NAA Companion BP Revolver

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Preposterous!

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I have the opportunity to acquire a NAA mini 'companion' revo.... this is the BP version of the .22Mag and .22LR mini revolvers - which are no longer legal to own here in the UK.

I am really tempted, but my question is: has anyone here tried one and what did you think of it? Expensive toy or challenging miniature hand-cannon??

I should add that it will only be used for paper punching - so although I'm interested to hear any views on these, there's no need to convince me that a .22 BP five-shot revolver is not a viable arm for carry/HD. (if any Brit had such a thing in mind, he or she would be imprisoned for many years :rolleyes:)

So.. target shooting - bullseyes (max 10yds?) and maybe giving the occasional tin can a hard time.

Thankyou in advance.........

Preposterous!
 
You`ll have a hard time hitting a tin can at 10 yards... Use the 51 Navy and wear that tin can out !
I`ve always felt they were too expencive for no more than what they are ..As a hide out peice ..better than throwing rocks ..or pulling a knife at a gun fight .
 
Have to agree, you can not hit anything with it unless you are touching it. It is a novelty item only. Fun to look at and shoot but by no means "practical".

I do carry mine in the woods once in a while loaded with smokeless in case I get in an argument with a frog ;)
 
Thanks for the views.. I had an extensive search here and found similar views from others. I may just have it anyway, as it would be a major novelty here in the UK, given our unbelievably stringent gun laws. In fact as I am required to justify each firearm individually before I can purchase it, it may even be hard to get the authorisation to acquire.

Just to go from the sublime to the ridiculous, the other item on my wish list is a 1st or 2nd model Dragoon... sounds like that may be a better bet for some fun at the range. :D (and adds to my growing Colt C&B collection)

Preposterous!
 
They are fun in a good way.

Not innaccurate so much as very difficult to aim -- I wish they made a companion version of the mini-master (with real sights) but they don't. I've fired both sizes and the smaller gun (LR-length cylinder) is anemic in the extreme. The larger "magnum" size is still weaker than a .22LR.

You can use them as a parlor gun. By that I mean use .22 cal airgun pellets driven by a cap (no powder) to plink indoors. The pellets will stop in crumpled up newspaper. Not at 10 yards though... more like 3-4. They don't really stabilize the bullet all that well.

The ones I played with had a tendency to jam due to fouling. The cylinder pin release button (which is right at the muzzle) would actually foul so I couldn't release the pin. Add a jammed action (so you can't rotate the cylinder properly or fire) and a loaded cylinder for a lot of "fun". Only got it that jammed up once but more than one range session ended with the gun needing a soak in hot water to pull the cylinder pin.

More like a novelty to have along as punctuation to a day with other guns.

Mine had the flap holster and pigskin bullet bag. Not sure if those are still available but it was worth it just to have the tiny little flap holster.
 
The choice is between a .22 cal bp derringer and a 2nd Model Dragoon??? There is no choice to be made there, son. You need some serious thinking time with a pint of McEwan's 90.
 
I have a mini conversion .22lr and .22mag, and I post over to NAA forum's as well, but I have to agree that get the bigger 2nd Model Dragoon.
 
I have a NAA Companion. The large one. Get a Dragoon. If you do get a Mini, use Bullseye, or some other smokeless powder.

Part of the problem with these is the barrel. It's cast, so the rifling is a joke. The bore may be slightly too wide, too, as mine was. I sent mine to a smith to have a decent, forged barrel installed.
 
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I had one. Not bad at all with smokeless powder, and a small booster charge of BP if necessary, for ignition. But for the price you'd pay in the UK (something absolutely ridiculous, like 150 or 200 pounds?), I dunno if I'd get one.

But then, it seems like everything is an absolutely ridiculous price the UK. Like I recently discovered that Black Velvet Canadian whisky apparently costs about 16 pounds for 750 mL. That's $31.34 USD. In PA (which has a state monopoly on liquor sales, a 17% liquor tax, and 6% sales tax on top of that), it's $9.53 USD for 750 mL, with all taxes included. And it's not our proximity to Canada, either. Jameson Irish Whiskey is 24.49 pounds ($48.00 USD) per fifth, while it's $39.21 USD here.
 
Something you said

Illegal to own now in the UK. .22 pistols. Hmmm. Who are they afraid of? We have our own problems with that over here in the Colonies in places, but slowly, we are making a comeback to sanity.

It's a shame that you have BP only allowed, though BP can be fun.

I'll also agree with the others. It is more of a novelty and last ditch thing than any kind of a target pistol. You'd be better off getting one of those Pedersoli Remington replicas that shoot with the cap only, as you can do that indoors if the walls are thick and the neighbors can't hear the caps explode.

The Doc is out now. :cool:
 
I'm not so down on 'em. I have a .22 NAA I've had for 20 years, well made, and accurate to normal combat ranges. I can hit an 81/2x11 sheet with mine at 25 yards, not exactly your basic bullseye gun, but okay for ultra-hide out. Loaded with Alliant Bullseye rather than BP, it could work as a suitable substitute in an anti-gun society. Might get one myself since our society seems to be turning that way lately and November, it's very apt to take the plunge.
 
