NAA .22MAG as a Self Defense option

[HRnightmare]

Here goes:

I am looking at the North American Arms .22MAG as a concealed carry option for when I am jogging or walking the dogs in basketball shorts.

I recently discovered there is a drug house in my small neighborhood of only 240 homes. Before someone suggests as other forums have suggested "move out of the ghetto", we are in the city with the lowest crime rate, WELL below antional average.

I am in the humid hot area of the south so carrying concealed is hard to begin with. To boot I am 5'9 and 175 lbs only becuase I hurt my back and put on some fat. I typically wear a shirt 1 size larger and pants 1 size larger to even be able to fit a Kahr CM9. But I am back to exercising and typically travel the neighborhood with basketball shorts and a Tshirt.


ANYWAY....Is a NAA .22 MAG a good SD gun or is it way to much of a risk of over penetration. I also thought of something like a Kel Tec P3AT.

 

[bigfatdave]

overpenetration isn't your concern

As a pocket gun and a "get off me" gun, they're not bad. Obviously they're still a tiny single-action revolver.
As range increases, your problem isn't overpenetration, it is getting hits at all.

They're challenging guns to shoot well and lose a lot of punch because of the tiny barrels.

I have one, and within the limitations imposed by design, it is a decent little gun. Takes practice to have any level of skill with them, of course.

 

[jon86]

Get this:

http://www.spibelt.com/products/spibelt/large-pocket-spibelt

And buy a slightly bigger gun. Think airweight J frame (642, 638, M&P 340, 442) Ruger LCP, Glock 42, S&W bodyguard 380.

You can mod this bag with a holster inside so that the trigger is covered. The draw is a LITTLE slow, because you have to unzip the bag. But its better than not going armed.

 

[stu1ritter]

I wear a NAA Wasp in .22 Mag in a tiny little holster on a belt under a shirt that is pulled out. I never tuck them in anymore being retired. The thing about the Wasp is that it is ALWAYS with me. It is so small and compact you don't even think about it. Loaded with the new short barrel ammo I tell yah, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a few of them. The recoil is quite stout and it took me awhile to learn to allow the revolver to actually rotate in my hand when it goes off. Then, it doesn't hurt and it is very easy to bring back on target. At 15 feet I can hold them all on the 25 yard rapid fire repair center section without any difficulty. Mine actually shoots "somewhat" to point of aim and it is a hoot to practice with. If I feel I need to have a gun with me I take either a J frame or a KelTek P-32 but most of the time, just the little Wasp.
Stu

 

[Walkalong]

I have owned and carried one for 36 years. It isn't the best solution for self defense, but it is better than the howitzer you left at home.

When jogging in shorts the options are narrowed down considerably. Something is always better than nothing.

 

[Fiv3r]

I've looked at them so many times. There really isn't any reason why I wouldn't carry one other than I can generally get away with at least an LCP in my pocket.

However, a little NAA stuffed into a high and tight holster or a watch pocket might not be a bad thing to have just in case

 

[stu1ritter]

The Wasp is SO MUCH better than the baby Browning in 25ACP I used to carry years ago. It was
the LIGHTEST thing around in the 60's and now it weighs a ton. Watch pocket indeed. When I wear Carharts it goes in the watch pocket and my belt goes over the grip making it quite secure and quite available. Other than that, just slips into a pocket in its little holster.
Stu

 

[SlayerOfBunnies]

Get the conversion one so you can practice with. 22lr and carry the magnums. Also, you may want to consider the black widow model (or pony up for the slightly larger handle later). The larger handle makes that firearm considerably more accurate to shoot.

 

[farm23]

I carry a Black Widow every day and it can be accurate with practice. Get both cylinders to keep the cost of practice down. My daughter runs a lot and she carries pepper spray and a Pug. She has used the Pug once on a dog that was very aggressive and the pepper spray did not stop him, the Pug did.

