NAA Minis

[pvq]

I am a big fan of the minis and just thought I'd share this post that I made on another forum. get a "PUG"....I think you'll be happy



I very rarely post here, but I read here alot...especially when I am in research mode, and I felt compelled to respond to this thread to defend my recent purchase of a NAA "PUG" in 22 WMR.

I am an LEO with 18 years on the job. Like most, when I first recieved my badge...I never went ANYWHERE without a gun (usually a 5 shot J frame.) I wouldn't even think of NOT going out armed. As the years have gone by I find myself less willing to dress to conceal a firearm in my off hours. Many times, especially when just running out to the store, or going to church...the gun stayed home. More and more in recent years...when i was off duty...the gun stayed home....especially when I am wearing sweat pants...which is more and more these days.

I think we can all agree...the FIRST rule of gunfighting is HAVE A GUN! As has been repeated several times in these threads the gun you have with you beats the one in the safe at home.

Over the years...I have repeatedly downsized to find a weapon that was the most unobtrusive....glock 19, glock 26, s&w 340, and a Seecamp 32. All of those guns ended up being left at home most of the time when I was off duty because of the size EXCEPT for the Seecamp (that was left at home because, as an old revolver man...I just didn't have the confidence that it would fire after spending months...maybe years in my pocket without having been test fired.)

The Seecamp...like the NAA Guardian is a fine weapon (I have never been fond of the KelTec 32s.) But generally speaking pocket guns (for me at least) tend to get carried alot and fired a little. I have never been able to totally trust that one of those small autos will fire reliably after being carried daily in a pocket for maybe months at a time. I should note here that I really don't have any basis for this conclusion except to say that generally, any revolver will be more reliable than any auto...period. My personal Seecamp was as reliable as any glock I have ever owned...but I just couldn't have total confidence in it.

An NAA mini revolver is...in my opinion...the most common sense choice when it comes to a small personal protection firearm because it is utterly reliable. The likelihood of a revolver failing to fire even after being carried for years in a pocket unfired is miniscule.

As to the utility of the 22WMR round...I have always subscribed to the theory that no one wants to get shot. I am under no illusions...this gun is basically a contact weapon. But its ultra small size not only ensure that it will be carried EVERYWHERE AND ALL THE TIME...but can allow it to be serrupticiously deployed should the need arise. Considering that 92% (according to the latest staistics I have read) of DGU's require only the display of a firearm to diffuse the situation...I feel extremely confident with my PUG. If I am unfortunate enough to have an encounter that falls into the other 8%....I'm sure that the combination of the muzzel flash and "wrath of God" noise will be VERY persuasive.

I also agree with one of the posters that said "If I knew I would need a gun...I wouldn't go there!" I try to always observe that when i am off duty!

 

[No Quarter]

PVQ,

Thanks for that post. I hope we get many more from you. Well thought out and well written. Practical and real-life applicable. I agree 110%.

NQ

 

[macadore]

I have been wondering about the Mini-Master with the 4 inch barrel? Does anyone here have one of these? If so, how does it carry and handle?

 

[eliphalet]

Carried a NAA in 22LR for years in my jeans front pocket. No holster just loose with my change. It has killed critters from several hundred pounds to rattlesnakes, has hit vermin up close to 50 feet or so.
Not a 45 but a heck of a lot better than no gun. As mentioned in a earlier post, can be carried unnoticed with no more on than a bathing suit. Mine has been submersed on more than one occasion, Stingers always fired later.

 

[Erik]

So what are your guys times firing, say, five rounds into a target from the 7 yard line and reloading? Especially those more familiar with the platform. I'm curious.

