If you could only have just one... which one and why?

[turkeyhunter]

So, I happened to pick up my first LR Mini Revolver today.  Got a pretty darn good deal on it I think... $175.00 even plus two boxes of LR Ammo along with box, docs, etc, etc.  This is my second mini as I already have a PUG with a conversion cylinder.  I also have a Sidewinder on order (who knows when it will be here) and maybe some day a short if I can come across the right deal.

As I have been admiring my PUG and LR today side by side, etc., it made me ask which one I would want if I could only have just one.  I have handled many of the mini's over the years and shot several.  So far... it's the PUG hands down.  Why? Sights... Magnum Cylinder and LR Cylinder... easy to shoot / aim... easy to carry (no reason not to carry it)... easy to hold... FINALLY... it's just plain cool. 

The LR is "cute" so-to-speak, and more concealable, but if I could have just one, I would go for something more versatile like my PUG.

So which is your favorite.  If you could only have one, which would it be and why?

[Dinadan]

At this point if I could only have one I would choose my Sidewinder conversion. Until recently I would have chosen my Magnum 1 5/8" conversion. Those are just two fun guns to shoot, for me. The Sidewinder gets the nod because ... just because. My Pug, Black Widow, and 3" Earl are really close though. Any of those five guns, with both cylinders, would be satisfying as my only mini. Hope I do not have to make that choice soon!

[RogueTS1]

While the Sidewinder is great because of the swing out cylinder I will have to stay put with my Pug. It looks and feels the best and most of all has the best sights.

[OV-1D]

  You guys are killing me with this PUG . I haven't bought one YET because of the other two with that same cylinder pin I really want that longer barrel BUT again , this is why I haven't gotten one yet , can't decide , then they come with another style altogether you can't do without . Then there is the forward blade dilemma , I'm still confused . 

[grayelky]

It would be a very tough decision. I have had my 1 1/8 LR since 1977, and it is fully engraved. For practicality, I would pick one of my 1 5/8 mag, probably my Wasp. Every time I want to shoot a mini for the fun of shooting, I would really miss my 3" Earl.

What would happen to the rest of the family? If I can only have 1, who would take care of the other 12 or so?

[G50AE]

Sidewinder. 

[Uncle_Lee]

I would take the Pug.
Under heavy sustained fire the barrel would take longer to melt.

That was a funny you hard headed @%$$#%%.

Actually I would take the Black Widow conversion with Cvang grips.
It has all the good points all rolled up in one pistol. 

[heyjoe]

i would choose the first mini i ever bought, the 1 1/8 convertible mini revolver. its the one i shoot best with, its proven over time, it would be easier to find a part than the sidewinder or breaktop at the present time, i can reload it faster than the other minis by just quickly swapping out cylinders on the fly, i already have a nice holser that carries the extra cylinder. the sidewinder hasnt been proven over time with me yet, plus it is a more complicated design, more could go wrong. i love the breaktop and the short also, but if i could only have one it would have to be the 1 1/8 convertible.     

[45flint]

Sidewinder, best made NAA to date, that simple really.  Lockup is equal to the best of S&W or Colt.
Steve

[ephraim]

Sidewinder. No contest. Not complicated at all. In fact the design has been around a long time. If you have a problem, NAA has fast turnaround on repairs. Ease of loading and ejecting empties, strong design, and just the way it looks. Breaktop second choice, first for collectability. The rest just have too many parts floating around for my taste. They were okay when there was not a choice. Now there is a choice. After the SW adds additional barrel lenghts, there is no reason to consider the rest, unless you just like playing with parts.

[ephraim]

I forgot to mention the recoil shields on the SW. That design change alone is worth the different in cost in my opinion. Don't like guns without recoil shields very much. Of course the Cvang grips do solve that problem as Uncle Lee mentioned earlier.

[ljutic]

I recently agonized over this decision and ended up with the 1 5/8" Wasp conversion.  I really wanted a Black Jack with conversion cylinder an NO PORTS, but I could wait the rest of my life for that model to come out so the Wasp as the next closest in overall looks.  The only other NAA that could tempt me would be a 17 HMR.

