NAA Sidewinder: 1.5" vs New 4"

Joshua 2415 · July 5, 2015, 12:29 AM

NAA shows the new 4" Sidewinder on their website, although I haven't seen anybody selling them yet. I assume/hope their availability is imminent.

I've held off on buying the 1.5" version, hoping for a 2.5" version. But now I'll bet they wait a good while on the 2.5", as they let sales of the 4" run its course.

So, for the time being, I'm giving up on the 2.5", and will probably go ahead and get either the 1.5" or the 4". The smaller one will obviously be more pocketable, but I'm hoping the 4" will be pocketable enough.

Does anybody think the 4" will have enough extra power, relative to the 1.5", to make it worth the extra length and some loss of pocketability?

Or is there really not that much difference, and I should go ahead and just get the 1.5"...?

And, anybody see the 4" for sale yet?

Armybrat · July 5, 2015, 07:34 PM

I fail to see the attraction of a 4" Mini - the 1.5" or 1&5/8" barrels look proportionate on those tiny guns.

I did upgrade the grip panels on my Mini Magnum 1&5/8" to the boot grips for better handling. If I get a Sidewinder, will do the same.

Nice little revolvers they are. Gave my .22lr Mini to one of my sons - it was too dang small to shoot safely.

Doc Holliday 1950 · July 5, 2015, 07:51 PM

Okay. Just saw it on their website. I don't know. Looks pretty long & skinny to me. But, that's what makes Horse Races. If you like it , then buy it & let us know. I've had the 1.58" model for 15 -16 yrs. and just love it. I carry it & so does my wife. fits into any purse she has. Under 5 yds. it's right on so with the extend barrel the accuracy distance should be much greater. Very interesting now that I think about it.
Doc

stormyone · July 5, 2015, 10:30 PM

I've had the 22 magnum for over 10 years now. It's accurate inside 5-7 yards.

I had forgot they made these nice little revolvers that now have the swing out cylinder. I think I'm going to pick up a new 1.5" model soon.

jstanfield103 · July 6, 2015, 11:14 AM

Just looked at the side winder. I do not care for the 4" in that model. I would Love the Side Winder in the Mini Master though.

Deja vu · July 7, 2015, 10:54 AM

If it was me I would go small. But that is just me. Thee guns are meant to be be very tiny. When you put a 4 inch barrel its as long as some pocket 380s.

For me I wanted small as I could so I went with the 22 short. With it I can Shoot 22LR if I take a razor blade to the cone of the 22lr. When I carry it I stock it with Aguila High velocity 22short. They get about 50-75 FPS more velocity than any other high velocity 22 shorts I have shot. 29 grains at just under 800FPS is not great stopping power but I would not want to be shot with it.

Joshua 2415 · July 12, 2015, 11:43 PM

I'm the OP.

Noticed on the NAA website that the current Sidewinder is shown in one place to be 1.5", and in another place it is 1.0".

I asked their Customer Service about this, and was told that the currently available Sidewinder is 1.0", and they will fix the website.

I also asked when/whether they expect to produce a 2.5" Sidewinder. The answer was yes, they do anticipate a 2.5" Sidewinder, but a date was not given.

Armybrat · July 13, 2015, 04:10 PM

Actually I'd prefer a 1.5" barrel on a Sidewinder, no more than 2" for sure.

Cheapshooter · July 15, 2015, 02:12 PM

A Maxi Mini kinda defeats the purpose! But to me the purpose of the Minis in the first place are to be tiny little range toys. Fun to shoot, but not something I would be very likely to carry. So the ones with the giant folding grips are pretty ridiculous to me as well.

Obambulate · July 15, 2015, 04:32 PM

I never saw the need for the Sidewinder. Quicker reloads? Nope. The other minis with removable cylinders are actually quicker to reload because you can just replace the empty cylinder with a full one. And the Sidewinders look aesthetically clunky to me.

Dave Chuppa · July 15, 2015, 10:05 PM

I like the NAA 22Mag. but one is enough. It's fun to play with and if I'm in dress clothes I mite use it for a back up. I can carry a J-Frame just as easy and can shoot it & load it faster. I very rarely carry The NAA. It's my Bathroom Drawer Gun. I'm normally carrying Two Five Shot Snubs.

Cheapshooter · July 16, 2015, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Quicker reloads? Nope. The other minis with removable cylinders are actually quicker to reload because you can just replace the empty cylinder with a full one.

Quicker reloads with a NAA mini! Now that's funny!
If you need to reload a Mini at all you have made a very poor decision as to where you are, what you're doing, and what you brung!
The best description I've heard for the defensive use of a NAA Mini Revolver is as a "get off me" gun!

