Loading 5 in a revolver

[derek45]

There really isn't enough room. Rims are very close together in a SAA and the rounded firing pin against the bevel of the rim will cam it right out because there is no bolt holding it. I think Driftwood Johnson illustrated that.

The "safety pin" on a Colt C&B is pretty small and subject to getting battered down, less secure than the notch on a Remington cylinder. There were some C&Bs made with 12 stop notches so that the cylinder would be locked between chambers.

yep

Walked my lazy but to the safe, and looked, you're exactly right

 

[armoredman]

The safety notches in the Uberti New Model Army are quite large and hold the hammer well on the black powder cylinder. The Howell conversion cylinder has only one notch and it is NOT wide enough to safely hold the hammer, literally the only complaint I have with it.

 

[kell]

Just wondering if anyone else only loads 5. Primarily I did it with my Colt [clone] single actions now I do it with any type of revolver. It has become habit. even the Ruger Vaquero.

Had 6 in my S&W 1905 3rd change. Dropped it and it fired.

 

[King Medallion]

All my SA's get 5 with hammer on the empty. I got 5 toes on each foot, and intend to keep it that way.

 

[halfmoonclip]

My old-style 6 shots are not safe with one under the hammer, so all get the load one-skip one treatment.
No reason to do it with modern guns...unless it's the 'keep the rows even' thing.
Moon

 

[FL-NC]

I see no reason to deprive myself of 16% of my potential load in a gun that is drop safe, unless I am firing some type of exercise scenario that only requires 5 rounds. If I was in fact using a revolver, which I don't.

 

[CajunBass]

When I got my first job as an armed security guard, MANY years ago, my training consisted of being told "Don't shoot yourself, or anyone else unless you have to" (I wondered under what cirucmstances I would "have to" shoot myself?) and being issued a little booklet called "You and your revolver," That booklet told the reader to only load five cartridges and keep an empty under the hammer. Now this was in the early 70's, I guess about 72, maybe 73 or so. The booklet was clearly written about double action revolvers, with every illustration being of a DA type. I suppose the advice to load five was "idiot proofing." Considering the other "training" I got, it may have been good advice. Oddly enough I was issued a Colt Official Police revolver, and six rounds of ammo (RNL) in spite of the booklet.

 

[.308 Norma]

(I wondered under what cirucmstances I would "have to" shoot myself?)

 

[armoredman]

Reminds me of when I worked at Wells Fargo Armored - Smith Model 10 and 6 rounds of 158gr LRN. Everyone on the trucks swapped the ammo for something more serious. I did too, until the day a company big wig dropped by and demanded to see my sidearm, then gave me a HUGE ration of dung for not using company issued widow-maker ammo. I quit about two weeks later.

 

[doubleh]

Hmm, just found out I'm a twit in post #44. I shoot only at my gunclub range about 98 % of the time now and only load five in any handgun to keep the rows in the cartridge boxes even. I suppose that doing that with semi-autos make me a double twit. I don't give one hoot what anyone thinks about how I load my handguns. They are mine so I do what makes me happy. All the rest of you feel free to do the same and I won't criticize you.

 

[Slamfire]

It is unsafe to load six rounds in this revolver:

This is a five screw Smith and Wesson, I don't know exactly when the lock works changed, but changed they did.


These are the internals :

note the sloped surface on the back of the cylinder hand. That is a ramp. As the cylinder hand pushes the cylinder, that slope section pushes this safety out of the way:

In theory that spring will block the hammer from going forward, except when the cylinder hand pushes it aside. However, dried grease will keep that spring down in its recess, and then, if the spring cracks, the mechanism does not "fail safe". If nothing is blocking the firing pin on the hammer from the primer, than a drop on the hammer, a blow on the hammer, and that pistol will fire.

I would not trust any of these five screw S&W's to be carry safe with six rounds.

shoots good as long as you only load six, at the range.

 

[Miami_JBT]

Just wondering if anyone else only loads 5. Primarily I did it with my Colt [clone] single actions now I do it with any type of revolver. It has become habit. even the Ruger Vaquero.

No, my Rugers are all transfer bar safeties and my Uberti has a hammer block safety

 

[Jim Watson]

only load five in any handgun to keep the rows in the cartridge boxes even. I

Bullseye shooting is in 5 shot strings.
But the PPC is shot in 6 shot strings, ten of them in the main match. The old 3D commercial reloading company had a 60 round box for the purpose.

I would not trust any of these five screw S&W's to be carry safe with six rounds.

So a 1952 gun lacks a 1945 safety improvement?

 

[Lo-Profile]

I even load my two three screw Ruger guns with 6
I only shoot them at the range

 

[luv2safari]

As a general rule I will load 5 with the old actions, on a very rare occasion 6 if at the range. I don't trust the safety notch b/c of the fragility
I tend to load 5 in the Vaquero, though with the transfer bar/hammer block 6 would be perfectly safe
I guess I just feel better knowing there is an empty chamber underneath the hammer
(You can't teach an old cowpoke new tricks or so it has been said. Lol).

I resemble that remark. 5 in a sixshooter by old habits.

 

[.45Coltguy]

I resemble that remark. 5 in a sixshooter by old habits.

Yep. It just feels better/safer to me. Not changing my routine now.

 

[kell]

It is unsafe to load six rounds in this revolver:

This is a five screw Smith and Wesson, I don't know exactly when the lock works changed, but changed they did.


These are the internals :

note the sloped surface on the back of the cylinder hand. That is a ramp. As the cylinder hand pushes the cylinder, that slope section pushes this safety out of the way:

In theory that spring will block the hammer from going forward, except when the cylinder hand pushes it aside. However, dried grease will keep that spring down in its recess, and then, if the spring cracks, the mechanism does not "fail safe". If nothing is blocking the firing pin on the hammer from the primer, than a drop on the hammer, a blow on the hammer, and that pistol will fire.

I would not trust any of these five screw S&W's to be carry safe with six rounds.

shoots good as long as you only load six, at the range.

What about the rebound slide under the hammer toe?

 

[Show Me]

I just do what the owners manual says.
Been reading all this. So far the S&W group are debating again. We have Tales of Wells Fargo . A twit alert and some light hearted comments.
Good reading but I'll say right now I'll never put more than five in my SP101 and my boxes have rows of 10.