[45flint]

Sidewinder. No contest. Not complicated at all. In fact the design has been around a long time. If you have a problem, NAA has fast turnaround on repairs. Ease of loading and ejecting empties, strong design, and just the way it looks. Breaktop second choice, first for collectability. The rest just have too many parts floating around for my taste. They were okay when there was not a choice. Now there is a choice. After the SW adds additional barrel lenghts, there is no reason to consider the rest, unless you just like playing with parts.

I think this pretty well nails it.  In my bid to be controversial, I think the Sidewinder made the standard action NAA pistol obsolete.  Once they fill out the line the only reason to go there is cost.  The pug does not stand up to the currently available short barrel SW.   

[mdzcpa]

I have the PUG, BW and Sidewinder.  I like them all!

But if I had to have only one, it would be the PUG.  It has the best balance of concealment, grip, caliber, and sights.  The BW is easier to shoot and more accurate but long enough to make my LCP a better carry weapon if I want something that size.  The Sidewinder is the best looking and easier to reload at the range, but it's trickier to shoot with the laminate birds head grip. 

Although I like all these weapons, my primary concern is the ability to carry conceal, and the PUG wins that fairly easily.

[45flint]

I have the PUG, BW and Sidewinder.  I like them all!

But if I had to have only one, it would be the PUG.  It has the best balance of concealment, grip, caliber, and sights.  The BW is easier to shoot and more accurate but long enough to make my LCP a better carry weapon if I want something that size.  The Sidewinder is the best looking and easier to reload at the range, but it's trickier to shoot with the laminate birds head grip. 

Although I like all these weapons, my primary concern is the ability to carry conceal, and the PUG wins that fairly easily.

Grips are a easy fix for the sidewinder, and it certainly is short enough to conceal easily?  Only advantage of pug really is sights and i would argue that is pretty irrelvant for a 1 inch barrel? Nothing wrong with liking all your guns, I still like my Earl but I consider it outdated now.  Maybe that's ok for a civil war styled gun?  I will now go back to being non-controversial but that's not much fun.   Lol

[ephraim]

I have the PUG, BW and Sidewinder.  I like them all!

But if I had to have only one, it would be the PUG.  It has the best balance of concealment, grip, caliber, and sights.  The BW is easier to shoot and more accurate but long enough to make my LCP a better carry weapon if I want something that size.  The Sidewinder is the best looking and easier to reload at the range, but it's trickier to shoot with the laminate birds head grip. 

Although I like all these weapons, my primary concern is the ability to carry conceal, and the PUG wins that fairly easily.

Grips are a easy fix for the sidewinder, and it certainly is short enough to conceal easily?  Only advantage of pug really is sights and i would argue that is pretty irrelvant for a 1 inch barrel? Nothing wrong with liking all your guns, I still like my Earl but I consider it outdated now.  Maybe that's ok for a civil war styled gun?  I will now go back to being non-controversial but that's not much fun.   Lol

My thoughts exactly. I have been shooting a long time, but have yet to see where sights matter on anything with a barrel length less than say 3 1/2 or 4 inches. The sights on the Pug look cool, but you can do just as well sighting down the barrel. they are mostly for effect. I do agree that the Earl, Pug,Sheriff, and Pug are desirable from an appearance standpoint, but to use, not so much anymore.

[45flint]

Back to being contraversial, 

Pug $314
SW  $349

Wow just looked not really that much difference in price?   $35 gets you a swing out cylinder?  That is a no brainer to me.   Sorry can't help myself.

Steve

[cfsharry]

What model S&W is that for $349?  What?  Oh........ Never mind.

[jw1128]

I don't own a SW yet, saw one but price was just to high for me to do it, even though I wanted too.  I love the PUG, out of all the minis I have now, its my always at this point.  Now when I find a SW at a realistic price, that may change but, until then the PUG is always by my side.

[boots]

At this time it is a BW with standard grips.  I may change grips but the standard are working for me.  I would like a SW in 2" or 2.5" when it is available. 

[bleak_window]

No question for me.  It's the Black Widow convertible with fixed sights [NAA-BWC]. 

Why?

Grips are excellent
Sights work very well
2" barrel = better velocity
Unfluted cylinder
Improved cylinder pin latch

For form, function, and good looks, the BW is hard to beat.  You can keep your birdseye grips, swingout cylinders, and funky finishes.  The BW is perfect with the hard stainless steel and rubber grips that actually fit my hand.

