the NAA Sidewinder delivers five shots of .22 Magnum in an ultra-compact and ultra-light package.
To learn more, visit https://northamericanarms.com/product-category/firearms/sidewinder/.
To purchase on GunsAmerica, visit https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=NAA%20sidewinder.
What do you do when you need a gun but “can’t” carry one? You know, when the bulk and size of a CCW firearm is just not practical for your situation? No solution? Then you clearly have not considered North American Arms and its line of radically downsized revolvers that weigh mere ounces. These things are truly tiny.
What the Sidewinder brings to the table is a swing-out cylinder, as compared to standard NAAs that require you to remove the cylinder to reload.
North American Arms was founded by Sandy Chisholm in the early seventies and quickly established a reputation for producing the “world’s smallest” revolver. Their first mini-revolver was chambered in .22 Short and was only 3 3/5” long, 2 3/8” high and weighed in at a mere 4 ounces. The little revolvers became a cult hit with both the civilian and law enforcement market. While some don’t take them seriously, the little revolvers have earned a legitimate place in the self-defense market. As someone once said, “it is a gun you can carry when you can’t carry a gun.”
The popularity of the mini revolvers has only grown over the years. According to the company’s website, they currently offer ten different models in more than sixteen configurations. Models are available in a variety of barrel lengths and a variety of calibers to include .22 Short, .22 Long Rifle, and .22 Magnum. The 1860 Series includes “The Earl”, “The Hogleg”, and “The Sheriff.” These models are patterned after the 1800’s-era percussion revolvers and feature a faux loading lever that secures the cylinder pin and an octagon barrel.
The Sidewinder in .22 Magnum gives you a peppy little defender with small enough dimensions and light enough weight to ensure that you can always have it on you.
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the company’s production facility in Provo, Utah and spend some time with Ken Friel. Ken is a true gentleman and is always on my “must visit” list when I attend SHOT Show. Ken told me of a narcotics agent who did a buy on a Florida beach wearing only a speedo. Given the abbreviated wardrobe, the agent hid a NAA mini-revolver in a drink cup! That is creative police work. During my thirty-five plus years in law enforcement, I have known many officers who carried an NAA as a last ditch insurance policy.
The size of the NAA revolver, and its reliability, is a testament to the engineering, design, and quality of NAA’s manufacturing process. However, the one common complaint with the original Mini-Revolvers was the process of loading, unloading, and reloading. The only way to access the cylinder is to remove the cylinder pin and then remove the cylinder from the pistol. This must be accomplished any time there is a need to load, unload, or reload. The process is not difficult, but it is tedious and time-consuming. NAA set out to solve that problem and, in the process, created a really slick little pistol.
The author tested the variant of the Sidewinder that comes with a .22 Magnum and a .22 LR cylinder systems. Note the Tuff Products QuickStrip ammo carrier.
SPECS
- Chambering: .22 Magnum/LR combo
- Barrel: 1 inch
- OA Length: 5 inches
- Weight: 6.7 ounces
- Grips: Rosewood
- Sights: Fixed
- Action: Single-action
- Finish: Stainless steel
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $449 (as tested)
The designers at NAA solved this issue with the introduction of the Sidewinder. The Sidewinder features a swing-out cylinder allowing for “speedy” reloads without removing the cylinder. As with all NAA revolvers, the frame and cylinder are machined from a solid billet of stainless steel. This allows for the precise machining to meet the tolerance levels needed for a firearm of that size. The fit and finish are excellent and are void of any machine marks, buffing wheel marks, or burrs. The cylinder and sides of the frame are polished while the top strap, sides of the barrel, bottom of the frame, and back strap have a matte finish that provides an attractive contrast. The Sidewinder is 5 inches in length, 2 7/8 inches in height, and weighs a mere 6.7 ounces.
