NAA Mini Revolver temptation...

[SageMonkey]

The black powder companion version has always tempted me. I'd probably do it if I could find someone who did the pistol primer conversion for it, the only links and contact info I ever saw were out dated though.

 

[brentfoto]

I've attached the holster grip for my mini-mag depicted so nicely by Doc540, above. Wow! What a shutterbug!

Anyway, assuming this scenario:

Hammer snags to half-cock above live chamber.

Does anyone know if in a subsequent 'fall' (to add salt to the wound), whether ignition will take place if hammer is thrust to rim from that position?

What I apparently fail to understand is this: hammer lowered on empty chamber-the hammer could still snag to half-cock and then one faces the same scenario?

I think it very likely that newbies to this gun might not lower hammer fully into safety notch. Even the salesmen at my LGS didn't realize the true 'safe' position or whether it was lowered on live round or safety notch without 'my' educating them.

Can anyone else chime in where they can unequivocally state they've had the same problem as 'eliphalet' with normal carry/use?

 

[Gator]

I'm sure tempted by this one, saw it at the LGS last night.

 

[Brandon]

In the beginning I always tried to be careful that the hammer was down on a notch but found it on a round after some time. After that I was EXTREMELY careful to ALWAYS make sure the hammer rested in a notch and the cylinder secure. To the point it sort of became a habit to pull the gun out and check often. Again after some time I found it on a live round, when I knew absolutely it had been in OK when placed in my pocket.
That is when I began to carry on an empty. It ha been carried on an empty cylinder for years and still is now and again when in use and it has never moved again. It rests that way as I write this.

I had this same problem, tried to get it fixed and still had problems and I was so ANAL about making sure the hammer was in the notch it was no fun to carry. I even called NAA and followed verbal directions over the phone and I still had problems with the cylinder moving while in my pocket.

One day I was prying some rocks out of the ground on a landscaping job when the bar slipped and slid down my leg....BANG

I hit the ground trying not to crap my pants thinking someone was shooting at me. I reached for my gun and found a big hole in my jeans.

Burn on my leg from the cylinder gap and the muzzle blast. I am just glad it did not go in my foot, hit that rock or go somewhere else. Never carried it again. It is under the floor of my safe right now.

 

[doc540]

pocket carried one for nearly a decade and NEVER had it move from the safety slot

ymmv

 

[brentfoto]

From the NAA website:

"Cylinders

I am having difficulty resting the hammer blade in the safety slot on the cylinder; any suggestions?

1. Yes, it's a critically important feature of the gun, so PRACTICE.
First: Make sure the gun is unloaded.

Second: Make sure the gun is unloaded!

Third: Retract the hammer to the point that the cylinder spins freely (about half-way) and keep it retracted.

Fourth: Looking through the top/rear of the frame, locate any of the five milled safety slots (those notches on the cylinder between the chambers), and position any slot directly beneath the blade of the hammer (which is still retracted).

Fifth: While still retracting the hammer, depress the trigger (and keep it depressed) now allow the hammer to settle into the slot.

You can (should) confirm engagement of the hammer in the slot by attempting to rotate the cylinder; if it does rotate, the hammer was not engaged in the slot (repeat the process). Visually confirm, also, by examining the alignment of any chamber with the bore; if a bullet could physically pass from the chamber through the bore, the gun is not 'safe'. In other words, if a chamber is located at 12 o'clock, the gun is not 'safe'; in the 'safe' condition, the upper two chambers are at one and eleven o'clock. 99.9% of the failures are because the trigger was not kept fully depressed while the hammer was being lowered (Step 5). Once you get the hang of it, however, you'll find the process becomes surprisingly easy, quick and natural. "

=========================================
Absent the hammer snagging on something, you 'theoretically' shouldn't have a problem. It's most likely best to have gun in a pocket holster or a NAA custom carry holster grip.

 

[Brandon]

Yep, did all that, could not rotate the cylinder by hand after hammer was resting in the slot.

Cylinder still found a way to move while in pocket. Even used the leather pocket holster.

 

[brentfoto]

Strange. If this weren't an isolated incident, and many did occur, it would've forced some governmental action or a recall. Wonder if NAA has been sued and lost in a jury trial based on a manufacturing or design defect.

It's likely that your gun was defective or there was operator error because all guns that have exposed hammers, and especially those that are so readily exposed as the mini, are subject to snagging. I'm looking at mine and it really (hammer spur) protrudes quite a bit.

