I have had one in .380 for over twenty years, and simply LIKE it. I have shot it a lot and it shows ZERO wear; it looks brand new! The weight is enough to absorb recoil; I have never been bothered by the weight, and I prefer an all steel gun. The grips are still slightly sticky and plant the thing in my hand just right. The long and heavy double action only trigger makes it totally safe to carry in a pocket. The machining, fit and finish, and smoothness are superb. Mine has NEVER failed in any way EXCEPT for using Federal Hydroshocks which have a sharp lip on the hollowpoint that snags the feed ramp on ALL of my .380s. I wonder if your stovepipes are caused by underpowered ammo? Yes, extended range shooting IS a bear; my trigger finger gets exhausted, but I find using the TIP of the finger on the trigger gives best leverage. When my finger is fresh this gun CAN be accurate! You can send it back to the factory and request that they lighten the trigger; they used to do it for free, I don't know current policies. I prefer absolutely reliable ignition so I have not lightened mine. I don't expect a gun fight to last long enough to get my finger tired!...…………………………….elsullo
I totally agree with all of your comments. I too have the .380 and absolutely love it! It is funny how all the things people tend to complain about with this gun, are the very things I like about it (i.e. the weight, no safety, the hard DA trigger, etc.). People also complain about the sights. Who cares about the sights on a gun like this!!! It’s a pull and shoot close quarters self-defense firearm. My thought is, if I have to get in position take aim and be able hit a target dead on that’s 20 yards away, the target is likely not life threatening. This or any gun this size and capacity is not intended prepare you for a “gun fight”. It’s intended to pull, shoot and get a would be attacker off of you so you can get the hell out of there. For those who complain about the sights, invest in the Crimson Trace Laser Grips. My Guardian came with them, and they work beautifully!!! With a properly adjusted laser and a steady hand, the bullet goes wherever the little red dot is. At 15 ft. I literally remove the bullseye on my targets with 6 shots.
@@d.a.hammerfire4023 Been looking at All the RUclipsrs about this gun but, I want the 3 things you said: Weight, No Safety, & the Hard Trigger. Grr8 Comment On the NAA Guardian .380...This is going to be my next gun Very Soon. d((6__6))b👍
Does anyone read the manual that came with the gun ?? The only time you get the stove pipe is when you fire the last round in the magazine . That’s telling you to jest the empty mag and insert a fresh one. The .380 has two spring and locking the gun is a bear when the slide is in the closed battery position with the stovepipe the initial tension is diminished by about 1/3. Pull the slide back/ stove-piped brass falls out/release the slide and you’re ready to go again. I love my NAA 380 . I have carried it for 5 years now.
100% Agree! I read a lot about no last round hold open like the P32. It’s nice to see your out of ammo but the same mechanics of racking the slide is still required to get the gun back into action. I love the look of the Guardian, it’s built like a tank, and it does everything you need it to do when you need to call it to action. It is not a long range take aim gun. Most ppl don’t understand that in most justified self defense situations that hip/point shooting is far more likely as well as one handed shooting. The range EXPERTS love to teach full extension and sight alignment. Try that BS when you have someone punching your face in. Yes situational awareness I know but a lot of times you won’t see it coming until your reactionary gap is too short. In the end…I love the Guardian. It meets all my Needs. Train with what you carry even if it’s a stick. Stay safe everyone!
I also own a 380 Guardian, and mine has been 100% reliable (I bought mine used, so it was already well broken in). I love mine, and it is now my main carry piece. But I will admit that it is not perfect for most people. All of your criticisms are valid (although shooting it never bothered my hand). It IS heavy. It DOES have a heavy trigger. And it CAN be hard to keep on target. But compare it to a J frame Smith and Wesson. They weigh about the same, the triggers are similar, and a light weight J frame can kick like a mule. And while they weigh about the same, the Guardian is a whole lot easier to carry around due to its much smaller size. The guys at "The Truth About Guns" found the sights to be rather good, and they were connecting with shots up to 100 yards (if memory serves). For me, coming from J frames, the Guardian felt comfortable and familiar. For someone coming from LCPs or Keltecs, that probably wouldn't be the case. The Guardians are like that. Most people don't care for them. Those that own (and keep) them love them, and trust them.
A heavy, all stainless, mini .380 makes it more controllable. The only gripe I had was the trigger pull which I remedied by using a lighter spring. Now I have a reliable 7 shot pocket .380 with decent stopping power. NAA now has many accessories for their Guardian line including trigicon sights, lasers, fancy hardwood grips, and even a mini bayonet. Gonna get a finger ext. grip for mine next. P.S: Y'all might want to start reloading your hard to find .32's & .380's because I don't see the ammo shortage stopping any time soon.
It is fairly well known that the NAA Guardian will frequently stove pipe on the last round. The well made, and good looking litter pistol counts heavily on the next round in the magazine to help get the empty casing out. However there are no more rounds! It's called the "Guardian last round hold open feature" LOL, I like when mine does it. Keeps me from dry firing.
Great review. I just bought a Guardian in .380 acp and took it to the range today. I got it used, but it came from the factory with Crimson Trace grips. It's just like new in the box with extra a mag, a lock and keys and a factory spent shell casing. After watching your review several times and others, I was a little intimidated and afraid of the recoil before I actually got a chance to shoot it for myself. Well, what I came to discover is that the recoil wasn't bad at all for me. I ended up shooting over 250 rounds today and would have shot more if I had it. It was truly a joy to shoot for me. By the end of the 2nd round, I was shooting with 1 hand and clearing the bulls eye on my targets. My grouping was so tight, after a while I was just shooting thru the hole I made at the bulls eye. I strongly recommend that you try the Crimson Trace Grips.
