I still think NAA missed the mark with the Ranger II.  I'd have been very happy with a simplified design with out the troublesome extractor mechanism.  Break it open, lift out the cylinder, dump it and reload.  With a spare cylinder, you could reload in 2. Seconds, fastest of all the NAA!  It's pretty hard to make a tiny Schofield without serious tolerances issues.  So just give me a Ranger 3 without the extractor and I'll be happy, NAA will be happy, and confidence will be restored.  Think about it Sandy.

Got one of the 'old's S&W lightest, model 37. (With the skinny sights) Love this gun!  I've also had a couple Charter 38s, and still have a 44.  I liked the Charters, but I love my old Smith.  It's my every day carry gun with my NAA.  When I had good eyes, that old Smith could ring the 12" gong at 100 yds regularly!  She's a keeper!!

Seems to me NAA has made the Ranger overly complicated. Should have a model w/o the extractor. Just lift the cylinder off the cylinder pin and use the pin to punch out the empties, just like all the other NAAs, except that the pin would be fixed. It would still be a big convenience over the 'remove the cylinder pin' models!  My 2 cts.

It may just be the rims expanding a little.  If the frame is a little rough at the breach face, that would cause the cylinder to drag, and you don't have much leverage from the hand.  I'd check that and maybe polish it a little.  Should be fine after that!

That Schofield look sounds really neat!

For those of us without them deep pockets, I'd love to see a less expensive model, one that didn't extract.  It would be SO much easier to just lift the cylinder off to dump empties than my standard mag model!  Sandy, think about it!

I've only tried 5 yds with my minis but both the standard magnum and the 2" BW would shoot just over an inch with a little vertical stringing.  Barrel length?  Not a problem as I have proven in the past on a 12" gong at 100 yds with my old 2" J frame Smith.  Just saying it ain't the barrel length if you can see the sights and control your trigger you can hit!

I really (REALLY!) Wish I could buy a BW from the factory WITH a fluted cylinder!  If they had fit I would have swapped with my magnum.

Actually, I didn't realize the ranger lifted the empties!  That seems like a lot of extra complication when minis are supposed to be 'simple' (I know they are not simple, but single actions are perceived as less complicated than double actions), easy to use small guns.  I think a lift off cylinder would would be tremendously easier to produce and just as well received.  And if they are cheaper, put me down for one!  Can't budge the wife on the price of the current ranger!  It would be fantastic just to have the breaktop to ease cylinder removal!  You should have mentioned this to Sandy before he went through all this work!

Right rear pocket, all day, everyday!

I took my concealed carry gun off a couple hours before bed time a while back.  My wife looked at me and said, What?  Don't you love me anymore?  So I put it back on.  Yes, only for metal detectors does it come off!

Sorry guys, as much as I love single actions with loading gates, I don't believe that's a practical idea.  Having owned a Ruger Bearcat, I had trouble getting my fingers to load 22s in that!  I'm pretty sure loading and unloading a NAA size gun would be extremely difficult for me.  Nope, just easier to take the cylinder out to load and unload.  Or buy a ranger!

Pietro, I just realized you are right. She has hers, now I need another one!   :-)

Yeah, I like the key fob.  It gives the strap around the belt a reason for being there if someone were to look.

Well, I don't carry an arsenal on my person for EDC, in fact since an injury a few years ago, I don't even carry my beloved .45.  But what I DO carry, I always carry.  Primary is an old (like me) S&W lightweight.38 snub.  Been with me a long time, has a very slick action and if the need arises, it can shoot very small groups.  When I go up the mountain it carries a shot load up first, otherwise they are all hard cast +P SWC's.  The mini as my 'always' snake gun, has two shot loads up first then CCI Mini Mags.  In fact since I've acquired the NAA, I rarely load a snake load into the snub any longer.  Since I always need my keys, I made my IWB holster with a key fob on the belt loop.  Stay safe.

Got some friends here in Texas that ran into a 5'  rattler and shot it with a .22 mag mini shot load.  Unfortunately in their excitement they hit it behind the head which did not kill the snake which was as thick as your arm.  BUT it did stun the snake sufficiently to allow a head shot with a CCI Mini Mag.  Saw the skin, saw the holes!  Which proves again everything depends on shot placement!  Remember, do not shoot at the snake.  Shoot at the head!  Here's my 'always', back pocket snake protector.  First up is shot, then solids.

I made my own rig for back pocket carry.  The flap hides the gun and make it look more like a wallet.  I reach into the pocket and flip the flap up with one finger and hook the gun with the next.  It works slick standing or sitting.  This is the "always" rig I carry for snakes with shot loads up in the first two cylinders.  Love this gun!

