Sharp as a Marble - North American Arms Guardian .380

<< Layers of editorial checking | Home | If you live in Idaho and would like to know where NOT to by a gun >>

Guns. Lots of Guns.

Picked one up today to see if I liked the way it felt. I did. A little more heavy than the Kel-Tecs, but from reputation a bit better made.

Anyone have thoughts on 'em?

posted @ 4/6/2009 12:47:33 PM

Comments

Jake says:

on 4/6/2009 3:25:35 PM

While I haven't picked up the Guardian, I did notice what might be a significant difference when I compared the specs on the two from their websites - trigger pull.

Kel-Tec P3AT: 5 lbs
NAA Guardian (.380ACP): 10.0 lbs

If you didn't get a chance to try the trigger, you may want to do so before buying it. That seems to me to be a pretty heavy trigger.

Of course, that could be just me, too. It seems I inherited essential tremors from my dad, and a heavy trigger pull happens to be one of the things that makes my hands shake. (I ended up trading my S&W 442 for a single-action semi-auto because of that.)

As always, YMMV.

Mad Saint Jack says:

on 4/6/2009 3:27:18 PM

Magnum Research is now selling a .380 that looks like a boxy copy of the NAA.

http://www.tactical-life.com/online/
products/magnum-researchs-micro-desert-eagle/

CTone says:

on 4/6/2009 3:32:59 PM

Good luck finding ammo to feed the beast. A friend of mine just picked up an LCP and can't find a single box of .380 ammo.

NAA guns feel like they are built to last several lifetimes. If you buy it will you post a range report?

Robb Allen says:

on 4/6/2009 3:35:48 PM

Jake - A pistol that is going to be tossed into my front pocket needs to have a trigger pull that can't be actuated by a wayward set of keys. This isn't a gun you take to competition, this is a pull it out, hold it close to your body, squeeze a few off, then get the hell out of Dodge if possible.

MSJ - The Micro Eagle is apparently a hell of a firearm. It's a clone of something called a ZVI Kevin, not the NAA. Unfortunately, they run $500+

CTone, can't seem to find a mouse gun at a reasonable price much less the ammo for it. But I'm trying.

Jay G. says:

on 4/6/2009 4:14:39 PM

Robb,

No matter what you get, please don't just toss it in your pocket.

DeSantis Nemesis. I have one for my P3AT and another for my S&W model 38. GREAT holsters, cheap money ($20 each).

Tanner says:

on 4/6/2009 4:16:11 PM

I bought a LCP a couple of months ago. In my humble opinion, it is the gun to get. It does everything it is supposed to do at a reasonable price.

I would recommend that you keep looking until you find one at or below MSRP, I managed to find a post-recall one for $280.

The gun shop didn't have any practice ammo, but the did have the spendy Cor-Bon stuff. Later on I put 30 or so rounds of the Cor-Bon and 100 rounds of white box ammo through it without a hitch.

Robb Allen says:

on 4/6/2009 4:54:27 PM

Jay G - "Throw in pocket" assumes pants.

Just sayin'

Tanner - Local guy can get them at that price, but has a 6 month waiting period.

Linoge says:

on 4/6/2009 6:31:19 PM

I was going to recommend the micro-mini-Eagle from Magnum Research myself (given how happy I am with the Baby Eagle), but I had no idea they were listing at that - I bought my BE for less.

I hear Walther just converted their P22 platform to support .380 ammunition as well - no idea how large or what capacity, though.

I like the look of the NAA stuff, though... solid metal in a firearm that small is a good thing, in my book :).

Robb Allen says:

on 4/6/2009 6:52:23 PM

Linoge, the problem with the NAA is that it is VERY heavy for what it is. The Kel-Tec weighs in at like 8 oz, the NAA at 18.3oz.

That's a concern, but I don't know how much "weight" I should put on it (pun very much intended)

Jake says:

on 4/6/2009 7:20:15 PM

Robb - First, I'll second what Jay G says: a pocket holster is a must, no matter how heavy the trigger pull, and even if you never put anything else in that pocket. I've sometimes found small rocks or other debris in my pocket that had made their way into the washing machine somehow, and into the pocket from there. A pocket holster prevents barrel obstructions.

Second: As I said, YMMV. You may not have any problems with a 10 lb trigger. With my 442, I found myself occasionally missing the 2'x2' cardboard that I use to hold my targets from only 7 yards. This was absolutely unacceptable to me, and when I traded it for a Taurus PT145 (with it's lighter SA trigger), I stopped getting the shakes when I pulled the trigger and the problem went away.

Fiftycal says:

on 4/6/2009 7:42:06 PM

I've heard the NAA is very ammo sensitive. So let us know how good it does with the first 250 rounds. I put about that many thru my Kel tec and I've had it for about 5(?) years. 1st gen. And don't put the damm thing in your pocket without a holster. Oh, and I can put 4 shots touching in the bullseye with my P3 at 7 yards.

Linoge says:

on 4/6/2009 9:41:28 PM

Well, Robb, you can always go with the, "Is that a pistol in your pocket...?" line...

James Nelson says:

on 4/7/2009 5:58:43 AM

I looked at that pistol before I bought my P3-AT. The weight and the trigger pull put me off of it.It felt like I needed the index fingers of both hands to shoot it. Gun Tests magazine tested on in the last year or so and found bullet keyholing with all ammo tested. Since they don't test but one example of any gun, I don't know if they just got a bad one, but it makes me wonder.

aczarnowski says:

on 4/8/2009 12:20:09 PM

I'm a bit late to the comment party, but I'd recommend a KelTec P3AT over a G380 or an LCP.

I was the first in my shooting circle to get a pocket pistol and I bought a G380. Everybody else later picked a P3AT. The G380 is a brick of stainless, the trigger pull is LONG and you always know it's there. Everybody else just tosses their P3AT in the pocket of their shorts (with holster) and forgets about it.

Weight is an issue. The G380 loaded weighs the same a my Kahr PM9 loaded. The only time the Guardian sees carry time since I got the Kahr is when my jeans just won't fit the PM9 in the back pocket.

My G380 is a bit ammo sensitive (light strikes and feeding) but I trust CorBon 90 grainers in it. All four P3ATs around the group eat everything they're given.

:shrug:

Pistols are very personal. If you want a pocket pistol to hand down to your kids, go NAA. If you want a working gun that goes with you, get a P3AT.

Finally, I like the P3AT over the LCP simply because KelTec did it first and Ruger is a copy cat. I'd rather give my money to the innovators, and they're cheaper too.

Bruce says:

on 4/24/2009 5:18:10 AM

I am late for comments too, but I had to contribute. First I was glad to read all the other inputs...I did end up with a North American I just prefer thier brand of quality, the high trigger pull was a selling point from a safety aspect. i use a wallet holster it works great..I am comfortable on the draw. I would recommend the RBCD ammo for it...high, but available, fast and explosive...much different than gold dots.

Comments have been closed on this topic.

Comments

Archives

Categories

Comments

Archives

Categories

Second Amendment

Sharpest Marbles

Blogroll

Funny, as in Ha-ha

Good Reads

Extended Blogroll

Industry Links