Pug vs. Magnum Mini?

Started by westerly1965, November-13-10 11:11

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westerly1965

I am currently carrying my freedom arms mini as my daily "around the shop" carry.  I am going to retire it this Christmas as it is very old and I want to make sure it doesn't get lost or damaged in daily use.  So it is time for the freedom to become a safe queen and for me to buy another NAA.  The question is which one?  If you get your choice between the pug or the regular mini mag which one do you buy?  I like the slightly longer barrel on the mini mag and don't like the grips on the pug.

   Opinions?

cedarview kid

I would probably go with the Pug with Night sights (although MY Pug doesn't have them--I wish it did).

   

   Dar

redhawk4

Westerly, I've been thinking about the same thing. I like the PUG visually and to fire but like the option of the longer barrel as you say. The fact it's $100 cheaper than the PUG with night sights is attractive too. Hopefully some of your answers will get me off the fence too

   

   I'm also not entirely sure about night sights on such a small close range weapon.
Old Enough to Know Better - Still Too Young to Care

I "Acted the Fool" so often in School they made me get an Equity Card

westerly1965

Yea don't know if I need the night sights.  Nothing else I own has them and I haven't had any trouble 'course I don't shoot at night much lol.  I suspect however that if I needed it at night I would be close enough to not need sights.  The mini mag can be had for under 300 with the mag and the LR cylinders which makes me lean that way.  Plus my freedom arms 22LR has the 1 5/8 barrel on it already so I am used to that size gun...

coopercdrkey

I don't know if you want to confuse the issue by adding the Black Widow to the mix, but that is the pistol I have pretty much zeroed in on for my next purchase and for my regular carry.

   

   I like the "stoutness", for lack of a better term, ala the Pug, and the barrel at 2" is only slightly longer than my 1 5/8" Mag Mini.
NAA Black Widow
Bersa T380
NAA Guardian .32
Henry H001

heyjoe

i dont have a pug myself, i have a mini magnum 1/1/8 inch barrel convertible, but many posteres on here with the pug have commented on how accurte it is.
It's too bad that our friends cant be here with us today

bud

I have the Pug AND the Black Widow. The mag cylinder fits both revolvers. If I were only going to buy one of them, I would prefer the B.W with both cylinders. The Pug is nice, but the B.W. feels better in my hands!

redhawk4

Am I correct in assuming the BW could be fitted with any of the other  Mag grips?

   

   I quite like the 2" barrel, but didn't find the grips suited me and I'm not too keen on their looks either.

   

   I've found the PUG to be the most accurate of the Minis I've fired, I think the sights made a lot of difference and I found the PUG grip gave me the best hold.
Old Enough to Know Better - Still Too Young to Care

I "Acted the Fool" so often in School they made me get an Equity Card

bud

I'm weird, but I like the grips on the Pug and the B.W. and wouldn't think about changing them.

   

lohman446

I bought one of the distributor mini-mags with 1 1/8" barrel and XS sights to further complicate things.  With both cylinders and night sights it was $60 cheaper than a Pug.  

   

   The Pug does have a more "secure" cylinder pin.  In my very limited experience this does not gain you anything but others note it possible to disengage the "pin" style pin on the mini-mag.
"If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun" - Tenzin Gyatso - the 14th dalai lama

ksblazer

From what you have already ststed it sounds like you should go with the 1 5/8th Mini Mag.  

   

   I own a 1 5/8th Combo and don't like it, but I have never fired or held a Pug. I do prefer to have front and rear sights that the Pug offers, and night sights could come in handy.  

   

   Good luck with  your search and let us know what you end up with.

westerly1965

Blazer where ya at wanna sell it?

redhawk4

"I'm weird, but I like the grips on the Pug and the B.W. and wouldn't think about changing them."

   

   I think it's probably me that's weird Bud - but I'll flip you for it
Old Enough to Know Better - Still Too Young to Care

I "Acted the Fool" so often in School they made me get an Equity Card

lohman446

You can get the Pug with convertible cylinders.  However, they are not commonly shipped this way.  I would have considered a Pug much more strongly if I could have walked in and bought one with both cylinders.
"If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun" - Tenzin Gyatso - the 14th dalai lama

ricart

I had both the Pug and the mini-mag.  Made a BIG mistake and got rid of the Pug.  Now, I will probably trade my mini-mag for another Pug.  Don't like the cylinder pin in the mini.  I like the Pug sights better. Like the Pug balance.  Don't like the Pug grips.

