Loading 5 in a revolver

[docwharden1881]

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.

 

[Anchorite]

Not really. Now if I found an original, un modified 3-screw, then yes.

 

[buck460XVR]

Never saw the need in a modern revolver, with a hammer block.

 

[Bazoo]

Only for Colts or Ruger 3 Screws. For New Model Rugers with transfer bar (introduced in 1973) I load 6.

 

[jmr40]

Only at the range. I guess it's part of my OCD. Cartridges come in boxes of 50 in 10 rows of 5. I tend to shoot in 5 round strings just to keep the ammo organized in the boxes. Even with a semi-auto I load in 5's. I load 5 and shoot 5 shot strings with revolvers. With Semi's even if the mag holds 17, I only load 15 and can to 3 strings of 5.

But when carrying I load them up.

 

[fastbolt]

All of my 5-shot J-frames get loaded with 5 rounds ...

 

[JeffG]

Any revolver with a transfer bar gets a full load of cartridges.

 

[chicharrones]

I'm the same as the others. If the revolver has a transfer bar or hammer block, every chamber in the cylinder gets loaded. No matter if that revolver is a single action, double action/single action, or double action only.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

5 rounds for one hand/Bullseye shooting, also SAs, 6 rounds for defensive practice

 

[mcb]

The only revolvers I own that I load with only 5-shots are 5-shot revolvers. All of mine are safe loaded full.

 

[.45Coltguy]

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.

I do the same. Just the way I've been doing it for a while in my two 1873 replicas. If others like loading all six, fine. I do have a NM BH .357, but, don't shoot it much.
Everybody has their preference.

 

[Jim Watson]

I only load five in my real SAA for CAS. The "modern" guns get six.

 

[Ethan Verity]

I don't understand the reason to do this with modern revolvers that can safely be carry with all six. There is no reason.

Why does this even need to be a "habit" that's applied to every revolver in the first place? Just be aware of what revolver you're loading up, and whether or not it can be carried with all 6. Then, load it up accordingly.

I don't only load my S&W M&P 9 with 7 rounds, even though I'm in the habit of only loading 7 into my Ruger LCP.

 

[Eutycus]

Why? It's a 6 shooter

 

[.45Coltguy]

Post #11 is my reasoning. Everyone else is free to do as they wish.

 

[film495]

My Taurus 856 Owners manual said to load 5, so - I do it that way. I'd probably do it that way anyways.

 

[derek45]

[SPINAL TAP] "these go up to 7"

 

[mavracer]

Only at the range. I guess it's part of my OCD. Cartridges come in boxes of 50 in 10 rows of 5. I tend to shoot in 5 round strings just to keep the ammo organized in the boxes. Even with a semi-auto I load in 5's. I load 5 and shoot 5 shot strings with revolvers. With Semi's even if the mag holds 17, I only load 15 and can to 3 strings of 5.

But when carrying I load them up.

That's pretty much me too, a lot of times I'll just put 5 in my high capacity autos if I'm just shooting for group sizi.

 

[Bill M.]

I load 5 in my 3 screw and in my NM. I just got used to shooting 5 in the SA.

I load 6 in my 686

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Run 5 ...... and save the Sixth for the Devil!

 

[lee n. field]

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.

only in a 5 shot snub. No need.

 

[Gladius]

I knew a guy who kept his S&W 25-5 loaded with five rounds -- only the empty chamber wasn't the one under the hammer, it was the next one up. He thought that if someone grabbed his gun and pulled the trigger, it would give him time to apply the appropriate response upon the person's head. I asked him "what if they pull the trigger twice?" I don't think he considered that.... anyway, most of mine get fully loaded except my old-style SAA replicas...

 

[docwharden1881]

good point. i don't trust the safety notches on my single-actions or any of the vintage revolvers. I feel they are too fragile. Only modern one I have is the vaquero and most of the time i forget i can load six in it. lol.

 

[Steve51]

All of my single actions are new model Rugers, so I don't leave any chambers empty. My double action revolvers are Rugers and Taurus with the transfer bar, so I also load every chamber.

 

[Riomouse911]

I load five only when I am trying to keep even rows with reloaded ammo in boxes with 5 or 10 round rows, like @jmr40 does.

(I no longer have a revolver with the old style issues like the SAA or similars.)

Stay safe.