is a true “belly gun” so I’m not too concerned about shooting at any distance. At that point I’d prefer to run, if possible. I do marvel at the quality of workmanship and finish every time I look at the little gun. Who knows? Some day it just may be a final solution to a big problem.
The ONLY gun on the market that a runner is feasibly capable of carrying! Mine is 15 years old, and still works perfect and looks as good as a brand new one. How many guns with a price tag of $250 can give you that?
Thumbs up!
I’ve been in law enforcement for 33 years, I have carried my 22cal for 15 years off duty as well as a Sig p38 9mm. I always have the 22 regardless. I have 5 friends that also carry the NAA. If it’s a novelty, it’s fooled me for 15 years.
I wish they “up gun” this revolver to .32 ACP….bigger frame, but still concealable, especially if they “Cloverleaf” it as a 4 shot that has full length flutes (most modern revolvers have half flutes between the chambers in the cylinder) and have the hammer down between them when on “Safe”.
I agree with you. I recently contacted NAA and asked them to upscale their Pug model into a .32 magnum. I love my .22 magnum Pug NAA, but if they ever do produce the .32 model, I will buy it.
This has been hashed & rehashed many times on their message board. They did try with a tool room model they called the “Earl”. It was a Rube Goldberg model that went nowhere & was nothing like what most people had suggested.
They have apparently given up after that. They did reuse the “Earl” name with a different gun design.
I have owned this gun and carried it almost every day since they first hit the market. It is far more than ‘better than nothing.’ Like most guns, practice offers performance. However, the obvious benefit to owning this gun is its ease and comfort to carry. It is no more apparent to you or those around you than a typical set of keys. Whether I am wearing shorts, dress pants, whatever, I rarely have much to consider beyond slipping it in my pocket. If you often find yourself either uncomfortable or leaving your gun behind due to your situation, or you just want an excellent backup piece, then the mini r might be for you. I own many guns, but frankly, this one is the one most likely to save my life.
This little dude definitely has it’s applications. It’s great to have in the chest pocket of my bibs loaded with rat shot while mowing. It’ll dust the unfortunate copperhead that happens to be in my proximity. It’s also great for gym shorts or sweatpants, where a bigger tool may not be feasible. I’d rather have something than nothing. Also, when a bad guy hears pop with a muzzle flash, he’s probably not going to stick around and ask what caliber you are using!
I CONTINUE TO CONTACT NAA REGARDING THEIR SIDEWINDER MODEL (SWING-OUT CYLINDER)…
THAT MODEL IS DESIRABLE, HOWEVER UNTIL THEY PRODUCE IT WITH A 2 INCH BARREL, YOU CANNOT
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPEER AND HORNADY’S SHORT BARREL AMMO WHICH MAXIMIZES THE VELOCITY
OF THE .22 MAGNUM ROUND………
Change the grips and your groups will shrink by 2/3. It is a MUCH more accurate gun that what is shown in this article. Surprisingly accurate with a good grip on it.
My wife is very small so finding a handgun for her she could grasp and shoot well was very difficult. After trying several guns she tried a naa 22 mag. She loves it and shoots it very well. She and I are confident in the performance if needed……..
I don’t know what “keyhole” means. Did you get reimbursed for postage when you sent it back for repair? Thanks. Eddie
Keyhole is where the bullet hit not with the tip but with its side. Instead of round hole it makes a hole like a keyhole in the paper. Usually caused by the bullet tumbling end over end either vertical or horizontal.
The bullet is normally stabilized by the rifling (grooves) in the barrel which cause the bullet to spin and are expressed in twist per inches. ie 1:9 or 1:12 The length, weight, shape and velocity of the bullet aerodynamically effect bullet flight. Most bullets fly in corkscrew manner with the tighter the diameter and the more repeatable pattern the more accurate the gun is said to be.
I can not find where NAA says what the rifling is in this pistol. With a 1 1/8 inch barrel, you can conclude there is not much twist to stabilize the bullet.
