bigfatdave
Member
jcs271, contact NAA, they will give you a cylinder with the notches.
Safety question about NAA Mini-revolvers for CCW
- Thread starter ArthurDent
- Start date
- Status
I don't carry one now, but I used to. I dropped it a couple times and found that after the drop, the hammer was resting over the round (not in the little notch between). But neither time did the thing go off. I decided that the design worked pretty well in preventing an AD.
My reasons for not carrying it now are its manual of arms and its caliber - not safety.
My reasons for not carrying it now are its manual of arms and its caliber - not safety.
Erich
Member
I used to carry a couple of these NAA minis in the early '90s. I carried in my front pockets, using their IWB holster to protect the gun. I carefully parked the hammers on the notches between the chambers. I found that all too frequently I'd find that the hammer had somehow migrated off the notch and over a live round during my ordinary movement of the day (and I wasn't fighting alligators or anything, just ordinary walking around, etc.). 
I discontinued carry of these guns.
BTW, have you ever chrono'd what a .22 bullet is doing out of one of these revolvers. Having done so, I don't think that I've really given much up in getting rid of the mini-revos. They're too small to fire rapidly, and they are pretty anemic. Wasn't it Mas who said he'd rather have a large knife than one of these? I agree . . .
I discontinued carry of these guns.BTW, have you ever chrono'd what a .22 bullet is doing out of one of these revolvers. Having done so, I don't think that I've really given much up in getting rid of the mini-revos. They're too small to fire rapidly, and they are pretty anemic. Wasn't it Mas who said he'd rather have a large knife than one of these? I agree . . .
MCgunner
Member
Me, either, but it might be the protective holster grip, not sure. But, no one I know with one complains about migrating hammers.
Not me, not a knife fighter. Wouldn't know the first thing about hand to hand knife fighting. I'd rather have my NAA, can drill an eye socket from 10 feet easily. My .25 ACP trumped a knife, once. Didn't have to shoot him. He realized he'd brought a knife to a gun fight and seemed quite unwilling to test the terminal ballistics of a .25ACP. Lucky him. Only time anyone ever tried to mug me and the .25 saved the day. Go figure.
Besides, I couldn't hit a rabbit at 15-20 yards with a knife. I've done it with the NAA when the opportunity arose and I didn't have anything more appropriate on me.
I try not to carry the NAA as a primary, but I always have it with me. Just too easy to carry to leave at home even when, as always, I have my 9 or .38 on me.
Erich
Member
I'm not arguing your skill with a knife, but you said:
You'll have to pardon my skepticism.
In all humility, I'm a good shot. Not like I was when I was young and shooting competitively, but good and in decent practice. I have friends who are superb shots and combat trained. No one's doing any eye-socket shots ("easily," no less) with NAA mini-revolvers. Certainly not on anything alive!
Tell you what. For the edification of the rest of us lesser mortals, might you post a link to a YouTube of you shooting your NAA mini-revolver into eye-sized Xs on floating helium balloons at ten feet - twice in the same loop (since you said "easily" ) without outtakes? It would certainly be something to see.
You'll have to pardon my skepticism.
In all humility, I'm a good shot. Not like I was when I was young and shooting competitively, but good and in decent practice. I have friends who are superb shots and combat trained. No one's doing any eye-socket shots ("easily," no less
) with NAA mini-revolvers. Certainly not on anything alive!Tell you what. For the edification of the rest of us lesser mortals, might you post a link to a YouTube of you shooting your NAA mini-revolver into eye-sized Xs on floating helium balloons at ten feet - twice in the same loop (since you said "easily"
) without outtakes? It would certainly be something to see.
VA27
Member
Arthur, run, do not walk, to your nearest 'candy' store and purchase one. They're safe as kittens, and 'ANY' gun you have on you is better than a 'better' gun you don't.
johnnylaw53
Member
years ago when I was still working under I got home late and put my jeans in the washer in the moring I put them in the dryer after I pull them out I found I had forgotten to take the little gun out of my pocket. It was still on the safty nocth so I don't think they get worked off all that easy.
be safe
be safe
Crowbar Muldoon
Member
Honey, I'm charging up the camera and going down to MC's.......gonna do some edificatin'.