Hence, design and manufacture of the Centennial line of S&W revolvers to avoid such snagging problems.

On NAA mini-mag, half-cock is only a smidgeon back from flush-it's easy to mistakenly have it on half-cock or easy to snag so that it goes back that 1/16" or whatever...

Indeed, there's some slight 'play' with cylinder in my new mini-mag when hammer flush with the safety slot. If you keep it in pocket holster or alone without anything else in the pocket there's still the possibility that hammer may SNAG on the interior of the pocket.

With my grip holster, the trigger is covered, so even if its back to half-cock it's not likely to fire unless you exert sufficient force on the hammer while at half-cock. It would probably need to be a hard, direct hit.

All I know is that it passed our State's stringent drop test requisites and I carry fully loaded.

 

[DAdams]

I'm Sticking

with my Seecamp .380.



A PBP Photo

 

[brentfoto]

What does one now pay for a Seecamp?

And, how did you do that super-imposed photograph! I'm impressed!

 

[brentfoto]

The Seecamp available in California is even more expensive than the regular Seecamp. With that great size, might as well carry a S&W x42 or .357 Airweight.

 

[Lashlarue]

I've been carrying mine for over a year and in the leather pocket holster for the last six months and have never had the cylinder rotate out of the safety notch. The pocket holster nearly covers all of the hammer and even if it were possible to move the hammer the one click to allow the cylinder to rotate, its pretty much impossible to rotate the cylinder while it remains in the holster.Just as it is almost impossible to reach the front of the trigger while the pistol is in the holster. I also tried to accidently move the trigger by ramming the pistol into the holster several hundred times, aint happening.

 

[brentfoto]

Yes, certainly a 'form-fitting' pocket holster which makes it impossible for cylinder to rotate and trigger to be engaged might be all but fool-proof.

It's something that requires serious consideration.

But since I have the holster-grip, which cost bucks, I hesitate, though the pocket holster you have described would be 'safer'.
I also like the grip obtained on mini-mag with the 'holster grip'.

 

[brentfoto]

from Lashlarue-

I've been carrying mine for over a year and in the leather pocket holster for the last six months and have never had the cylinder rotate out of the safety notch.

Is it the Thad Rybka NAA pocket holster? Looks like suede.

scroll down to HPT-L or HPT-M

http://www.naaminis.com/mr_hol.html

 

[RyanM]

What does one now pay for a Seecamp?

They've been $795 direct from Seecamp for the longest time. They refuse to raise their prices to what the market will, bear, instead charging what they believe to be a fair price.

Waiting list is one or two years, as a result. If you buy one from a scalper, you can get it immediately, but can expect to pay $1,000 or more.

 

[DAdams]

Bentfoto

What does one now pay for a Seecamp?

And, how did you do that super-imposed photograph! I'm impressed!

I can't take credit for the photo, that is why I gave credit underneath to the Creator, Playboy Penguin. He has the gun collection and the photographic prowess to make this happen. Must be some kind of Photoshop magic.

Seecamps run around $850 ($795 plus shipping, handling, transfer etc) directly from Seecamp and the .380 has a one year backlog if you purchase from them to get the best price and wait.
Dealer allocation is all over the map if you don't want to wait I have seen them priced up to $1100. I picked up my .380 from a Seecamp Dealer for around $925. Didn't want to wait a year. Didn't care about a customer serial number. In my book the LWS .380 is the ultimate in pocket carry, for quality, form factor, weight, round count and with GS 102 gr not too shabby. I still prefer my M&P 340 for pocket carry though.

The .32 is readily available and don't quote me but I think are available in the $450-500 range.

 

[brentfoto]

Thanks, I'll pass. No doubt the California-approved version is a few hundred more.

I have my Bersa Thunder .380 in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster and I'm pleased with both.

 

[Lashlarue]

oem holster Have since replaced birdshead grips with boot grips...

 

[brentfoto]

Thanks for photo. Is that holster on the NAA site? If so, item #?

Does gun fit snugly?

I just spent $$ on the NAA holster grip.

But I'm actually thinking about getting one of the Guru's pocket/wallet holsters or Rybka, but I don't think his are ambidextrous. Or maybe yours, if I can find it.

 

[Lashlarue]

It's the NAA HPT-M, not swede but rough side out, smooth side in.Rough side side it firmly in place in your pocket and smooth side makes retrieval easy when necessary...

