By now, you’ve probably heard it more times than Biden’s told people he was raised Puerto Rican: “The best gun is the one you have on you.” Jeff Cooper—God bless that man’s soul—put it best when he said, “The first rule of gunfighting is… have a gun.” Simple, brilliant, and something a lot of people still manage to ignore while chasing the next red-dot-strapped, optic-cut, flared-magwell Glockzilla that they’ll never actually carry because it weighs as much as a bowling ball and prints worse than your inkjet in 2004.
So let’s talk about the gun that solves that exact problem: the North American Arms (NAA) Pug-T mini revolver. Yeah, it’s small. Ridiculously small. And if you’re the kind of guy who thinks carrying a .22 Magnum is like bringing a toothpick to a bar fight, hear me out. This isn’t just a novelty revolver for your “weird gun collection.” This is a real-deal, stainless-steel, last-ditch, no-excuses, always-there-when-you-need-it piece of gear that absolutely deserves a spot in your pocket—or at the very least, in your glove box.
Let’s get one thing straight: I was skeptical at first. I’ve seen keychains bigger than this thing. But curiosity got the better of me, and once I got my hands on the NAA Pug-T, I’ll admit it—my snark turned into admiration faster than you can say “constitutional carry.”
The Pug-T might be tiny, but this isn’t a pot metal derringer from a gas station display case. This thing is built like a bank vault. It’s a solid chunk of stainless steel that oozes quality, with the kind of machining and attention to detail that you usually only find on guns that cost more than your mortgage.
It ships in a compact metal lockbox—yes, a real one, not some glorified Tupperware—ready to toss in your car, safe, or bugout bag. NAA didn’t have to include that, but they did. And that alone tells you these guys understand how and where this gun is going to be used.
Let’s talk about ergonomics, and yes, I know that’s a weird word to use for a gun that’s smaller than a candy bar. But somehow, NAA managed to cram in a full-sized set of XS Big Dot tritium night sights on this tiny beast. I’m not kidding—they’re big, bright, and actually useful. There’s also a Pug-D version with a standard white dot if you prefer your sights without the whole radioactive glow.
The grip? That’s Hogue rubber, baby. Soft, sticky, comfortable, and just grippy enough that the recoil from those .22 Magnum rounds doesn’t send the gun flying like a greased piglet.
The Pug is single-action only, which means you have to cock the hammer before every shot. Now, that might sound old-school, but it makes a lot of sense for a gun this small. You don’t want a hair trigger on a pocket rocket unless you’re trying to turn your thigh into Swiss cheese.
There’s no cylinder release button like you’d find on a typical revolver. Instead, the cylinder pin and underlug are part of a clever little system where you rotate and pull to remove the cylinder for loading or unloading. It’s not the fastest process in the world, but let’s be honest—you’re not speed-reloading this thing in the middle of a firefight like John Wick. This is five shots and pray you didn’t miss.
You’ll need that pin to poke out your spent cases too, because some of them like to hang on tighter than a Bernie supporter to a free college promise. Pro tip: keep your fingers away from the muzzle when reloading. Seems obvious, but when the gun is this small, muscle memory can betray you fast.
Here’s something else that separates the Pug from other pocket pistols—safety. Because this is a single-action revolver, you don’t want to carry it with the hammer resting on a live round. That’s a big no-no unless you like surprise parties of the “oops, now I limp” variety.
NAA solved this with a very clever set of notches between the chambers. You simply lower the hammer into a safety slot, and now it can’t hit a live round even if you drop it down a flight of stairs. Takes a little practice, but once you’ve done it a few times, it’s second nature.
Let’s just say I was more than a little skeptical here. The barrel is an inch long. The sight radius is two inches. My expectations were low. And then I shot it.
I tested Hornady’s Critical Defense 45gr FTX and CCI’s 30gr Maxi-Mags. Recoil? Noticeable but very manageable thanks to that Hogue grip. Accuracy? Surprisingly solid. The Hornadys patterned like a shotgun on espresso—lots of scatter. But those CCI Maxi-Mags? Tight groups. At ten feet, I had five rounds center mass, no problem. At thirty feet? Still effective, still on target.
No, you’re not going to win a bullseye competition with it, but for what it is? The Pug gets the job done. And it gets it done better than you’d think.
This is where the Pug truly shines. Whether you’re wearing gym shorts, a suit, or cargo pants full of MREs and resentment, this little revolver disappears like a career politician’s integrity. Drop it in a DeSantis pocket holster (there’s even one with a spot for a reload), or better yet, tuck it into your jeans’ watch pocket. You know, the one you never use unless you’re feeling nostalgic for pocket watches and pipe tobacco.
And if you’re the type who carries a full-size pistol daily, the Pug makes a fantastic backup gun. You won’t even notice it’s there—until you need it.
Let’s be real: .22 Magnum isn’t a powerhouse. It’s not going to drop a bear or stop a meth-fueled linebacker on the first shot. But it’s a hell of a lot better than nothing, and I’ll take five rounds of .22 WMR over the false confidence of being “unarmed but alert.”
For folks who just won’t carry a bigger gun? This is a lifeline. For the rest of us? It’s a tool for the toolbox—one that’s always there when the chips are down and your full-size piece is in the nightstand or the car.
The NAA Pug-T is beautifully built, easy to carry, reliable, and surprisingly accurate. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a real gun that fills a real need. No, it’s not perfect for every situation, but it’s perfect for the situations where nothing else fits.
If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I just didn’t feel like carrying today,” then congratulations—this gun is for you. No more excuses. You can carry the Pug-T everywhere you legally can, and you won’t even notice it—until you need it.
Specifications:
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Caliber: .22 Magnum
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Capacity: 5 rounds
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Length: 4.56″
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Height: 2.81″
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Width: 1.06″
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Weight: 6.4 oz.
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Barrel Length: 1″
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Sights: XS Tritium Dot
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MSRP: $347.00
Ratings (Out of 5 Stars):
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Style: ★★★★☆ – Sleek, stainless, and sharp.
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Ergonomics: ★★★☆☆ – Great for smaller hands. Big mitts? Not so much.
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Reliability: ★★★★★ – Fires every time.
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Accuracy: ★★★★☆ – Especially with the right ammo.
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Overall: ★★★★★ – For what it is? It’s excellent.
Want a gun you’ll actually carry? Stop making excuses. Get the Pug. You’ll thank yourself when the day comes that you’re glad you didn’t leave it in the truck.
