Black Widow or Mini Master

[cameronrulz]

So I have decided that I would like to purchase my first naa mini revolver.  After much consideration, I've decided I want either a black widow or mini master, but can not decide between the two.  

   My thought is that 90% of the time that I pick up this gun it will just be to shoot some .22lr rounds through at an empty pop can, but I might use it as a trail gun from time to time instead of my ruger mk 1.  I also think being able to fit it in my pocket would be a plus.

   So really I have two questions.  First, is the mini  

   master, with it's 4 inch barrel, significantly more accurate?  Also, is the black widow really small enough to be a pocket pistol?  So really I'm weighing the benefits and costs of getting the larger gun. It makes sense to get the longer barreled version to me in every aspect other than ease of carry. Please let me know your thoughts and experiences with either or both guns.  Thanks

[red14]

Welcome to the forum.  Good question.

   

   The answer to your questions is, yes.

   

   It all depends on whether you are more interested in plinking or carrying.

   

   Hey, either is a good choice.  And, you can get the other one, when you have more money.

[cedarview kid]

Here's my advice: If you're planning to use it for concealed carry, get the Black Widow. If not, get the Minimaster.

   

   But, honestly, it doesn't really matter which one you pick right now. If you're so torn between the two, you'll eventually end up with both of them anyway. ;) So, in truth, it's just a matter now of what order in which you get them.

[wildtim]

If it makes you feel any better I also want 2 mini's.

   

   I'm planning a future with a 1,1/8 mini mag and a mini aster at some point.  I want both a bug gun and a fun plinker.

[olgy]

If it were me, I'd make the BUG my fun plinker...provides a lot of good things like familiarity, muscle memory, confidence, and other benefits of a lot of practice.  This would work unless you want a really accurate fun plinker, which I demand, in which case a slightly larger gun with better trigger and sights might be desirable.  But "need" is not a factor in most of these decisions.. it's what we really "want".

[Dinadan]

I want two mini's too. I remember some of the long term owners warning that it would

   be like this . . .

   

   I have the pug, which is the same gun as as the black widow except for the grips and  

   one inch barrel versus two inch barrel. I do not think the extra barrel length will matter

   much for pocket carry, but the grips are bulky compared to the pug. Of course, grips are  

   easily changed, so I would say that the black widow is truly is a pocket pistol.

[mndoug]

Except that... I'm changing out the grips on my new Pug, so it won't be any bulkier than any other mini.

   

   I have more concern about the locking mechanism on the Pug -- as you may know, mine failed on the first trip to the range and could have resulted in an exploding firearm.  

   

   I think if I were starting over, I might look hard at the new Break-Top (after the locking mechanism has been proven).

[antares_b]

I don't have any experience with the Mini Master, but the Black Widow is easy to carry in a front-pocket holster, even with the large grip. It fits just right in my pocket.

[Dinadan]

Mndoug - I have not forgot your problem. Maybe Sunday I will try some more mags through

   my pug. I really prefer shooting LRs or shorts, so I will probably hold off on the breaktop

   unless it comes out in LR. So my next mini will probaby be a minimag conversion, just to  

   give me some variety. Or maybe an earl . . .

[coinchop]

Mndoug...

   WHAT WAS THE FIX on your Pug?

[mndoug]

Guys... don't have the thing back from NAA yet.  Will let you all know when I receive it.  Might call about it on Monday.

[2cooltoolz]

Hi Cameronrulz, and welcome to the forum, though I'm not an old-timer here myself!

   

   "Also, is the black widow really small enough to be a pocket pistol?"

   

   I can't speak to the mini-master; no experience, but I've owned a couple of Black Widows, and I love them!  It's not the easiest gun to learn to shoot well, but you can learn!  

   

   The Black Widow is actually a very accurate little firearm, but it is a small firearm, with a SHORT sight radius, therefore more "wobble" and a much higher sensitivity to trigger control.

   Not a 25 yard target gun, unless you're a master.  I'm not.

   

   But in .22WMR, it is a High Velocity, high energy, short range SD gun, and a blast to plink with.

   As far as the "pocket pistol" question, here's how it compares to the other, most universally accepted, 2", 5 shot pocket revolver out there:

   The 2" S&W 38 special, Airweight, J-frame (not knocking them...I have two!)(You might notice, I switched to the smaller PUG style grips)

   

   

   

[hawn]

Hi everybody. I've been watching this forum for a while now and this is my 1st post.

   

   If you're worried about the size of a Black Widow. I carry mine with a Laser-Lyte, daily in my front pocket. It's small, light, and easy to carry if you have a pocket holster that does what it's supposed to.  I got one from John Losey and it's a no nonsense, a very practical and a very comfortable holster. Just my 2cent worth.

   

   Aloha from ~hank

[red14]

Welcome to the forum, Hawn.   As for accuracy, my 3" Earl shot within 3" diameter, in 15 shots yesterday from 7' away.  Not any records, but I was impressed.

[corncobavery]

Hi,

   

   I have the Black Widow and the Kel-Tec p32.  I love them both.  However, I tend to carry the BW (in a galco Sto-N-Go IWB holster) more than I carry the Kel Tec.  I had the holster sowed at a shoe repair for a tighter fit.  The BW is no problem to carry.  I forget I have it.  Have it on now and had forgotten it was there.  As far as accuracy, I have no problem with it at all.  Accurate at 15' in a 2" target circle. Can't ask for much more than that :-)

[tocsn40]

my BW is in my pocket now and has been all day. i changed to the oversized wood grips and love it i allso have a mini 1 1/8 at 10 yards i can hit a pop bottle 4 0ut of 5. i to will not clame to be dead eye dick but that is good enough for me. I still want more mini's and plan to get a 22 short love naa guns

[redhawk4]

May be I have deeper pockets than others(unfortunately not due to being rich), but it seems to me all NAA revolvers could be pocket carried without too much of a problem.

   

   I find a J frame Smith carries well enough in a pocket holster in Jeans. It seems to me even a 4" inch barrelled Master would work given the cylinder diameter being so much less than the J Frame, particularly with smaller grips. I used to want a Pug, now if I bought another Mini, I would go for the extra barrel length of the BW and fit smaller grips - this is for concealed carry. The extra barrel length is a benefit in the ballistics department as well. If I was thinking occasional carry, more plinking, I'd go for the Master you can't beat some extra sighting radius and again an extra 2 inches improves the MV.