So here it is -- is the NAA bp .22 as good as their other .22s for SD? Let the conflicting opinions fly.
NO.
1. Proper training begins with Four Rules of Safety, Her personal gut wrenching brutal honesty as to whether she could pull the trigger in defense of herself, educating herself with applicable laws and regulations in the use of deadly force.
Get her the Four Rules of Safety, State Regs, books by authors such as Massad Ayoob, Tom Givens, Gila Hayes...
and
arm her with knowledge first.
Ladies do better with Ladies - turn her over/introduce her to a lady. One that is a shooter, has CCW and better yet will invite her to a NRA course, Self Defense - anything!
2. Learning to shoot with a .22 revolver is what I prefer to do with new students, because I will also introduce them to a Medium Frame .38spl revolver, most likely a 4" barrel, if not at least a 3" barrel.
I will again start with a .22 semi auto, then transition to a medium size 9mm handgun of various platforms. Honest, I like the BHP to be the first one.
3. Used Police Trade-in dedicated .38spls , such as the proven Model 10 - is one of the BEST first handguns any shooter should have.
My experience has been, between a 1911, a BHP and K frame, hands will fit one of these guns.
Kframes, being used trade-ins, and easy to get various stocks for - makes fitting to shooter a snap.
4. NAA .22 mini, in any configuration is an "Advanced Tool" in the toolbox IMO.
5. .22 rim-fire, I know for a fact has stopped immediate threats.
These defensive rounds were fired from Medium Frame revolvers with 4" barrels, Semi-Autos with 4" barrels, and various rifles such as the Marlin 60.
NO. The .22 rim-fire is not the best defensive round.
That said, if a teenager only has a .22 revolver, an injured person can only comfortably shoot a .22 semi-auto, the person under doctors orders is NOT allowed recoil , the geriatric with such Osteo that the Dr, says any recoil will break a neck, back and similar, the .22 rifles will stop an immediate threat.
NAA mini revolvers are very nice guns! They are made like a Swiss mechanical watch. They make great gifts and yes, even gifts to kids, from parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles.
These kids, even as young as age 5 can recite The Four Rules of Safety.
They have been under Adult Supervision and had "training" with BB guns, and .22 revolvers like J frame sized and K frame size, and semi auto's like Ruger Standard Model, Colt Woodsman, High Standard Duramatic, and Buckmark.
They also have single action .22 rifles that fit them from Pink Crickets, to whatever.
Pretty,
Cute,
Neat,
So Special,
Cool,
Sentimental and other names are used to describe the NAA Mini these kids have and are theirs, just kept in a safe for them.
Adults have parented, and continue to parent these kids. Levels of understanding vary depending on kid, age and stage of development.
Just my take .
Steve