North American Arms Minis

NAA Mini Magnum Ballistics Shootout

2010-09-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

"And the Winner Is... Winchester Super X!"

A few weeks ago, the results of an accuracy test of the North American Arms Mini Magnum revolvers proved these guns to be quite accurate. No matter which frame you choose, accuracy will be as good as you can make it.

At the same time I performed the accuracy tests, I also ran some ballistics tests on the four remaining magnum frames (I already tested the NAA Pug). What is interesting about the tests I performed is that my conclusions were slightly different than the tests listed on the NAA website.

These tests were slightly less thorough then the Pug tests. I did not shoot any of the .22 long rifle ammunition as I did in the Pug. I was looking for the most powerful round or rounds that may be shot out of these guns.

In addition to the CCI and Winchester magnum rounds above, I also shot the Remington Premier rounds out of the Black Widow and Mini Master revolvers.

Below, I'll list each gun in order from most powerful to least powerful, beginning with the Mini Master of course!

For reference, I shot 10 rounds of each type of ammunition through the chrono, taking note of the statistics for each group. Be aware that a true statistical sample would contain 30 or more data points in order to squeeze the margin of error. For our purposes, I shot 40 rounds of each type of ammunition through four different frame types. Even though the velocities are different for those four guns, the ammunition performed similarly across the platforms. For example, the CCI Maxi Mag HP outperformed the CCI Maxi Mag HP+V in all of the guns tested.

"If you need to slaughter cows or other large animals, the Mini Master would be a great choice."

In addition to a comparison among the various revolvers, I wanted to establish a baseline power rating. To do this, I used my rifle; a Winchester Model 67A single shot chambered in .22 long rifle. With an 18 inch barrel, the Winchester pushes a Federal 36 grain bullet to an average 1220 feet per second, giving 118.95 lb/ft of energy(Ballistics Reference). My Dad used this gun to harvest cows for butchering, and it never failed to kill in one shot. That may not be sufficient for some, but it's good enough for me!

Mini Master

With its four-inch barrel, the Mini Master has a marked performance advantage over its short barreled brothers. It is decidedly the powerhouse of North American Arms Mini Magnum revolvers.

I'll list the ammunition in descending order beginning with the most powerful:

Winchester Super X uses a 40 grain jacketed soft-tip hollow point to put the hurt on targets. When shot out of the Mini Master, the Super X are propelled to an average 1274 feet per second. That's over 144 ft/lbs of muzzle energy, and more than the Winchester 67A rifle.

CCI, with its Maxi Mag HP and HP+V, is touted as having powerful rounds. In the Mini Master, they do perform well, but not as well as expected. Also sporting a 40 grain jacketed hollow point, the Maxi Mag HP averages 1258 feet per second and 140 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. Compared to the Super X, that's pretty close. The HP+V, with its 30 grain projectile, averages 1409 feet per second. But the lighter projectile exacts a ballistic penalty, giving 132 ft/lbs of energy.

The last round tested in the Mini Master was the Remington Premier. At 16 dollars per box, many people expect amazing things from these bullets. Optimized for a rifle, the Remington Premier is just not up to the task in a revolver. Pushing a 36 grain projectile to 1249 feet per second, the Remington bullets outperformed CCI's HP+V, but fell short of the Super X or HP, with 138 ft/lbs of energy.

Black Widow

The Black Widow is one of North American Arm's most popular guns. With a two inch barrel and oversized grip, the Black Widow seems to have just the right mix of qualities for pocket carry.

The Black Widow, with two fewer inches of barrel length than the Mini Master, loses some ballistic performance over its big brother... But it's no slouch.

Pushing the 40 grain Super X hollow point to an average velocity of 1061 feet per second, the Black Widow achieves nearly 100 ft/lbs of muzzle energy.

The CCI Maxi Mag HP averages 1019 feet per second for 92 ft/lbs of energy with a 40 grain projectile.

CCI's HP+V's 30 grain bullet travels 1154 feet per second, producing 88 ft/lbs of muzzle energy.

Coming in last, with 87 ft/lbs of energy, the Remington Premiere isn't worth the extra six to seven dollars per box.

1-5/8 Inch Mini Magnum

The 1-5/8 inch Mini Magnum is my personal favorite. I've shot well beyond 1000 rounds through this little gun. Its accuracy, combined with what I think are perfect dimensions, are in a class all their own. Pocket it and forget it.

Again, Winchester's Super X hollow points came out on top. The 1-5/8 inch magnum shoots those 40 grain bullets at an average 1012 feet per second, for nearly 91 ft/lbs of muzzle energy.

As might be expected, CCI's Maxi Mag HP came out second. With the same weight projectile as the Winchester, the HP averages 987 feet per second netting 86 ft/lbs of energy.

The CCI Maxi Mag HP+V achieves an average 1083 feet per second with its 30 grain projectile. Muzzle energy falls off to 78 ft/lbs, so the clear winner is the Super X.

Given the results of the Remington Premier out of the longer barrels, I chose not to test it in the shorter revolvers.

1-1/8 In Mini Magnum

With the second shortest barrel in the NAA magnum frame lineup, the 1-1/8 inch Mini Magnum is a hot little gun. Scoring first in the accuracy test, this gun is really cool.

For this test, I installed the folding grip. I will be providing a review of the grip in a future entry, but I'll just say that it's a very high quality product. It holds the gun very securely, and gives a full size grip on this diminutive revolver.

Moving on to the ballistics tests, Winchester takes the top spot again with an average speed of 984 feet per second. That's 86 foot pounds of muzzle energy.

As has been the case with all of the other guns in this lineup, CCI's MAXI MAG HP gives 902 feet per second and 72 ft/lbs of energy.

The CCI HP+V nets 1019 feet per second and 69 ft/lbs with its much lighter 30 grain projectile.

Takeaway

At the end of the day, the above ballistics prove one thing: The gun you choose is just a matter of your own needs and preferences. If you need to slaughter cows or other large animals, the Mini Master would be a great choice. For human sized predators, any of these guns should be a pretty good deterrent to bad behavior.

The more I work with North American Arms products, the more I like them. I know from personal experience that once you own one, soon you'll be providing that little gun some company!

NAA Mini Magum Saves the Day in 3 on 1 Shootout

2010-09-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

I was looking through the forums a while back and encountered a shootout story from a poster who calls himself Proud Boer (PB). PB lives in South Africa, and was returning home from a formal event wearing a tuxedo and armed only with his NAA .22 magnum revolver. I asked, and was granted, permission to re-post his story here.

Actual Shootout Against Armed Killers

Those of us who enjoy firearms in general and handguns in particular, usually spend a lot of time practicing for the day we need to defend our loved ones and ourselves against attack. I am one of those individuals who have been fascinated by firearms and shooting since 10 years old, starting with my first BB gun. Since 1983, I've been a regular pistol and revolver shooter, competing over the years in Cowboy Action Shooting, Defensive Pistol Shooting and Practical Pistol Shooting.

Cowboys, Boers and the history of the rugged individuals who have invented our great modern world, have always interested me. In South Africa, violent crime is high and therefore I am grateful for my mindset of self-reliance as I now live in the heart of the current day "Wild West".

On the 8th of May 2008, I faced off a gang of three armed goblins who, in the weeks preceding my attack, had robbed and killed numerous victims. These scumbags attacked me in front of my wife and daughter in the drive of my house at 20h00. I had just returned from a formal business function to launch the head office of a new dental insurance in Cape Town and was wearing a tuxedo and therefore only carrying single action .22 Magnum N.A.A. revolver. They wanted my house keys as well as the keys to my new Mercedes Benz SUV I was driving. With their firearms pointed at me, I drew mine (thank God for years of practice), and shot the apparent leader of that gang in the chest - he screamed like a stuck pig and staggered backwards. The first thing I did was run for cover. As the other two were only about 20 feet away, bullets rained down on me as I hid momentarily behind a tree in my drive. In this exchange, I was hit in the left arm (but actually felt nothing) and I returned fire, hitting the first one of the two remaining goblins in the groin. He ran away to the getaway car standing in the road, shouting and crying and shooting into the air like a drunk Mexican officer during the Battle of the Alamo. There was one left besides the one who I shot first still staggering around. He still had his gun in hand and tried to point it again in my direction. I gave him another round to the chest and he disappeared to the getaway vehicle, fatally wounded as I was to find out in the days that followed. The last one had to run past me to get out of my drive and being the coward that these scum normally are, couldn't quite muster the courage. As I pointed my revolver and fired at him, the revolver blew up in my hand and I had no choice but to take him on bare handed. I smacked him to the ground by punching him in the face as the fact that I was now unarmed seemed to give him some courage. As he fell, he pulled off a shot and hit me in the right arm. He then turned and ran as he realised I was ready to fight to the death and he wasn't feeling well with a smashed nose.

My wife, at this stage, had taken my .45 A.C.P. out and passed it to me through the window, giving me clear instructions to finish them off. They got away only with my bullets in them and in pain and I was lucky enough to win the fight.

What did I learn from this?

1. Always carry a gun no matter how small it may be. Even when the last thing you expect is to be attacked, don't let your logic of statistical probability of not being in mortal danger lull you into a false sense of security.

2. Remember that in a gun fight - cover is king!

3. Practice regularly to allow for the advantage of competent surprise,
AND
most importantly, if you want to win a gun fight, the most important factor is resolve and commitment. You have to have the inner courage to decide in a split second that you are going to win the fight irrespective of the consequences and then carry out that plan with determination and courage that surprises and stuns your "would be" attackers.

I hope that the above sheds some light and gives some valuable insight into a real life gun fight. I would like to hear from others who have experienced the same or similar situations.

Proud Boer. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_i...lick_id=13&sf=

Results | NAA Mini Mag Accuracy Shootout

2010-08-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

Well, the results for our little shootout are in, and they are a bit of a surprise. This first post will concentrate solely on the accuracy of the North American Arms magnum-framed revolvers; ballistics tests are next.

A lot of people have made comments about the accuracy, or lack thereof, of NAA revolvers. I wanted to see if these guns are limited in accuracy by their design or by their human operator. After having shot more than 1000 rounds through my guns, I was inclined to lean toward the latter argument. It takes practice with any gun to become proficient enough to hit a target consistently.

For this test I placed my targets, marked with one inch squares, 10 feet from the bench. At the bench, I placed a vise to hold each gun in the exact position every time. A level was used between each shot to ensure the barrel was perfectly level.

For every gun, I shot five targets with five rounds each for a total of 25 shots from each gun. Once finished, I measured the largest distance between shots in each group. These were added together and divided by five to get an average group size for each gun.

The bullets used for the test were Federal .22 long rifle copper-plated hollow points from a bulk pack. The Black Widow was the only exception. Lacking a long rifle cylinder, I used Winchester Super X .22 magnum rounds for it.

