Sidewinder or a Pug?

[Mr.Ed131a]

The real question is, do you ever see yourself reloading in the middle of a bag guy argument?  If the answer is yes, then maybe the sidewinder best.  If your plan not having to reload, then a Pug, or equivilent, might be the winner. But, I only have Christmas money for one. So, which model did you buy and why? 
Thanks

[blue_heron]

 The PUG. Mine is in my pajama pocket as I write this.

[seaotter]

Just to put out a contrarian point of view: For about the same money as a sidewinder you could buy two regular 1.6 inch barrel magnum minis, thus giving you a really quick reload! I like the Pug, but that barrel is just too short for me. And I like the sidewinder, but it really doesn't reload all that fast. And it appears to be a bit delicate (although I freely admit that I have never actually shot one, just held it longingly at the gun shop). Of course, some states don't allow a man to carry two firearms at once, in which case you ought to move (lol!).

[zburkett]

Ditto on seaotter.  What I carry is a LR mini with a holster grip on the farm and a mag mini out in public.  I practice with the LR cylinder in the mag mini.

[OV-1D]

All are nice but a BlackWidow is as small as you really want to control and carry . OPINION !

[Uncle_Lee]

No, I will never reload in a shoot-out.
If the reload is needed, no mini would fit the bill. (unless there was only one bad guy/gal and he/she is on the ground wounded and I am behind a dumpster)
I agree with otter, buy 2 regular 22 mag minis.

Personally, I carry 2 Black Widows and a Pug.
Why, I guess cause I like the heavy barrel and the sights.

[zburkett]

With the floppy wobbler and a little practice the minis are all as accurate as any snub nose.

[boone123]

I carry a 22 cal. mini in an ankle holster, and have for years. When my clothing will allow it I will carry my Pug, or my Black Widow if I am going out of my safe zone, or if I feel like I want to. I shoot the BW much more accurate than the Pug and they both carry about the same.  If I lived in a risky area I would carry two like uncle lee. In the past I timed myself on reloading and posted it on here, but don't remember the time. It wasn't life saving fast.
Different areas  call for different needs when it comes to what to carry. If I lived in a high crime area, it would be two minis, and a center fire. I have some, including a NAA Guardian that carries  well in a coat pocket

Some people carry an extra loaded cylinder, which if I went to change cylinders under stress, all the bullets would probably fall out in the process.
What ever gun you carry, practice shooting it, a LOT..

[top dog]

I would prefer the PUG as I have two along with the 22lr cylinders.

But that is my choice. The Sidewider is also excellent. Which feels best to you?

Either way you cannot go wrong.

                                                                              Top Dog

[heyjoe]

Just to put out a contrarian point of view: For about the same money as a sidewinder you could buy two regular 1.6 inch barrel magnum minis, thus giving you a really quick reload! I like the Pug, but that barrel is just too short for me. And I like the sidewinder, but it really doesn't reload all that fast. And it appears to be a bit delicate (although I freely admit that I have never actually shot one, just held it longingly at the gun shop). Of course, some states don't allow a man to carry two firearms at once, in which case you ought to move (lol!).

good points!

the only state that i know of that doesnt allow concealed carry of more than one gun is New Mexico. You can carry one concealed and as many as you want open carry there. Strange law.

[heyjoe]

if you really want to show off you could carry two NAA Breaktop Rangers.

[JRobyn]

Very slim chance I would attempt a reload in a bad situation, although my pocket holster does have 10 extra rounds.  I'd have to have good cover.

I carry the Sidewinder because the engineer in me likes the "mechanicalness" of it.  Plus, dear wife bought it for me.

[seaotter]

One of the reasons that I got the BW is that it actually looks like a "real gun". When I have to go to a sketchy area, I like to use the mini and the BW in tandem: when crossing a parking lot/garage/inner city unlighted area at night, I often have the mini out and actually hidden in my hand, ready for deployment, because I doubt that there would be much time for dialog and reasoning. In daylight areas where I have more room for maneuvering, I often keep my hand  on my pocketed BW. That alone has been enough to keep things Civil most of the time. On two occasions, the mere appearance of the BW was enough to change the tone of the dialog. I am not sure that the sight of a mini would have the same result!
Ironically, I carry my minis in bad neighborhoods, because I don't want to look like I am carrying: I don't want to look like a threat. In the woods, where few threats actually exist, I usually carry a compact 9. That's definitely counter-intuitive, and perhaps misguided, but that's what works for me!

[rattlehead]

Never tried a sidewinder.. But of the ones I've owned (Black Widow, Pug and regular Magnum frame) I prefer to carry the PUG for some reason.

[Texduk3]

'cause its just a bad ass lil gun 

[Bigbird48]

I love my edc BW or BJTALO. my sidewinders never leave home LOL and I get all sweaty thinkin about the Sheriff I want 

[RogueTS1]

I'd take the Pug with the wooden Secret Service grips.

[Mr.Ed131a]

Guys - great comments!  I guess all options, from the Break Top Ranger, which is about three times what I paid for my first car, to the NAA-22MS are viable options. Whether choosing a basic model or a Pug, Wasp, Black Widow, is up to persional preference.

Reload = no. Following the four rules of a confrontation, Avoid, Evade, Defend, Escape, says one cylinder better be enough.

One recommendation - I recently added a LaserLyte hand grip laser to my 22MC. IMHO, as a pocket gun, putting dot on target and letting the Hammer fall is way easier that trying to obtain a sight picture with these little guys.

Happy New Year everyone and thanks again for the comments.

Mr. Ed

[PaPa K]

It seems it would be faster to have a second cylinder loaded and pull a Josey Wales reload.

[OV-1D]

Guys - great comments!  I guess all options, from the Break Top Ranger, which is about three times what I paid for my first car, to the NAA-22MS are viable options. Whether choosing a basic model or a Pug, Wasp, Black Widow, is up to persional preference.

Reload = no. Following the four rules of a confrontation, Avoid, Evade, Defend, Escape, says one cylinder better be enough.

One recommendation - I recently added a LaserLyte hand grip laser to my 22MC. IMHO, as a pocket gun, putting dot on target and letting the Hammer fall is way easier that trying to obtain a sight picture with these little guys.

Happy New Year everyone and thanks again for the comments.

Mr. Ed

  Right back to you Mr.Ed . Hey just a suggestion ........don't rely on those cheaper lasers unless your real close . They always move after firing some , rarely have I owned one that stayed put and then they broke down , ha . Better practice to the point of just shooting off the cuff so to say and get close , its easy after knowing and living with your weapon long enough also holding the gun the same way twice is important tough to do with these minis unless with much larger grips so your grip is constant . So much for my opinion , happy shooting .

[Mr.Ed131a]

Mowhawk - all good.

[OV-1D]

  Heres my latest acquisition with a little enhancement . Still have yet to own a Pug .

[riadat]

If you have to decide between reloading an naa in a gunfight or run like hell, my advice is run like hell.

I would rather switch to a pocket knife than reload an naa mini.

[bleak_window]

You won't be reloading either one, so...Pug.

[Canoeal]

All are nice but a BlackWidow is as small as you really want to control and carry . OPINION !

I agree. Just much better performance, the gun and the ballistics.

[grayelky]

Go for the Pug, but, with the Tritium front sight. Bad guys will rarely wait until you gt to a well lit area. The glowing front sight will help you shoot quicker in low light.