In the May 2016 issue of “Combat Handguns,” I wrote about Tackle Box .22s, along with their likely uses and drawbacks. While .22s are great for plinking and taking small game, the primary limitation of rimfire handguns is simply their lack of oomph. If you want a compact, tackle-box-sized pistol with greater power for dispatching rabid skunks, foxes or coyotes—or protecting yourself from two-legged predators—you need to step up your game to 380 pistols.

The .380 (9mm Kurz) cartridge has long been a staple of European police forces, and it’s becoming increasingly popular in the United States. When it comes to practical, useable power, it’s head and shoulders above .22 rimfires. The .380 is probably the minimum you should consider for serious self-defense. Several .380 pistols fit handily into a tackle box or the pocket of your fishing vest. You’ll hardly know the gun is there until you need to use it.

While 380 pistols generate greater recoil than .22s, they’re not all that hard to handle and shoot well. It just requires practice to become proficient. Though ear protection is a must if you don’t want to lose a tiny—but irretrievable—bit of hearing every time you trigger a round. The .380 is truly “the mouse that roared!”

The Sentinel

The North American Arms Guardian is the smallest—yet heaviest—of the 380 pistols I’ve used. While just 4.81 inches long, it tips the scales at a relatively heavy 20.4 ounces thanks to its all-stainless steel construction. That said, the corrosion resistance is a big plus for backcountry carry.

The double-action-only (DAO) Guardian has an extremely long, hard trigger pull. Because it’s so heavy, I couldn’t measure the trigger pull weight with my RCBS scale. Another negative is the vestigial sights, which don’t lend themselves to fast target acquisitions. The sights are non-adjustable; they work up close but aren’t great for anything beyond 20 yards.

• RELATED STORY: 4 Compact, Lightweight Rimfire Revolvers For Your Tackle Box

The first time I fired this gun, I had nine malfunctions in the first 100 rounds. These included failures to feed and “stove-pipes” with a variety of different loads. The next 100 rounds were less problematic, with just five failures. I gave the gun and my sore trigger finger a rest and returned home. I went back to the range two days later, after cleaning the Guardian. That’s when the little gun settled down and chewed through the next 100 rounds with only a lone feeding failure.

This little gun probably needs to fire 300 rounds to properly break-in and perform reliably. This isn’t unusual in small pocket guns or even full-sized autoloaders. I wouldn’t trust any autopistol until it goes through a similar firing test.

On the plus side, its diminutive size offers some real advantages, whether you’re finding room in your tackle box or carrying the gun in your pocket or belt holster. I’ve owned a couple of Guardians over the years, and once ‘broken in,” they’ve all proven comfortingly reliable with the ammunition they like.

Kahr Insurance

Just 4.96 inches long, Kahr’s CW380 is eminently suitable for packing in your tackle box or tucking away in your pocket. You’ll barely notice its scant 10.2-ounce heft thanks to the little gun’s polymer grip frame. The slide and barrel are made of stainless steel, a combination that is both lightweight and corrosion resistant.

Like the Guardian, the CW380 has a DAO trigger, and it breaks at just under 5.5 pounds of pressure. There’s no manual safety, either—this is an uncomplicated “point and pull” affair. An internal block prevents the striker from moving forward unless the trigger is depressed.

Kahr recommends a 200-round break-in before you depend on its reliability. My sample produced only three feeding failures with a variety of ammo during the break-in period. Malfunctions are now few and far between. I’ve had the best luck with round-nose ammo. If I planned on buying this gun, I’d find the ammo it liked best and stick with that choice. I’ve learned that .380 pistols can be fussy about what they’re fed.

This little gun fits nicely in my hand, and the recoil is easily controlled. The sights are well designed with an eye-catching white dot up front and a rear sight that’s drift-adjustable for windage. The rear sight also sports a single white dot that aids in fast targeting. Fired offhand from 15 yards, it proved capable of printing 2.5-inch five-shot groups.

Personal Protector

Smith & Wesson’s M&P Bodyguard 380 is 5.3 inches long and weighs a light 12-ounces. It has a polymer grip and a matte black stainless steel slide and barrel. The slide is coated in an Armonite finish. That com-bination makes this little gun corrosion resistant when tucked into a tackle box.

This DAO handgun is hammer-fired with a trigger that breaks under 9 pounds of pressure. The trigger is so smooth that it feels lighter than it actually is. Also, while not a major point, the gun offers a “second-strike” capability. If the chambered round fails to fire, pulling the trigger a
second time may result in a discharge.

The slide is easier to rack than the other guns tested. This is a big plus for me and many other older shooters that have deteriorating hand strength. Believe me, that’s a serious consideration when it comes to selecting an autopistol.

The M&P Bodyguard 380 also fits my hand very well. The grip has finger grooves, and my little finger curls naturally under the magazine. While it still fits into my tackle box, it’s notably larger than the other .380s reviewed here. That makes it easier to control and shoot well. And despite its size, it produces less recoil than the smaller guns.

The sights are easy to see, and both the front and rear are drift-adjustable for windage changes. The three-white-dot aiming system allows for fast aiming. With the help of a small Allen wrench, the rear sight can be anchored in place after changes in windage.

Dressed In Black

The Walther PK380 is a locked-breech design, and its grip should accommodates all of your strong-hand fingers. This hammer-fired pistol fits in my hand very nicely, allowing good control.

The gun has a short dust-cover rail for installing laser sights, flashlights or other aiming aids. I’m not a fan of aftermarket laser sights for compact .380 ACP pistols, but it’s nice to have this option.

The Walther PK380 also has no slide release. You have to manually retract the slide, then release it to chamber the first round from the magazine. According to other shooters, the slide is supposed to be easy to rack. However, the slide on my test gun would sometimes lock up, and I had to use a Handi-Racker to solve the problem. Thanks to a developing myopathy, I have weak hands, which didn’t help.

• RELATED STORY: Tests & Scores of the 4 Most Popular Polymer 45 ACP Pistols

When firing in DA mode, the trigger pull is long and weighs around 9 pounds. After firing the first shot, the gun goes into single-action (SA) mode with a crisp 5-pound pull. As for the other controls, an ambidextrous paddle-style safety is located at the base of the triggerguard. This is a unique arrangement that takes some getting used to, but the safety is easy to reach and works very well. It was very stiff when the gun was brand new, but this issue went away with use.

The biggest problem I have with this gun is that you must use a special tool to take it down for cleaning or maintenance. Quite frankly, this is a pain. If you misplace this strange-looking tool, you’ll have to go to a gun store or write the company to replace it. This is a “feature” Walther would do well to reconsider.

Also, when my test sample sometimes locked up, it required some fiddling to release the slide and trigger. I’ll be sending this particular gun back to let Walther solve this issue, but otherwise it ran well.

Feed ‘Em Right

Because each of these 380 pistols prefers different kinds of ammo, I fired a lot of rounds to see what loads worked best. The ammo used included Winchester 95-grain FMJ fodder that worked well in all four guns. The FMJ bullets fed smoothly (after the break-in period) and delivered good accuracy. Hornady Critical Defense loads featuring tapered FTX hollow points also earned high points in regards to reliability. CorBon ammo loaded with 90-grain JHPs produced velocities in the 990-fps range and fed well in spite of their hollow-point bullets.

Each gun will have its own preferences, so it’s best to try a variety of loads to see which it prefers. Most of the loads I tested delivered good accuracy and decent reliability. Fired off-hand at 15 yards, five-shot groups measuring 2.5 inches between centers were possible with the ammo each gun seemed to like best. The largest groups ran around 4 inches. One notable exception proved to be Wolf ammunition, which proved uniformly balkier than most.

380 Pistols Specs

For More Information

Kahr CW380
kahr.com

North American Arms Guardian
northamericanarms.com

Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380
smith-wesson.com

Walther PK380
waltherarms.com

This article was originally published in “Pocket Pistols” 2018. To order a copy, go to outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post 4 Reliable 380 Pistols to Keep in Your Tackle Box appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

If the zombies ever come moaning up my driveway for real, I want to be ready. In a perfect world, that would mean a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle packed to the gunwales with food and water along with all the sordid full-auto, high-explosive nastiness that comes along with it. However, reality dictates that should the end of the world actually have the poor grace to drop in unscheduled, it will obviously be more of a come-as-you-are sort of situation.

At the very least, I’d sure like to have my topped-off plate carrier and favorite black rifle handy. Fully tooled up with half a dozen spare magazines and a proper handgun, I’d feel equipped to get my family through most anything life might throw at us. However, I’ve actually faced a crisis or three for real. The single common denominator to them all was that they were thoroughly unexpected. Whatever I had at hand was what I could use. All the high-speed hardware on the planet does you no good whatsoever locked up in the gun room back home. As such, it behooves us to plan a little baseline defensive weaponry that is painless to pack anyplace and anytime. North American Arms (NAA) and TALO have joined forces to provide just that with the Bug Out Box.

NAA is American owned and operated. Originally birthed in 1972 by the same company that produced those massive Casull revolvers, NAA has since become a standalone enterprise producing some uniquely adorable little mini-revolvers and Guardian semi-autos. Based in Provo, Utah, and manufacturing its guns from surgical-grade stainless steel, NAA is a thoroughly class act.

TALO began in 1965 as a wholesale buying cooperative. Its initials stand for “Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.” TALO commissions special-edition firearms from the likes of Smith & Wesson, Colt, Glock, Ruger and NAA. These guns are all certified cool and are clearly birthed by gun guys for gun guys.

Canned Security

The limited-edition Bug Out Box is a minimalist grab-and-go survival firearm solution that, unlike your favorite black rifle, will painlessly drop into a purse or tuck into a proper pocket. The Bug Out Box consists of a lockable, watertight, transparent box that carries a five-shot, .22 LR NAA mini-revolver and 50 rounds of ammunition. The Bug Out Box is armored vehicle tough and compact enough to go anywhere.

But the Bug Out Box is not your end-all survival solution. Rather, it’s that baseline level of readiness beneath which you should never descend. There is a nifty little mini padlock included for use if there are little fingers about. Drop the box into your cargo pocket or glove box whenever you go fishing, hiking, camping or on a cross-country trip. This nifty little wheelgun is not going to drop a charging rhino, but in a genuine survival situation, it is a heck of a lot better than foul language or begging.

The NAA mini-revolver is not a general utility defensive firearm. Nobody claims it is. You will likely not use this gun for subsistence hunting. It would be a merry trick indeed to bag a squirrel or bunny on the move with this tiny little smoke pole unless you were hunting in a properly stocked pet shop or at your local zoo. At anything beyond contact ranges, you won’t use it to drop a whitetail or turkey, either. I suppose you could fish with it if the fish were big and on the surface, but otherwise this is not the gun to keep you and your family plump and fed on your trek out of the hot zone. None of that reflects the mission for which this diminutive heater was designed.

What you will do with the NAA mini-revolver is stay reliably prickly no matter what. This tiny little handgun will hide inconspicuously in the front pocket of a pair of blue jeans. A shirt pocket would even do. There is a half-cock position between each of the gun’s chambers that allows safe carry with five rounds on board. In competent hands, one of these tiny little guns is reliable proof against most two- and four-legged predators at appropriate ranges. While the .22 LR may not be your first choice for a defensive handgun caliber, during my time in an urban ER, I saw quite a few folks who had their days thoroughly ruined by these spunky little bullets. As we used to say in the hospital, a .22 LR will just barely kill you.

Mini Upgrades

This particular NAA mini-revolver is tricked out for practical use. The gun runs any standard .22 LR loads through its thumb-sized stepped barrel. While I’m not sure that this barrel geometry enhances the gun’s tactical prowess, it does look super cool. The Sheriff-style cylinder pin is grooved for easy access and snaps readily in place. This same pin serves to poke the empties out when reloading.

A high-visibility XS Big Dot front sight keeps the tidy little heater reliably pointed in the right direction day or night. The gun sports a blaze orange Hogue pebbled grip for easy access in dim light, though any standard NAA mini-revolver grip solution will fit. These options include folding holster stocks as well as grips with integral laser sights. For the purist, NAA also offers attractive hardwood grip panels for its mini-revolvers, too.

There are several holster options for these little guns ranging from conventional belt rigs to pocket holsters that keep the pistol properly oriented for quick access. The gun’s safety features are adequate for pocket carry so long as care is exercised. Practical applications are limited solely by your imagination.

The lockable case is indeed waterproof and all but indestructible. There is room for a small box of .22 LR rounds as well as a modest knife, a fire-starter or a compact fishing kit. You could even squeeze a small stash of M&M’s in there should you fear growing peckish. The back half of the case is also blaze orange to make it easy to access quickly among background clutter or rushed circumstances.

Last-Ditch Defender

Getting into the Bug Out Box is as easy as you make it. If there are no unsafe operators in the vicinity, you just flip open the catch and grab the gun. If the case remains locked, then operating the lock becomes the limiting reagent. Once you retrieve the pistol, it rides comfortably in a typical human hand despite its diminutive dimensions.

This is a single-action revolver, so the hammer must be manually cocked for each shot. With just a wee bit of practice, this becomes an intuitive exercise, however. I have a .22 Short version of this pistol in my personal collection that looks like it was scaled for my kid’s action figures. While novel and interesting, this particular gun is not terribly practical. The NAA mini-revolver that is the beating heart of the Bug Out Box, however, is a realistic defensive tool. This little gun is just big enough to ride safely and run comfortably while offering enough downrange horsepower to readily dissuade any adversary foolish enough to attempt any close-range pugilism.

I most typically tote my NAA mini-revolver either loose in an otherwise empty pocket or in a pocket holster. Thusly configured, you really don’t know the gun is there unless you actually need it, even in shorts. As the best working firearm is the one you actually have on you, this is the defensive handgun you never need be without.

The NAA mini-revolver is a close-range tool. The trigger is small and not conducive to precision work. If you really want to zap your targets out to a kilometer, you should pick a different implement. However, most defensive engagements in America occur at 7 yards or less. Within these parameters, the NAA mini-revolver remains both potent and nasty.

Always Armed

I was first introduced to NAA mini-revolvers by a local house painter I met at my clinic. He had run afoul of a dog while at work, and I got to spend some quality time stitching the various pieces of his left hand back where God had installed them originally. We had a good visit that, as is not infrequently the case, settled on the subject of guns.

This injured man reached his good hand into his pocket and produced a shopworn NAA mini-revolver. He told me he was moments away from using it on the belligerent hound when the homeowner arrived and settled the animal down. He used a term I have since pilfered myself many times. He stated simply that in the sea of guns the he owned, his NAA mini-revolver was the one he always had on him. Now that I have a couple of my own, I can say the same thing.

Unless I am asleep or in the shower, I am always armed thanks to North American Arms. Such stuff as this brings peace of mind in times of calm and potentially saves lives when times are not so peaceful.

The new Bug Out Box allows you to keep your NAA mini-revolver handy anytime, anywhere and in any weather. For the remarkable stuff it offers, the Bug Out Box is a superb investment.

North American Arms Bug Out Box Specs

North American Arms Bug Out Box Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best four-shot groups at 7 yards. 

For more information, visit northamericanarms.com and taloinc.com.

The post Gun Review: North American Arms Bug Out Box Mini-Revolver appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Given the dramatic increase in attacks on law enforcement officers in the past few years, with most, if not all, being uniformed officers with a firearm at hand, why would any sane, responsible person go unarmed? The first rule in any gunfight is to have a gun. I’m not sure who coined this oft-repeated phrase, or any of the others bouncing around the Internet. Jeff Cooper, Mark Moritz and Clint Smith are among those accused of standing before a class and uttering it for the first time.

Even those who believe only a full-sized or compact version is the only handgun capable of effective self-defense will admit that an ultra-compact pocket gun is better than nothing at all. I believe that we shouldn’t denigrate handguns for self-defense just because they’re small enough to fit in a pocket or less traditional locations.

American Minis

Rocky Mountain Arms was founded in 1972 to produce exquisitely made Lilliputian .22-caliber revolvers. These diminutive rimfire revolvers were, and still are, phenomenally popular. The company is now known as North American Arms (NAA), and in 1997, it added a semi-automatic pistol chambered in .32 ACP to its lineup. The gun followed in the steps of NAA’s mini-revolvers with stainless steel construction and extreme attention to detail.

RELATED STORY

Gun Review: North American Arms Bug Out Box Mini-Revolver

An updated version of the highly rated and popular Seecamp LWS in .32 ACP, the stainless steel NAA Guardian has all of the positive aspects one could want. A few years later, NAA began offering a slightly larger Guardian in .380 ACP, and more chamberings followed. All NAA Guardian pistols, including two versions handling the bottlenecked .25 and .32 NAA—cartridges based off the .32 and .380 ACP, respectively—are constructed of 17-4 stainless steel.

The investment-cast Guardian frames, built by a Ruger subsidiary, include the integral barrels. This allows Guardians to use a simple, straight-blowback operating system. And just like the frames, the slides are machined from a single stainless steel block with integral sights. Small parts like the magazine release, hammer and trigger are produced using the metal-injection molding (MIM) process.

Demand for these pistols is pretty high, so they’re fairly difficult to come by these days. Luckily, however, I was able to obtain three NAA Guardian pistols to compare in testing. My test samples were chambered in .32 ACP, .380 ACP and .32 NAA.

All three guns were put together very well and exhibited excellent finishes. And though they’re small, NAA Guardian pistols feel good in the hand. Their lines are clean and straight, and there were no sharp edges to dig into my hands or snag on the draw. Their grips are made of hard rubber with pebble-grain texturing, and they do a good job of helping to control recoil.

The double-action-only (DAO) triggers have long, heavy trigger pulls, but this is to provide a measure of safety, as there are no external safeties. The trigger pulls for the three test guns weighed between 10 and 10.8 pounds. Fortunately, the Guardian triggers are pretty smooth, making it easier to chase that last bit of accuracy.

Of course, the Guardians are really intended for reactive draws. The downsized defenders are designed to be pointed at the threat and fired. Taking time to search for those tiny sights during an emergency is a setup for failure.

Guardians also have their magazine releases in the standard location behind the triggerguard. This required me to slightly rotate the pistol in my short-fingered hand, just as I must with pistols from many manufacturers. Each pistol came with two 6-round magazines with highly polished exteriors and metal followers. The baseplates are made of black polymer, and they’re either flat or come with finger hooks.

Carrying the Guardians is simplified by the number of holsters NAA has on hand. The company’s rigs range from pocket to belt models as well as a carrying case known as the Universal Gun Rug that is equipped to carry a Guardian. A creature of habit, I chose a pocket holster to ride on my support side.

Range Time

I only had one sample of ammunition available per pistol for testing. Fortunately, it was all from Hornady, which is currently the sole supplier of .32 NAA ammunition with its 80-grain Critical Defense FTX line. Another member of Hornady’s Critical Defense group is its 90-grain .380 ACP FTX loading. The .32 ACP ammo carries one of Hornady’s excellent hollow-point XTP bullets weighing 35 grains. In short, the Critical Defense and FTX loads are known for being excellent performers.

Drawing a Guardian from any holster is made easier by its snag-proof design. There are no sharp edges or external widgets to catch on a pocket or clothing, a product of the minimal sights. Working with targets placed at reasonable distances, I quickly acclimated to the Guardians’ DAO triggers and polished, exposed hammers riding flush with their slides.