 

[gazpacho]

A single action revolver is pretty far down my list of preferable CCW firearms. 22wmr is also pretty far down that list.

The J Frame 38 is an excellent suggestion. It is far easier to get the thing to function properly under high stress situations than a tiny NAA revolver.

If you have a known drug house in your neighborhood, ask you local PD to park a marked car out front. They can put a camera in it to record traffic in and out of it. That's kind of like shining a flashlight on cockroaches. They should eventually scatter.

 

[BobWright]

HRnightmare said, in part:... ........when I am jogging or walking the dogs in basketball shorts.[/QUOTE

I can't help it. You know what image pops into my mind?


Bob Wright

 

[mdauben]

ANYWAY....Is a NAA .22 MAG a good SD gun or is it way to much of a risk of over penetration. I also thought of something like a Kel Tec P3AT.

Personally, I consider the NAA revolvers cool little guns, but they are the very last thing I would carry for self defence. If you absolutly, positively cannot carry anything bigger they are certainly better than using harsh words but I think there are better alternatives.

It seems the big problem is how to carry in your exercise wear? I can see two possibilities, one is a Belly Band type holster. This is a self supporting system that your wear under your clothing. This will allow you to wear a more substantial gun. Another option is the good old fanny pack. There are lots of good offering in this catagory from makers like Galco, Blackhawk and Uncle Mikes (to name a few). Some people dismiss these as too obvious, but I disagree. Most people won't give it a second look or suspect you are armed. The few that might (mostly LEOs and other CCW) don't matter as long as you have your own permit.

Even with these options, you probably want a fairly light gun to avoid to bouncing around when you run. I'd look at an light weight revolver (S&W Airweight or Ruger LCR), or a small, polymere semiauto (Ruger LCP, Kahr CW380). One of the current number of pocket 9mm might even be good choices (Ruger LC9s, Kahr CM9 or S&W Shield)

 

[HRnightmare]

ask you local PD to park a marked car out front. They can put a camera in it to record traffic in and out of it. That's kind of like shining a flashlight on cockroaches. They should eventually scatter.

I leanred about the neighborhood from the CRO and police Chief. He is doing what he can. They show up in force 5-6 cars whenever they have ANY complaint, they ticket their vehicles when they don't park them right, theyroutinely put unmarked and marked cars to watch the house, they have arrested them several times for public nudity, apparently one of them comes out and pee's in his yard, possession, DV, etc.

 

[rule303]

The NAA's are very well built little guns, but not what I would want to carry. They are so small, it is hard to grip it properly, cock the hammer and fire when you aren't in a life threatening situation. Something like a Kel-Tec P32 or P3AT, or Ruger LCP is not much bigger, and is much easier to use.

 

[Texron]

The Black Widow is much more accurate in part because of the grip, but also harder to conceal. Look at carry options, for each and also the LCP and Keltec P32. Find what will best work for you when jogging. Each of these will work if confronted by 1 or 2 BGs. If more than that, I hope you can run really fast.

 

[MCgunner]

My Black Widow melts away in about ANY pocket. I carry it muzzle down in a number four blackhawk pocket holster (same that I carry my .38 in), folding grip folded. IF it prints at all, it'll look like a pocket knife. I practice opening the grip in the pocket, then dragging it out of the pocket on the draw such that it locks open, very natural. The longish sight radius compared to the little NAAs and the REAL Novak sights really help. I can put 5 rounds into 3.5" POA=POI at 25 yards off a solid rest. THAT is PLENTY accurate enough and it's not a hard gun to shoot off hand, either, with the full hand filling grip.

I really only carry the gun when I must for reasons of digression. I have at least as much trust in a well placed .22 mag Hornady Personal Defense load as any .32ACP. So, yeah, with the folding grip, it works for me.

I've wade fished with this gun, in the folding grip, clipped to the top of my T shirt. The folding grip is a necessary addition IMHO and if you don't like it folded, it's no more hard to hide than the boot grip the gun comes with.