I agree. The guy doing the vid is a baby. All the guys who do vids on here who actually have a large following and know their guns speak highly of the NAA's. I found that the ones who know their stuff about guns and know how to shoot very well talk well about this gun. And those who have minimal views and can't shoot that well really cry about this gun..
Great review I had bought there are 32 ACP back when I couldn’t get a Seecamp they were very hard to get there like $700. That’s when Seecamp we’re going for crazy money and like two years to get. Then when that 380 came out around 99 or 2000ish something like that I bought one of the NAA 380 when Kahr Arms made the frames for them and it had kahr stamped on it. Great review love it don’t forget that gun was half the size of a Walter PPK and back then kel tec p3at 1st GEN we’re not that good. So NAA was as they say is the cats meow Wayback in the day.
The gun is designed to stove-pipe the LAST SHOT as an indicator that you are empty and it’s time to reload. When you slam in the 2nd magazine and rack the slide the “stove piped’ brass case will fall out. I have owned this pistol for 15+ years and my wife has the .32 acp. They are both heavy but Not THAT heavy. And yes there’s a long “double action” trigger pull bit it is absolutely as good as the double action trigger on a good S&W or Colt.38. The Focus KTP32 model fits the naa .32 acp perfectly and my wife uses it for daily carry with jeans and a jacket and a flash-bang bra holster for her dresses. I took the robust ktp32 holster and boiled it for an hour and stuck the naa 380 in it overnight. It works perfectly. It is a snug fit but having having the .32 beretta tomcat fall out of every .25 tomcat belt holster I have ever owned- I’ll take the tight focus ktp32 holster every time. Besides, the Tomcat sold for double what I paid for. If I could find two of the naa .32’s I would buy them for my daughter and granddaughters. They work EVERY time you pull that long trigger which I find to be a benefit because it’s not as light as a beretta or a Ruger LCP or LC9 striker trigger. I am also a lawyer and I have represented two clients who fatally shot what they thought were serious attackers in self defense- it ain’t TV- it’s $25K+ and a 1 to 5 years years of pure hell, anguish, and misery- and it gets worse if a striker fired trigger goes off when the shooter- nervous as hell- pops a cap because he or she thought the guy was going to keep coming at them...
Shame you didn't like it. 10 years now I've had guardians...I shoot and carry ball ammo in this sub 9mm calibers. The guardian replaced my j frame as backup to my g26 everyday. I carry the spare mag (for both my guns) daily and at least till I get too old to rack a slide...I have retired my j frames and other snubs...for now. My guardians - 32 and 380 - have been 100% and a whole lot easier to get combat accurate follow ups than my revolvers. Good luck in your search...you wont have any problem selling the guardian...unlike a plastic lcp...they hold value.
Reminds me of the time a co-worker, who lifted weights, kept borrowing my big screwdriver. I asked him why he didn't buy his own, he said, "They're too heavy to carry around."
I had the smaller framed (Small gun overall) 32 acp version. It was a well built little gun. The previous owner had it fitted with med sized night sites, had the frame knurled front and rear strap and had a nice set of larger width hardwood grips with it from the NAA factory. This was 6 yrs ago and I paid $325 for it. Probably $600+ new with all the options. Still couldn't get over the weight. It was very reliable, accurate to within 2'' at 30', but with the plastic grips it kicked HARD into your trigger finger and palm and it was like carrying an anchor. It was only a little longer than my Baby Browning (25 acp) but little taller and considerably thicker. + I can carry my Ruger LCPII anywhere I could carry the NAA and have an easier gun to carry and shoot so I sold the NAA and I really don't miss it. If I need something Crazy tiny I have the Baby Browning
You got it right, weight is the main problem in these all-steel pistols that make them unfeasible to carry. This is the case with Walther, which remains a museum piece.
@@guaporeturns9472 Obviously because they have become lighter. The Colt 45 is a brick, who wants to carry that in a holster? This is why these bricks are no longer manufactured.
@@mxblyxky You obviously aren’t capable of an intelligent conversation about firearms if you think 1911s are no longer manufactured. Good luck out there.
Read a lot about no last round hold open like the P32. It’s nice to see your out of ammo but the same mechanics of racking the slide is still required to get the gun back into action. One plus is you can push it up on something and not have to worry about coming out of battery like an LCP or P32. I love the look of the Guardian, it’s built like a tank, and it does everything you need it to do when you need to call it to action. It is not a long range take aim gun. Most ppl don’t understand that in most justified self defense situations that hip/point shooting is far more likely as well as one handed shooting. The range EXPERTS love to teach full extension and sight alignment. Try that BS when you have someone punching your face in. Yes situational awareness I know but a lot of times you won’t see it coming until your reactionary gap is too short. In the end…I love the Guardian. It meets all my Needs. Train with what you carry even if it’s a stick. Stay safe everyone!
Excellent assessment. I have one of my own. Impulse buy years ago. Beats the hell out of my hand. I never carry this..anymore. I keep it as a fixed location stash gun in my work bench.
After having this gun for 2 years now(in the 32acp version)I can honestly say that I don't regret buying it. However I don't carry it very often anymore. I like the fact that it's a extremely well made gun, and having it chambered in 32acp makes it a pretty decent shooter. I feel like if i want to carry a 13.5oz gun....then I'll carry the Kel Tec PF9.