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But then, it seems like everything is an absolutely ridiculous price the UK.

Oh yes.. more than £200!

But then the last time I bought Pyrodex or 777 it was £25 a tub. Shame that the shipping rules are so bad - and even more of a shame that it's not allowed on a flight - some of my colleagues are in Vegas next week and could've saved me a small fortune!

Welcome to 'rip-off' Britain!

ROA 5 1/4" Stainless = £620 or approx $1240
Uberti 51 Navy = £350 or $700
Ruger 10/22 = £300 or $600
Petrol = £1.07 per litre or approx $10 per gallon
2005 Mustang 4.0 V6 Premium (yes, we can buy them!) = £17,000 or $34,000

Help.. :rolleyes:
 
MCgunner, I'm not that down on them either. Just have to understand that it's a hideout/emergency/survival type gun and not something you fire the range with. I know the magnum charge will shoot clean through a 'possum at around eleven feet, and will shoot clean through a big fat gray squirrel at around 23 to maybe 27 feet like the squirrel wasn't even there, other than the fact that it'll wipe that squirrel's ass off of that tree limb as pretty as you'vd ever seen. It'll hit the ground with a solid thump, dead as a doornail and ready to clean and put in the pot, and that's an honest fact...Okay...
 
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The first time I fired mine, before I had the barrel changed, rounds from it would keyhole, or bounce off of the wet phone book I was firing at. That was with 777 in the chambers.

I'm not really down on the gun. I like mine quite a bit, now that the barrel situation has been corrected. As a matter of fact, I'll be toting mine along when I go into Philadelphia this morning (loaded with Bullseye, of course). It would do just fine at anti-mugger ranges.

I do feel that NAA needs to take the gun more seriously as far as quality control goes. I had a little feud going with Sandy (Pres. of NAA) when I saw what a piece of crap my Companion was. Not only was the bore too wide, so were the chambers. The first time I loaded it, I put it in my pocket, took two steps, and three of the bullets fell out of the cylinder. Sandy tried to tell me that Dick Casull designed the thing strictly as a novelty. That was his excuse for the thing not working worth a damn.

Fortunatley, his customer service people are more caring than he is, and they took care of me.
 
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Mike101, good morning sir. Yes, that was inexcusable. I can't help it Mike, I would have been super pissed off if mine had been messed up like that, especially with the price they charge plus the cost of the accessories.
They told you it was a novelty item huh? Well, they sure as hell advertise it straight out as a very dependable close in self defense piece. What about all their small semi autos? Will they be classified as novelty items also whenever they need service and repair?
I must say I haven't had any problems with mine and the people there have always been nice to me. I'vd never spoken to this 'Sandy' but he need's to get off of that crap about it being designed merely as a novelty item. If Dick Casull knew for sure he'd said something like that he'd probably fire his ass on the spot. Mike101 you know as well as I do that Dick Casull build's a lot of firearms ( some of them extremely powerful) and he never built one as a 'novelty item' in his life, and he has never advertised any of them as a novelty item.
Well, I'm glad they got it straightened out for you sir. I do know, along with you and many others, that Mr. Casull has a good name in the firearms world...Okay...
 
"Mike101 you know as well as I do that Dick Casull build's a lot of firearms ( some of them extremely powerful) and he never built one as a 'novelty item' in his life, and he has never advertised any of them as a novelty item."

That's exactly what I told Sandy Chisolm. Sandy told me I should call Dick Casull and ask him, like I have his phone number. Sandy is kind of a smartass, and by his own admission, an "accountant", not a "gun guy".

I also asked Sandy about the test they reprinted on their website. The guy testing the Companion was talking about "lethal energy out to 50 yards, and beyond". Sandy told me I should contact the author. Like I said, he's a smartass.

And NAA certainly advertises it and charges for it like it's a real firearm. The description on their website says "equivalent to .22 Mag.". Sandy tried to tell me that this was a reference to the caliber. In that respect, it's also equivalent to a .22 air pistol, but they sure don't advertise it that way.

Unfortunately, Sandy owns the company, so Dick Casull can't fire him.

Did I mention he's a smartass?
 
Mike101, yes sir, from what you just posted he sure sound's like a smartass. One of them foppy little pencil pushers that's afraid to crawl through a barbed wire fence. But oh yeah, they have an opinion about everything. I can't stand people like that, Mike101.
I remember the lady that I talked to when I ordered the accessories (the actual gun and starter kit came from Cabela's) did tell me that it wasn't really as strong as what came to mind when one thought '.22 Magnum' but that it was strong.
Yesterday evening after I had read your post about replacing the barrel I went back into their site and read through the 'ballistic's' and the 'most frequently asked questions' concerning it. Sure didn't see anything about 'novelty item'.
It wasn't any problem because I have their site added to my favorites list.
Mike101 if you don't mind me asking, (I don't need exactly) about what would it cost to get a 2&1/2 to 3 inch barrel put on mine? I don't find anything wrong with the barrel that's on there but after reading your post I got to thinking about it. Might be pretty cool..
Well, I'm staying away from Sandy Chisolm. I don't have the patience to deal with people like him. I'm glad you told me about him. I will file that away in my mind. Might be good to know some day...Okay...
 
