Methods of re loading a lever action rifle.

Scribe · December 29, 2010, 04:45 AM

I sure this question has been asked before and I ask this purely out of curiosity. Apart from being inherently unsafe and a practise that would get you banned from any well run range, was 'spin cocking' in the True Grit manner ever a recognised method?
Never mind how cool it may look, the idea of pointing a powerful gun at yourself while reloading it, and at the same time having a less than secure grip on it seems to me a questionable practice.
All replies, however scornful, received with thanks.

Hawg · December 29, 2010, 05:59 AM

No. The large loop lever was a hollyweird invention for John Wayne.

mrappe · December 29, 2010, 09:32 AM

I can't imagine that the large loop would be good for anything except when using a large mitten is cold weather.

the Black Spot · December 29, 2010, 08:12 PM

i think it had to be doctored to keep the shell from falling out on the spin. or he just spun it with nothing in it.

Hellgate · December 29, 2010, 08:26 PM

I heard tell by some hollyweird gun technician just what Black Spot said. In an unmodified gun the shell falls out during the spin.

napp · December 29, 2010, 08:32 PM

Oh no......there goes another of my fantasies ruined by the Internet.

bedbugbilly · December 29, 2010, 09:01 PM

This is probably one of those "which came first, the chicken or the egg" questions but I got to wondering about it . . .

Which came first - John Wayne's large loop lever or Chuck Connor's in the Rifleman? Inquiring minds want to know . . . . .

Or . . . is my senility showing and I have it all messed up?

Hawg · December 29, 2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Which came first - John Wayne's large loop lever or Chuck Connor's in the Rifleman? Inquiring minds want to know . .

John Wayne used his in the movie Stagecoach. His didn't fire on closing like the Rifleman's did tho.

twhidd · December 29, 2010, 09:59 PM

Chuck Conner's 1892 Winchester was actually modified to fire when he closed the lever. I read an article a few years ago about how they did it. They tapped a set screw through the trigger guard that would contact the trigger when the lever was closed. Then you could back the screw out to prevent the "rapid fire" action. Pretty neat for drama albeit impractical.

I kind of liked Steve McQueen's Mare's Leg in the TV show Wanted Dead or Alive.

December 29, 2010, 04:45 AM	#1
Scribe Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2005 Location: England Posts: 249	Methods of re loading a lever action rifle. I sure this question has been asked before and I ask this purely out of curiosity. Apart from being inherently unsafe and a practise that would get you banned from any well run range, was 'spin cocking' in the True Grit manner ever a recognised method? Never mind how cool it may look, the idea of pointing a powerful gun at yourself while reloading it, and at the same time having a less than secure grip on it seems to me a questionable practice. All replies, however scornful, received with thanks.

December 29, 2010, 09:32 AM	#3
mrappe Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 255	I can't imagine that the large loop would be good for anything except when using a large mitten is cold weather. __________________ God is fluxing me which is good but it is not fun.

December 29, 2010, 08:26 PM	#5
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	I heard tell by some hollyweird gun technician just what Black Spot said. In an unmodified gun the shell falls out during the spin. __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

December 29, 2010, 08:32 PM	#6
napp Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 152	Oh no......there goes another of my fantasies ruined by the Internet. __________________ napp

December 29, 2010, 09:01 PM	#7
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	This is probably one of those "which came first, the chicken or the egg" questions but I got to wondering about it . . . Which came first - John Wayne's large loop lever or Chuck Connor's in the Rifleman? Inquiring minds want to know . . . . . Or . . . is my senility showing and I have it all messed up? __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

December 29, 2010, 05:59 AM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	No. The large loop lever was a hollyweird invention for John Wayne.

December 29, 2010, 08:12 PM	#4
the Black Spot Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2009 Location: arkansas Posts: 218	i think it had to be doctored to keep the shell from falling out on the spin. or he just spun it with nothing in it.

December 29, 2010, 09:59 PM	#9
twhidd Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2005 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 823	Chuck Conner's 1892 Winchester was actually modified to fire when he closed the lever. I read an article a few years ago about how they did it. They tapped a set screw through the trigger guard that would contact the trigger when the lever was closed. Then you could back the screw out to prevent the "rapid fire" action. Pretty neat for drama albeit impractical. I kind of liked Steve McQueen's Mare's Leg in the TV show Wanted Dead or Alive. __________________ Todd NRA Life Member Last edited by twhidd; December 29, 2010 at 10:05 PM.