Frequently Asked Questions

Ammunition & Caliber

What ammunition do you recommend?
North American Arms does not endorse or recommend specific ammunition brands or loads. However, we maintain an extensive velocity reference chart based on in-house testing across a wide range of commercially available ammunition. This information is available upon request to help customers compare performance characteristics.

What calibers do your mini revolvers come in?
Our mini revolvers are manufactured in several rimfire chamberings, including:

• .22 Short
• .22 Long Rifle (.22 LR)
• .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR / .22 Magnum)
  Availability varies by model. Additionally, revolvers built on the .22 Magnum frame can be equipped with optional conversion cylinders that allow the use of .22 LR ammunition.

Can I shoot .22 LR ammunition in a .22 Magnum revolver?
No. Ammunition should only be fired from a cylinder specifically chambered for that cartridge. .22 LR ammunition must not be fired from a .22 Magnum cylinder.

Many of our .22 Magnum-frame revolvers are compatible with .22 LR conversion cylinders, allowing the firearm to safely fire both cartridges when the correct cylinder is installed. If you are unsure about compatibility, contact customer service for guidance.

Safety & Operation

Are NAA firearms safe to carry?
Yes. Our revolvers incorporate a safety notch system machined into the cylinder. When the hammer is properly seated in one of these notches, the firing pin rests between chambers rather than on a cartridge rim. This allows the revolver to be safely carried fully loaded.

As with any firearm, safe handling practices and familiarity with the operating instructions are essential.

Accessories & Carry

What holster options do you recommend for NAA revolvers?
We offer a range of holsters designed specifically for our revolvers, including:

• Pocket holsters
• Belt holsters
• Clip-style concealment options
• Specialty carry designs
• Customers should select a holster suited to their carry method and model. Full product details are available through our website or authorized dealers.

Does wearing the belt buckle holster constitute concealed carry? Do I need a license?
Firearm carry laws vary widely by jurisdiction, and definitions of “concealed” versus “open” carry are determined by state and local regulations. Because these factors differ, North American Arms cannot provide legal determinations regarding carry status or licensing requirements.

Customers should consult their state statutes or local authorities to ensure compliance with applicable laws before carrying any firearm.

North American Arms firearms are sold through our dealer and distributor network rather than directly from the factory. Because firearms are regulated items, purchases must be completed through a licensed dealer.

Where to buy

• Visit a local firearm retailer or sporting goods store and ask if they carry North American Arms products or can order one for you
• Use an online firearm retailer and have the firearm shipped to a local FFL dealer for transfer
• If a model is out of stock locally, your dealer can usually place a special order through their distributor.

Use our dealer locator to find one near you.

North American Arms Mini-Revolvers incorporate a safety cylinder design that allows the revolver to be carried with all chambers loaded when used properly. This system utilizes precision-machined safety notches located between each chamber. When the hammer is lowered into one of these notches, the firing pin rests between cartridge rims rather than on a live round.

When the hammer is subsequently cocked, the cylinder indexes to the next chamber, placing the revolver in the firing position.

Important:
The traditional half-cock position is intended for loading and unloading only. The hammer must never be left at half-cock over or resting on the rim of a live cartridge.

Customers with older Mini-Revolver models should confirm that their firearm is equipped with the current safety cylinder. If your revolver does not have this feature, please contact Customer Service at 800-821-5783 for information on upgrading your firearm.

All North American Arms firearms are covered by a lifetime warranty (subject to standard terms). If service is required, contact Customer Support before returning any firearm.

Proper Use of the Safety Cylinder
The safety cylinder is a critical operating feature. Users should become familiar with this procedure before loading the revolver.

1. Verify the revolver is unloaded.
   Open the action and visually confirm that all chambers are empty.
2. Reconfirm unloaded condition.
   A second check helps ensure safe handling prior to practice or operation.
3. Retract the hammer.
   Draw the hammer rearward until the cylinder rotates freely (approximately halfway to full cock) and maintain control of the hammer in this position.
4. Align a safety notch.
   Looking through the rear/top of the frame, rotate the cylinder so that one of the milled safety slots between chambers is positioned directly beneath the hammer blade.
5. Lower the hammer into the notch.
   While maintaining rearward control of the hammer, depress and hold the trigger, then slowly allow the hammer to settle into the selected safety notch.

Confirming Proper Engagement
After lowering the hammer:

Attempt to rotate the cylinder.

If it rotates, the hammer is not seated in the notch — repeat the process.
Visually inspect alignment through the frame.

A chamber must not be aligned with the bore.
If a chamber sits at the 12 o’clock position, the revolver is not in the safe condition.
Proper engagement positions the adjacent chambers approximately at the 1 and 11 o’clock positions.
Most engagement issues occur when the trigger is not fully depressed while lowering the hammer. With practice, proper placement becomes quick and consistent.