July 5, 2015, 12:29 AM	#1
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	NAA Sidewinder: 1.5" vs New 4" NAA shows the new 4" Sidewinder on their website, although I haven't seen anybody selling them yet. I assume/hope their availability is imminent. I've held off on buying the 1.5" version, hoping for a 2.5" version. But now I'll bet they wait a good while on the 2.5", as they let sales of the 4" run its course. So, for the time being, I'm giving up on the 2.5", and will probably go ahead and get either the 1.5" or the 4". The smaller one will obviously be more pocketable, but I'm hoping the 4" will be pocketable enough. Does anybody think the 4" will have enough extra power, relative to the 1.5", to make it worth the extra length and some loss of pocketability? Or is there really not that much difference, and I should go ahead and just get the 1.5"...? And, anybody see the 4" for sale yet?

July 5, 2015, 07:51 PM	#3
Doc Holliday 1950 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2014 Location: Bout as south as it gets Posts: 1,238	Okay. Just saw it on their website. I don't know. Looks pretty long & skinny to me. But, that's what makes Horse Races. If you like it , then buy it & let us know. I've had the 1.58" model for 15 -16 yrs. and just love it. I carry it & so does my wife. fits into any purse she has. Under 5 yds. it's right on so with the extend barrel the accuracy distance should be much greater. Very interesting now that I think about it. Doc Last edited by Doc Holliday 1950; July 6, 2015 at 08:52 PM.

July 7, 2015, 10:54 AM	#6
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 2,584	If it was me I would go small. But that is just me. Thee guns are meant to be be very tiny. When you put a 4 inch barrel its as long as some pocket 380s. For me I wanted small as I could so I went with the 22 short. With it I can Shoot 22LR if I take a razor blade to the cone of the 22lr. When I carry it I stock it with Aguila High velocity 22short. They get about 50-75 FPS more velocity than any other high velocity 22 shorts I have shot. 29 grains at just under 800FPS is not great stopping power but I would not want to be shot with it. __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...

July 15, 2015, 02:12 PM	#9
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	A Maxi Mini kinda defeats the purpose! But to me the purpose of the Minis in the first place are to be tiny little range toys. Fun to shoot, but not something I would be very likely to carry. So the ones with the giant folding grips are pretty ridiculous to me as well. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

July 5, 2015, 07:34 PM	#2
Armybrat Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2009 Location: Round Rock, Texas Posts: 976	I fail to see the attraction of a 4" Mini - the 1.5" or 1&5/8" barrels look proportionate on those tiny guns. I did upgrade the grip panels on my Mini Magnum 1&5/8" to the boot grips for better handling. If I get a Sidewinder, will do the same. Nice little revolvers they are. Gave my .22lr Mini to one of my sons - it was too dang small to shoot safely.

July 5, 2015, 10:30 PM	#4
stormyone Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2005 Location: midwest Posts: 532	I've had the 22 magnum for over 10 years now. It's accurate inside 5-7 yards. I had forgot they made these nice little revolvers that now have the swing out cylinder. I think I'm going to pick up a new 1.5" model soon.

July 6, 2015, 11:14 AM	#5
jstanfield103 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 114	Just looked at the side winder. I do not care for the 4" in that model. I would Love the Side Winder in the Mini Master though.

July 12, 2015, 11:43 PM	#7
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	I'm the OP. Noticed on the NAA website that the current Sidewinder is shown in one place to be 1.5", and in another place it is 1.0". I asked their Customer Service about this, and was told that the currently available Sidewinder is 1.0", and they will fix the website. I also asked when/whether they expect to produce a 2.5" Sidewinder. The answer was yes, they do anticipate a 2.5" Sidewinder, but a date was not given.

July 13, 2015, 04:10 PM	#8
Armybrat Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2009 Location: Round Rock, Texas Posts: 976	Actually I'd prefer a 1.5" barrel on a Sidewinder, no more than 2" for sure.

July 15, 2015, 04:32 PM	#10
Obambulate Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2011 Posts: 582	I never saw the need for the Sidewinder. Quicker reloads? Nope. The other minis with removable cylinders are actually quicker to reload because you can just replace the empty cylinder with a full one. And the Sidewinders look aesthetically clunky to me.

July 15, 2015, 10:05 PM	#11
Dave Chuppa Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Posts: 448	I like the NAA 22Mag. but one is enough. It's fun to play with and if I'm in dress clothes I mite use it for a back up. I can carry a J-Frame just as easy and can shoot it & load it faster. I very rarely carry The NAA. It's my Bathroom Drawer Gun. I'm normally carrying Two Five Shot Snubs.