PUG holsters

My son models the inside the waste-band holster

The belt clip

Inside the pocket model with ammo pocket

I contacted NAA and asked them what holsters were available for the PUG. Though the PUG is very small, in the pants pocket it's sometimes possible to see the outline of the gun, and that's a no-no when it comes to concealed carry. Also, it can rotate into a position which can make it difficult to draw. I recently heard on GunTalk Radio that some states require that handguns be holstered.

NAA sent two holsters to field test. One goes inside the waste-band and the other in the pocket. I'm happy to report that both worked well and solved my problem. The inside the pocket model also has a small pocket for additional ammo and the tiny leather holster fits the gun nicely. It also keeps the grip up and the barrel down, which is important. Both sell for around $30 each.

I especially liked the inside the waste-band model. It too is leather and tightly grips the gun. It easily slips into the waste-band and the metal clip locks over the belt. The thing I like about this type of holster is should you need to draw it, the holster stays put and doesn't come out with the gun. If you have no way to cover your waste-band, the other model is the way to go. Either way, in my opinion they both do the job well.

Here's the LINK to NAA's holster page.

A letter from Justin

"I've never had much interest in mini-revolvers until recently. Actually before my last tour in Iraq I was all about "belt fed machine-guns, 30rd mags, 3 1/2" Magnum 12ga and 1911's. When I came home I only wanted to shot my little .22 single shot M6 scout for about a year!! I love my fancy black rifles but all I wanted was "one perfect shot". Right now I'm very lucky to have a 100yd range for a back yard. A lot of times my whole range visit will last one shot. I'll set up, shoot one or three for a group, and if they go where they are supposed to, I'm done. I am not really looking to buy right now. My gun collection is quite extensive. I'll not ever buy without doing the research. Everytime I decide that I have all of the guns I'll ever need I find some odd-ball piece that strikes my interest. I think that the NAA Companion is a "really cool concept", I just wish it had a 2"or 3" barrel to provide a margin of accuracy. I'm the same as your other viewers in that I would like to be able to hit a squirrel at 25yd with a mini. With a 3" barrel the tiny NAAs would still be tiny but would be capable of so much more esp. in cap-n'-ball bp. I'm still doing the research, a mini has a fun factor that most of my other gear is lacking. I just haven't decided on one yet. I want to shoot a Black Widow through a Chrony with a CCI Stinger before I buy a mini. You know, research first. Feel free to share my story if you wish."

Thanks, Justin

Great to hear from you Justin. Stay in touch, let us know what you decide on, and thanks for your service to our country.

Cleaning and modifying the PUG

I shot the PUG at the range today, and when it was time to clean the gun I decided to try out a couple of ideas I had running around in the back of my head. First I wanted to see if the grips could come off so I could dip the PUG into by bucket of gun cleaner. Since the grips went on, they had to come off (which they did) but the fit was very tight. Cleaning the gun was now very easy since I was able to simply drop it in the bucket of gun cleaner and let it soak for an hour. This made life so easy that I didn't want to put the rubber grips back on.

The idea came to me that I had the rosewood grips for my Mini-Master and there was a chance that the grips would be interchangeable. These grips are beautiful, and they are easily removed when it's time to clean the revolver. I was pleased to discover that the grips fit perfectly and looked even better than I thought they would, so the grips will be staying on (see photo below). I put the gun on a ten dollar bill to remind you was small this little handgun is. I'm loving this gun and it goes with me everywhere it's legal to carry.

Another thing I thought I'd try was putting the Mini-Master's 22LR cylinder in the PUG. That fit as well, but before I consider firing it, I'll contact the President of NAA to see if it's safe to use. NAA makes a special cylinder for this gun, but maybe the only difference is cosmetic. I'll let you know when Ken gets back to me. It would be nice to have this gun in a pocket when I'm hunting or just walking through a WMA. 22Mags are illegal in these areas throughout CT.