If a bullet keyholes it means that when it hit the target that the bullet was actually tumbling or wobbling because when it hit the target it hit sideways. Instead of getting a clean round hole it leaves a hole that is oblong and it looks like a keyhole.
I would think that a keyhole in a .22 Mag might be an advantage, as it’s instability would make it likely to tumble rather than drill through. Could cause a lot of damage.
Love these little things! I already had a .40 S&W Shield for a primary CCW but there are times to where it’s uncomfortable and impractical to carry and there are times I caught myself going without because of comfort or convenience or something. I hate the idea of being in a situation where I’m unprotected if something were to happen so what’s the solution? You guessed it! With this little guy there is no excuse to not carry! I’m literally armed all the time thanks to the NAA’s size and comfort of carry. I have mine on a folding pocket grip with a pocket clip and keep it in my pocket opposite to my multi tool and I actually forget it’s there some of the time. My multi tool is actually heavier and bulkier! Yeah it has its limitations but man it’s always better than nothing! The most useful gun is the one you always have on you, get one!
I had one in the early 80’s. I think they have been around longer than 1990 unless it was made by another company back then.
Freedom Arms made the earlier version,four shot in .22 magnum, mounted on a belt buckle.
I agree Dude, 1990 was surely a typo. My Dad bought in in the mid 80’s. and I bought one about 6-7yrs ago. They are 100% identical. 5rd 22mab NAA made in Provo, Ut.
I agree. Back in the late 80s I had an FFL and I believe I was looking at these little pistols along with the old Davis Derringer. Since I figured I was unlikely to fire a belly gun more than a few times in my life, after a bit of practice, I finally picked the Davis, which was wholesaling at something like $35 or $40. I knew that its metal was rather substandard compared to this revolver, but didn’t think I needed to go for the (comparatively) expensive revolver.
I wound up buying a half dozen of the Davis Derringers in .22 magnum since all my friends wanted one. I still have mine, and swear by it for toughness & portability. Driving the tractor or mower around the farm, I can stick it in my shorts (usually all I am wearing in the summer) and feel like I am adequately prepared for a surprise. I’ve dispatched a couple of copperheads, plus a few possums and miscellaneous varmints from 15 – 20 feet away. I also used it to dispatch a few ducks & pigeons when we were training field trial retrievers. Never had a problem or a misfire, and based on the damage I saw, I’d be amazed if a human wasn’t screaming in pain & pushing out some noticeable blood if you were within 20 feet. Might not be a one-shot kill, but I believe it’s at least very close to a one-shot stop in .22 magnum hollowpoints.
Generally defensive use is going to be very short range, probably less than 20 feet in most urban or suburban situations. I believe a .22 mag is a very valid choice, and this model looks like top of the line in that department — and it carries 5 shots instead of the two I can cram in the Davis.
I’ve owned the NAA .22 magnum since 1987. They used to be manufactured in Spanish Fork, UT, and mine has that imprint on the gun. I know they are made in Utah, still, but not in SF.
You can also get one in .17 HMR
I recommend getting the folding pistol grip extension to create easier holding while shooting. It also makes pocket carry safer against snagging clothe when pulling it out.
they quit doing the 17 hmr. Think they were afraid of the pressure but not sure. Very limited but some used can be found for sale but go for over 2 times what a new 22 magnum goes for.
I have one in the “black widow” configuration; .22 mag, 2 inch barrel, fixed sights and the folding “grip holster”. The longer barrel and the grip do not substantially impair the pocketability of the gun but (with better sights) do make it a lot easier to shoot. It’s not something I would want to use at 10 yards but at 10 feet or less, or across the table, or defending yourself at an ATM, it’s fine; and ultimately, it beats all heck out of throwing a punch.