 

[pvq]

Forget about a reload on an NAA in a combat situation. This is basically a "get away from me" gun....or a "put a round right into his ear canal (which should immediately stop all hostilities) gun" If the bad guy doesn't start running then you had better! I never actually chronographed myself but I would estimate I can put 5 rounds down range in 7 seconds...drawing from a pocket with the weapon cocked and ready to fire as soon as it comes on line. I wouldn't attempt to undertake any enforcement action armed only with an NAA. This is 5 rounds of personal protection only. I read somewhere that the minis are "better than harsh language but not as good as a 12 gauge"....that gave me a chuckle....and its so very true

 

[PTK]

I would say my time for drawing is less than a second (I keep one in my pocket and tend to walk around town with my hands in my pockets), with the first round very closely following presentation of the revolver.

The next four rounds usually get fired in the next three to five seconds, at least on the range. I realize that under stress things will not go so smoothly, so I figure on only one sure BANG quickly, the first shot.

 

[wnycollector]

My step dad carried either a NAA mini or charter .38 for years when dropping off his night deposit at the bank. He never shot it a whole lot but when he did it hit what he aimed at!

 

[deputy tom]

CoRoMo,you asked...
Is there a good ankle holster for these little guys? I modified a $15.00 nylon gunshow special to fit mine.

Do they produce any recoil to speak of? I have the Convertible and neither recoils but the Mag's are noticably louder.

These are very nice "always" guns.You'll notice many others will suggest P-32's which are also light and compact.
Seecamps and NAA Guardians have a large following as well.

I own/have owned them all.You need to go handle all variations for yourself and determine which one you like best.tom.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I pocket carry in my back pocket with one of these holsters...
http://www.pocketholsters.com/NAA_Pocket_Wallet_Holster/naa_pocket_wallet_holster.html

This is my backup gun when my primary is something small like a Kahr PM9. Given that I have the .22 lr version with the 1 and 1/8" barrel, I figure it is truly a "real man's gun." Sure, my 6 year old daughter can shoot it just fine, but for defense purposes, it is a truly what a real man should carry. Why? Because you can put all 5 rounds into your aggressor and still have to throw it like a rock or use it as a weight in your fist to stop your attacker.

As for the notions of shooting people in the eye or ear, yeah, sure with contact shots maybe. The sights on the little guns are pretty much terrible as some would argue that they are not even meant to be used. So the chance of hitting a small moving target (such as an eye socket of an aggressor) given the poor sights, short sight radius, and stiff trigger is virtually nil if it isn't a contact or near contact shot.

 

[tinygnat219]

A toy, a dangerous toy for sure, but NOT a Self Defense Handgun. Spend 20 extra bucks and pick up a Kel-Tec P32.

 

[MCgunner]

The problem with shooting the NAA quickly is it's so friggin' short, it's near impossible to point shoot. And, with a cartridge that weak, you need head shots, not COM, which complicates things even further. My first shot is certainly NOT that fast. I wanna acquire sights and make a head shot. But, it beats nothing.

Oh, I'm not real high on .32 either. Even .380 doesn't give me goose bumps, but it's a step up and a P3AT isn't any bigger than the P32.

I have a .380, also, but I think a P3AT will complete my options from bare bones near naked NAA to full sized .45 Auto or .357 magnum medium frame carried IWB. I like having choices.

As for the notions of shooting people in the eye or ear, yeah, sure with contact shots maybe. The sights on the little guns are pretty much terrible as some would argue that they are not even meant to be used. So the chance of hitting a small moving target (such as an eye socket of an aggressor)

I have continually been amazed at how accurate the little gun really is with the sights. You just haven't tried. Yes, they're tiny and yes, they're slow to acquire, but once acquired, I can place shots even out at 25 yards pretty well. I've taken rabbits at about 15 yards with it, head shot snakes at 10 feet with it, and even head shot a feral dog at 25 yards with it. I can fill the interior of a pie plate with it at 25 yards. Not exactly bullseye material, but it's not inaccurate or worthless, or what I'd call a contact weapon.

 

[MCgunner]

One thing I should say about the NAA and using the rudimentary sights it has, they can be quite accurate at the range in daylight, but indoors in less than stellar lighting conditions, they are rather worthless. LOL! I don't think anyone makes a laser grip for it, either, so it's a very minimal tool that's better than nothing, but I still think everyone that carries needs one in their carry battery.