In a previous editorial about using snub-nose .22 Mag. revolvers for self-defense, the guns in question were primarily the sub-compact size double-action models. This includes 6- to 8-shot models like the Ruger LCR, Smith & Wesson 351 PD Airlite and Taurus 942, which are the same size as other J-Frame revolvers chambered for center-fire cartridges.
The NAA Pug (top) compared to the Sentinel (center) and Sidewinder (bottom).
There is one gun maker that takes advantage of the .22 Mag. rimfire cartridge's slim profile to trim their 5-shot wheelguns down even more. In fact, they make what may well be the smallest frame possible, namely, the Magnum-Frame Mini revolver series made by North American Arms (NAA) of Provo, Utah. This year the company released its first new Magnum Mini in quite some time. It is a hybrid of two previous models with some new touches to keep things interesting. Dubbed the Sentinel, here is a closer look at what this eminently pocketable revolver has to offer.
The Sentinel's Pug Profile
Shooting sports enthusiasts who enjoy the NAA Minis tend to buy them for one of two reasons. Some folks add them to their collections because of their novelty, namely, they are among the very smallest functional firearms you can own. But others look to the Minis for use as backup guns or for concealed carry when a larger pistol or revolver does not fit well into the dress code or circumstances.
The Pug models sport a distinctive squared-off barrel profile and upgraded sights.
The new Sentinel takes most of its design cues from the Pug series of Minis which were designed with concealed carry in mind. The most prominent feature of the steel Pugs is the slab-side barrel and the squared-off profile of the grooved top strap. Although this barrel profile certainly looks sleek and modern, its primary benefit is providing enough frame material to support more sophisticated sighting systems than the standard frame models. The Sentinel sent for this evaluation sports a 1.425″ long barrel with a dovetailed XS Sights Big Dot white front sight paired with a drift adjustable, low-profile v-notch rear sight.
The Pug (top) requires the cylinder pin and cylinder to be removed from the frame for loading.
Like all Minis, the Sentinel is a single-action 5-shot revolver outfitted with an exposed, 3-position hammer with a hatchet-like fixed firing pin. When the hammer is fully forward, the firing pin rests directly on top of one of the five chambers. This makes the gun unsafe to carry fully loaded, which is why NAA has cut five slots into the rear of the cylinder between the chambers. Pulling the hammer back to its second, or partially cocked, position allows the cylinder to rotate so that the hammer can then be lowered into one of these safety slots. Now the gun cannot go off unless the hammer is manually cocked and the diminutive stud-shaped trigger pressed.
The grip frame is of the Birdshead variety, which has a rounded, almost teardrop shape inspired by some concealed-carry derringer and revolver grip models favored in the late 1800s. The idea then, and now, is that rounding off the base of a revolver's grip makes the gun more compact and easier to conceal. In this case, the grip is fitted with removable pebbled rubber grip panels.
The Sentinel (top) uses the same swing-out cylinder mechanism as the Sidewinder model (bottom).
A closer look at the standard and Pug series Mini revolvers reveals that there are no loading gates. So how does one get ammunition into, and spent cartridge cases out of, these guns? It's done by placing the hammer in the partial-cock position followed by pulling out the cylinder pin and taking the cylinder completely out of the frame. The cylinder pin, or similarly sized punch, is used to poke the spent cartridge cases out of the cylinder. Once emptied, the cylinder's chambers can then be loaded with fresh cartridges. The cylinder is then set back into the frame, the cylinder pin replaced and the gun is ready to either be fired or to set the hammer into one of the cylinder’s safety notches.
I've been shooting the Minis for some time and have yet to find this loading procedure to be either difficult or cumbersome. It's just part and parcel of using a Mini. But some NAA customers expressed the desire for a more modern revolver loading process that does not require the gun to be disassembled. This is where the Sidewinder action design comes into play.
Incorporating the Sidewinder Swing-Out Cylinder
Back in 2012, NAA launched the Sidewinder series in which the first Minis featured a swing-out-cylinder attached to the frame via a yoke, or crane, much like modern double-action revolvers. The Sidewinder-style cylinders are also fitted with star-shaped ejectors which can be used to press spent cartridge cases out of all five chambers at the same time.
The head of the Sentinel’s ejector rod is squared off to match the shape of the barrel whereas the Sidewinder’s is rounded and knurled.
But this is where the Mini's similarities to other concealed-carry revolvers end. These guns are still single-action-only. The hammers need to be manually cocked for each shot. The fluted cylinders rotate clockwise (to the right) and swing out to the right side of the frame instead of the left. Last, but not least, there is no cylinder release lever or button on the frame.
The Sentinel’s small size is emphasized when set next to a U.S. quarter and a house key sized multi-tool.