I have a Black Widow w/oversized grips and adjustable sights. I can put 5/5 in the CM-5 every time at 10 yds. I’ve got joint problems and holding the weight of a larger gun/caliber is an issue for me. In my experience, I’ve not seen hoods and thieves on the news wearing body armor or anything that will much impair the progress of a .22mag. round at that distance. if someone gets shot, they most likely aren’t sticking around to see what cal. you have or what size the gun is. They are just hauling ass out of their. And, isn’t that they point anyway?
I agree about the folding grip. I have both a .22LR and a .22Mag. The Magnum has a folding grip for easier holding and a Laserlyte cylindrical laser on top. 10yds is no problem. With the grip folded it clips on your pocket and looks just like a pocket knife. For the .22LR, I have a NAA belt buckle holster which just looks like a neat buckle. It stays put and is quick to draw. I wouldn’t trade my NAAs for anything.
If nothing else they are well made, beautiful and collectible. When pocket carry is your only option, they are useful.
I have this gun in the 22 magnum version and the slightly longer barrel. The extra length barrel helps with the accuracy and I am also sure it helps with the bullet speed. Sure does bark though. Fun to shoot and easy to carry in the summer months. I think it is a gun that you would take with you any time verses a larger gun that you would leave at home due to limited clothing concealment during the summer.
I carry one daily (.22LR) and even when I tote my 1911 this little gun rides with me.
As a famous man said ” Any gun is better than no gun at all” it serves a purpose both as a primary and as a backup
I am very happy with mine.
My first choice for a carry gun is a compact 1911, but I live in Florida and sometimes the 1911 isn’t a practical option. I’m often dressed in thin shorts, flip flops and a tee shirt. On those occasions, I drop my NAA .22 magnum in a pocket. It may not be a one round man stopper, but it is certainly going to make for a very painful surprise and lesson to anyone bold enough to present a lethal threat.
I have carried one of these for 15 years as a backup. I have the .22 magnum with the 1&5/8 inch barrel and slightly larger rubber grip. I carry it in a leather holster, and although I only shoot it about twice a year I can always put 5 rounds(rapid fire) in a full size phone book at 10 yards, penetration is at least halfway through the phone book(not scientific, but plenty lethal as far as I’m concerned). I check for dust and pocket lint every week, but when I know it’s going to be fired I intentionally leave it ‘dusty’. I shoot the jacketed hollw points AND HAVE NEVER HAD A FAILURE OF ANY TYPE. An excellent totally concealed pocket gun!
Put a set of laserlyte grips on it and be very suprised with 5 shots in the same hole!
I have a NAA .22 mag in 1 5/8″ barrel with a larger birds head grip and a laser mounted to it. Five shots in a 1″ hole at 7 yds. which is the farthest distance normally called “close” handgun fighting. Five .22 mag head shots?? Nobody’s gonna walk away from that. Capt. John
I Love Mine ( 22 Mag ) and never leave home without 1 or the other. A great addition to the .45 in case things go South and someone is close and personal, Like most all good ER Nurses will tell you, It is very difficult to patch a 22 wound.
I have nothing but good things to say about my two NAA revolvers. They are very well made, and are the ultimate concealed carry piece. And, they are really fun.
I recall in Florida a 92-year-old man shot a robber in the belly who was holding up a diner: He dropped his shotgun and ran out. He was captured at an emergency room a half hour later. This is a gun for bad breath distance and has no stopping power, but a .22lr is still a very lethal round. It’s a “get off me” gun. (And if you’re in your 90’s I guess you have nothing to lose).
If you believe in the theory of “supply and demand”, a 90-year-old’s time is worth a lot more than your time, sunny-boy.
.
He’s got a lot less of it.
GREAT answer, Dick My sentiments exactly.
Sorry if that miscommunicated disrespect (and I’m 58 BTW, no Spring chicken): What I mean is don’t think an old guy can’t hurt you: If he’s lived that long he’s probably not going to be afraid of much.
Many years ago I carried one of these. I only had to fire it once & it was on a deserted street early in the morning. The report sounded like a 44 magnum, needless to say my wife & I walked away without any further incident as the problem hauled donkey when they heard it.