G of C

I paid about $70 for a 1 3/4 inch forged stainless barrel. Unfortunately, the guy who did mine was the owner of Bigiron Barrels. They are no longer in business, as he is in jail.

I don't know if you have seen the ABSOLUTELY HUGE Bigiron thread in the "Rate private sales" forum. This guy Arthur Rex Rochelle (alias Jule Tyrvaldsen) ripped a bunch of us off for custom work that was never done. He also sold a number of guns to THR members through a group buy from Taylor's, then tried to sell their guns on Gunbroker and elsewhere, after the guns had been paid for.

The SOB had my Companion on Gunbroker and Auctionarms, until I saw the picture. Then I contacted Auctionarms and had his account closed.
 
Mike101, yes, I read all about that bastard on here several months ago. I understand they had one woman working there that done the best she could to make things as right as she could.
You're lucky you saw a picture of it I can tell you that.
Well, that tell's me about the neighborhood of the price anyway. Give's me a baseline to work from.
I didn't know what that guy's name was 'til I just read your last post. Low down sonofabitch from all I can gather. Well Mike. the world's full of them I reckon. There is some guy I went to on the internet to check him out for possible work on some grips. I didn't get too far. I was interested in getting a set of briar grips for my Walker and he had a big statement on there about how he required people to send the grip frame to him. Hey! I mean what the hell? If someone can't look at a schematic or a picture of a regular cap&ball revolver and make a set of grips to fit it then they're in the wrong business. I sent him an e-mail and told him that to.
Thank you for the price estimate. I know a couple of good gunsmiths in Wyoming. (one's not a licensed gunsmith but he can sure do the work) I'll talk to them this coming summer after I get settled back in up there...Okay...
 
I feel your pain as far as the grip situation goes. But it seems that there is so much variation in single action Colt grip frames, that grips almost always need to be fitted. That goes for reproductions, as well as genuine Colts. I have no idea why that is the case. You usually don't have that problem with single actions from other manufacturers

Most grip makers state this on their websites. Some give you instructions for fitting the grips. Or, you can send them the gun or grip frame and they'll fit the grips for a fee. This even goes for the big outfits like Hogue and Eagle. These guys have all kinds of CNC machinery, but for a Colt, they still want the grip frame.

I've been looking into this lately, because I want to have new grips made for a Colt single action I just inherited.

Briar would look superb on a Walker.
 
mike101;

What brand of barrel did you have put on your mini? I think it would be neat to put a 3 or 4 inch one on mine. There's not much time for the BP to burn in that short barrel.

-John
 
Preposterous!

I'll chime and recommend a more range friendly revolver than an NAA mini. I have two, one conventional in .22LR and one BP. They are fun, but in a plinker sort of way. I have keep 5 rounds on a paper plate at 7 yards, but that's it. The real fun is to go out into the country and just plink with it, not using the sights, which are poor. After a few cylinder fulls, you get the hang of it and get to the point where you can hit with it.

However, as I understand it you can't really do that in Britain, so I'd get a Ruger Old Army. They're fun.

-John
 
John C

I have no idea what brand of barrel he put on there. He may have just used a blank, and cut the bore himself.

Actually, I don't think Bigiron did it themselves, because the guy wasn't really a smith. He just passed himself off as one. I'm betting he sent it out.
 
hello,

I have a NAA companion BP cal 22 and I can not find bullet to fit. I know that NAA bullets are sold in the USA but in France we do not get them. Would the bullet from 22LR cartridge fit or something else ?
By the way I understand that some use smokeless powder : isn' it dangerous because only BP is recommended ?
Did I understand correctly that airgun pellet can be used with only cap and no powder ?

Thanks
 
I attempted to use caps only with airgun pellets, once (a full cylinder). It was phenomenally loud compared to firing a primer only in a regular firearm, and the pellet would just barely go through paper (and sometimes bounce off), even at point blank (compared to shooting rubber bullets through a regular pistol with a CCI primer only, which would go through thin wood).

Smokeless powder is fine as long as you don't go crazy with it and try to cram a ton in there. Use the scoop provided and you should be fine. Some powders require a small charge of black powder in the bottom for reliable ignition.

And I have tried using bullets pulled from .22 LR cartridges. The "heel" of the bullet smashes against the "lip" inside the chamber, preventing it from seating fully. You will need to cut that off before loading. If you do that, they work fine, though they aren't very accurate. Plated bullets may lose the plating when you're seating them.

American #4 buckshot (0.240 inch, 6.1mm) works well, also. I don't know European buckshot sizes, but you probably need something between 5.7 and 6.2mm.
 
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