I'll list the guns in sequence from the tightest to the largest group size:

First up is the 1-1/8 inch Mini Magnum. This gun was a surprise. At .8125 inches, It had the smallest groups of all five guns tested. In fact, the average group is smaller than a quarter! Here's a shot of one group:

The Black Widow came in pretty close behind the 1-1/8 inch Mini Magnum. Because it was shooting magnum loads, I don't know how that affected its accuracy, but it still performed well with sub one inch groups. With an average dispersion of .925 inches, the Black Widow is quite the little shooter:

Right in the middle of the pack, the 1-5/8 inch Mini Magnum shot a .9625 inch average group. I've shot this gun more than any of the other mini revolvers, and that grouping is not a surprise in the least. I've been able to hit dominoes from almost 20 feet away pretty consistently with it:

If you are wondering where the Mini Master stacks up, you'll have to wait a bit. That's because the Pug is next in line. With an average .9875 inch grouping, the pug is very close in performance to both the Black Widow and the 1-5/8 inch Mini Magnum. That's incredible when you consider it only has a one inch barrel!

The Mini Master surprised me most of all. With its four-inch barrel, I expected it to outperform all of the other guns. Obviously, that is not the case. In fact, with a 1.45 inch average group size, the Mini Master lagged pretty far behind the other guns, but my theory is that I'll need to try different types of ammunition with this gun. Because of its longer barrel, the harmonics of each ammunition type come into play, and it's quite possible I'll find a bullet that comes out of that gun tack straight every time.

Overall, I think this test proves that these guns are tack drivers at close range. Even the Mini Master has the ability to hit all five shots into an eyeball-sized target if handled correctly. I'd make a wager that anyone performing this test on any of the NAA mini revolvers would find similar results.

Because of their small size, mini revolvers do present some challenges to people use to larger guns, but those challenges are easily overcome once the nuances of the guns are learned. With a short sight radius, or distance between the front and rear sights, it's much easier to mess up their aim. Just don't go blaming the gun the next time you miss that pie tin!

The next time you are in a forum and someone mentions the terrible accuracy of these guns, just point them here. You can't dispute the facts!

P.S. A lot of people have mentioned that the accuracy comes down to the shooter... I think that's pretty clear from the above post, but my philosophy is practice practice practice. A Colt 1911 will do you no good if you don't practice with it. Neither will a perfectly tuned rifle.

NAA Magnum Frame Accuracy Shootout

2010-08-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

*Update: Go Here to View Results*

Today, I took every magnum-framed revolver from North American Arms except for the Earls and put them through their ballistic and accuracy paces. I'll have more in a future post, but look at this photo of one target after shooting it with the 1-1/8 inch Mini Magnum revolver and see if you can believe it:

Holster Grip VIdeo on Sportsman's Depot

2010-08-26T17:46:00.000-07:00

I sent an e-mail to Sportsman's Depot letting them know they could feature my holster grip video from YouTube on their listings for the NAA long rifle and magnum holster grips they sell. They responded by sending me the link to their product page. Check it out:

NAA Long Rifle Holster Grip Product Page...

The Best Gun Lubricant | Dexron ATF

2010-08-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

Grant Cunningham is a gunsmith whose services are on a two-year waiting list. Grayelky over at the NAA forum posted a link to Cunningham's blog regarding lubricants. I liked the article so much, I contacted Grant to ask permission to reprint the article here. Today, he gave me that permission, so here it is:

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Lubricants But Were Too Afraid to Ask

Lubrication 101

By Grant Cunningham

Introduction

Firearms enthusiasts are the targets (pardon the pun) of some of the most misleading advertisements regarding the proper lubrication of their guns. The purpose of this article is to give a background on basic lubrication concepts, the technology behind them, and some guidelines for selecting lubricants based on facts, not hype.

Before going further, let's make something perfectly clear: with a very few obvious exceptions, firearms lubrication isn't terribly difficult. Compared to many more common objects, guns just don't make big demands of their lubricants! That's right, firearms pose no actual "extreme" situations with which a lubricant must deal. There are thousands upon thousands of 100-year-old-plus guns out there that are functioning - just fine, thank you - on a diet of "3-in-1" oil.

However, that doesn't mean that there isn't something better. This article, it is hoped, will help you determine just what "better" means to you.

Let's start at the beginning...

Why lubricate something? First, to prevent wear and second, to promote a certain level of performance. To put it more clearly, what we're trying to do is to keep parts from rubbing directly on other parts, and to make the interaction of those parts as smooth as possible.

As it turns out, those polished surfaces that rub against each other aren't all that smooth. Looking through a microscope, even the most highly finished metal surface still looks like a forested hillside - with all kinds of huge voids, depressions, and valleys. Imagine, then, what happens when that surface meets the surface of it's companion part! Not only does the combination become difficult to move, but the tops of those trees get broken off - that's how wear starts at the microscopic level.

That's why we lubricate those surfaces. Lubrication works in a couple of ways: "hydrodynamic" and "boundary".

Hydrodynamic lubrication is essentially when the parts ride on the film of liquid (or semi-liquid) lubricant; the lubricant fills all of the voids, and the film itself serves as a buffer to keep the surfaces apart.

This works really well, except when a load is applied and the lubricant is squeezed out of it's space between the surfaces. When that happens, the surfaces grind together and wear. What if we added something to the mix - something that was a bit more "solid" than the lubricant, which wouldn't be easily squeezed out? Well, that's just what "boundary" lubrication entails - adding small pieces of more-solid material to serve as a physical separator between the surfaces, keeping them from tearing each other to pieces.

The solids that provide this service are known as "anti-wear" or "extreme pressure" (AW/EP) additives - solids of microscopic size that are mixed into a lubricant, in order to maintain a protective boundary (get it?) under load. "Moly", a generic term for several molydenum compounds, is one example; others include sulphur compunds, zinc, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, aka 'teflon'), zinc diakyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP), phosphors, boron, antimony diakyl dithiocarbamate (and it's derivatives), and many more. Each of these has certain properties that the skilled tribologist (lubrication scientist) will balance to achieve the optimum lubricant for the application.

Regardless of the physical characteristics of the product, lubricants are a "package" - the primary lubricant plus boundary additives, thickeners (as in greases), and other things (tackifiers, pour point depressants, detergents...the list is endless and chock full of chemical names I can't begin to decipher!)

My exaggerated interpretation of the primary lubrication states.

All about grease

Grease is nothing more than thickened oil. Grease is made by mixing oil with a "base" to thicken it - the base being a metallic soap (lithium, aluminum, barium, calcium), or a non-soap alternative (bentone, polyurea.) Each of these bases have different characteristics, which are taken into account (along with the oils and additives) to produce a grease of the desired effectiveness.

Different bases will show different degrees of water resistance, cold weather performance, stability (the ability to resist oil separation under shear and mechanical operations), oxidation, and "reversability" - the ability of the base to re-absorb any oil that might have been separated out.

Lithium is the most common base encountered; it's cheap, easily produced, and has enough good traits to make it a decent choice for general purposes. Aluminum bases, though, have several advantages: much better resistance to water (and acids and alkalis), better low-temperature performance, better stability, and dramatically increased reversability. Aluminum greases are typically a bit harder to find, and more costly, but their performance advantages can be pretty dramatic.

Grease is graded in thickness by its NLGI number. Most grease you're familiar with is NLGI #2; smaller numbers mean less thick, larger numbers mean thicker. A grease rated at NLGI #00 is almost a liquid a room temperature.

What makes for a good gun lube?

Firearms encounter intermittent high loads, interspersed with long periods of inaction. This means that the primary lubrication need isn't hydrodynamic - it's boundary. What, then, should we be looking for?

Start with a very good boundary lubrication package - that translates to lots of EP/AW additives. We need superb corrosion resistance, along with resistance to oxidation (don't want those lubricants thickening up during non-use.) We could also use some water resistance and an ability to withstand mild acid and alkali exposure (think perspiration.) Low temperature performance would be icing on the cake, and for a grease we want something that won't easily separate under load.

We need our oils to migrate. No, I don't mean to fly south for the winter! Migration is the ability of the lubricant to spread to surrounding and adjacent areas. For instance, let's say we're lubricating the shaft on which a hammer pivots; a lubricant with poor migration would just sit where we applied it, and would never get into the space between the hammer hole and the pivot. The net result would be a poorly lubed mechanism. A lube with good migration will succumb to capillary action and snake its way down into that small space, lubricating everything it comes into contact with.

Sounds like migration is just the cat's meow, right? Not really - there is such a thing as too much. The migration that is so desirable on hammers and triggers isn't really good on autopistol slides; the lubricant tends to "run off", or migrates to the holster (or your clothes.) Ever wonder why your autoloader slide goes "dry" while in the holster? Lubricant migration at work. (What, you think it disappeared into thin air?)

What about greases - do we even need them? You bet! I use the General Rule of Lubrication: oil for rotating parts, grease for sliding parts that carry a load. In firearms, grease is most appropriate for any part interaction that has a scraping (aka "shear") type of action, and will be subjected to pressure or shock. What kinds of parts are we talking about? Slide rails, bolt carriers, and sears - especially double-action sears. (An example of a sliding part that should not be greased is the trigger bow of the 1911 pistol - it carries virtually no load, and is subject to almost no stress; it also is under very light tension, so little that a thickened lubricant could reduce its free movement.)

That's a pretty good explanation of what we need - is there anything we should avoid? Of course - any product that contains chlorine compounds. These compounds, usually referred to as chlorinated esters, were used as boundary additives for many years. As boundary lubes they actually work pretty well; the problem is that they promote a phenomenon known as "stress corrosion cracking" (SCC). Essentially, SCC creates microscopic pits and cracks that, under heat and pressure, widen to become noticeable cracks - and sometimes, even broken parts!

(One major gun manufacturer actually had barrels fall off of their revolvers. An investigation ensued, and they found that the chlorinated esters used in their machining oils was causing stress cracking in barrel threads. When combined with the gun owners' use of cleaning and lube compounds containing chlorinated esters, the barrels simply sheared off at the weakest part - the threads. Like most aircraft makers, the company learned to forbid chlorine-carrying compounds on the manufacturing floor, to prevent a recurrence.)

What about "miracle products"?

Let's be clear: there are no "new", "revolutionary" lubricant products made for firearms. That's a flat statement, and it's intended to be. All of the lubricants, bases, and additives of suitable use are already well known to the lubricant industry. Specific combinations might be unique, but it's all been tried before - if not necessarily on guns.

There are several such products on the market right now that are simply a well-known boundary additive in a light carrier; at least one of them is a chlorinated ester! These things have been around a long time, and unless you didn't know better the products using them would indeed seem to be "revolutionary." Just remember: any new gun lube is going to be made up of readily available components, perhaps blended especially for the requirement, but will not be a "miracle". 'Nuff said!

Cut to the chase! What should I use?

Let's start with oil. Most people use oils that are way too heavy; thicker is not better! Use a relatively thin oil with the correct properties, and use it very sparingly - most "oil failures" I've seen have been from too much, rather than too little, oil.