The caliber and company name are cleanly engraved on the right side of the frame. The serial number has an “SW” prefix (Sidewinder) and is located on the bottom of the frame, just forward of the trigger. All of the markings on the Sidewinder are extremely crisp and sharp and reflect NAA’s attention to quality and details.
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The Sidewinder sports a short, stubby one-inch barrel and stainless steel construction.
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The cylinder of the Sidewinder swings out to the right side of the revolver’s frame.
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The Sidewinder’s sights consist of a small “U” shape rear sight on the top strap and a small round bead front sight. As with all NAA revolvers, the Sidewinder is a five-shot, single action only design with an exposed hammer and unguarded trigger. The bird’s head profile of the grip is the same dimensions as the other mini-revolvers and will accommodate any of the optional stocks. Our sample came with both a .22 WMR cylinder and a .22 LR cylinder. The cylinders are changed by removing the cylinder retaining screw located on the front edge of the cylinder yoke.
Due to the internal design and the location of the cylinder hand and stop, the Sidewinder opens to the right side of the frame. To open the cylinder, the hammer is set on half-cock and the ejection rod is then pushed forward to release the cylinder. Once the cylinder is in the open position, the ejection rod is depressed allowing the empty cases to be partially ejected. The size and design requires the empty cases to be individually removed and the cylinder has to be rotated to allow the empties to clear the stock.
The Sidewinder is small enough to disappear inside a pocket, and its light weight of 6.7 ounces makes it easy to carry all day.
When I received the Sidewinder, I called Ken and had him go over some of the features and discussed my initial impressions. Friel is quick to point out that the little mini revolvers are made to shoot and asked me to give the Sidewinder a workout. Well, I put over 250 rounds through the little gun with absolutely no problems. The two cylinders allowed me to test the Sidewinder with .22 WMR and .22 LR ammunition. The first thing I noticed was the positive indexing and lockup of the cylinder. There was no shaving of rounds or splatter from the cylinder gap. In fact, we noticed a distinct lack of powder residue on both the frame and the sides of the cylinder. This is an indicator of the close tolerances that NAA holds during production. The trigger pull was very good, given the geometry of the pistol, and measured just over 7 lbs.
Range Time
The sights are minuscule, to say the least. However, with a little work, I was able to consistently shoot 1 ¼-inch groups from the three-yard line. The Sidewinder shot point of aim/point of impact at that distance. Like other NAA firearms, the Sidewinder is amazingly accurate and I feel confident that the little revolver could have placed all five shots in one ragged hole, if I had done my job. Moving back to five yards, I shot several quick indexed shots to simulate a more realistic encounter. I had no problem keeping all shots in the center mass of the target.
Choices of ammunition, for personal defense, are normally 40-grain bullets that are either FMJ or jacketed hollow point loads. Using a Competition Electronics ProChrono that I obtained from the good folks at Brownells, I chronographed four magnum loads and three long rifle loads. The accompanying chart reflects velocity and group from each round. CCI’s Standard and Subsonic loads were very pleasant to shoot and averaged 773 fps and 780 respectively. The hotter CCI Mini Mag load averaged 883 fps but was not unpleasant.
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Considering its small size and minuscule sights, the Sidewinder acquitted itself well during testing.
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The author also tested the Sidewinder with “shotshell” ammo, as the little revolver would make for a great snake gun.
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It is only in recent years that manufacturers developed a .22 Magnum load dedicated to personal defense. Two excellent examples are Hornady 45-grain Critical-Defense and the 40-grain Speer Gold Dot 22 Magnum load. The Hornady load features a 45-grain FTX bullet that averaged 964 feet per second. The Gold Dot has a 40-grain GDHP bullet that averaged 980 feet per second. From five feet, I shot both rounds into three, one-gallon water jugs. The Hornady load completely penetrated the first jug and was captured by the rear wall of the second jug. The Speer load stopped in the third jug. Both rounds actually expanded while remaining intact. The weight of the recovered Hornady slug was 43.2 grains while the Speer load weighed 40 grains. The Gold Dot was the most impressive and looked like a miniature version of larger caliber GDHP bullets.