LOL.
LOL.
MCgunner
Member
Erich, if you can't hit a target (not a moving head in a gun fight, I'll admit) the size of an eye at 10 feet, you ain't tryin'. My little NAA is totally capable. I've head shot rabbits at 15 yards with it and shot a nutria the other day at about 15 yards with it out of my boat. I did shoot a little low on the first shot, got him on the second as he swam to the bank. The gun will put all its shots on a paper plate at 25 yards from the bench. 10 feet ain't tough at all.
These little guns are ammo picky. I tried a variety of ammo and settled on Federal bulk pack Lightening hollow points as shooting the best in the gun. Stingers tumble out of it, mini mags shoot way low for some reason, so low I can't file enough off the front sight to compensate. But, I was able to file it down to shoot Federal to POA and it shoots 'em well enough to actually take small game to limited yardages with. I've been shooting this thing for 25 years. It will, indeed, shoot that well if you aren't blind. My eyes ain't the greatest, does take good light to see that tiny sight alignment. That's one reason I wanna upgrade to a mini master for carry when I'm fishing or just afield and want a kit gun along.
The best thing about the little NAA is it is always there when an opportunity arises. You have to work with 'em to get 'em to shoot well and to learn to shoot 'em well, but that's not a lot different from any other gun. But, with the wrong ammo, they can be wildly inaccurate. And, every .22 has its own preferences.
And, yeah, I've won my share of matches over the years, but I'm no Jerry Miculek, never could make master class in IDPA. Actually, never got any better than a slow expert. But, accuracy wasn't the problem.
These little guns are ammo picky. I tried a variety of ammo and settled on Federal bulk pack Lightening hollow points as shooting the best in the gun. Stingers tumble out of it, mini mags shoot way low for some reason, so low I can't file enough off the front sight to compensate. But, I was able to file it down to shoot Federal to POA and it shoots 'em well enough to actually take small game to limited yardages with. I've been shooting this thing for 25 years. It will, indeed, shoot that well if you aren't blind. My eyes ain't the greatest, does take good light to see that tiny sight alignment. That's one reason I wanna upgrade to a mini master for carry when I'm fishing or just afield and want a kit gun along.
The best thing about the little NAA is it is always there when an opportunity arises. You have to work with 'em to get 'em to shoot well and to learn to shoot 'em well, but that's not a lot different from any other gun. But, with the wrong ammo, they can be wildly inaccurate. And, every .22 has its own preferences.
And, yeah, I've won my share of matches over the years, but I'm no Jerry Miculek, never could make master class in IDPA. Actually, never got any better than a slow expert. But, accuracy wasn't the problem.
Last edited:
krs
Member
I'm getting one of those.
I've always thought that they were kinda' silly, but listen to you folks! Yep, ASAP - I'll get two, one for my pocket and one for that ball and chain.
I've always thought that they were kinda' silly, but listen to you folks! Yep, ASAP - I'll get two, one for my pocket and one for that ball and chain.
dogrunner
Member
Just gotta answer the comment attributed to MAS relative to him preferring a knife...............BS..........in Caps!!
You are NOT gonna conceal a big knife as well, likely not any cutting instrument that's as effective as that mini.......After over three decades as a LEO I sure saw more than my share of DRT folks that experienced the wrong side of that little .22 bullet.......and even when they weren't DRT, the fight was sure out of them!
Mas is welcome to his opinions, but I was a FULL TIME officer in an active area for those three decades and I read and took to heart Wambaugh's "Onion Fields".........try it, its a good read and will sure give you pause for thought about an ultimate deep cover bug.
Eyeball gun that mini may be, but it is, as was said, the one that's likely gonna be there.......does it work, well, I've actually finished off a downed deer with a behind the ear shot...........tells me that it for sure'd do a human!
You are NOT gonna conceal a big knife as well, likely not any cutting instrument that's as effective as that mini.......After over three decades as a LEO I sure saw more than my share of DRT folks that experienced the wrong side of that little .22 bullet.......and even when they weren't DRT, the fight was sure out of them!