[bud]

bleak window,

plus 1   

[.54Cal_Kidd]

Out of the current inventory of NAA I would pick the Black Widow for all the reasons Bleak_Window stated and more.
In fantasy land I would like a 2" Pug, a swing out BW or a 2" Sidewinder.

[Kentucky Kevin]

Ephraim +1

[mdzcpa]

I have the PUG, BW and Sidewinder.  I like them all!

But if I had to have only one, it would be the PUG.  It has the best balance of concealment, grip, caliber, and sights.  The BW is easier to shoot and more accurate but long enough to make my LCP a better carry weapon if I want something that size.  The Sidewinder is the best looking and easier to reload at the range, but it's trickier to shoot with the laminate birds head grip. 

Although I like all these weapons, my primary concern is the ability to carry conceal, and the PUG wins that fairly easily.

Grips are a easy fix for the sidewinder, and it certainly is short enough to conceal easily?  Only advantage of pug really is sights and i would argue that is pretty irrelvant for a 1 inch barrel?

Not sure about anyone else, but I've trained in low level light on a number of occasions and the tritium sight alone on the PUG makes it a better CC weapon. Obviously your not trying to draw a bead down for tight groupings at the range, but when you want to hit on center mass at 7 yards in low level lighting in a SD situation, the better sight is more than helpful in assisting with point and shoot.  This is the same reason I tipped my LCP front sight with night glow.  For those that haven't shot low light during SD training, you should try it.

Don't get me wrong, the SW is cool. It is indeed an evolutionary step to the mini.  But for my personal use it doesn't bring enough to the game.  Yes, it is a bit faster to reload at the range.  But reload speed is the least of my worries in a CCW SD situation. Not to mention your still needing to pull some of the magnum shells out as the ejector doesn't clear them well (though definitely an upgrade from tapping them out!!).

I'll stick to my gun here (pun intended) and say the SW is a good range and plinking gun with major enhanced ease of use....but for a CCW backup the PUG is still the gun always in my pocket.  I suppose the one gun you want to stick with depends on intended use. 

[grayelky]

Not sure about anyone else, but I've trained in low level light on a number of occasions and the tritium sight alone on the PUG makes it a better CC weapon. Obviously your not trying to draw a bead down for tight groupings at the range, but when you want to hit on center mass at 7 yards in low level lighting in a SD situation, the better sight is more than helpful in assisting with point and shoot.  This is the same reason I tipped my LCP front sight with night glow.  For those that haven't shot low light during SD training, you should try it.

Original quote edited for relevance
For a concealed carry, self-defense situation, I believe mdzcpa has "nailed" it!! About the only thing to make me happier about my Wasp would be the addition of the Trit site used on the Pug.

[Kevin]

If I could have only 1 NAA mini, it would be my .22LR mini-revolver with the 1¹/₈" barrel, because it's significantly smaller than my magnum-framed mini with the 1 ¹/₂" barrel, and my Sidewinder. It can pass unnoticed in a dress shirt pocket and be palmed much easier than the larger models. The .22 Short model is a bit smaller, but I'd stick with the LR version for ammo availability and variety.

[plinker631]

I wouldike to see an Earl in 22 short to resemble the 1850s S&W Model 1 version 1. Break top...like a Ranger.

[dbgUSMC]

I would have to go with the sidewinder. Even though I don't have any other NAA right now. It is the one pistol of theirs that I wanted to most. I think the pug is probably one I would like to acquire at some point though because it does look awesome!

[plinker631]

Sidewinder the whole cataloge...

[Uncle_Lee]

.32 acp mini................................

[gofishr]

The Sidewinder!!!!!!!!!!

[TwoGunJayne]

No love for the Guardian?

[Maccab]

I'm going to make Uncle Lee a .32acp mini, from a de-act and and send it him.

[wd345]

I have to say my favorite is the Breaktop hands down. The only quick reloading I do is if I see a snake and the breaktop is the fastest. Having said that I also carry a Sidewinder. Its not as handsome as the breaktop or Pug but works quite well. I carry two Naa's and as soon as the sidewinder's are easier to get I will carry two of them and probably put the breaktop in the safe. I love all my Naa's and look forward to anything new they come out with.