Frankly, in terms of mechanical performance, most oils "work"; some are better than others, but everything will make parts move for a while. The weakest area of most oils is in corrosion resistance - and on a gun, corrosion is a bad thing! There have been lots of claims, but those people who have actually taken the time to run experiments to test corrosion on steel have found that the products with the greatest hype are often the worst at corrosion resistance. Not surprisingly, plain mineral oils, such as Rem Oil, score at the very bottom of the list.

One product that scores pretty well in corrosion testing is also the readily available and dirt cheap. It also has good migration, a good boundary lubrication package, is the right weight (thickness) for general firearms use, doesn't oxidize over long periods of storage, and is compatible with a wide range of metals and plastics. In addition, it is recommended by at least one real degreed firearms engineer! Just what is this miracle elixir??

Dexron-type Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). That's right, plain ol' ATF. The kind you get at every gas station, auto parts store, and even most convenience stores. Synthetic or regular, either will work just fine. (ATF does have a slight odor to it. If you find that objectionable, a decent alternative that is still readily available is "NyOil." Check your local auto parts store, in the aisle where they keep the miscellaneous lubricants and additives.)

If we were to spec out a "best in class" oil, it would probably be something like Lubriplate's FMO-AW oil, specifically the 350-AW weight. This is an oil designed with very high boundary protection and very high corrosion resistance - especially in the presence of acids, alkalis, and moisture. It is darned near tailor-made for our use!

I'm aware of at least one large coastal police agency using FMO-AW, and they report complete satisfaction with its performance. Unfortunately, it's not (as of this writing) packaged in consumer friendly quantities - 1 gallon pails being the smallest available. If, however, you have a food service equipment dealer near you, they may agree to sell you a small quantity - FMO-AW is designed for food handling equipment. (Ask nicely and bring your own bottle.)

What about grease? Remember that you should grease sliding parts that carry a load - slide rails, sears, and bolt carriers. Again, remember to start with your criteria: must have superb boundary lubricants (particularly when used on double-action mechanisms), preferably of aluminum base, good cold working characteristics, resistant to acids/alkalis and water (especially water), and preferably of a non-staining variety (black grease stains look awful on clothing!)

Many people use Brownell's Action Lube as a popular general purpose grease - it has wonderful boundary lubricants (in fact, it is mostly composed of molybdenum compounds in a light grease base) and great shear resistance. It is superb on action parts, and works fairly well on slide rails - as long as you don't mind black stains. Yuck! It does exhibit poor oxidation characteristics and reversibility; though I have no hard data, I suspect it also doesn't resist water or pH changes all that well. For internal parts, which are protected by housings, it is terrific and gives actions a unique 'buttery' feel. I use a lot of it to lubricate sears and rebound slides, but for all other needs there is a much better choice.

For such things as autoloader slides and rifle bolts, Lubriplate "SFL" NLGI #0 grease is my choice. In my testing it's proven itself superior as a general lubricant. It is white, aluminum-based, low odor, has superb boundary lubricants, and is designed specifically for use in environments that encounter a huge temperature range. It's also resistant to water washout and acid/alkali environments, has great shear resistance, and doesn't oxidize like lithium greases will. As an all-around grease I've found nothing better. It's available from www.lubriplate.com, in their online store. It comes in a 14oz can which will last you for years - no matter how many guns you have!

(Lubriplate also makes SFL in heavier grades, such as NLGI #1. While thicker than the #0, it is still a pretty light grease, and would be my recommendation for very hot climates. The NLGI #0 is a better choice for most of the United States.)

But what about......?

Everyone has their own little "secret". If it works, is there anything wrong with it? Let's find out...

Motor oils: Generally good boundary lubrication (particularly the Havoline formulations), but very poor corrosion resistance and poor resistance to open-air oxidation. In addition, their pour-point additives often contain benzene compounds, which aren't a good thing to have next to your skin on a regular basis! ATF performs better for firearms use on every count, even if it is a tad more expensive. (ATF is still 1/10 to 1/100th the cost of a specialty "gun oil"!)

Gear oils: Too thick for the application. In addition, they contain tackifiers which gives them poor migration and lead to oxidization in open air, rendering them even more "sticky" - pretty much what we don't want. (Some folks use it on their slide rails because it's thicker and won't migrate easily; a light grease is a far better choice.) If you really want a thicker oil with all the good characteristics we've covered, but is still cheap, mix ATF and STP Oil Treatment in a 40/60 ratio. Far better than gear oil on every count - but I'd still rather have a good NLGI #0 grease.

WD-40: WD-40 was never meant to be a lubricant - it was designed as a moisture displacer. It's far too light for any load protection, has incredibly poor corrosion resistance, contains zero boundary lubricants, and rapidly oxidizes to form a sickly yellow varnish (hint: this is not good for delicate internal lockwork.) There are those who will defend this stuff vehemently, but then again you can still find people who think smokeless powder is a passing fad. Just. Don't.

Automotive motor oil additives: Usually a boundary additive in some sort of light mineral oil carrier, they usually lack corrosion protection and often oxidize rapidly; some have poor migration characteristics and rely on the oil to which they'll be added to provide those things. There are better and cheaper alternatives, though when mixed with an appropriate oil additives do have some merit (see above.) By themselves? No.

Silicone spray: Right up there with WD-40, but at least it'll shed water while your parts grind themselves into little shavings!

Graphite: (sprays, powders) Graphite is a crystalline product which is actually very slightly abrasive. It offers no appreciable benefit other than being dry; a lube with a good boundary lubricant package can be wiped dry to the touch and still provide better lubrication and protection than graphite. Save it for your keys and padlocks.

Finally, note that the foregoing is a layman's understanding of lubrication technology. I don't pretend to be an expert, just a well-informed amateur hoping to disseminate some arcane knowledge. Use at your own risk!

Video | North American Arms Safety Cylinder

2010-08-22T19:42:00.001-07:00

(Photo Used With Permission of NAA)

North American Arms equips each of their mini revolvers with a safety cylinder--notches cut between the chambers of each round for the hammer to rest on, thus allowing for the safe carry of a fully loaded cylinder. NAA produced a video and placed it on their YouTube channel, and I thought I would embed it here for those who may not have seen it:

Handgun Accuracy Defined

2010-08-22T00:15:00.000-07:00

Next week, I'm going to pit five North American Arms revolvers against each other to see how they stack up. From the one-inch barrel Pug to the four inch Mini Master revolver, I'll be testing both speed and accuracy out of these guns.

Martin Chick is a company which specializes in statistical analysis of time and motion projects. They have a really neat primer on determining accuracy of both handguns and rifles which I'll try to use as a guide as I perform my own accuracy analysis of these fine little guns. I asked permission to re-print their article on this blog, and Mr. Chick gave me the go ahead. Here it is: (Go Here for the Original)

Measuring Handgun and Rifle Accuracy

By: Martin Chick

There are many different methods used when it comes to measuring accuracy. If a gun is being used for self defense and the bullet travels in the same direction the gun is pointed it passes the accuracy test. Some shooters place a can on a fence post. If they can knock the can off the post they judge the gun accurate. Hunters place a target at the estimated range they expect to find game and fire three shots. If the three shots make a small group deemed close enough for the kill this will do. Most shooters use the concept of group or extreme spread as the basis for accuracy. For you newbies the size of a group is determined by measuring the greatest distance between any two shots that make up the group.

The recommend standard in measuring groups is shooting five groups of five shots each and then measure the extreme spread of each group and average the results. This is based on the statistical premise that thirty samples are required to obtain significant results. For whatever reason gun magazines have decided that twenty five shots are sufficient. Many shooters ignore this scientific approach and shoot a number of three shot groups which can range from one to hundred groups and use whatever group is the smallest as reflecting the accuracy of the gun. They believe that this is the potential accuracy of the gun if everything happens to be right. Shooting groups in one form or other to determine accuracy has been used for years since it is based on the extreme spread of shots which has a basis in fact and also appeals to common sense.

What remains a mystery to many shooters is the natural dispersion of shots on the target around the point of aim. In fact the shot pattern of rifle and pistol shots appearing on the target resemble shotgun patterns of pellets if the shotgun is fired at close range. Fig (A) is a drawing of a actual test target of one hundred shots. A circle is drawn around these shots

Fig (A)

This circle represents the proper definition of accuracy. Accuracy being defined as the diameter of a circle that contains ninety nine percent of the total number of shots aimed at the center of this circle. This percentage is used since it is good to know the maximum spread of almost all the shots fired but also allowing for the probability that one shot can end up on Mars.

As an example the diameter of Fig(A)is three inches. This diameter is the accuracy of this gun based on this particular ammunition held in a ransom rest on a particular day with particular wind speeds and temperature. It is important to understand that the diameter of the accuracy circle is controlled entirely by the shooter. The gun , cartridge, components , powder, primer, case and manner of loading and the testing conditions determines the diameter of this circle. These can all be altered and therefore controlled by the shooter.

What can not be controlled by the shooter is the groups that form within this circle. Once a circle has been established the location of any shot inside the circle is due to pure chance. The first three shots may be a one holer and the next three measure as a three inch group or any thing in between. Groups form at random and there is no rhyme or reason or scientific explanation as to what size group will appear next.

Fig (B) Fig (C) Fig(D)

Fig(B,C,D) show three possible groups that can form within this three inch circle due to pure chance. It should be obvious that judging accuracy by shooting a few groups is not all that helpful. No group size can be larger than the diameter of the circle which in this example is three inches although there is the remote probability that it can happen. This is why benchrest shooters get teeny groups. The accuracy circle is teeny. But not as teeny as the groups. For those who shoot competitively this implies that winners must be good and also lucky. Some times just lucky.

Although groups form by chance there is a mathematical relationship between the size of the circle and the average size of the groups inside the circle. As the circle becomes smaller ( better accuracy) the average group size will also become smaller. If the diameter of the circle is known the average group size can be calculated. Using the 3 inch diameter circle for an example the average three shot group for this circle is 1-3/8 inches the average five shot group is 1-3/4 inches and for ten shot group it is 2-1/8 inches. On the other hand only knowing the average group size does not help to establish the diameter size. The reasons for this is the center of the diameter is not the same as the center of any group as can readily be seen in the figures above and cannot be located using group size. To locate the center the location of each shot is required.

Since there is a mathematical relationship between diameter and groups they can be used for rough estimates keeping in mind the above information. The use of five groups of five shots has its place and is useful in many instances. Filing flats on handgun bullets , badly cast bullets versus perfect casts and the effective range of guns used for defense come to mind.

The problem arises when making relatively small improvements after all the major changes have been made and attempting to wring out a little more accuracy.. This may be the gun, ammunition, reloading components or minor method changes. To detect small differences by shooting a few groups is akin to chasing rainbows. Twenty five to thirty groups of five would be minimum. A test this large would create its own variations which defeats the purpose of the test. Most of the data is buried in these groups and there is no way to select out shooter controlled errors such as flinches gusts of winds or a defective cartridges. To detect small differences such as primer differences , seating depth, powders etc. each shot has to be assigned a value and evaluated. This is a little more difficult and time consuming but well worth the effort.

Statistics of Handgun accuracy provides a easy to follow step by step method that will put you light years ahead of the other guys.

You can purchase Statistics of Handgun Accuracy on the following web sites

amazon.com
barnesandnoble.com
www.borders.com
buybooksontheweb.com

Photos | North American Arms Pug

2010-08-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

Click Photo for Larger

Photo | Where's the Pug?

2010-08-19T15:21:00.002-07:00

I promise it's there! There's a single clue, can you find it? I'll post more revealing photos as time goes by. Click the photo for a larger version and good luck.

Photos | Holster Grip Best for Ladies?

2010-08-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

For petite ladies who want to carry a concealed weapon somewhere other than their purse and still maintain reasonable fashion sense, the North American Arms holster grip for the Mini Magnum series of revolvers is the way to go.

Even the NAA pocket holster listed on their website is too big for her tiny front pocket, but the holster grip allows the gun to fit comfortably in the small front pockets of ladies jeans. The design of the holster is such that the gun just looks like a cell phone or a folding knife.

Girls Need Guns | A Woman's Perspective

2010-08-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

My wife and I recently took a concealed carry class together. Here is her story of how that experience changed her life:

Girls Need Guns

Owning and operating a gun was never something of interest to me. My parents did not own guns and, to be honest, they were an enigma. I was a latch key kid who grew up in the heart of Los Angeles, California. I walked home from school alone at the age of eight, baby-sat my siblings at nine, and as I got older, walked around the streets of Los Angeles alone at night. Personal safety was not a phrase in my vocabulary and was certainly not a subject that was discussed in my household. Not until I graduated college did I begin to understand the danger I was exposed to as I walked to my car in dark parking lots, or back to my dorm across campus in the back alley way. Even then, I didn’t understand the importance of putting my safety in my own hands. Though I became more aware of my surroundings and the imminent dangers, I still lived my life unprotected.

I purchased a gun about a year ago to have in the house when my husband traveled. He took me to his family ranch to shoot it. Honestly, it terrified me. Instead of making me feel more secure, I felt scared. We kept the bullets separate from the gun in fear one of our kids might find it. Looking back we should have sold it – it was useless to us in that state. I’m sure all bad guys will take a time out while you load your weapon to stop them. I was naïve.

A few months ago, my husband asked me to take a concealed carry class with him. At the time I said yes with the thought that it would be fun and something we could do together. I thought if anything, it would help me overcome my fear of handling guns. The class changed my life. For the first time, I really understood the threat of violence with the understanding that it was my right to protect myself against it. I was not going to be a victim and at the end of the day, my fear of handling guns was gone. I learned about the laws of concealed carry; I learned how to handle and load a gun and I learned the best position for me to shoot if ever under threat in a dangerous situation. When I left the class, there was no doubt I would carry. Knowing what I know now, I can’t understand why anyone would not want to control her own safety. I now have my permit and carry a loaded gun with me all the time; a fear I never thought I would overcome.

I am empowered. I am free.

--Jan P.

Here she is shooting the North American Arms Pug for the first time:

Buy a Conversion Cylinder for Your NAA Mini Magnum

2010-08-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

(From NAA's Website)

If you'd like to order a long rifle or magnum cylinder for your NAA revolver, it's pretty easy. You need to send them your gun so they can time the cylinders properly, but you don't have to go through an FFL since you already own the gun.

According to NAA, "If you already own one of our .22 Magnum Mini-Revolvers, you can order the Conversion Cylinder from our factory. Please call us at 800-821-5783 for more details."

How To Video | NAA Holster Grip Install

2010-08-16T13:06:00.002-07:00

Today, I installed the North American Arms Holster Grip on the 1-1/8 inch Mini Magnum revolver. I trimmed the plastic panels the grip attaches to for a better fit.

A hex key comes with the kit, but I would recommend a second hex so you can tighten the two hex head screws a little better.

Overall, I'd say the kit is very high quality. The plastic seems to be a high impact variety that can take a lot of abuse. The only weak link I can imagine is the belt clip, but it too is made of the same type of plastic. Here's a video of the install process:

Video | NAA Pug Deep Concealment Go Away Gun

2010-08-14T23:59:00.001-07:00

When it comes to accuracy, the Pug, NAA's smallest magnum revolver, is seen as probably the least accurate of the bunch. With a one inch barrel, the Pug seems like it would be difficult to aim. It seems that way, until you shoot it! I shot this little gun at some small steel targets the other day, and I was impressed. Here's the video:

North American Arms Pug Ballistics Summary

2010-08-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

"For self defense using your Pug revolver, the choice is clear: The Winchester Super X 22 Magnum delivers more power more reliably to the target than all of the other cartridges tested."

(NOTE: Scroll through the stats for the conclusions)

With a 4-1/2 inch overall length, 2-3/4 inch height and just a one inch barrel, the North American Arms Pug .22 revolver is the smallest .22 magnum revolver in the world. Its small size makes it an ideal gun to carry when anything larger would be impossible. Think swimming trunks and jogging shorts.

I've seen a lot of discussion about the ideal round to carry in the Pug, but no definitive ballistics tests to decide one way or another. One popular--and expensive--round many people like to have onboard their Pug is the CCI Maxi-Mag HP+V. With a 30 grain jacketed hollow point bullet, CCI claims over 2200 feet per second on their box. Granted, their results were gained from shooting out of a rifle, but impressive nonetheless.

I went to a big box gun store to find some .22 magnum rounds to feed through the Pug. In addition to the Maxi-Mag HP+V, I bought the CCI Maxi-Mag HP 40 grain jacketed hollow point with a claimed 1875 feet per second on the box. I also purchased some Winchester Super X 22 Winchester Magnum jacketed soft-tip hollow points. There was no claim of speed on the Winchester box.

The question many may ask is, "Would you trust your life to the Pug?"

My answer? I already do!

The chronograph was placed approximately 10 feet away from the shooting bench. I shot 10 rounds of each type of bullet, making sure to clean the barrel of the gun with solvent and a brush between each brand of ammunition. The Winchester Super X was first up. The results are under the photo:

Temperature: 68 degrees fahrenheit.

Elevation: 8500 feet above sea level.

Bullet Weight: 40 grain (gr.)

Highest Velocity (Hi): 903 Feet Per Second (FPS)

Lowest Velocity (Low): 852 FPS

Average Velocity (Avg.): 877 FPS

Extreme Spread (ES): 51 FPS

Standard Deviation (SD): 16

_______________________________________________________________

CCI was next to be tested. I chose the Maxi-Mag HP+V's because I was excited to see how they compare to the Winchester:

Temperature: 69 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 30 gr.

HI: 986

Low: 839

Average: 913

ES: 147

SD: 38

_______________________________________________________________

Last, but not least, the CCI Maxi-Mag HP:

Temperature: 73 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 40 gr.

HI: 854

Low: 771

Average: 824

ES: 83

SD: 23

________________________________________________________________

CONCLUSIONS:

I was surprised by the results of this test. At first blush, the HP+V CCI Maxi-Mags seem to really scream along. They are pretty fast, but when you run a simple ballistics calculation on all three bullet types, the results are surprising. I visited this site to figure out the ballistic energy of each ammunition type and here are the results:

Formula used:

Energy = .5 * weight * velocity^2 / 7000 / 32.175

Where weight is in grains, and velocity is in feet/second.

7000 is grains per pound, and 32.175 is acceleration due to gravity.

It can be re-written:

Energy = weight * velocity^2 / 450450

(Source)

Winchester Super X .22 Magnum: 68.29 ft-lbs

CCI Maxi-Mag HP+V: 55.11 ft-lbs

CCI Maxi-Mag HP: 60.29 ft-lbs

The Winchester Super X clearly comes out on top in this test. Even though the CCI HP+V is moving faster, it's a full 10 grains less weight than the other two in the series. After shooting the magnum rounds out of the Pug, I noticed a lot of unburned gunpowder on my notepad as I wrote down each result. My theory is that the one inch barrel of the Pug is so short you end up with a slug of unburned powder being pushed behind the bullet--especially with the supercharged CCI rounds. If you want a good .22 magnum round to carry in your Pug, you can't go wrong with the Winchester Super X jacketed soft tip hollow point.

The next series of tests were run using .22 long rifle ammunition, and those are even more revealing than the .22 magnum test. I chose eight different types of 22 long rifle bullets from the same big box store for a good representation of what might be available to most people. I'll describe each type above and give the results below each photo.

CCI Mini-Mag 22LR

Temperature: 77 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 40 gr.

HI: 838

Low: 754

Average: 808

ES: 84

SD: 25

________________________________________________________________

CCI Mini-Mag 22LR HP

Temperature: 78 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 36 gr.

HI: 858

Low: 792

Average: 834

ES: 66

SD: 20

________________________________________________________________

Winchester Xpert HV Bulk Pack

Temperature: 76 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 36 gr.

HI: 860

Low: 756

Average: 818

ES: 104

SD: 32

________________________________________________________________

Remington Viper Truncated Cone

Temperature: 77 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 36 gr.

HI: 857

Low: 764

Average: 812

ES: 93

SD: 29

________________________________________________________________

Winchester Super SpeedHP Plated Hollow Point

Temperature: 78 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 37 gr.

HI: 888

Low: 738

Average: 846

ES: 150

SD: 40

________________________________________________________________

Winchester Super SpeedRN

Temperature: 78 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 40 gr.

HI: 801

Low: 693

Average: 745

ES: 107

SD: 33

________________________________________________________________

**Federal Spitfire Hyper Velocity Hollow Point**

Temperature: 77 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 31 gr.

HI: 931

Low: 891

Average: 915

ES: 40

SD: 11

________________________________________________________________

Peters High Velocity

Temperature: 76 Degrees

Elevation: 8500 Feet

Bullet weight: 40 gr. (Unknown Bullet Weight)

HI: 708

Low: 551

Average: 622

ES: 157

SD: 53

________________________________________________________________

Conclusions:

I'm going to dispense with one type of ammunition right off the bat: The Peter's rounds are junk in my opinion. I've never seen them before, and I would prefer never to see them again. My hand was black with soot after I shot ten rounds of that stuff, and it performed poorly against all the other brands.

I want to point out the Spitfire ammunition by Federal. Of all of the ammunition tested, including the 22 magnum rounds, this was the most uniform. With an extreme spread of 40 feet per second and a standard deviation of just 11, the Spitfire rounds are made to exacting tolerances. I shot 10 rounds out of a second box just to make sure this stuff was for real... It is.

When compared to the CCI HP+V, the Spitfire is actually faster with a heavier round! Check out the difference in case size and come back when you pick your jaw up off the ground:

My testing shows that the case on the right (!) propels a 31 grain bullet to 915 feet per second. That's two feet per second faster than the 30 grain projectile from the CCI case on the left. It's not quite the most powerful round you can shoot out of the Pug, but it is the fastest of the ammo I've tested so far!