The author also tried the NAA Sidewinder out with some dedicated self-defense .22 Magnum loads such as this Hornady Critical Defense offering.
I was surprised when Ken mentioned that some owners use the CCI Shotshell Load for personal defense. This load consists of 52 grains of #12 shot that is contained in a polymer shot capsule. Ken related that he has heard from several customers who have ended a violent encounter by dispensing a load of CCI shot to the face of the bad guy. While this may not produce a fatal wound, they likely think that the initial trauma may be sufficient to persuade the bad guy to seek opportunities elsewhere! I tested the CCI Shotshell load at 3 yards. At that range, the load printed a group that was approximately 9” X 9” with a tight pattern in the 3” Shoot-N-C dot. While not ideal, it is an option. To my thinking, it makes an excellent load for snakes and very small varmints and is ideal for those who spend a lot of time outdoors.
NAA offers a variety of accessories for their line of mini revolvers. These include a variety of stocks and holsters. Another interesting accessory is the QuickStrip from Tuff Products. Similar to the old Bianchi Speed Strips, Tuff Products’ QuickStrips are available for fourteen calibers, the smallest being .22 LR and the largest being for 10- gauge shotgun shells. The strips offer a convenient way to carry ten extra rounds and worked well with the Sidewinder. While testing the Sidewinder, I used both .22 LR and .22 Magnum QuickStrips and they are mandatory when I carry the Sidewinder.
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The swing-out cylinder design of the Sidewinder makes reloading easier.
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The single-action Sidewinder has a guardless trigger and a compact “bird’s” head grip.
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The little NAA revolvers have earned the respect of the firearm’s community and they have solidified their place in the personal defense market. When working in the yard, I frequently drop the Sidewinder in my pocket in case I run across a Copperhead or Rattlesnake. While small, the little guns can provide a sense of security when used in the proper context. This is truly the gun for when you “can’t” carry a gun. I would like to thank Ken Friel and the great folks at North American Arms for allowing me to visit their facility and for their continued support.
To learn more, visit https://northamericanarms.com/product-category/firearms/sidewinder/.
To purchase on GunsAmerica, visit https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=NAA%20sidewinder.
I’ve got an NAA 22magnum that the hammer is locked back. First, it would not cock then it cocked and now won’t un-cock! What’s the problem? I never shoot it and the lint from my pocket gets in it I guess. I took it to these two clowns that said, Gunsmith on their new business and they took it apart and they couldn’t get it un-cocked they said it might be spring. They had no idea. I took it to another stooge several years ago and I’m sure it was lint but he said it needed some parts and jacked the price up because later i looked at the parts list and price and the barrel and cylinder cost the most. It’s hard to find an honest locksmith these days.
How can I carry an extra loaded cylinder in my pocket without the cartridges falling out? I have the Black Widow.
Thank you.
Great information on this site.
There are cylinder caps online also speed loaders for these as well
I wish they had not quit making the belt buckle the the sidewinder f>t in with the button in front of trigger it was round and was simular to the rodeo buckles and said American Arms on them they were Discontinued way back before the CCW not that they allow the CCW they should start making them again instead of this skeleton buckle it was way nicer and showed the gin off even tho it really didn’t look real in the buckle
I have 3 NAA revolvers and, though I like them, 2 of the 3 had to be returned for fine tuning before use. The Sidewinder being one of them. Having said that, the customer service at NAA is outstanding. When I sent the pieces in, they spent one day in the shop and were on the way back the next and have worked flawlessly since. I carry a Pug as my backup and, depending on the environment, my EDC.
Since I live in the South and it gets quite hot, sometimes it’s hard to conceal even the smallest of CCW weapons with summer clothing, even the NAA Guardians, which I have two – the .32 and a .380, both dehorned. Could I wear heavier clothing which would be advantageous for carrying one of my Glocks? Of course, in theory. Would I actually do it? Not when it’s the middle of summer where I live!