The sights were another subject when firing groups. Rapid draws and firing were not hindered by the sights, even when raised to the eyes. At that point, I just looked over them. Swapping magazines was easiest done using the support hand to pull the magazine from the well and then go for the spare. The depleted magazines tend to wedge against the heel of my shooting hand, however.

RELATED STORY

Gun Review: North American Arms’ .380 Guardian Pistol with Crimson Trace Lasergrips

These pistols are designed for up close and personal use—generally within 7 yards. I set my chronograph up and went to work running rounds through the Guardians. Even though I had planned on just a 7-yard distance for the accuracy examination, I just had to see for myself what would happen at longer distances. While many of the hits from the Guardians were found on the targets, some weren’t. This means innocent bystanders could be in danger beyond 7 yards. So, keeping my shooting distance to 7 yards and under, every group averaged around 2.5 inches. This is more than accurate enough for belly-to-belly confrontations and out to 7 yards.

I prefer pistols like the NAA Guardian with flat-baseplate magazines, as there’s just one less chance of snagging during the draw. All three Guardians were controllable with the flat-baseplate magazines, even using Hornady’s modern high-performance ammunition. Compared to polymer-framed pistols, the weight of the Guardians is also helpful with recoil. However, I can see how the polymer finger hooks on the magazines could come in handy for many folks.

I was surprised to discover that the .380 ACP Guardian stoked with Hornady’s 90-grain Critical Defense FTX rounds displayed about the same recoil as the .32 NAA Guardian. Of course, I should have recognized that both cartridges have similar velocities, but the .380 ACP uses a bullet that is 10 grains heavier. The recoil was most noticeable when shooting from the bench, but who practices defensive shooting from the bench? When shots were fired off-hand, the three pistols seemed to have the same recoil.

Parting Shots

Constructed of stainless steel, the NAA Guardian should be just right for pocket and IWB carry. It would likely be just as at home tucked in a pocket of an officer’s armor carrier during a sweltering summer. But I’ve got two pieces of advice. When you carry your Guardian (or any other handgun) in a pants pocket, use a holster. Also, always keep your keys and such out of that designated carry pocket. And a word to the wise: Stainless steel still rusts, just slower. I have seen the results of sweat accumulating without regular maintenance.

For those who carry a single handgun or two or three pistols, the NAA Guardian pistols are excellent choices. They are designed well with true DAO capabilities and simple operating procedures. And you get all of this with MSRPs in the $409 to $456 range.

NAA Guardian Specs

NAA Guardian .32 ACP Performance

NAA Guardian .32 NAA Performance

NAA Guardian .380 ACP Performance

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 7 yards.

For more information, visit northamericanarms.com.

This article was originally published in “Pocket Pistols” 2018. To order a copy, go to outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Testing 3 NAA Guardian Pistols to See Which One Shoots Best appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Being a proponent of prepping for disasters and other hardcore scenarios, I’m always on the lookout for new tools that can assist with that effort. However, it was someone else that found out about the new Bug Out Box from North American Arms (NAA) and relayed the details to me. In all honesty, it had me scratching my head a bit. But I was certainly up to looking at it and casting an opinion on its worth.

The NAA Bug Out Box is aimed at the prepper crowd as well as folks who enjoy picking up more collectible firearms. It consists of an NAA revolver specifically designed by TALO Distributors enclosed within a compact, waterproof box. Essentially, it’s an emergency firearm that might be needed as a last-ditch tool for protection. This combination is actually the 11th such collaboration between the two companies.

A Peek Inside

The container included with the Bug Out Box is waterproof and stores the .22 LR revolver along with other small survival items. NAA states that the revolver is shipped with an empty ammo box that can be stored in the box as well, but the review sample I received did not include the empty box. Regardless, that’s not much of a loss. As a prepper, I like to create my own kits and put my personal touch on them when I can.

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The pistol is a stylized mini-revolver designed with help from TALO, featuring a stepped, 1.6-inch barrel. The mini-revolver incorporates an XS Big Dot front sight and a Sheriff-style cylinder pin. The revolver itself is made of stainless steel, and it has a bright-orange Hogue rubber grip that has pebbled texturing for better control. NAA has also confirmed that any of its optional grips will fit this mini-revolver as well.

For those who are unfamiliar with NAA mini-revolvers, they have a single-action operating system. This means that the hammer must be cocked before each round is fired. While this is an easy system to learn and operate, there are some things that need to be understood to handle it safely. The important thing to remember is that the revolver can fire if it is dropped while the hammer rests against a live round. Carrying the revolver in this manner is dangerous, so specific steps must be taken before carrying the pistol. The owner’s manual should be carefully read to understand the steps involved to safely carry the revolver.

A Last Resort

Having the Bug Out Box stashed in case of an emergency as a last-resort tool makes a lot of sense in certain circumstances. For instance, storing the mini-revolver in the waterproof container is a way to keep it in sound operating condition, especially if you keep the box in a pack, vehicle or even a tackle box.

However, I’m not sure the name fits just right, because if I were bugging out, I don’t know that this would be my first choice. “Bugging out” means to affirmatively leave some particular place, not just having an emergency occur where you are. As a backup tool, though, it’s certainly worth having the mini-revolver around in case it’s needed.

In a survival situation, the Bug Out Box revolver’s main purpose would be for defensive use largely against two-legged predators. Because of its configuration with the XS Big Dot front sight, long-range accuracy isn’t the revolver’s strong suit. The user would simply put the dot on the center-mass of the target and fire. Usually this type of shooting is going to occur within several meters of the threat. So, despite the inability to do any real precise accuracy testing on this type of pistol, I still wanted to get a general feel for its performance on the line.

Range Test

Not having shot an NAA revolver beforehand, I wasn’t sure what to expect regarding accuracy. Honestly, because of its tiny size, I wasn’t expecting too much. But I was pleasantly surprised. I ran shot two 5-round groups into two separate 7.5-inch Shoot-N-C targets.

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Shooting Federal Premium’s 40-grain Champion LRNs and 40-grain Game-Shok LRNs, I could keep my hits within about 4 inches at 7 yards. That was much better than the supposed “center-mass” accuracy of the little revolvers. The XS Big Dot sight stood out nicely and provided a highly visible and quick sight picture. Even for its diminutive size, the recoil was nothing to speak of.

Final Thoughts

In all honesty, the Bug Out Box revolver was fun to shoot. The revolvers themselves are great concepts, and I can appreciate their place in the hierarchy of defensive tools. Is this a true bug-out weapon? Not really. I think NAA and TALO wanted to produce a collectable item and went a little tongue-in-cheek with the name.

You do get a highly visible orange grip that is easy to pick out, and the waterproof box can definitely go a long way toward protecting the revolver and a box of rounds to go with it. What’s not to like about this? Stash it away for a rainy day, and who knows, it might just save your behind.

North American Arms Bug Out Box Revolver Specs

For more information, visit northamericanarms.com.

This article was originally published in the 2018 issue of “Pocket Pistols” magazine. To order a copy, please go to outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Testing the The North American Arms Bug Out Box Revolver appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Like everything else, the price of new and used handguns has generally increased in the past few years. Inflation and increasing demand are two of the main causes. But people on fixed incomes often can’t afford to shell out $600 to more than $1,500 for a handgun. They need something that’s inexpensive, reliable and doesn’t shoot ammunition that costs an arm and a leg. Thanks to modern computerized manufacturing processes, such as CNC machining, there are several affordable handguns to fill your needs.

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I’ll briefly review several of them here, but before I start, here’s one word of advice: Shop around. Some gun shops offer significant discounts on handguns, bringing them well below the MSRP. So don’t buy a gun at full retail until you’ve checked at least two or three shops. I’ve also tested or owned several guns from the companies listed here and found them to be good values. Let’s take a closer look.

Ruger EC9 In the Hands

I was lucky to get an EC9 for testing. I examined the little Ruger at my workbench, and then shot it to test its accuracy at 10 yards before running some 7-yard drills with it at the Flagler Gun Club. Function tests at my bench and an examination of the interior and exterior surfaces showed no defects in manufacturing. The finish was even and well matched. There were no sharp surfaces or tool marks, and all of the parts were well formed.

I tested the gun with 124-grain Freedom Munitions match ammo, Winchester’s PDX-1 +P rounds and assorted duty ammunition from other companies. The EC9s has a stout recoil spring, and a couple of the lighter match rounds did not fully eject, which only shows that all guns like some loads better than others. The gun ran without incident with all other ammo.

Shooting from the 10-yard line produced a score of 97 of 100, which is good for a pocket pistol. Ten double-taps from the holster while moving one step off the “X” put 10 shots in the chest and 10 in the head. The average time was 5.33 seconds.

Affordable Handguns: More Information

For more information about the affordable handguns featured in the gallery, please visit the companies’ sites.

Bersa BPCC & Thunder
bersa.eagleimportsinc.com

Diamondback DB380
diamondbackfirearms.com

North American Arms .22 LR
northamericanarms.com

Rossi 462 & 971
rossiusa.com

Ruger EC9, LCP, LCP II & Security 9
ruger.com

This article is from the September/October 2018 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine, on sale now. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com.

The post 10 Affordable Handguns to Get the Most Bang for Your Buck appeared first on Personal Defense World.

If you’re a serious handgunner, you already know that “BUG” stands for “backup gun” in the shooting world. As the moniker implies, this is a gun that’s carried in addition to a primary firearm. It’s normally smaller than the primary gun and may or may not be the same caliber. Think of a BUG as an insurance policy: If your primary firearm is out of action, it’s time to deploy your backup. Often, a BUG can be put into play quicker than reloading the primary, which is known as a “New York reload.”

