Single action question - empty chamber

[Bullseye]

I understand the reasoning of leaving an empty chamber in a "six shooter" for safety and how to load it the "five beans in the wheel".
I got to wondering tho, does it make any difference if I keep loading, firing and reloading and use one cylinder chamber less than the rest?
I have been trying to share the wear by loading 1 skipping one and loading four. Then when ejecting empty's I go just one more cylinder turn and reload so after 6 loadings, all cylinders have been used the same amount of times ( 5 each ).
Does this make any difference at all in wear and tear or is it just my issues of having OCD?

 

[Drail]

What make and vintage revolver are you talking about? Most modern designs use a transfer bar and can be safely carried with a round under the hammer. To answer your question - leaving one chamber empty is not going to hurt anything. You do not need to "share the wear" on chambers.

 

[MedWheeler]

When shooting, I load to capacity (six) and shoot. Then, I unload and repeat.

That's about as much as I complicate it, and as much as it needs to be.

 

[Bullseye]

I am talking about the old colt single action army and clones. No transfer bar with the firing pin on the hammer, those that directly strike the primer.

 

[DPris]

If you bothered to mark one chamber & left that one empty for thousands of rounds, you'd achieve no internal chamber wall wear from gas, lead, or copper erosion, but leaving one chamber randomly empty won't make any difference.

Just load randomly, leaving whichever chamber ends up empty the "empty" for that string, and forget about it.
Denis

 

[newfalguy101]

While in theory, I suspect it could cause an issue, I also believe the issue wont be noticeable in your or your sons lifetimes....

 

[BCRider]

Keep in mind too that this idea of hammer down on the empty is only needed for woods carry or for playing in CAS events. When I'm at a bench at the range and loading then shooting right away I load all six since the muzzle is downrange the whole time and it's not going into a holster.

But yeah, as the others say the randomness of it all will ensure that there isn't any differential wear or tear on any one chamber. It's just your OCD working overtime as you suspect....

 

[royal barnes]

OCD.

 

[BobWright]

I always load five rounds, because that's an even row in my cartridges boxes and keeps them neat.

I load five, empty, and reload, never paid attention to which chamber I was loading. Never has made any difference. Chances are, the next outing wioyld be different chambers anyway.

Bob Wright

 

[BCRider]

I always load five rounds, because that's an even row in my cartridges boxes and keeps them neat........

I've often thought that too....

For a while I used to load my .357Mag S&W's in "Revolver Roulette" style with 5 rounds of .38, to keep the case looking tidy, and one round of .357Mag. Then without looking down I'd spin the cylinder a little, stop it and click the crane closed. Does wonders for seeing if you have any flinch issues.... And it was fun to boot. Never knew where the BIG BOOM! was going to happen

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

When I load a Colt or a clone, it is totally random as to which chamber is going to be empty. I'm sure the wear evens out over time.

For what it's worth, I too usually only load 5 in modern revolvers too, because my rounds are all in rows of five in the box. Helps keep things organized. When I load a S&W. I load five, then close the cylinder with the empty chamber under the hammer so I am ready to go with the next trigger pull.

 

[1911Tuner]

My personal method for evening things out is to load the one that was previously empty...then skip one, load 4, etc.

 

[BobWright]

After some thought I remembered this tidbit:

Many years ago a target shooter determined which chamber delivered the poorest groups and marked it with an awl. Each time he fired in a match, he very carefully avoided loading that chamber.

So far as I know, never encountered any unusual wear on the remaining five.

Did everything in a just-so manner like that. Weighed his empty cases, weighed each bullet and carefully weighed each powder charge.

Couldn't shoot worth a hoot, though.

Bob Wright

 

[rcmodel]

Has Anyone Ever seen a revolver chamber with erosion or wear caused by shooting.
And not rust, Corrosive primers, or an over-load of some sort?

I thought not.
You can eventually wear out a revolver from shooting A LOT.

But the chambers will still look like new as long as you cleaned them when you should have.

rc

 

[Bullseye]

Interesting comments. I suppose I'll work on that OCD and just load and clean when done shooting. I tried 6 rounds once and I would not load 6 rounds in my Uberti revolver again because I noticed my hammer is slightly open when that 6th round is in and the hammer is resting on a primer.
Even though I can carefully release the hammer to rest on it, I don't fear dropping the weapon as much as I do letting the hammer slip and strike the cartridge.
I'm not going to Tombstone for a shootout and I don't think we'll be circling the wagons any time soon to hold off the Indians. Thanks all.

 

[35 Whelen]

You fellers that keep your single actions with an empty chamber, do you carry your lever action rifles on an empty chamber as well? I never saw any difference in carrying a rifle with a cartridge in the chamber and the hammer on half-cock and a revolver, or semi auto for that matter, with a cartridge in the chamber and the hammer on half-cock safety.

35W

 

[9mmfan]

You fellers that keep your single actions with an empty chamber, do you carry your lever action rifles on an empty chamber as well? I never saw any difference in carrying a rifle with a cartridge in the chamber and the hammer on half-cock and a revolver, or semi auto for that matter, with a cartridge in the chamber and the hammer on half-cock safety.

If you're going to bring logic into these discussions, I'm taking my ball and going home.

One could argue, just spitballing here, that the rifle has less of a chance to land on the hammer? Anyone buying that?

I find myself flummoxed by your question, reasonable though it is. Habit and history have dictated both in spite of the similarities. I am curious for input on this one.

