How to carry defensive load

cajundefender · June 14, 2014, 07:43 PM

I have my defensive load for my revolvers selected but now I am facing the problem of how to carry it. I have a little cowboy action SA .38 and it says in the manual to keep the cylinder under the hammer open, because if the firearm drops it will discharge. For carry in a holster with Smith and Wesson 67, 686, and 40 revolvers and a Colt Detective special, will I need to leave one cartridge out of the cylinder so that I can leave no round under the hammer? I am fairly new to revolvers and the only experience I have is with the SA cowboy style .38. So, can I carry all 5/6 rounds or do I need to leave one out to prevent accidental discharge if dropped? Let it be noted that I have never dropped a firearm and do not intend to, but safety is my ultimate concern, which is the basis for this question.

Wyosmith · June 14, 2014, 07:48 PM

On about any S&W or Colt DA revolver made since the teens, or any Ruger DA it's safe to carry all 6 loaded.

The old single action revolvers made or designed in the 1800s, or even the Ruger SAs made before the New modle Action of 1973 you should carry with five, and an empty chamber under the hammer.

cajundefender · June 14, 2014, 08:05 PM

Alright, thank you. I figured that given that they are more recent models, they could be carried with all chambers loaded, but I thought I might check first.

Webleymkv · June 14, 2014, 11:46 PM

Generally, the revolvers which require an empty chamber under the hammer to be carried safely are vintage single-action revolvers like the Colt Single Action Army or S&W Model 3 and replicas thereof. These types of revolvers have either no facility to prevent a blow to the hammer from igniting the primer or a "safety" notch on the hammer that is fragile and easily sheared off by a sharp blow. This category of revolvers includes unmodified "old model" Ruger SA revolvers made prior to 1973 (Ruger will upgrade these revolvers to a configuration safe to carry fully loaded free of charge).

Most modern DA revolvers incorporate either a positive hammer block or a transfer bar which makes them safe to carry fully loaded. While very different in operation, these two systems accomplish the same basic thing: they prevent the firing pin from moving far enough forward to ignite the primer unless the trigger is pulled.

A hammer block works by placing a piece of metal in front of the hammer which prevents its forward movement. When the trigger is pulled, this piece of metal is cammed out of the path of the hammer thus allowing it to move far enough forward to ignite the primer. This system can be incorporated into a revolver with either a hammer or frame mounted firing pin. The most common revolvers to use this system are S&W's made after WWII.

A transfer bar works in the opposite fashion. The hammer does not have enough material on its front face to contact the firing pin when the action is at rest. When the trigger is pulled, a piece of metal called a transfer bar is cammed into place between the hammer and firing pin thus taking up the space between them and allowing the energy of the hammer to be transferred to the firing pin and fire the cartridge. Because of its design, a transfer bar can only be used in a revolver with a frame mounted firing pin. The most common type of revolver to use this system are Ruger DA revolvers and Ruger SA revolvers made after 1973.

There are of course exceptions to the above. S&W hand ejector revolvers made prior to and during WWII had a different type of hammer block which, instead of sliding up and down in the frame hinged from the sideplate (these are sometimes referred to as "wing" type hammer blocks). While these were much better than the fragile "safety notch" of older SA revolvers, they were somewhat prone to becoming stuck in the disengaged position and more prone to breakage than the newer type. The conventional wisdom on these guns is that they should at the least be regularly inspected for function of the hammer block and some would argue that they should be carried with an empty chamber under the hammer. The other notable exception is S&W "Centennial" revolvers such as the Models 40, 42, 340, 640, 442, and 642. These revolver have no hammer block at all. This is because these revolvers' hammers are completely enclosed by the frame thus making a hammer block unnecessary as a blow to the hammer is pretty much impossible.

Super Sneaky Steve · June 14, 2014, 11:58 PM

I carry a Ruger Vaquero with a birds head grip. It's a good packing revolver and with the transfer bar it's OK to carry 6 rounds at a time.

They do make 5 shot speed loaders for these. Worth checking out.

