NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

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Old No7
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NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Old No7 »

OK, going into this, I know that many folks may CARRY one of the small NAA Mini Guns as a last-ditch get-off-me option, and that many folks SHOOT them and enjoy doing so -- but does anyone actually HIT anything with them ? ? ?

After getting a 22 Mag Ranger II last year to go with all my other top-breaks, I'd just acquired a decent used 4" Mini Master .22LR with the thinking that it "Just might be capable of picking off a partridge or squirrel at up to 30 paces when I'm out deer hunting in the Maine woods."

I'm here to tell you that ain't gonna happen.........................

I tried 5 different 22 loads in it today; 2 standard velocity (Wolf MT and CCI Std) and 3 high-speed (CCI, Blazer and Federal) and this target was the best 20-shot grouping of all.

At 10 yards -- only 3 out of 20 shots would have hit the head of a partridge...

NAA Mini-M target (Medium).jpg

The problem is -- that target was shot at only 5 YARDS... :o

Look, I know this isn't a target revolver... And I do know how to shoot handguns well (as I once placed 2nd in Maine in 22 LR Bulls-eye Postal Matches, all shot 1 handed).

* * * But am I expecting too much of a NAA MIni to use it as a small kit gun? * * *

I am still intrigued by their designs, the quality of the fit & finish and the well-executed Swiss Watch-like construction. They do go "bang" when the trigger is pulled -- yes -- but all the built-in quality is for naught if they just won't HIT well...

At this point, I'd rather carry my 4X heavier 5" S&W Mdl 63-5 and at least HIT what I'm aiming at...

Recently I was thinking of selling off my Ranger II but getting the Mini Master had me interested in the NAA line all over again -- but seriously, now I'm thinking that I could have TWO NAAs going up for sale very soon...

I have tried SO hard to like these niche NAA mini guns -- but it's just not happening................... :(

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Bill in Oregon
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Daryl, I bought an "Earl" soon after they came out and couldn't believe how inaccurate it was. Examining the barrel, it looked like there were all kinds of chatter marks, so I sent it back to NAA and if they rebarreled it as they said they did, the barrel was no better. Done with these. They'll hit a basketball across the dinner table and that's about it in my experience. Good luck.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by GunnyMack »

Slug the bore? Wonder if they use .223-224 barrels? Chase the crown? Barrel /cylinder gap and or alignment?
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Ray
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Ray »

I feel your pain.....

I'm a long-time N.A.A. fan/collector and while living with the very short accurate range of the short barreled and tiny gripped "minis" I thought the minimaster and earls with their fuller grips, real sights, and longer barrels might be the bees knees. Wrong !

The 2.5" and 4" minimasters are the absolutely most inaccurate handguns I have ever shot. The 4" earl is at least 3 x more accurate than the minimasters but is still not great which shows just how bad the minimasters are. One expects much more from such a heavy, slab-sided barrel with bold, clear sights.

Like mister powell replied, something just doesn't look right when peering down some n.a.a. barrels.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by wm »

I work with a guy who runs a couple of trap lines as a side income and he carries a NAA 22lr as a dispatch gun. He thinks highly of it. In the past he has carried a Tanfoglio Single action revolver, a Jennings J22, High Standard Sport King, and a inexpensive derringer of some sort. The NAA was his best choice because it seems to tolerate the benign neglect he inflicts and it is sized very efficiently for his purposes. He also said reloading the derringer was difficult in the field with cold, wet hands during a Michigan winters.


I know that is not really an answer to your accuracy question but I thought a positive word about its durability was worth while.


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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by 765x53 »

NAA Mini-Master revolvers are designed as .22 Magnums.
Like Ruger Single Sixes, they do their best work with magnum ammo.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by AJMD429 »

I regard mine (one-inch 22 WMR version) as a last-ditch 'in your face' implement, but it would be interesting to see what the longer-barreled ones could do with the addition of laser sights - since the metal sights on them aren't very good.

Mine is 1980's vintage and very excellent quality, but I've not looked at recent ones.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Pete44ru »

.

I've owned, shot & carried a LOT of Minis over the past 35 or so years, and have found they are neither target or hunting pistols...………..

They are miniature "belly guns" (meaning they're for sticking in someone's belly or ear & shooting), and can serve as plinkers if shot correctly.

I used to think them inaccurate, and also thought that they were awkward to handle & shoot - but I learned better.

I can no longer blame the tool, just whomever's using it.

I believe that the reasons behind reports of poor handling and/or accuracy it that shooters tend to shoot them just like the larger-size single-action revolvers they shot before - i.e., holding one in yer paw and cocking it with the thumb, etc, etc.

(I prefer the original birds-head grips to the later/larger or aftermarket grips)

FWIW, while I found it very awkward at first, after LOTS of practice, I learned to shoot them using a modified Weaver stance, grasping the entire grip in the tightly fisted shooting hand, then operating the hammer & trigger with the off hand while it was wrapped around the grasping fist.