Out of the 22 long rifle rounds tested, the Spitfire, with 57.61 ft-lbs of energy has the highest probability of consistently delivering that level of energy into the target. With a standard deviation of only 11 feet per second, the Spitfire will deliver more power over time than any of the other rounds. It is more powerful (and far cheaper) than the CCI Maxi-Mag HP+V, and very close in power to the CCI Maxi-Mag HP round which delivers 60.29 ft-lbs of energy.

The only other round which outperforms the Spitfire is the Winchester Super X 22 Magnum. With 68.29 ft-lbs of energy, it delivers nearly 10 ft-lbs more energy to the target than any other bullet tested. It is the second most reliable round tested, with a standard deviation of 16 feet per second.

For self defense using your Pug revolver, the choice is clear: The Winchester Super X 22 Magnum delivers more power more reliably to the target than all of the other cartridges tested.

The question many may ask is, "Would you trust your life to this gun?"

My answer? I already do!

Go here to see the accuracy of different rounds out of the Magnum framed revolvers...

Photo Shoot | NAA Pug with Trijicon Tritium Night Sights

2010-08-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

When I saw the little NAA Pug could be purchased with the Trijicon Night Sights, I laughed to myself about how gimmicky it was. After all, this little tiny gun with something as tactical as night sights seemed like overkill. Well, I've been playing with a Night Sight equipped Pug for a little over a week, and I can say, unequivocally, I'm hooked!

Take a look at the photo below to get an idea of the glow from the tritium-filled front sight of the Pug. I shut the lights off and took a long exposure so you could see the actual glow of the sight off of the stainless steel of the gun:

The fact is, this gun is perfect for dark parking lots or back alleyways late at night. When you are scared, shooting blind is the last thing you want to do, and the little green glow of the Trijicon sight lets you know exactly where the gun is pointed. Daytime visibility is superb, and shooting the gun is a breeze with a high contrast white on black background.

Photo | Three New Additions

2010-08-11T22:12:00.002-07:00

North American Arms sent me these three beautiful little pieces so I could put them through their paces out at the range. In addition, I'll be testing my 1-5/8 inch Mini Magnum and Black Widow. It should be pretty exciting to put these guns through their paces and answer some questions about accuracy, power and the like.

Photos | 22 Long Rifle and Magnum Ammunition

2010-08-11T22:00:00.000-07:00

Today, I took a trip to the city to pick up a few supplies. Here's the .22 long rifle assortment I have at my disposal:

Here's a shot of the .22 magnum rounds I was able to scrounge up:

With a chrono and a supply of targets, I'm going to be putting NAA's line of Mini Magnums to the test. I was able to convince Sandy to allow me to test the Pug, Mini Master and 1-1/8 inch Mini Magnum in addition to my own 1-5/8 Mini Mag and Black Widow. Stay tuned right here to see the results!

Is The NAA Mini Revolver Useable for Self Defense?

2010-08-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

*Actual Shootout Using NAA Mini Click Here*

"At a minimum, these guns are your always carry gun. They are the foundation upon which you build your self-defense platform."

The Internet is absolutely incredible. Over a short period of time, it is possible to find out just about anything about any subject. There's plenty of disinformation out there, but the miracle of online video has allowed me to do a lot of thinking about the usefulness of North American Arms revolvers as concealed carry options.

I've scoured the forums and magazine articles regarding the NAA line of revolvers, and what I've found are pretty much two lines of thought:

1) The guns are absolutely useful deep conceal weapons if deployed as a last resort of self defense.

2) They are worthless toys only worth owning because of their novelty.

After shooting and carrying these guns around in my pocket for a bit, I've come to the conclusion that the first line of thought is appropriate.

Watch the following two videos of actual robberies foiled because the store clerk had a gun: (Please be aware that they are a bit graphic)

One thing I've noticed about robberies is that they're almost always violent, wether the victim is armed or not. Armed robbers are extremely dangerous, which seems obvious. Gun control advocates might want to watch the next video before they think being unarmed makes them safer:

Here's another video that shows you should listen to your little voice. The attacker's body language was quite revealing about his intentions. He wasn't looking at the menu, but was sizing up his prey:

In the above scenarios, it's rather obvious to me that a mini revolver would be immediately out-gunned. If you have a concealed carry permit, you're going to want a much more powerful weapon at your disposal if you find yourself in any of those kinds of situations. It's not about weather it will stop or not, but about the fact that the aggressor is highly keyed up and less likely to be phased by a shot from a .22 magnum. In addition, they are almost always armed with semi-automatic weapons. They can fire off two or three rounds in the time it takes you to cock your mini revolver once. Does that mean the mini-revolver is useless? Absolutely not!

You must arm yourself appropriately for the occasion, and convenience stores, liquor stores and fast food restaurants at night are prime targets of armed thugs. The best thing to do is to avoid them entirely after dark. I personally would never work at any of those establishments--Ever! Just avoiding those situations will most likely prevent you from ever being in an armed encounter. The guy who was attacked at the counter could have prevented this incident simply by using the drive through.

Being aware of your surroundings and avoiding obvious crime hot spots will keep you out of trouble most of the time, but armed crimes aren't isolated to public places. Your home, car, family and person are always potential targets, and that's why being prepared with a concealed carry permit is appropriate.

For home defense, you don't have to worry about conceal ability. A 12 or 20 gauge shotgun with 00 buckshot will do just fine, and is about the ultimate bad guy stopper you can have at your disposal. So what scenarios would a Mini Magnum revolver be useful?

Photo Courtesy Flickr User yuan2003

In locations where you may not feel comfortable carrying your larger firearm, a North American Arms revolver tucked into your pocket could come in quite handy. Think of office buildings, universities hospitals and the like. These are locations where a gunman will sometimes take hostages while shooting up the place. If you barricade yourself in a closet or room, having your revolver at the ready could come in quite handy if the person is roaming the hallways searching for more victims. A recent shooting this week highlights my point and gives food for thought.

A man was forced to resign for theft. He returned to the building moments later with a handgun and proceeded to shoot and kill multiple victims. One of those he shot survived, barricaded himself in a room and called 911. If any of his victims had been armed, they could have helped put a stop to the violence.

Again, this comes down to thinking about your environment as well as being armed. Workplace violence is not going to end. There's a reason security usually walks people out of the building and it's to avoid the kinds of situations you just read about. When that fails, your safety is up to you.

For joggers, bicyclists and people who are more active, carrying even a compact 9mm is just too much. It is this kind of scenario where the NAA shines. They are easy to tuck into jogging or bicycling shorts and go unnoticed. For women who walk or jog alone, these guns can be the difference between a violent attack and bad scare. Rapists and muggers seem to like knives. A Mini in this scenario is an ideal defense weapon. It immediately places the victim in a position of power.

(Photo courtesy flickr user mikebaird)

I was recently watching a show where a woman was viscously accosted for over three hours in her own home. Before the rapist left, he slit her throat and stabbed her more than 30 times. He had come to her door hours earlier and asked to use the phone, but she refused. Later that night, she heard banging from her kitchen and when she went to investigate, he was standing there with one of her kitchen knives and proceeded to attack her. A gun, even a .22 Mini Magnum, would have stopped him.

My Dad always says you have to use the proper tool for the job. For certain jobs, the best tool is a North American Arms Mini Revolver. At a minimum, these guns are your always carry gun. They are the foundation upon which you build your self-defense platform.

Photo | NAA Box and Mini Mag

2010-08-07T22:14:00.000-07:00

The black plastic case North American Arms ships their mini revolvers in comes with a white cardboard wrapper that has North American Arms logo printed on it. Before I discarded it, I decided to take a photo... I think it looks pretty good in black and white.

Back at It

2010-08-04T07:38:00.001-07:00

North American Arms 1-1/8 .22 Mini Magnum

(NAA Photos Used With Permission)

I was out of town for the past week, so my posts thinned out. I'll be doing comprehensive reviews of the NAA Mini Master, Pug and short-barreled Mini Magnum over the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for those!

North American Arms Pug Mini Revolver

North American Arms .22 Mini Master Revolver

North American Arms Black Widow Mini Revolver

.25 NAA or .251 Wood | Unsung Hero of Mouse Guns

2010-07-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

(NAA photos used with permission)

I've been reading as much as I can find about the differences between the .25 ACP, .32 ACP, .380 ACP, .25 NAA and the .32 NAA cartridges. What I think I've discovered is that North American Arms has two unsung heros in their proprietary NAA cartridges.

In almost every case, the .25 ACP cartridge is considered as the least effective self defense round available; even when compared to the 22 long rifle cartridge. This assumption is common knowledge, and I believe many people confuse the North American Arms Guardian .25 NAA pistol with the .25 ACP and dismiss it out of hand.

Because NAA sells four different iterations of their Guardian line of pistols, it might be easy to confuse the different calibers offered. For ease of understanding, I'm going to call the proprietary cartridges by different names than .25 NAA and .32 NAA.

NAA's smallest caliber pistol is probably a better choice than their .32 ACP offering. The reason this is so is because the .25 NAA cartridge is actually a necked-down .32 ACP cartridge with a .251 caliber bullet. In my head, I just call this cartridge the .251 Wood after its designer, J.B. Wood.

This design achieves a much faster bullet with better penetration and expansion than the .32 ACP. A .251 bullet paired with the .32 cartridge in NAA's smallest pistol is a powerhouse in a very small package. Maybe we could just call it the Guardian .251 NAA?

I intend to test these guns independently, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to come to the same conclusion as many others who've done the same: This proprietary package packs a punch!

Do It Yourself | Forster Tap-O-Cap #11 Percussion Cap Tool

2010-07-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

Forster makes a nifty tool that allows you to produce your own black powder percussion caps using aluminum pop cans and paper caps for toy guns.

I've placed one on backorder at MidwayUSA, but I'm not sure if the factory produces these any more. I've been waiting for almost a month now, and I've read that it can take two or more months for these to be delivered.

If you own a North American Arms Companion or Super Companion black powder revolver, this tool would be a fun addition to your shooting activities. If you shoot a lot, or own many different black powder guns, it could save a great deal of money on manufactured percussion caps.

The PDF below is from Forster. It describes in detail how to manufacture your own percussion caps. I'll post an update if and when I receive mine.

Photo | Fire Spitting Black Widow

2010-07-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

I placed my Canon 1D MKIIn camera on motor drive while I shot my Black Widow. The camera takes 8.5 shots per second in this mode, and I made sure to get the shutter speed pumped all the way up to 1/8000th of a second. I wasn't able to capture any bullets leaving the barrel, but I sure did see some unexpected artifacts: Smoke curls coming out of the barrel immediately after shooting and the burning embers of gun powder during the recoil as demonstrated below.

Photo | Mini Mag Vs a Canon

2010-07-21T22:14:00.001-07:00

I've been taking a lot of the photos you see on this blog with this Canon. Of course, a lot of the photos you see here are taken with my BlackBerry. It's not all about the equipment. That goes for shooting photos or bullets!