But for thirty years I’ve been carrying one or two of the .22 mags dropped in a pant or bathing suit pocket and never felt undergunned – when I couldn’t carry one of my Glocks. Are there better self-defense calibers than the .22 mag? Absolutely, if you have a place to carry it. But I sure as hell wouldn’t want to get shot by one. It’s definitely gonna leave a mark!
I bought an NAA .22 mag from a LEO colleague back in the early 1980s. I carried it as a back-up to my issued firearm and I carried it undercover into places I could not go with a gun. I found that I could carry that little pistol tucked in my trousers right behind my belt buckle, covered by an untucked shirt and pass a cursory pat down. Obviously that method of carry was less than ideal, but it did get me in the door and it was never detected. Now, I just drop it in the pocket of my shorts or levis any time I’m going out for a short errand. These little guns are well made and surprisingly accurate at close combat ranges. I’m glad that the ammo manufacturers are starting to make serious self defense ammunition to fit them.
Iv got five of these. It all started years ago with a 22lr model with a inch and eighth barrel. I now have a 22 short model, and several 22mag models. The short model I carry on a kydex holster attached to a piece of dog tag chain abt all the time. Very light. I also have a 22 mag wasp with a black widow grip with a remora holster for either pocket or iwb carry but most if the time it’s in the pocket. Be sure to only have the holster with the gun only for pocket carry. No keys or other stuff in that pocket with a gun ever. These are very well worth the money for any CCW person. At the times I can conceal a big gun I do, a glock 17.
I’ve had a concealed permit for years and never really felt comfortable carrying other handguns. The laser on the Laserlyte grip is pressure activated and rides very high, with the beam emanating right next to the barrel. I think the laser adds another level of deterrent to a would-be attacker. Sure, it’s a mouse gun but, the best gun for self defense is “the one that you carry.” I love mine!!
I have a 22 mag w/1 7/8″ bbl I picked up twenty years ago. It is easy to carry and will fit in the watch pocket of my jeans as well as a large variety of holsters including some never intended for it. I usually carry it as a backup or third piece but in the 110+ degree heat of the summer, I can carry this in places including swim trunks that I can’t carry anything else. 22 Mag isn’t my first choice but sometimes it’s the only choice.
I would like to see the XS sights of the pug and the Sidewinder frame combined, the poor sights of most models being the largest drawback. The addition of the available laser grip is useful but a large quick access front sight is always needed in close encounters where reaction time afforded is never long enough.
I have a shirt that has a shoulder sleeve pocket with velcro flap that fits mine perfectly as well as a small belt knife pouch, neck holster, pocket, ankle, IWB, OWB and flapped OWB holsters that all work well. I even have wrist holster my wife sewed out of an old range bag that allows me to wear it under a long sleeve dress shirt and draw it through the above cuff opening if needed and a velcro inside ball cap or cowboy hat holster that works when I know I’m not going to take my hat off and don’t have to worry about leaving it somewhere.
I own the one called Plug. It will surprise you how it shoots. It will take care of a knife fight will quick.
I got a 22MAG Sidewinder in 2012. SR # EB0XX. I put a larger grip on it. Waiting on the Ranger 2…never made it.
They are great little guns, ultra-ultra concealable last line of defense. There is also another exactly like the NAA called the Micro mini. It is so exact to the NAA I would assume NAA may have made it for another company name? The only difference I can find is the micro’s go for a much better price than the NAA if you can find one.
The cylinder opens the wrong way.
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6 decades ago a gun collector friend of mine bought an old Slocum sliding 4 barrel “derringer”–it was .32 rimfire. Very small–and fired well. IIRC it had about a 3 inch long rifled “barrel”–and a rotating firing pin to fire each barrel. A truly simple design. The “barrel” slid forward to allow reloading.
