Handled a North American Arms today

[TruthTellers]

and honestly, I thought it was a quality built revolver, thought the trigger was crisp, and didn't have any issues with the small grip.

This was at a gun store and the model NAA they had was the Pug. It's not the model I would buy, I'm looking at getting the Mini Master with 4 inch barrel and with the good sights of the Mini Master, long sight radius, and equipped with folding grips... I think it'd make a great shooter.

So, the only question I have is for those who have shot an NAA mini revolver with the regular grips and then with the folding grips, did you notice a difference?

 

[thewillweeks]

I haven't shot but have handled both ways, but know several who have. Look up Hickok45's video, he explains the difference in shoot-ability.

Most of the people I know complain of the difficulty cocking the firearm with small grips, works for the first shot, but you have to totally reposition your hand to cock it one hand with the small grips. The bigger grips (folding) are supposed to cure that.

 

[TruthTellers]

Yeah, I did have to reposition my hand to cock the hammer, but I was paying more attention to the trigger and how easy/hard it was to pull.

I think with the larger grip it would assist with that too.

 

[DeepSouth]

I prefer the original rubber grips over the folding grips. If I have to reposition my hand is so little I don't notice it, but I have many hundreds, if not a couple thousand, rounds out of mine. So I'm very comfortable with it, very next ce and fun little gun, you'll love it.

 

[yugorpk]

My moms got one. Good little shooter if not hard to find ammo for. Folding grip variety. If a 77 year old woman can hit balloons at 20 paces its accurate enough.

 

[TruthTellers]

I think I will really like them once I buy one. The .22LR/.22Mag with adj. sights would make a versatile, light revolver good for carrying in the woods, plinking, or defense.

 

[Panzerschwein]

The regular grips suck for shooting. They are made for maximum concealability, as is the whole gun, but those tiny grips lead to cramped hands in short order for normal range use.

 

[Jim NE]

I think that some of the basic NAA revolvers are under $200, as I recall, and that's a very affordable price for a new gun. I think that larger gun you're talking about, however, is a good deal more money.

If it's just for fun, go for it. If it's for defense, though, I'm pretty sure you can get a revolver that would work a lot better at that price. Rossi and Charter Arms should have .22's in that price range, if not lower. But if it's for fun, then why not. Best wishes.

 

[TruthTellers]

^ The Mini Master is more than the basic models, but what you get is a set of real sight, adjustable ones at that, the conversion cylinder, and a 4" barrel. The NAA's you're talking about aren't good for anything past 5 yards.

You can't tell me that this gun:



with these grips



isn't a better gun than those 1.5 inch barrel mini revolvers or the extra $100 it costs.

 

[Hunter2011]

I will only carry one, as a backup.
But to add, .22 can get the job done. This is proven via many reported shootings.

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

However, saying that, to chose to buy a closer to medium sized 4" NAA with its relatively difficult to use small, single action cocking system would be far from my first choice for anyone's primary home defense.

 

[Waveski]

In the original post you made reference to assessing the NAA as a shooter. The longer barrel and larger grip may lend itself to that , I guess. The model in the upper image certainly concedes concealability.

The NAA Mini is one of those things you either really want , or just don't get. The value I see in the design is ease of concealment - the smaller models that is. Once you stretch them out I scratch my head...

Get it , shoot it , enjoy! A range report would be interesting.

 

[GEM]

There are quite a few successful stories of folks defending themselves with the guns.

Can you come up with a significant number of fails? In one case, in FL, a guy came into a restaurant with a 12 gauge. Geezer with a Mini shot him and ended the incident.

They are what they are and the usual complaint that they are not a 1911 is just silly.

 

[geneo]

I CCW the black widow .22lr/.22mag. I shoot it along with my other side arms, 9mm,357,45acp.
I made my own grips for the Black widow, and they fit my hands better. It shoots just fine. Gene
























i

 

[JFrame]

I CCW the black widow .22lr/.22mag. I shoot it along with my other side arms, 9mm,357,45acp.
I made my own grips for the Black widow, and they fit my hands better. It shoots just fine. Gene

Geneo -- that is a beautiful bit of work on that BW grip!

I envy your skill and talent!

.

 

[.455_Hunter]

The NAA Mini platform, especially the 1 1/8' and 1 5/8" models, serve a very specific and valid place in a carry regimen- Always have a gun.

Sometimes, the carry of larger weapons is not possible due to clothing needs or other discrete social requirements. The NAA Mini is the only game in town if you are not satisfied with the tiny pocket autos, and looking for a new revolver smaller than a J-frame.

