I'm thinking I'm going to order an NAA super companion

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MCgunner

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Anyone got some experience with 'em? I have an NAA .22 1 5/8" mini revolver I carry in a holster/grip. It's a second or third carry just because it's so small and light, why not? Might bail me out of a jam some day, never know. I'm kinda wondering if the super companion on the mag frame would compare to .22LR for power? I know one CAN shoot 1.0 grain Bullseye in the things, too, or have read that. Anyone with experience there?

I don't expect this thing to be any more accurate than my .22, but it should be fun if nothing else and it's only a couple hundred bucks. If I like it enough, I might get a spare cylinder or two (40 bucks each) and if I don't like the little grip, I'll get a .22 mag holster grip for it. The holster grip really helps on my LR, but the super companion has a little bigger birdshead that might actually work as a grip. :D

Anyway, any and all input on these, especially direct experience, chronographing, that sort of thing is much appreciated before I jump on one.
 
I've got one and with 4f Goex it'll bounce off wallboard at 15'. I switched to 3f 777 and got complete pass throughs at same dist. Haven't found great accuracy with anything yet except cap fired 22 pellets at 10' which can give a 3" group. I haven't tried the smokless route yet as a long time B/p person; I'm reluctant to put smokeless in any B/p gun.
 
I've never shot anything but the cartridge .22Mag. I'm disappointed in the velocities for the Mag, 850fps with CCI and 950fps with Winchester. I've read in the gun mags that you can expect the same performance with LR as you can the Mag, due to .22 Mag contains a slow burning rifle powder, and just doesn't have enough time in the short barrel to develop decent velocity.

That said, I still carry mine a lot, because it's so convenient. Actually too convenient. I've forgotten it was in my pocket and carried it to work more than once. Definite no-no for the company I worked for back then.
 
That said, I still carry mine a lot, because it's so convenient. Actually too convenient. I've forgotten it was in my pocket and carried it to work more than once. Definite no-no for the company I worked for back then.
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Done the same thing. I have a .22LR 1 5/8" version and I only get around 700 fps out of mine, so the mag gives you over 100 fps more, apparently. Still, not that much, not what some think that carry these things for primaries. :rolleyes:

I just wanna play with this BP version, see what I can do with it. 3 buck is 25 cal, a little large, but I will cut open one of my 20 gauge 3 buck and see if I can cram one of those in a chamber. If they work, 5 rounds of 3 buck 20 gauge is under 5 dollars at Academy and a 5 round package gives me 100 rounds of ball. :D 4 buck would probably work better, but I don't wanna buy a whole bag of shot. Heck, I cut open 12 gauge 00 for my .31 Remmy, works fine. I think I'll order some extra bullets from NAA, though, too, 30 grain conicals I'll play with.

I AM going to try the bullseye. I don't wanna experiment outside the box too much, push pressures that I have no idea what I'm pushing. I'm hoping maybe the bullseye will be more accurate, if not any more powerful. I know it will be cleaner. On that old thread, they talk a lot about experimenting with different smokeless powders. That kinda talk is a might scary. I do have a chronograph and will be testing. All I have for BP is pyrodex P. I don't expect much out of that. I'd try 4F if I could buy a can of it anywhere within 500 miles. :rolleyes:
 
I own a couple of NAA .22 mini-mag revolvers. Shoot one of them every now and then. (maybe 5 shots once a year)..It's okay but I found that loading it up to the center line of the little dipper that come's with it (about the equivelent of a .22LR) is more accurate than the full 'magnum' load. I also use Triple Seven 3fff with mine. Sometimes if it's found that I need to go into a rough place I will carry it either in my shirt pocket or in the ankle holster. It'll get somebody off of you very quickly and very efficently. Truthfully what I consider to be my primary 'backup' is alway's one of my Uberti Colt Pocket .31's with a four inch barrel. I just drop it in my coat pocket or stick it in my front pants pocket and go on about my business. I can flat guarantee you that the .31 will knock somebody's ass a flopping...The .22 Mini Mag is alright. Hell, I'vd killed squirrels with mine out to about 25 feet with no real problem. (using the .22LR load. The full magnum load will make it jump a little too much to be accurate enough to absolutely depend on for knocking a squirrel out of a tree)....
 
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I shot a Freedom Arms mini with Bullseye. Worked fine. Didn't try it for accuracy or power, just to see how it works. It shot, no major issues.

I would really love to know the velocities, however. Thinking it should be close to the .22 Mag cartridge out of a 1-1/8 barrel. If that is true, it would make a Companion a pretty viable pocket weapon.

Gentlemen of the Charcoal,

Do you really carry a C&B revolver for protection? That's pretty interesting.
 
Yes I do. Always and forever....31 for a backup and a '58 or '47 for a belted sidearm. Sometimes a Cattleman's Carbine also. No problems. My guns do not misfire and I know how to shoot....
 
What kinds of velocities are you getting out of the .31? Just curious how it would stock up against the Companion with a Bullseye load.
 
I chronographed my .31 Remmy at something near 700 fps IIRC. That was with a pointy conical and pyrodex. I remember calculating energy and it was near bouts a .22 LR out of a 4" barrel. With the conical, should penetrate well.

I carry a pocket 9 or a .38 snub or a .357 revolver most times, but if I get this little toot and chronograph results impress me, I might just get a "holster grip" for it and carry it as an also gun. I carry my .22 version.
 
