Sidewinder comments and photos

Dinadan · February-17-13 16:02

I had my Sidewinder out again today for a little shooting. I have put about 300 rounds through it now, mostly LR and shorts. I have to say that I am pretty darned pleased with its performance. When I first got this gun I had some doubts about the toughness, or strength, of the swingout cylinder crane and pin. It does seem completely adequate to the task, though I am still careful to exert a backward pressure on the tip of the pin when I close the cylinder. I have never had a round or rounds jam in the cylinder, as some report. Never a FTF either. I have shot CCI Maximags, Golddots, Minimags, Velocitors, Target Shorts, and Subsonic Shorts. Some Remington Target LR and Aguila Super Colibri. Rather oddly, the primer powered Super Colibri is harder to extract than any other round I have shot. The first photo is me trying to capture the little cloud of smoke on camera. Harder than it would seem, for me at least, but it is visible.

Dinadan · February-17-13 17:02

I wanted to mention the Sidewinder sights. They seem to suit me better than the sights on my other NAA Minis. Other folks may not agree. The first photo is the sight picture that puts me on target. I am more accurate with my sidewinder than with most of my other Minis.

There has been some discussion about rifling lately. Here is a photo of a recovered Mag round and a short. Note that the rifling marks are clear in each. Also a photo down the bore of my Sidewinder. I think the rifling looks pretty good. I do get some keyholing with the lower velocity rounds.

45flint · February-17-13 17:02

Cool report thanks. Steve

cfsharry · February-17-13 18:02

Dinadan,
Thanks for sharing. Great pics.
How much did you have to pay that good looking, outdoorsy dude to pose as you?
No, I'm not looking for a date.

Bigbird48 · February-17-13 18:02

Good report can't wait to get mine,

oldguy · February-17-13 20:02

Nice report, thanks for posting.
Looking forward to getting mine back.

glenn · February-17-13 20:02

Gawd ... they really DO know how to make rifling. My "1-1/8 lr/mag" doesn't have any ... nor does my new "short". I need to call Jessica.

heyjoe · February-17-13 20:02

nice informative report. excellant photos. good job.

45flint · February-18-13 03:02

You also have raised the bar for outdoor attire: most disturbing.

Uncle_Lee · February-18-13 05:02

Very good.
Thanks for the pictures and report.

bud · February-18-13 08:02

Dinadan,

Is that 2nd hole in your hat a bullet hole? LOL

OV-1D · February-18-13 12:02

When I look at Dinadan's picture I feel the need to go watch some Indiana Jones movies . It is a nice hat isn't it ?

45flint · February-18-13 13:02

Quote from: OV-1D on February-18-13 12:02
When I look at Dinadan's picture I feel the need to go watch some Indiana Jones movies . It is a nice hat isn't it ?

He's got it all working, think he needs to be a Cabella fashion consultant.

glenn · February-18-13 14:02

Yes Dan .. I forgot to commend you on the great pictures !
I tried to get pix of my non-existant rifling .. to no avail. Either I don't have the skills .. or the equipment .. or ~~maybe~~ probably both.

And ... what Flint said !

Bigbird48 · February-18-13 14:02

Looks Like a Barmah hat to me. there nice hats

Dinadan · February-18-13 14:02

Glenn - most of my camera skill is built into the camera by Sony. It is tricky getting it to focus on the bore and getting the lighting right to show the rifling. You did not see the fifteen or twenty photos that were just blobs.

45flint - I do buy most of my stuff from Cabellas. The hat is an Outback hat, but it did come from Cabellas. I always get the oilskin crushers because I always crush my hat accidentally anyway. It is usually kind of hot here for felt hats. On the subject of hats, now that I have a NAA Short, I have been trying to think of a way to carry it in my hat. In the old Gun Smoke series there was an episode where "Doc" is held at gunpoint by a bad guy, but when "Doc" takes off his hat he kills the bad guy with a derringer he had concealed in his hat. I have always thought that was a clever way to carry - I mean, it worked for "Doc" - right!

heyjoe · February-18-13 15:02

velcro on the inside top of the crown.

frimsure · February-18-13 19:02

great pics. i to love the look. i think i have a hat like that somewhere. thanks for the review...

G50AE · February-28-14 00:02

Quote from: Dinadan on February-18-13 14:02
On the subject of hats, now that I have a NAA Short, I have been trying to think of a way to carry it in my hat. In the old Gun Smoke series there was an episode where "Doc" is held at gunpoint by a bad guy, but when "Doc" takes off his hat he kills the bad guy with a derringer he had concealed in his hat. I have always thought that was a clever way to carry - I mean, it worked for "Doc" - right!

Several years ago when "Cat in the hat" style hats were popular, I had wanted to develop a hat holster to go with one. The only problem being that the style of hat in question was too floppy to maintain its shape with the additional weight of a firearm.

