The NAA Mini Revolver is a neat little revolver that has great appeal. It is reliable, well made, stainless steel and reasonably powerful for its size. Ever since the introduction of this little jewel, it has been immensely popular and well accepted. The North American Arms revolver is never seen in the gunsmith’s shop and the revolver seems to never go out of time.
While the caliber isn’t noted for effectiveness, the mini revolver is a good backup and offers some protection when nothing else may be worn. This .22 Magnum is a last-ditch effort in defense. (Also available in .22 Long Rifle.) The mini revolver has by and large replaced poor quality and unreliable .25 ACP semi-automatic pistols. This little gun may be packed in unexpected locations and the element of surprise is important. In the end, anything is something and something is better than nothing!
Features and Specifications
I would not wax poetic over the North American Arms revolver save for one point, it is so well made it is a good example of the gunmaker’s art. Sure it is more expensive than the inexpensive small automatics, but it is reliable and well made. The handgun is small and it is a good solution to the problem of excess recoil and indifferent accuracy.
The NAA .22 LR and .22 Magnum revolvers are affordable and useful. This is a single-action revolver. This means the hammer must be cocked for every shot. Cock the hammer, press the trigger and the revolver fires. The North American Arms revolver features a five-shot cylinder with recessed cylinders. The cylinders are recessed for safety in the event of a burst case head. While this is a rarity, the .22 Magnum is a powerful cartridge.
Most versions of the NAA revolver weigh but 6.2 ounces. My example is 4.5 inches long and only three inches tall. That is a neat and light package. When you load the revolver, be certain the hammer tip — the firing pin in reality — rests in the safety notch in the cylinder. If not, the hammer nose will rest on the primer section and the revolver may fire if dropped. Be certain you practice placing the hammer nose in this safety notch!
How It Feels
For safety, when handling this revolver, be certain you keep your fingers away from the muzzle. The barrel is so short that fingers may come into contact with the muzzle! Use deliberate motions and do not fumble as you cock the hammer. The revolver may slip and the muzzle goes upwards if you do not have a good, solid firing grip. Sometimes for larger hands, this may be difficult.
My practice sessions are limited to 20 cartridges or so due to the slow loading process. The base pin is removed and the cylinder pressed out to load the revolver. The base pin is used to knock out spent cases.
The NAA Ranger is a great improvement in handling. The Ranger features a hinged frame. A latch is activated to tilt the barrel down and allow loading and unloading. While it is unlikely you would have time to reload in a close-range gunfight, the hinged frame makes for much easier range work. Some prefer the original. For all-around use, one is as good as the other.
The Pug Variation
Another variation is the Pug. It is superior, in my opinion, to anything else offered by NAA. The synthetic grip offers plenty of adhesion when firing. While recoil isn’t great, muzzle flip is, and this grip helps control the handgun. The grip is important in order to effectively keep the hand stabilized as you cock the hammer and fire the revolver.
This Pug doesn’t have a trigger guard, as none is needed. It will only fire if the hammer is cocked and the trigger pressed. The Pug also features a modified wedge-type cylinder base pin.
Finally, the revolver features some of the best sights I have seen on a small handgun. Small handguns need good sights even more so than larger handguns, as the short sight radius invites misalignment. The NAA Pug features express-type sights intended for fast work at close range.
How It Shoots
As for accuracy, the best way to practice is to quickly bring the revolver to bear and snap a shot at the target. I recommend using the revolver as if you were giving the adversary a nasal inhaler. That is nasty business, but so is getting killed.
I have carefully benchrested the revolver and managed to hit a man-sized target on a regular basis at a long 15 yards. The group isn’t impressive, but it is a group, not a pattern.
Load Performance
As for ammunition performance, the Fiocchi 40-grain JHP breaks about 850 fps in a one-inch barrel. The Hornady 45-grain Critical Duty is purpose-designed for defense use. At 840 fps, this is a reasonable load for use in the .22 Magnum.
CCI now offers a segmented .22 Magnum with real promise. Most of the NAA revolvers strike to the point of aim at five yards or so. At seven yards, a quick five-shot group puts all five shots into 4.75 inches, impressive for such a small handgun.
As for ballistics, the .the .22 Magnum cartridge is far superior to the .25 ACP in penetration. The.25 ACP 50-grain FMJ only generates about 670 fps from the typical short barrel.
Conclusion: North American Arms Mini Revolver
Neither has the type of power I am comfortable with, that begins with the .38 Special, but any handgun is sufficient for a threat. No one wants to get shot. The real advantage of the North American handguns is that they are well-made of good material and offer solid reliability.
Have you ever shot a North American Arms Mini Revolver? Tell us what you thought in the comments section below!
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in November of 2020. It has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and clarity.