Here's NAA's response to my question:

"Bob,
Timing of the cylinder, ensures full rotation and lock-up before firing on all five chambers. In the case of a short hand, the cylinder will rotate but stop before lock occurs. In the case of a long hand, the cylinder fully rotates but will not lock-up, and the trigger will not engage. As you can imagine, if the chambers do not fully line up with the barrel when firing, you’ll be splitting the bullet. For liability reasons, we recommend the gun be sent back for the fitting of a cylinder to that specific gun. ~Ken"

So in other words, don't swap out cylinders.

Today I brought the Henry 22 rifle to the range (see 2009 Range Report) to sight in my new scope with the target set out 50 yards. The sighting in procedure went so quickly that I decided to put 10 rounds or so through the PUG which was in my pocket. The gun proved to be quite accurate for a gun its size at 25 feet, but 50 yards was asking a bit much. I only hit the target twice. Too bad, because I was hoping to get ride of my heavy rifles and scopes and replace them with this little pocket gun. Maybe if I change ammo...

First shoot with NAA's 22 Magnum PUG

COMPARISON: (L-R) S&W 38 SP, NAA PUG, NAA MINI-MASTER

THE PUG'S TARGET AT FIRST TARGET CHANGE

Check out the video above to see how the tiny NAA PUG shot today at the range. I use Cylinder & Slide's Universal Dunk-Kit to clean my handguns (see my Wheelgun Journal for more info), but since the stock grip on the PUG isn't easily removable, I had to come up with a quick solution that would allow me to soak the gun, and here it is. Just steal a foot or so of craft wire from your wife, wrap one end around the gun's grip and another around a nail above the bucket. Now I can let it soak while I write this post without the grip getting saturated and slowly leaking in my pocket. The fluid could also make its way back into the cylinder and migrate into the powder, and then you'll be toast should you need to fire the gun in a defensive situation. I just looked at NAA's website and they have a beautiful set of rosewood oversize grips that come off with a single screw. That's something worth looking into. They also have a 22LR cylinder available, which would allow me to take the PUG along while I hunt in a WMA in CT. Excellent!

Additional info: I didn't mention in the video that the recoil is extremely manageable. I actually though this gun might be difficult to hang onto with the magnums, but as you can see in the video clips, no one had any difficulty what-so-ever hanging onto the gun. Recoil is minimal, likely because of its beefy stainless steel construction. The sights on this gun were problem free. The rear sight could have used a tiny tap to the left, but it was shooting so well that I didn't bother. I still can't figure out how such a tiny gun with a 1" barrel can shoot so accurately! My S&W 38 Special with a barrel slightly over 2" can't hit the broad side of a barn without the Crimson Trace LaserGrips. So how can a gun with such a short sight radius shoot so accurately? It sure as heck beats me.

First Impressions of the North American Arms Pug

My wife and I were rummaging though some very old abandoned buildings when we came across an old dilapidated ladder leading down to a cluttered dirt basement. My wife stayed where she was but I couldn't resist investigating. Descending the ladder, I took a quick look around, and seeing nothing in the dark but some old boards and spider webs, I decided to get out.

Making my way up the ladder I spotted something black that was about the size of my hand. It moved quickly into a hole. A closer look revealed the biggest and ugliest black spider I had ever seen or imagined. A chill went up my spine and I headed up the ladder much faster than I had descended it. As my leg passed the hole, I had an eerie feeling that the spider crawled out and made it into the leg of my pants!

At the top, being almost in a state a panic I ran as fast as I could towards a nearby lake. Diving in, I attempted to rip off my pants. Suddenly the huge black spider appeared, floating with its legs moving in all directions, resembling the fingers of a hand along the top of the water. Reaching into my pants, I quickly pulled out my 22 mag PUG and fired off a shoot, putting a hole in it and pushing it below the water. When it resurfaced I continued shooting until I was sure it was dead.



Well, it isn't a story for 'Field and Stream', but rather a vivid dream I had last night and one of the few I didn't forget. It's a good thing I carry a Pug min-revolver with me, even in my arachnophobic dreams. I must have been thinking about the NAA PUG that was making its way via UPS and was scheduled for arrival for pick-up today.

