I emailed Speer and asked whether they'd tested that .22 Mag SB load in shorter barrels than 2" (or 1.9", for one of the popular snubs). They promptly replied that they hadn't done any testing in any shorter barrels than 2", and couldn't offer any feedback for it relative to the shorter barrels.

I have a standard NAA 1 1/8" .22 Mag revolver. While I have some boxes of the Hornady 45gr FTX Critical Defense, I recently picked up some boxes of the Speer GDHP SB for it. Just $4 more than the FTX/CD in my area.

FWIW, I'm considering ordering one of the Black Widow models. The one with the low profile fixed sights and the .22LR conversion cylinder. I'm thinking that having the 2" barrel, and replacing those gawd awful BW grips with the standard size slip-on rubber grip (like I use on my .22 Mag & .22 LR NAA revolvers), it might make for a handy little pocketable .22 gun. Considering how accurate the little 1 1/8" LR & Mag guns can be, even lacking a rear sight and having that rudimentary front post, I imagine one with actual sights might be a fun & adequately accurate plinking pocket gun.

 

I hadn't considered the 2 inch Black Widow because of the grip size. But, duh, your idea of switching grips is good if the frame is the same size as the standard magnum frame. It also has real sights compared to the standard mini-guns, and the extra inch of barrel should increase the muzzle velocity at least another 100 feet per second over the Pug, plus adds another inch to the sight radius. If you get one, please be sure to contribute to the knowledge base!

 

According the website, the accessory grips fit all LR and MAG frames (appropriate to caliber/grip size).

Black Widow grip options: https://northamericanarms.com/product-category/accessories/black-widow/black-widow-grips/

Page 2 (above) shows the slip-on rubber grips I put on my standard 1 1/8" MAG NAA.

 

I had a standard old school NAA 22 WMR with the 1 1/8 inch barrel. I got rid of it eventually because every type of ammo I shot through it was keyholing within a few yards of the muzzle. Something about the cylinder and forcing cone alignment never seemed quite right as well as a pretty huge cylinder gap in my particular example. Are you guys getting round holes on target? I liked the gun but when your bullets are flying sideways they are all ball ammo...

 

I've not seen any indication of anything other than some nicely clustered, normal round holes in the paper when shooting a couple different brands/bullet weights of .22MAG in my standard 1 1/8" NAA revolver. Then again, I haven't taken it out past 7yds, either.

I'm still thinking about getting a 2" model, which ought to better stabilize the bullets, and I imagine their newer 4" models might be sort of interesting for the folks looking for a unique itty bitty revolver with a "big revolver" barrel length.

 

Yeah, i think I just got a Monday morning special. May roll the dice again at some point and pick up another one down the road. The 1 1/8 inch WMR or the 1 inch pug are about the only firearms I know of that you could literally conceal in a speedo.

 

The thing that surprised me was how well the little 1 1/8" Mag shot "for accuracy" at close range, even with the rudimentary front (only) sight. I'm hoping that if I get the BW with the 2" barrel and actual fixed sights (front & rear), the little gun might become an accurate little plinker. Time will tell.

 

Are you guys getting round holes on target? I liked the gun but when your bullets are flying sideways they are all ball ammo...

If you enlarge the pictures of the entry holes in the 4 water jugs in my earlier post, you will see that the Gold Dot appears to be pretty stable until the 4th jug. On the other hand, if penetration is adequate, I really don't think a .22 travelling sideways is a bad thing.

 

Any exit holes? If not, what about recovered bullets, did they expand?

 

I love my little mini mag. I know most don't consider it as much but I love mine. I put 50 rounds of winchester through mine recently, no keyholes, all seemed good. I have a p238 that resides in my pocket most days but with my attire for work some days its a bit much. My little mini mag fits the bill those days.

 

I miss my Pug, I may transfer it from Arizona to NY to put it on my permit. Got one of the very first ones xx004! Loaded with CCI right now.

 

Finally found a dealer who knew how to find a BW 2" NAA, with both .22 MAG & .22LR cylinders.

I'd called the company and they told me they're shipping everything they can make to their distributors every week, but they're back-ordered between 4-6 months on all their models. Guess they're hot items right now. The usual dealer I use for guns has been unable to find any.

So, I tried a dealer I'd not yet tried, and they called me back the next day and told me they'd found exactly the model I wanted in-stock with a distributor they use. It's arrived, paid for and I'm just waiting out the waiting period.

Now I've got to replace those HUGE Black Widow grips with something of normal size and get another pocket holster.

I'll try a few different .22 MAG loads through the 2" barrel, since I have some boxes of both W-W, Hornady FTX and Speer GDHP, and see if there's any "preference" displayed by the little gun. I'm hoping when the .22LR cylinder is in the gun that it "likes" the Stingers and Maxi-Mags, too.

 

That's a lot of stiff plastic through which to fire some .22 caliber bullets with bonded jackets. Not sure how it would skew deformation or expansion.

