Sidewinder 22 magnum?

[Terry treefish]

I own a Black Widow.  I love it.  I?m thinking I might love a Sidewinder even more.  I would appreciate some feedback on my ?thinking.?

Plus:   MERRY CHRISTMAS to all.

[bleak_window]

That's actually just your mesolimbic dopamine system working properly.  The answer is YES, you need another NAA revolver.

[Uncle_Lee]

After you get the hang of opening it and closing it, they are just as wonderful as all the others.
That is if you have the grip in your fingers to pull the cylinder release to open it. I don't have that grip anymore.

[Terry treefish]

Thank you for your replies.
I just don?t know.  Also pondering over the 16oz Charter Arms 22 mag revolver.  A very difficult handgun to fine, without buying used.  I like new.

[theysayimnotme]

I've had three Charter Arms guns. The first was the .38 special revolver & the timing & double action didn't last long. The second & third were the take-down rifle & the pistol version. Both were terrible jam-o-matics. Three strikes & you're out.

[bearcatter]

You know the Charter frame is three layers pinned together. The middle layer has the trigger guard. All three layers used to be metal, but on the few I've seen at gun shops in the last couple of years, the middle is now polymer. I had an Undercover 25 or so years ago, and it was okay for the price. Sloppy feeling action. That's all I can say about it.

[Rick_Jorgenson]

I own a Black Widow.  I love it.  I?m thinking I might love a Sidewinder even more.  I would appreciate some feedback on my ?thinking.?

Plus:   MERRY CHRISTMAS to all.

The answer is always "yes, you need another NAA Revolver" 

FWIW.... The Sidewinder is probably my least favorite NAA. Yes, I own one (2 1/2" Bbl.)

As Uncle_Lee stated "After you get the hang of opening it and closing it, they are just as wonderful as all the others"  but you do need to be patient with it.

If you think you need to force it (open or closed) you are already doing something wrong. For those that are not very "familiar" with NAA's it is more difficult to locate the Safety Slot because of the blast shield. There is a notch on the side but visually it is more difficult.

I also own all three barrel length Ranger II's.  Side by side I feel it is much more "substantial" of a mechanism for loading and unloading.  The Sidewinder will not load with a speed loader or unload without rotating the cylinder as one shell is covered when flipped open.

Don't think I'm trying to talk you out of this model, only stating my findings and issues with the Sidewinder.  I will buy the 1 1/5" and 4" Barrel Models if I run across them if priced right.

I do think there are other options you might enjoy more before the Sidewinder.  YMMV 

Some to consider that are nice to shoot... The 3" or 4" Earl, 4" Mini Master, 6" Hog Leg, 4" Ranger II
Some to consider for Concealed Carry...   The Pug, 1 1/8" barrel Magnum or Wasp, 1 5/8" barrel Magnum or Wasp, Bug Out II, The Short

Hope this helps 

[bearcatter]

Well, you narrowed it down to twelve possibilities.....that's a start ! ......

[OV-1D]

  I fully agree with Rick on the Sidewinder and his other choices of course .    With the Sidewinder the cylinder crane needs to further tip out when in the open position so it can accept cartridges from a speed loader , then it would be an exceptional weapon . That mode could be easily done if you have the tools but the warranty would be void  .   

[Wumbey Goomba]

Sidewinder bad, all other models good.

[LHB]

Well, I guess I must be lucky, or odd.   When I bought my sidewinder, new, a few years ago, the crane swings out far enough to let the cases clear the frame, but they hang up on the grip, and I have thought about working on the grip, but haven't yet, don't really see the need to.

I bought the sidewinder for concealed carry, and am not concerned with a fast reload, so don't need a speed loader, but do carry a reload in a pill fob.   My big concern with the regular NAAs is having to take the revolver apart in order to reload.   I've had a bad experience with cylinder pins in an H&R, and so has a friend.   When you drop a pin in the water, you are done shooting for a while.   I bought the sidewinder because I could reload it without worrying about dropping a part, and having to hunt for it, maybe in the dark.   Having your gun in three vital parts, along with the ammo is Okay on the target range, with a table to use, but is a problem in the field.

I was too late to get an original Ranger when they came out, and I was not going to pay the asking price for one when CC became legal in Illinois.   I have never fired my earlybird Ranger II, but I question the need for a speedloader for it.   One of the standard complaints about the EBs was the magnum cases being hard to extract, and some people thought the reason was the cylinder expanding from the heat due to the ability to reload and fire rounds faster than with the regular minis.

