Which NAA Mini Revolver?
- Thread starter tomrkba
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farm23
Member
I have the Black Widow with both 22lr and 22mag cylinders and it is a great gun. NAA makes smaller guns but the 2" BW does it for me. I carry it every day and around the farm I actually shoot it more than anything else.. The recoil is not bad and it is loud. This is not a problem for me since most of the time I use I am on the tractor and have on hearing protection. Get one and enjoy but do try and get both cylinders.
Panzerschwein
member
I would recommend the .22 LR version with the 1 5/8" bbl.
In such a short bbl .22 magnum doesn't have the same power advantage that it would have out of a rifle or longer pistol bbl. Load it up with CCI mini mag 40 grain solids for defense work.
In such a short bbl .22 magnum doesn't have the same power advantage that it would have out of a rifle or longer pistol bbl. Load it up with CCI mini mag 40 grain solids for defense work.
Jorg Nysgerrig
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Going from 43 to 63 ft/lbs between the LR and magnum seems substantial to me.
Ed Ames
Member
Of all of them I have tried, the fixed sight black widow seems the most practical. The one I shot was about 8" low and right at 15 yards but I was able to manage a 4" group and with practice I think I could have done better.
Every single one I have ever tried started getting stiff after a cylinder or two so they aren't really target practice machines.
Every single one I have ever tried started getting stiff after a cylinder or two so they aren't really target practice machines.
almherdfan
Member
I have the sidewinder convertible. I carry the .22wmr cylinder, but use the .22lr more at the range (economy). I had a BW that I liked a lot, but foolishly let get away. The sidewinder is easier to reload with the swing out cylinder, but it is still not "quick".
PistolPete45
Member
I have a 22 Magnum with those little wood grips Short short barrel . (old gun) got the wife a black widow about a 2 inch barrel good sights and the bigger grips make that one easy to shoot . I recommend the larger grips highly
Hoppes Love Potion
Member
Black Widow or Pug. 2 of the best concealed carry guns ever.
kilibreaux
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I own the .22 Mag and it is very easy to shoot. The little grip will "roll up" in the hand just like a full-size single action.
From a "serious" standpoint the .22 Mag is the only way to go because such short barrels are relying on chamber pressure over barrel length for speed and the .22 Mag has three times the chamber pressure of the .22 LR.
From a "serious" standpoint the .22 Mag is the only way to go because such short barrels are relying on chamber pressure over barrel length for speed and the .22 Mag has three times the chamber pressure of the .22 LR.
Stainz
Member
In .22 WMR ammo, the Hornady 'Critical Defense' 45gr FTX load was designed for the S&W 351PD's 1 7/8" barrel from which it eeks out >1,000 fps and produces 100 ft-lb KE at the muzzle. I pocket carry a 351PD as my EDC CCW while my right rotator is 'on the mend'. The screw cap pill bottles hold a seven shot reload. I like the DA capability of my 351PD, but will admit that it's $630 cost was dear - and probably more than a couple of NAA's would have cost.
It produces a loud crack - perhaps due to nearing the sound barrier (1,125 fps) - undoubtedly aided by the short barrel, as far as the noise is concerned. The 351PD is a target shooter in comparison to the two NAA .22 WMRs I've shot over the years. At 5yd, I felt good hitting the large bg target, even if I just 'winged' him - with the NAA. I never felt 'comfortable' shooting them, either. Not my cup of tea, but YMMV.
Stainz
It produces a loud crack - perhaps due to nearing the sound barrier (1,125 fps) - undoubtedly aided by the short barrel, as far as the noise is concerned. The 351PD is a target shooter in comparison to the two NAA .22 WMRs I've shot over the years. At 5yd, I felt good hitting the large bg target, even if I just 'winged' him - with the NAA. I never felt 'comfortable' shooting them, either. Not my cup of tea, but YMMV.
Stainz
stu1ritter
Member
I have a short barrel Wasp with both cylinders. I've tried boot grips and some others but keep going back to the original grips as they allow the little pea shooter to rotate in your hand when you fire it. If you try and control that rolling recoil, it hurts, but allow it to happen and you can shoot Magnums all day long without bother.
Stu
Stu
BCRider
Member
I've got the longer 4.2" Earl which came with both cylinders.
With .22LR and the small grips the gun is comfortable for fairly fast shots that don't move much in my grip given what it is. This requires a two handed grip where my strong hand is squeezed in by my weak hand to press well enough on the small grips to achieve a hold that doesn't shift with the shots. It also puts my weak hand in place for cocking the hammer.
With magnums the small gun kicks hard enough that I need to re-set my hold for each shot despite the two handed hold. It doesn't hurt the hands at all but you SURE KNOW THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED ! ! ! ! !
The .22WMR ammo costs dearly enough that I've only ever bought the one box for it. Somewhere along the way someone gave me two flats of WMR shot loads. When patterned on paper it was pretty obvious that it wouldn't do much at all past about 5 to 6 feet. The pattern at 5 feet was already about two feet in diameter.
In terms of smiles at the range I don't have many guns that are better than my NAA Earl. I've gotten to where I can hold and shoot roughly 6 inch groups at 20 yards with it. The longer 4 inch barrel certainly plays a BIG role in achieving this sort of result. Not for the guiding of the bullet but for allowing a sharper sight picture. It's a small gun but certainly the longer barrel versions can put the shots where you want them when needed.