Video | NAA Black Widow Vs. Ruger Single Six at 30 Feet

2010-07-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

When I moved up to 30 feet, my shooting changed. I was able to place all six shots from the Ruger on target, but the first try with the Black Widow gave me nothing but net. The second try around, I began to get more dialed in. Here's the result:

Video | NAA Black Widow Vs Ruger Single Six

2010-07-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

Shooting a target from 100 feet with a handgun and iron sights is pretty tough. I decided to pit my North American Arms 22 Magnum Black Widow with a two inch barrel against my Ruger Single Six 22 long rifle with six inch barrel. I haven't shot the Ruger for over 10 years, and I don't have a lot of time with my Black Widow, so it was pretty even from an experience standpoint. Even though NAA isn't known for accuracy, I would say the BW did pretty well. Both guns are a hoot.

Video | Handling the Ruger 22 Single Six and Black Widow

2010-07-20T19:50:00.001-07:00

This is quick video showing the load/unload sequence for the Ruger .22 Single Six and the North American Arms Black Widow.

Photo | The Smoking Gun...

2010-07-20T16:08:00.001-07:00

This is what the North American Arms Black Widow .22 Magnum Revolver looks like right after firing a round during a photo sequence at 1/8000th of a second. Click the photo for larger.

Video | Madhat Micro Pocket II Holster

2010-07-19T00:04:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love the craftsmanship Jason put into this little holster. He's got a gift, and here's a video to prove it:

Photo Tour | Madhat Micro Pocket II Holster

2010-07-18T21:20:00.001-07:00

Today, I received a special treat from Caldwell, Idaho: My Madhat Micro Pocket II leather holster.

I'm going to write more thoroughly about this little work of art, but first I thought a photo tour of its delicious contours would be appropriate:

Photo | Where's the Mini?

2010-07-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

I've hidden my .22 Mini Magnum in the forest... Can you find it? Click the photo for the full-size version: Leave a comment by using the comment form. It's anonymous!

Carrying Safely | Keeping the Cylinder Put

2010-07-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

I've read a couple of posts on the NAA forums regarding safe pocket carry of revolvers. The debate is weather the gun should be carried on an empty chamber, or with the hammer in a safety notch. A couple of posters discussed how they reached into their pocket to find a partial or fully-cocked hammer.

For safe carry, the hammer and trigger must be protected. In addition it would be helpful if our holster prevented the cylinder from rotating regardless. Because the cylinder would rotate to a live round in such a case, it wouldn't matter wether the gun was carried in either configuration.

Recently, Mr. Madhat sent me a couple photos of a North American Arms mini revolver in one of his custom holsters.

In the photos below, he clearly demonstrates the cylinder stays put even when the hammer is pulled off of the safety notch in the cylinder. This is due to the fact that he molds or 'bones' the leather while the hammer is in a safety notch.

There are a lot of leather and synthetic pouch-type holsters on the market, but the above photos are a good incentive to buy a custom leather holster for your mini revolver.

Video | Black Widow First Impressions

2010-07-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

First Impressions | North American Arms Black Widow

2010-07-14T10:11:00.001-07:00

I once wrote that man is the animal of the tool. Without tools, naked and starving, we would surely perish. Our relationship with tools has been forged over eons of interaction with the basic materials of our existence. Stone, wood and bone were our first because they were the most accessible. Over time, man has learned to manipulate these basic materials to the point that we've created entirely new substances alien to our original environment.

Tools are as essential to our survival as shelter. Because of this, quality and reliability is a necessary element of the tools we possess. The bonds we form with tools can be likened to bonds formed with a loyal dog or a good friend; it's an unspoken kinship gained over time with those we trust. After the time spent with my NAA revolvers, I've developed such a bond.

The Black Widow is a gun that immediately makes me think of the Raging series of revolvers from Taurus. With it's sculpted barrel and oversized grip, it looks like a large gun, but it's a mini through and through.

When you first open the case, the Black Widow's diminutive size is appealing. Picking it up by its oversized rubber grip, it feels substantial in the hand. Like other NAA revolvers, the gun is heavier than it appears and the quality, fit and finish are immediately apparent.

The un fluted cylinder blends the smooth rear frame of the revolver into the shaped fore end. Overall, it's a sweet look. I love my Mini Magnum, but my Black Widow has an appeal all its own.

Setting the hammer to half-cock, it's time to remove the cylinder pin. Older versions of this model had a push-button pin similar to the original line of minis, but this pin is removed via a locking lug which is pulled down and twisted 90 degrees. Once this is accomplished, the lug is pulled forward and the pin slides smoothly out. The pin is re-inserted by reversing this action. Overall, it's a very solid arrangement, and when the lug clicks into place, it adds to the overall solid look of the gun.

Unlike the rounded front blade sight on my Mini Mag, my Black Widow is fitted with substantial fixed iron sights. With the hammer pulled back, it's easy to get a bead on target. Many people have commented that the front blade is too wide, but the trick to getting a Black Widow properly sighted is to hold the gun closer to the body. If you hold it at arm's length, the front blade will fill the channel of the rear sight, and there's no light shining through. Pull it in a little though, and the problem is solved. In addition to seeing the sights better, this will also stabilize your gun.

Soon after purchasing my Black Widow, I noticed North American Arms was holding a sale on their oversized rosewood grips. I jumped at the chance and purchased a set. Originally, I thought I would mount them to my Mini Magnum, but couldn't quite get the fit the way I wanted, so on the BW they went! The quality is outstanding, and the feel is silky smooth. I really like the hourglass symbol on the original rubber grip, but the rosewood more than makes up for it with look and feel. I can always switch back and forth at my whimsy.

Every NAA revolver comes with a safety cylinder, which allows the gun to be safely carried with a fully loaded cylinder. With its large iron sights, the Black Widow is a little more tricky to set than the Mini Mag. Because the rear sight is so substantial, it blocks your view of the top of the cylinder in the firing pin slot. In order to set the safety, it's necessary to look at the back of the cylinder and make sure the top two rounds are straddling the midline, as shown in NAA literature.

My experience with North American Arms has been nothing short of a love affair, and I will admit to being enamored with the guns I have so far. The Black Widow makes a wonderful addition to your collection.

Love Affair

2010-07-13T20:33:00.001-07:00

I've now owned this little revolver for a month, and it's still a delight to handle. I am looking forward to evaluating the other guns in the NAA lineup, and if the .22 Mini Magnum revolver is any indication, I'm in for an amazing time!

Thoughtful Quote

2010-07-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

"To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, countries or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws."

---John Adams, A Defence of the Constitutions of the United States 475 (1787-1788)

From (http://www.guncite.com/gc2ndbog.html)

Thank you for setting me straight whiffleball!

Thoughful Quote

2010-07-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

"Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth."

-- NOT George Washington... But a good quote nonetheless!

"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority ... the Constitution was made to guard against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."

-- Noah Webster

Thoughtful Quote

2010-07-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

"Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper."

--Thomas Jefferson

Thoughtful Quote

2010-07-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

"Men trained in arms from their infancy, and animated by the love of liberty, will afford neither a cheap or easy conquest."

-- Declaration of the Continental Congress, July 1775

What Is This?

2010-07-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

I was looking through the NAA forums, and Pietro posted a link to this post on Rimfire Central. I've sent a private message to user Teddy Bear Rat in order to get to the bottom of what this modified NAA Mini Revolver is all about.

My initial thoughts are that it would be fun to have a little mini revolver with a long barrel and folding stock. At only a little over a pound, this is one rifle that won't weight you down! He was shooting Super Colibri, which is 22 long rifle. I'd like one in .22 Winchester Magnum. That would be a fun gun for sure. There are obviously ATF ramifications, and they are described in some detail in the postings, but I would like to know much more. I'll let you know if I find out.

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T07:34:00.001-07:00

Photo: http://www.basisdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/AFBetsyross1776.jpg

We in this country enjoy rights endowed, not given. Today is a celebration of the struggle to continue to uphold the values instilled at our Nation's birth. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Help Me Find My Lost Mini Mag

2010-07-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

Today, I tried to shoot another "Where's my Mini?" photo, and can't find it in the final shot. If you can find my .22 Mini Magnum, I'd be impressed. Click the photo to see the full-size version.

Photos | 22 Mini Mag Above Timberline

2010-07-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hiking in the Colorado Rockies ranks among my most favorite activities. When you rise above timberline, the altitude and harsh conditions prevent trees from taking root, and all that grows is the robust vegetation of the high tundra. It is at these elevations, near 12,000 feet above sea level, trees like the bristle cone pine can be found. Wood from dead trees rots ever so slowly, and the sun bleaches everything left exposed. Lichen and other high altitude fungi cover the numerous rocks and, for a few months out of the year, the beauty is stunning.

It was with this backdrop I decided to take a few photos of my North American Arms Mini revolver perched atop a lichen encrusted rock. I also found an old piece of tree trunk bleached by the intense rays of the sun. Beauty is everywhere if you know where to look.

Photos | Black Widow With Rosewood Grips

2010-07-03T08:03:00.001-07:00

The North American Arms Black Widow is a beautifully designed little single action revolver. With a choice of grips, you can change the look of the gun with a single screw. I removed the standard black rubber grip with the Widow emblem and replaced them with NAA's oversized rosewood grip. What do you think?

Photos | Naked Widow

2010-07-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

The North American Arms Black Widow revolver is beautiful, but a lot of its inner beauty is hidden by its substantial grip. I undressed my Black Widow for this photo shoot. I hope you enjoy!

YouTube Parody Using an NAA Mini Revolver

2010-06-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

YouTube user Hickok45 has a contest where people send in their videos trying to emulate his style. I was going through them, and this video was too funny not to re-post! User willwood587 is hilarious! You'll get a better laugh if you watch some of Hickok's videos first.

Enjoy!

I Ordered My Mad Hat Holster Today

2010-06-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Looking for my .22 Mini Magnum Review? Click Here...

I've been talking with Mr. Madhat about holsters for my North American Arms 22 Mini Magnum and Black Widow revolvers, and today I finally decided on a Micro Pocket holster for my Mini Mag. It's going to look something like this:

Before I ordered my holster, I asked Jason to tell me a little bit about how he makes them.

"All of my holsters are 100 percent hand-stitched," he says. "The only machine that touches any of them is a Dremel to clean the edges up with."

Using a 6-7 ounce heavy leather to ensure long life, Mr. Madhat stitches his holsters with a saddle stitch using simulated sinew for added strength.

"All holsters are individually hand-boned and shaped," he continues. "I have designed each of my holsters to be as unique as I can get them and still be as functional as possible."

As an example, the Earl holster is done in tan with boarder tooling. All of his cowboy western holsters are suede lined to protect your gun and give a higher quality look and feel.

If you're interested to learn more about Madhat holsters, go to Mad Hat Leather's Blog. There, you'll find out more about the company, the man and how to get yours.

Photo: Jason Smith

Who is Mr. Madhat?