For a visual demonstration, please refer to the instructional video available on our YouTube channel.

Ammunition

Can I fire .22 Short in a .22 LR cylinder?
Yes. .22 Short cartridges may be fired in a .22 LR cylinder because the case diameters are the same. As always, ensure safe operation and proper function when using any ammunition not specifically marked on the firearm.

Can I fire .22 Short or .22 LR in a .22 Magnum cylinder?
No. We do not recommend firing any ammunition other than what is marked on the barrel of the firearm.
.22 WMR (Magnum) cartridges use a different case design and diameter. While .22 Short or .22 LR cartridges may physically fit into a Magnum cylinder, they will have excessive clearance and may result in case failure when fired.

For revolvers with conversion cylinders, the caliber designation is stamped on the cylinder face. If uncertain, a .22 Magnum cartridge can be used as a reference check. It will not chamber in a .22 LR cylinder.

Can I fire shotshell (snake/bird shot) ammunition in mini revolvers?
Yes, provided the ammunition matches the caliber marked on the firearm.

Operation & Safety

I am having difficulty placing the hammer in the safety notch. What should I do?
Proper use of the safety notches is an important operating feature and may require practice.

• Ensure the firearm is completely unloaded.
• Retract the hammer until the cylinder rotates freely (approximately halfway back) and hold it in that position.
• Through the rear of the frame, locate a safety notch between chambers and align it beneath the hammer.
• While holding the hammer back, fully depress the trigger and keep it depressed.
• Slowly lower the hammer into the notch.
• Confirm engagement by attempting to rotate the cylinder. If it rotates, the hammer is not seated correctly and the process should be repeated. Visually confirm that no chamber is aligned with the bore.

A video demonstration is available on our YouTube channel.

My mini revolver does not have safety notches. Can this be updated?
Yes. We can install a replacement cylinder with safety notches. The firearm must be returned to the factory for this service. Shipping charges apply. Email customerservice@northamericanarms.com for assistance.

Cylinders

Can I order additional cylinders?
Yes. Additional cylinders are available depending on frame size and configuration.
To ensure proper timing and alignment, the firearm must be returned to the factory for fitting. Chamber alignment with the bore is critical for safe operation.

Grips & Handling

Will dry firing harm the firearm?
Dry firing with the cylinder removed is acceptable for familiarization with trigger pull.
Dry firing with the cylinder installed is not recommended, even though damage is unlikely.

Bullets

Do you have a bullet mold?

No, we do not offer a bullet mold. You can purchase bullets over the web or call us at 1-800-821-5783. The cost is $4.00 for 100, plus shipping.

Cylinders

Can a rimfire cylinder work in a black powder frame?

No, the guns have different firing pins, they cannot be interchanged.

Does a cap and ball gun need to be sent in for a new cylinder like the rimfire guns?

Yes, send in the entire gun. The cost for the cylinder is $40 unfluted, $45 fluted.

My cylinder won’t go in the gun when the caps are on the nipples.

The gun was designed to work with remington #11 caps. If you use a different brand or size the cap is too thick and will extend past the cylinder edge.

Can I use cylinders from cartridge firing minirevolvers in my Companion?

No, a Companion cannot fire cartridge-type ammunition; the cap & ball model uses a transfer pin to deliver a center fire strike against a primer cap, as compared to a blade striking a cartridge rim. Additionally, the cartridge cylinder is smaller than the Companion cylinder and ‘slops around’ within the Companion frame. Nor will a .22 cartridge fit within a Companion cylinder, even with the nipples removed. Don’t even think of going there.

Dry fire

Can I dry fire the gun?

No, dry firing will crack the nipples and can damage the firing pin.

Powder

I can’t find the ffffg powder, can I use fffg or pyrodex?

Yes, you can use fffg and pyrodex p. The f stand for fine, the ffffg is a finer powder, and will allow you to add more powder allowing more of a discharge. Do not go less than fff.

What is the barrel length?

25 NAA and .32 ACP Guardians – 2.185 inches.
.380 and .32NAA Guardians – 2.49 inches

Does the Guardian have a straight blowback or a retarded blowback?

It has a straight blowback.

What do you take apart to clean it?

For normal cleaning, the NAA Guardian need only be disassembled into its main:
1. Slide
2. Frame
3. Inner and outer recoil spring
4. Magazine

What grease should you use?

For long time storage, any commercially available gun grease is acceptable.

Last round

I have read/experienced that the case from the last spent round occasionally gets stuck between the slide and the frame. Is this a product ‘failure’? Should I be concerned?

Yes, we are aware of, and understand the causes of, this condition. Yes, it is not an uncommon occurrence. No, we do not believe it represents a performance failure and we do not intend to try to ‘correct’ the condition.

