New Sidewinder Magnum comments

[Jorena]

Just got my new Sidewinder Magnum and have 3 comments:

1- Why is swing opening on the right?  I am right handed and my Taurus 38 Special is so much easier to operate from the left, just curious.
2- I too have issues with swinging the cylinder back into the gun. I have to use both hands to "jimmy" it back in place.
3- I find it scary, and difficult, pulling the (really hard) hammer back, holding it with my right thumb, then trying to locate the safety slot, while turning the cylinder and carefully lowering the hammer to it's safe place in the correct slot.

Considering the really small size of this gun, I suppose that many of the standard features, we are used to on normal size guns, are much harder to incorporate on these guns, mainly because of lack of space.

3/23 update
I failed to mention an additional feature which I would like to address.

It is very difficult for the 5 place extractor to expel the spent shells from the cylinder.

It seems to me that the force of the hammer hitting the bullet rim causes the copper to crimp inside the cylinder, thereby slightly locking the spent shell(s) in the cylinder.  When this happens on all 5 cylinders, it takes great force to push the spent shells out. So much so that I have to hit the end of the extractor on the bench fairly hard to dislodge the 5 shells.
I could use a long punch to extract the shells individually, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of the springy extractor?
I think the shells should fall out of the cylinder on their own with no coaxing.  They do so on my 38 snubnose.

So, my question is: does the hammer need to be so strong to fire the bullet without drastically deforming the bullet rims?

I checked this out by taking 5 spent shells and loading them in the cylinder slightly off where they were originally crimped. I could not get any them in far enough because of the crimping to even close the cylinder back into it's frame.

The bullets I am using are CCI 22 WMR Maxi-Mag

[Canoeal]

Call NAA. Ask them about the issues. They most likely will issue a tag for you, to send it in and have it gone over. I would bet you will love it when it comes back...

[Dinadan]

Just got my new Sidewinder Magnum and have 3 comments:

1- Why is swing opening on the right?  I am right handed and my Taurus 38 Special is so much easier to operate from the left, just curious.
2- I too have issues with swinging the cylinder back into the gun. I have to use both hands to "jimmy" it back in place.
3- I find it scary, and difficult, pulling the (really hard) hammer back, holding it with my right thumb, then trying to locate the safety slot, while turning the cylinder and carefully lowering the hammer to it's safe place in the correct slot.

Considering the really small size of this gun, I suppose that many of the standard features, we are used to on normal size guns, are much harder to incorporate on these guns, mainly because of lack of space.

Welcome to the forum, Jorena!!

I recall that when the Sidewinder first came out there was a bit of discussion about the cylinder swinging out to the right, instead of to the left like most other revolvers. I believe that it swings to the right so that NAA could use the same parts for Sidewinder as for the other Minis. I guess that would be the cylinder bolt assembly, not sure what else. Basically, all the Magnum Minis use the same interchangeable working parts for the action. Creating different parts for the Sidewinder would have added another level of cost and complexity. That is my understanding, anyway.


There is some recent discussion about closing the Sidewinder cylinder in this thread:
http://naaminis.com/smf/index.php?topic=19550.0

[gfb46]

Sorry to hear you have such problems as described.  My Sidewinder gets the "rat shot" installed when I'm down around the pond then removed and CCI self defense ammo put in it daily.  Moving the cylinder to the notch will get easier with practice. After putting mine in the safe notch I always check it from the bottm with the barrel pointing away from my face to make sure I'm in between rounds. Practice makes perfect.

[top dog]

Jorena,
WELCOME to the forum!!!!

I hope that all the issues with your new Sidewinder are resolved.  The cylinder swinging out to the right might be an issue at first but I am sure that with frequent practice you will adapt to it quite readily.

Now,I must warn you,these minis tend to "multiply". Pretty soon there might be several more.

Now,watch out for Uncle Lee,he will tell you to store them in shoe boxes which tend to be "incubators" for the minis and they will multiply.

Also he will want photos for proof.

Again,welcome to the forum,everyone here are quite willing and able to help you.

                                                                                                    Top Dog

[Uncle_Lee]

Welcome Jorena.
Yes, if you store them in shoe boxes they will multiply very fast.
I stored a pair of Earls in a shoebox and 4 years later I had over 25. During the next 6 years they continued to do it. Now the count is shameful.
Don't worry, show them love and they will show you love right back.
Yes, Yes, I love pictures.

[Warthog]

Welcome Jorena.

You have it covered by the others...just wanted to welcome you.

[Plunkit]

I don't care for the cylinder swinging to the right either.  It makes it the oddball of the fleet, but it functions OK. 

I ordered the Sidewinder because of the ability to reload faster, but that hasn't been the case.  It doesn't swing close and latch easily.  I have to jiggle it around and fool around with it before it locks, which is very annoying.  It should just swing closed and latch.  It was sent back for warranty repair and returned to me doing the same thing after I had to press them for warranty service.  Apparently, the gun was new old stock and out of warranty by date of manufacture when I received it. If I knew the Ranger II was coming out right after I purchased the Sidewinder, I would have purchased the Ranger II. That being said, I like the pistol and its ability to be concealed easily.

[gunner2]

I am really surprised that nobody knows that there are marks on the left side  of the flash guard .very easy to use if you know they are there.  ;Dvad

[Ruger]

I am really surprised that nobody knows that there are marks on the left side  of the flash guard .very easy to use if you know they are there.  ;Dvad

Nobody? 

[grayelky]

The reason for the right side opening has been danced around, but I would like to clarify it it, just a bit. Yes, sharing of parts is a (I suspect) a major factor. The real reason has to do with the bolt being on the left side of the frame. For the cylinder to swing to the left, like almost the entire revolver world, it would have required the entire re-engineering and re-design of the frame and moving parts, which would have been cost prohibitive. Like so many other things in life, once you get accustomed to it, it becomes much easier and less strange.

[OV-1D]

  If nothing else hold it upside down ,Ha .

[RogueTS1]

The marks are there to line up showing gun is in the safety notches if I remember correctly. I never use them; I just place it and can see from above it is correctly stowed.