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John Bibb
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H&R used to make a small 22 cal wheel gun that pretty much laid in the palm of your hand, easy to handle, and to fire, than any of the “Gambler” sleeve guns such as this one. The price tag on this minny gun is competitive with this day and age, but is still too high for the handling and performance of these toys. I’ve shot one in .45 and there is a chance the kick will simply rest in your grip and give you a good pinch. Besides, if the attacker is within four feet – you’ve probably missed your chance, best to turn and run.
aydene – NAA doesn’t make any handgun in .45 Colt or ACP so you couldn’t have shot one. You may be thinking of a Bond Derringer which is a completely different company and handgun – not similar at all. At my age, it’s better to have 5 rounds of .22 mag than to pretend that I’m going to run away from anything.
If your attacker is within 4 feet, turning and running is exactly the wrong thing to do.
I have – and periodically carry – the NAA “Black Widow,” a Sidewinder sibling… My revolver features a slightly longer barrel and better sights… However, those raised front and rear sights are something of a pocket catcher but not enough so to keep me from carrying the weapon, though if I knew then what I know now I very likely would have selected a different model because of these sights… Recoil with .22 magnum loads is very tolerable; enough so that wife enjoys shooting the revolver.. With the .22 rimfire cylinder in and CCI ammo fueling the revolver, recoil is almost non-existent.. . One small issue I had was the revolver’s “Black Widow” colorful emblem falling out of the hard rubber stock shortly after I bought the gun. It was an easy enough fix with a drop of super-strong multi-purpose glue but still an annoyance that NAA should have seen coming… I do like the “Sidewinder’s” swing-out cylinder as the removal and insertion of the Widow’s cylinder most certainly takes some getting used to and should receive repeated dry runs by an owner. I bought a NAA ankle holster for it – and that was a huge mistake. In every respect it is an inferior product, the snap-over was extremely difficult to unsnap (can’t be asking a would-be mugger if he’ll wait until I can withdraw the gun) and I finally cut it off. The Widow’s barrel hangs out the bottom and chafes the ankle, too, and also makes it difficult to extract the gun as do the rear sights. I now either carry it solo in a pocket or if I’m hunting or using an accessory bag, I keep it there. These guns are relatively expensive and as often as not, a challenge to find at a store or gun show with seldom a discount being available. All of that criticism aside, NAA does make a nice product, warts and all.
The chart says accuracy results were at 25 yards…. the text says 3 yards.
Without one of the add on grip lasers, I sincerely doubt most folks ability to create actual groups with the sights on this revolver at 25 yards. The black widow versions on the other hand actually have functional full size sights and would be interesting to see tested at distance.
I have been carrying the NAA PUG for almost 10 years. I have large hands, so I replaced the factory grips with the grips from the NAA Black Widow. I live in rattlesnake country, so load it with 2 rounds of CCI Shotshells and 3 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense. Great little CCW gun!
I have a early model NAA pistol for shorts, a 22 in a belt buckle, and a sidewinder with both cylinders.
I have a laser on the sidewinder, and the 22’s shoot great, but for the 22 mags I think you’d be better off with different grips, like the cvang grips. The mags kick a bit. http://revisioncv.com/gallery
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y39/Zemo999/NAAMiniPistols_zps6b963e17.jpg
The “flagship” LR version can even clip to one’s underwear (just saying). I illustrated numerous other options in Concealed Carry Revealed – but hiding these sweet lil’ wheel guns are only limited by one’s imagination.
i figure the explosive tip is the best round for self defense
I realize this is a brief article about just one particular NAA model and all the options can’t be covered. You did mention grips were same size as other models, but wondering if the folding grip will work since frame is a little different. The folding grip is a VERY important option for people with large hands to hold the gun properly while retaining compactness when folded. Once you add the big stationary “oversize” grips the magnum models are not all that much smaller than some micro-380’s, though fully loaded weight is still considerably lighter if that’s mainly what you’re looking for.