June 14, 2014, 07:43 PM	#1
cajundefender Member Join Date: June 5, 2014 Location: Land of the free, by the brave Posts: 20	How to carry defensive load I have my defensive load for my revolvers selected but now I am facing the problem of how to carry it. I have a little cowboy action SA .38 and it says in the manual to keep the cylinder under the hammer open, because if the firearm drops it will discharge. For carry in a holster with Smith and Wesson 67, 686, and 40 revolvers and a Colt Detective special, will I need to leave one cartridge out of the cylinder so that I can leave no round under the hammer? I am fairly new to revolvers and the only experience I have is with the SA cowboy style .38. So, can I carry all 5/6 rounds or do I need to leave one out to prevent accidental discharge if dropped? Let it be noted that I have never dropped a firearm and do not intend to, but safety is my ultimate concern, which is the basis for this question.

June 14, 2014, 07:48 PM	#2
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	On about any S&W or Colt DA revolver made since the teens, or any Ruger DA it's safe to carry all 6 loaded. The old single action revolvers made or designed in the 1800s, or even the Ruger SAs made before the New modle Action of 1973 you should carry with five, and an empty chamber under the hammer.

June 14, 2014, 08:05 PM	#3
cajundefender Member Join Date: June 5, 2014 Location: Land of the free, by the brave Posts: 20	Alright, thank you. I figured that given that they are more recent models, they could be carried with all chambers loaded, but I thought I might check first.

June 14, 2014, 11:46 PM	#4
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	Generally, the revolvers which require an empty chamber under the hammer to be carried safely are vintage single-action revolvers like the Colt Single Action Army or S&W Model 3 and replicas thereof. These types of revolvers have either no facility to prevent a blow to the hammer from igniting the primer or a "safety" notch on the hammer that is fragile and easily sheared off by a sharp blow. This category of revolvers includes unmodified "old model" Ruger SA revolvers made prior to 1973 (Ruger will upgrade these revolvers to a configuration safe to carry fully loaded free of charge). Most modern DA revolvers incorporate either a positive hammer block or a transfer bar which makes them safe to carry fully loaded. While very different in operation, these two systems accomplish the same basic thing: they prevent the firing pin from moving far enough forward to ignite the primer unless the trigger is pulled. A hammer block works by placing a piece of metal in front of the hammer which prevents its forward movement. When the trigger is pulled, this piece of metal is cammed out of the path of the hammer thus allowing it to move far enough forward to ignite the primer. This system can be incorporated into a revolver with either a hammer or frame mounted firing pin. The most common revolvers to use this system are S&W's made after WWII. A transfer bar works in the opposite fashion. The hammer does not have enough material on its front face to contact the firing pin when the action is at rest. When the trigger is pulled, a piece of metal called a transfer bar is cammed into place between the hammer and firing pin thus taking up the space between them and allowing the energy of the hammer to be transferred to the firing pin and fire the cartridge. Because of its design, a transfer bar can only be used in a revolver with a frame mounted firing pin. The most common type of revolver to use this system are Ruger DA revolvers and Ruger SA revolvers made after 1973. There are of course exceptions to the above. S&W hand ejector revolvers made prior to and during WWII had a different type of hammer block which, instead of sliding up and down in the frame hinged from the sideplate (these are sometimes referred to as "wing" type hammer blocks). While these were much better than the fragile "safety notch" of older SA revolvers, they were somewhat prone to becoming stuck in the disengaged position and more prone to breakage than the newer type. The conventional wisdom on these guns is that they should at the least be regularly inspected for function of the hammer block and some would argue that they should be carried with an empty chamber under the hammer. The other notable exception is S&W "Centennial" revolvers such as the Models 40, 42, 340, 640, 442, and 642. These revolver have no hammer block at all. This is because these revolvers' hammers are completely enclosed by the frame thus making a hammer block unnecessary as a blow to the hammer is pretty much impossible.

June 14, 2014, 11:58 PM	#5
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,250	I carry a Ruger Vaquero with a birds head grip. It's a good packing revolver and with the transfer bar it's OK to carry 6 rounds at a time. They do make 5 shot speed loaders for these. Worth checking out.