American Arms 22 Revolvers Love-em or Sorry You Bought One

[flyingtiger85]

I just purchased a 22lr version with a 1-5/8 barrel because I thought it might be a little more accurate compared to the 1-1/8 barrel.I'm kind of anxious to shoot it but it still hasn't been sent to my FFL dealer.I have many other 22's already but I got the impulse to buy it anyway.It looks like fun to tinker with.It's probalbly not accurate and no good for any defence but I want to shoot it to make it go bang!P.S.I bought a bigger grip for it to hang on to it better called a boot grip.Any opinions on these guns?What say you!

 

[Fmjblack]

I definitely bought mine as a novelty item more than anything. It's a fun challenge shooting targets with it. It also makes a good backup backup gun. As in both your primary and backup have somehow ran dry or malfunctioned and the NAA mini revolver is better than nothing. I have the 1 5/8" version with LR and magnum cylinders and I installed the fold-out grip which definitely helps with accurate shooting but adds a lot to the size. For carry purposes I would use the small factory grip and toss it into a pocket.

 

[Carne Frio]

I have the same model as Fmjblack. It is a very high quality
novelty that is also a firearm. It's fun to shoot with the 22lr
and a little beast with the 22Mag. I never carry is for self
defense, but if I did, I would consider it a "nose" gun.

 

[JFrame]

I love NAA revolvers. Maybe the novelty of them adds to their appeal, but they are jewel-like in terms of their precision manufacturing, and strictly as handguns, would stack up against most others in terms of build quality.

I started out with a .22LR mini-revolver with 1 1/8" barrel. My wife appropriated it as her "go to" gun when she answers the door. No kidding -- she has dwarf hands, and that little mini in her hand looks like a J-frame in anyone else's... I have no doubt she would be better off with at least a .38 special (that's her night stand gun), but I suspect even a .22LR at contact distance would mess up someone's day.

I just bought a Black Widow, and now I'm officially hooked. I took it to the range and was pleased by the accuracy with both .22LR and .22 WMR. Shooting one-handed (Olympic style) at 5.5 yards, I had no problem hitting center-of-head at a B27 target. Two-handed shooting at 7 yards yielded similar results. Off of a bench with careful aiming, I have no doubt that little BW is capable of putting in the 3.5" groups at 25 yards that some folks have experienced.

I am now looking forward to getting an Earl with 4" barrel and the conversion cylinders. The retro look of a vintage Civil War Remington is appealing, and it just has that "it" factor for me. Do I need it? Nah. Do I want it? Heck,yeah!!!

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[Steve 48]

I have a Mini Pug in 22 mag. I love it and it actually is pretty accurate.

 

[Steve 48]

I have a 22 in NAA but traded it.

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

I use the Black Widow as primary carry. .22 Mag has considerable penetration, and I can reliably hit a quarter at 15 feet. Of course it carries like a dream - what's not to like?

 

[rayman]

I've been looking at the expensive break top model (ranger) & saw slow-mo footage of it being fired on YouTube. These guns look like they'd benefit from a trigger guard. A lot of barrel rise. The wasp model looks cool. I like that vent rib.

 

[JFrame]

I've been looking at the expensive break top model (ranger) & saw slow-mo footage of it being fired on YouTube. These guns look like they'd benefit from a trigger guard. A lot of barrel rise. The wasp model looks cool. I like that vent rib.

Rayman -- NAA has announced that they're not going into full production on the Ranger model...So the remaining break tops on the market are only going to get MORE expensive...

I was all set to go for a Wasp myself -- but I've heard a few accounts of the hammer spurs breaking off (the thin cut-out of the hammer seems to generate a stress-point at the edge of the spur). Just a word of caution in case you're seriously considering it...


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[rayman]

Thanks jframe, good to know. I know a few guys who carry NAA's like pocket knives in their front pockets with their loose change & car keys. (loaded too). I wonder if the wasp can be ordered with a regular hammer...

 

[JFrame]

I wonder if the wasp can be ordered with a regular hammer...

Y'know, Rayman -- I'm kind'a guessing not. The statistical sampling of Wasps with the hammer failure is so small, I'm not sure NAA either recognizes or believes they have a problem.

I don't mean to deter you from getting the Wasp -- it's a cool-looking piece, and clearly there are plenty of owners who have NOT experienced the problem. The only thing I would definitely advise, if you get one, is to use snap-caps or empty casings when dry-firing it. It is my totally unauthenticated and amateur opinion that dry-firing the Wasp in the NAA-recommended manner (with the cylinder off) causes undue stress to the thin metal of the hammer spur, because the hammer isn't meeting the soft cushion of plastic or brass. Especially if that particular spur has been weakened through a milling or metallurgical error, I can see where the extra shock would eventually stress it out completely.

Again -- just speaking as a NAA fan and rank amateur observer...


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