North American Arms .22 Magnum Folding Holster Grip Revolver
Clever Design, But Is It Practical?
You probably recognize the name North American Arms. I’ve always thought these little revolvers were somewhat misunderstood creatures. They’re certainly not for everybody, but I find them interesting, and I have a soft spot for small, unusual firearms.
I picked up this particular example recently, and one of the things I like about little guns like this is having something handy around my property. I keep snake-shot ammunition in some of them, and when you’re out wandering around the place, a compact revolver can be convenient.
What caught my attention about this one, though, was its folding grip panel. Take a look at it. The grip folds against the revolver, and a pocket clip lets you attach the gun behind your belt or carry it in a pocket. In that configuration, it almost resembles a tactical folding knife.
To use the revolver, you simply open the grip. A small detent locks the panel into its extended position, giving you a conventional grip that lets you cock and operate the gun.
I actually like the way it feels. That’s saying something because one of the challenges with these miniature North American Arms revolvers is their tiny grips. They’re not always easy to hold onto, particularly if you have anything resembling normal-sized hands.
This folding arrangement gives you considerably more grip to work with, making the revolver much more comfortable and shootable than the typical little birdshead-style grip. When you’re finished, press the detent and fold the grip back against the frame. Simple enough.
It’s a clever idea, and I appreciate the engineering behind it. But here’s where I think some of these little guns can be misunderstood.
I wouldn’t consider this revolver a primary defensive firearm. In my opinion, these miniature guns are better suited as backup or supplemental options, or simply as handy little recreational firearms. They’re also useful for specialized tasks around the property, such as dealing with snakes when loaded with appropriate ammunition.
The folding grip introduces another consideration. Before you can use the revolver, you have to retrieve it and unfold the grip. That’s an extra step, and when we’re talking about a defensive situation, I don’t particularly like adding steps between getting a gun out and being able to use it.
I don’t care how clever the mechanism is. I would rather have a defensive firearm that can be brought into action without having to manipulate an additional component first. That’s just my preference, and it’s an important distinction when considering what role a gun like this should fill.
Of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun with it.
I decided to run a few rounds over the chronograph using CCI Maxi-Mag .22 Magnum ammunition. The first reading came in at 961 fps. That’s getting close to 1,000 fps, although the actual velocity you’ll see will depend on the ammunition and the individual revolver.
Next, I moved the target in nice and close. The revolver holds four shots, which is how I’d approach carrying a little gun like this. I hadn’t actually shot this particular example at a target yet, so I was curious to see where it would put its bullets.
I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. These little revolvers sometimes have a rather casual relationship between point of aim and point of impact. You can find yourself holding one place and discovering the bullets are going somewhere else entirely.
This one did pretty well. The results weren’t bad at all, particularly considering the size of the gun and the short sight radius.
So, what do I think? I’m glad I bought it. The folding grip is an interesting bit of engineering, and it makes the little North American Arms revolver noticeably easier to hold and shoot. I can see it being a fun little gun to keep handy around the property or tuck into a pocket for casual use. It’s an interesting little creature. And sometimes that’s reason enough to bring one home.
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