NAA Pug

[G27RR]

Anyone else have an NAA Pug .22 magnum? I got one a little while back and this is a fun little pocket piece/last resort/BUG. Recoil is very minimal with the rubber grip, and with the Big Dot front sight, accuracy out to 7 yards is very good. The trigger pull and cocking the hammer are both mucher nicer and smoother than I expected they would be.
Five rounds of .22 mag and you can safely carry with the hammer down due to the hammer notches between rounds. Might be a nice piece to go jogging with.

Downsides are obviously the caliber, single action only, and impossibility to quickly reload since you have to remove the cylinder. Other than that, I found a lot to like for at or under $300 bucks.

Disclaimer before the argument starts - I carry an STI Shadow .45ACP as my primary so no, I don't expect this to replace a primary CCW. I also have an S&W bodyguard but the Pug is even easier to conceal and fit into smaller pockets.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Do your bullets keyhole?

 

[G27RR]

I haven't had any keyholing at 7 yards. I haven't tried it beyond that distance. I'll have to do that next time I am at the range just to see at what point it keyholes.

 

[pezo]

I have the .22 mini-mag 1 1/8" convertile mag/lr. These little weapons are real easy and convienent to carry. No matter what my primary is the mini is on me. Sometimes it is the primary when I can't carry a typical sized gun.

 

[wriggly]

They are cool little guns. I carried a regular 22LR for a number of years in my jeans watch pocket. I have been tempted to get a pug, but they have a new one in the works, that will allow quicker reloads. I am waiting for that one.

 

[CoRoMo]

I want one, and I would not mind if it were the primary on occasion. The keyboard cadets can yammer on about stopping power and make their 'better than a sharp pointy stick' comments, but until they get some real defense training, their posts mean nothing.

 

[Bw2k2000]

I absolutly love the NAA mini revolvers. I have the 1 1/8" with a mag and long rifle cylinder, also I have a Black Widow in 17 HMR. Vary fun guns to shoot.

 

[G27RR]

.17HMR does sound fun.

"they have a new one in the works, that will allow quicker reloads. I am waiting for that one."

Ah, NOW they tell me. Just when I thought I was done buying for a little while.

I think these can make pretty good car guns - I noticed this morning it's easy to secure the belt clip holster where you can reach it faster than a concealed primary at 4 o'clock. Up close in a confrontation that you can't drive away from for whatever reason, the .22 mag ought to be very effective.

I do find myself wanting one of the ones where the handle folds up, but how fast can you get those open and into action?

 

[38snapcaps]

I've carried my Pug since January, it has become my everyday companion.

"Downside is caliber". Really? I don't see a need for you to apologize for making it your primary. Placement, penetration, and reliablity are more important than caliber. The .22 magnum bullet from these mini revolvers have very impressive penetrating power, it hits harder than a .25 or a .32, and has performance close to a .380. With minimum recoil and superb concealability, this little gun is all a person needs for personal defense. Go to the Box O' Truth website and see what this cartridge can do. Read some medical reports, shoot some phone books or wooden planks (I have). I am sure you will have no doubts as to the Pugs effectiveness to protect you.

A cop or soldier needs high capacity, extra magazines, and big calibers. They deal in gun battles and need to be aggressive. A normal citizen only needs to stop an assailant long enough to enable an escape. I have no desire to kill an attacker, nor does my self esteem depend on strapping on some hand cannon. Please, do you really think you are going need to reload in the heat of battle? Do you really think you need fifteen rounds and a reload to defend yourself from typical aggression? Let's get realistic about what the threat to a normal person is.

I have toted around a Makarov, S&W .38 snubs (steel and Airweight), a Bersa, and a Kar CW9. They all became a burden after a while. The NAA Pug in a pocket holster, is light, comfortable, and always there if I ever need it. I live in a very low threat environment, I have carefully considered all the factors of my lifestyle, and I have concluded the Pug is perfect.

You have an excellent "pocket protector", feel secure, because you are.

 

[G27RR]

I didn't intend to imply it's useless or anything like that. I wanted to point out potential things some folks might not like to give a balanced view of it. I think if you take another look you'll find my comments very favorable overall and said it makes an excellent gun at close range.

I was actually trying to avoid the caliber war, but didn't get that point across too well.

 

[38snapcaps]

G27RR; I understood what you were saying.

Call my post a preemptive strike on your behalf You just KNOW what is coming if you give any .22 credit for defensive use. I was mostly addressing "them", not you.

I'll never forget standing in a Gander Mountain store one evening. A friend of mine works there and he was helping a customer look at .22 handguns. The customer asked if it would be effective for self defense. I mentioned I certainly would think ten rounds of .22 to the face would be effective. A guy standing next to me suddenly yanks his shirt up, displaying some kind of 1911and growls, "This is the only gun that is effective". Now, several people saw this ego trip, fortunately for him none of them was a policeman.

 

[G27RR]

Gotcha. We're on the same page now. I have to say again, these are surprisingly well built. More reliable than 2 of my 3 .380s, too.

 

[camper]

The PUG is my throw in the pocket carry around the yard and house. Can't wait for the breaktop!

 

[ClemsonAl]

Rat shot

I have a NAA mini, and I carry it with rat shot as my first round. If you've ever had anything in your eye, you know how painful it can be. Set up a target and stand a yard or two away and fire a fast shot towards the head. You'll be suprised how many holes will be in the eye areas. While an attacker is grabbing his eyes, you will have a chance to escape and/or add a couple of hollow points to his misery.