Why I load five in my Blackhawks, even today....

[PapaG]

Shooting targets, load development, chrono....I load and shoot the full cylinder. Old SPC practitioner knows that you eliminate variables. That said, I "carry" an empty hole under the hammer.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Me too Bob. I always load 5, even with a double action S&W because my ammo boxes too have rows of five. Just makes it easier to keep track on the range.

Shooting Cowboy I only load 5 because thems the rules.

Believe it or not, I do not carry a handgun, so making sure I have the extra shot, is not an issue for me. I don't hunt either, so again, loading six for the extra shot is not an issue. My revolvers are only used in competition or at the range.

 

[StrawHat]

In the few single action revolvers I use, I load five. My double action revolvers get loaded with six. It was the way I was taught and the way I am comfortable using.

Kevin

 

[Tallball]

I leave a fired round in when I do that. Some of my revolvers have problems with snapping firing pins when dry fired.

Thanks for the good advice! I'll start doing that.

 

[MEHavey]

...my cartridges are in those plastic slip top cartridge boxes. These boxes hold fifty rounds, ten rows of five.

Best explanation I've heard so far.


.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Best explanation I've heard so far.


.

Oh, I dunno. I kinda thought, "Because that's the way I've always done it," was a pretty good reason. Don't need an explanation. Free country, still. Folks can do as they please, as long as they don't endanger someone else unknowingly in the process.

 

[.308 Norma]

Oh, I dunno. I kinda thought, "Because that's the way I've always done it," was a pretty good reason.

I always thought Dad's reason for only loading 5 rounds in a six shooter was pretty good too. He said, "Because that's the way Dad taught me to do it."
Of course, Dad's Dad (my grandfather) was shooting revolvers long before Ruger Blackhawks were ever invented, let alone Ruger Blackhawks with transfer bars.

 

[Milt1]

I, like many others that responded, only load five in my Blackhawks when testing loads. Any other time it's a full house!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I, like many others that responded, only load five in my Blackhawks when testing loads. Any other time it's a full house!

A "full house" is five cards. Loading six means you put a Joker up your sleeve.

 

[trackskippy]

Ill take that Joker every time.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have no set loading pattern for any of my firearms with the exception of defensive firearms. Those get full handgun cylinders, or full magazines +one chambered, and 28 rounds are in my AR-15 magazines.

Hunting, the gun is loaded to legal capacity.

When I shot SASS I loaded 5 in my .45 Colt revolvers because the rules limited us to 5. I loaded with two in my old SxS shotgun, but some stages allowed those with an 1897 to hold more). Rifles were loaded per stage rules.

When I’m training for a handgun target or plate match I load to capacity for the individual stages I’m practicing for.

When I’m solo or with other shooters testing or plinking, it just doesn’t matter to me:

When I’m shooting the gun (or mag) may be full, may be half full, may only have one, may have a mix of live and dummies, etc. depending on why I’m shooting that particular load or firearm.

Stay safe.

 

[LoonWulf]

huh, since all but one box of my .44 ammo comes out of ziplocks, it never even occurred to me to only stick 5 rounds in the gun......That makes sense tho, i get annoyed at the random spares left when loading 7 in my 692, maybe ill go to just putting 5 in that.....it will be good practice too i think.

 

[Palladan44]

I load 14 in my magazines that hold 15......because somehow I think the spring doesn't get fully compressed (can't confirm it helps)

I remember during the ammo drought of 2011, I did the 5-shot revolver thing... Havnt done it since 2013, probably never will again.
I also tend to shoot wheelguns until I hear a click, and usually don't want the hammer dry-firing over the open cylinder (sometimes In all the excitement, I'm not certain whether I fired 5 or fired 6, and I like to see how bad I flinch if I'm empty).....sorry guys, I'm not with you on this.

 

[ThomasT]

I do agree. I only load 5 in my 442, 637, SP-101 357 and model 36. That way I don't have to do any complicated math when shooting a 50 round box and I have the two pesky rounds left over at the end. I guess thats why I need a two shot derringer. But then some people would only load one of the barrels.

 

[jmr40]

Makes sense for range shooting. But if hunting, or carrying for SD purposes I'd fill er up as long as using a revolver safe to do so. I'm not a huge revolver fan, but do the same with my semi-auto's. I have some dedicated range mags for my pistols and load only 5 at a time for basically the same reasons.

 

[Rodfac]

I've got both types of Rugers: New models and the 3-screw, Old model, as well as a pair of Colt SAA's. I load them all the same: load one cylinder, skip one, then load the rest. I carry with the hammer down on the empty chamber. This keeps me standardized in my dotage. My son, however, now in his 40's, loads six in the new models and five in my Colts and Ruger Old models. Rod

 

[lightman]

Odd numbers have always haunted the reloader. Bullets came in 100's or sometimes in 50', primers come in hundreds, cartridge boxes come in rows of 5. Then you throw in a 6 shot revolver cylinder! Loading 5 cartridges in a revolver makes sense.

I guess we all end up with partial boxes of primers or bullets. My project for this Winter after hunting season is to use up some of this odd stuff.

 

[trackskippy]

You always end up with odd counts. Lost brass, failed brass, etc. Nature of the beast. For those of German heritage or maybe some OCD, or both, it can be a struggle.

Not sure how that interferes with shooting though. If anything, it can be a help, especially with the revolvers. Helps with that hard "push the gun to the target when there is no BANG" syndrome.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Odd numbers have always haunted the reloader. Bullets came in 100's or sometimes in 50', primers come in hundreds, cartridge boxes come in rows of 5. Then you throw in a 6 shot revolver cylinder! Loading 5 cartridges in a revolver makes sense.

I guess we all end up with partial boxes of primers or bullets. My project for this Winter after hunting season is to use up some of this odd stuff.

Two words: load development.

Buy a box of 100 for testing, use up 40 running ladders and targets; and, what do you have left? 60 bullets, 60 primers. Ten loads in a 6-shot revolver. Perfection!

Seriously, folks. Everyone's different and frankly I don't think anybody should have to justify their habits. You want to load 6? Load 6! You want to load 5? Bully! Load 5. Load 3 in a 10-shot all day long if it floats your boat.

 

[murf]

i also go both ways ... regarding loading five or six.

murf

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

i also go both ways

... regarding loading five or six.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I always load to full safe capacity in my firearms because I never get advance notice of oncoming emergencies... .

 

[Hanshi]

All my BHs are the three screw OM. So they've always been, and still are, loaded with 5 rounds. I don't get challenged these days to "step outside" for a duel, so 5 is all I've ever needed.

 

[johnjohn]

Good reason to carry an SP101.

 

[Bazoo]

I keep a partial pad of primers for each I use. If I'm loading, say a batch of brass that happens to be 124, I use a pad, then I use from my partial pad.

All of my pistol brass is in various sized lots. Rifle, normally 50. I keep several once fired cases to substitute for damaged or lost case.

I often will shoot a partial cylinder out of my Ruger new models. Then I eject the empty and load one in it's place. It's not too slow if you practice it.