@Wake up sheep to reality really I totally agree the Guardian is a very handsome pistol...and one that will last 2 lifetimes! If I was playing a game of...I'll show u mine, if u show me yours! I'd be proud to show off a Guardian. If I gotta carry it around 14hrs a day, possibly drop it in the dirt, or have to give it up after a defensive encounter....then a cheap Keltec is the way to go. 😂
@Wake up sheep to reality really lol...I'm sure a bad guy would freak-out when realizing he'd gotten shot by a gun he couldn't hardly even see! When I did carry mine a lot, I got a wallet holster for it, to keep it from doing that swinging n banging against my thigh like u mention. If u do eventually send it in to NAA to get some custom work(which would be bad-ass)I wouldn't think u'd have any worries. Many ppl say their customer service is top-notch! It getting lost in the mail would worry me to death tho.
NAA makes some of the finest quality guns in their class that are solutions looking for problems. Sort of like the 1982 DeLorean car. I will admit that even though they are not ideal, I would want one just for the sake of owning a very well made mouse gun.
That is one way to look at it. Personally their basic Mini revolvers serve a great purpose. Once they start getting into fancy reloading systems and their autos, they can miss the mark. If I had to improve the Guardian, I would ask that it be made with an aluminum frame.
I had one of the NAA mini's. It was a well made firearm, but not a very good choice for me personally. The one I settled on getting was the .22 WMR/.22 LR conversion with the 1.13" barrel. The reason for my choice was because the LR and short versions were way too small to even hold, but the drawback to the conversion magnum was that it's bored out to .224", which made .22 LR ammo in it almost useless beyond 3 yards. Maybe one of their larger mini revolvers would have been more to my liking.
The .25 NAA (necked down version) has considerably less recoil and hand shock. Yes, the weight of these little firearms make them uncomfortable to carry but you can hide one in a vehicle without the worry of corrosion or other types of damage - they're quite durable. You could conceal one on a surfboard. No Really. Good review - keep up the good work.
I have the same pistol and the same problem with the trigger guard kick. I shoot it with a glove or with some bandaid protection. After 30 rounds it hurts anyway. Otherwise solid, reliable and adequately accurate at 7 yards.
Just picked up an NAA .380 at a pawn shop for a decent price. I plan on doing some Trigger/Hammer work to fix the one flaw in its design. The weight (20 oz) empty helps with felt recoil. According to another RUclipsr the .380 delivers better groups than the .32. I like the rock solid stainless construction and its reliability in handling almost any .380 fodder except sharp-edged Hydroshocks...a must under stressful situations. Sights are not important in close combat between you and the idiot who just threatened your life. I carry a 15+1 Bersa Thunder .380 with 3 dot sights for those situations.
Yeah, I have been reflecting alot on this review lately. The fact that it was chambered for 32 NAA might have something to do with reliability. It is a completely different cartridge from the 380 it is based on, but the gun is built on the 380 frame. The 32 ACP version is a smaller framed gun. I might have to give that model a chance.
You can get a .32 NAA barrel for that LCP. Not sure you can even get ammo anymore hope you saved that brass lol. The company that has them will also mill your slide and install actual sights and then Cerakote the slide
Great, honest review. The Seecamp in .32 is much lighter and thinner AND easier to shoot. IF we were allowed to carry in NJ, the Seecamp would be my primary or backup piece.
But what I really meant to say. I have a seecamp and a naa .32 and .380....the naa .32 is even nicer than the seecamp in fit and finish. Maybe an ounce different in weight.
You are allowed to carry in New Jersey, the 2nd amendment. Get a couple criminal defense attorneys on retainer a pair of friends. Carry their cards and trust in a jury. 1st make the request that the state gives you authorization and let them know of their unconstitutional law based on McDonald in the scotus. Do it anyway, it's your right. Dont tell a soul and kept your driving skills up and dont consent to any searches. The terry patdown would mess you up. Might get quick a disarming while driving.
I have never fired the guardian but I have shot the 32 ACP Seecamp. Most of your comments would apply to the Seecamp. The only things good about it is that its built like a tank, reliable and is very small. Other than that I hate it for all the same reasons you didn't like the guardian.
I really liked the Seecamp, though. But the one I had was in 25 ACP. That might have made it more shootable. But even then after a while that trigger slap started to hurt.
I have a first gen, in 32 acp. I feel the same way. Too hard to get a good grip, too heavy, and that trigger pull and trigger slap are just too much. It was a very expensive lesson. Great video.
Good review, it's always give and take picking anything. Seems to me that once it's broken in the plus side would be, it's size, quality of construction, reliability. The downside might be the weight, I'm saying "might" because some might appreciate a few ounces to dampen the recoil. Regarding accuracy IMO that's a challenge with all pocket guns, I believe they're best for face to face negotiations or if cornered perhaps you can discourage anyone from invading whatever space you're occupying. I can't think of things being much worse than having a micro pistol to save your ass vs having nothing but your wits...
I know this review is old, but I was wondering if the 5 malfunctions you had were on the last round? I just bought one and it malfunctioned several times (stove pipe) but they were all on the last round. I can deal with that as long as the first five work because it will simply be a backup for me. Thanks.
To answer your question, those malfunctions did occur on the last round. I was told that these NAA Guardians do that as a reminder that the gun is empty. Stupid excuse, but an excuse nonetheless. I would look elsewhere for a backup.
@@professorpewpuew wait just a minute! It's certainly NOT a stupid excuse! Look closely at the gun, and tell me what's missing?? The pistol has no ejector! The gun uses the next round in the magazine to help eject the spent casing...and does a pretty darn good job! It does so well in fact, that abt 60% of the time it manages to get the last one out too! When it does occur, I call it....the Guardian last round hold open. I prefer when it does this! It's a visual that the gun is empty. I would have to rack the slide anyway, when inserting a new magazine.
