NAA Mini Convertible .22lr/.22mag

I like the description as “gentlemen’s pocket jewelry.” The smallest pocket gun I have is a Beretta 21A. It is surprisingly accurate for a teeny-ass little gun (in other words, I can keep them on an 8 inch target at maybe 12 feet) and frequently fires a full mag with no FTF (3 out of 4, maybe?), but not the reliability of any of my larger guns. How do the little NAA revolvers compared, if there are folks that have both?

Note: not trying to start any kind of pissing contest, I’m just trying to understand one interesting gun I’ve never owned relative to one I have that seems similar in its intended mission. Thanks.

I was really tempted to get one of these as my second carry gun just so that I was always able to carry something no matter the attire or activity. I keep going back to the idea of getting one and I think the ranger II might get me to finally jump, going to be the convertible for sure so I can get some real cheap practice in. A local range does IDPA style BUG matches every so often, would be fun to run it will multiple NAAs instead of doing reloads.

Thunderchicken said:

I like the description as “gentlemen’s pocket jewelry.” The smallest pocket gun I have is a Beretta 21A. It is surprisingly accurate for a teeny-ass little gun (in other words, I can keep them on an 8 inch target at maybe 12 feet) and frequently fires a full mag with no FTF (3 out of 4, maybe?), but not the reliability of any of my larger guns. How do the little NAA revolvers compared, if there are folks that have both?

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This might help some with a size comparison. The NAAs are smaaaaall guns. This NAA is configured to be as big as you might get. It has the longer barrel and the folding grip. I routinely shot my NAA at 7 yards and closer. I wasn't trying to belt the targets at the 50 foot line with it.

I have a. 22 Mag / 22 LR convertable used to carry it as a BUG. It was sent back to the factory for light strikes. It is now a safe queen. I now have a Kel Tec P32 and LCP for BUG / deep concealment.

I have a 1-1/8" .22 Mag. I put the aftermarket boot grips on it which makes it much more controllable. I carry it in a leather pocket holster. Notes: For ultimate concealability, get the model with the smallest frame - .22 Short. Although the boot grips make the gun larger, I plan on filing the butt end of them to hide better.

LoneGoose said:

I have a 1-1/8" .22 Mag. I put the aftermarket boot grips on it which makes it much more controllable. I carry it in a leather pocket holster. Notes: For ultimate concealability, get the model with the smallest frame - .22 Short. Although the boot grips make the gun larger, I plan on filing the butt end of them to hide better.

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The .22lr is a fair bit smaller than the 22wmr/22lr version. Of course the .22 short version is even smaller yet.

Are you considering purchasing and carrying the .22 short version? I will probably buy the 22 short version some time... I am not to sure if I will ever carry it though. There hasn't been many times when I have wished to have something smaller than the .22lr version to carry.

i have a naa bugout 22lr that is reliable, surprisingly easy to shoot well and goes everywhere perfectly unnoticed. highly recommended.

I Have a Sidewinder Swing out 22 WMR/Magnum and a conventional version as well.

I have had great reliability with mine.

Both are very easy to conceal.

I hold them with just my middle finger on the grip, And I point shoot. I can hit out to 10 yards very consistently, to the head or body.

Recoil is minimal but the gnurled trigger is rough feeling.

I carry mine for deep concealment, backup, or for the utmost in discrete carry. Since reloading is laughable in a self defense scenario, I carry a pair of them, in addition to my primary pistol.

Al-jim19 said:

Hi

Considering getting a NAA mini convertible. If you have one I’m hoping to hear your impressions of it. It will mostly be for fun, but definitely will be carried sometimes as a backup or for gym shorts carry where anything else would be too heavy in a pocket or clipped to the elastic waist.

Thanks!

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I have a convertible with a longer barrel, and I often refer to it as a little jewel, as it seems to have pretty good build quality from what I can see externally, and the parts fit tight with no appreciable play in the cylinder and lock up as it's cocked. Gotten some surprising hits, but, it is a very hard gun to shoot accurately. I would say it's challenging to shoot in general, and doesn't get shot very often as the loading is a bit tedious. I was tempted to get a top break gun, but I probably wouldn't shoot it that much more.

While the gun is very light, and could probably be clipped to shorts, I might have some concerns about comfort and ultimately not being up to what you need it for. Something like a Berretta Lynx would also be very light, be much easier to shoot and have about twice the firepower.

Or one of the newer sub compact guns would probably be a better choice yet in 380, or 9mm as small as they are making them now. And more sweat resistant than the little Berretta. A belly band makes one disappear, gives you a more secure way to carry, as well as room for a reload.

JTHunter said:

Has anybody ever posted tests between the .22 Mag and the .25 ACP?

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I'm sure some have. I believe that the .25 was developed to be a more reliable (due to being rimless) version of the .22 LR. Pretty close out of a short barrel, and while the .22 Mag has a bit more, it is not a huge difference out of a short barrel.

Check on Ballistics by the Inch.

I have owned the folding grip 22 magnum version for about 8 years now. Its almost always with me. I have only put about 70 rounds through it. No problems whatsoever.
I cycle fresh ammo into it every 3 months as rimfire are more susceptible to oil invasion than center fire cartridges.

Tactical Lever said:

I'm sure some have. I believe that the .25 was developed to be a more reliable (due to being rimless) version of the .22 LR. Pretty close out of a short barrel, and while the .22 Mag has a bit more, it is not a huge difference out of a short barrel.

Check on Ballistics by the Inch.

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BBTI shows a 40 gr 22mag at about 900fps from a 2" giving just shy of 72 ft/lbs. A 50 gr 25 ACP goes about 800 fps from a 2" giving just a bit over 71 ft/lbs. So no difference with those numbers. I would expect a 25 fmj to penetrate more.