 

[brentfoto]

Yours is Steve Rybka designed. I don't think they're offered for southpaws like myself.

regards,

 

[No Quarter]

Seecamps can be found much cheaper now. Some years back, it was a true statement you would pay an arm and a leg for one. With the advent of the NAA guns, Kel Tecs, etc., demand for them has declined to the point where you can actually buy one for a realistic price. A quick search on gunbroker.com will show you some at nicer prices than those stated in the above posts. Bachman Gun and Pawn in Dallas had one for $400 a while back.

 

[dogrunner]

Carried my LR mini less any holster in both shirt and pant pocket and I have NEVER had that cylinder turn from the safety slot.

As I said before,that gun was and is my "always" piece and served as a deep cover backup when a LEO and I carried it daily for way over twenty years!....I have utter confidence in it from a mechanical perspective. Surely the fact that mine never lost it's 'safe' setup in the roll around scuffles and fights I engaged in speaks to the integrity of the design...........least it damn well did for me!

If anyone here has one that won't stay in it's safe position then for the love of God send it to the factory........they'll treat you right.

I'd add that of the several friends I've got that carry that design not a single one has ever mentioned any issue with the safe position not functioning.......makes me think strongly that someone here just doesn't know how to properly manupulate their gun!

 

[Fiveshooter]

My NAA Experience

I ordered a NAA Mini .22 short model several years ago. If my dealer had not ordered it special for me I would not have accepted it. The serial number stamping is so out of line that one of the numbers are at least half the height of the number out of line with the other numbers. I know this does not hinder function in any way but I expect better from a company that openly brags about fit and finish of their guns. On the .22 short model the blade "firing pin" is in the way from what would be the rear sight when cocked so it may as well not even have sights. Due to the lack of usable sights I don't even find it fun to shoot and being .22 short I would NEVER consider this gun a self defense gun. I bought it as more of a curiosity than anything else. I know the sights are indeed usable on the NAA .22 LR and .22 Mag. models. I have shot some of these that belonged to other people and can use the sights. They can actually be quite accurate. I have a few of the little Freedom Arms mini revolvers. All of my F.A. minis have the frame mounted firing pin (Casull's Improvrement) and have usable sights. All are chambered in .22LR as well because I do consider these more of a toy than a personal defense gun. The fit and finish on the F.A. Minis is fantastic and they all have proven the be quite accurate if I do my part.
Years ago I purchased a new early model .32 ACP Guardian for my daughter. The fit was good but the finish was poor to say the least and it was all but non functional as it came out of the box. The trigger pull was so heavy that my daughter had to use a finger from each hand to pull the trigger. It would fail to cycle the action fully and pick up the next round in many cases. I bought her a Kel-Tec P32 and put the Guardian away in one of my safes. I sort of forgot about the little Guardian for a couple of years and decided one day to take it apart to see why the trigger was so hard to pull. It turned out that the main spring follower was galling very badly as it was moving in it's housing (frame). I put the follower in my lathe and gave it a good polish as well as a very slight bevel on both ends. I polished the inside of the main spring housing as well. I lubed it with a light grease and put it back together. The trigger pull was as it should be and quite acceptable. I ran 50 rounds through the little gun without a single failure to cycle so I am assuming that the galling between the mainspring follower and the housing was causing this problem as well. I was happy with the way the little Guardian performed after this minor fix so I decided to completely refinish the gun. I took it apart and sanded off all the sandblast finish on the gun and then smoothed out any casting imperfections that were on the trigger, trigger guard and frame. The entire gun was polished and then given a very smooth satin brush finish with fine scotch-bright. It now has a finish that is as good or better than any Seecamp I have seen. I do realize that N.A.A. cant spend this much time on the finish and still keep the price modest. I also am understanding that overall quality has gotten better over the past few years. That being said it seems like there are an alarming number of people posting on message boards about having to send back new guns for repair because of function issues.

Some pictures of a few of my F.A. mini revolvers:

Picture of refinished NAA .32 Guardian:

 

[Brandon]

.......makes me think strongly that someone here just doesn't know how to properly manupulate their gun!

I know some people have the guns that work flawlessly, I had one that didn't. Someone else had one with problems too. I offered my experience because he seemed to be getting chastised for offering his story.

You know, I have heard people really deride the Kel Tec P3AT. I have two of them and have never experienced a hiccup. But I have never told anyone that was having problems that they didn't know what they were doing.