@@adrianotero7963 exactly...Very good point! If that's the only problem I ever have w/this tank of a pistol(so far it has been)then I'll gladly take it! This gun is in a class by itself when it comes to build quality. It will still be around 3 lifetimes from now! I plan on handing it down to kids. I have a Colt 1908 vest pocket .25acp 110 years old. A hand-me-down from my passed-away WW2 veteran father....still functions just fine! Safe shooting 👍😎
I would put it right in between. Keltec is hit or miss when it comes to quality, but it is a very lightweight gun. The Seecamp is the high quality option. Not as light as the Keltec, but slimmer and trimmer and more reliable than the NAA. If you have some extra bucks, I would get the Seecamp. I had and reviewed the 25 ACP Seecamp. Excellent product.
Have had both the 380 and 32acp. I kept the 32. Have had it about 10 years now. Great BUG or even a 3rd gun option. All mine have been great. It's not heavy to me. But then again I carry full weight guns.
I shot a 1908 before and I never compared them head to head. The 1908 is less than half the weight and smaller in the grip. All in all, a hundred year old design that is still better than this.
I have a gel test about to publish on the 32 NAA. A few years ago there were more ammo options but it seems to be mostly dried up. You can get these in 32 ACP or 380 ACP, which would be what I would go with.
It's too heavy and not a good gun to shoot. I can accept it being a pain to shoot, but not when it's a mousegun that weighs as much as it does and has a DAO trigger. As an owner of two LCP's, I can tell you I'm tired of .380 and the recoil in pocket guns, and I'm certain the NAA has just as much recoil as the LCP does. I think you can see where I'm going with this: The NAA Guardian is a mid 90's CCW still being made in 2018; it's obsolete. I wish Ruger would make the LCP II in .32 as you'd have that great trigger and the low recoil of .32. I doubt Ruger will ever do that, I hate Kel Tec triggers so the P32 is meh to me, thus my choice for a pocket pistol is a .327 LCRx. 6 rounds is close enough to what these pocket .380's carry, 100 grains of lead going 1200 fps will stop whatever a .380 can and then some, and the exposed hammer makes it possible to shoot further than 15 yards. Not the fastest reload, but when you consider how small these pocket pistols are, they're difficult to reload quickly. I have to take my right hand, move it over the slide, and then slam the mag in on my LCP's with my left hand, then move my right hand back to the grip, and grab the tiny slide to rack the new round in. You can't load a new mag in with one in the chamber because then you're putting your hand in danger if the round were to go off. The LCP and other tiny .380's advantage is that they're very light and flat and minimize printing. So, the pocket .380's and .32's for that matter have their place, but they're not ideal primary guns for deep concealment.
@@Imperial_Cosmonaut 1st Answer: Please be more specific, I'm not sure what you're asking. 2nd Answer: Obsolesces has less to do with age, more to do with design. The NAA Guardians were designed at a time where trigger safety was paramount at the expense of practical accuracy. CCW in the 90s and 00s was thought to be a very close range affair where short, crisp trigger pulls weren't needed, but we've seen over time that the need for a small, but accurate pistol is needed. Depending on the size of the 1911, I think it's obsolete. A full size 5 inch barrel 7 round 1911 is definitely obsolete, but something like the Rock Island BBR 3.10 is not as it is a small 10 rd .45 doublstack. Beretta 92's are large, but not obsolete. Steyr AUG's aren't my cup of tea, but they're still a proven rifle.
the seacamp is by far the much better choice better made just stick with 32acp ammo not 380 version and both of mine fuction with the leheigh defense ammo that actually does make the 32 great again why I have 2 because my wife stold the first one because it was the only handgun that could fit in her girly jean pockets or so thats the line she fed me
@@Imperial_Cosmonaut The whole idea behind the seacamp is a small get off me gun the naa is a lot heavier i carry the lcp max it holds 11 rounds and weighs 14.5 ounces fully loaded the naa is probably 20 ounces loaded with 7 rounds to each his own. When i need to carry the smallest semi auto its a seacamp smallest gun naa mini revolver just my opinion.
![MISSING: SLIM SHADY [Expanded Mourner’s Edition Trailer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xh8qgHrOO1g/mqdefault.jpg)
I have had one in .380 for over twenty years, and simply LIKE it. I have shot it a lot and it shows ZERO wear; it looks brand new! The weight is enough to absorb recoil; I have never been bothered by the weight, and I prefer an all steel gun. The grips are still slightly sticky and plant the thing in my hand just right. The long and heavy double action only trigger makes it totally safe to carry in a pocket. The machining, fit and finish, and smoothness are superb. Mine has NEVER failed in any way EXCEPT for using Federal Hydroshocks which have a sharp lip on the hollowpoint that snags the feed ramp on ALL of my .380s. I wonder if your stovepipes are caused by underpowered ammo? Yes, extended range shooting IS a bear; my trigger finger gets exhausted, but I find using the TIP of the finger on the trigger gives best leverage. When my finger is fresh this gun CAN be accurate! You can send it back to the factory and request that they lighten the trigger; they used to do it for free, I don't know current policies. I prefer absolutely reliable ignition so I have not lightened mine. I don't expect a gun fight to last long enough to get my finger tired!...…………………………….elsullo
I totally agree with all of your comments. I too have the .380 and absolutely love it! It is funny how all the things people tend to complain about with this gun, are the very things I like about it (i.e. the weight, no safety, the hard DA trigger, etc.). People also complain about the sights. Who cares about the sights on a gun like this!!! It’s a pull and shoot close quarters self-defense firearm. My thought is, if I have to get in position take aim and be able hit a target dead on that’s 20 yards away, the target is likely not life threatening. This or any gun this size and capacity is not intended prepare you for a “gun fight”. It’s intended to pull, shoot and get a would be attacker off of you so you can get the hell out of there. For those who complain about the sights, invest in the Crimson Trace Laser Grips. My Guardian came with them, and they work beautifully!!! With a properly adjusted laser and a steady hand, the bullet goes wherever the little red dot is. At 15 ft. I literally remove the bullseye on my targets with 6 shots.
