Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Anybody own an NAA Black Widow?

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts. I need something even smaller and lighter than a micro 380 at times. I saw some YouTube videos where the NAA failed to ignite the primer and wondered if it's a problem with NAA or just rimfire ammo in general.

I suspect it was cheap rimfire ammo.
I’ve owned 3 of the NAA mini revolvers over the years. 1 in 22 short. 1 in .22 LR. And 1 in 22 mag.
All were reliable and never failed to fire a round.

They are hard to aim and hit with without a ton of practice. And the velocities are dismal out of their short barrels. And VERY SLOW to reload.

Got rid of mine when KelTec released their 1st P-32 auto. Eventually switched to a Ruger LCP 380.

Never seen a time since when I needed or wanted something smaller. YMMV, but a small, slow to reload 22 revolver vs a micro .380 that’s easily reloaded with an extra magazine just doesn’t “make sense” for me.

I will add that I only carry a .380 for a BUG.
Never again as a stand alone “defense weapon”.

Other than the Courthouse, once a year, I just don’t go to places I can’t carry at least a mid to full size auto anymore. Period.

The NAA Black Widow is longer than a Kahr P380 and the Ruger LCP. The NAA BW is only about 1 oz. lighter, and .2" shorter than either of the 380 as well.

Just saying you are not gaining much of anything in concealability over the smallest semiauto 380s.

Granted, the 380s are marginal defensive tools. I would still say they are a significantly better defensive tool than the NAA Black Widow.

Yep.

Rimfire isn't as reliable in ignition as centerfire.

I've had a .22 LR NAA Mini Revolver since the late 1980s. They are very well made and reliable. Use the highest quality rimfire ammo, and you should be okay.

I have the slightly oversized grips on mine.

It's the only pocket gun that I am willing to carry for any length of time. Can't stand the feeling of the LCP or Kel-Tec P32 in my front pants pocket.

I have experience with an NAA Pug (22 WMR) and a NAA 22LR/22 WMR convertible mini. I have shot a lot of magnums through the Pug. It was very reliable with Speer Gold Dots, but lately I have gotten occasional failures to fire with the same batch of ammo. I think it is going to have to go back for service. I think it is wise to get a model with the cylinder pin assembly that the Pug and Black Widow have because the ball detent on the standard versions appears to experience some wear if you shoot them a bunch with magnums.

One other thing that is a disadvantage of the design is that you really need to practice cocking the gun under stress because it is not hard to fumble that with such a small gun.

I also think that Montana Marine makes some valid points about the size of the Black Widow in relation to other more effective firearms. If you really need something small, the Pug may be better.

Finally, if you use a thumbs forward grip normally, beware of the cylinder gap with your support hand thumb.

They are fun little guns but they have limitations.

Cheyenne nails it as per usual.

Smallest gun I’ll ever carry as a BUG, is my LCP 380.
Mine stays loaded with the Buffalo Boar Hard Cast load.

Appreciate all the thoughts. I haven't handled the Black Widow and didn't realize it was so much larger than some of the other NAA revolvers. I need a revolver to carry rat shot as a first round. This is not for self-defense against possibly armed humans. For that I personally want 9mm minimum.

My brother in Florida, has one for 10 years or more, loves it, and has killed alot of snakes with it.

If you carry one of those…….get the newer type that open like a mini Schofield

Reload much quicker

Sidewinder in 22 mag is an excellent choice.

I wish NAA would make that gun in a four shot .32 S&W Long.

Does anyone have any experience with a NAA 22 with the folding grip? I’ve considered it for a while now, thinking that the pocket clip would be much better than weighing down your pocket. Plus the grip is substantially bigger when deployed.

I haven’t actually handled one, it’s just been a thought so far but seemed to be the best carry method if it locks open solidly.

Hickok45 has one of those, and did a video or two about it.

Thanks Hawk, I’ll check it out!

i had a folding grip and did not really like it. eventually i got a pug and gave my son the black widder. the pug is noticeably smaller in the pocket.

the pug is carried with a cci rat shot up first for rattle mocs. it is always in my pocket and serves well for varmints.

What is it you didn’t like? Grip angle? Quality - or lack thereof? Just curious, I need to find one to handle…

I have been wanting this one lately.

https://www.familyfirearms.com/prod...13-5-rd-black-rubber-grip#product_detail