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Back in my cop days, I carried several different backup guns. The first was a Bauer .25 ACP semi-auto that fit inside a handcuff case. Next came a .22 Magnum High Standard derringer and then a Charter Arms Undercover in .38 Special. But for deep cover, I had a tiny North American Arms (NAA) mini-revolver in .22 Short that was attached to a leather thong I wore around my neck beneath my shirt — strictly a last-ditch armament.

TALO Exclusive

Over the years, NAA has offered a plethora of mini-revolvers, and for the most part, they’ve been constructed of durable stainless steel, making it possible to carry them almost anywhere. For the uninitiated, these are miniature single-action revolvers requir the hammer to be cocked manually for each shot. They’ve typically held five rounds of .22 Short, .22 LR or .22 Magnum ammo.

Up until recently, loading and unloading these revolvers has required removing the cylinder. Essentially, the cylinder base pin has to be unlocked and removed from the cylinder and frame. The locking mechanism for this pin is sometimes different depending upon the version of the mini-revolver you have. The first minis had a simple push button protruding from the front of the knurled pin. Others have a pull-down-and-turn lock, and two newer models, the Sidewinder and Ranger II, have swing-out cylinders and hinged frames, respectively.

This brings us to the BUG II, a TALO Distributors exclusive, which has a special Sheriff-style cylinder pin. The slightly hooked lock-release latch is pushed in and forward to remove the pin. The pin can also be used to push out empty cases, but more on that later.

You’ll also notice the North American Arms BUG II’s stepped and stylized topstrap. The barrel, which is integral with the frame, is square shaped and fluted on both sides. Up front, NAA placed an XS Big Dot sight dovetailed into a ramp. This round sight has a green tritium capsule surrounded by a large white circle. For a rear sight, the topstrap forms a squared channel for targeting.

Like other NAA mini-revolvers, the cylinder has small notches at the rear that either act as hammer rests for safety or loaded-chamber indicators, exposing the cartridge rim, depending on their position. The BUG II also comes with a long hammer spur that’s serrated for traction, along with a spur-style trigger partially protected by a downward extension of the frame.

The overall fit and finish on my test sample were very good. The BUG II has a stainless steel finish, and it appears brushed on the sides but sand-blasted on the top, bottom and in the fluted areas. The one-piece Hogue grip is made of rubber with a pebble texture. Finally, NAA gives every BUG II a unique serial number and sends it out in a lockable steel case with a foam-rubber lining.

The Extras

NAA offers quite a selection of accessories for its firearms, and two that I think work particularly well with the BUG II are the Pocket Holster and Holster Grip. The Pocket Holster is a little pocket scabbard made of black leather and is put together with nylon lock-stitching. It’s an open-top and -bottom design, and the rear of the holster has been fashioned into a pouch with a flap cover and snap that’ll hold
five .22 Magnum cartridges.

The other accessory is a black plastic gadget that, when installed on the revolver, makes it look kind of like a folding knife. To install the Holster Grip, you first have to remove the factory grip panels. The new pebble-grained grip is added next, and spring-loaded detents are fitted along with an axle that holds the whole unit in place. A pocket clip can be attached to either side, and a cover with the NAA logo shields the attachment point that’s not in use. You just fold the gun into the grip and clip it to your pocket or wherever, and then when you pull it out, you just pull the gun out of the holster like a knife and the detents lock it into place. The device then acts as a larger grip that’s easier to hold onto.

Performance

I chose four different .22 Magnum loads to test the NAA mini-revolver. My first task at the range was shooting every load through the BUG II’s 1.5-inch barrel to get some velocity figures with my Oehler 35P chronograph.

Since the BUG II has such a short barrel and sight radius, as well as a trigger pull that made the tip of my index finger sore after 20 shots, I decided to limit my accuracy testing distance to 5 yards. For all intents and purposes, the BUG II is an up-close-and-personal “belly gun,” so this seemed sufficient. Using a sandbag rest on a bench, I fired three 5-shot groups with each of the .22 Magnum test cartridges. My initial shots were a little low and right of the point of aim. So, I made some “Kentucky adjustments” to try and land the shots in the center scoring ring. My best group measured 1.11 inches with the Hornady Critical Defense load. Second place went to Speer’s Gold Dot HPs, and to be honest, my best groups with the other two loads were less than 2 inches wide — not too shabby!

For drills, I used the Holster Grip in my left trouser pocket, so I attached the clip on the left side of the device. When drawing, be sure to put your thumb on the spur so it doesn’t catch on your pocket’s lining.

As for the different drills, first I simulated a close-contact fight by shooting at a target 2 feet in front of me. I cocked and fired one-handed as fast as I could without really aiming. Then I moved back to 3 yards and did the same thing. At 5 yards, I drew the Holster-Gripped BUG II from my pants pocket, unfolded it and fired while aiming. I repeated this again at 7 and 10 yards. For a final exercise, I put my target at 7 yards and, using my support hand, flipped the switch that returned the target to the bench. As it moved toward me, I used my strong hand to fire five shots starting from a low-ready position.

Out of the 35 shots I fired from the BUG II, only one shot strayed out into the 7-ring and one shot hit the left ear of the humanoid silhouette. Besides the six hits in the 9-ring, the rest were in the 10-ring. During this evaluation phase, I had no malfunctions with the gun, ammo or Holster Grip. Fortunately, I didn’t catch the hammer spur in my pocket, nor did I accidentally unlatch the base pin during my draws.

Weighing In

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If I need to go to my NAA backup gun, I only have five shots. The reload process for this mini-revolver isn’t something you’d want to do in a high-stress situation, as it involves too many intricate motor skills. The confrontation will most likely be at close range, but I’d still like to get some distance and seek cover. If possible, I’d use a two-handed hold and at least get a flash sight picture, attempting to make lethal shots into the “boiler room” and “deadly triangle” of the face.

A backup gun has to be dependable and accurate enough to get the job done in a last-ditch effort. The North American Arms BUG II fits the bill in my book. For more information about the North American Arms Bug II, visit taloinc.com and northamericanarms.com.

North American Arms Bug II

• Caliber: .22 WMR
• Barrel: 1.5 inches
• Overall Length: 5.5 inches
• Weight: 10.7 ounces (empty)
• Grip: Hogue rubber
• Sights: XS Big Dot front, notch rear
• Action: SA
• Finish: Stainless
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $275

This article was originally published in Combat Handguns May/June 2019. To order a copy, please visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Review: The North American Arms Bug II Is a Tiny CQB Fighter appeared first on Personal Defense World.

In past issues of Combat Handguns, we’ve held our “Fully Loaded” sweepstakes giving away individual guns, but this time we’re offering up an entire collection. For this special issue, we partnered with North American Arms (NAA) to give away the company’s three most popular models along with holsters and ammo! Also, don’t get confused — our March Free Gun Friday launched March 6 and runs until March 31. There we’re also giving away three pistols from North American Arms, but they are the Pug, the Black Widow, and the Mini-Master. So, two giveaways, six guns in total!

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Our North American Arms Giveaway

If you don’t know, NAA has been manufacturing firearms since 1971, when it was launched as a development of Rocky Mountain Arms, where designer Dick Casull was known for making “the world’s largest and smallest revolvers.” The company has been located in Provo, Utah, since 1991. It continues to manufacture some of the best concealable firearms on the market. NAA’s slogan, “Convenient, Reliable, and Effective,” certainly applies to its firearms.

1. NAA Ranger II

Like the Pug, the Ranger II is designed to hold five rounds of .22 WMR ammunition in its fluted cylinder. Special grooves are also cut into the rear of the cylinder, between each chamber, that serve as rests for the hammer, so you can carry the gun fully loaded without worrying about the hammer sitting on a live round. To fire, just pull the hammer back and the cylinder will click into proper alignment.

But the reloading process is different. Instead of having to remove the cylinder completely to reload, as with NAA’s traditional mini-revolvers, this is a top-break design. You simply thumb the latch just ahead of the hammer and tip the barrel assembly forward to eject the cases in all five chambers at once.

The Ranger II also features a 1.63-inch barrel, a bead-blasted finish, a small bead front sight and classic rosewood grips. We’re also throwing in an IWB rig for this model made of handsome black leather with a metal clip.

2. NAA Pug

The mini-revolvers from NAA are serious firearms that are beautifully built and demand respect. However, I have to call it like I see it and admit that, dammit, they’re also cute. The first time I took my girlfriend to the range and laid out a table full of handguns for her to choose from, she pointed and said, “I want to shoot that little cute one first.” It was an NAA Pug. As I guy, I’m required to dislike that term but it doesn’t mean she’s wrong.

For this contest, we’re giving away the “NAA-PUG-D” variant, which comes with an XS white-dot front sight. The cylinder holds five rounds of .22 WMR ammo, and the slip-on rubber grip has pebble-grain texturing for a secure hold. The barrel is only 1 inch long, and the gun measures 4.56 inches long, making it extremely easy to carry in a pocket. Finally, the included IWB holster is made of black leather with a metal clip.

3. NAA Guardian

While the Guardian is also available in .32 ACP, we got our hands on the best-selling .380 ACP version for this giveaway. This micro-sized, double- action-only (DAO) pistol features a 6+1 capacity, hard rubber grips and fixed iron sights. At less than an inch wide and under 5 inches long, the Guardian packs effective stopping power in an easy-to-conceal package. On top of that, we’re including another IWB holster specifically designed for it.

Weighing in at 20.4 ounces unloaded, the stainless steel Guardian is a little heavy for its size, but that weight brings stability and reduced recoil. Overall, this classic design just feels like a reliable, solid pistol that has everything you need for everyday carry. For more information, visit NorthAmericanAms.com.