[heyjoe]

the fastest reload for me is still the 1 1/8 Magnum Convertible,by swapping out the magnum and LR cylinders. I've gotten quite adept at it.

[Rick_Jorgenson]

Well, you narrowed it down to twelve possibilities.....that's a start ! ......

My thoughts are "one needs to own them all" and do a proper carry rotation 

[bearcatter]

Fastest and easiest reload is the New York reload. A second gun....

[Rick_Jorgenson]

Fastest and easiest reload is the New York reload. A second gun....

And a third! 

[heyjoe]

Fastest and easiest reload is the New York reload. A second gun....

true true

[heyjoe]

Fastest and easiest reload is the New York reload. A second gun....

And a third! 

also true true.....how silly of me

[Uncle_Lee]

Fastest and easiest reload is the New York reload. A second gun....

And a third! 

also true true.....how silly of me

That is me:
2 Black Widows and a Pug.

[Terry treefish]

You guys are great .  Thank you very much .

After reading some reviews, I am now seriously considering the 6? Hogleg.   I believe it would be nice with a 4? barrel. 

As I said , I love my BW, but I just have a wild hankering for a second mini.  I have never been concerned with a speed loader.  For cc I usually carry two.  The BW and a Beretta 25,  or Ruger SR22.
I love all three firearms .

Any thoughts on the Hogleg?   I know I would like having both cylinders.

[Terry treefish]

I just studied over the 3?Earl, with both cylinders.  Wow, pretty impressive.  Will the oversized grip on the BW fit the Earl?  Or, is the stock grip around the same size?

[gadget]

Minimaster or BW grips fit the Earl just fine. I have them on mine and love them.

[Canoeal]

Thank you for your replies.
I just don?t know.  Also pondering over the 16oz Charter Arms 22 mag revolver.  A very difficult handgun to fine, without buying used.  I like new.

Mine is a 4" barreled Charter, But it is accurate and reliable.

[Terry treefish]

Again, thank you.   A lot to think about, but this is the fun part.

[5_shooter]

How about a Black Widow Sidewinder?

[Canoeal]

If you are looking at carry guns, forget about reloading. It ain't going to happen. Unless you plan on being in a gunfight (ridiculous), then get a PMR30.  Otherwise just find a good looking NAA to carry, and carry both if needed...My choices were the BW and the Wasp 1/5/8" barrel. Both are great to carry as "get off me guns".
Reloading is for the range.

[Rick_Jorgenson]

How about a Black Widow Sidewinder?

The Black Widow is perfection as it is and the Sidewinder is the worst designed gun NAA builds.  JMHO

Why add the worst element of a gun (the swing out cylinder) to one of the best guns the NAA line? Again JMHO

I am curious? Is it just to be different? Or to see the engineering of it?

[5_shooter]

I also don't like removing the cylinder. I actually like the Sidewinder. Just like people, all guns have their own personality. A quick reload is a second and third gun.

[Rick_Jorgenson]

I also don't like removing the cylinder. I actually like the Sidewinder. Just like people, all guns have their own personality. A quick reload is a second and third gun.

I understand, there are quite a few Sidewinder's out in the wild. Mostly 1 1/2" Bbl.'s

As long as we're over engineering NAA guns  How about a Break Top Black Widow? 

[barrytheprof]

How about a mini mag with a 2 or 2_1/4 inch barrel? That should be an easy one!

[Terry treefish]

I like my BW just as it is, thank you.   I believe there are valid reasons for wanting to own a Sidewinder or Ranger. 

[Bj]

I also don't like removing the cylinder. I actually like the Sidewinder. Just like people, all guns have their own personality. A quick reload is a second and third gun.

I understand, there are quite a few Sidewinder's out in the wild. Mostly 1 1/2" Bbl.'s

As long as we're over engineering NAA guns  How about a Break Top Black Widow? 

Or how about black widow or pug sights on the ranger?

[Wumbey Goomba]

How about duel counter rotating cylinders.
One mag. one LR.  A smooth bore, turbo charged
revolving barrel. Capable or rotating a bullet at
infinity revolutions.
And laser beam grips that on high can cut through
1/2 steel, and on low can warm coffee.

Wouldn?t take much retooling.

[bearcatter]

Let's really dream and make mini Federation phasers. They had one the size of a cell phone. No more gun whining, since people would only get hurt falling down after they got stunned. Several muggers to deal with, no problem, put it on "wide field"......

[OV-1D]

  Its in the mail Bearcatter . Hey how about big mouth seeking  ammo , works on volume of perks voice at close range .