@@d.a.hammerfire4023 Been looking at All the RUclipsrs about this gun but, I want the 3 things you said: Weight, No Safety, & the Hard Trigger. Grr8 Comment On the NAA Guardian .380...This is going to be my next gun Very Soon. d((6__6))b👍
Does anyone read the manual that came with the gun ?? The only time you get the stove pipe is when you fire the last round in the magazine . That’s telling you to jest the empty mag and insert a fresh one. The .380 has two spring and locking the gun is a bear when the slide is in the closed battery position with the stovepipe the initial tension is diminished by about 1/3. Pull the slide back/ stove-piped brass falls out/release the slide and you’re ready to go again. I love my NAA 380 . I have carried it for 5 years now.
100% Agree! I read a lot about no last round hold open like the P32. It’s nice to see your out of ammo but the same mechanics of racking the slide is still required to get the gun back into action.
I love the look of the Guardian, it’s built like a tank, and it does everything you need it to do when you need to call it to action. It is not a long range take aim gun. Most ppl don’t understand that in most justified self defense situations that hip/point shooting is far more likely as well as one handed shooting. The range EXPERTS love to teach full extension and sight alignment. Try that BS when you have someone punching your face in. Yes situational awareness I know but a lot of times you won’t see it coming until your reactionary gap is too short. In the end…I love the Guardian. It meets all my Needs. Train with what you carry even if it’s a stick. Stay safe everyone!
I also own a 380 Guardian, and mine has been 100% reliable (I bought mine used, so it was already well broken in). I love mine, and it is now my main carry piece. But I will admit that it is not perfect for most people. All of your criticisms are valid (although shooting it never bothered my hand). It IS heavy. It DOES have a heavy trigger. And it CAN be hard to keep on target.
But compare it to a J frame Smith and Wesson. They weigh about the same, the triggers are similar, and a light weight J frame can kick like a mule. And while they weigh about the same, the Guardian is a whole lot easier to carry around due to its much smaller size. The guys at "The Truth About Guns" found the sights to be rather good, and they were connecting with shots up to 100 yards (if memory serves). For me, coming from J frames, the Guardian felt comfortable and familiar. For someone coming from LCPs or Keltecs, that probably wouldn't be the case.
The Guardians are like that. Most people don't care for them. Those that own (and keep) them love them, and trust them.
A heavy, all stainless, mini .380 makes it more controllable. The only gripe I had was the trigger pull which I remedied by using a lighter spring. Now I have a reliable 7 shot pocket .380 with decent stopping power. NAA now has many accessories for their Guardian line including trigicon sights, lasers, fancy hardwood grips, and even a mini bayonet. Gonna get a finger ext. grip for mine next. P.S: Y'all might want to start reloading your hard to find .32's & .380's because I don't see the ammo shortage stopping any time soon.
It is fairly well known that the NAA Guardian will frequently stove pipe on the last round. The well made, and good looking litter pistol counts heavily on the next round in the magazine to help get the empty casing out. However there are no more rounds! It's called the "Guardian last round hold open feature" LOL, I like when mine does it. Keeps me from dry firing.
Great review. I just bought a Guardian in .380 acp and took it to the range today. I got it used, but it came from the factory with Crimson Trace grips. It's just like new in the box with extra a mag, a lock and keys and a factory spent shell casing. After watching your review several times and others, I was a little intimidated and afraid of the recoil before I actually got a chance to shoot it for myself. Well, what I came to discover is that the recoil wasn't bad at all for me. I ended up shooting over 250 rounds today and would have shot more if I had it. It was truly a joy to shoot for me. By the end of the 2nd round, I was shooting with 1 hand and clearing the bulls eye on my targets. My grouping was so tight, after a while I was just shooting thru the hole I made at the bulls eye. I strongly recommend that you try the Crimson Trace Grips.
I agree. The guy doing the vid is a baby. All the guys who do vids on here who actually have a large following and know their guns speak highly of the NAA's. I found that the ones who know their stuff about guns and know how to shoot very well talk well about this gun. And those who have minimal views and can't shoot that well really cry about this gun..
Great review I had bought there are 32 ACP back when I couldn’t get a Seecamp they were very hard to get there like $700. That’s when Seecamp we’re going for crazy money and like two years to get. Then when that 380 came out around 99 or 2000ish something like that I bought one of the NAA 380 when Kahr Arms made the frames for them and it had kahr stamped on it. Great review love it don’t forget that gun was half the size of a Walter PPK and back then kel tec p3at 1st GEN we’re not that good. So NAA was as they say is the cats meow Wayback in the day.
I just Bought a .32 cal used one today for $225. With all three style clips and gun is like new. Love it so far.
