One of our SIGforum members is selling an itty-bitty little NAA revolver, and I'm thinking about it, as a back-up, or for a quick walk to the mailbox on the cul-de-sac when I don't really want to grab the P245.

If you carry one of these, how do you carry it?

The absence of a trigger guard is a bit concerning. Is this really safe?

They should be very safe, SO LONG as you carry with the hammer in the safety notch, per the manual. I'd still use a pocket holster; a few companies make them for NAA revolvers. There is also a grip that folds the gun up like a knife: example. It seems like the holsters would be faster.

I've always wanted to get a Pug. Unfortunately, I couldn't carry it as a backup. That's illegal in NM.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:

I've always wanted to get a Pug. Unfortunately, I couldn't carry it as a backup. That's illegal in NM.

I did not understand that restriction, then looked at

https://handgunlaw.us/states/newmexico.pdf

and found "A licensee shall only carry one concealed handgun at any given time."

Does that prohibit you from having one concealed on your person and a backup in your vehicle, like glove box or center console?

two of my buddies used to carry them. One carried in his pocket, hammer down on a safety notch, in a simple leather pocket holster. The other used the NAA belt buckle setup.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Does that prohibit you from having one concealed on your person and a backup in your vehicle, like glove box or center console?

As far as I know, no. In NM, your vehicle is extended domain, i.e. treated like your home. Still, I would NOT want to leave a weapon in an unattended vehicle in the ABQ area.

We are also limited on caliber and revolver/semi-auto based on what you used to qualify. I maxed out by qualifying with both revolver and semi-auto .45 handguns. Goddamn red yet blue controlled state.

At least I could carry a Pug still, but it would be all by itself. With a good pocket holster, it would be good for a deep concealment situation.

quote:

The absence of a trigger guard is a bit concerning. Is this really safe?

It’s a single action revolver, so the trigger isn’t going to do anything unless the hammer has been cocked. With the little hammer spur and strength of the spring, a conscious effort is required to cock the hammer. I’ve never experienced my Black Widow becoming accidentally cocked in several years of almost daily carry in a pocket holster.

Simple answer....yes.

I carry one most times in addition to whatever is on my belt. It's not powerful, but it's easy to grasp in the pocket (holstered always) and surprisingly accurate at reasonable distances. IF I had to use it, bad breath distance would be my limitations I think.
Plus, they are a blast to shoot!

Carried as described before with the safety notch, mine has never moved through walking, running, cycling, hunting and fishing.

Love mine. They make defensive 22 magnum loads for short barrels now. They penetrate 14-16 inches and expand to about .30

So… I think they are a lot more effective than you’d think.

I don’t anymore, but I did carry one when I was a youth football coach. We played a few games a season in some very rough areas and I wanted something that was extremely safe while being somewhat effective. I carried a NAA mini-revolver chambered in .22mag with Speer Gold Dots in a zippered pocket in my shorts during that time. I know it wasn’t the best firearm in the world but the size along with the safety of the SA action made a comforting combination to keep in my pocket.

A couple of models of these mini-revolvers intrigue me, but I don't have actual experience. With that being said …

quote:

The absence of a trigger guard is a bit concerning. Is this really safe?

I don't see why not. You won't be cocking the hammer unless you have the gun pointed at the target and intend to shoot, so the presence or absence of a trigger guard should make no difference at this point. When carried, the hammer is down anyway and the gun is incapable of firing. If anything, on such a small gun, a trigger guard might actually hinder you as you couldn't get your finger through it. It isn't safe if the attacker shoots you first because you couldn't get your shot off in time.

My concern with these guns, because of the size/shape of the grips, is ability to cock and fire the gun one-handed, quickly, under stress, without fumbling and even dropping the gun altogether. I can't imagine doing any kind of rapid fire, nor can I see it happening if, for example, a dog is chewing on me. The only models I know of with adequate grips are the Pug (the one that intrigues me the most) and Black Widow. The latter gun also has real sights. Anyone is free to correct me on any of these points.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:

Love mine. They make defensive 22 magnum loads for short barrels now. They penetrate 14-16 inches and expand to about .30

What ammunition is this?

I have two and I carry them always.

I refer to them as The Spanish Inquisition.

I even have a little leather pocket holster for them.

I may be a little biased, because I'm trying to sell a NAA Black Widow for my medical expense fundraiser.

The tiny ones are /very/ hard to shoot properly IMHO, because they have a stubby grip and a little nubby bead sight.

The Black Widow is /almost/ the size of an LCP II .22 or Bobcat 21A, but it's crazy light. The size allows for a stubby "potato" grip that is not unlike the Hogue Bantams on a J frame (just scaled down).

The cylinder notches are pretty easy to use, just hard to describe. My use case has always been as an adjunct to a larger firearm (which is open carried because of the stupid "only one concealed" rule in NM) /or/ as a quick pocket piece with 2x snakeshot and 3x .22 mag where I might encounter snakes /or/ as a pocket gun when I am around the house, getting mail, etc.

It's pretty nice to be able to stash this in a pocket when you're in a t-shirt and gym shorts; it's an "always armed" gun.

Yes.

I have the ‘basic’ model with the .22 lr and .22 magnum cylinders, and carry it regularly in my front pocket with either a DeSantis or Uncle Mike’s pocket holster (I cannot recall which one I have).

I usually carry it when mowing the grass, taking a walk around the block or a quick trip out to gas up the car, etc.

As mentioned, it is safe to carry as long as it is carried correctly.

I have a pug and black widow. I love both but the black widow is probably the better of the two, to me due to the extra bbl length. As posted here they are great to just toss in your pocket when you check the mail or have on you in the house if you don't carry two guns out in town. I made my own holster but I also got a kydex one which is huge but works. I put a ulti-clip on my holster and that gives me a ton of options on where to put it.

I would never consider one a primary carry but I appreciate having it as a second option or in the house. Use the safety notches and its quite safe though a holster would add to that.

quote:

They make defensive 22 magnum loads for short barrels now.

Is there any sort of flash retardant in the powder? I imagine a .22 Magnum in, what, an inch-and-a-half barrel would make a pretty good one.

Used to.

But in my experience, past 15 feet even 5 shots of .22LR snakeshot isn't dependably lethal on snakes and past 15 feet LR hollowpoint practical accuracy isn't 'center of mass'.

And less than 80 ft-lbs of energy isn't a fight stopper, based on Internet-gleaned wisdom.

Its a fun gun. Its not a work gun.

The CCI .22 magnum snake load has substantially more shot in it and is much more effective than the 22LR. But 15’ is also probably twice as far as I shoot rattlers from. I’ve killed dozens of them around my house and outbuildings with a Black Widow over the past 10 years. Six out of six of my dogs were bitten over that same timespan. The dogs all recovered, thanks to the fact that they were bitten on their snouts, and good veterinary care from Doc Allen.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: arfmel,

I used a kydex holster on a neck lanyard. I also used a leather pocket holster with a hooked "wing" to catch your pocket on the draw.Old fashioned derringers did not have a trigger guard because the triggers swing down, not back. Trigger guards tend to make that trigger press less intuitive.