With .22LR and the small grips the gun is comfortable for fairly fast shots that don't move much in my grip given what it is. This requires a two handed grip where my strong hand is squeezed in by my weak hand to press well enough on the small grips to achieve a hold that doesn't shift with the shots. It also puts my weak hand in place for cocking the hammer.
With magnums the small gun kicks hard enough that I need to re-set my hold for each shot despite the two handed hold. It doesn't hurt the hands at all but you SURE KNOW THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED ! ! ! ! !
The .22WMR ammo costs dearly enough that I've only ever bought the one box for it. Somewhere along the way someone gave me two flats of WMR shot loads. When patterned on paper it was pretty obvious that it wouldn't do much at all past about 5 to 6 feet. The pattern at 5 feet was already about two feet in diameter.
In terms of smiles at the range I don't have many guns that are better than my NAA Earl. I've gotten to where I can hold and shoot roughly 6 inch groups at 20 yards with it. The longer 4 inch barrel certainly plays a BIG role in achieving this sort of result. Not for the guiding of the bullet but for allowing a sharper sight picture. It's a small gun but certainly the longer barrel versions can put the shots where you want them when needed.
Onward Allusion
Member
My wife and I have Minis in -
- 22LR 1 1/8" barrel
- 22LR 1 5/8" barrel
- 22 Mag 1 5/8 barrel
They are small guns but believe it or not, the 22 Mag is longer and thicker than a Kel Tec P32. A J-Frame is only 1" longer than the 22 Mag w/ 1 5/8 barrel.
Personally, my wife and I only carry them as BUG's. Biggest drawback of them is the single action with a tiny sized grip. They are last ditch stick it up someone's nose kind of guns. One step above a derringer. Recoil on them is pretty minimal. The 22 Mag's recoil is still way less than a 38 Snub.
If you must have a tiny revolver, you may want to look into the old H&R Young America or H&R Victor revolvers. I'll post a pic tonight, but size-wise, they are not much bigger than a NAA 22 Mag or Black Widow.
- 22LR 1 1/8" barrel
- 22LR 1 5/8" barrel
- 22 Mag 1 5/8 barrel
They are small guns but believe it or not, the 22 Mag is longer and thicker than a Kel Tec P32. A J-Frame is only 1" longer than the 22 Mag w/ 1 5/8 barrel.
Personally, my wife and I only carry them as BUG's. Biggest drawback of them is the single action with a tiny sized grip. They are last ditch stick it up someone's nose kind of guns. One step above a derringer. Recoil on them is pretty minimal. The 22 Mag's recoil is still way less than a 38 Snub.
If you must have a tiny revolver, you may want to look into the old H&R Young America or H&R Victor revolvers. I'll post a pic tonight, but size-wise, they are not much bigger than a NAA 22 Mag or Black Widow.
Onward Allusion
Member
1 351 PD = 3 NAA Minis
New math . . . 7 > 15 in this case
flyingtiger85
Member
dbmjr1
Member
I've got eight of these things.
I open carry, legal in Louisiana, a .22LR in the NAA folding grip/holster clipped to my belt. It's there right now. Most assume it's a knife.
Recoil is not an issue in any of them, except the .22 short. You might want to wear padded gloves when shooting that massive monster caliber.
Accuracy is practically non existent, except in my 6" Hogleg. That one will ring the steel plates at 25 yards every time. Most of them, including my Mini-master, will shoot groups the size of a small pizza at ten yards. They suffer from poorly cut crowns. You could re-cut the crown, and vastly improve the accuracy on any one of them. Some of the crowns are obviously cut at odd angles.
That aside, they are very well made.
The short isn't in that photo. I just got it.
I open carry, legal in Louisiana, a .22LR in the NAA folding grip/holster clipped to my belt. It's there right now. Most assume it's a knife.
Recoil is not an issue in any of them, except the .22 short. You might want to wear padded gloves when shooting that massive monster caliber.
Accuracy is practically non existent, except in my 6" Hogleg. That one will ring the steel plates at 25 yards every time. Most of them, including my Mini-master, will shoot groups the size of a small pizza at ten yards. They suffer from poorly cut crowns. You could re-cut the crown, and vastly improve the accuracy on any one of them. Some of the crowns are obviously cut at odd angles.
That aside, they are very well made.
The short isn't in that photo. I just got it.
Onward Allusion
Member
I own 2
NAA Earl 3" 22lr/22wmr
NAA Earl 6" 22lr/22wmr
Get a dual cylinder model. It's like $25 more, and seemingly easier to find.
Get Chang's grips for them, they are the BEST bar none.
http://revisioncv.com/products
NAA Earl 3" 22lr/22wmr
NAA Earl 6" 22lr/22wmr
Get a dual cylinder model. It's like $25 more, and seemingly easier to find.
Get Chang's grips for them, they are the BEST bar none.
http://revisioncv.com/products
Kaeto
Member
I wish they still made the Top Break Mini.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Onward Allusion
Member
Those are nice grips, but I gotta ask - Why??? Yeah, it makes NAA's look really good but doesn't that defeat the purpose of deep-deep-concealment? I mean, it makes it almost as large as a J-Frame!
chicharrones
needs more ammo
For the longer barrel guns, like gazpacho has, it would seem a natural fit. If anything, it seems the standard issue Black Widow / Mini Master grip has more bulk.
Here's a link to someone else's guns at another forum. Here's a link with the CV grips on two others with 2" or longer barrels.
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