NAA Mini Revolver
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Jim March
Member
They're good guns all right, but FAR more useful in 22Magnum than 22LR.
What you really need is a convertable. Practice with cheap stuff, carry Mags. Look, MOST 22Mag loads work like crap out of a 2" or shorter tube. There are people who will tell you the caliber is worthless in handguns and if you average across all loads, that's true. But there's a small number that DO work out of short barrels and wildly exceed 22LR performance.
The best of the minis is the Black Widow with fixed sights. You'll get over 1,200fps with the best 22Mag loads (CCI MaxiMag +V and +V/TNTs) from that barrel.
The CCI Stingers in 22LR will barely break 900fps. They'll do even more poorly in a shorter barrel. Key thing here: these hot little rimfires gain MORE than 50fps per inch of barrel (the usual rule of thumb). It appears to be closer to 100fps from every inch.
What you really need is a convertable. Practice with cheap stuff, carry Mags. Look, MOST 22Mag loads work like crap out of a 2" or shorter tube. There are people who will tell you the caliber is worthless in handguns and if you average across all loads, that's true. But there's a small number that DO work out of short barrels and wildly exceed 22LR performance.
The best of the minis is the Black Widow with fixed sights. You'll get over 1,200fps with the best 22Mag loads (CCI MaxiMag +V and +V/TNTs) from that barrel.
The CCI Stingers in 22LR will barely break 900fps. They'll do even more poorly in a shorter barrel. Key thing here: these hot little rimfires gain MORE than 50fps per inch of barrel (the usual rule of thumb). It appears to be closer to 100fps from every inch.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Greeting's Karate-
It's not "Junk" by any stretch of the imagination.
As a matter of fact, I own one each of the NAA .22 LR's,
and .22 Magnum's. They are very solidly built, reliable
mini revolver's. Accurate to about 10yds, its a "last resort
effort" of a CCW piece. Also, the factory in Provo, Utah
is noted for its customer service.
If you have (or are planing on getting) any other handgun
for defense; the NAA "Mini's" makes a darn good
back-up weapon, in case the situation starts heading
south!
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
It's not "Junk" by any stretch of the imagination.
As a matter of fact, I own one each of the NAA .22 LR's,
and .22 Magnum's. They are very solidly built, reliable
mini revolver's. Accurate to about 10yds, its a "last resort
effort" of a CCW piece. Also, the factory in Provo, Utah
is noted for its customer service.
If you have (or are planing on getting) any other handgun
for defense; the NAA "Mini's" makes a darn good
back-up weapon, in case the situation starts heading
south!
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
WonderNine
member
I kinda wish they would make a Mini .22 magnum with a 2.5"-3" barrel.
2.5 would probably be perfect.
2.5 would probably be perfect.
Ohen Cepel
Member
I have the Mag. Great gun for what it is!
Very well made guns. Have owned and shot about a dozen of them over the years. Currently have three of them, and one is almost always with me. The .22 lr conceals the best, and there is not much difference in velocity between the lr and the magnum with a 1-1/8" barrel.
Kentucky Rifle
Member In Memoriam
My short barrel NAA Mini .22LR is so old, that it says "Newbury Park, Calif". on the side plate. Pretty old. I'd say that makes it a pretty good little revolver. It's been EVERYWHERE with me.
KR
KR
22luvr
Member
When I cannot carry a "real" handgun....
I carry the NAA mini in .22MAG with the 1 1/8" barrel. They are by no means junk. They're all stainless steel with rosewood birds-head grips and beautifully crafted. I've owned 3 of them. I sold the .22LR because it was simply too small for my larger hands to handle safely. I ordered the oversized rubber boot grips for mine so it shoots and handles like a "real" gun. Accuracy? Yes, but it takes practice and besides, these are otherwise called "nostril" guns in that accuracy is achieved by inserting the gun barrel into perp's nostril or neatly under the chin. NAA also offers a life-time warranty and they are one of the best companies to deal with, as far as customer service.
I carry the NAA mini in .22MAG with the 1 1/8" barrel. They are by no means junk. They're all stainless steel with rosewood birds-head grips and beautifully crafted. I've owned 3 of them. I sold the .22LR because it was simply too small for my larger hands to handle safely. I ordered the oversized rubber boot grips for mine so it shoots and handles like a "real" gun. Accuracy? Yes, but it takes practice and besides, these are otherwise called "nostril" guns in that accuracy is achieved by inserting the gun barrel into perp's nostril or neatly under the chin. NAA also offers a life-time warranty and they are one of the best companies to deal with, as far as customer service.
mtnbkr
Member
I'd like to get one just to "dress up". I'd polish it out, fit it with some fine stag grips (or MOP, or mammoth ivory, giraffe leg bone, etc, etc), maybe get it engraved, and turn that sucker into the world's smallest BBQ gun. Get a fancy pocket holster and I'm all done.
There's a knifemaker that has a table at the local gunshows. He sells mammoth ivory, among other supplies. His table is near the one that frequently has the NAA Minis...
Chris
There's a knifemaker that has a table at the local gunshows. He sells mammoth ivory, among other supplies. His table is near the one that frequently has the NAA Minis...
