Small .22 pistol I'm thinking about

[reconranger]

Maybe you took some sort of offense to the way I responded.

I'm new here so I am kind of "testing the waters" so to speak. Conversation is nice, but haven't learned anything new so far, so still weighing the benefits of sticking around or not.....

 

[Fletcher Knives]

I'm new here so I am kind of "testing the waters" so to speak. Conversation is nice, but haven't learned anything new so far, so still weighing the benefits of sticking around or not.....

Stick around with us. There are a ton of people on this site who are constantly looking for knowledge having to do with outdoor living and just general weapons/tools info. You seem like you will know at least some things that others don't so you could be a good contributor here. Plus it's always good to have another opinion.

 

[22-rimfire]

Stick around Buddy. Those 2A discussions should generally be avoided on the Blade Forum and I know you barely hinted in the other thread. If you even hint that a black rifle is not the appropriate tool, you get all kinds of hate comments just like on THR and TFL. Having a firearm with you should be considered normal as far as I'm concerned.

 

[task force k]

I have 3 NAA mini-revolvers, 2 in .22 Magnum and 1 in .22 LR. I consider all of them to be strictly for close range use, say about 10 feet maximum. As somebody else here said, these are intended as a last resort self defense option, and that's only at conversational distances. I would say killing snakes up to maybe 5 feet using shot cartridges would be an acceptable use for them, too. NAA sells a nice accessory now for about $35, some oversize wood grips that give the gun sort of a western sixgun look and gives the shooter more to hold onto. I have some on one of my .22 Magnums.

For taking small game and general camp and trail use you will be light years ahead to get a small S&W .22 revolver (read: a Kit Gun), a similar Taurus .22 revolver, a Ruger .22 Bearcat, a Ruger .22 Single-Six, or a Ruger .22 Mark III (or earlier versions of their automatic). The Bearcat is an excellent small trail gun that is rugged and compact. If you happen to get an older Ruger single action revolver, as I have, be sure it has either been converted to a transfer bar ignition for safety reasons at the Ruger factory or else you clearly understand how to properly manage an old style single action. That means the older ones must be carried with only 5 rounds in the cylinder and the hammer let down carefully on the empty 6th chamber. The rule is "Pull hammer to half cock, open loading gate, load 1, skip 1, load 4, pull hammer to full cock, then lower it carefully." If you do that correctly you should end with the hammer resting on an empty chamber. Ruger single actions are probably the most rugged trail guns you can carry.

Doc, Are yours the mini's or the four-inch barreled Mini-Master that Shotgun was asking about?

 

[Jeff Clark]

Hi reconranger, I wouldn't take a lot of what people say around here all that serious. It is so fun to make grandiose pronouncements that we often engage in hyperbole.

I pack the Smith and Wesson Model 317 since I got it on sale for a steal. I got my old AR-7 back in 1965 and packed it for years as well. I never had accuracy problems with it, but it did jam a little. If we are just talking about a gun for emergency backup I will always opt for a handgun. It is just so much more convenient and I can pack an extra 50 rounds of ammo for much less than the weight of any kind of rifle. The survival advantage of having a pistol is miles ahead of playing with snares or improvising primitive weapons. It is just a nobrainer to tuck one in a pocket. The Smith is so light that it feels like a plastic toy. The classic Smith single-action pull is so nice that accuracy comes easily. When I hunt rabbits with mine I generally try and head shoot them.

You only learn some firearm incidentals hear. Strangely enough the Himalayan Imports Cantina has some or the more interesting discussions, particularly if you like military surplus. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=796

Mostly this is a good place for learning about knives or sharpening. The other stuff is hit and miss.

 

[hollowdweller]

Try it, you'll like it. I've never understood the skepticism surrounding the Mini-Master...it's got a four-inch barrel with a recessed target crown, high visibility adjustable sights, a full size grip...the only real difference between it and any other gun with these attributes is the funky trigger and that CAN be mastered.

I think that a lot of people equate it with the true mini-revolvers, with their extremely abbreviated barrels and next-to-useless sights...those have their place as backup-backup-backup guns and they fill that role admirably. Even the two-inch barreled Black Widow is better than that, though. Check out this clip:

http://www.naaminis.com/naavid02.html

Well I have never doubted that it could shoot decent. The sights are good, the barrel a decent length. The problem I always had with it was the handle and the trigger like you say CAN be mastered but REALLY require concentration.