This gun is even nicer than I thought it would be. It's very similar to the Mini-Master, though the barrel length is only 1" long and it has an awesome Tritium front sight that glows green in the dark. Though the gun isn't much bigger than a cigarette lighter in your hand, it has a much stockier feel than the tiny 22 I shot some weeks ago. I looks and feels like it was cut from a block of stainless steel. The cylinder system is the same as the Mini-Master's, with the only noticeable difference being that the cylinder is fluted to reduce the tiny revolver's weight. The pebble-textured rubber grips are stocky for the gun's small size, and they appear to be substantial enough to keep the magnum under control. Unlike the grips on the Mini-Master, these grips appear to be fixed so I won't be dropping this handgun into my bucket of gun cleaning solution.

As soon as I got the gun home, I took it to my workbench and gave it a thorough cleaning, then snapped some photos for you to see. It loads exactly like the Mini-Master, except that the spring-loaded rod that hold the cylinder is removed by pulling down on the handle and pulling the rod straight out, parallel to the barrel. The Mini-Master's rod follows the same path, but then must be pulled away perpendicular to the barrel. This gun is so small that you can drop it in your pants pocket in the morning and forget that it's there until you need it. I don't have a holster and I'm not sure I'll need one, but it's something I'll be looking into. I'll be looking forward to testing this tiny cannon at the range on Saturday, and I'll let you know how I make out. Check back Sunday for more... and bring on the spiders!

IT'S AMAZING THAT NEXT TO THE PUG, THE MIN-MASTER LOOKS BIG!

PUG Exploded View

Shooting the Mini-Master at 25 yrads

Last month Steven T. dropped me a letter asking if I would test the Mini-Master with the rear sight fix on the range, so today I spent two hours shooting in pouring rain to see what the mini revolver could do.

Though the people on both sides of me were shooting their handguns at 25 feet, I set my target out to 25 yards. I figured that's a maximum distance to shoot small game at, since Steven is planning to use a Mini-Master as a trail gun.

I first shot around 30 rounds of 22LR and 5 rounds of 22 mag, then after the cease-fire, brought the count up to 100 LR rounds. The photo above was taken during the first cease-fire. If you look at the target you'll see 5 high shots with some going off the target. Those are the 22 magnums. Most of the LR rounds went into a 5" group, which amazed me for such a compact handgun. My Ruger Single-Six didn't shoot that well. All shots were aimed at the bulls-eye, and though they are a bit high, I consider that acceptable to hunt with. At 25 yards I'll just aim toward the bottom of the animal. My previous posts demonstrates that at a closer range the group is quite a bit tighter. Keep in mind that when you switch to Magnums, your shots will rise about 3". In CT it is illegal to hunt with magnums, so I'll only be using them for defensive carry. Three inches doesn't mean much in this application. The LR ammo I used was Aguila Super Extra, which is my favorite all-around LR ammo.

If you read my previous posts, you'll see that I achieved these results by simply removing the adjusting screw from the rear sight and then removing the 2 tiny springs that separate the top and bottom sight pieces. NAA is currently working with their sight manufacturer to develop a new rear sight design, and I'm sure they will send me a unit for testing when it arrives. Until then I'm happy with the results of this fix. I'm hoping NAA's sends me their cool little 'Pug' to field test over the Fall, so please keep checking back. I'll also let you know when I hear anything from NAA about the new sight design.

Testing out the Mini-Master's sight adjustment

I took the Mini-Master with the sight adjustment I made last week (see post below) with me into the woods this morning and shot 5 rounds from an unsupported standing position at around 25 ft. I thinks this is a great group considering I was just trying to nail the card somewhere and wasn't aiming for an extremely tight group. My SingleSix sometimes doesn't shoot this good. This little gun will work fine for close quarters woodchuck hunting.

Steven, it looks like I worked out a simple fix for the Mini-Master's sights

Steven, a reader of this blog sent me an email not long ago saying that he's interested in buying a Mini-Master for use as a trail gun. The one requirement that he had was that it must be accurate enough to nail a squirrel. If you've been following my blog you know that I was having some difficulty getting the rear sight dialed in. The gun was shooting about 5" high, and my rear sight was already adjusted as low as it would go.