4. Federal & CCI AMMO

You didn’t think we’d leave you hanging in the ammunition department, did you? Federal Premium will be providing the winner with two boxes of its latest Personal Defense Punch .380 ACP ammo, and CCI is offering two boxes of its new .22 WMR Maxi-Mag segmented hollow points along with one new Pour Pack of .22 WMR ammo. For more information, visit federalpremium.com and cci-ammunition.com.

Enter here if you are having trouble entering the sweepstakes on this page.

This article is from the May/June 2020 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. Grab your copy or subscribe at OutdoorGroupStore.com.

The post GIVEAWAY: WIN a Trio of Pistols From North American Arms, Plus Ammo appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Viridian Weapon Technologies just announced a new partnership with North American Arms. The result brings forth a Grip Laser specifically to fit the NAA PUG-D and all other NAA .22 Mag revolvers.

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Viridian Grip Laser for NAA PUG-D

The Viridian Grip Laser features a highly-visible red laser for target acquisition. It comes easy to install and adjust, according to Viridian. Additionally, the grip utilizes a rubber over-molded design to provide solid purchase and control. The grips retail for $199.

“Adding firearm-specific Grip Lasers to our revolvers is great,” said North American Arms Sales Manager Jessica Jarvis. “Now North American Arms owners and future owners get increased performance across all .22 Mag Revolvers. We’re also excited for what’s coming in the very near future. We look forward to a long partnership with Viridian and think our fans and self-defense enthusiasts everywhere will benefit as well.”

NAA PUG-D

The PUG-D, a small-framed revolver chambered in .22 Magnum, remains popular for defense. It features a five-shot capacity and remains highly concealable. Adding a Grip Laser to the PUG-D, or other NAA .22 Magnum revolvers, should prove formidable in its role. Many carry small-frame revolvers for concealed carry.

“North American Arms has carved out an area of expertise unparalleled in this industry,” said Viridian President and CEO Brian Hedeen. “Partnering with the brand and team over there just makes sense. The Grip Laser for the PUG-D is a great start and there are some very exciting additions coming in the near future.”

For more information, visit viridianweapontech.com.

The post Viridian Adds Grip Laser Fit for NAA PUG-D .22 Mag Revolvers appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Wasp stings suck! They hurt enough to distract you from just about anything and once you’ve been stung, you’ll do just about anything to keep from being stung again. I suppose that’s what inspired North American Arms to name one of their tiny .22WMR revolvers the NAA Wasp. It’s a tiny gun with a big sting!

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NAA Wasp Revolver Details

The Wasp isn’t a new model. In fact, I had a chance to shoot it when it was a brand-new catalog item for NAA; that was probably 10 or so years ago. But sales of this popular little gun have kept it in the NAA lineup.

I had the chance to reacquaint myself with the Wasp during our Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous in Driggs, Idaho recently. The event brings in more than 30 manufacturers and a select few contributors to spend some un-rushed time and shoot and talk about what’s new. Over the course of three days I got to see a lot of old industry friends and make new ones. Jessica Jarvis is a new friend and also happens to be NAA’s sales manager. She took a couple minutes to refresh my memory of the NAA Wasp.

“We use 17-4 pH stainless steel for the major components,” Jarvis said. “In fact, just about all of our products use this type of stainless steel. We use it for its strength and corrosion resistance and that’s what makes our revolvers perfect for deep concealment.”

When I asked who buys the Wasp, Jarvis’ reply was, “Just about anyone who needs to secret a small gun. A lot of law enforcement like to have back-ups to their back-up gun and ours are so small that they are completely unexpected–no one is going to know they have it.”

The Back-Up’s Back-Up

Jarvis’ point hit home with me. Years ago, I worked with a government agency that put me in contact with cartel henchmen and known sicarios on a daily basis. Of course, I was always armed. Usually with two semi-auto compact pistols, but I always had an NAA mini-revolver hanging around my neck in a Kydex sheath. But it was a gun of last resort and things would had to have gone seriously wrong for that gun to find its way into my hand.

NAA offers the Wasp with 1 1/8- and 1 5/8-inch barrels. Both lengths use a stylish vent rib and bead front sight. There are black flutes on the cylinder that match the ones on the cylinder base pin, and the hammer is skeletonized. Black, pebble textured rubber grips complete the Wasp aesthetics. It’s a handsome little gun!

The Wasp is chambered for .22 WMR, or .22 magnum as most people commonly call it. You can buy the Wasp with a second cylinder chambered for .22 LR for an additional $35. This is the way to go, and it won’t take too long to pay for that additional cylinder if you use .22LR ammo to practice with. NOTE: Never fire .22 LR in a .22 WMR chamber; it results in split casings and can tie up a revolver making it nearly impossible to for the cylinder to advance.

Packing a Mighty Sting

I had a chance to shoot several cylinders of ammo through the Wasp. Its bead front sight intrigued me. It’s great for shooting shot cartridges at things like rattlesnakes. My sister uses hers frequently in her stables. Bales of hay attract pack rats and, of course, that attracts the rattlers. But I was concerned the bead front sight might not provide the accuracy I needed for more distant targets.

With the Wasp loaded with CCI Maxi Mag loads I fired shot after shot at an 8-inch diameter steel target set out at 15 yards without a miss. The Wasp I fired had a trigger pull of about 6 pounds; it’s heavy enough that you’ll not likely fire it by accident. When the gun fires, its muzzle goes up about 45 degrees. It’s also easy for the support hand thumb to reach over and cock the hammer while getting the gun back on target.

In case you’re wondering, CCI’s 30-grain Maxi-Mag rounds leave the Wasp’s barrel around 1,090 feet per second and generate only about 78 foot-pounds of energy. For comparison’s sake, a Winchester 9mm 147-grain Silvertip leaves a 4-inch barrel at 890 feet per second and generates 258 foot-pounds of energy. So, you’re looking at about a third of the energy.

Another thing to consider for defense use is the Wasp is a single-action revolver and must be cocked for each shot. The speed of follow up shots is dependent on the user’s ability and skill. Nothing comes for free and life is all about compromises. In the case of the North American Arms Wasp we sacrifice power for size and concealability. But I wouldn’t want to get shot with one. Would you? For more information, please visit northamericanarms.com.

NAA WASP Specs

• Action: Single Action Only
• Caliber: .22 WMR
• Capacity: 5
• Barrel: 1 1/8-inch or 1 5/8-inch
• Overall Length: 4.63 or 5.13 inches
• Height: 2.81 inches
• Overall Weight: 6.2 or 6.5 ounces
• Width: 1.06 inches
• Sights: Bead Front Sight
• MSRP: $266 – $301

The post NAA Wasp: Is the .22 Mag Mini Revolver a Viable Concealed Carry Option? appeared first on Personal Defense World.

In a world gone double-stack striker-fired, carry optics and more, sometimes its good to take a step back. Take in the simpler ways to accomplish a goal. In the world of concealed carry pistols, the NAA Pug fills a unique niche.

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Shooting the NAA Pug

We recently got some much-needed time reacquainting ourselves with North American Arms and its unique array of self-defense guns. At the 2020 Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous we put some rounds downrange, again reaffirming the Pug’s rightful place as a viable defensive option.

When it comes to concealability, these guns arguably stand unrivaled. The Pug serves as a five-shot, single-action revolver. It weighs around 6.5 ounces unloaded. Its 1-inch barrel fires either .22 Magnum or .22 LR, depending on the cylinder installed. The interchangeability delivers a cool practice/carry combo.

“We make a lot of mini-revolvers. So, this one is really popular,” said Sadie Sweat, North American Arms. “It’s got a .22 Magnum cylinder in it, with the option of a .22 LR cylinder as well.”

Using the guns, you pull down a spring-loaded mechanism, then pull out the cylinder pin. Place the revolver in half-cock, allowing the cylinder to rotate out, facilitating loading/unloading of the pistol.

These guns come with this really slick cobble rubber grip. And that’s really nice, just for the size of our gun, it gives you something really nice to hold onto when you’re shooting it.

The NAA Pug looks like something straight out of the late 1800s, and in some ways it is. But for those worrying about the safety aspect, NAA has got you covered with modern upgrades.

“There’s notches between the rounds,” Sweat said. “So to use our safety you’d rest the hammer down in these notches instead of on a round, so it makes it safe to carry as well.”

The NAA Pug, with both .22 Magnum and .22 LR cylinders, retails for $380. For even more information, please visit northamericanarms.com.

NAA Pug Specs

• Caliber: .22 Magnum
• Capacity: 5
• Length: 4.56 inches
• Height: 2.81 inches
• Width: 1.06 inches
• Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Barrel Length: 1 inches
• Sights: XS Tritium Dot
• Action: Single Action
• Grips: Slip-on Rubber Pebbled
• MSRP: $380 (with .22 LR conversion cylinder)

The post WATCH: The NAA Pug in .22 Mag Packs 5 Shots Into a 1-Inch Barrel appeared first on Personal Defense World.

We don’t condone criminal behavior here, obviously. But this incident, I mean, you kinda gotta acknowledge the effort. The Boone County Sheriff’s Department in Missouri recently reported that detention staff located a firearm within a housing unit. It alleges a detainee, identified as Amy Wilhite, took concealed carry to a new level, concealing a firearm within a body cavity.

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Amy Wilhite Allegedly Hid NAA Pistol Inside a Body Cavity

Now we know prisoners will often do some crazy stuff. They’ve been known to use body cavities before to be sure. Drugs, shivs, and other contraband always seem to find their way into prisons and jails. But guns, well that’s another matter entirely.