I'm sure I could hit a squirrel at 10 or 15 feet but not beyond. I'm talking freehand of course.

 

[kmhawaiidh]

I've shot those, 25 yards would be hard, I have a Sig Trailside 5" which is made by Hammerli, Its an awesome 22 pistol super accurate, not as small as NAA though.

 

[task force k]

Well I have never doubted that it could shoot decent. The sights are good, the barrel a decent length. The problem I always had with it was the handle and the trigger like you say CAN be mastered but REALLY require concentration.

I'm sure I could hit a squirrel at 10 or 15 feet but not beyond. I'm talking freehand of course.

I've taken at least a couple of squirrels with it at around 10 yards but mainly rabbit at around 15 or maybe slightly more.

Because of my wife's health issues and work, I don't get to the range as much as I'd like but the next time I go, I'll really wring this little thing out with a variety of ammo and post the results.

Did you get a chance to watch that video clip about the Black widow that I posted about? Shooting ballons at 100 feet from a two-inch barrel is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[hollowdweller]

Try it, you'll like it. I've never understood the skepticism surrounding the Mini-Master...it's got a four-inch barrel with a recessed target crown, high visibility adjustable sights, a full size grip...the only real difference between it and any other gun with these attributes is the funky trigger and that CAN be mastered.

I think that a lot of people equate it with the true mini-revolvers, with their extremely abbreviated barrels and next-to-useless sights...those have their place as backup-backup-backup guns and they fill that role admirably. Even the two-inch barreled Black Widow is better than that, though. Check out this clip:

http://www.naaminis.com/naavid02.html

That's a cool video. I think I could hit a balloon with mine at 25y offhand. I've shot that close with it before, but I'm doubting I could do a 2" group off a rest at that distance(25 yds).

 

[hollowdweller]

Here's a "bad guy" target I shot a while back. The head is the mini master with the .22 cylinder at 15 yds and the big holes are the CZ52 at 25.

HERE is some pics of it and shooting it when I first got it:thumbup:

 

[task force k]

That's a cool video. I think I could hit a balloon with mine at 25y offhand. I've shot that close with it before, but I'm doubting I could do a 2" group off a rest at that distance(25 yds).

It is kind of cool, isn't it? Those balloon shots were at ~33.3 yards. Thanks for those shooting pics. I was kind of nervous that I was the only one with a decent opinion of these things.

I've actually thought about getting one of these:
http://www.leverguns.com/store/acurizer.htm
to get the most from a .22 LR out of a .22WMR barrel.

 

[task force k]

Here's a "bad guy" target I shot a while back. The head is the mini master with the .22 cylinder at 15 yds and the big holes are the CZ52 at 25.

HERE is some pics of it and shooting it when I first got it:thumbup:

Man, those bad guy targets crack me up...they look exactly like my godfather...right down to the hairy hands and big ears. He even squints like that in the right light.

 

[hollowdweller]

It is kind of cool, isn't it? Those balloon shots were at ~33.3 yards. Thanks for those shooting pics. I was kind of nervous that I was the only one with a decent opinion of these things.

I've actually thought about getting one of these:
http://www.leverguns.com/store/acurizer.htm
to get the most from a .22 LR out of a .22WMR barrel.

Well I have a decent opinion of them but they wouldn't be my first choice for a Wilderness Survival Gun. Well let me rephrase that. It's what I take when I go to the Wilderness cause it's light but I'm not surviving.


My coming to the Mini Master was like this:

Originally when I went backpacking my pack weighed about 60 lbs and I brought along a .45 auto.

But I had to stop and rest a lot so I switched to a 9mm Makarov.

That was better but still heavy so I switched to a long barreled .22 magnum but it was still heavy and rusted.

Finally I went to all lighter stuff. Since in like 20 years I had never had any run in with any animal, 2 legged or 4, yet I still liked the idea of having a gun I got the mini master. You can stick it in your pocket, it is stainless, light and doesn't take up a lot of space:thumbup:

 

[David E]

Originally when I went backpacking my pack weighed about 60 lbs and I brought along a .45 auto.