If you take out the main rear sight screw, the sight comes apart in 2 pieces. There are 2 tiny springs between those pieces. Just remove them and screw it back together. I added a touch of SuperGlue between the parts as well, and as you can see, the little handgun is right on target!

So Steven, there's nothing to stop you now from buying a Mini-Master. I took it hunting with me today, hoping I could try it on a woodchuck, but nothing was moving. I feel confident that I could take a woodchuck down as 25 yards, so next time I head out to my squirrel hunting location the Mini-Master will be in my hand should a chuck happen to be crossing the path.

Mini-Master concealed carry

Since I began field testing this revolver, I've been experimenting with various methods to conceal carry the Mini-Master. Today I've made my decision. The 'Inside the Pant Holster - see the June 24th post. It's a very soft leather holster with a spring steel clip and when shifted to the extreme right side of the hip, it's so comfortable that within a few minutes I think you'll agree that you've forgotten that you're carrying, even when driving.

The clip is tight and difficult to open; unless the holster is first slid into the wasteband. Once inside the pant, grab the bottom of the clip, pull it away from you and the clip will easily slide over your belt, locking itself into position. If you decide to carry this way, just remember to buy pants with a little extra room in the wasteband. Since the gun is so small, not very much slack is required. Wear it and forget it, until you need it (though I hope you never do).

Mini-Master sight adjustment

Sight adjustment on the Mini-Master has been an issue that I've been working on since I began field testing the little revolver. The rear sight is adjustable, but I've found that at 25 yards I can't bring my groups down low enough to get on target. It's not a problem if you carry for personal protection, but if you'd like to use the gun for small game hunting, there's very little room for error. I contacted NAA and they have been very helpful, researching the issue on their end and contacting the sight manufacturer for possible solutions.

Last night I came up with an idea that I believe just might work. I was looking at the sights on their Black Widow (a similar revolver with a shorter 2" barrel), which appear to be a lower profile version of what's on the Mini-Master. I contacted NAA and asked if the dovetails match. They said "yes", and agreed that this might work. They've mailed off a sight for me to test, so as soon as I receive it and can get to a range, I'll give you a full report on how I make out. Check back in a couple weeks.

I'm also looking forward to the possibility of field testing NAA's 'Pug' 22 magnum in October. This pocket gun should be a real blast to shoot, so check back next month for more. And finally, I went to the NAA website (see the blinking link on this page) and sent for a catalog. If you haven't done this, you should. It is beautiful! It also comes with some really slick sheets on the 'Pug', 'The Earl' and others, as well as a testimonial from a guy who's life was saved with a Mini-Mag. Send for it!

Hunting with the Mini-Master

A great letter from a reader. Thanks Steve!

Here's a story I think you'll appreciate. Among other things, I'm a small farmer. A few days ago I had fence work to do on the lower pasture, and I decided to bring my holstered Ruger Single Six along on the chance that I saw or heard some squirrels. Sure enough, one started barking not far from where I was working. I interrupted my chore, and slipped down through some cedars. The squirrel got a bit nervous and laid out on a branch, fortunately where I could just make him out. My shot was true, and down he came. It was a long shot for me, over 20 yards with the original blocky open sights. He was young, and we decided to try fricassseing him in gravy. Delicious! It astounds me how good food from a few simple ingredients can be.

This is just the sort of utility that I envision for the Mini Master, not that I don't enjoy target shooting and plinking. The ability to hunt on the spur of the moment can be very rewarding. The Mini Master, with its small size, durability, and reliability, could fulfill this niche very well. What remains is an assessment of the gun's inherent accuracy, and a sighting system that takes full advantage of it. (I'm working on it Steve ~Bob)

Bob, feel free to forward this comments to NAA if you see fit. I appreciate what you do and will check on your blog.

Cheers, Steve T

Hello out there!.....

As of 8/23/09 I have 91,533 hits on this Shooting Journal, yet I have no idea who's out there reading it. It would be encouraging to get an email from you with as little as your name and state, letting me know that you're out there. This info will help me improve the blog, and I assure you I am not collecting email addresses and no one but me will see your letter. I've set up a special email box at brshooting@sbcglobal.net, so please take a minute to say 'Hello'.