Ergo:

1)

Image



2)

Image Image



3)

Image



They are what they are...……



.
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Old No7
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Old No7 »

Pete44ru wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 8:11 pm FWIW, while I found it very awkward at first, after LOTS of practice, I learned to shoot them using a modified Weaver stance, grasping the entire grip in the tightly fisted shooting hand, then operating the hammer & trigger with the off hand while it was wrapped around the grasping fist.
Thanks Pete. I recall you had posted that info after I reported here about the 22 Ranger II that I got.

I tried that too -- but it didn't help me............

Pete44ru wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 8:11 pm They are what they are...……
Yup, and now I know the reason why this one was for sale looking "little used"... Heck, it still will be when I move it along...

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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by AJMD429 »

Pete, you sure have nice looking hands.... :D
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Sixgun »

AJMD429 wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:11 pm Pete, you sure have nice looking hands.... :D

Yea...what is it with the long nails Pete?

On a serious note, I never could understand the logic of paying any kind of money on a gun that's hard to shoot...period....let alone hitting what your shooting at.

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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by piller »

I have one. It is a last ditch gun. No, it is not accurate beyond 5 yards. The snakeshot rounds in it do well on snakes and tin cans.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by KWK »

I had a .22LR with a longer than average barrel. It was quite inaccurate even with a larger after market grip and was soon traded off.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Nath »

Sixgun wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:18 pm
AJMD429 wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:11 pm Pete, you sure have nice looking hands.... :D

Yea...what is it with the long nails Pete?

On a serious note, I never could understand the logic of paying any kind of money on a gun that's hard to shoot...period....let alone hitting what your shooting at.

As Elmer Keith used to say, "junk is junk and always will be junk.----Count Sixula
:lol: :lol:
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Nath »

Pete you said ;


"They are miniature "belly guns" (meaning they're for sticking in someone's belly or ear & shooting), and can serve as plinkers if shot correctly."

You need to be careful doing this, you really could damage someone's hearing ability!
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Rusty »

I bought Jr. one but he's not allowed to carry it unless he can qualify with it. I always figured it was a last ditch screw it in their ear and let 'er fly type thing. That me.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Pete44ru »

Nath wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:59 am
Sixgun wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:18 pm
AJMD429 wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:11 pm Pete, you sure have nice looking hands.... :D
Yea...what is it with the long nails Pete?
:lol: :lol:

I had my Green Eyed Monster hold the NAA Black Widow properly (yes, she shoots) while I took the pics. :roll:

:mrgreen:


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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Sixgun »

I gotta laugh at Pete...in a good way......at 64 I never heard that phrase, "stick it in the ear and shoot". Makes lots of sense. :D ---The Count
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by piller »

Six, you should be glad you never were in a root hog or die fight. Some bar fights are not friendly at all.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Marvin S »

I had one of the short 22 LR ones years ago. The bullets would bounce off a car door.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Blaine »

Close up, a face-full of snakeshot from a .22 mag will be a real attitude changer. :idea:
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Nath »

BlaineG wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 2:46 pm Close up, a face-full of snakeshot from a .22 mag will be a real attitude changer. :idea:
Yeah, like adding resentment to the already negatively charged atmosphere :lol:
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by guido4198 »

Some of ya'll might disagree with this which is OK, but I thought I'd share my own thoughts on the topic since I've had one of those small 5-shot NAA revolvers in .22 LR for a very long time and carry it a lot down here in Florida.
I don't carry it to shoot through car doors. It doesn't have to pass the "FBI Test" for penetration. I don't ever plan to use it to "take out" someone holding a hostage across the room with a well placed shot to their mouth.
No...it's pretty limited to that last-ditch, arms-length situation.
Those kind of things DO happen.
I have a buddy who also carries one of the little NAA .22's. He carries his around his neck. A long time ago, he had an "encounter" with 3 unpleasant individuals who saw him as just a little old guy they that they expected would give up his wallet at their request. After they made their demand, he pulled that little thing, pointed it in their general direction and asked: "Who wants the first one..??"
Turned out that there weren't ANY volunteers to take even one of those puny little .22 rounds that night.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Blaine »

Nath wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:25 pm
BlaineG wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 2:46 pm Close up, a face-full of snakeshot from a .22 mag will be a real attitude changer. :idea:
Yeah, like adding resentment to the already negatively charged atmosphere :lol:
And more than likely adding blindness....
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by roughcreek »

AND momentary loss of hearing.
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Re: NAA Mini Revolver Accuracy..................

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Somehow this does not surprise me.

I like the concept, and some of the models have a hint of the old west, so are intriguing, but I've never held a one that felt remotely comfortable.
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