I have to warn you about shooting Bullseye in Super Companion, however. The chamber is much bigger than the Companion version so if you fill it with Bullseye using the measure provided, you might blow the cylinder. Maybe not, but who wants to experience that. If you use it with a smaller measure (1 gr) you might get erratic ignition. I have heard this from some people with experience shooting Bullseye in Companions. So a best bet for a Super Companion is 777. LR Companion can be shot with one gr of Bullseye no problem.

Super Companion loaded with 777 should give velocities of a cartridge .22 LR. Guess we'll see when you chronograph yours.

Please let us know of the results.
 
Thanks for the info. I have no intention of going over 1 grain with the bullseye. If it doesn't produce accuracy, well, it's a failure. I really want the super companion. Every little tiny bit of sight radius helps on those things. :D

I will report on my findings and chronographing. Might be a while before I can get down to the range, though, unless I can pack everything on my dirt bike. Don't have a 4x4 anymore.
 
I'm thinking I'm going to order an NAA super companion
Click to expand...

Inquiring minds wnat to know........... Why???

Had one ..... PITA to load ...... Too small to handle well even with my medium sized fingers....... Not very accurate....... Not very powerful, If you ever had to shoot someone with it, it would only make them madder........PITA to clean ........ dumped it as soon as I could.
 
I also have a 31 and would much prefer it for back-up as I can keep it on target out to 30' much better than my NAA. They're both fun to shoot, but the stainless NAA is easier to clean.
 
I bought the extra cylinder from Cabela's for mine.Fit was perfect.Now I can't tell which was the original cylinder,not that it matters,the fit is that good.Solves the PITA to load issue,for me.Also handier than carrying a ''possibles bag'' in the field,or on the trail.Accuracy isn't really a problem,since I bought it mainly for the noise.Cougers run at the first gunshot.With 777 the ''magnum'' is powerfull enough to dissuade an attacker,two or four footed,and it's small enough to carry in a folding knife's sheath,without scaring fellow hikers.
 
Fingers McGee, I just wanna play with this thing, wee what it'll do. I've been shooting black powder for over 35 years. Sure, they're a pain to load, so what? I don't carry 'em, I just like shooting them. But, I think this little gun COULD do some chores if it works out. I wanna play with it and see what I can make it do. A larger grip helps the shootability issues. I have a folding holster grip on my ..22LR version. You see, I've owned THAT little NAA for 25 years, just wanna see what the little cap and ball version is like, and without getting political, I might have to fall back on it someday for deep concealment, if ya know what I mean. I do have a .31 and a ROA. This would be my third percussion revolver toy.

My normal carries are a .38 snub, a 3" medium frame .357 magnum, a 9mm subcompact, a DA/SA .45ACP, and a few others. I really don't need it for carry. I have a CCW in Texas and carry every day. Heck, if I don't like it, I can always sell it. I can ship without FFLs involved. I really don't anticipate selling it, though.

As for cleaning, it's stainless and I have a dish washer. That's how I did my stainless ROA before it got ripped off. My current ROA is carbon steel.
 
One thing I do use my .22LR NAA for, I clip it via its holster grip to the top of my T shirt when I'm wade fishing, keeps it out of the water and I'm still armed. My .38 is in the boat, or in my kayak, however I'm fishing. It's the only gun that is really able to go with me wade fishing and stay dry. It does fill a need now and then. Heck, I carry it everywhere in addition to my other carries, second or third gun. I carry and use it a LOT more than my .380. If the Companion will shoot as well as that .22LR does, I'll like it. I've taken rabbits with the .22 to 50 feet or so. That ain't shabby accuracy, but the tiny sights require good light and time for alignment. It don't point shoot for squat.

Actually, though, I just wanted to buy something and I don't NEED anything cartridge, about got all that covered and I always wanted to play with one of these NAAs.
 
A well loaded .31 is a lot stronger than a well loaded North American Arms .22 Mini Mag Revolver.... Yes, I also bought a couple of extra cylinders and 3 extra sets of nipples and another cylinder pin, 2 main springs and this that and the other for my NAA's..I'vd never used any of them. I bought the Mini Mags as a last ditch survival weapon. If I'm backed up in a corner I know it will kill a man (or woman) dead with no problem at all. (I'm pretty well retired now, but there have been times when I was backed into corners).. If I'm lost and stranded in some rough country somewhere I know it will feed me and even start a fire if need be. It's not a gun (at least for me) one carries with the intention of shooting it a lot and on a regular basis. It take's a little while to pull the pin, remove the cylinder, reload, replace the cylinder, lock the pin back into place, etc...It's I guess what I just called it. It's an emergency survival weapon like the Leatherman Super Tool and perhaps the ASEK you have tucked away that you hope you never need but is there if everything go's to s*** and it's Katy bar the door. Root hog or die. I guess they're fun to shoot and mess around with if that's what someone want's to do. Shooting it is damn sure cheap no question....
 
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Well, made a deal with matthew.g.george and will be sending out a money order Monday or Tuesday. I get paid Tuesday, that's a good thing. :D Will report when I have time and the road to the range dries up a tad. Heck, I might just put the shooting stuff I need in a back pack, strap the tripod for my chronograph to the rack, and ride the dirt bike out there. Won't have anyone out there bothering me that doesn't have a 4x4. :D
 
Dang, I greatly over-estimated the volume of 1 grain of bullseye. My smallest lee scoop holds 2.4 or something like that. I went out back and fired a round of .22 CB short, cut THAT down about by 1/3rd with a dremel tool, and it's 1.0 grain. Superglue doesn't appear to stick to brass, either. :rolleyes: I wanted to make a handle for the scoop. Guess not, just use needle nose to scoop with.
 
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