The design of this pistol does not include an ejector (not to be confused with an extractor), but relies on the following action of a fresh cartridge, as it is moving up the magazine stack and towards the chamber, to push the spent extracted case out of the breech. When the magazine is empty and there is no following cartridge to exert this pressure, the spent case may simply be trapped by the slide returning forward (the slide is not designed to remain open after the last round).

When a full magazine is inserted to replace the empty one, the slide must, in any/every event (‘stovepipe’ or not) be re-racked to chamber a fresh round. During this process, the spent case simply falls freely out of the breech and the pistol returns to battery – as though the condition had never existed. (Please note that we are not attempting to excuse any stovepipe of a live round. If that condition exists with any of our pistols, we will be happy to rework the gun to eliminate that failure).

Magazines

Is there any ammo that will not work in the magazine?

No.

Why did I receive a new magazine release with the mag extension kit?

The new magazine release is necessary for .32 ACP Guardians with aa and ab serial numbers. If you do not replace the magazine release the magazines will dislodge when fired using the mag extensions.

Can I get the magazines with the metal floor plates?

No, those magazines are no longer manufactured.

My magazine occasionally falls from the gun when firing. What’s happening here?

Shortly after the finger extension was introduced, we found that the downward pressure on the magazine increases substantially with the use of this extension (caused by the grip pressure of the ring or baby finger on this extension). This additional pressure, along with the shock of firing the pistol, caused our original catch to occasionally release inadvertently. We have redesigned/strengthened this catch; a free replacement (which can easily be installed by the user) is available on request to the factory.

Manufacturing

Is the entire (slide, parts, magazines) gun made from casting or is it forged?

The frame is a casting, the slide is machined from 17-4 stainless steel billet.

Why do my magazines say Italy on them?

The guns are produced in the United States. We chose Mecgar to manufacture our magazines, they are located in italy.

Misfires

What do you do if it misfires?

Clean it, refer to owners manual.

Rifling

What is the rate of twist on the Guardian barrel?

1 in 16 inches rh twist.

Slides

What do you do if the slide gets stuck?

Clean it, refer to owners manual. If the issue continues, reach out to our customer service team.

Is there a stop to hold the slide back for cleaning?

No, you just need to remove the slide for cleaning.

What is the Integral Locking Systems (ILS)

The ILS is a safety system that allows you to lock the hammer in place so the gun can not be fired. It has a key that can be used to lock and unlock the gun.

How does it work?

There is a small hole in the upper left corner of the grip – see figure #1. The key is placed in the hole gently until it fully engages the lock – see figure #2 – turning the key before it is fully in place can damage the lock and key threads. Turning the key clockwise ½ turn locks the hammer into place and disables the firearm. Turning the key counter clockwise ½ turn releases the hammer and enables the firing mechanism.

How can I tell if it’s locked?

The ILS has a small nipple or button around the key hole. When unlocked, the button is flush with the grip – see figure #3. When locked, the button protrudes out of the grip and is no longer flush – see Figure #4.

How can I tell if it’s locked?

The ILS has a small nipple or button around the key hole. When unlocked, the button is flush with the grip – see figure #3. When locked, the button protrudes out of the grip and is no longer flush – see Figure #4.

Can the ILS be added to an older Guardian pistol?

Yes. The ILS incorporates changes to the Guardian frame, so older models require significant modifications and a number of new parts. Please see our Custom Shop – Machining page for more information and pricing.

How can I get a Guardian with the ILS?

If you live in certain states, like California, you don’t have a choice – you have to get one with the ILS. In other states, you can special order the Guardian with the ILS. The part numbers are the same, except the ILS versions have an “S” at the end.

Are there any disadvantages to the ILS?

The ILS requires the black plastic grip with the hole in it for the key. We do not currently offer our other wood, plastic, and mother of pearl grips with the hole pre-drilled, because the hole significantly reduces the strength of the grip. In other words, the custom grip with the hole will crack or break after firing a few rounds.

Another issue is the keys. If you lock the gun and lose the keys, the gun is unusable until we can send you replacement keys. To minimize this, we send two keys, both with key rings, to make them harder to lose.

Warnings, disclaimers, etc.

Due to the design of the ILS, you must be careful not to lock the hammer while the slide is open. The closing of the slide on a locked hammer can damage the locking mechanism and disable the gun.

The keys are made of a composite material that is fairly strong. However, if you try hard, you can strip or break the keys. The key should turn easily. If not, the gun needs to be sent back to NAA for repair.

While the ILS is as good a locking system as there is, there can be no substitute for common sense firearm safety. Always store your firearm securely, out of the reach of children and unauthorized users. Firearm safety is everyone’s responsibility.