I EDC carry the 2.5″ barrel Sidewinder in .22WMR with the folding grips. I did have to Dremel away a bit of material at the bottom of the grip to accommodate the revolver frame when folded, but there is zero effect on function in either open or closed mode.
The larger folding grip enhances contact with the pistol, which increased my accuracy noticeably over the stock birds’ head design.
I’ve been carrying a magnum PUG For years. Two observations; 1st It’s so small and easy to carry that you sometimes forget it’s in your pocket. That can be bad if you wander into one of the “Forbidden Zones” we have so many of in South Carolina .
2nd, there are a number of sharp edges and corners , particularly around the muzzle that cause wear on pockets if you are dumb enough to carry sans pocket holster and I am. Thanks to the all stainless construction that is easily corrected with a set of jewelers files.
Also I highly recommend the neck holster especially in warmer weather. I use it under golf shirts, etc with no problems. Much easier access than a pocket carry, especially sitting in a car.
There is a plastic fold out pistol grip extension that you can purchase that covers those hard points for the most part. Better yet when you open it up it increases the pistol grip area greatly and affords a better grip for target retention and firing. I can open mine while in my pocket so that when it comes out of my pocket it’s ready to cock and fire one handed.
I love my North American Arms mini revolver in .22 MAG . Where I go, it goes. Now if only the bullet makers would get off their duffs and produce enough .22 MAG ammo to keep it stocked on gun store shelves. I can’t abide with buying a thousand rounds in order to have enough on hand for my two pieces in .22 MAG. Thank God I saw the writing in the Obama wall years ago and stocked in a few hundred rounds over a couple of months which I can’t use until I can replace them on my stockpile.
What the hell does Obama have to do with anything. Can you name one piece of legislation that was even introduced by Obama that would limit your ability to by ammo? You right wing nuts always seem to relate every perceived slight of your rights to Obama. During the Obama years i purchased 10 different guns from full-on assault rifle to little plinker rifle and THOUSANDS of rounds of ammo… tell me again how Obama is infringing on your 2A rights?
You’re just mad because Hillary didn’t win.
Enjoy the next 4/8 years Mike! All of us ‘right wing nuts’ sure haven’t enjoyed the last 8.
You bought a full-on assault rifle? How many tens of thousands of dollars did that cost you?
Anyways, he isn’t really infringing on 2A rights in any major way barring the weird ATF executive orders he’s done (any moreso than any lawmaking government official is, technically speaking I suppose, I mean he hasn’t repealed the NFA or anything that actually does infringe on 2A rights). The thing is he TRIED to infringe on 2A rights, and in doing so drove the prices up artificially by creating a panic that he WOULD infringe on 2A rights. Remember back after sandy hook where him and his ilk attempted to pass an absolute boatload of gun control laws, none of which passed? In attempting to do that the price of ammunition went through the roof and many popular firearms became extremely difficult and expensive to find, due to the public believing (because the president wouldn’t stop saying) that such things were going to be banned in the near future. It didn’t work, of course, but he gave it his best shot (Barry along with plenty of others, of course).
I don’t believe Joe was referring to any legislation that passed, as much as he was referring to the fact that Obama TRIED to pass legislation that would make firearms less easy to obtain, which again, will influence public perception of such things and make it very difficult/expensive for your average non-rich joe to afford and find such things.
Does that make sense? Of course you’d know that if you were buying thousands of rounds of ammo around 2013 to 2014. That said if you could afford a “full on assault rifle” the panic-buying inflation probably wouldn’t have been such that you’d have noticed, as an average assault rifle goes for fifty to sixty thousand dollars on a good day.
IMO Mike, you’re too stupid to be out walking the streets by yourself. BO has held and maintained an anti-gun posture since day one that he burst onto the national political scene. He has pressed at every opportunity for more gun control, usually not even waiting long enough for the bodies to get cold after being shot . . . and yet hardly a whisper of protest as the bodies continue to stack up in Chicago. (Wouldn’t wanna hurt his buddy Rahm’s feelings would he?)