But I had to stop and rest a lot so I switched to a 9mm Makarov.

That was better but still heavy so I switched to a long barreled .22 magnum but it was still heavy and rusted.

Finally,...I got the mini master, You can stick it in your pocket, it is stainless, light

With all due respect, the weight can be/should be eliminated elsewhere.

If you can REALLY tell the difference between a couple OUNCES by changing guns when your pack weighs 60 pounds, then the answer is simple: get stronger!

Me, I will not compromise on the items that can make the difference between me coming back or not.

.

 

[hollowdweller]

With all due respect, the weight can be/should be eliminated elsewhere.

If you can REALLY tell the difference between a couple OUNCES by changing guns when your pack weighs 60 pounds, then the answer is simple: get stronger!

Me, I will not compromise on the items that can make the difference between me coming back or not.

.

But you left out the most important part of what I said when you quoted me.

That really I don't think where I go a gun is even needed so I don't really think that it does make a difference.

I really think the chance of a heart attack or broken leg from carrying too much weight would keep me from coming back more than a 1 in a million chance of some animal attacking me

Are there a lot of wild and vicious animals in OK where you live?

 

[task force k]

With all due respect, the weight can be/should be eliminated elsewhere.

If you can REALLY tell the difference between a couple OUNCES by changing guns when your pack weighs 60 pounds, then the answer is simple: get stronger!

Me, I will not compromise on the items that can make the difference between me coming back or not.

.

Just curious and, seriously, I'm not trying to be a jerk or start anything but what do you carry, firearms wise, when you venture away from the beaten path and has it ever made the difference between you coming back or not?

Again, friendly curiousity, nothing else.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Just curious and, seriously, I'm not trying to be a jerk or start anything but what do you carry, firearms wise, when you venture away from the beaten path and has it ever made the difference between you coming back or not?

Again, friendly curiousity, nothing else.

I'm not making an argument for either side with this comment, but most of what we discuss in this forum does not regularly make the difference between us coming back alive or not. The defining factor there is most often a cool head and common sense. But none the less, we all discuss things like starting fires without matches or firesteel or lighters, we carry backup blades, we learn how to procure food and water though we bring our own.

The point is that we prepare for the worst. That may be learning how to survive with very little, navigating by stars, or bringing a firearm(s) in the hopefully unlikely event that it will be needed against 2 or 4 legged foes.

Who can say what's around the next turn of the trail?

If the point of the discussion is to decide on a 'proper' firearm, it's all irrelevant. Each of our tastes, needs, and abilities will be different, not to mention our comfort zones and those of our localities.

 

[hollowdweller]

They've been having some bear problems in the wilderness where I hike a lot.

A guy was bluff charged by a bear 5 times and he managed to turn it back every time.

While I might carry some sort of big gun if there was a big risk I think a lot of times your best defense is your brain:thumbup:

 

[task force k]

I'm not making an argument for either side with this comment, but most of what we discuss in this forum does not regularly make the difference between us coming back alive or not. The defining factor there is most often a cool head and common sense. But none the less, we all discuss things like starting fires without matches or firesteel or lighters, we carry backup blades, we learn how to procure food and water though we bring our own.

The point is that we prepare for the worst. That may be learning how to survive with very little, navigating by stars, or bringing a firearm(s) in the hopefully unlikely event that it will be needed against 2 or 4 legged foes.

Who can say what's around the next turn of the trail?

If the point of the discussion is to decide on a 'proper' firearm, it's all irrelevant. Each of our tastes, needs, and abilities will be different, not to mention our comfort zones and those of our localities.

Spooky, you know me...I'm not trying to start OR finish any sort of argument. It just seemed that maybe there was a story behind David's post...some sort of personal experience he could share relating to his post.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Spooky, you know me...I'm not trying to start OR finish any sort of argument. It just seemed that maybe there was a story behind David's post...some sort of personal experience he could share relating to his post.

Oh no, didn't mean the post to sound defensive/argumentative if it did. Just wanted to share my thoughts on that aspect of the discussion more clearly. Wasn't trying to start anything.