 

[hartcreek]

Erosion wear in the cylinder YES my great grandfather had a topbreak H&R 22. He had used it for deckades shooting squirrels with shotshells. Not only was the cylinder eroded but so was the barrel.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I never know which I leave empty either. The one that ends up empty is the one that's empty.

I knew a guy who did leave the same chamber empty every time but there was a good reason. That chamber in the cylinder was out of spec and cause a flyer every time so that was the empty every time! lol

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

You fellers that keep your single actions with an empty chamber, do you carry your lever action rifles on an empty chamber as well? I never saw any difference in carrying a rifle with a cartridge in the chamber and the hammer on half-cock and a revolver, or semi auto for that matter, with a cartridge in the chamber and the hammer on half-cock safety.

35W

"The only safety was a notch on the hammer. When the trigger engaged the notch it held the firing pin away from the cartridge’s primer. It wasn’t much of a safety as evidenced by the fact almost immediately upon receiving their new revolvers cavalry troopers began getting accidentally shot by them. For instance the famous 7th Cavalry received their new Colt .45 revolvers in the summer of 1874 in time to take them along on their expedition to explore the Black Hills of what is now South Dakota. At least one trooper had a stirrup fall and hit the hammer of his new Colt revolver, causing it to discharge. He was fatally wounded in the process."

Source: http://americanhandgunner.com/exclusive-web-extra-the-first-generation-colt-single-action-army/


Perchance, this might be why the SAA manual we know of today, which describes all three hammer positions (the "hammer safety" position, the "half-cock" (AKA "loading") position and the "cocked" position), there is a clearly worded caution note that says this about the "hammer safety" position: "ALWAYS CARRY YOUR SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER IN THIS "SAFETY" POSITION WITH AN EMPTY CHAMBER IN FRONT OF THE HAMMER".

If you carry a SAA in the half-cocked position, then you're really messing up. The half-cock isn't called the "loading position" for nothing. If you carry it half-cocked, then the cylinder can rotate freely, bringing a cartridge into position under the hammer. And this is what the SAA manual has to say about carrying half-cocked as a safety: "NEVER CARRY YOUR REVOLVER IN THE HALFCOCK POSITION AS ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE MAY BE POSSIBLE IF REVOLVER IS SUBSEQUENTLY DROPPED, MISHANDLED OR MISTREATED".


Yes, the SAA was advertised as "may carry loaded with the hammer in the safety notch", but a great many old-timers realized that toting around a six-gun in an open holster in the environment they lived and worked in kinda put the lie to the "safe" part of "safety notch". Hence not carrying the gun around without an empty chamber under the hammer.


And there you have it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

How the heck did we get to all of this OT stuff when all the OP asked about was if he should rotate which charge hole he leaves empty?

 

[1911Tuner]

You fellers that keep your single actions with an empty chamber, do you carry your lever action rifles on an empty chamber as well?

Unless I'm actively engaged in the annual pursuit of Bambi...still hunting or in a stand...yes, I do.

 

[35 Whelen]

"The only safety was a notch on the hammer. When the trigger engaged the notch it held the firing pin away from the cartridge’s primer. It wasn’t much of a safety as evidenced by the fact almost immediately upon receiving their new revolvers cavalry troopers began getting accidentally shot by them. For instance the famous 7th Cavalry received their new Colt .45 revolvers in the summer of 1874 in time to take them along on their expedition to explore the Black Hills of what is now South Dakota. At least one trooper had a stirrup fall and hit the hammer of his new Colt revolver, causing it to discharge. He was fatally wounded in the process."

Source: http://americanhandgunner.com/exclusive-web-extra-the-first-generation-colt-single-action-army/


Perchance, this might be why the SAA manual we know of today, which describes all three hammer positions (the "hammer safety" position, the "half-cock" (AKA "loading") position and the "cocked" position), there is a clearly worded caution note that says this about the "hammer safety" position: "ALWAYS CARRY YOUR SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER IN THIS "SAFETY" POSITION WITH AN EMPTY CHAMBER IN FRONT OF THE HAMMER".

If you carry a SAA in the half-cocked position, then you're really messing up. The half-cock isn't called the "loading position" for nothing. If you carry it half-cocked, then the cylinder can rotate freely, bringing a cartridge into position under the hammer. And this is what the SAA manual has to say about carrying half-cocked as a safety: "NEVER CARRY YOUR REVOLVER IN THE HALFCOCK POSITION AS ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE MAY BE POSSIBLE IF REVOLVER IS SUBSEQUENTLY DROPPED, MISHANDLED OR MISTREATED".


Yes, the SAA was advertised as "may carry loaded with the hammer in the safety notch", but a great many old-timers realized that toting around a six-gun in an open holster in the environment they lived and worked in kinda put the lie to the "safe" part of "safety notch". Hence not carrying the gun around without an empty chamber under the hammer.

And there you have it.

Sorry, I evidently used the wrong term when I said "half cock".

Unless I'm actively engaged in the annual pursuit of Bambi...still hunting or in a stand...yes, I do.

Me too, but this is applies regardless of what type firearm I'm carrying. If I'm not in the field hunting, the chamber is empty.

35W

 

[1911Tuner]

If I'm not in the field hunting, the chamber is empty.

Just so...and if I'm carrying an 1873 SAA or faithful copy in a holster, the hammer is down on an empty chamber.

 

[BSA1]

FYI.

A old-timers "Trick" for carrying six rounds in Colt SAA's (and clones) is too load six, rotate the cylinder just enough to lower the firing pin so it rests between the rims of the cartridges. The firing pin is trapped between the two case rims and can not discharge if the gun is dropped.