BK over BT...am I nuts?

[engineer88]

Guys, I really want a breaktop, but I am seriously thinking about getting a Black Widow for carry.  Am I nuts?  I like the pin and the sights on the BW, and actually the grips and barrel.  Heck, I like it all I guess, LOL.  

   

   I currently carry a magnum (1 and 5/8) quite frequently as a BUG/Pocket gun.  The more I carry, the more I respect revolvers.  

   

   Anyways, I have a .22LR mini in the short barrel and I guess what everyone said is right, these things multiply!

   

   Long story short, I still want a breaktop, but I have to wait due to funds.  So am I crazy for wanting the BW now for carry?  And then getting a BT later if possible?

[cedarview kid]

I think a Black Widow is a great choice for carry--and a lot cheaper than a break-top, too.

[cedarview kid]

I think a Black Widow is a great choice for carry--and a lot cheaper than a break-top, too.

[silvershooter]

In my area you can pick up a new B.W. for $231. So if you want a sturdy ccw defense gun the bw is an excellent choice.

[45flint]

If you definitely like the grips better for carry than it should be the BW.  Those over sized grips to me don't look right on the BT Ranger.

   The only risk is that the BT doesn't make it to full production, personally now that I own one, I seriously doubt that this gun will not be a real winner for NAA.  Unless your a nut like some of here buy the BT later a little cheaper as well. The production piece will be special as well, I am sure.

[Uncle_Lee]

I will soon have my BTs but my BW will remain in my pocket. I love the size and feel of it. It fits in my closed fist and no one can really see it and if they do, they can't tell what it is. The BT is too big for that.

[bigfish]

I carry my BW all the time with a madhat IWB holster...love it. As a matter of fact, I'm going trout fishing today and my BW is going with me.

[quickdraw]

I love the BW.  Don't have the BT so can't say about it, but the BW is nice in the waist belt or pocket.  It is easy to aim and with oversized redwood grip stays firmly in the hand.

[ricart]

I own 2 B/W's. One I have never fired.  The one I carry is very accurate for intended ranges.  For the most part, I have quit carrying my J-frams S&W.

[zippovarga]

So far it's unanimous. I too love my BW. I currently carry my Pug, but as soon as my IWB Mad Hat holster arrives, the BW will be the daily.

[Uncle_Lee]

Stupid, where was I yesterday.

   I was talking about my Pug to carry not the BW!!!

   Oh well, age does that.

[engineer88]

Well, I am now convinced I am sane and that I NEED a Black Widow.  It is now on the short list (as in my next purchase).  

   

   Thanks guys!

[chopprs]

Black Widow or Pug. They both have their own slight advantages over eachother.I prefer the Pug because of the slightly smaller size. They are both far less costly that an BT though!

[gunfitrip]

I carry my BW daily and plink with it on the ranch.  If the barrel is not leaded up it is accurate to 100 yards.  That's right, 100 yds.  I shoot with my buddy across my pond on the ranch at about 100 yds and the thing is generally accurate. Trigger pull is critical as any movement dramatically moves POI.  I love the thing.

[coinchop]

Gunfitrip>

   I am glad to see that there are other people besides myself who shoot these little guns long range. I do that with my Earl and Black Widow. I have posted on here in the past about shooting them long range knowing in my mind that some of the people reading it thought for sure I was full of it. They are not target gun for sure but if you can hold the sights the same every time and pull the trigger without moving the gun they are pretty amazing for a little gun.

   My BW wouldn't shoot like that when I got it but after I recrowned the barrel it shoots where its aimed when it goes off. After I shoot them awhile and the accuracy falls off its in my case because there is a build up of crud and burned powder at the muzzle which I knock out by twisting a lead bullet back and forth which cleans out the crown. Shooting long range is a challange which makes it fun. I guess thats why I like my minis, they are fun, and they hide well.

   If I can hit a 10 IN. hole in a dirt bank at about a hundred yards most of the time or even come close I should be covered if I need to protect myself from a BG in a 12 ft. room.

[cedarview kid]

My first NAA mini was a Black Widow. I still have it. Great gun. You can't go wrong with a Black Widow.

[heyjoe]

a ten inch hole at 300 feet? remind me never to piss you off coinchop and if i have already i profusely apologize.

[coopercdrkey]

When the Break Top was announced, I posted that I thought it was a fantastic weapon for anyone wanting a (basically) custom designed, billet machined pistol.  I went on to say, (in several posts....), that I did not intend to order one, since my "available to spend" was being accumulated in favor of a Black Widow.

   

   So, I'm with you!

