Loading and Unloading Single/Double Action Revolvers - Page 2

**Frank Ettin** · November 9, 2013, 03:09 PM

I guess I should have done that this morning when I did it. But now I'm in class until late tonight.

Mobuck · November 9, 2013, 03:50 PM

I don't do youtube.
The load one, skip one, load four, cock & lower the hammer has been the accepted practice for almost 150 years.
I'm not a Colt man. If it's possible to load another way, I'm sure that's the way they would have been doing it since 1873.

**Frank Ettin** · November 9, 2013, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobuck

...The load one, skip one, load four, cock & lower the hammer ...

That's exactly what I've been saying.

Crunchy Frog · November 9, 2013, 05:46 PM

Someone asked for a YouTube video showing the load one-skip one method of loading a Colt single action (or replica thereof). Good old "Bottom Dealing Mike" has the subject covered in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXJRuTx--nU

The loading technique begins at about 3:20.

Mike pulls the trigger to drop the hammer onto the empty chamber in this video. The method that was described in this thread was to use your thumb to lower the hammer down from the fullcock position.

The rims of the cartridges can easily be seen. If somehow you were to get the loading sequence out of whack you would be able to see whether the chamber being indexed to the "firing" position is loaded or empty.

A picture is indeed worth a thousand words.

If this still gives you the heebie jeebies you can always buy a (new model) Ruger single action. No need to touch the hammer or trigger during loading and unloading. Safe to carry fully loaded as well.

**Frank Ettin** · November 9, 2013, 06:04 PM

Notice that after loading the last cartridge he full cocks the hammer, just as I had mentioned. The difference is that he just drops the hammer. I prefer not to dry fire a single action revolver so I lower the hammer under control.

pax · November 9, 2013, 07:01 PM

Crunchy Frog,

Thanks. Very helpful!

pax

FireForged · November 11, 2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

and you feel you're ready to be an instructor?
I'm sorry-just being totally honest.

I was at a loss for words but this is just about covers it.

Malamute · November 11, 2013, 09:46 PM

Frank, I was confused at your first comment. You started out by full cocking the gun, then lowering the hammer to half cock to load. That wont allow the cylinder to rotate. Bringing the hammer to half cock from down will allow the cylinder to turn.

Quote:

Fully cock the hammer.

Lower the hammer to half-cock. You can do this by holding the hammer with your support hand thump, pressing the trigger, begin to lower the hammer a bit, and then let up on the trigger as you lower the hammer further to the half-cock position.

**Frank Ettin** · November 11, 2013, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malamute

Frank, I was confused at your first comment. You started out by full cocking the gun, ....

Oops!

You're correct. That was my error. (It was late, but that's no excuse.)

dakota.potts · November 11, 2013, 10:59 PM

Thanks guys! The videos have been great, in particular the one posted by Crunchy Frog! I now have a pretty solid understanding of how to do so and I'll try to locate a range where I can rent a gun and try it out myself as well as get a grip with some revolvers.

I am disheartened by some negative comments. The path to learning has to start somewhere and I'm ready to start it. When I'm able to prove my abilities, these comments will be irrelevant. Until then, I'm just ready to start learning so that I one day will be ready.

**Frank Ettin** · November 11, 2013, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakota.potts

...I am disheartened by some negative comments. The path to learning has to start somewhere and I'm ready to start it...

That's a good perspective. And it's okay to have a goal, even if you know you have a ways to go to realize it.

Malamute · November 12, 2013, 12:15 AM

Asking honest questions is a good way to learn. Nobody is born knowing all this stuff. Learning new things about shooting and guns is generally a pretty interesting pastime.

**Frank Ettin** · November 12, 2013, 07:47 AM

The thread has run its course.

November 9, 2013, 03:09 PM	#26
Frank Ettin Staff Join Date: November 23, 2005 Location: California - San Francisco Posts: 9,471	I guess I should have done that this morning when I did it. But now I'm in class until late tonight. __________________ "It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper

November 9, 2013, 06:04 PM	#30
Frank Ettin Staff Join Date: November 23, 2005 Location: California - San Francisco Posts: 9,471	Loading and Unloading Single/Double Action Revolvers Notice that after loading the last cartridge he full cocks the hammer, just as I had mentioned. The difference is that he just drops the hammer. I prefer not to dry fire a single action revolver so I lower the hammer under control.

November 9, 2013, 07:01 PM	#31
pax Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2000 Location: In a state of flux Posts: 7,520	Crunchy Frog, Thanks. Very helpful! pax __________________ Kathy Jackson My personal website: Cornered Cat

November 11, 2013, 10:59 PM	#35
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	Thanks guys! The videos have been great, in particular the one posted by Crunchy Frog! I now have a pretty solid understanding of how to do so and I'll try to locate a range where I can rent a gun and try it out myself as well as get a grip with some revolvers. I am disheartened by some negative comments. The path to learning has to start somewhere and I'm ready to start it. When I'm able to prove my abilities, these comments will be irrelevant. Until then, I'm just ready to start learning so that I one day will be ready. __________________ Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus) Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.

November 12, 2013, 12:15 AM	#37
Malamute Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2004 Location: Rocky Mts Posts: 859	Asking honest questions is a good way to learn. Nobody is born knowing all this stuff. Learning new things about shooting and guns is generally a pretty interesting pastime. __________________ "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-

November 9, 2013, 03:50 PM	#27
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I don't do youtube. The load one, skip one, load four, cock & lower the hammer has been the accepted practice for almost 150 years. I'm not a Colt man. If it's possible to load another way, I'm sure that's the way they would have been doing it since 1873.

November 9, 2013, 05:46 PM	#29
Crunchy Frog Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 591	Someone asked for a YouTube video showing the load one-skip one method of loading a Colt single action (or replica thereof). Good old "Bottom Dealing Mike" has the subject covered in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXJRuTx--nU The loading technique begins at about 3:20. Mike pulls the trigger to drop the hammer onto the empty chamber in this video. The method that was described in this thread was to use your thumb to lower the hammer down from the fullcock position. The rims of the cartridges can easily be seen. If somehow you were to get the loading sequence out of whack you would be able to see whether the chamber being indexed to the "firing" position is loaded or empty. A picture is indeed worth a thousand words. If this still gives you the heebie jeebies you can always buy a (new model) Ruger single action. No need to touch the hammer or trigger during loading and unloading. Safe to carry fully loaded as well.

November 12, 2013, 07:47 AM	#38
Frank Ettin Staff Join Date: November 23, 2005 Location: California - San Francisco Posts: 9,471	The thread has run its course. __________________ "It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper