I love mine. I picked it up to be a little companion to my .22 Mag version. It’s fun to take to the range and show off. One day I’d like to get one of the black powder versions.

I've always had a hankering for one of these, I bet it's a real hoot to shoot. My only 22 caliber pistol is a 6 inch S&W model 617-0 which weighs in at 52 ounces and with a 22 short you not only don't feel any recoil it's so darned quiet that I have actually checked the bore to insure a bullet came out of it. I would love to take a pic of that that tiny little thing next to my 617.

I am a huge fan of .22 magnum, and one of these is on my short list.

quote:

Originally posted by shkuhn:
This size comparison is always good for a laugh.

It is, indeed.

I have 3 of the original Freedom mini revolvers, all with the front sight blade still intact. Two of them are belt buckle guns. I also bought a NAA Wasp in 22mag. The NAA gun while easily manageable from a recoil standpoint, would be more effective to throw at someone. The bullets tumble like they never make contact with the barrel. At 3-5 yards the bullets fly as much as 2 feet from POA in any direction all tumbling toward the target. I know it needs to go back to the factory, I just haven’t taken the time. They are cool little guns.

Reminds me of what I read on a forum somewhere debating the effectiveness of a .380 round. " Well let me shoot you in the knee with it and see if you want another one". I'd rather have it than nothing at all.

As was noted in this thread, keep these little revolvers spotlessly clean, especially the bore. These guns are already having a time stabilizing bullets.

And, of course, never dry fire these rimfire pistols.

My brother found one at the last gunshow in a really neat little western style holster for a really good price, when he had paid for it he mentioned "Really dont see these Freedom Arms derringers anymore" the guy selling it said "WHAT!" he never checked it and sold it thinking it was an NAA. He sent me an auction on ebay where someone had sold one of the old beltbuckles for $865, WOW

My late father in law kept one in his shirt pocket. He always said he didn't want to shoot anyone, but if they had hold of him up their nose pull trigger, problem solved.

Some dumbass (YEAH me] left one in their jeans and ran it through the washer. I took it apart to clean it. These little bastards are not easy to re-assemble. Lost a spring, ordered 2 more and still haven't got it back together. Lucky I bought a spare.

quote:

Originally posted by kent j:
My late father in law kept one in his shirt pocket. He always said he didn't want to shoot anyone, but if they had hold of him up their nose pull trigger, problem solved.

Yes, these small, low energy, low penetration rounds should go into the face or neck if possible, and even this is not a sure thing.

Here's something I posted many years ago in this forum:


In 1981 I was working for a daily newspaper as a staff photographer. Aside from the fun stuff like spot news and sports, there were routine tasks. Whenever Louisiana State Troop D had a promotion in their ranks, the city desk editor would send out a photographer to get a photo, a headshot, of the newly-promoted Trooper, which would then be published in the paper.
So out I go to Troop D and take a pic of a Trooper, just promoted to Sergeant IIRC. I took his pic, went back to the darkroom, developed the film and made two prints- one for the city desk, and one, always, as a courtesy to the LSP, 'cause they let us get on the other side of the yellow tape.

When I made the prints, I noticed that the Trooper had a bald spot on his right eyebrow, a sort of diagonal spot where no hair grew.
I don't think I would be so bold now, because looking back, it was kinda rude for me to ask him about it, but when I saw him so that I could give him his print, I asked him how he came by that scar. He told me an interesting story.

In the early 1970s, he was a police officer in New Orleans. One day, he made a traffic stop on a woman who had a license plate hanging by one bolt. He told me that at that time, NOPD had a policy, that if you stopped a woman, she was getting a citation. How this came to be, I can't recall if he told me, but that was the policy at the time. He said he offered to sufficiently fasten the license plate until she could get it properly secured, but she declined. He then told her that he was going to have to write her a citation, some minor thing, not even a moving violation. She said, somberly:

"Everybody wants to give me something."

He asked for her license. She reached into her purse and pulled out a .25 auto pistol and fired one shot, which struck him on his right brow. The angle being oblique and the human skull being strong at the brow saved him, and he said he heard the slug yaw off into the wild blue.

He fell to the ground. He opened his eyes but everything was a blur. Now rolling over and getting on his hands and knees, trying to stand up, he heard her put the car in gear and he heard the sound of her tires turning on the pavement and, he said, he had the very distinct impression that she was going to run over him. From a kneeling position he drew his revolver and fired all six shots. A bullet struck her in the mouth and came out the top of her head. Still unable to see clearly, he staggered to his feet and moved to his right, away from the car, which rolled a few feet and stopped against the curb.

One shot struck a pedestrian about a half a block away, but, he said, "nothing ever came of that," which I take to mean that they didn't sue the city.

Now, just as an aside- can you imagine being 20 years old and asking a question to which you thought the answer might be "I fell off my roof while shingling it and banged my head on the ladder", and then hearing the story I just told you?

But, it gets better.

After the shooting, they impounded her car. It wasn't until a couple of days later they discovered her husband and the family dog in the trunk. I guess that accounts for her not wanting the officer fiddling around at the trunk.


When I told this story in the forum, I mentioned that I thought that the Trooper's name was Bowman, but it turns out that a member of the forum, a former police officer, had heard this story and knew the officer, whose name was Bowden. How's that for a small world? I can't recall the forum member's name- his real name was Ken, but he's the member who famously said on these pages "Make it a shooting and not a gunfight." Really good guy.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

Here's something I posted many years ago in this forum:

/snip

quote:

Make it a shooting and not a gunfight

Words to live by

LSP972 - that was the forum member's name. LSP = Louisiana State Police.

Aside from the neat factor of having a forum member who knew the man, I was glad to have validation of my story. I always worry that when I recount things like that, they might end up sounding like tall tales. As a matter of fact, I've got a couple of stories you guys will never hear, because if someone told them to me, I wouldn't believe them.

Anyone remember the movie the Assassin's Tango with Robert Duvall? I believed he used one of those revolvers to eliminate his target.

Thanks for posting that recollection Para.

People are, and have been friggin' crazy for some time!

And I gotta get me one of these minis!
Or a snazzy older pocket auto like a Beretta.
They are always on the short list, but I never pull the trigger.

I put 50 rounds through it today and it worked just fine.

The .22Long has 1650FPS and the short has 1080FPS.

quote:

Originally posted by Blaque Jacque Shellaque:
Anyone remember the movie the Assassin's Tango with Robert Duvall? I believed he used one of those revolvers to eliminate his target.

It is a tool with a specific purpose.

I picked up a copy of the movie a while back remembering the scene. I'll have to watch again soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Blaque Jacque Shellaque:
Anyone remember the movie the Assassin's Tango with Robert Duvall? I believed he used one of those revolvers to eliminate his target.

Ugh, talk about a movie that DRAGGED on and on.
The only reason I suffered through this mess-terpiece is because my wife loves Robert Duvall.

I was quite surprised that I could hip shoot it and hit that steel at 10 feet, no problem.

I must have one now!
It can come out of nowhere. When they don't expect it.