Cylinder gap on Mini Master vs Earl

[palerider]

Hey guys
A few years back I read that the cylinder gap on the Mini Master was larger than that on the Black Widow and that explained why the velocities where almost identical even thought you have 2 more inches of barrel with the Mini Master.

I was wondering if this was "fixed" with the Earl model and if it would be worth trading my MM for a 4 or 6 inch Earl?

thanks

[Dinadan]

A few years back I read that the cylinder gap on the Mini Master was larger than that on the Black Widow and that explained why the velocities where almost identical even thought you have 2 more inches of barrel with the Mini Master.

Palerider - I cannot say that I ever heard of that. There is a little variation between individual guns, but I think the Black Widow and Mini Master are the same frame with different barrels. I see what you mean about the velocities, with CCI 40gr HP Maximags the BW gets 988fps and the MM gets 972fps. With CCI 30gr Maximag+V the BW gets 1300fps and the MM gets 1396fps. (NAA Ballistic Charts http://northamericanarms.com/ballistics)

I see that Gunblast (http://www.gunblast.com/NAA-Earl.htm) gives the 4" Earl 1350fps with CCI 30gr Maximag+V, exactly halfway between the BW and MM, so if higher velocities are your goal, it is not the answer.

By the way - welcome to the forum.

[palerider]

Dinadan,

Thank for the welcome but it more of a welcome back. I have been around on this broad on and off before the Ranger was conceived in fact I was one of the guy asking for and rooting for a 32 Mag breaktop and was sad to see that project canned (don't stone me ... I like the 32 Mag concept)  but enough of that 

Yeah I cannot remember where I got the info but I remember being told it on one of the message boards after I bought the MM 5 or 6 year ago. What I got the MM for was a compact companion to my 22 mag rifle and for it's "carriablity"  with toting a deer  or other game rifle. Never tried it but I  pretty sure my 45/70 would make a mess of rabbit, squirrel or other small game of opportunity.  While I have never taken game  with my MM, my son has with a Black Widow no less.

Why I asked about the Earl is I had some problems with the MM not firing all the rounds (like firing 3 or 4 out of 5) and have sent it back but still have issues. Not sure if its the Remington 33 grain ammo I'm  using or the MM. I set it aside since my son wanted the 22 Mag rifle when left home and had no need to stock 22 Mag. I recently got a 22 Mag  T-Bolt so interested in a small 22 Mag handgun again. I have also recently found some CCI 40gn HP. If the CCI doesn't cure the MM misfire then I thought about trading for a Earl. Just wanted to have all the facts in a row before I start looking again.

Thank for the information.

[heyjoe]

i remember a number of years ago that people were measuring their cylinder gaps after someone noticed that there were significant variations from gun to gun. I dont remember it as being a particular model but just mini revolvers in general.

[bigwheel]

Hey Palerider..welcome back again again. I just got here for the first time recently and found it a very nice group of folks and have packed around a NAA peashooter for many moons so always glad to chat about their products. Interesting topic on that gap..I did not know how wide that was supposed to be. I did learn early it aint good to have your hand beside it when it goes boom. I got a wiser eldest child who still carries around a tatoo on the left side thumb webbing from learning the same lesson all over again. Hard to imagine a few extra silly millimeters could effect stuff too much..but nobody ever accused me of being an injuneer. Heck I do not even own a train..anymore..lol.

[palerider]

Thanks to all for you input. I think I am going to stay put with my MM and see if those CCI solve the misfire issue.

[Kentucky Kevin]

I had the brillant idea of pointing the gun with my pointer/trigger finger extended, and pulling with the finger finger. That hurt for a while

[Dinadan]

I had the brillant idea of pointing the gun with my pointer/trigger finger extended, and pulling with the finger finger. That hurt for a while

I am very careful to keep my fingers and thumb behind the gap. When I was about twelve my older brother gave me a true "Saturday night special" .22 revolver. Once I wrapped my fingers around the little beast when I shot it - I still remember looking at my fingers and being amazed that they were all still there - it felt like they had been cut off. That memory is right up there with the time I shot my Daisy air gun with the lever down - that lever hurt when it closed on my little fingers!

[bigwheel]

Dang Dan..you gave me a good memory jog on the crazy daisy bb guns. That nearly take a finger plumb off when it slammed up. We used to set em in the lever open position and pull the trigger with the looped end of a fly swatter just to watch it break sticks. That oldest boy I was referring to earlier as to having the hand tatoo was about ten years old when he decided he needed to shoot my old model 28 loaded up with .38 special wad cutter target loads. Think he was trying to pull it through the double action cycle but having trouble so he decided to grab it around the cylinder gap and shot it before I could intervene. Far as know he still has gun powder residue buried in his left hand.

[Dinadan]

That oldest boy I was referring to earlier as to having the hand tatoo was about ten years old when he decided he needed to shoot my old model 28 loaded up with .38 special wad cutter target loads. Think he was trying to pull it through the double action cycle but having trouble so he decided to grab it around the cylinder gap and shot it before I could intervene. Far as know he still has gun powder residue buried in his left hand.

Well, if he is like me he learned not to do that! Some memories are forever!

[bigwheel]

Yeppers..once burned twice shy as the old adage goes. Watch out for the back slide on the semi autos too. Old chum lost a thumb nail when he stuck it up just a bit too far behind the slide..lol. I would remember that one well too.

[OV-1D]

  Seems like alot of us had that Daisy lever attack . It's surely an attention getter .

[Kentucky Kevin]

I've still the scar from shooting a borrowed glock with a single action double hand hold

[bud]

Been there done that with the Daisy Red Ryder BB gun.
I remember doing that to see what would happen.   
Only did that once.   

[OV-1D]

  You made me look Hardtackwon I got mine (scar)from a luger , quick isn't it . DANG! Not quit the word though .

[TwoGunJayne]

I saw a Mythbusters-style test of the .500 S&W with a fake hand made of fake bones, ballistics gel and pigskin. The cylinder gap on those things can literally take your fingers off. Ouch.

[boone123]

Next thing you know, mudflaps will be required.
There was a picture on the internet a couple of years ago of a bloody thumb stump provided by a dummy who I now understand is sueing S&W> Seems like he didn't read the manual, and wasn't smart enough to operate a revolver on his own.

[.54Cal_Kidd]

Sounds like the morons that tried to use a lawn mower to trim the hedge.
It seems that there was nothing in the manual that said you couldn't...

[Kentucky Kevin]

some people should be casterated so they can't reproduce