The gun is designed to stove-pipe the LAST SHOT as an indicator that you are empty and it’s time to reload. When you slam in the 2nd magazine and rack the slide the “stove piped’ brass case will fall out. I have owned this pistol for 15+ years and my wife has the .32 acp. They are both heavy but Not THAT heavy. And yes there’s a long “double action” trigger pull bit it is absolutely as good as the double action trigger on a good S&W or Colt.38. The Focus KTP32 model fits the naa .32 acp perfectly and my wife uses it for daily carry with jeans and a jacket and a flash-bang bra holster for her dresses. I took the robust ktp32 holster and boiled it for an hour and stuck the naa 380 in it overnight. It works perfectly. It is a snug fit but having having the .32 beretta tomcat fall out of every .25 tomcat belt holster I have ever owned- I’ll take the tight focus ktp32 holster every time. Besides, the Tomcat sold for double what I paid for. If I could find two of the naa .32’s I would buy them for my daughter and granddaughters. They work EVERY time you pull that long trigger which I find to be a benefit because it’s not as light as a beretta or a Ruger LCP or LC9 striker trigger. I am also a lawyer and I have represented two clients who fatally shot what they thought were serious attackers in self defense- it ain’t TV- it’s $25K+ and a 1 to 5 years years of pure hell, anguish, and misery- and it gets worse if a striker fired trigger goes off when the shooter- nervous as hell- pops a cap because he or she thought the guy was going to keep coming at them...
Shame you didn't like it. 10 years now I've had guardians...I shoot and carry ball ammo in this sub 9mm calibers. The guardian replaced my j frame as backup to my g26 everyday. I carry the spare mag (for both my guns) daily and at least till I get too old to rack a slide...I have retired my j frames and other snubs...for now. My guardians - 32 and 380 - have been 100% and a whole lot easier to get combat accurate follow ups than my revolvers. Good luck in your search...you wont have any problem selling the guardian...unlike a plastic lcp...they hold value.
I don't think its a terrible gun, just a heavy one for the purpose of pocket carry.
Reminds me of the time a co-worker, who lifted weights, kept borrowing my big screwdriver. I asked him why he didn't buy his own, he said, "They're too heavy to carry around."
Very good video. Your review of the user aspect of the gun were very valuable.
I had the smaller framed (Small gun overall) 32 acp version. It was a well built little gun. The previous owner had it fitted with med sized night sites, had the frame knurled front and rear strap and had a nice set of larger width hardwood grips with it from the NAA factory. This was 6 yrs ago and I paid $325 for it. Probably $600+ new with all the options. Still couldn't get over the weight. It was very reliable, accurate to within 2'' at 30', but with the plastic grips it kicked HARD into your trigger finger and palm and it was like carrying an anchor. It was only a little longer than my Baby Browning (25 acp) but little taller and considerably thicker. + I can carry my Ruger LCPII anywhere I could carry the NAA and have an easier gun to carry and shoot so I sold the NAA and I really don't miss it. If I need something Crazy tiny I have the Baby Browning
You got it right, weight is the main problem in these all-steel pistols that make them unfeasible to carry. This is the case with Walther, which remains a museum piece.
The weight of this has never been a problem for me.
@@guaporeturns9472 But for normal people it's a problem, why do you think pistols aren't made out of pure metal anymore?
@@mxblyxky Because plastic is cheaper for one thing
@@guaporeturns9472 Obviously because they have become lighter. The Colt 45 is a brick, who wants to carry that in a holster? This is why these bricks are no longer manufactured.
@@mxblyxky You obviously aren’t capable of an intelligent conversation about firearms if you think 1911s are no longer manufactured. Good luck out there.
Read a lot about no last round hold open like the P32. It’s nice to see your out of ammo but the same mechanics of racking the slide is still required to get the gun back into action. One plus is you can push it up on something and not have to worry about coming out of battery like an LCP or P32.
I love the look of the Guardian, it’s built like a tank, and it does everything you need it to do when you need to call it to action. It is not a long range take aim gun. Most ppl don’t understand that in most justified self defense situations that hip/point shooting is far more likely as well as one handed shooting. The range EXPERTS love to teach full extension and sight alignment. Try that BS when you have someone punching your face in. Yes situational awareness I know but a lot of times you won’t see it coming until your reactionary gap is too short. In the end…I love the Guardian. It meets all my Needs. Train with what you carry even if it’s a stick. Stay safe everyone!
I love that it's a steel gun.
You may want to try a Micro Desert Eagle as well.
@@jizzythefroggy1108 yeah, that thing looks badass
Excellent assessment. I have one of my own. Impulse buy years ago. Beats the hell out of my hand. I never carry this..anymore. I keep it as a fixed location stash gun in my work bench.
After having this gun for 2 years now(in the 32acp version)I can honestly say that I don't regret buying it. However I don't carry it very often anymore. I like the fact that it's a extremely well made gun, and having it chambered in 32acp makes it a pretty decent shooter. I feel like if i want to carry a 13.5oz gun....then I'll carry the Kel Tec PF9.
@Wake up sheep to reality really I totally agree the Guardian is a very handsome pistol...and one that will last 2 lifetimes! If I was playing a game of...I'll show u mine, if u show me yours! I'd be proud to show off a Guardian. If I gotta carry it around 14hrs a day, possibly drop it in the dirt, or have to give it up after a defensive encounter....then a cheap Keltec is the way to go. 😂
@Wake up sheep to reality really lol...I'm sure a bad guy would freak-out when realizing he'd gotten shot by a gun he couldn't hardly even see! When I did carry mine a lot, I got a wallet holster for it, to keep it from doing that swinging n banging against my thigh like u mention. If u do eventually send it in to NAA to get some custom work(which would be bad-ass)I wouldn't think u'd have any worries. Many ppl say their customer service is top-notch! It getting lost in the mail would worry me to death tho.
