Over the years, I’ve handled several North American Arms (NAA) Mini Revolvers at gun shows. The first thing you notice when picking one up is just how rock-solid and well-machined they are. Yet, we’ve all heard the saying: “Friends don’t let friends carry mouse guns.” Anyone with firearm knowledge knows that .22 LR is the smallest of the small, yet it’s also the caliber many of us grew up shooting. It’s the round that countless dads, uncles, and grandfathers used to teach us the fundamentals of gun safety and marksmanship. Because of that, .22 LR holds a special place in my heart.
When it comes to firearms, I generally categorize them into three groups: hunting, self-defense, and fun guns. As I’ve gotten older—and as prices have climbed—I’ve become more selective in my purchases. With my trusty Ruger MK II and Ruger 10/22, I’ve not felt little need to add more “fun guns” to my collection. Those firearms have been my go-to for introducing my wife, kids, and friends to shooting, ensuring their first experiences were positive ones that might turn them into lifelong enthusiasts.
The NAA Mini Revolver: Where Does It Fit?
The NAA Mini Revolver isn’t a hunting gun, nor is it an ideal choice for a primary self-defense weapon. However, as a deep-concealment backup, a last-ditch option, or something to toss in a pocket when carrying something larger isn’t practical? Maybe.
While the .22 LR isn’t known for its stopping power, I’ve never met anyone willing to take a round to any part of their body. As a cop, I saw firsthand the kind of damage even the cheapest .22 LR round could do, whether fired from a rifle or a handgun. But as with all caliber’s, shot placement is key, you can’t worry about effectiveness if you don’t hit the target. And before that, you need to be carrying a gun.
When evaluating personal defense tools, I break things down into four logical steps: selection, carry, deployment, and use.
Selection: What Role Does It Serve?
The NAA Mini Revolver fills a niche. It’s significantly smaller than a J-frame snubbie, making it an appealing deep-concealment option. Many of us came up in an era when a full-size auto or revolver was backed up by a snubbie. This little gun? It might just be the perfect backup to the backup. If you ever need that third layer of defense, you’re in a bad spot—but it’s even worse if you have nothing to go to.
I view holdout guns differently from backup guns. A holdout gun is an ultra-small firearm that can be concealed so well that even a cursory search is unlikely to reveal it—what some call “Onion Field insurance.” It’s a last resort. The NAA Mini Revolver fits that role perfectly, particularly for situations where attire or assignment limits your options.
Carry: Overcoming the First Hurdle
Carrying the NAA Mini Revolver presents its own challenges. The company offers several novel carry methods, from belt buckle holsters to kydex neck holsters—none of which inspire much confidence. While it’s a single-action revolver, I’m not a fan of carrying a loose gun in my pocket. Leather pocket holsters exist, but they tend to shift around, making consistent indexing and achieving a master grip difficult.
If I’m wearing a belt, I’m carrying a real gun on it. But the integrated holster grip model caught my attention—it allows the gun to be clipped inside a pocket or waistband, with the trigger enclosed in the grip. This setup is how most of us carry folding knives today. I originally picked it up without a clear plan for how I’d use it, but after working with it, I found a role for it.
Deployment: The Real Challenge
Carrying a gun is the easy part. Knowing when and how to deploy it is far more complex.
The when is straightforward: if a situation justifies the presentation of deadly force, it doesn’t matter what tool you have in hand.
The how required more thought. I’ve settled on two carry methods that make sense to me:
- Strong-side vest or jacket pocket. The holster grip helps keep it oriented properly. Since I must open the grip before firing, I’m not trying to obtain a full shooting grip during the draw.
- Clipped inside my PT shorts, behind my folding knife. Living in North Texas, I rarely wear pants unless absolutely necessary. Being retired and self-employed as a dog trainer, I wear what I want—often a kilt. Most of the time, my primary defensive handgun is a snubbie carried in a Paladin 33 Outback MK3 Concealed Carry Fanny Pack worn across my chest. Some might find that odd, but I train with it like any other holster. I’d rather be skilled with an unconventional carry method than unprepared with a traditional one.
For quick errands—checking the mail, walking the dog—the NAA Mini Revolver is a convenient option. If I were still in law enforcement, it would live in my jacket or pants pocket. Regardless of where I carry it, I’ve developed a smooth draw: grip the handle, press the barrel against my hip, pull the grip open, and transition into a firing position.
Use: A Realistic Approach
Most NAA Mini Revolvers come with small bird’s head grips, which provide minimal purchase. Combine that with the tiny sight radius and basic half-moon sights, and accuracy is… let’s just say challenging. The holster grip improves retention and shootability, much like oversized grips do on a snubbie.
My personal training philosophy revolves around close-quarters engagements—open-hand combatives, sticks, knives, and firearms (especially snubbies) within seven yards. I firmly believe that if I ever have to shoot someone, many failures or misfortunes have already occurred.
The average self-defense shooting occurs within 3-5 yards, with 3-5 rounds fired in 3-5 seconds. Most civilians won’t have the luxury of drawing their gun in advance or engaging from a proper shooting stance. The reality? If I ever need to use the NAA Mini Revolver, it will likely be at contact distance to get someone off me.
With that in mind, I focus on three primary contact shot placements:
- Under the chin, while using my off-hand for defense.
- Up under the sternum, allowing the round to reach vitals without striking bone.
- Pressed into the femoral artery, in a last-ditch effort to stop an attacker.
This isn’t about tight shot groups—it’s about stopping a lethal threat as quickly as possible.
Final Thoughts
Just for fun, I did some target shooting with the NAA Mini Revolver. Unsurprisingly, my results weren’t anything to brag about. Even applying all my marksmanship fundamentals—honed since I first fired a .22 LR from a Stevens Crackshot at age three—this little gun is far from a precision instrument.
That said, I really enjoyed shooting it. There’s something therapeutic about the single-action cycle: firing, removing the cylinder rod, popping out the cylinder, ejecting spent casings, reloading, and repeating the process.
It’s a cool little gun, made far more practical by the integrated holster grip. It fills a unique role in my personal defense plan—one that no other gun quite could.
With an MSRP of $284, I’d recommend it to anyone, with one caveat: don’t expect it to perform beyond its intended role.