The reported gun in question: A North American Arms .22 revolver. The police photo appears it could be a classic version of the company’s .22 Short. Personally, we would have bobbed the hammer, but nevertheless a great choice for body cavity concealment it seems.

Police found the revolver among the personal belongings of 39-year-old Wilhite. Arrested Feb. 14, authorities didn’t discover the pistol, incredibly, until March 3. So for more than two weeks, the inmate reportedly served time locked and loaded, inside the jail!

Police reports state officials searched the prisoner upon arrest, locating no firearm. The arresting officer allegedly searched her, before she then went through a pat search, followed by a procedural strip search. Officials found no weapon in any of the three searches. Finally, the weapon suddenly turned up, inside the detention center, among Wilhite’s belongings March 3. So how did it get there?

“At some time after being incarcerated at the Boone County Jail, it is believed Wilhite removed the firearm from her body and concealed it within her personal belongings,” said a Boone County Sheriff’s Department statement.

Luckily, the inmate failed to hurt anyone with the weapon prior to its discovery. Now she faces additional charges of Delivery or Possession of a Weapon at a County/Private Jail/Corrections Center.

The post Police: Inmate Hid North American Arms Revolver in ‘Body Cavity’ appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Some things were meant to be together, like peanut butter and jelly, but a pocket pistol and laser? There is a great irony in the fact that the handguns carried most by citizens for personal defense are also inherently the most difficult to shoot. Yes, when we are standing around in the gun shop we all talk about custom M1911s, Glock 22s, Sig Sauer P220s. But when it comes to what lawful gun carriers are actually concealing, it often boils down to compact revolvers and subcompact auto pistols. The sales figures alone will prove me right on this.

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Increase Accuracy with a Pocket Pistol and Laser Combination

Over the years the pocket pistol has experienced popularity with the concealed carry crowd, due to its easily concealable size. For this reason, many manufacturers have entered the arena with a pocket-sized pistol.

However, the issue with pocket carry pistols is the short sight radius. As we all know, a shorter sight radius decreases the pistol’s accuracy and target acquisition rate. Not to mention, some pocket pistols have a double-action operation with long trigger pull. So, the thing that makes pocket pistols so popular, is also the thing that hurts them most.

As a result, some firearm manufacturers took the initiative and released pocket pistol models with a laser attached. Companies like Ruger, Smith & Wesson, SIG Sauer, and Walther got in the game early on. But over the years, after-market lasers made it possible to add a laser to many popular firearms.

The Trigger Guard and Grip Laser Solution

Although there are many rail-mounted lasers on the market, they require a pistol with Picatinny rail to attach to. As a result, pocket pistols were pretty much left out in the cold. So, a solution was necessary for the smaller pistol models. This is where the trigger guard laser came into play. In addition, laser grips filled the void for small pocket revolvers as well.

Thanks to companies like Crimson Trace, LaserLyte, LaserMax, and Viridian, most pocket pistols on the market can be upgraded with a laser. Even the tiny little North American Arms .22 MAG can be outfitted with a laser grip. It’s an exciting time to be alive.

Reality-Based Training

If all of your practice is on the square range in daylight, it is difficult to truly understand a laser-aiming device’s benefits. Read the FBI statistics on Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty. You will see that the majority of felonious assaults on cops take place during hours of darkness.

Does this mean every attack occurs in poor light and up close? No, of course, it does not. However, if you find yourself in ample light with distance between you and your attacker, that is a rare case, and you are ahead of the game.

Pressing the trigger during a deadly force encounter is not a simple task. We, the good guys, play by a set of moral and legal rules. As such, we must be absolutely sure of our target and what is around it. We must have as much mental clarity as we can muster and be sure that we are doing what is absolutely necessary. Morality or legality does not handicap the bad guys—that’s what makes them the bad guys.

The most important tool in a fight is the brain. Once your brain has given you permission to fire your weapon, you need one other indicator or “Go Code” that tells you the weapon is properly aligned with the target. That Go Code can be a clear front sight, indexed on the threat. Should you be unable to discern a clear front sight, this is where the laser shines (forgive the pun).

The Laser Redundancy

Laser sights are not meant to replace standard sights—they are an emergency redundant system. If you can see your front sight clearly, that is your Go Code. If a laser red dot appears on the target and that’s the first thing you see then that becomes your Go Code.

Also, it must be understood that lasers are not a replacement for good training nor are they some type of mystical bullet guidance system. The bottom line is this, get the best equipment you can afford, train with it and know your limitations. If Lasergrips on a compact gun gives you an added level of confidence and comfort I can’t see that as anything other than a big plus when your life is on the line.

The post Add a Pocket Pistol & Laser Combo to Your Gun Collection appeared first on Personal Defense World.

The sustained rise in violent crime has brought with it a rise in new gun owners. For many, starting with a revolver is a logical first step. They are a dependable interface and typically have less malfunctions than semi automatic pistols. Overall, the wheel gun is a simple and stable platform, making it a good choice for a first concealed carry gun. For this reason, we’ve put together a list of concealed carry revolvers, giving you a head start in your search.

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Best Concealed Carry Revolvers

Revolvers as we know them have been around since the early 1800s, with precursors to the design dating back even further. With that said, there are countless models throughout the world. And like any firearm, selecting a revolver is very subjective; everyone has their favorites. However, for the purpose of this list we are going to keep it to a small number of current models that we like.

Something to consider when picking a revolver for concealed carry is the difference between double action and single action. A single action revolver is great for recreational shooting but has limitations for concealed carry. In order to fire a single action revolver, you have to cock the hammer before you pull the trigger. And you have to repeat that step for each shot. This loss of time in a self-defense situation can result in catastrophe.

However, with a double action revolver, pulling the trigger both cocks the hammer and then releases it. As a result, this eliminates a step, making it faster for self-defense. But it is worth noting that there is a tradeoff. Double action revolvers have a longer and harder trigger stroke, which can affect accuracy. So, it is important to practice with it regularly.

As I mentioned, picking the right revolver for you is subjective, and you may not see what you like here. So, I encourage you to visit the Facebook post for this story with any questions you may have. In addition, you will probably see other suggestions that you may like. We have a great community that is happy to help new gun owners.

Colt King Cobra Carry DAO (.357 Mag)

No list of revolvers would be complete without at least one Colt. Let’s face it, Colt is the reason we have the revolver as we know it today. The King Cobra DAO (Double Action Only) provides the power of .357 Magnum in a small, easily concealed stainless-steel frame. Sporting a 3-inch barrel length, the King Cobra DAO offers a 6-round capacity in the cylinder, while the heavy-duty construction helps reduce felt recoil. Likewise, the rubberized grips feature finger notches for a secure grip while firing.

MSRP: $899.00

For more information, please visit Colt.com.

Kimber K6S Stainless (.357 Mag)

Chambered in .357 Mag, the Kimber K6S Stainless is the world’s lightest production 6-shot, according to the company. The pistol boasts a combination of superior ergonomics and a smooth match-grade trigger. This is ideal due to the DAO configuration of the K6S, as it will help aid in accuracy. The rubber grips coupled with the serrated backstrap help ensure a secure grip.

It’s worth noting that the light weight of the K6S offers little to absorb the recoil of the .357 Mag round. So, it could be a bit much for people with smaller hands. I would recommend asking your local gun store if you can test fire one before making the purchase.

MSRP: $985.00

For more information, please visit KimberAmerica.com.

Smith & Wesson 642 Airweight (.38 Special +P)

As the name implies, the 642 Airweight from Smith & Wesson is a lightweight revolver. The light weight of the alloy frame makes the 642 easy to conceal on your hip or in your pocket. The J-Frame has been around since the 50s and is as reliable as the Smith & Wesson name itself. Featuring a 5-round capacity, the 642 has an enclosed hammer, preventing snagging on the draw—whether pocket or hip carry.

As with the Kimber K6S, the lighter frame of the 642 does little to absorb the recoil of the .38 Special +P. However, the recoil will not be quite as bad as .357 Mag. Although the difference is slight, you can also run regular .38 Special for slightly reduced recoil as well.

MSRP: $532.00

For more information, please visit Smith-Wesson.com.

Smith & Wesson AirLite 340PD (.357 Mag)

Another entry from the reliable J-Frame class is the AirLite 340PD from Smith & Wesson. Like the 642 Airweight, the AirLite 340PD is a lightweight option that easily conceals anywhere. Also, the enclosed hammer reduces the potential for snagging on the draw. The 340PD includes a HI-VIZ fiber optic green front sight for excellent target acquisition in daylight or low light conditions.

But, once again, the light weight of the AirLite coupled with the power of .357 Mag can be a lot for smaller hands. However, you can also shoot .38 Special +P from the 340PD, so you are not without options. But I would still recommend test firing the 340PD before you purchase to make sure you can handle the recoil.

MSRP: $1,095.00

For more information, please visit Smith-Wesson.com.

Charter Arms Pink Lady (.38 Special)

Since many recent new gun owners are women, we thought you might appreciate something geared specifically for you. The Pink Lady from Charter Arms is a variation of the company’s popular .38 Special Undercover Lite. As such, the light-framed, aircraft-grade aluminum pistol will be easy to conceal and carry. Chambered in .38 Special, the 5-round revolver is manageable by even small hands.

Unlike most of the others on this list, the Pink Lady features a spurred hammer so that you can operate it in single or double action. However, this also increases the possibility of snagging on the draw. So, make sure to practice with it—both drawing and shooting—and take that into account.

MSRP: $429.80

For more information, please visit CharterFirearms.com.

Ruger LCR (.38 Special +P)

Ruger has a reputation for dependability when it comes to revolvers, and the LCR is no different. Featuring an aerospace-grade, 7000-series aluminum construction, the LCR is lightweight and durable. As a result, the light weight coupled with the enclosed hammer makes it easy to conceal. Additionally, the Hogue Tamer Monogrip provides secure retention while firing the LCR.