Thanks, the grips are moose antler I found lying about. (I work at the dump 2 days a week.)

If you want something distinctive for you cylinder, you don't have to buy a special one from NAA, just do what I did.  I wanted a quick visual difference between my convertible BW, so I had one cylinder bead blasted for $10 at my local gunsmith.  Before I gave it to him, I degreased it and put some automotive pin striping tape on it.  It turned out well!

I think I'd buy which ever the dealer had in stock when you find one!

I recently bought two minis, a standard 22 mag, and a BW convertible.  I made a back pocket carrier for the standard and a holster (1 IWB, 1 OWB) for the BW.  We seem to have an outbreak of copperheads here and both minis work really well for that w/shot load up first.  Well, I told my wife not to go into the yard w/o protection.  She has her own 38, but didn't feel she wanted to put that on every time she goes out.  So I handed her the BW w/the folding grip for her sitting on the porch and plant watering and now I can't get it back!  I guess I'm just going to have to buy her her own now. 

Not having one, (yet) I'm not sure how to use the sights on the pug.  But I am surprised at how well these little guns will shoot. I bought a standard for a snake gun and a 2" Black Widow for "more accurate" shooting.  When I took them both to the range, they each shot about 2" at 5 yards!  Obviously the BW with it's sights was a little easier, but the standard shot great too once I learned the secret.  Watching Gunblast I learned that you just look down the top of the frame on the standard and the bullet will hit at the base of the front sight.  It works and is more accurate than it has any business being!  I'm sure you can improve your groups once you find the right combination of grip and sights.  Enjoy! 

I do agree with one thing he said; you can't conceal well with a flea market $10 belt, no matter how expensive your holster!  When I was younger, I got rid of a box of holsters that didn't do what I expected when the problem was actually my belt.  44 Man

What makes an IWB holster work for me is buying my pants one size larger!  Been doing that for 25 years, it works!

Gov, that's an easy fix.  Once your cylinder is in place and the pin is also in place, slowly pull the hammer back until the cylinder spins freely.  Place it between chambers, press the trigger and slowly return the hammer to the down position.  You can verify it with a cylinder wiggle, but the hammer nose should now be in the safety notch.  Love them Pugs!

Very interesting information Bob.  Thanks for sharing it!

BrTex, that was good to know, I probably would not have figured it out.  Where are you located?  I'm in the Hill Country, north of San Antonio.

I love my BW convertible except for the two cylinders looking exactly alike!  Of course the.22 lr cylinder has 'L' stamped on the front, but I wanted an easy way to tell them apart as soon as I picked one up.  So I bought some automotive pin striping tape and applied it to the LR cylinder.  Then I made a quick trip to my gunsmith and asked him if he would please bead-blast the cylinder.  Now I can tell at a glance which is in the gun!

Ok, spent the week before cutting and carving a belt holster for my BW.  I have to confess, I did go to a professional and asked him to stitch it on my lines for me.  Turned out well, and it didn't take much leather!

Had some fun this last week. Found a single, small moose antler and decided to make a pair of grips from it.  Came out well, just need to polish them some more.  They are not perfect, but I'm happy with them!

I have not shot any snakes yet, but I did do extensive penetration tests last year with the .22 long rifle.  I was very pleased with the penetration of the #12 shot in plastic.  With twice as much shot as the lr, I'm very confident that the 22 mag will do the job on a snake!

I've done that!  Ha ha.  I did a little leather work too.  This drops in my back pocket and looks like a wallet.

Ok, I bought a .22lr a year ago but found it too difficult to shoot well w/small grip.  So I decided to trade it for a mag so I could get a longer grip frame.  (And I carry mine for snakes here in the Texas hill country and the mag throws twice as much shot ).  Anyway I found a nice used standard w/hip grip last week and bought it.  At the gun show today I came home with a new BW!  That was easy!  A quick grip swap, also found at the show, and I'm all set!  Clare44man

I lost a 22 lr out of a boot holster one time, but I went back over my trail and found it!  It was right where I stepped over a log.  So I do know they are easy enough to lose!  I like leather, but for security I'd stick with a form fitting kydex.  Maybe stick with that neck holster when wearing those shorts.  44 Man.

Don't know about your Sidewinder, but I'm seriously thinking of the belt buckle option. Here in Texas now a CCW holder can also open carry, taking the legality issue away on the belt buckle.  Most would think it a really cool belt buckle, those in the know would smile and nod.  I'm liking this idea more and more!  44 Man