2010-06-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

Photos: Jason Smith

You may be interested to know the humble start to who has become one of the finest crafters of handmade leather goods for North American Arms products.

Jason Smith, a.k.a Mr. Madhat, is a self-professed family guy and father of three boys. He blames his involvement in North American Arms on Lisa, his wife of 10 years.

"She is responsible for getting me into NAA altogether," he says. "She decided that her first handgun was going to be an NAA/Talo Buntline in .22 Magnum. She had the choice between the Buntline and a Black Widow, and chose the Buntline."

Upon seeing the gun for the first time, Jason couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

"I have to admit that my first impression of the gun ended with a giggle and an, 'Ahhh how cute," He says. "But after shooting it the first time, I was hooked."

After spending some time looking for a holster for her new gun, Lisa came up short. Because it was a limited edition, and NAA doesn't have a large number of manufacturers making holsters specific to their firearms, Jason decided he'd give it a go himself.

"I had done some leather work in the past," says Jason. "Mostly just belts and little crafty projects when I was a kid. I made a few holsters and Lisa told me to list a couple on eBay."

Jason found the NAA message board and performed some show and tell, which gave him a decent start at selling them. As sales picked up, he tried crafting a few moulded holsters.

"I loved the results," he says. "So I started doing more of them, and began buying more NAA's to expand my gun library in addition to having my own carry pieces."

With seven guns in his possession, he still wants more. "Damn you, NAA," he says with a laugh.

What began as a hobby and something to pass time has turned into a full-time venture.

"The further into the holsters and NAA's I get, the more I love them," he says.

Visit Mad Hat Leather and get your holster ordered today!

Coming Soon... North American Arms Black Widow

2010-06-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

A Comprehensive Review of the North American Arms .22 Mini Magnum Revolver

2010-06-26T22:52:00.000-07:00

Story and Photos By Reggie Paulk

First Impressions...

I've been the proud owner of a North American Arms 22 Mini Magnum Conversion Revolver with 1-5/8 inch barrel for two weeks. I think I'm beginning to get familiar enough with it to give an honest assessment of the gun's attributes, and thought a thorough review was in order.

Where I live, there are no gun stores nearby that stock the North American Arms line, so my search led me to dealers in the Denver, Colorado area. I searched solely on price, and purchased my gun for pickup at the store the next day. Due to my anticipation, I'd say the two hour drive to the gun dealer was one of the longer ones I've taken.

When handed the tiny black plastic case, I couldn't help but open it immediately and take a look at my new gun. After having read every post and watched every video I could find on the internet regarding this gun, actually laying eyes on the real thing can't be adequately described.

Because the gun is so tiny and toylike, I was immediately enamored with it. It begs to be picked up and handled, much like a little puppy. I'll go ahead and say it; my little Mini Mag is darn cute.

My wife had to do some shopping while we were in the city, so I spent over an hour in the car getting familiar with my new revolver. The thing that struck me when I picked up the gun for the first time was its heft. It feels substantial in the hand.

I'd seen enough about the gun on the Internet that I knew how to remove the cylinder pin and cylinder, so I pulled the hammer to the half-cock detent, pressed the cylinder pin plunger and removed the cylinder pin, being careful not to let the cylinder fall out of the frame. After verifying the cylinder was empty, I left it sitting on the foam in the case so I could play with the trigger and hammer.

"There's no doubt rimfire cartridges will go off with this miniature sledge bearing down on them."

Let me be clear: There's not one part on this gun that makes it seem cheap. Even though small in size, the hammer and trigger are hefty pieces of 17-4 pH steel with a substantial ribbing that's easy to grip--even with sweaty fingers. Placing my thumb on the hammer to cock the gun, I was taken aback by the 'big gun' sound of the cocking mechanism. I was even more surprised by the strength of the hammer's spring. Cocking a Mini Mag takes the same effort as any full-frame rimfire revolver. This little 'toy' all of a sudden showed that it meant serious business.

With the hammer cocked, I pulled the trigger. The hammer slammed home with a satisfying clunk. There's no doubt rimfire cartridges will go off with this miniature sledge bearing down on them. Doing this a few times only made me want to load up the cylinder and start blowing up targets.

"There's not one part on this gun that makes it seem cheap."

The first shots with my revolver were with the long rifle cylinder because I had a feeling I was going to become instantly addicted to shooting this little jewel. Two and a half hours and a 300 rounds of long rifle later, I was glad I did!

Loading the cylinder is really fun. I have a technique where I remove the cylinder pin with my right hand; pop out and hold the cylinder with my left thumb and forefinger; hold the frame with my index finger; poke out empty shells with the cylinder pin, then place the pin between my fore and index fingers to re-load with an empty right hand. The following photos clearly demonstrate how I do this:

After loading the cylinder, I carefully maneuver it back into the frame until it clicks in place, re-insert the cylinder pin fully against the frame and immediately set the hammer in a safety slot on the cylinder. I do this every time I replace the cylinder--even if it's empty. I have it so ingrained as a habit, I don't even think about it any more. The safety slots not only allow a full cylinder; they also allow the gun to be cocked to the next available round when you're ready for action. It's a very slick arrangement.

Time to go Shooting!

Out at my shooting range, gun loaded and targets at the ready, I couldn't wait to see how this little gun performed.

The Internet provides a vast resource of information; it doesn't necessarily provide reliable information. From everything I'd read, the first time I pulled the trigger on this little pony, the bullet would zip off heading and bounce from my paper target after making a pathetic keyhole punch. The gun, with it's ridiculously short barrel, would go flying from my hand and I would run, sobbing, from the range. I did run sobbing from the range--after expending all my ammo! My gun was not afflicted with any of the aforementioned maladies.

"The Internet provides a vast resource of information; it doesn't necessarily provide reliable information."

The first five shots got me familiarized with recoil, which is completely acceptable wether shooting long rifle or magnum rounds. Subsequent loads helped me get the gun on target. I started out shooting at my paper target from about eight feet away. Reliable hits at this distance are easy to come by, wether shooting off hand, two-handed, left hand, right hand, eyes closed (not really, but you get my drift) or with a defensive shooting style. You quickly realize backing up from your target is necessary to keep the challenge going.

Shooting Technique: How to Handle a Mini Revolver

"From everything I'd read, the first time I pulled the trigger on this little pony, the bullet would zip off heading and bounce from my paper target after making a pathetic keyhole punch."

I'll be honest; There's been enough independent research performed on the ballistics of both .22 long rifle and .22 magnum rounds out of North American Arms revolvers, if you still need convincing as to their effectiveness in a self-defense situation, I can't help you. There's really no amount of ballistics gel testing, independent lab analysis or real world research that will change the mind of a true cynic. Notice I didn't say skeptic. Skeptics will change their minds when presented with convincing evidence--cynics will not. I was skeptical at first, but I went ahead and purchased my gun knowing that I could have a ball with it even if it wasn't used as a self defense tool. I'm no longer skeptical of these firearms. With that being said, if you purchase one of these guns and have a concealed carry permit, I'll wager it will be the one gun you carry ALL THE TIME!

Accuracy with any gun almost always is limited by the shooter's ability. Wether you're shooting a 4.5 pound Smith & Wesson 500 or a six ounce NAA Mini Revolver, you're not going to hit a target unless you practice with it until you know that gun in your sleep. In fact, I'd bet it takes a lot longer to get comfortable shooting a hand cannon like that Smith & Wesson than it does to become adept with the Mini Mag.

One thing you quickly notice when shooting the Mini Magnum is that the gun moves with every shudder and shake of your hand. Hitting a target has a lot to do not only with how steady you hold the gun, but with how smoothly you pull the trigger. Because it's so light weight, small movements in your hand will result in large deviations of the gun's barrel. Dry fire practice is a great way to learn how to properly hold your gun.

With the cylinder removed, cock the hammer. Practice holding a steady aim and pulling the trigger, paying particular attention to the sequence which results in the least movement of the gun during firing. After you've done this a couple of dozen times, you'll start to recognize the grip-trigger pull combination that results in the least movement for you. Practice this while shooting at targets, and soon you'll be hitting just about anything you aim at.

"After you've done this a couple of dozen times, you'll start to recognize the grip-trigger pull combination that results in the least movement for you."

As you can see from the photographs, my Mini Magnum has the standard grip and there is no front sight. This has not prevented me from reliably hitting targets out to 50 feet. If you want proof, just watch any one of the videos on my YouTube channel to see how nicely this gun performs.

One of the only problems I've discovered with North American Arm's products is they seem to have a certain addictive quality. Once you have one or two, you really can't help wanting more of the little guys. There's no doubt about the loyal following, and you can count me in as a new addict. I have no problem thinking of the .22 Mini Magnum with five rounds of CCI Maxi Mag as a primary carry self defense tool, and I know for sure it will always be there as backup.

If you'd like to get inside this gun in High Definition, just view this video I produced:

YouTube Channel | Subscribe to Receive The Latest Videos

2010-06-26T22:04:00.001-07:00

If you search YouTube for any and all videos related to the product offerings from North American Arms, from the .22 Short Mini Revolver to the 380 ACP Guardian, you need to subscribe to our channel.

Even if you never intend to upload a video to YouTube, a subscription will send you an alert each time a new video is uploaded, so you can stay up to date on all of the latest goings-on here.

Of course, you can always just sign up for a subscription to this blog by following the links on the right of the page to be updated each time there's a new post. Every time I upload a new video, it's added to this blog as well.

From the Forum: Itching for a Companion

2010-06-26T10:27:00.001-07:00

I've been interested in North American Arm's Companion revolvers for a while now, and went to the forums to ask some more about them. Quite a few NAA enthusiasts like these little guns, and have played around with various configurations of powder, bullets and percussion caps.

One of the most expensive parts of owning one of these revolvers are the percussion caps, but forum user Doc told me about the Forster Tap-O-Cap, which allows you to manufacture your own caps from pop cans and paper toy caps at a fraction of the cost of regular percussion caps.

I've already ordered my Tap-O-Cap from MidwayUSA, but it is on backorder, so I'll be discussing it more when I receive it. Until then, you can learn a lot more about the Companion revolvers and how to play with them by visiting the NAA Forum.

Coming Soon... A Comprehensive Review of the 22 Mini Magnum

2010-06-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not posting yesterday, but I will make up for it with a comprehensive review of the NAA 22 Mini Magnum. I've owned the gun for going on three weeks, have shot more than 500 rounds through it, and have generally become best buddies with this little marvel of steel and wood.

I've also mentioned I purchased a Black Widow when I acquired the Mini Mag. I plan to thoroughly dive into the gun over the next week and give you mouthwatering photos, videos and write ups to keep you entertained.

Please comment on my posts if you haven't already; I'd like to hear what you have to say. Let me know what you like, what you don't and what you'd like to see.

My 22 Mini Magnum in the Wild

2010-06-24T20:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I took my scooter into the wilderness in order to enjoy the short mountain summer. I also brought along my 22 Mini Magnum and CCI Maxi Mag hollow points.