   As for as the night sights, I have them on 2 J-Frame Smiths.    Don't like them.  If it's too dark to see a target, w/o night sights, then it's too dark to identify the target.  So, why am I shooting at it?   The only safe, intelligent use for night sights I know of is locating the gun in the dark.  Of course, so can a bad guy.

   If you call NAA, they will give you the part number for ordering a Pug convertible in case you have a backwards dealser.

airplinker

I would choose the Pug every time. The sights make a big difference.The Pug is more expensive though. Bw's are about $50 cheaper than the Pug in my area and even more accurate.

redhawk4

The BW seems to have the same cylinder pin as the Pug.  

   

   The Pug does seem relatively a little more expensive compared to the other models.

   

   I like the idea of the extra oomph in 22 Mag from the longer BW barrel. I already posted this pic on another thread, but this would be a pretty nice setup, kind of like a long barrelled Pug, something else to consider Westerly

   

   
Old Enough to Know Better - Still Too Young to Care

I "Acted the Fool" so often in School they made me get an Equity Card

ksblazer

Westerly1965:

   

      I guess I need to start proof reading my posts. What I meant to say is that I really like My 1 5/8th's Mini Mag combo but have never handled a the Pug.

   

   Sorry man but it's not for sale. It's the one gun that I always have on me wherever legal.

bama22

I prefer a 1 1/8' mini magnum, with a non-fluted cylinder, and a fluted (so I can tell them apart)22LR cylinder, with mini master rubber grips because: the very short barrel is thinner at the muzzle and therefore less painful if it's in your back pocket and you're sitting on it. (Oddly, the new Break Top came out with a similar thin barrel) The minimalist sights present little to snag on one's pockets on the draw. It weighs 1/2 oz. less than a Pug and would seem to be less "muzzle heavy". The mini master rubber grips have indents for each finger, even the little finger has an indent at the bottom of the grip. All styles of magnum frame grips fit all other mag frame guns.  Although lots of people want wood, bone, or ivory grips,I believe it's for aesthetic reasons. "Makes the gun look like a real classic" one poster said. But are we just going to look at the gun? Guns certainly are my idea of art. But I wouldn't put Ivory grips on a hammer or any other tool that I didn't want to slip out of my hand. When I'm having to hold on tight to a firearm, give me that "rubber junk" every time. And you can go for a swim with rubber grips in your pocket, no harm done.

   And by the way, I want to try a Pug one day and was wondering, it appears that the pug grips just slip on, without any screw to hold them, if so, can the grips squirm around on the frame, ie. be loose.  thanks guys,     m

coinchop

Bamms22>

   The pug grips do not squirm around.

   TO TAKE THEM OFF, put a little lube in the

   top of the grip and twist them back and forth

   a bit and they will slip right off.

   To put them back on lube around the inside

   of the top and slip them on.

   I use a little Rem-oil which seems to dry

   pretty fast.

   In cooler seasons when I can cover it, I  

   carry my Pug in a right hand belt holster

   made by Madhat, with the slip on rubber grip

   and it works perfect for me.

   I would like to have a set of wood grips

   that size routed out to fit over the grip frame

   on the Mag. frame. I have thought about taking

   a set of oversize wood grips and cutting them

   down to Pug grip size. Might try that on a brave

    day.. I think if I could fasten them to a piece

    of flat strap iron for a handle I could do  

   that on my belt sanders. I have made knife handles  

   where I had the blade to hold on too.

   Will see what winter brings....

   Motorcycle season seems to be over and I need

   to keep moving, so who knowes?

22mag

i would rather go with a pug,thier much more accurate the the regular naa mini but if i had the optins i would pick the pug and that is my fullest honesty and the truth.

lohman446

I think the sights might help you shoot better with the PUG.  However SEECAMP's sight leads me to believe that sights are seldom used in self defense.  Neither gun is inherently more accurate than the other when comparing Pug to Mini-Mag.  In fact some tests I read on here of one particular group showed that IN THAT PARTICULAR GROUP the short barreled mini-mag was the more accurate (had the smallest group).  This is going to vary from gun to gun and group to group though.  