A 40 gr CCI 22LR Mini Mag gives 856 for 65 ft/lbs from.a 2". Really no difference between the 3 with those numbers. 25 is more reliable with centerfire primer and probably more penetration with the fmj.

I have the convertible NAA 1-5/8" barrel, haven't shot it yet. It's the one I would recommend over any other. The Pug is popular, but no better than the traditional convertible, the Sidewinder is so small you'll never get every empty out using just the ejector rod and you'll struggle mightily fumbling with a speedloader reloading it, and the Ranger IMO is too much for something not proven yet. IDK how long that latch system is going to last nor do I like the design given you could accidentally unlatch it in a hurry cocking the hammer.

NAA's weren't meant to be reloaded during a fight, they were meant to be a "5 shots and run" gun where hopefully one or more of the shots hit the attacker and staggered him enough to give you time to run.

Having said all that, the convertible NAA is the second fastest way to reload an NAA by keeping the other cylinder loaded and swapping it like an 1858 cap and ball revolver. Only the top break is faster to reload.

I intend to get one eventually, just for fun. I low-ball bid on them from time to time and will win one eventually.

If I were going to carry something that small and light, I would probably opt for my Kel-Tec P32 in 32acp. It is awfully easy to carry.

NAAs are nice things to fool around with and interesting to see they can make a firearm so small. Their only practical use AFAIC is when you need the smallest possible hide out gun. You can hide it in a cigarette pack.

In my front pocket for ten years, shoots fine out to 5 or 7 yards. I usually carry a larger pistol, but always have this one. No issues, it has always fired when I pull the trigger.

My 22mag naa is the gun I carry when I can't carry.
I've done testing on car doors with Hornady 22 v-max, gold dots, and cci hp bullets.
The v max performs surprisingly well but the gold dot is what I carry.

I had the 22lr and the 22Magnum both. I used to carry them and they are small but the downside it they are slow to fire. I found I was better of with a Keltec 32 or 380

Armored farmer said:

It will do the things you listed.
I had one, and really liked it. A very well made piece. Accuracy was acceptable for such a small gun.
A word to the wise, from my own experiences. This is a tiny gun, therefore the internals are not very robust.
Mine went back to NAA twice. The second time was a total breakdown. They gladly fixed it both times, but I traded it for a lcp.

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My God AF! What did you do to that poor thing? I've had a Black Widow for years with a holster grip. It goes out fairly often to the range and didn't suffer like yours.

I will definitely be reading any gun review that you do here!

Just bustin' your chops! No offense meant.

KevininPa said:

My God AF! What did you do to that poor thing? I've had a Black Widow for years with a holster grip. It goes out fairly often to the range and didn't suffer like yours.

I will definitely be reading any gun review that you do here!

Just bustin' your chops! No offense meant.

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KevininPa said:

My God AF! What did you do to that poor thing? I've had a Black Widow for years with a holster grip. It goes out fairly often to the range and didn't suffer like yours.

I will definitely be reading any gun review that you do here!

Just bustin' your chops! No offense meant.

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I was putting up a ground blind in my woods when I realized the gray movement I had seen was a coyote at about 60 yds. I snatched my NAA from my waistband and broke something inside when I quickly thumbcocked it to take a potshot at Wiley Coyote.
I figured that I wouldn't have done any differently in a sd situation.....so I traded it off.
I really liked the little gun though!

A coyote at about 60 yards with a NAA .22 mag?

You Sir, are freakin' awesome! As you tell by my post count compared to my join date, I'm more a lurker looking for info and education from those who know more than I. I'm big on the search mode.

My other lurking is for pure entertainment. And I always read your posts because they never let me down! That is said in a good way. Sometimes what is in a poster's mind is not interpreted the same way read.

I just joined this site due to my long standing interest in all things firearms and I enjoy reading what members have to say. That being said I wanted to pass on a a very strange thing that happened to me recently that involves my 20 plus year old NAA 22mag revolver. Even though I have owned this firearm for over 20 years as previously stated, I have only fired 10 rounds in it and up until 6 months ago never carried it on a day to day basis until I purchased a few pairs of "Cargo pants" and realized that the little pocket just below my right pants leg pocket was a perfect fit for this little gun in its leather holster. I was a little concerned about the hammer resting on a live round so I re-read the guns instructions about making sure the hammer fit in the "notch" that is machined in the cylinder between the holes for the live rounds. While making sure (without rounds) that the hammer would actually fit in the notch, I was not comfortable with the little amount of spring tension that the hammer had on it to keep it in that slot, so I called NAA and expressed my concerns and they sent me a new hammer spring and I replaced the original spring and proceeded to load the gun and made sure that the hammer was in the "notch" and started making that my daily carry. The only time I removed the gun was when I was changing pants, and I carried it with no concern. One day I was straighting up our storage room and in the process of cutting the plastic wrap off of 2 aerosol cans, 1 of them slipped out of my right hand and fell to the floor, striking my leg on the way. As this happened I heard a loud explosion and thinking initially that the can had exploded when it hit the concrete floor, I was for a moment really confused when I detected the odor of gunpowder, and then noticed the bottom part of my pants pocket gone and a couple of other tears in the pants leg material. In spending a lot of time thinking about what happened, the only thing that makes any sense is that somehow, in changing pants many times ( never took the gun from the holster) or just the movement of the gun and holster in my pants pocket the hammer came out of the safety "notch" and was resting on a live round and then the falling 12 oz aerosol can base struck the hammer with enough force to fire a round? I still carry this revolver but the hammer now rests on the empty hole that the spent round was in. The problem is now I have only 4 live rounds in a gun that I was already wondering if 5 was enough.