A loaded NAA Mini in the hand is 1000 times better than the larger gun left at home or in the car, 1000 times better than the pocket poly who unbeknownst to you ejected its magazine when you sat down to eat that cheeseburger, and 1000 times better than "Please don't hurt me!".

Are they the 100% solution for CCW? Absolutely not- I "upgrade" from my 1 5/8" .22 Mag regularly.

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

I think the standard large rubber grips that come on the Black Widow and Mini Master are perfect for those guns. Unlike the birdseye grips on the smaller minis, they allow full control and quick follow-up shots. I considered the folding grips for my Black Widow but rejected them for one reason - it requires two hands to get your gun into battery. That's a deal-breaker.

 

[dbmjr1]

I value my life only as much as I value the deeds I've done with my life.

That being said: I often carry a NAA revolver. I've got about twelve of the little things.

When I read someone posting that they are worthless as a self defense tool, I marvel at the ignorance.

I assure you, If I can knock down steel plates at 25 yards, I can hit a villain COM at 5 yards. While .22 magnum is not the most ideal round, placed in the right part of the body it will take the wind out of anybody's sails.

Perhaps the issue with people who post that nonsense is their inability to shoot with any degree of accuracy. They think that if they come close to hitting a bad guy with a .44 magnum he'll die of fright. No need to practice marksmanship. Just carry a .88 magnum. (Shades of Johnny Dangerously)

In the mean time. I'll continue to carry what I feel satisfies the needs of my situation. Obviously I care what other's post, else I wouldn't have responded, but I care for homeless people too, so don't read too much into that.

 

[Boarhunter]

The Huntsville, Alabama, Police Department lost a fine young officer a number of years back to a drunk bad guy wielding a NAA 22 mag he had concealed in an arm sling. I do not doubt their effectiveness in close encounters.

I do not personally carry or own a NAA mini-revolver, but I have been known to carry a Ruger LCR 22 LR. It handles better and holds more rounds than the mini, and that is the only reason I might not consider a NAA. The cartridge is less problematic for me.

BOARHUNTER

 

[TruthTellers]

When I read someone posting that they are worthless as a self defense tool, I marvel at the ignorance.

I assure you, If I can knock down steel plates at 25 yards, I can hit a villain COM at 5 yards. While .22 magnum is not the most ideal round, placed in the right part of the body it will take the wind out of anybody's sails.

Perhaps the issue with people who post that nonsense is their inability to shoot with any degree of accuracy. They think that if they come close to hitting a bad guy with a .44 magnum he'll die of fright. No need to practice marksmanship. Just carry a .88 magnum. (Shades of Johnny Dangerously)

Don't mind ROA, He's an old soul.

@Boarhunter: The LCR is a nice revolver platform and if Ruger would make a 3" LCRx in .22 LR I'd buy it over the NAA. Unfortunately, they seem adamant on only offering that in .38 Special.

 

[Armybrat]

Bought my Mini Magnum almost 30 years ago (made in Spanish Fork). They are quality made little guns, and suitable as backups. Mine wasn't a fun gun to shoot until I put these boot grips on it last year.



My brother recently acquired a Sidewinder, so now another NAA is on my want list.

 

[Onward Allusion]

I now have 3 NAA Mini's.

When I first got them, I tried putting on and shooting with the folding holster grip twice on two different revolvers. They add no value as far as I'm concerned. Defeats the purpose of a Mini as ultimate hideaway backup gun. The grip is thick and bulky. It's as thick as a Kel Tec P32. If you factor in the clip, it is thicker than a P32.

 

[TTv2]

If what you're looking for is a larger grip, there are other grips available for these than just the folding grip.

in my opinion the grips the black widow and mini master come stock with are fine.

 

[CajunBass]

I've got one of the short barrel ones...about an inch or so, with the folding grips. I got it with the idea that it would just be something to have, but I no sooner got it home than I realized I couldn't think of a reason NOT to carry it. It slips right into the watch pocket of my jeans.

I've never fired it with the standard grips, but the folder is pretty decent. I use a two handed hold, and work the hammer with the off hand. No shifting of the hand required. I wouldn't use it for squirrel hunting, but I can shoot it well enough at "get off me range."

I've still got the standard grips just in case I ever want to use the ultimate redneck fashion accessory.



The buckle is heavy as a brick so I've never actually worn it, but it's kinda cool to have.

 

[javjacob]

The whole point of these NAA minis is they are sized so you can always have it on you. My favorite is the Black Widow. The 2" barrel is the perfect length and the 22magnum is the perfect cartridge for revolver this size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-cqNCGnx_o