A patented polymer fire control housing helps to reduce the recoil of the .38 Special +P round. However, a regular .38 Special round will further reduce the recoil. I recommend practicing with .38 Special and carrying .38 Special +P in the five-round cylinder. But make sure to shoot some +P rounds first, so you know what to expect.

MSRP: $719.00

For more information, please visit Ruger.com.

Rock Island Armory M206 Spurless (.38 Special)

For those looking for an economical choice, the M206 Spurless from Rock Island Armory is a solid option. Chambered in .38 Special, the heavy construction of the M206 helps to greatly reduce the felt recoil. In addition, a checkered wood grip gives the M206 a classic style that pairs nicely with the black parkerized finish. Finally, the 6-round capacity ensures you have enough rounds to get the job done in an emergency.

MSRP: $279.00

For more information, please visit RockIslandArmoryUSA.com.

North American Arms NAA-22MS-VL (.22 Mag)

For those looking for serious concealment, North American Arms takes it to the pocket level. I am a fan of NAA and personally carry a .22 Mag, which virtually disappears in my pocket. However, I would call this more of a backup revolver than a primary due to its diminutive size. With its 1 1/8-inch barrel length, the NAA-22MS-VL is a last-ditch belly gun meant for close quarters defense.

However, the Viridian laser grip will help with your aim at any range. Just keep in mind that the shorter barrel length has the potential for rounds to keyhole with certain ammunition, affecting accuracy and effectiveness at distance. Another advantage of the Viridian laser grip is that the rubberized oversize grip helps keep a good hold on the small pistol.

MSRP: $375.00

For more information, please visit NorthAmericanArms.com.

For the most part, concealed carry revolvers will not have the advantages of a longer barrel. In fact, most are what is called a snub nose. In other words, it has a barrel typically shorter than 4-inches. This means that it will have a shorter sight radius (the distance between the front sight and rear sight). The shorter sight radius affects accuracy as a result. So, it is important to practice with your new revolver regularly.

Likewise, it is important to understand the basic rules of gun safety before handling any firearm. In addition, I encourage you to download our free Gun Primer for New Gun Owners to learn about firearms and safety.

Stay safe and happy shooting.

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The post Finding the Best Concealed Carry Revolvers [2022] appeared first on Personal Defense World.

North American Arms’ Sidewinder earned its name because, like most modern double-action revolvers, it has a cylinder that can be swung out to the side for loading. The Sidewinder has a 1.5-inch barrel, stainless steel construction, an overall length of 5 inches, a height of 2.87 inches and a width of 1.06 inches. It’s a single-action design, which means it has to be cocked for each shot, but the hammer spur is easily accessible and serrated, and it has a serrated spur trigger.

Notches at the rear of the cylinder allow the hammer to be lowered and locked in place between chambers and act as visual loaded-chamber indicators. The sights consist of a front post and a fixed rear notch. You can also get the Sidewinder with a .22 LR conversion cylinder to make for less expensive practice. The factory grips are a smooth laminated wood.

RELATED STORY: 4 .22 WMR Mini-Revolvers From North American Arms

The Mighty Mouse by LaserLyte will fit just about any of the NAA mini-revolvers. It features what I call grab-and-go activation—grasp the gun properly and the laser is activated. Besides allowing fast target acquisition and recognition, it has the red dot intimidation factor that, thanks to TV, everyone is aware of. The laser unit replaces the factory grip entirely, and a stalk that extends up from the right grip panel projects the laser beam over the top of the cylinder. It’s a tough unit that’s made from glass-filled nylon and attaches using a hex-head screw. The right grip panel holds the 392 batteries and a coin-slotted compartment cover allows for a battery change without having to remove the grips. The unit boasts a 650NM, 5MW, Class IIIA laser and has a constant-on life of over one hour.

My sample came with the batteries installed and three extras, plus hex wrenches for the grip and sight-adjustment screws and instructions. The tradeoff is the unit adds 0.75 ounces of weight, extends the gun’s width to 1.25 inches, and it is 3 inches long. I installed it on the Sidewinder and tried to adjust it to point of aim (POA) at 7 yards with the fixed sights. I turned the windage screw out as far as it would go and the red dot was still left of POA and slightly high. Given the purpose of this handgun, I’m not overly concerned.

Range Test

Let’s talk about “purpose.” The NAA Sidewinder is not my idea of a primary defense handgun, but maybe a second or even third backup gun. That being said, it can and has been used as a primary gun. With defense in mind, I elected to test my Sidewinder with these .22 Magnum cartridges. The CCI V-Max is first. it features a 30-grain jacketed bullet with a Poly-Tip embedded in the hollow nose. With its velocity readings, it might be devastating for contact shots. Next is Hornady’s Critical Defense round that’s loaded with a 45-grain FTX bullet, with a polymer plug within its serrated, hollow nose for expansion. Then there’s the Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection cartridge with its 40-grain GDHP bullet, which I’ve found expands well even from a 1-inch barrel.

RELATED STORY: New For 2016 – North American Arms’ Pug & Sidewinder

The Sidewinder is anything but a target gun with its tiny sights, but I was interested to see what accuracy potential it had at 7 yards. The group winner was Hornady Critical Defense with a five-shot cluster that covered 2.76 inches. The average for all of the test loads at the range was about 3.5 inches.

More Minis

Besides the Sidewinder, NAA makes other versions of its mini-revolver, plus variations of these differing models with short barrels for “pocket” use. These single-action mini-revolvers are stainless steel, with spur triggers and five-shot cartridge capacities, but these other models require the cylinder to be removed for loading/unloading. There are also different methods of cylinder removal that are improvements on the basic design and speed up the process while limiting the fine motor skills required.

Barrel lengths vary from 1 to 2.5 inches, and some barrels have solid or vent ribs, and barrel porting is even available. The options are seemingly endless, with different grips, adjustable rear sights, laser sight options, as well as high polish, blued and even gold-plated finishes available.

RELATED STORY: North American Arms’ Deep-Cover Defenders

Sporting a 1.6-inch barrel, the standard model in .22 Magnum tips the scales at 6.5 ounces. It has the traditional NAA cylinder base pin, which has a push button at the end that allows it to be removed, along with the cylinder for reloading. The revolvers in the Mini-Master series all offer what I’d call a pull-down, slide-out mechanism for extracting the cylinder base pin, making cylinder removal easier. This series includes the Black Widow, which has distinctive “hourglass” grips and sight options, and can also use the Mighty Mouse laser like all other .22 Mag NAA revolvers. There’s also the Pug with a 1-inch, solid-rib barrel, rubber grips and a big dot or tritium front sight.

All the aforementioned revolvers have the convertible .22 LR/.22 Magnum option. Some of these revolvers can also be had with a unique folding grip/holster unit that looks like a clip-on pocket knife when worn, adding to their concealed-carry appeal. In all, NAA has something for everyone.

For More Information

North American Arms
http://www.northamericanarms.com; 800-821-5783

LaserLyte
http://www.laserlyte.com; 928-649-3970 Keep Reading

The post Pocket Rimfires: The NAA Sidewinder and Other Mini-Revolvers appeared first on Personal Defense World.

The holiday season is fast approaching, and you know what that means. Presents, and lots of them. We get it. Sometimes it can be tough figuring out what to buy for loved ones. If there’s a firearm enthusiast in your family, that decision-making process can be even more daunting when you haven’t done your research. Or perhaps you want to treat yourself to something nice, but aren’t sure what should go on your “maybe” list. If it’s pocket pistols you’re looking for, we’ve got your back.

• RELATED STORY: Be Discreet – Common Sense Concealed Carry Tips & Techniques

From the concealable Beretta Pico and subcompact Glock 43, to Ruger’s just-released LCP II, Remington’s tiny RM380 and many more, there’s a slew of big-time gun manufacturers offering cool and innovative pocket pistols that put a premium on concealed carry and self defense. Looking for a great stocking stuffer? You’ve come to the right place. Without further ado, here are 15 pocket pistols perfect for Christmas.

• RELATED STORY: 5 Shooting Drills To Maximize Speed, Accuracy and Power

For more information about the pocket pistols featured in the gallery above, please visit the following sites.

Beretta
http://www.beretta.com

Bond Arms
http://www.bondarms.com

Colt
http://www.colt.com

Glock
https://us.glock.com

Heizer Defense
https://www.heizerdefense.com

Kahr Arms
http://www.kahr.com

North American Arms
https://www.northamericanarms.com

Ruger
http://www.ruger.com

SCCY
http://www.sccy.com

Sig Sauer
https://www.sigsauer.com

Smith & Wesson
https://www.smith-wesson.com

Springfield Armory
http://www.springfield-armory.com

Taurus
http://www.taurususa.com Keep Reading

The post Stocking Stuffers: 15 Pocket Pistols Perfect For Christmas appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Semi-autos may be all the rage these days, but don’t kid yourself: revolvers aren’t going anywhere. The market for them is still very healthy, with a host of attractive options for the discerning buyer having been unleashed over the past several years. Throughout the pages of ‘Combat Handguns,’ we’ve covered it all when it comes to revolvers. It wasn’t easy, but we managed to compile what we consider to be 11 of the best to grace the pages of the magazine this year. Scroll through above to see what they are.

• RELATED STORY: Revolver Holsters – 25 Rugged and Reliable Rigs for Your Wheelgun

For more information on the guns featured in this photo gallery, please visit the following sites.