NAA makes some of the finest quality guns in their class that are solutions looking for problems. Sort of like the 1982 DeLorean car. I will admit that even though they are not ideal, I would want one just for the sake of owning a very well made mouse gun.
That is one way to look at it. Personally their basic Mini revolvers serve a great purpose. Once they start getting into fancy reloading systems and their autos, they can miss the mark. If I had to improve the Guardian, I would ask that it be made with an aluminum frame.
I had one of the NAA mini's. It was a well made firearm, but not a very good choice for me personally. The one I settled on getting was the .22 WMR/.22 LR conversion with the 1.13" barrel. The reason for my choice was because the LR and short versions were way too small to even hold, but the drawback to the conversion magnum was that it's bored out to .224", which made .22 LR ammo in it almost useless beyond 3 yards.
Maybe one of their larger mini revolvers would have been more to my liking.
The .25 NAA (necked down version) has considerably less recoil and hand shock. Yes, the weight of these little firearms make them uncomfortable to carry but you can hide one in a vehicle without the worry of corrosion or other types of damage - they're quite durable.
You could conceal one on a surfboard. No Really.
Good review - keep up the good work.
I have the same pistol and the same problem with the trigger guard kick. I shoot it with a glove or with some bandaid protection. After 30 rounds it hurts anyway. Otherwise solid, reliable and adequately accurate at 7 yards.
Like the seecamp too both good mouse guns I collect them have a case full of them
Just picked up an NAA .380 at a pawn shop for a decent price. I plan on doing some Trigger/Hammer work to fix the one flaw in its design. The weight (20 oz) empty helps with felt recoil. According to another RUclipsr the .380 delivers better groups than the .32. I like the rock solid stainless construction and its reliability in handling almost any .380 fodder except sharp-edged Hydroshocks...a must under stressful situations. Sights are not important in close combat between you and the idiot who just threatened your life. I carry a 15+1 Bersa Thunder .380 with 3 dot sights for those situations.
Yeah, I have been reflecting alot on this review lately. The fact that it was chambered for 32 NAA might have something to do with reliability. It is a completely different cartridge from the 380 it is based on, but the gun is built on the 380 frame. The 32 ACP version is a smaller framed gun. I might have to give that model a chance.
2:55 Other reviewers recommend the Guardian in 32 ACP for its reduced recoil.
You can get a .32 NAA barrel for that LCP. Not sure you can even get ammo anymore hope you saved that brass lol. The company that has them will also mill your slide and install actual sights and then Cerakote the slide
If you ever run into any 25NAA ammo let me know. 😺
Just checked with North American Arms and you can still order it through them direct.
Lol. Dunno what advantages those even have
Great, honest review. The Seecamp in .32 is much lighter and thinner AND easier to shoot. IF we were allowed to carry in NJ, the Seecamp would be my primary or backup piece.
You are allowed to carry in New Jersey. It's called the right to bear arms which shall not be infringed. Take it to a jury. They will understand.
But what I really meant to say. I have a seecamp and a naa .32 and .380....the naa .32 is even nicer than the seecamp in fit and finish. Maybe an ounce different in weight.
You are allowed to carry in New Jersey, the 2nd amendment. Get a couple criminal defense attorneys on retainer a pair of friends. Carry their cards and trust in a jury. 1st make the request that the state gives you authorization and let them know of their unconstitutional law based on McDonald in the scotus. Do it anyway, it's your right. Dont tell a soul and kept your driving skills up and dont consent to any searches. The terry patdown would mess you up. Might get quick a disarming while driving.
No sights though, which is…well, silly
I have never fired the guardian but I have shot the 32 ACP Seecamp. Most of your comments would apply to the Seecamp. The only things good about it is that its built like a tank, reliable and is very small. Other than that I hate it for all the same reasons you didn't like the guardian.
I really liked the Seecamp, though. But the one I had was in 25 ACP. That might have made it more shootable. But even then after a while that trigger slap started to hurt.
Way too heavy in my view. If I had to carry a NAA mini I’d choose the Pug. Great review, thank you.
To each his own
Great review good points to think about
I have a first gen, in 32 acp. I feel the same way. Too hard to get a good grip, too heavy, and that trigger pull and trigger slap are just too much. It was a very expensive lesson. Great video.
Good review, it's always give and take picking anything. Seems to me that once it's broken in the plus side would be, it's size, quality of construction, reliability. The downside might be the weight, I'm saying "might" because some might appreciate a few ounces to dampen the recoil. Regarding accuracy IMO that's a challenge with all pocket guns, I believe they're best for face to face negotiations or if cornered perhaps you can discourage anyone from invading whatever space you're occupying. I can't think of things being much worse than having a micro pistol to save your ass vs having nothing but your wits...
I know this review is old, but I was wondering if the 5 malfunctions you had were on the last round? I just bought one and it malfunctioned several times (stove pipe) but they were all on the last round. I can deal with that as long as the first five work because it will simply be a backup for me. Thanks.
To answer your question, those malfunctions did occur on the last round. I was told that these NAA Guardians do that as a reminder that the gun is empty. Stupid excuse, but an excuse nonetheless. I would look elsewhere for a backup.
Thanks for the reply.
@@professorpewpuew wait just a minute! It's certainly NOT a stupid excuse! Look closely at the gun, and tell me what's missing?? The pistol has no ejector! The gun uses the next round in the magazine to help eject the spent casing...and does a pretty darn good job! It does so well in fact, that abt 60% of the time it manages to get the last one out too! When it does occur, I call it....the Guardian last round hold open. I prefer when it does this! It's a visual that the gun is empty. I would have to rack the slide anyway, when inserting a new magazine.
