I just saw the "Sheriff" for the first time and I'm intrigued.   I gave my Mini convertible to my bride as a BUG for her J Frame Smith and want to get one to replace it.  I'm leaning toward a Pug but the Sheriff looks good, too.  One concern, though, is that the 1860 model, being larger at six inches in length, kind of defeats the purpose of the BUG pocket gun.

Prices are similar.

Any thoughts or comments?

I have owned a NAA mini convertible for close to 25 years and keep mags in it.  Carried it regularly as a pocket gun before getting my CHL last year.  My bride now carries it as a BUG for her .38 J frame and I'm looking for another one for me.  It's a decent New York reload or a prime carry when you just can't carry something bigger but it would never be my choice for the sole home defense gun. 

I have a double barrel LC Smith 16 gauge and several .38s stashed around the house including one near the front door.   Also, my dad-in-law's .45 1911 Colt that he brought home, virtually unfired, from his stint as a navigator on a B-17 during WW2.  I keep it loaded but rarely ever fire it.   Add a .22 Ruger Single Six and a couple of .22 rifles to the mix.  Until recently, I also had a Ruger Blackhawk .357 and another Smith 10-5 snub.

We don't really know if the homeowner in the story had other guns or not.  Only that the Mini was what he had at the moment and it seemed to have worked.

It was actually a compilation of highlights from last year.  That Ol' boy pulled that Mini out of the bib pocket of his cut-off overalls and killed that gator with it.  He called it his "just in case" gun.

Works for me.

I agree with the 21 foot rule.   At more than 25 feet, you are likely to have other options besides shooting anyway, even with a more powerful gun.

Quote from: cfsharry on January-12-14 21:01
Kentserfly,

Don't know if you've ever opened a .22 shot shell but the shot is #12, pretty small stuff. In my estimation loading one gives you only four useful rounds.
After you've been here a while, you'll come to recognize the fellows who are truely knowledgable about guns.  grayelky,  Dinadan and boone fall into that catagory.

Thank you, Gentlemen.  I'm convinced.  The bird shot comes out right now.

Cheers.

Quote from: cfsharry on January-12-14 21:01
I have one round of CCI shot in the Mini I've given to my wife as a carry.

Regarding the Mini what is your wife's current level of competency with the it?
The reason I ask is that it is my belief the Mini is a difficult gun to shoot well and the .22 cartridge marginally effective as a self defense cartridge at best. Add to this the lack of effectiveness of the .22 shot cartridge fired from a short barreled handgun and you have the potential for disaster.

Good points.  I had her shoot about 30 rounds this weekend.  She did very well at ranges from three feet to 10-12.  I'm pretty sure she could hit someone in the face with bird shot if they come within a few feet.   I don't expect anything more of the Mini than close up defense.  I wouldn't expect too much  more for myself and my .38.   

I'm not pushing the use of bird shot, just probing the idea of using it for the first round shot.  I'm getting the idea that it probably wouldn't be very effective.

Quote from: boone123 on January-12-14 21:01
Kenster. I was talking to you, not about you.

Boone, my apologies.  Thank you for clarifying that. 

Dinadan, thank you, also, for your comments.   I ask a lot of questions.  That's how I learn.  Sometimes I seem argumentative when it's really just seeking more information.

Cheers!

Dinadan, thank you for a reasonable response.

In Texas, the CHL manual says "The OBJECTIVE of Force/Deadly Force is to STOP, control or neutralize the other so as to eliminate the apprehension of a fear for life."  The stated objective is not to kill the attacker.  That may be a biproduct of our defense.   We were taught never to state that we intended to kill the BG, only that we were intent on stopping his actions.

Deadly Force is not necessarily dictated and if it was, we would be required to shoot loads a lot bigger than .22s (which is the subject of this forum.)  If a face full of birdshot would stop an attack and perhaps prevent a death of either the attacker or the intended victim, why not try it?  As CCL holders, we are empowered to STOP, control or neutralize an attack.  The law seems to leave to us exactly how we do that.
My original question sought opinions on the efficacy of bird shot in stopping, controlling or neutralizing an attack, possibly giving you an extra second to place some well aimed follow up shots. 

  I'm sorry that asking a question in this forum makes me look like a kid.  At 61, I assure you that I am not. 

As described in my opening post, I merely was curious if it might be effective to carry bird shot in your #1 chamber as a "can't miss" shot to the face that ought to slow an attack down enough to carefully place a stopping blow, or several, to the chest or head.  I've seen that many others have suggested that.  I was just asking for my own benefit.

So, what do you think about it?  (and we are talking about a Mini in the hands of woman who won't carry anything else.)

Quote from: G50AE on January-12-14 19:01

Quote from: Kensterfly on January-12-14 16:01
I'm just talking about birdshot in the NAA pocket gun in case of rude behaviour in the parking lot at the grocery store.

Shooting someone with birdshot because they dissed you in the parking lot at the grocery store is not a very "tactical" and probably not even a legitimate use of deadly force.  A firearm is an instrument of deadly force.  You use it when your other option is looking up at the paramedics and asking them if they can patch you back together, or worse having to visit the county coroner's office for an overnight stay.  Perhaps you and your lady need to read "In the Gravest Extreme" by Massad Ayoob.  In this book Mr. Ayoob explains the moral and ethical conversation you need to have with yourself if you are considering the regular carry of firearms.