Like the original Pug configuration, opening the cylinder begins by pulling the hammer back into the partially cocked position. The head of the cylinder pin is then pulled forward to release the cylinder assembly from the frame. While holding the cylinder pin forward, the cylinder is pressed out to the right side of the frame into the open position. The cylinder pin can now be pressed backward, which in turn will press the ejector star out and away from the chambers about a quarter of an inch to free up spent cartridge cases so that they can be removed.
The hammer’s fixed firing pin is hatchet-blade shaped for reliable rimfire ignition.
To close the cylinder, I've found it’s best to apply pressure to the head of the cylinder pin and the cylinder at the same time to snap them back into the frame. There is a distinctive 'snick' when the assembly is properly locked in place. Once it's back in place, it is a good idea to give the cylinder a bit of a twist to ensure the cylinder bolt is engaged.
The XS sight system is easy to use a no-snag low profile.
This version of the 17-4 stainless Sentinel weighs 7.1 oz. with a satin-polished finish on the flats and a matte finish for the rounded surfaces. The overall craftsmanship is top notch with tight, clean fitting throughout resulting in reliable operations at the shooting range, just like the other Minis that I've worked with in the past.
At the Range
Before getting into the range results, it should be noted here that the Sentinel's primary purpose, like all NAA Minis, is to be as small as possible. Just like other micro-size pocket pistols, the number one purpose in its design is to go boldly where no other gun would fit. This size reduction comes with plainly evident trade-offs in grip size and ammunition capacity. Therefore, the Sentinel should not be the first gun to consider if you are interested in long-range target shooting competitions, handgun hunting or for fending off a zombie apocalypse.
The cylinder’s ejector allows all five chambers to be cleared at the same time.
But like other tiny pocket-sized models, it can come in handy as what I've heard some folks call a “get off me” gun for defensive situations between bad-breath distances to 7 yards. In its favor, the Sentinel has a useful sight system and a crisp, single-action trigger with a short 1/8" arc of travel and a trigger pull of 4 lbs. 9 oz.
But getting the feel for a Mini is all about managing the grip. It's a true 1-finger grip (as opposed to a full-size 3-finger grip) with only enough real estate for the middle finger of the shooting hand. The recoil produced by the Magnum Minis is not particularly intense or uncomfortable. But it does make it feel like the gun is going jump straight up out of your hands if you're not holding on like you mean it. It can also produce and impressive amount of muzzle flash and noise for such a small gun.
Small .22 Mag. revolvers perform best using 40- to 45-gr. bullets.
I like to curl the ring and little fingers of my shooting hand tightly under the middle finger to form a sort of shelf under the base of the grip. If you find that a larger grip would be a better fit, the company offers extended grip options including rubber, laminated hardwood and even a folding polymer model on the company website.
When selecting ammunition for little .22 Mag. revolvers like this one, I've had the best results overall using cartridges topped with 40 to 45-gr. bullets. Formal bench rested accuracy testing was conducted by firing 5-shot groups at 7-yards using a commonly available CCI Maxi-Mag rifle round and two loads specifically designed for short-barrel revolvers including Hornady's Critical Defense and Speer's Gold Dot Short Barrel Personal Protection loads. Here are the results:
Parting Shots
The North American Arms marketing campaign for the Sentinel hints that this model, with its Sidewinder-style cylinder configuration, is the high-speed, low-drag Pug that we've all been waiting for! I would agree that the company has succeeded in blending the best features that the Pug and Sidewinder have to offer. That being said, is it the world's first “tactical” Mini? Based on my shooting experience at the range, my answer would be … not exactly.
This is not to say that the Sentinel is poorly made or unreliable. That's not the case. It's a sturdy little wheeler that operates reliably. But it is still a Mini, meaning, that every facet of this gun's construction is tiny. Although firing this gun in up-close-and-personal defensive situations is doable with the right techniques, reloading it under duress to fire additional rounds is a dubious proposition at best.
If you buy a Mini with a swing-out cylinder, go ahead and enjoy the more convenient loading and unloading process at the shooting range. If you plan to use it as a backup gun or as the smallest of the small carry options, then treat it like the 5-shot gun it is, meaning, when it's empty, move on to plan C. The Sentinel has a suggested retail price of $399. For those who would like to practice with less expensive .22 LR ammunition, this model is also available with a second caliber-conversion cylinder for $525.
Specifications:
Manufacturer: North American Arms
Model: Sentinel (#NAA-SNT)
Action: Single-Action Rimfire Revolver
Caliber: .22 Mag.
Construction: 17-4 Stainless Steel
Grip Panels: Pebbled Black Rubber
Front Sight: XS Big Dot, White
Rear Sight: XS V-Notch
Barrel: 1.425”, Pug Profile
Trigger Pull: 4 lbs. 9 oz. (as tested)
Overall Length: 4.9″
Height: 2.8″
Cylinder Width: 0.85"
Weight: 7.1 oz. (Unloaded)
Capacity: 5 Rounds
Rifling: 8 Grooves, 1:12” RH Twist
Accessories: Foam Lined Steel Lock Box, Owner's Manual, Lock
MSRP: $399