@@markshippoli8918 I don't see that as a flaw....sort of like the M1 Garand ping.....
@@adrianotero7963 exactly...Very good point! If that's the only problem I ever have w/this tank of a pistol(so far it has been)then I'll gladly take it! This gun is in a class by itself when it comes to build quality. It will still be around 3 lifetimes from now! I plan on handing it down to kids. I have a Colt 1908 vest pocket .25acp 110 years old. A hand-me-down from my passed-away WW2 veteran father....still functions just fine! Safe shooting 👍😎
I wish you explained what this 32 NAA caliber is all about; how does it compare to a 32acp?
Its a proprietary cartridge, meaning you'll never find ammo for it if you buy it. It looks like a mini FN57 in shape
Kel-Tec P-32 !!
Where are you guys getting the 25naa ammo. I cannot find it anywhere.
Gunbroker
Shoulda gotten the regular version, lol
Use six grade 32 Auto for that gun
How does this stack up against, say, the Kel Tec or Seecamp? Thanks!
I would put it right in between. Keltec is hit or miss when it comes to quality, but it is a very lightweight gun. The Seecamp is the high quality option. Not as light as the Keltec, but slimmer and trimmer and more reliable than the NAA. If you have some extra bucks, I would get the Seecamp. I had and reviewed the 25 ACP Seecamp. Excellent product.
@@professorpewpuew
Thanks!
Have had both the 380 and 32acp. I kept the 32. Have had it about 10 years now. Great BUG or even a 3rd gun option. All mine have been great.
It's not heavy to me. But then again I carry full weight guns.
How does this compare in size to a 1908 vest pocket?
I shot a 1908 before and I never compared them head to head. The 1908 is less than half the weight and smaller in the grip. All in all, a hundred year old design that is still better than this.
How hard is it to find the ammo? I've never heard of that cartridge
The .25 NAA and .32 NAA have been around for several years. However, NAA is the only manufacturer to chamber pistols for them.
I have a gel test about to publish on the 32 NAA. A few years ago there were more ammo options but it seems to be mostly dried up. You can get these in 32 ACP or 380 ACP, which would be what I would go with.
@@danielwatters1203 thats because its a proprietary cartridge specifically made for their/those particular pistols
First
What do they cost ?
Around $350.
Thanks
Just got one on GunBroker for $229.00 with two magazines.
It's too heavy and not a good gun to shoot. I can accept it being a pain to shoot, but not when it's a mousegun that weighs as much as it does and has a DAO trigger. As an owner of two LCP's, I can tell you I'm tired of .380 and the recoil in pocket guns, and I'm certain the NAA has just as much recoil as the LCP does.
I think you can see where I'm going with this: The NAA Guardian is a mid 90's CCW still being made in 2018; it's obsolete.
I wish Ruger would make the LCP II in .32 as you'd have that great trigger and the low recoil of .32. I doubt Ruger will ever do that, I hate Kel Tec triggers so the P32 is meh to me, thus my choice for a pocket pistol is a .327 LCRx. 6 rounds is close enough to what these pocket .380's carry, 100 grains of lead going 1200 fps will stop whatever a .380 can and then some, and the exposed hammer makes it possible to shoot further than 15 yards.
Not the fastest reload, but when you consider how small these pocket pistols are, they're difficult to reload quickly. I have to take my right hand, move it over the slide, and then slam the mag in on my LCP's with my left hand, then move my right hand back to the grip, and grab the tiny slide to rack the new round in. You can't load a new mag in with one in the chamber because then you're putting your hand in danger if the round were to go off.
The LCP and other tiny .380's advantage is that they're very light and flat and minimize printing. So, the pocket .380's and .32's for that matter have their place, but they're not ideal primary guns for deep concealment.
1st question: how deep/how far up?
2nd question: so, is the 1911, beretta, cz75, steyr aug etc, all obsolete, being invented pre year 2000?
@@Imperial_Cosmonaut
1st Answer: Please be more specific, I'm not sure what you're asking.
2nd Answer: Obsolesces has less to do with age, more to do with design. The NAA Guardians were designed at a time where trigger safety was paramount at the expense of practical accuracy. CCW in the 90s and 00s was thought to be a very close range affair where short, crisp trigger pulls weren't needed, but we've seen over time that the need for a small, but accurate pistol is needed.
Depending on the size of the 1911, I think it's obsolete. A full size 5 inch barrel 7 round 1911 is definitely obsolete, but something like the Rock Island BBR 3.10 is not as it is a small 10 rd .45 doublstack. Beretta 92's are large, but not obsolete. Steyr AUG's aren't my cup of tea, but they're still a proven rifle.
the seacamp is by far the much better choice better made just stick with 32acp ammo not 380 version and both of mine fuction with the leheigh defense ammo that actually does make the 32 great again why I have 2 because my wife stold the first one because it was the only handgun that could fit in her girly jean pockets or so thats the line she fed me
The Seecamp is in my opinion, NOT a better pistol...just more expensive!
Nah the NAA is better has a functional mag release and you don't have to push any stupid pin out....Guardian Wins!
The NAA 380 version is more reliable than the 380 mousecamp. For 32, the only drawback is the mousecamp only takes hollowpoints
@@Imperial_Cosmonaut The whole idea behind the seacamp is a small get off me gun the naa is a lot heavier i carry the lcp max it holds 11 rounds and weighs 14.5 ounces fully loaded the naa is probably 20 ounces loaded with 7 rounds to each his own. When i need to carry the smallest semi auto its a seacamp smallest gun naa mini revolver just my opinion.
Dude, did you bite your tongue before the video?