Thanks! ~Bob

Coming: a review of NAA's 22 Magnum 'Pug'

A heads up that at the end of October, beginning of November I hope to be testing out North American Arm's PUG. The PUG is a pocket size 22 Magnum with a 1" barrel. It appears to be similar to the Mini-22LR I shot last Monday, but this seems beefier and it has a much greater punch. Here's NAA's description:

The name "Pug" may have derived from the Latin Pugnus, meaning Fist. With this in mind, the NAA Pug can be characterized as multum in parvo ("much in little") in reference to the small and convenient size.

Squat and sturdy like its namesake dog, The NAA Pug is chambered in 22 Magnum and sports a 1" heavy barrel. You can count on this stocky companion to deliver a bite even worse than his bark.

Slightly oversized pebble-textured rubber grips enable the handler to keep a firm "leash" on this pocket-sized puppy. The XS sighting system provides a quick sight picture and will enable the handler to direct the bite.

The NAA-PUG-D comes with a White Dot Sight and has an MSRP of $299.00. The NAA-PUG-T comes with a Tritium sight and has an MSRP of $319.00.

Specifications:
• Caliber: .22 Magnum
• Capacity: 5
• Material: 17-4 pH stainless steel
• Barrel Length: 1"
• Overall Length: 4 1/2"
• Overall Height: 2 3/4"
• Width: 7/8"
• Weight: 6.4 oz. unloaded
• Part Numbers:
NAA-PUG-T (Tritium Sights)
NAA-PUG-D (White Dot Sights)

Having a blast with the Mini-Master and Mini-22LR

MY BUDDY DIRK'S NAA 22LR MINI AND MY MINI-MASTER

First I'd like to thank our buddy Dirk Files for opening his excellent range facility to Bill and I, as well as giving us the opportunity to shoot some really fun firearms. Note that more movies and photos of today's shoot can be found on the 2009 Range Report page and the Wheelgun Journal pages (now or during the week). This post will focus on our shooting with the NAA Mini-Master and Mini 22LR.

(Here's a photo of the Mini-Master next to my Ruger Single Six 17HMR revolver) We met Dirk at the range at 8:30 and shot until around 3:30. It turned into a hot one with temperatures going into the 90's with high humidity. The morning started out on the handgun range, where we shot my NAA Mini-Master and Dirk's girlfriend's NAA Mini 22LR. I found tiny mini 22 very manageable, though I had no idea where the bullets were going (already having a hundred holes in the target didn't help). This isn't a target gun, but rather a belly gun meant to fire at very close range. Someone told me that these guns are difficult to shoot, but I didn't find that to be true. I guess it could have something to do with the size of the shooter's hands, and especially their fingers. If you have wide fingers I'd suggest shooting the Mini-Master, or possibly the 22 magnum Mini-Revolver which I'm hoping to test out this Fall.

The Mini-Master shot great, though I was hitting a couple inches high with the rear sight adjusted as far as it would go. I'm guessing that increasing the distance to the target would bring the bullet in. Groups were within a few inches with an occasional flier. Most people who see these guns want an opportunity to shoot them. Bill was a bit hesitant, not really a handgun shooter and not knowing what to expect, but after firing a couple rounds I could tell he was having fun with it. Dirk found the mini-revolver easy to handle, being used to shooting the mini-22LR, which is about 1/3 the size.

Mini-Master Inside the Pant Holster

Inside the pants carry. This holster is very comfortable (despite my love handles) and easy to put on when inside the waste band. The spring is very stiff and almost impossible to put on outside the pant, but when slipped into the band, the spring pulls out easily and slides securely over the belt.

North American Arms has a beautiful little inside the pant holster for the Mini-Master. It's made of soft, thick natural leather with the NAA logo with eagle embossed at the top. Behind it is a very stiff spring clip to hook to your pants. It's definitely worth the $25 NAA charges for it. The holster is 5.5" x 2.25" and it adds nothing to the total length of the revolver. Here's a link so you can order one: http://www.naaminis.com/mm_hol.html

A quick video I created on the Mini_Master for YouTube

I checked YouTube today and couldn't find much on the NAA Mini-Master, so I made this short video to give the Mini a bit more representation.