   

   I do agree that mini-mag probably takes longer to get used to.
"If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun" - Tenzin Gyatso - the 14th dalai lama

grayelky

Before offering an opinion I need to ask a question: What is your intended use for the gun? If it is primarily for self defense or as a back up gun (BUG) or is it a hiking/camping/woods gun?

   

   For a BUG or self defense, go with which ever feels better in your hand AND in your pocket (or where ever you will carry it). For BUG distances, any NAA revolver has more than adequate accuracy. If I were not already set in my ways, I would pick the PUG w/ tritium sights. The odds of actually using the sights are probably very low at BUG distances, but in the odd case where they are needed, they will be invaluable. It has been my experience bad guys are basically cowards who prefer low light or darkness. It will not be hard to have light too dim to clearly identify your target, but light enough to know where it is. If you can find your front sight, you can make a hit on target. One of the 1 1/8 Mini mags with the tritium would be an equal toss up.

   

   If you want a woods gun, the BW seems a better choice.
Guns are a lot like parachutes:

"If you need one and don't have one, you'll probably never need one again"

redhawk4

Thinking of night sights, who was it who posted recently the "glowing paint" I meant to take a note of it and didn't. As the the night sights fade over time, if I'm correct, it seems a dab of paint on any sights could work well in the long term, with an easy touch up from time to time.
Old Enough to Know Better - Still Too Young to Care

I "Acted the Fool" so often in School they made me get an Equity Card

grayelky

Glow paint only works when it is "charged" by a light source. The longer it has been since it's last exposure, the dimmer it gets. For me, carrying my Mini lr in my pocket, glow paint would be useless. Tritium sights maintain the same brightness 24/7. The useful life of trit sights is generally around 7-8 years.
Guns are a lot like parachutes:

"If you need one and don't have one, you'll probably never need one again"

grayelky

Sorry, I neglected to answer your question. I don't know which thread it was in, but here are 2 possibles:

   http://glowinc.com/order.htm">http://glowinc.com/order.htm

   

   http://glow-on.com/index.html">http://glow-on.com/index.html
Guns are a lot like parachutes:

"If you need one and don't have one, you'll probably never need one again"

westerly1965

Gray, to answer your question the gun choice is SD or BUG...

westerly1965

Oh and Redhawk that pic is some kinda sexy!  Now you have me considering that...its a BW with checkered grips right?

theysayimnotme

If you get the regular mini-mag you won't have any rear sight. Since your Freedom Arms mini does have a rear sight you might miss that. I would (and did)choose the Black Widow. (I also have a Freedom Arms mini as well as a NAA mini.)

redhawk4

It was just a pic I found on the net, but to the best of my knowledge it's a BW with more traditionally shaped grips - I like the overall look and the the practical side of the longer barrel, still small enough to carry easily.

   

   Grayelky, Thanks for the paint link, wouldn't work for all situations, but I can see how it could be handy, if it glows for 24 hours as claimed for the Green V10. If it goes on virtually clear over an existing sight there wouldn't be much to lose by using it.

   

   I was actually thinking of it more for my Redhawk 44 mag. Because the front sight is different with the 4" barrel than the other Redhawks, finding an affordable night sight is difficult.

   

   Has anyone actually tried it?
Old Enough to Know Better - Still Too Young to Care

I "Acted the Fool" so often in School they made me get an Equity Card

grayelky

Redhawk-

   I have not tried their paint, but I do have a couple ounces of their Glow Powder. I ran across this on candlepowerforum.com, where they have a nice rep.

   

   I mix the powder with clear silicone and then put it in what ever hole I want to glow. I have most of the light switches in my basement and in my work shop smeared with the excess of my various mixtures. It works very well. I have used it on several flashlights with better results than I anticipated. Bear in mind, no one recommends doing it this way. So far, the silicone has not fallen out and it still glows.

   

   Send me your mailing address in a PM and I will send you enough so you can determine if you want to order some.
Guns are a lot like parachutes:

"If you need one and don't have one, you'll probably never need one again"

redhawk4

Thanks Gray, will do
Old Enough to Know Better - Still Too Young to Care

I "Acted the Fool" so often in School they made me get an Equity Card