Charter Arms
https://www.charterfirearms.com

Chiappa
http://www.chiappafirearms.com

Dan Wesson
http://www.danwessonfirearms.com

Kimber
http://www.kimberamerica.com

North American Arms
https://www.northamericanarms.com

Nighthawk Custom
http://www.nighthawkcustom.com

Ruger
http://www.ruger.com

Smith & Wesson
https://www.smith-wesson.com

Taurus
http://www.taurususa.com

Taylor’s & Company
http://www.taylorsfirearms.com

Uberti
http://www.uberti.com Keep Reading

The post Revolvers: The 11 Best Models from ‘Combat Handguns’ in 2016 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Back when I was a kid, pocket pistols were novelties. But fast-forward a few decades and the most extraordinary transformation has occurred in the shooting world.

RELATED STORY

Pocket Pistols: 10 Seminal Guns From The Past 300 Years

Concealed carry of firearms for personal protection has finally caught up with the founders’ clear original intent as depicted in the United States Constitution.

Now this deep into the Information Age, law-abiding folks are taking responsibility for their own security from coast to coast. Some states restrict the practice so severely as to leave their citizens defenseless, but most do not. As a result, concealed-carry guns and gear have become a huge industry.

When it comes time to pick out pocket pistols with which to defend yourself or your family, there are tons of options. Here are some of the best pocket pistols currently available.

• RELATED STORY: Semi-Autos Vs. Revolvers – Massad Ayoob Sets The Record Straight

For more information about the pocket pistols featured in the gallery above, please visit the following sites.

Glock
http://us.glock.com

Smith & Wesson
http://www.smith-wesson.com

Colt
http://www.colt.com

Rock Island Armory
http://www.armscor.com

Bond Arms
http://www.bondarms.com

Walther
http://www.waltherarms.com

Taurus
http://www.taurususa.com

North American Arms
https://www.northamericanarms.com

Heckler & Koch
http://www.hk-usa.com

This article was originally published in ‘Concealed Carry Handguns’ 2017. For information on how to subscribe, please email subscriptions@outdoorgroupmags.com or call 1-800-284-5668.

  Keep Reading

The post 10 Modern, Cutting-Edge Pocket Pistols for Self Defense appeared first on Personal Defense World.

In the culture war known as “gun control,” those who would abolish the cherished American right to keep and bear arms see a pocket pistol as a tool of the devil suitable only for committing murder. But history is replete with cases where a handgun small enough to fit inside a pocket has averted tragedy and saved innocent lives.

• RELATED STORY: Pocket Carry Primer – What You Need to Know About Packing in Your Pocket

Let’s go all the way back to the Old West and look at Example One. Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire tamed the town of El Paso, Texas, with a pair of cut-down, short-barreled Colt six-shooters that he carried concealed in leather-lined hip pockets. Stoudenmire won multiple gunfights with that equipment before his luck ran out in his final shooting affray.

• RELATED STORY: Shooting Under Pressure – Lifesaving Tips for Surviving a Gunfight

Scroll through the gallery above in order to learn about 10 cases from the past and the present where a pocket pistol saved the day. Hopefully, this short list of 10 “saves” will be helpful to you the next time you are debating with someone who mistakenly thinks pocket-sized handguns are only for the black of heart.

This article was originally published in ‘Pocket Pistols’ Spring 2017. To subscribe, visit http://outdoorgroupstore.com. Keep Reading

The post Pocket Pistol Saves: 10 Real-World Cases Where a Backup Gun Saved the Day appeared first on Personal Defense World.

These days, a lot of “Keyboard Kommandos” refer to smaller handguns, sometimes anything less than .45 caliber, as “mouse guns,” and those cartridges especially targeted for this derision are some real antiques. More specifically, I’m referring to the .25 ACP and .32 ACP, which both came from the inventive mind of John Moses Browning.

Even at the dawn of the 20th century, Browning had his fingers on the pulse of the gun market and saw what was popular with the public: small handguns for self-defense. Browning invented the .32 ACP (aka the 7.65mm Browning Short) in 1899 and followed up with the Browning Model 1900 pistol made by FN in Belgium. It had a straight-walled case and was semi-rimmed, firing a 73-grain FMJ bullet at around 905 fps. Colt adopted another Browning design and produced the Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless pistol, which jostled other gun manufacturers and led to the Savage Model 1907, the Browning Model 1910, Walther’s PPK and dozens of others.

In 1905, Browning came up with the .25 ACP (6.35x16mm), and FN made the Model 1905 pistol, or “Baby Browning,” to shoot it. This tiny cartridge, with its 50-grain FMJ bullet traveling at 760 fps, was also chambered in other pistols, such as the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket, the Beretta 950 Jetfire, the Walther TPH and a score of others.

Popular Pistols

For the most part, people were happy with these small handguns and diminutive cartridges. The .32 ACP was extremely prevalent in Europe and was adopted by many police and military forces. While not as popular, the .25 ACP was a top seller in the civilian market. Statistics from Colt indicate that the Model 1903 and Model 1908 pistols were the second and third best sellers in the early 20th century behind the Model 1911. Around 570,000 and 420,000 of the Model 1903 and Model 1908 pistols were made, respectively, so they are commonly found on the used gun market.

Today’s plethora of small handguns in the more effective .380 ACP and 9mm has pretty much doomed the .25 and .32 ACP to obscurity. However, dozens of European makes and models from such companies as Ruby, HK and Sig Sauer, mixed with American products like the Bauer, Raven, Sterling, Taurus and Kel-Tec, make finding used guns in these calibers both easy and oftentimes a bargain. Add to this the uncounted thousands of these older guns still in bedside tables and desk drawers.

While there are few new handguns in .25 and .32 ACP being made, ammunition sales in these calibers are still fairly brisk, and subsequently, cartridge manufacturers have upped the performance of these two 100-plus-year-old rounds to more modern standards.

Take the .25 ACP. My ammo locker had expanding bullet loads from three different companies, including Hornady’s 36-grain XTP HP, which chronographed at 839 fps from my 2-inch-barreled Colt Model 1908. Speer’s 35-grain Gold Dot HP clocked in at 775 fps, and Winchester’s 45-grain Super-X Expanding Point, which has a Lubaloy-coated lead bullet with a steel ball in the nose, came in at 773 fps. These bullets expand reliably and allow all of the 63 to 65 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) to be expended into the target.

The same goes for the .32 ACP. My ammunition included Hornady’s 60-grain XTP HPs, Magtech’s 71-grain JHPs and some vintage Winchester 60-grain Silvertip HPs, which clocked in at 919, 860 and 968 fps, respectively, from my 3.75-inch-barreled Colt Model 1903. The expanding bullets offered about 125 to 133 fpe from the muzzle, which is more than enough to take care of the biggest “mouse” with good shot placement.

There aren’t many pistols still being made in .25 and .32 ACP. Your classic “pocket pistols” in these calibers were generally all steel, and their weight was reduced through their slender designs, short barrels and overall lengths, and compact grip frames. Today, smaller, lighter and stronger guns can be made with space-age alloys, polymers and stainless steel. Upgraded designs offer larger-caliber guns that are much the same size as these old-timers, and they’re usually lighter, too. Modern double-action-only (DAO) and striker-fired guns are safer and easier to shoot than many of the elder pistols with single-action (SA) triggers and exposed or concealed hammers. While they might not be more accurate, these new guns for the most part have better sights; the sights on guns from “back in the day” were sometimes not much more than reference points.

Despite all that, I’ve rounded up some of the best .25 and .32 ACP mouse guns, from the past and present, to give you some options. Let’s take a look.

For more information about the mouse guns featured in the gallery above, visit the following sites.

U.S. Armament Corps
usarmamentcorp.com

North American Arms
northamericanarms.com

Standard Manufacturing
stdgun.com

Phoenix Arms
phoenix-arms.com

Kel-Tec
keltecweapons.com

This article was originally published in ‘Concealed Carry Handguns’ Spring 2017. To subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com. Keep Reading

The post 5 Mighty Mouse Guns Chambered in .25 and .32 ACP appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Utah-based North American Arms has joined forces with Talo Distributors—a company that commissions special edition firearms from major gun makers—for a new special edition mini-revolver dubbed the Bug Out Box.

Chambered in .22 LR, the Bug Out Box is a 5-shot mini-revolver that features a stylized stepped barrel, XS sights, and a sheriff-style cylinder pin. It also sports an orange Hogue slip-on grip with a pebble finish, though the press release says any North American Arms grips or accessories will also fit.

• RELATED STORY: Pocket Rimfires – The NAA Sidewinder and Other Mini-Revolvers

The Bug Out Box comes in a lockable, waterproof case with an empty ammo box. The case can also accommodate emergency items and tools like fire starting kits, knives or anything else you might need. This emergency kit is meant to be stored in your car, tackle box or home in case you need to use it for disaster readiness scenarios.

“Talo is always coming up with innovative and personalized ideas for our mini-revolvers that beautifully connects with our main goal of making firearms that are convenient, reliable, and effective,” North American Arms GM Ken Friel said in a statement. “Talo Distributors has done it once again. The Bug Out Box is the epitome of just that.”

Shipments of the Bug Out Box began the first week of June, with only 1500 being produced. Each firearm will have a unique serial number.

• RELATED STORY: Gun Review – North American Arms’ .380 Guardian Pistol with Crimson Trace Lasergrips

The Bug Out Box marks the 11th collaboration between North American Arms and Talo Distributors. Other models in this collection include the Black Jake, the King of Hearts and the Snake Eyes Edition.

This mini-revolver will be available for purchase from your local gun dealers and can also be ordered through any of the Talo Distributors.

For more information about North American Arms, visit northamericanarms.com. To learn more about Talo, visit taloinc.com.

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The post VIDEO: North American Arms, Talo Team for ‘Bug Out Box’ Mini-Revolver appeared first on Personal Defense World.