Mas is welcome to his opinions, but I was a FULL TIME officer in an active area for those three decades and I read and took to heart Wambaugh's "Onion Fields".........try it, its a good read and will sure give you pause for thought about an ultimate deep cover bug.
Eyeball gun that mini may be, but it is, as was said, the one that's likely gonna be there.......does it work, well, I've actually finished off a downed deer with a behind the ear shot...........tells me that it for sure'd do a human!
Erich
Member
Ah, but we're talking about a moving head in a gun fight.
krs
Member
I just took a look at Bud's and see that several varieties of these are available. A .22 short version, a cap & ball version (no transfer required?), a dual caliber .22lr/.22 magnum (comes with two cylinders?), and more than one style. 4" barrel, holster folder, Buntline (!), and interestingly a few that are chambered for one of the .17 caliber rimfire cartridges.
Is there anyone here with a take on the .22 short, or the .17 cal versions?
It would seem to me that not much would be lost in a .22 short only version in terms of velocity while there is a gain in that the overall length appears to be less than that of a .22lr version.
It would also seem to me that there'd be little or no advantage in one which fires the .17 cal cartridge because the barrels are too short to realize much of a velocity gain by using so light a bullet.
Opposing thoughts most welcome as I am seriously considering the purchase of one or more of these little revolvers, especially now that I know that cleaning them is only a matter of tossing them into the washing machine with my socks.
Is there anyone here with a take on the .22 short, or the .17 cal versions?
It would seem to me that not much would be lost in a .22 short only version in terms of velocity while there is a gain in that the overall length appears to be less than that of a .22lr version.
It would also seem to me that there'd be little or no advantage in one which fires the .17 cal cartridge because the barrels are too short to realize much of a velocity gain by using so light a bullet.
Opposing thoughts most welcome as I am seriously considering the purchase of one or more of these little revolvers, especially now that I know that cleaning them is only a matter of tossing them into the washing machine with my socks.
MCgunner
Member
Then, I'll put one in his chest first if his head is moving that much. I can hit the head at 10 feet, though, if he's standing even if he's moving some, unless he's pulling Bruce Lee moves on me. Then, I'll finish him with the other 4 rounds. How's about that?
I don't carry the mini as a primary, btw. But, I like it as a back up and also gun. it's taken its share of small game and snakes and such over the years just by being there. Yeah, I probably could have used my primary, but like the other night when I shot the possum under the kitchen sink cabinet, I don't really like shooting bigger guns in these situations unless I have to. There's a small hole under the floor there where the drain goes, guess he got in there.
Yeah, the wife goes "What the HELL are you doing?" I says, "I shot a possum." "Oh." ROFL She'd have totally freaked 30 years ago, but she's just used to the country life now, I guess, LOL!
Interesting thread, I owned one since the 80s but have never fired it. I bought it from a co-worker who needed the money. I thought it looked and felt well built but it was just so small, I foolishly thought it wasn’t a viable firearm, but I’ve been an idiot for at least half of my life .
Then about two years ago I inherited one from my brother in law, it has the holster grip and it folds into it like a knife folds into its handle. Pretty cool I thought. Still I haven’t fired it but I have recently started carrying it. The problem is the range I go to doesn’t allow shooting of derringers and they consider it one.
I didn’t research NAA until real recently, I was at a gun show last month and saw one of the NAAs that looked very different, it had a longer barrel a squared off grip and what looked like a false loading lever similar to the Remington New Army 58, that served to hold the cylinder pin in place. When I got home I started searching for this and learned a lot about this tiny revolver. It took be almost a month to get a new “The Earl” though I still haven’t found a place I can shoot it. I figure it’s a good backup kit gun but being a manageable .22 mag. it may suffice as a primary in certain situations.
I’ve got to find a place to do some plinking, but it’s been getting harder and harder every year.
. Then about two years ago I inherited one from my brother in law, it has the holster grip and it folds into it like a knife folds into its handle. Pretty cool I thought. Still I haven’t fired it but I have recently started carrying it. The problem is the range I go to doesn’t allow shooting of derringers and they consider it one.