Dude, lighten up.  Was my use of euphemism too subtle for you?  Had I been more graphic and said something about "attempted rape in the parking lot" would you have better understood the message?  I read Ayoob's book for the first of many times about 30 years ago.   Yes, this is serious business but again I say, lighten up.  We're on the same team.

Oh, well, for home protection she has a double barrel 16 gauge LC Smith, two S&W Model 10 .38s, and a Ruger Blackhawk .357.

I'm just talking about birdshot in the NAA pocket gun in case of rude behaviour in the parking lot at the grocery store.

Quote from: G50AE on January-12-14 15:01
If you want to fire shot for the first round, you should get a shotgun IMHO.  And then you can transition to your sidearm be it a mini, a guardian or a Glock.

I don't think my bride will agree to toting a shotgun across the WalMart parking lot.

I have one round of CCI shot in the Mini I've given to my wife as a carry.   I told her to shoot the BG in the face with the first shot if he comes with a couple of yards.  That ought to take the wind out of his sails while she follows up with four hollow points to his chest, eye or ear.   The shot round is positioned to  rotate into the firing chamber when she first cocks the gun.

Thoughts?

QuoteJust out of curiosity are you a CB'er?

CB?  As in CB radio?

Not in the last 35 years or so.

Good to know, Boone.  Thanks!

Thanks!  I have a whole bunch of shorts left behind by my dad-in-law.  I'd rather use them up first and save my LRs and Mags, since they are so hard to find these days.

I checked out the LR cylinder with about 20 rounds today and it was flawless, so that leads me to believe that the issue was with the Mag cylinder or the Ammo.  I've got lots of other Mag ammo, several different brands though everything is probably that old.  I'll test the other Ammo and report back.

PS, does the posting verification thing ever go away?  It's really irritating to do it every single post.  I post on probably 50 other boards: trucks, tractors, classic cars, guns, etc and not a single one of them requires a verification code after registration.

Can you fire .22 shorts or .22 longs in an Long Rifle NAA cylinder?  I know they will work in my .22 rifle and Ruger Single Six.

Thanks!

I posted a similar issue in another thread.  Didn't see this one.  I have the same problem.  No matter how I try I cannot get the hammer into the detent.   My convertible was purchased around 1986 or so.  Is it possible that the safety wasn't the same back then.  I tried to call NAA Thursday but they were already closed for the weekend. 

Anyway, what is real danger here?  It's not too likely someone would accidently pull the hammer all the way back is it?  Is the gun likely to fire if the hammper just taps a round?  No one worries about that with other revolvers, like my Smith .38s.

Not being argumentative, just trying to learn.

Thanks!

I have not fired my Mini in about 20 years until I took it out a few days ago and shot it several times.  I gave it a good cleaning and am giving it to my wife to carry until such time she decides she will carry a larger gun.  I took her out into our woods today for a little training.   On the third cylinder full the gun jammed after the first shot or two was fired.  She could not recock the gun.
I had no luck either.  I wiggled the cylinder back and forth a bit and was finally able to cock it.  It jammed several more times.
After a jam, and I got it unjammed and fired all five shots, I found that the empty shells were very difficult to knock out of the chambers.   Is this because the cylinder gets hot and swells?  I never heard of any gun doing that.   

Could it be an ammo problem.  The first couple of cylinders were hollow points, the rest were solid, FMJs.   They are really old rounds.  This is from my deceased father in law's stash and he wrote the date of Dec. 26, 1997 on the box.  But they've been inside a gun cabinet in the house for all these years.  No rust or tarnish or dirt on the rounds.

My wife is not real big on guns and now she does not even trust this gun, which should be 'bullet proof.'

FWIW, I switched cylinders and put ten rounds of LR through it with no issue.  But I'd rather have Mags in her carry piece.

And yes, I know this is not an ideal primary carry but, for now, it's the Mini or nothing.

Comments and guidance greatly appreciated.

Hi.  New guy here.  I have had this mini for at least 20 years.  Haven't fired it since it was new until I took it out yesterday.
I've been reading about the 'safety feature' and  can't figure it out on my gun, so I'm wondering if this older model even has it.
If it helps:  Serial number 071XXX. 

I can see the slots/detents between each chamber and if I pull the hammer back a bit I can rotate the cylinder until that detent is in the firing position between two chambers, but the firing pin will not seat in the detent and the cylinder does not lock in, it  can easily be rotated into firing position.

I have always been able to pull the hammer back just a little bit until it clicks, maybe 1/4 of a fully cocked hammer. The firing pin no longer rests on the round.   But I don't think the newer safety feature works that way, even though my cylinder looks identical to the new ones shown on this website. 

Can someone advise me if I am doing something wrong or if this is just the old type of safety that I have?   If it is old style, does NAA replace it under their lifetime warranty?

My wife and I just took our Texas CHL classes.  For the time being, she does not want to carry a larger gun but it quite willing to  carry this Mini.  (Now I'll have to buy another one for myself!)   I  want it to be safe for her.
Please advise.

Ken