I'd be more interested to see either 'plain' water tests (or at least some thin plastic bag containers stacked in a wooden box), with the standard calibration calculations for water 'penetration', or some properly conducted calibrated Knox Gel tests.

On the other hand, it might be interesting to see how the FTX plastic-tipped hollow cavity .22's might fare when encountering the stiff plastic layers.

 

fastbolt, you have me looking for a BW now, although not as diligently as you. It would be cool to bag a squirrel, rabbit or blue grouse with one while dinking around in the mountains.

For a last ditch gun, I was just happy to see that the ammo penetrated more than I expected. I am not really worried about expansion or deformation.

 

I rather suspect that we're of a like mind in some respects.

 

Neat little heater! Didn't know they made Gold Dots in .22

 

Well, I received the slip-on rubber grip for the Magnum models from NAA, along with a DeSantis nylon pocket holster made to fit the bulkier Black Widow mini's. The bulky BW grip stocks will be replaced with the smaller slip-on soft rubber grip and the gun will get some confirmation-of-function testing when I have to help teach a patrol rifle class this next week.

FYI, the soft plastic (rubber) BW grip stocks remind me of the older Mustang soft stocks, in that they use soft plastic plugs to help hold the edges together.

NAA included a small Allen wrench to fit the fixed dot, dovetailed sights.

The empty weight is listed at 8.9oz, compared to the empty weight of the standard 1 1/8" .22 MAG at 6.5oz. I feel the felt recoil of the little standard MAG is pretty minimal, and I suspect the added couple of ounces of "forward" weight will make the little BW model even more so with both .22 LR & MAG cylinders.

The OAL is listed at 5.8", versus 5.13" for the standard Mag mini-revolver, but for that increase in length and a couple of ounces you get a 2" barrel (for which the GDHP load was optimized).

EDITED: I forgot that the measurements I used from the website probably included the extra length added by the thick BW grips, and replacing them with either the standard wood grip stocks or even the slip-on Hogue makes it a bit shorter. Comparing it to my standard 1 1/8" MAG model, it's only the barrel length difference that stands out (naturally), which is approx 7/8" (.875"?). The added height of the taller muzzle profile and dovetailed sight does require the different DeSantis holster, however.

For comparison, my LCP's are listed at 9.6oz and 5.16" OAL.

I wish NAA has been around to make this little .22LR/MAG conversion model back in my younger days when I used to wear a Ruger Bearcat through the fields for general plinking or making offhand shots at lizards.

 

Well, I received the skip-on rubber grip for the Magnum models from NAA, along with a DeSantis nylon pocket holster made to fit the bulkier Black Widow mini's. The bulky BW grip stocks will be replaced with the smaller slip-on soft rubber grip and the gun will get some confirmation-of-function testing when I have to help teach a patrol rifle class this next week.

FYI, the soft plastic (rubber) BW grip stocks remind me of the older Mustang soft stocks, in that they use soft plastic plugs to help hold the edges together.

NAA included a small Allen wrench to fit the fixed dot, dovetailed sights.

The empty weight is listed at 8.9oz, compared to the empty weight of the standard 1 1/8" .22 MAG at 6.5oz. I feel the felt recoil of the little standard MAG is pretty minimal, and I suspect the added couple of ounces of "forward" weight will make the little BW model even more so with both .22 LR & MAG cylinders.

The OAL is listed at 5.8", versus 5.13" for the standard Mag mini-revolver, but for that increase in length and a couple of ounces you get a 2" barrel (for which the GDHP load was optimized).

EDITED: I forgot that the measurements I used from the website probably included the extra length added by the thick BW grips, and replacing them with either the standard wood grip stocks or even the slip-on Hogue makes it a bit shorter. Comparing it to my standard 1 1/8" MAG model, it's only the barrel length difference that stands out (naturally), which is approx 7/8" (.875"?). The added height of the taller muzzle profile and dovetailed sight does require the different DeSantis holster, however.

For comparison, my LCP's are listed at 9.6oz and 5.16" OAL.

I wish NAA has been around to make this little .22LR/MAG conversion model back in my younger days when I used to wear a Ruger Bearcat through the fields for general plinking or making offhand shots at lizards.

I'm still waiting for your radio report. ☺

Yes, I'm a patient guy.

 

Thanks brother for the report. Two things grabbed me: first, the Stingers shooting to the same POI as the GDHPs and second, that NA will rebarrel these little rascals. And for not much $!

I've thought about carrying my NA mini but worry about what would happen if I ever needed a second shot. The tiny gun tends to get lost in my hand. It takes me some time to get it squared away and cocked after each shot.

You're a good sport for coming back to this old Post. I appreciate it.

 

Thanks brother for the report. Two things grabbed me: first, the Stingers shooting to the same POI as the GDHPs and second, that NA will rebarrel these little rascals. And for not much $!

I've thought about carrying my NA mini but worry about what would happen if I ever needed a second shot. The tiny gun tends to get lost in my hand. It takes me some time to get it squared away and cocked after each shot.

You're a good sport for coming back to this old Post. I appreciate it.

De nada.