Mr. Kavanaugh,

First off, nice to make your (virtual) acquaintance. I really enjoy and appreciate the work you and the other Mods put in to keep this board going. Now, about your post...hmmm, O.K., I'll bite. The city of Pasadena has a population somewhere around 150,000, my employer has about 15,000 people on their payroll, if I was paranoid (and i'm not, just ask that guy who's always following me around!), I wouldn't have listed either my location or used that particular username, in fact I probably wouldn't be a member of this or any other forum. I'm not trying to hide my profession at all, in fact as strange as it may seem in this day and age, I'm proud of the job I do and will happily share any insight into SoCal LE that would benefit this board.

As far as the "first rule", I'm not sure I see your point, if you're saying that prior to a potentially violent encounter It's unwise to advertise to your assailant the type of weapon you have before you brandish it, I couldn't agree more. But if on the other hand, you're saying that by posting pictures of it here on this site, I'm somehow compromising it's future usefulness, then I guess I don't follow you. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Responding to Garland, Norad45 and NightHiker:

Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but don't we all take calculated risks everyday? As has been said many times before on this board, on a purely statistical basis, the most dangerous thing we do everyday is get into our vehicles and drive around. We know the risks involved, do the best we can to lessen them and take our chances.

If I know I will be in a high crime/dangerous area, I will take appropriate precautions, but if I'm just out and about on my usual routine, I've put the weight/size vs. odds of needing onto the scale and for me at least, the .22 wins.

Right... and I'm not disputing that. I'm just confused on the focus of the thread so I gave you my thoughts from both corners. The first corner was from the purpose of shooting varmit(s). The second was for practical self defense.

I believe if you're going to carry you should carry something applicable to the situation as well. I believe that's a nice 22 with good portability and probably reasonable enough power to both defend and kill small game. My only concern really is really with the accuracy of the gun in terms of shooting small game and with the deployment aspect in a self defense scenario. Other than that it's a fine firearm.

Both are valid concerns, I readily admit it's a compromise. Sorry for the vauge focus of the post, I'm new to this thing!

I had that exact setup. The handle wobbles when it is open. It is very hard to hit anything with it.

If you are going to carry any handgun, carry a good one. If you need one you will need a real gun not a toy like gun with no stopping power or accuracy. If you meet a bad guy on the trail or a mountain lion you need something like a Glock 23 with good hollowpoints and an extra G22+2 magazine.

As a side note: I bought the .22 mag. NAA mini for use against rattlesnakes. When hunting I keep it in my pocket in the leather holster that it came with, loaded with CCI shotshells. Nice gun, but not a reliable stopper for anything bigger than a snake.

YoDuh,

If that's the case, I stand corrected and thank you for the clarification, and I heartily agree with your p.s.!

I'm not trying to be difficult, just clear.

I have good guns with great stopping power and high capacity magazines. They are heavy, bulky and overwhelmingly not used. If I ever make it up to Alaska to vacation or feel like grabbing lunch in Compton, I guarantee you I won't be carrying the NAA because the odds of running into trouble rise into what I feel is the danger zone.

Wouldn't we all agree that it's ideal to carry 5 gallons of water with you if you know that tomorrow you will be trapped in your office for 5 days due to an earthquake, but are you going to carry that same 5 gallons in your B.O.B. "just in case"? Of course not, it's not practicle, so instead we carry Aquapure tabs or the like as a compromise. Based on your above quote, it sounds to me that if your only choice was between carrying the NAA or nothing at all, your advice would be the later! To all those who would say, "I don't care how much it weighs, it's worth it to me to have the security of this 6" .45 mag wheelgun in my B.O.B. as I drive through McD's on my way to Wallyworld!" I say, carry away!

You may want to check the handle harware on your NAA, mine is solid and stable when I open it and it's over 10 years old. I agree with everyone about the limited range and stopping power of this set-up, but I also know that the average bad guy is an opportunist and will generally only get into something if he thinks he's got the upper hand. I've never been shot with a .22 (or anything else for that matter), so I can't comment on the psychological effect it might cause, maybe you're right and it would only further enrage my assailant, but I doubt it.

Please post the make and model of this gun. Thanks.

Luck you. In the U.K. it's strictly bare hands irrespective of what the vermin have. I had a nasty little encounter with 3 gentlemen of the ethnic minority persuasion about 4 years ago. One of them pulled a gun on me. May have been real or may have been a blank firer. Made the lethal mistake of coming within hands reach of me. Wound up as 3-0 in my favour. No, I didn't kill him - before you ask. They ran away after they discovered how dangerous someone who thinks that he is dead either way and has no intention of crossing the Styx alone is.
Having said that I would prefer a .22 Ruger semi-automatic pistol for pot an point defence. 2-5 rounds, Double tap to the center of mass followed by 2 aimed rounds to the head will settle matters. Just remember to wait until you cannot see daylight either side of him.......

http://www.naaminis.com/lrifle.html