Check out the exit wound made by a 22 magnum!

6-20-09 Shooting the Mini-Master. Report from the Range.

Saturday turned out to be a very relaxing morning at the range. I find it interesting that there appears to be a far lesser number of center-fire guns at the range, which I'm sure has to do with the increase in ammo prices and the decrease in availability. That means that the range is much quieter than it was last year when it seemed that just about everyone was shooting an AR or some kind of black rifle. Like myself, many have broken out their rimfire rifles and handguns to have fun at an affordable price.

My focus today was on the two handguns I shot last weekend as well as my Henry 17HMR. I loaded up the Henry, fired 10 shots and retired the rifle to its case. It was dead on. No need to do any work on that lever rifle. My 38 with new Crimson Trace Laser Grips installed was shooting great as well, so the wheelgun was put off to the side. Like other center-fire ammo, 38 Special isn't cheap, so I limited my shooting to one 50 round box. Next I brought out the Mini-Master.

This little revolver is more fun to shoot than any handgun that I own and the ammo is still very inexpensive. Last weekend I began sighting in the Mini using the 22 magnum cylinder. Today I switched to the LR option, and brought out all kinds of ammo to play with. One nice feature of the 22 (non-magnum) caliber is the large array of ammo that's available for it. I shot my standard hunting hollow points, hypersonic, subsonic, shorts and more. Everything shot great without a single misfire. That's unheard of with my 17HMR single six where misfires are often commonplace.

Last weekend I shot with the larger stock rubber grip, but after seeing how controllable the gun was I switched over to the more beautiful and smaller rosewood set. Control seemed identical so these are the grips I'm staying with. They make the gun smaller and easier to conceal, as well as making it easier to slide out of the pocket.

I did a bit more playing around with the rear sight adjustments as well, putting a small wooden dowel against the sight and hammering it about a sixteenth of an inch to the right. This time I was smart and brought my LaserLyte green laser which can be easily seen in daylight. That sped up the process considerably as well as saving ammo and targets. I ended up shooting at least 100 rounds and I was still able to touch the barrel. I really like the massive stainless steel barrel on this little gun. "Massive" in relation to the gun's small size that is. I'm sure that has a lot to do with the gun's controllability, accuracy, and the fact that it stayed on target even after heating up. My 17HMR Ruger SingleSix is only good for 6 rounds before it gets off target.

The North American Arms Mini-Master is one heck of a lot of fun to shoot. I could easily see myself building a collection of these guns, which could easily be stored in a shoe box. The June 2009 issue of Blue Press did a good write-up on page 20-21 on the NAA "Pug" Mini- Revolver. Now that would be a fun gun to own as well. It's funny that no matter what I write about this gun, the story always ends with which Mini I should buy next. That's a good thing.

The 22 LR cylinder. Notice how solid this stainless steel handgun is. I was very surprised that after shooting 50 rounds the barrel wasn't very hot. I'm sure that has something to do with the barrel thickness.

The 38 S&W snubby looks big and heavy next to the Mini-Master!

Doing it right. Using a LaserLyte Bore Laser to get the Mini-Master on paper. Check out the green laser, which was highly visible on my target at noon.

Shooting the 22 Magnum

Today my son Jamie and I spent the afternoon at our local range, and needless to say the hit of the day was my Mini-Master 22 magnum. I was able to fire 10 rounds with the LR cylinder yesterday, but today was my first opportunity to try out the magnum cylinder. As soon as I set up our bench, one of the Range Officers came over and said that he had been reading about this gun on my blog and was interested to see it. It wasn't long before another RO came to my bench and asked about the little revolver. He said, "You bring the coolest guns!" Later in the afternoon I filled the cylinder and let him have some fun (he's in the video)!

My first impression was that this little handgun doesn't feel all that small in my hands and it's a real blast to shoot! The recoil is very manageable, and there was just enough feedback to make it fun but not enough to be uncomfortable. In fact, it's so easy to shoot that I took the rubber grips off when I got home to make my standard the smaller wood set which are nicer looking and easier to conceal.