There's a certain sense of calm having a firearm nearby elicits, and I think Thomas Jefferson was right when he opined in a letter to his young nephew:

"As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion to your walks."

I honestly couldn't say it better myself. I live in mountain lion, bear and moose country. As such, I have a very slim chance of encounter with these animals in the wild, and an even slimmer chance of being attacked. But I like to stack the odds in my favor if something of that nature were ever to occur.

I've been researching mountain lion attacks in the U.S. and will be providing my opinion on the subject in a future post.

I've Hidden My NAA Mini... Can You Find It?

2010-06-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

Trust me, it's in there somewhere. Click on the image for a larger version.

Don't Litter With Your Gun!

2010-06-23T14:55:00.001-07:00

Exploded Television

I've got a bone to chew. Today, I was scooting around my local National Forest and happened upon a heap of trash sitting on the side of the trail.

On closer inspection, I noticed it was an old television that had been used for target practice by a shotgun toting idiot. The reason I know this is because, alongside the television were a half dozen spent 12 gauge cartridges.

Spent Shell

As a shooter myself, I enjoy blowing up targets as much as the next person, but I try my best to leave the area as pristine as I found it. I also cart out other people's crap when I do find it, but that just aggravates me. I guarantee if I happen upon someone being this idiotic, I'll be sure to broadcast their idiocy to the world via YouTube.

Nothing mixes like guns and alcohol, as this next photo shows:

Shotgun Beer Can

I don't know if the television and the beer can belonged to the same dolt, but there's a high probability given the sheer amount of evidence left behind. If this is how your range looks when you're finished shooting, you need to talk to your Mom about cleaning up after yourself.

Video | Inside the North American Arms 22 Mini Magnum

2010-06-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Make sure to turn up the volume and listen to all the clicks and clacks on this one...

Click Here for Video

NAA .22 Mini Magnum @ 100 Yards

2010-06-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

Although I didn't hit the milk carton, I came close. I'll continue to practice at that distance until I can regularly hit the target. Until then, stay tuned!

Photos | 22 Mini Mag in the Wild

2010-06-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

Today, I decided to take the scooter on a journey into the wilderness. I took my NAA Mini Mag along in order to get some photos of it 'in the wild.' The mountains of Colorado are about as beautiful as they come in the summer time, and the scent of pine trees was thick in the air.

Can you find the Mini Mag in this photo:

There's nothing like being 25 miles into the back country!

Happy Father's Day! Here's a Perfect Gift

2010-06-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

I purchased a pair of these oversized rosewood grips for my Mini Magnum, but I like them better on my Black Widow. The grips feel very nice in the hand, and they are a good deal at 24 dollars. The photo doesn't do them justice; these grips glow in the sunlight. They are an inexpensive way to make your gun look its best.

North American Arms is running a special on these grips, so get them while the price lasts. Click here or the photo to be taken to their page.

James Pickett, 80, Uses NAA Mini Against Two Attackers

2010-06-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

The original story from WFAA news is mysteriously missing from their website, so I performed a search and found this archived copy. This happened around February 16th, 2008 in Dallas, Texas.

From the video, it looks as though WWII veteran Pickett used the .22 Short Revolver.

Use Your Mini Magnum To Hit Targets At 50 Feet

2010-06-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

When performing research on my NAA .22 Mini Magnum, I came across a large number of posts on forums across the web that were quite derogatory toward the accuracy of this small gun.

After shooting more than 500 rounds through mine, I've come to the conclusion that the people who put the gun down either don't own one, or have not practiced with it. With a gun as small as the Mini Mag, small hand movements result in rather large changes in bullet trajectory.

As you practice, pay particular attention to trigger pull and how it affects the angle of the barrel as the gun fires. A steady hand equates to on-target hits almost every time. On my gun, the aluminum sight came out if its detent before I ever shot it. I've never had a front sight on my gun, but that hasn't stopped me from hitting rather small targets from 50 feet with regularity.

These two videos prove my point rather well:

22 Mini Magnum vs The Judge

2010-06-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

Pitting the North American Arms .22 Mini Magnum against the .410/45 Taurus Judge isn't a fair fight, but it sure is fun to watch a comparison between the two.

Yesterday, I decided to show the difference in shooting power between the .22 Magnum cartridge and the Federal Premium .410 buckshot round.

I placed two one gallon milk jugs full of water atop my target backstop and fired one round from each gun into its respective jug.

Obviously, the Judge was going to win, but the damage inflicted by the .22 Magnum cartridge is nothing to sneeze at. Watch the video and enjoy for yourself:

Gas Turbines and North American Arms

2010-06-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

What do gas turbines have to do with little hand guns? Quite a lot, actually.

Personally, I like holding my gun in my hand; looking at the little scratches developing in the frame where the cylinder strikes it as I load and unload it; seeing the sheen of the wooden handle increase from the oils of my hand; hearing the small clanks and clicks as I take out the cylinder pin. These are all the sensations of owning a fine firearm, and they are a constant reminder of my God given birthright to possess one. The soul of any gun is born in the metals used to make it, and it is for that reason I wanted to find out more about the metal in my NAA Minis.

The screenshot above shows the North American Arms .22 Caliber PUG Mini-Revolver and lists its specifications. Among those specifications is the type of stainless steel the gun is manufactured from: 17-4 pH. With so many positive attributes, the type of steel they're made from may not seem all that interesting, but knowing about the metal your gun is made from determines how you should treat and care for it. Rest assured, your little gun will be around for a long, long time!

What is stainless steel? It's simply an alloy of iron with a chromium content no less than about 11 percent by mass. (Reference) Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion and is made with different alloys to suit different purposes. The steel chosen for the manufacturer of North American Arms pieces is an alloy containing 17 percent chromium and four percent nickel; thus 17-4. The pH after the prefix stands for precipitation hardened, or age hardened. So what are the properties of this steel that make it ideal for use in firearms?

The characteristics of 17-4 pH that make suitable for use in firearms include high strength, hardness and corrosion resistance. Although not marine grade, 17-4 pH will withstand use in environments near and on the ocean. One of the uses specified for the metal is for the construction of offshore helicopter platforms.In addition, it is used to make turbine blades on liquid petroleum generators (gas turbines like a jet engine) as well as nuclear waste casks!!??. (Reference)

One of the only weaknesses of the metal is direct exposure to stagnant seawater. How often do you plan to take your gun scuba diving? If you own a North American Mini; treat it right and clean it frequently, chances are your kids will be handing it down to your grand children long after you're gone.

Video | NAA .22 Mini Mag Hitting Targets at 30 Plus Feet

2010-06-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

Here I am shooting up the range with my Mini Mag. I love this gun, and the accuracy is acceptable for what it does.

Video | NAA .22 Magnum Mini First Person High Definition

2010-06-15T19:27:00.001-07:00

Here's what it's like to be a hand holding a Mini Mag as it's being fired:

Shooting the NAA .22 Mini Magnum Revolver

2010-06-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

Here's my target shooting demonstration using the NAA .22 Mini Mag

Quality | NAA .22 Magnum Mini Revolver

2010-06-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

I purchased my NAA .22 Magnum Mini Revolver three days ago, and have already fired 300 plus rounds through it. I bought the gun with both the .22 long rifle and the .22 magnum cylinders because I knew I would probably be addicted to shooting the gun, and the .22 long rifle is one of the, if not the most, affordable cartridges available on the market. Well, my hunch turned out to be correct. I constantly daydream about taking the gun to my practice area to shoot targets. But before I get into the semantics of shooting, let me relay my first impressions of the gun.

Before I first opened the hard plastic case enclosing my new revolver, I had butterflies filling my stomach. I had been doing a lot of reading and research leading up to my purchase, but I'd never actually seen one of these revolvers in person. As I opened the case, I was struck by the diminutive size of the gun sitting on its egg crate foam liner. Even with the longer 1-5/8 inch barrel, it's tiny.

Picking the gun up by the beautiful laminated rosewood birds head grip, it's much heavier than it looks like it should be. The finish on the grip is superb, with no noticeable ridge between the wood of the grip and the metal frame between. Running your fingers along the barrel; past the cylinder; over the hammer and trigger reveals a tactile feast. The smooth surface of the barrel gives way to the sharp edge of the cylinder. The hammer and trigger are both ribbed for better traction with sweaty fingers.

"You could own a Mini Magnum revolver just for the sheer tactile qualities the gun exhibits."

At first, it's difficult to grasp that this is a real gun that shoots real bullets. You immediately want to play with the hammer and trigger. But first, you need to verify the gun is safe. With most single shot revolvers, you just flip open the loading hatch and spin the cylinder on half cock. With an NAA revolver, you remove the cylinder entirely to do a safety check. To do this, just pull the hammer to half-cock, remove the cylinder pin and gently remove the cylinder from the frame. A quick glance shows five empty holes, and the cylinder is placed back into the gun's frame. After replacing the cylinder pin, it's time to actuate the hammer.

You would think, with such a small gun, the hammer would be relatively easy to pull back. But, given the gun shoots the same ammo as full-frame revolvers, it's no surprise the hammer has the same spring tension. Cocking the hammer on an NAA mini gives the same series of satisfying clicks as any other revolver, and the tiny size makes it that much more incredible to listen to. That sound is your first indication this revolver means business.

The Mini Magnum has a combination of brushed and polished finish that, in photos, makes the gun look a little ugly. I almost didn't buy the gun because of that. Boy am I glad I ignored that impression! The gun's barrel and grip; the flutes in the cylinder; trigger; hammer and top of the frame are all brushed. The side of the frame surrounding the cylinder, as well as the rest of the cylinder itself, are polished. In the hand, the look is stunning. You want to keep the gun in your pocket just so you can run your fingers over its surfaces.

Even if you never intend to shoot a gun in your life, you could own a Mini Magnum revolver just for the sheer tactile qualities the gun exhibits. Of course, you'd be missing out on 99 percent of the fun you can have with this little gem, but that's for a later post.

Welcome To The World of Miniature Firearms

2010-06-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

I've recently become the proud owner of two new NAA mini revolvers; a Black Widow and a Mini Mag conversion revolver with 22 long rifle and 22 magnum cylinders. Before my purchases, I scoured the Internet for anything I could find about these intriguing little revolvers. I've found a wealth of information about these guns that dispels any myths that might surround their diminutive size.

As with any subject as polarizing as guns, there are a lot of highly opinionated people out there. Most of the opinion surrounding these revolvers centers around their conceal-ability as well as their potential to stop a bad guy. Almost all agree that these guns are about the easiest to conceal of all currently available firearms, but opinion quickly shifts to the negative when it comes to stopping power, including aiming ability.

There is plenty of readily available information that dispels any concern about stopping power, but the myths persist. After shooting more than 300 rounds through my new favorite guns, I can say without doubt that NAA minis will hit man-sized targets in hand-sized patterns very reliably at self defense distances.

This blog was created because I wasn't satiated by what I've found online, and I have a desire to create what I would have liked to see about these wonderful little guns. If you have any specific requests, please ask!