   

   I think, (and hope), that the BT will be a huge success for NAA,and that a production model flies off the shelf.  That will help insure the fortunes of a company that is very dear to all of us on the Board, whether or not we ordered a Break Top.

   

   Me, I'm jonesin' fot a BW....

[coinchop]

Heyjoe.

   THATS WITH A REST.

   If I were standing out in the middle of the road in the wind shooting you would probably be safe.

   Also theres the part about comming close.

[chopprs]

.....I think he said he could "HIT" a ten inch hole, not make one....

[cedarview kid]

LOL, Chops. :-)

[bud]

Those of you that carry a B.W. for personal protection, do you use the LR cylinder or the Mag cylinder when you carry?

[gunfitrip]

Coinchop, That's about right from my experience.  You can hit about a pie plate at that range until the lead builds up.  Once that happens it seems that you will still hit an occasional good shot but some will go all over. When I clean I will get long strands of lead out of the riflings.  These are amazing guns.  I have one of the early LRs where the rear of the frame is raised.  You can in fact file a little off the hammer so you can actually site the pistol.  Again, accuracy is amazing for a 1 1/8 in. barreled gun.  I love to shoot these long distance.  I equalled my buddy with his S&W 617 the other day until the lead built up.  That was the BW. But like you said, trigger pull and site picture is critical because any movement throws you waaaaayyyyy off.

[grayelky]

I have a BT and like it. It is VERY nicely made, well finished and unique. It is also a little bulkier than the standard Mini mag. If I were buying my first one, I would likely opt for a 1 1/8 22 mag. It makes sense to get the 22lr/22 mag combo for the cheaper practice, but knowing me, I would just shoot 22 mags anyway. If I was spending enough money for a BT, I'd get a 1 5/8 Wasp and a 1 1/8 Mag instead.

[lohman446]

I am talking myself into a theory on preferring something other than the break top for carry.  Yeh, the umm, break action could snag on draw and open...  

   

   .  Then again, I prefer Eurpoean heel release for magazine releases on my carry guns, so I am in the very paranoid small minority.

[gunfitrip]

I believe you will not go wrong with the BW.  Time tested and not lacking.  I was going to buy a BT but the price tag just was too much for something so close to the BW or regular Mag in actual function. I'm still waiting for Sandy to make me an Earl in Black Powder.

[gunfitrip]

I have the conversion BW and carry with mag and shoot LR for plinking.  The mag is actually more accurate than the LR but they both do well.  The Mag gets about 1050 fps with the CCI Maximag ammo with a 40 grain bullet I believe.  That's as powerful as some larger caliber handguns.

[bigfish]

Most of the time I carry CCI Maximag 40grain FMJ in my BW. Sometimes, just for the heck of it, I will carry the LR cylinder with CCI stingers or CCI velocitors. IMO the BW is the best revolver NAA makes. Great to carry, and even better to shoot.

[ephraim]

Bigfish,

   I disagree the BT is the best revolver Naa makes hands down. The BW is outdated. Who wants to fool with the cylinder balancing act.  

   E!

[45flint]

E.  I agree, the BT is the best gun NAA makes at this point, not much question about that.

[rjtravel]

Has anyone weighed the BT?  Result?

[gunfitrip]

We don't want to rain on the people getting BTs.  They are NAA and obviously well made and hand done a lot of the work.  American ingenuity and craftsmanship. They will be admired. That said, the BW is time tested and quite a bit less expensive.  It has both LR and Mag capabilities.  I kind of agree with Bigfish, overall the BW is hard to beat as a carry gun that is 24/7 capable.

[grayelky]

quote:

   

   Has anyone weighed the BT? Result?

I have, and going on my nearly 60 year old memory, it seems like the BT is 1/2 ounce heavier than a standard Mini Mag. If I get a chance at work today, I will weigh an assortment of the revolvers and report back.

[cedarview kid]

That's about right, Gray. My dealer was curious as well, so when my BT arrived, we weighed it against a Pug. I think the Pug was about 6.5 and the BT was around 7.1. Not bad at all.

[grayelky]

As promised earlier:

   Black Widow.......8.5 oz

   Break Top.........7.1 oz

   Pug (Trit site)...6.7 oz

   Mini Mag 1 5/8....6.3 oz

   Wasp 1 5/8........6.2 oz

   Mini LR 1 5/8.....4.9 oz (loaded...5.5 oz

   Mini LR 1 1/8.....4.4 oz (loaded...4.8 oz

   

   The 1 1/8 Mini LR was made in 1977, the rest are current production. I mention this, as it was the biggest surprise for me to see a .5 oz difference in the weight between it and the 1 5/8 barrel LR Mini.