After loading and emptying the gun a couple times it became second nature. Jamie looked on, and in no time he was taking out the cylinder and reinstalling it without assistance. Out of the three guns I brought with us today, the Mini-Master was obviously Jamie's favorite, and it wasn't long before he blew through 100 rounds of CCI hollow points. Unlike with the SingleSix, we shot 150 rounds without a single misfire.

The only negative was that I forgot to laser bore sight the revolver before hitting the range. When your cardboard backstop comes equipped with a thousand bullet holes and your targets are small, it's not easy to get a gun on paper. Soon after arriving home I checked the sights and discovered that they were pointing about 6" to the left. I used a wooden dowel and a hammer to give the rear sight a few taps and the iron sights became nicely in line with the laser. I hate to leave things unfinished, but I won't be able to return to the range again until next weekend. Ugh! It's going to be a long week.

NAAs Mini-Master is a gun that's so much fun that once you shoot one you'll want one. And once you have one, you'll be thinking about which model you want to purchase next. Hmmm... That Black Widow is sure look'n good!

Concealed Carry and the Mini-Master

I've been carrying the Mini-Master on me since its arrival, and I'm happy to report that this small revolver is effortless to conceal carry. The 4" barrel fits easily into my front pants pocket and the length elevates the grips right to the top of the pocket edge; low enough so it can't be seen but high enough to get my hand on if I feel the need. It's so light that I can walk around with it all day and totally forget I'm carrying. That isn't true of any other handgun that I own.

It's true that a 22magnum doesn't throw a lot of lead, but I have no doubt that if I have to use it, whomever it's pointed at after taking the first round is going to think twice about receiving another, if they're still standing that is. I went on YouTube and watched a movie of a 22mag going through a watermelon. It didn't make it explode like some bigger calibers, but it sure created a major exit wound.

Of course there will be times when a single action rimfire revolver just isn't enough, and I'll feel more comfortable carrying my 38 with Crimson Trace lasergrip on board. But unlike some, I don't carry at all times. The Mini-Master fills that gap with a nice alternative to an empty pocket. Before heading out the door, drop the lightweight revolver into your pocket and forget about it. Hopefully you'll never need to use it, but if there's trouble, you'll have something on you with a lot more stopping power than a pocket full of spare change. Once you get your hands on a Mini-Master, I think you'll wonder how you ever got along without it. Now that I have the 4" barrel, I'm beginning to think how nice it would be to also have the 2" version for deep cover carry.

First shots with the Mini-Master

I returned from the woods so here's a quick post before I jump in the shower. As you will see in this video clip, the Mini-Master shoots great and it really does put the fun back into shooting rimfire. It's easy to handle and the recoil is very manageable. Unlike the Ruger SingleSix, the Mini-Master has very good and easy to align adjustable sights, and the fluorescent red front sight is easier to see than those on my other guns.

I'll be posting more from the range tomorrow when Jamie and I test out both the magnum and LR cylinders. Check late Sunday for more.

Here's a couple quick tips on how to easily remove and reinstall the cylinder as well as putting the Mini-Master in a safe carry position.

A first look at the grips

The Mini-Master on my iMac keyboard

I'm happy to report that my Mimi-Master arrived today and it's even more awesome than I had imagined. This revolver is smaller and lighter than I thought it would be, and it looks as if it was cut from a block of stainless steel. There's no cheapness to the feel of this handgun. The rubber grips are about the size of those that on my 38, so considering the small size of the Mini-Master, it feels solid in the hand.

The Mini-Master is extremely easy to break down by simply pulling a pin and rolling out the cylinder. I was very pleased to discover that North American Arms included a 22LR cylinder in the box along with the 22 magnum. That means I'll be taking the revolver hunting with me tomorrow since magnums are not allowed in CT WMA's. This cylinder tremendously opens up my choice of ammunition, which now will include 22LR, shorts, subsonic rounds and numerous others that are great fun to shoot.

WalMart is currently selling 22mags for $10/box, which is a few dollars less than what I'm paying for 17HMR there. Even though that's relatively cheap ammo, it' still quite a bit more expensive than shooting LR. Mixing the mags and LRs will lower my weekly ammo expenses, and if you choose to pay the $50 to purchase the 22 cylinder, it will likely pay for itself within 2-3 trips to the range.

