kierkegaard
Member
A Review, 6/28/08, By kierkegaard
Here is a range report for the NAA Mini Revolver in 22lr.
I recently bought a new 22 Long Rifle version of the Mini Revolver with a 1.125” barrel. It came standard with the red laminated grips, a plastic box and all the paperwork. Good price at less than $170 out the door (cash price).
The first range session saw about 50 rounds put through it. It was easy to shoot. Criticisms regarding the grip are somewhat true. The barrel does rise, and if you’re shooting one handed, that middle finger is really the only thing clinging to the gun. It does jump with each shot. Follow up shots are only inhibited by re-cocking the hammer, though.
I wear “Large” gloves as found in Wilson’s Leather and the like. So my hands are not bear mitts by any means, but they’re not small. My thumb was right up there next to the cylinder on each shot. And the cylinder rocked back into my thumb with each shot. That tool its toll in time, and I cheese grated the side of my thumb on that NAA’s minimally radiused cylinder—“ouch”. (I broke that edge myself with a little sandpaper and Arkansas stoning when I got home. Hopefully next time around I wont nick that thumb up so much.)
You know that front sight that is touted as useless? Well… it isn’t. Assuming you know how to level and straighten the gun without the aid of a rear sight, that front sight keeps them on the paper (in this case an 8 ½ x 11) out to about past 30 feet with no problems. It shot to about the point of aim when I was doing it right. I found point shooting was clearly not as accurate, and probably a liability if you couldn’t touch the target with the barrel…
So, did that sight keep them grouped like the fellows two stalls down shooting Ruger Standard? No. However, I’m convinced that I could been as good as they were with a little practice. (Between you and me, they weren’t making that Ruger look too good. And they were rather opinionated in regard to the various guns found on the range that day. And I am sure that, given the chance, they just might be willing to write their own range report… just… like… me…)
Hm, makes me think.
Anyway, on with my totally unbiased and objective review:
Being a single action, the hammer needs to be cocked each time you shoot it. As there is no trigger guard, my finger wanted to rest on that trigger immediately after cocking. The other option would be to rest it along side the gun… that puts it out there along the barrel (a very short barrel). My finger actually went past the barrel in this manner of handling the gun. Bag that, I am not sticking my finger in front of the barrel when the gun is cocked. So, right on the trigger: crooked my digit. I don’t care too much as if it’s cocked I am pretty sure it’s going to get fired.
The trigger pull on my gun was crisp enough. It is reasonably light, and the creep is minimal. The trigger is small, but it is sufficient.
The rifling on my gun is very shallow. However, it shot 36 and 38 grain ammo without keyholing. It does leave a gritty mess of unburnt powder (at least powder is what I think it is) with some brands of ammo. Federal el cheapo box stuff was the main culprit here… Winchester Super-X was better, but still left some grit.
The gun was easy enough to clean. No issues there.
The only thing worth really commenting about is general safe handling of the gun. Since you have to exhibit some dexterity to get the gun in the safety notch, I, as the owner’s manual recommends, recommend practicing with the gun until you can get the gun on safe reliably. Anyone with the aforementioned bear mitt sized hands and no tactile sense is might have an appreciable problem.
Given its incredibly diminutive size and good construction, I’d recommend it (to me).
-k
P.S. I hope everyone enjoyed my liberal use to the word “gun” when referring to my gun. Settle down folks. English is a dynamic language, common usage is a reasonable means of communicating, a‘ight?
Here is a range report for the NAA Mini Revolver in 22lr.
I recently bought a new 22 Long Rifle version of the Mini Revolver with a 1.125” barrel. It came standard with the red laminated grips, a plastic box and all the paperwork. Good price at less than $170 out the door (cash price).
The first range session saw about 50 rounds put through it. It was easy to shoot. Criticisms regarding the grip are somewhat true. The barrel does rise, and if you’re shooting one handed, that middle finger is really the only thing clinging to the gun. It does jump with each shot. Follow up shots are only inhibited by re-cocking the hammer, though.
I wear “Large” gloves as found in Wilson’s Leather and the like. So my hands are not bear mitts by any means, but they’re not small. My thumb was right up there next to the cylinder on each shot. And the cylinder rocked back into my thumb with each shot. That tool its toll in time, and I cheese grated the side of my thumb on that NAA’s minimally radiused cylinder—“ouch”. (I broke that edge myself with a little sandpaper and Arkansas stoning when I got home. Hopefully next time around I wont nick that thumb up so much.)
You know that front sight that is touted as useless? Well… it isn’t. Assuming you know how to level and straighten the gun without the aid of a rear sight, that front sight keeps them on the paper (in this case an 8 ½ x 11) out to about past 30 feet with no problems. It shot to about the point of aim when I was doing it right. I found point shooting was clearly not as accurate, and probably a liability if you couldn’t touch the target with the barrel…
So, did that sight keep them grouped like the fellows two stalls down shooting Ruger Standard? No. However, I’m convinced that I could been as good as they were with a little practice. (Between you and me, they weren’t making that Ruger look too good. And they were rather opinionated in regard to the various guns found on the range that day. And I am sure that, given the chance, they just might be willing to write their own range report… just… like… me…)
Hm, makes me think.
Anyway, on with my totally unbiased and objective review:
Being a single action, the hammer needs to be cocked each time you shoot it. As there is no trigger guard, my finger wanted to rest on that trigger immediately after cocking. The other option would be to rest it along side the gun… that puts it out there along the barrel (a very short barrel). My finger actually went past the barrel in this manner of handling the gun. Bag that, I am not sticking my finger in front of the barrel when the gun is cocked. So, right on the trigger: crooked my digit. I don’t care too much as if it’s cocked I am pretty sure it’s going to get fired.
The trigger pull on my gun was crisp enough. It is reasonably light, and the creep is minimal. The trigger is small, but it is sufficient.
The rifling on my gun is very shallow. However, it shot 36 and 38 grain ammo without keyholing. It does leave a gritty mess of unburnt powder (at least powder is what I think it is) with some brands of ammo. Federal el cheapo box stuff was the main culprit here… Winchester Super-X was better, but still left some grit.
The gun was easy enough to clean. No issues there.
The only thing worth really commenting about is general safe handling of the gun. Since you have to exhibit some dexterity to get the gun in the safety notch, I, as the owner’s manual recommends, recommend practicing with the gun until you can get the gun on safe reliably. Anyone with the aforementioned bear mitt sized hands and no tactile sense is might have an appreciable problem.
Given its incredibly diminutive size and good construction, I’d recommend it (to me).
-k
P.S. I hope everyone enjoyed my liberal use to the word “gun” when referring to my gun. Settle down folks. English is a dynamic language, common usage is a reasonable means of communicating, a‘ight?