Chris
mtnbkr
Member
It has the large black grips. Working from memory, I seem to remember that you can use the small wood grips made for the Minis on the BW as it has the same gripframe.
Chris
Jim March
Member
Mr. G is simply wrong. Sorry. MOST 22Mag ammo won't perform out of the 1 and 1/8th barrel. The CCI MaxiMag +V will...over 1,100fps worth. And that stuff is widely available AND has really seriously centerfire-grade ignition reliability.
The Black Widow comes with big rubber grips and a 2" barrel. The mini-master is the same gun, 4" barrel.
The grip frame under the big grips IS the same as the smaller Magnums so yes, for less than $20 you can swap down to the small wood bird's-head. But there's a better option: take the stock rubber grips and shave them down, they're pure soft rubber through and through. Like so:
Overall gun length in this fully-exposed-backstrap variant is just like a small wood grip, but there's much more to hang onto.
The 2" barrel BW is still perfectly sized for pocket carry. Normally, rubber grips slow the draw no matter how small they are but in this case, it doesn't matter - once your hand is around the grip in your pocket, no part of the grip rubs and catches on clothing.
The Black Widow comes with big rubber grips and a 2" barrel. The mini-master is the same gun, 4" barrel
.The grip frame under the big grips IS the same as the smaller Magnums so yes, for less than $20 you can swap down to the small wood bird's-head. But there's a better option: take the stock rubber grips and shave them down, they're pure soft rubber through and through. Like so:
Overall gun length in this fully-exposed-backstrap variant is just like a small wood grip, but there's much more to hang onto.
The 2" barrel BW is still perfectly sized for pocket carry. Normally, rubber grips slow the draw no matter how small they are but in this case, it doesn't matter - once your hand is around the grip in your pocket, no part of the grip rubs and catches on clothing.
tbeb
Member
I had a NAA mini revolver in .22 long rifle. It had the 1 1/8" barrel, and bird's beak grips. I do not recommend this model. I agree that it is very well made. However, the grip is too small and it is single action. It is very hard to fire rapidly. The bullet tumbled out of my barrel at short range. I did not like it, but maybe you will.
Sven
Senior Member
I've seen Jim's baby mouse gun draw blood - from the shooter end with those loads!
Get a grip.
Get a grip.
bubbygator
Member
If small interests you, I carry my 1 1/8" NAA 22mag with the regular wood grips in my shirt pocket.
One feature of NAA that I particularly like is the carry safety notches on the cylinder. You don't have to depend on some extremely small internal hammer step or catch as a safety, the hammer rests all the way down into a rotated offset notch on the cylinder (not on a live shell). The cylinder rotates a 1/2 position to the correct firing position when the hammer is pulled back.
As others have said, if the caliber satisfies you, NAA is a fine piece of work that will last as long as you do.
One feature of NAA that I particularly like is the carry safety notches on the cylinder. You don't have to depend on some extremely small internal hammer step or catch as a safety, the hammer rests all the way down into a rotated offset notch on the cylinder (not on a live shell). The cylinder rotates a 1/2 position to the correct firing position when the hammer is pulled back.
As others have said, if the caliber satisfies you, NAA is a fine piece of work that will last as long as you do.
Jim March
Member
No, the BOTTOM gun is something else entirely. Over a decade old, that's not an NAA - it's a Freedom Arms minirevolver, 1.5" barrel, 22Magnum - FOUR shot cylinder, not five. Frame mounted firing pin. Marked "Casull's Improvement", designed by Dick Casull who's also the father of the NAA design.
FA's minis had the same small one-finger grip regardless of 22LR or 22Magnum. So yes, trying to hang onto that sick little critter takes practice - then again, you know Dick is a recoil psycho.
NAA's 22Magnums (and of course convertables) have a TWO finger grip at minimum, unless you run a larger rubber grip as standard on BWs and MMs and optional on the rest.
The Magnums are therefore easier to control even with the extra power of the magnum loads. If you buy a 1 and 1/8th or 1 and 5/8th barrel Magnum Mini, and you find that the small wood grips aren't giving you enough control, there is a larger size wood grip available, or the yet-larger rubber grips that you can customize as desired. I used an X-acto knife for the rough work and a barrel sander dremel bit for the fine polishing. The NAA rubber grips don't have a hard plastic or metal internal core like on Hogue or Pakmeyer rubber grips, so the NAA grips can be altered to whatever you want.
I still recommend the Black Widow, double caliber and fixed sights (same as on my MiniMaster pictured) as the single best starting point. From there, paint the sights as desired, shave the rubber grips or replace with small or intermediate woods (see the accessories page at www.naaminis.com), a pocket holster (or make your own) and you're good to go.
I bought the MiniMaster because I already had the FA mini for the front-pocket role. I've been considering having the MM chopped to 3" and the front sight replaced with Tritium at the same time.
FA's minis had the same small one-finger grip regardless of 22LR or 22Magnum. So yes, trying to hang onto that sick little critter takes practice - then again, you know Dick is a recoil psycho
.NAA's 22Magnums (and of course convertables) have a TWO finger grip at minimum, unless you run a larger rubber grip as standard on BWs and MMs and optional on the rest.
The Magnums are therefore easier to control even with the extra power of the magnum loads. If you buy a 1 and 1/8th or 1 and 5/8th barrel Magnum Mini, and you find that the small wood grips aren't giving you enough control, there is a larger size wood grip available, or the yet-larger rubber grips that you can customize as desired. I used an X-acto knife for the rough work and a barrel sander dremel bit for the fine polishing. The NAA rubber grips don't have a hard plastic or metal internal core like on Hogue or Pakmeyer rubber grips, so the NAA grips can be altered to whatever you want.
I still recommend the Black Widow, double caliber and fixed sights (same as on my MiniMaster pictured) as the single best starting point. From there, paint the sights as desired, shave the rubber grips or replace with small or intermediate woods (see the accessories page at www.naaminis.com), a pocket holster (or make your own) and you're good to go.
I bought the MiniMaster because I already had the FA mini for the front-pocket role. I've been considering having the MM chopped to 3" and the front sight replaced with Tritium at the same time
.AUTIGER04
member
I like the little Black Widow. These are great guns.
psyprofessor
Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2008
- Messages
- 113
In an earlier post, i recall reading about someone with this revolver surprised to find that the hammer of their gun resting on a live cartridge. (This single action revolver is equipped with safety notches between each cartridge cylinder. The hammer is supposed to safely rest on them so that the gun can be carried with all five cylinders loaded.) This person had placed the hammer on the safety notch...but perhaps in handling the gun, the hammer was inadvertently moved...allowing the cylinder to rotate to the live round chamber.
I investigated this incident with my own NAA 22 mag to see how easily this could happen. Lo...to my surprise...it is very easy to do. The hammer..if moved by just a millimeter (which is not hard to do) does in fact allow the cylinder to move from the safety notch position to a live round position.
On the other hand, if the hammer is placed over an empty cylinder, this does not happen. Even if the hammer is moved (prior to reaching the half-cocked position)...the cylinder does NOT move. Only when one breaks past the half-cocked position does the cylinder start moving.
So.. my question is... apart from having one less live round..... is there any safety concern if the hammer is placed on an empty chamber???
Is this not better than placing the hammer on the safety notch? (Again...having one less round is not a concern for me... the gun's purpose is to by me time to draw my main gun....)
Does anyone notice the same thing?
I investigated this incident with my own NAA 22 mag to see how easily this could happen. Lo...to my surprise...it is very easy to do. The hammer..if moved by just a millimeter (which is not hard to do) does in fact allow the cylinder to move from the safety notch position to a live round position.
On the other hand, if the hammer is placed over an empty cylinder, this does not happen. Even if the hammer is moved (prior to reaching the half-cocked position)...the cylinder does NOT move. Only when one breaks past the half-cocked position does the cylinder start moving.
So.. my question is... apart from having one less live round..... is there any safety concern if the hammer is placed on an empty chamber???
Is this not better than placing the hammer on the safety notch? (Again...having one less round is not a concern for me... the gun's purpose is to by me time to draw my main gun....)
Does anyone notice the same thing?
MCgunner
Member
Well, the grip fills MY hand and it is amazingly useful and could even be described as "accurate', within limits of the sight radius. But, it can amaze you sometimes in what it can do. It's not my definition of the perfect back up, let alone primary defense gun, but it beats nothing when you need something really small. I'd as soon carry it as a .32, myself, though .380 makes a bit more sense.
Not carrying the gun in a pocket with keys and change and such can keep things away from the hammer. I've carried mine a LOT as back up and never had this happen. I've also seen one post where something whack him in the pocket or keys got onto the gun or something and set off the unprotected rim of a round out of battery. The folding "holster grip" helps protect this area of the gun. One should be aware of this danger, though. It doesn't bother me. I still carry the gun and feel it's safe enough for me. I do feel the hoster grip helps in safe carry by shielding the gun as well as making the gun MUCH more useful. I can't shoot the thing either with the standard parrot's head grip. I can only get one finger around it.
The holster grip is worth the investment. Folded, it can still be hidden in your tighty whities.
johnnylaw53
Member
I have had then NAA 22lr with the short barrel for about 15 years now. I did buy the so call boot grips that they have on thier web site which give you a little more room to hold on to, I think if I had to do it over again I would go with the longer barrel and the convertible model but I don't think the gain is worth the trouble of trading now or the money in buying a new one. This type of weapon should never be you first or only carry gun but it does fill a limited need when something eles is just too big mine main duty is in my shorts pocket while I'm working in the yard, it also goes in the pocket when i'm dressed in such a way that the 642 goes in the boot or on the ankel. I also carried it alot when i was working undercover and had to keep the real gun in the unit. I felt if things went bad at the very least it is a loud and may give me a chance to get out of the situration if i needed to. they are very well make weapons and i only had to send it back once and that was after it was left in the jean and went into the washer and dryer it still worked but shortly after that something broke and the cylinder would spin freely turn around time was great.
be safe
be safe
jmontgomery
Member
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2007
- Messages
- 4
I have the NAA Pug. Love it.
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