Lastly I just want to express my opinion in saying that if you own so much as a single firearm along with a box of ammunition to go with it I would be truly shocked. As for you saying that you have purchased 10 (TEN!!!) firearms since BO has been in office along with thousands of rounds of ammo, I’ll be the first to say it: that is naught but a large smelly crock of rat lotion. If you have than I’ll stand corrected & make a public apology.
If we’re Right Wing Nuts, why are you on this site at all? You’re going to tell us that Obama’s Executive Orders screwing disabled vets and seniors out of their 2A rights was nothing?
If someone is not capable of managing their checkbook, i’m not ok with them managing a firearm.
No, I’m not a right wing nut; I’m more of a gun-owning/gun-packing conservative “Deplorable.” Anyone have problem with that?
Since you asked so nicely, you progressive ignoramus, I am referring to the panic buying instigated by OhBlaba’s on air attacks against gun ownership each time a wacko leftist mental case went hog wild in a “GUN FREE” zone which jacked up pricing on every popular gun and round in all gun stores and sites across this country and made it next to impossible to purchase ammo for a day at the gun range unless you paid enormous markups on both guns and ammo.
Just call me a “DEPLORABLE” and take it from there.
These are excellent backup or low threat guns.I’d stick with 22lr solids and go for shot placement. The black widow has sights and a greater effective range than the smaller guns.
I have a Sidewinder, I use 22 long, in order to shoot 22 mag do I need to buy a new cillinder?
Thx, Tim
Yours has to be designed for Mag, which has a longer cylinder. There is then a separate cylinder for .22 long, which is long enough to fit. The .22 mag cartridge is longer than a .22 long and the casing is slightly wider, even though the bullet is the same diameter.
Nope, the 22 WMR has a slightly fatter bullet than the 22LR. Typically, barrels that shoot 22 WMR accurately do not handle 22LR as accurately.
Then how would you explain the 6-million plus Ruger Single-Six pistols currently being used throughout the country? Every one of them come from the Ruger factory with a .22lr and a .22magnum(WMR) cylinders. Interchangeable cylinders that are both shot out of the same barrel. Plus there are several other manufacturers that make similar firearms, e.g., .22 specifically refers to the diameter of the bullet and has nothing at all to do with the length of the bullet, nor the size of the cartridge. .22 short, .22 long, .22 long rifle, .22 magnum (wmr), .22 TCM are all .22 calibers, regardless of the length of the bullets and/or the size of the cartridge pushing the bullet, etc.
22 wmr and wrf are slightly larger in diameter (believe it’s like 2/1000″) than 22 short/long/lr. Guns sold with both 22wmr and 22lr cylinders like the single six have a barrel sized for the larger diameter bullet and the smaller 22s/l/lr just make due with the oversized bore. Many report better accuracy with 22wmr in such cases which makes sense as the barrel matches the ammo (My single six shoots wmr more accurately). You’re not supposed to attempt shooting 22wmr in a barrel sized for 22s/l/lr as overpressure event is likely
Elastic hair tie or fat rubber band around gun, connect to dog tag chain. Hammer in safety notch.
Not a recommendation, just a option.
One more very important piece of information about this revolver that every owner must know. How to put it on safe.
https://flatoutunconstitutional.com/2015/08/19/north-american-arms-and-safety/
Yes the “safety” feature (like early revolvers there’s no internal drop protection) couldn’t be simpler once you know about it. Eliminates need for an empty chamber to rest the hammer on since you’ve only got 5 to begin with. Any competent gun dealer will surely explain what those cylinder notches are to a prospective buyer since some won’t read instructions with this swing-out model (with the original NAA minis like mine they’re more likely to RTFM–just to figure out how you go about loading it).