 

[herrwalther]

My wife and I carried one for several years. Sold it and miss it, plan on getting another. For me it was my jogging pistol. Better than nothing to dispatch the potential rabid dog (tons of them around here) and stop or slow down a two legged critter. I carried it in a waist belt made by Sportline that I got from Wal-Mart, and still had room for an MP3 player. Now I carry the larger and heavier TCP for runs. Had to get a new carry method though.

 

[Jim K]

Better than nothing, but very small pistols are not good for carry unless there is a real need for concealment. They lose themselves even in a jacket pocket, are hard to get a grip on, and hard to control. A single action only makes things worse, since you have to hold onto a small grip while fighting the hammer to cock the gun.

You might be surprised how easy something like the LCP or even a J-frame is to conceal in the conditions you describe, and either would (IMHO) be a better choice.

Jim

 

[Phaedrus/69]

While the .22 Mag min-revolver has a place I agree with Jim K; a Ruger LCP or LCR can be carried pretty easily and will be more effective. I sometimes carry my LCR in a tiny Mountainsmith Vibe II waist pack. Yeah, I guess that's the dreaded "fanny pack" but it's so small that it really does just work like a big belt. The LCP is even smaller and lighter than that.

 

[ADP3]

I like the NAA's but keyholing has been a problem with several of the ones that I've owned. Right now another problem, at least around here, is finding .22 WRM ammo. The only thing I've seen on the shelves for months has been some CCI snake shot. The NAA's are also very slow to reload. I've carried various NAA's over the years but now I tote a S&W 442-1.

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[Walkalong]

Carried mine again last night. I have plenty of ammo for it. Mine hasn't keyholed anything I have tried, from 30 to 45 Gr.

 

[Onward Allusion]

NAA Mini revolvers are last ditch guns and guns that you carry when you can't carry anything larger. I know. I have 3 of those revolvers. The single action on such a small gun is difficult enough, but when your heart is going 110+, you will want simplicity.

I used to carry a NAA Mini in 22LR then 22 Mag. I saw the light when struggled with one when I was going to draw.

My suggestion is to get a Kel Tec P32/P3AT or Ruger LCP and rig an armband holster from one of those iPod/iPhone/smartphone holsters. If you want to spend the bucks, get an S&W Airlite J-Frame - 11oz empty.

 

[natman]

Let me put it this way; if I knew I was going to be in a gunfight and I got to choose what gun my opponent would use it would likely be an NAA mini. Single action, super short barrel, too small to hold and aim properly, low powered cartridge. Yes, it's a gun and bullets come out of it, but that's the end of the pluses.

You would be far better off with a small Kel-tec or Ruger auto in 380 or 9mm.

 

[Walkalong]

If I knew there was going to be a gunfight, I would call in sick or bring the best I had. No brainer.

We make decisions on what to carry based on attire and what we are comfortable with. That is not the same for everyone.

Sure, I would much rather have my .45 with me, but where and how I went last night would not permit it.

 

[gibson_es]

I had the pug for a while. and am thinking of getting another for similar reasons.

I placed maybe 300-400 rounds down range with it, so its not like i had "tons of practice" with it. but im no stranger to short barrels and small guns. for me, i could get all shots in a sillouette target pretty much everytime at 7 yards (and these targets are smaller then most people it seems).

however, that being said. it was not, good groupings, or center mass every shot. with any other gun, i would have considered it a fail. with this gun, i was satisfied with the results.

"get off me" gun is a good discription, if some drugged up moron comes at you with a knife, this gun might get you a good headstart for running away. if there not drugged out of there mind, even a shot in the arm, MAY (keyword) have them thinking twice.

however, if you can manage, the small .380's would be a better choice.. i didnt "love" the accuracy of my LCP, but it was much better then the naa. @ 7 yards the grouping was acceptable and center mass. not to mention your follow up shots were much, much quicker.