I didn’t research NAA until real recently, I was at a gun show last month and saw one of the NAAs that looked very different, it had a longer barrel a squared off grip and what looked like a false loading lever similar to the Remington New Army 58, that served to hold the cylinder pin in place. When I got home I started searching for this and learned a lot about this tiny revolver. It took be almost a month to get a new “The Earl” though I still haven’t found a place I can shoot it. I figure it’s a good backup kit gun but being a manageable .22 mag. it may suffice as a primary in certain situations.
I’ve got to find a place to do some plinking, but it’s been getting harder and harder every year.
MCgunner
Member
But, remember, the short shoots a 29 grain bullet vs the 38 or 40 grain of the LR or Magnum rounds. If all I really wanted it for was defense, the Magnum is the way to go. It ain't MUCH more than the LR, really, but it's a little. It will do better out of the 4" barrel, though, I'm quite sure. One thing about the .22 mag, if you have to use it in the backup roll, it is LOUD and that can be intimidating. None of these guns are that big or heavy and I won't have one without the holster grip which isn't made for the short, don't think. I can't shoot the thing without the bigger grip.
If and when I get that mini master, I WILL carry it as a primary when I'm wade fishing by necessity. That's why I want a magnum cylinder for it, get the most I can out of it. For kit gun duty, I'll put the LR cylinder in it and readjust the rear sight if that is necessary. The mini master should be significantly easier to shoot with the good sights and longer sight radius, but it does give up some size. It's STILL only 9 ounces, though and should fit in a deeper pocket. But, I already have my LR short barrel gun for that.
Another thing I've figured I could do is hang the mini master on a neck chain either from the belt clip on the holster grip or drill a hole somewhere in it. Then, I could drop it down inside my shirt as daily carry. There's all sorts of ways to hide these things if you're creative, they're just so small and light, even the mini master.
krs
Member
Yep, I HAD forgotten about the 29 grain of shorts even though I've got some CCI subsonic versions here that have "710 fps" on the box label. I just took some outside to compare the experience firing those out of a little .22 derringer we have against firing Stingers. Not much difference in recoil but a significant difference in noise. You're right in that noise can be a good thing so I think that the NAA .22 short version will be out of consideration.
bigfatdave
Member
Seriously? I understand having one safe queen, but two more, and still no shooting? I've never had this signature line be so appropriate.
Mine is a lot of fun to shoot, although it isn't the best thing ever ballistics-wise, if you can hold that little thing steady enough to get a group, you're golden for any further handgunning on that range trip.
If nothing else, it is a great warm-up before some serious shooting.
queg I bought a convertible (.22 s/l/lr AND .22mag cylinder) with the folding grip. To be honest, I found it to be uncomfortable, and ordered the slip-on rubber and a mini-master grip from NAA. The mini-master grip is quite comfortable, but the PUG grip is smaller, so if the little fella gets into the CC rotation, it will be wearing the slip-on rubber and a holster.
MCgunner
Member
Love my holster grip. It gives you a full grip while not giving up concealability. I shot it quite well with the holster grip, can't even get, but one finger on the standard bird's head.
Yeah, I know, I blame it on my upbringing that I endeavor to stay within the boundaries of the law. I have a cheap Italian 10 shot .22 I’ve never fired either, and in its case never will. Rest assured that the dozen or so other handguns get plenty of range time.
MCgunner
Member
Well, drive on down here and we'll go shootin'.
JoelSteinbach
Member
naa
I carried a NNA 22 mag for about 4 years in my front pocket, all alone in its little holster. One evening getting home from work I unloaded my pockets as usual, and found out that the hammer had been cocked, this scared the wits out of me. Needless to say it was the last day it was carried. Since then I carry a S&W 360 PD, it also has a hammer , but the desantis pocket holster does a good job of protecting it.
I carried a NNA 22 mag for about 4 years in my front pocket, all alone in its little holster. One evening getting home from work I unloaded my pockets as usual, and found out that the hammer had been cocked, this scared the wits out of me. Needless to say it was the last day it was carried. Since then I carry a S&W 360 PD, it also has a hammer , but the desantis pocket holster does a good job of protecting it.
- Status
Similar threads