Goatpacker · February-28-14 09:02

Those pics are outstanding!!!

n9znd · February-28-14 09:02

The Crown on that Mini looks better than any Mini that I have had. They must of really made an effort on that one or He recrowned it himself. Jim

Uncle_Lee · February-28-14 09:02

I don't think it left the factory with a crown like that.
I have had 3 Sidewinders and none had/has any crown at all.
The barrels come out to a sharp edge like a gasket cutter.

Dinadan · February-28-14 17:02

Wow - another thread brought back from the dead! I had only had my Sidewinder about six weeks when I posted this. Now that another year has gone by, my Sidewinder has probably had about a thousand rounds through it and no problems yet. Magnum .22 has become so scarce that I have not shot a lot of mags out of it since my initial testing. After one year, maybe thirty times plinking with it, my Sidewinder has joined my 3" Earl as one of my two favorite Minis to shoot. Part of that is the accuracy of those two Minis - both are quite accurate. Part is that I do not have to worry about dropping the cylinder pin in dead leaves and losing it.

Quote from: uncle_lee on February-28-14 09:02
I don't think it left the factory with a crown like that.
I have had 3 Sidewinders and none had/has any crown at all.
The barrels come out to a sharp edge like a gasket cutter.

Actually it did come just like that. Maybe I just lucked out! Hey, If I remember right, you had very low serial numbered Minis, Uncle Lee. Maybe they refined the crowning by the time they got to mine. Or maybe the guys in the factory said something like: "That old geezer Uncle Lee is too old to do much shooting anyway, so lets not bother too much with the crown on his guns."

Dinadan · February-28-14 18:02

Quote from: G50AE on February-28-14 00:02
Several years ago when "Cat in the hat" style hats were popular, I had wanted to develop a hat holster to go with one. The only problem being that the style of hat in question was too floppy to maintain its shape with the additional weight of a firearm.

Actually, one of my Cabelas hats has a neat little pocket that the NAA Short fits in just fine. A safety pin and rubber band to keep it snug, and it is good to go. I have not actually carried my short like this yet, but I think I will give it a try tomorrow, since you refreshed my memory.

OV-1D · February-28-14 19:02

Very nice Dinadan looks as though it was made for it there , cool .

Oh in your kneeing picture .............. your entirely too clean . Ha .

heyjoe · February-28-14 20:02

now that is a classy ccw

MR_22 · March-01-14 10:03

Quote from: Dinadan on February-28-14 18:02
Actually, one of my Cabelas hats has a neat little pocket that the NAA Short fits in just fine. A safety pin and rubber band to keep it snug, and it is good to go. I have not actually carried my short like this yet, but I think I will give it a try tomorrow, since you refreshed my memory.

Haha, that's perfect!

Javier C. · March-01-14 14:03

Want a Sidewinder so badly that I can almost taste it. Would taste like, ....smoked St. Louis style bar-b-que ribs! Sweet and spicy.

Yeah, I know it is an odd metaphor for a revolver, but it works for me.

G50AE · March-01-14 22:03

Hey Dinadan, on a previous thread I believe I had brought up the subject of pith helmets. Your pic got me thinking, maybe a pith helmet would work better than a "Cat-in-the-hat" style hat.

Nice pic of the pocket watch, BTW. I have always been a fan of them.

heyjoe · March-02-14 10:03

when your whole posts are shaded in pink it might be a sign that you are on the way out the door. i tried to give you a heads up.

ikoiko · March-02-14 10:03

Posters that are "moderated" have their postings go to a moderator for approval before appearing on the board.

Standing on the door step.

Bigbird48 · March-02-14 14:03

Quote from: Javier C. on March-01-14 14:03
Want a Sidewinder so badly that I can almost taste it. Would taste like, ....smoked St. Louis style bar-b-que ribs! Sweet and spicy.

Yeah, I know it is an odd metaphor for a revolver, but it works for me.

There are a few for sale on gunbroker go get one

Dinadan · March-02-14 16:03

Quote from: Javier C. on March-01-14 14:03
Want a Sidewinder so badly that I can almost taste it. Would taste like, ....smoked St. Louis style bar-b-que ribs! Sweet and spicy.

Yeah, I know it is an odd metaphor for a revolver, but it works for me.

Javier - just promise yourself to indulge in a new Sidewinder when you get your current crises sorted out. It will give you something to look forward to for sure!

TwoGunJayne · March-03-14 09:03

Quote from: Dinadan on February-28-14 18:02
Quote from: G50AE on February-28-14 00:02
Several years ago when "Cat in the hat" style hats were popular, I had wanted to develop a hat holster to go with one. The only problem being that the style of hat in question was too floppy to maintain its shape with the additional weight of a firearm.
Actually, one of my Cabelas hats has a neat little pocket that the NAA Short fits in just fine. A safety pin and rubber band to keep it snug, and it is good to go. I have not actually carried my short like this yet, but I think I will give it a try tomorrow, since you refreshed my memory.

I like this very much.