Below are 3 grips I picked up with the gun. The top is the standard rubber grip, that gives the Mini-Master a feel similar of a 38 snubby. To switch grips, simply take out a single screw and replace them with another; in this case, the wood set (which looks like the rosewood set that came on my SingleSix). These are beauties and make the gun more compact. The grips are small and smooth which tailor makes them for concealed carry. They will hide easier and should be easier to smoothly draw from the pocket. The third pair is a plastic folding set that nicely covers the trigger for added safety. The grip comes with a reversable clip for left and right handed shooters, but be prepared for a bit of assembly. With any mechanical ability they should only take about 5 minutes to install. On the positive side, when opened, you have the biggest set of grips of the three. The trigger is protected in your pocket and there's a carry clip. The negative is that I couldn't figure where I could hang the clip. It appeared perfect if you wear pants without a belt, but I couldn't determine where to hang it with my belt in place. Maybe there's a solution, but I haven't discovered it yet. Another problem I see is how to you draw the gun from a concealed position? Let's say you figured out how to hang the gun for quick access. Some unsavory character begins to approach you. You discreetly put your hand on your gun, but the grip is folded and the trigger concealed. Will you be forced to prematurely brandish your weapon in order to have the time to unfold it? It now takes 2 hands for you to get the gun into its ready position, similar to opening a folding knife that locks closed. I'm guessing that if I ever need to pull a gun to stop an attacker, I'll have at the most seconds before I'll have to get the job done. I'll want my fingers around the grips and near the trigger before the draw takes place. That's impossible with this grip. I think this will work best if you carry a handgun when enjoying the outdoors. It's like having a knife on your belt. If you discover that a predator is eying you up for its next meal, you'll likely have the time required to unfold the handle.

These are three very nice grips and each seems to work best at a specific task. Until I shoot the gun tomorrow I won't be sure, but logic tells me that the stock rubber grip is the best all around unless the gun has less recoil than I am expecting. The wood is good if you're into looks, want a beautiful handgun and a gun that's easy to draw from concealment, and the folder is for the outdoorsman. This is one cool little gun and I can't wait to fire a few rounds tomorrow. The real test will be at the range the following day. I should have something posted late Sunday, so please check back then. Enjoy a safe and happy weekend!

Check out the full selection of grips from NAA
http://www.naaminis.com/bwgrip22.html

Coming Soon! North American Arms Mini-Master

You can contact North American Arms at:
North American Arms
2150 South 950 East Provo, UT 84606
http://www.naaminis.com/

800-821-5783 - Toll free in the United States
801-374-9990 - International or Local Calls

Mini-Master Specifications:

Caliber: .22 Magnum or .22 Long Rifle

Capacity: 5

Material: 17-4 pH stainless steel

Barrel Length: 4"

Overall Length: 7 7/8"

Overall Height: 3 5/8"

Width: 7/8"

Weight: 10.7 oz. unloaded

SRP w/Fixed Sights: $284.00

SRP w/Adjustable Sights: $314.00

Part Number: See Table Below

The Mini-Master Mini-Revolvers evolved from NAA's popular .22 Magnum frame series and include the time tested design characteristics that are incorporated in all NAA Mini-Revolvers.
The result is enhanced stability and accuracy for the shooter. The Mini-Master has a Heavy Vent Barrel, a Bull Cylinder, Over sized Black Rubber Grips and comes with either adjustable Millet Sights for elevation or fixed Low Profile Sights, also by Millet.

As with every NAA Mini-Revolver, the hammer need not rest on an empty chamber. Using the original half-way notch cylinder, the hammer may rest safely and securely without chance of accidental discharge. .22 Magnum versions of the Mini-Master can be used with all popular .22 Magnum ammunition,
including .22 Magnum shot shells (called Snake Shot by some manufacturers).

BALLISTICS INFORMATION

Mini-Master Owner's Manual

I converted the pdf manual to jpg so you could quickly view all but one of the pages.

Click HERE for complete owner's manual in PDF format