Hammer on Empty Chamber on Single Action Revolvers

[n.c.outlaw2024]

I always load 5 in my single-actions. Even the newer ones with the transfer bar and/or hammer block. If I always do this I won't get out of the habit. Smart thinking or am I just being OCD about it? Same thing when it comes to bacon grease to prevent an accidental chain fire.

-J.E.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Sounds like a good plan since you have pistols without the transfer bar.

 

[elee3]

I say do whatever you’re comfortable with. But it does make me think of when Dirty Harry said to the guy “I know what you’re thinking, did he fire six shots or just five? Well, do you feel lucky punk?

 

[K22]

Smart thinking I would say. Since you have some pistols without transfer bars, I would always load all of them with only 5, hammer down on an empty chamber thus establishing a consistent pattern to prevent an accidental discharge.

I always loaded just 5 rounds even in my double action S&W's with transfer bars when hunting thus carrying the hammer down on an empty chamber. Since I always shot single action, this had the effect of only reducing my available rounds to 5. If I could not make the shot in 5 rounds, I wasn't going to do it with 6, so I reasoned, and that reasoning never failed me. I just liked the idea of carrying the hammer down on an empty chamber in the field in sometime rough terrain as an extra fail-safe measure.

In range practice, I always loaded only 5 rounds because I shoot in 5 shoot strings.

 

[K9TXS]

I do the same on my single actions. My double action .454 is only 5 shots so it gets 5 rounds loaded. Not worried about the double action since it has a transfer bar.

 

[243winxb]

Old Ruger Blackhawks need to be loaded first using Rugers process. This gets the cylinder in time. Read the online owners
Manual

Then hammer down on empty cylinder.

 

[Doug Casner]

Rooster Cogburn , So I dont shoot my foot off. Doug

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Can't hurt anything.

 

[cmysix]

roll up some bills and put them in the empty chamber, that burial money.

 

[mongo chicago]

Why would you even care about what anyone else would think about it? If it makes you feel safer that's all that matters.

 

[Adam in WI]

Why would you even care about what anyone else would think about it? If it makes you feel safer that's all that matters.

Boredom, something to yak about online, the satisfaction of knowing other guys do things the same way you do no matter how trivial.

 

[K22]

Why would you even care about what anyone else would think about it? If it makes you feel safer that's all that matters.

I agree with your statement, but we are herd animals, we tend to go with the rest of the herd, and we seek validation from others, it is endemic in the human condition.

Just look at where cleaning a rifle has gone in the 21 century - it went from something simple in the old days to the extreme. Makes me wonder how Colonel Whelen or Jack O'Connor ever hit anything. Maybe it was fake news.

 

[D-4297]

Carried a Ruger Super-Mag , Single-Six for a few years , and always kept the Hammer on a empty . No worries about something going wrong , if something went wrong .