When I was about 12 years old I had an 1851 Colt Navy revolver replica. One Winter day I was out shooting it in the woods and was shooting at large ice blocks along the creek bank. I slipped on the ice and the gun fell to the ground and landed Hammer side down and it went off next to my leg. The round ball grazed along my pant leg and knocked my hat off when it struck the bill. I had a powder burn on the pants, and a lead streak smeared along about a foot of my blue jeans, not to mention a big hole in my ball cap. I was extremely lucky as that 44 caliber ball past by my face less than an inch. I learned that having the hammer sitting on top of a percussion cap is not smart that day. Also, luck my mom never found out.
@jerry3890 come on man. We all know the cylinder will shrink or stretch to whatever caliber you imagine it to be. Use proper pronouns when addressing cylinder capability. Stop being so cylinder phobic and let them identify while they eat their soy cakes. Don't be a bully.
Believe me, you could weld the hammer down and the loading gate shut, remove the bolt and pawl, and fill the barrel with cement, and I guarantee there are those out there who could manage to hurt themselves with it. Like Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does.", and that's always just been a fact of life that'll persist until the end of time.
One standard reason for always checking for empty was "Even if you unloaded it 20 years ago before burying it in cement,you check for empty when you break it out again.Someone could have gone behind you to slip live ammunition into it & reburied it."
I will say with my memory lately that person that slipped one in could of been Me, it’s been over 50 years since it’s burial and at this point I wouldn’t bet my life thou. Lol
I own a Ruger. It was made in 1963. It’s a fine revolver. I never load six. I think that a lot of owners of single action revolvers are unaware of the importance of keeping the hammer over an empty chamber. Single action firearms have special rules. If these rules are followed the risk of accidental discharge certainly is lessened. Thank you for this video.
The empty chamber thing is an actual myth. Those special rules do not exist. Nobody in the 1800s kept an empty chamber. It's an old wives tale, no historical basis of it has ever been found besides "He said, she said".
"Clutching their pearls." Priceless. Just bought a .357 three screw with a 6 1/2 barrel. Made in 1970. Shoots great, sounds great when you work the action. I bought the old model on purpose, for the reasons you mentioned here. Great video!
I've had an old model .44 Blackhawk, prior to the Super-Blackhawk, for nearly 50 years now. Carried it in all sorts of conditions and it's never failed me. I've almost always carried 5 rounds, learned that growing up and just stuck with it.
I have a 357 Blackhawk that I bought in 69 and always have loaded 5 also. Back in 70's. Ruger wanted people to return them to the factory to be upgraded but I said no thanks. Never had any second thoughts.
You are fortunate friend! Is it the 7 1/2 in. bbl.? Read Skeeter Skeltons' praises of that version, waited too 5:33 long to buy one! WAY out of my price range now! Enjoy, Blsgs, gg🙏✝️❤️🇺🇸🙋☝️
@michaelstewart6200 Great score Mike! Remember when you could acquire guns at swap meets and even garage sales! I remember getting a Super Blackhawk at a gun show for an Alaska-bound friend in '77. Good guns and good memories! Thanks for responding, Blsgs, gg
For years, Ruger offered to remove the original parts and put in a safety transfer bar and send all the original parts along with it back to you free of charge. Colt SAA still only carry 5 rounds in it.
I made the mold for Colt's first polymer gun. Isn't it amazing how differently things are made over the years? Some or many of you may know CZ recently acquired Colt...
My grandad was a gun toting cowboy out by Dodge City in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He said carrying 5 rounds in a 6 shooter was bull! They wanted every round in there they they could get! And you never carried "burying money in the 6th chamber! That would be a great way to cause a jam! Then you would get burried! He also said that very seldom did cowboys carry a 45 colt! Mainly because you couldn't afford the ammo for a 45 colt on a cowboy's pay! He said all that he knew carried a .22 rimfire or a .32 S&W. He had two revolvers, one was a blue Harrington Richardson 9 shot break top, and the other was a nickel plated Iver Johnson 9 shot,break top. Both were .22 rimfire! When it came to gunfights, which didn't happen as often as in every episode of gunsmoke, there was never more than 10 or 15 feet between the shooters! He said in his lifetime he only saw one guy killed in a gunfight, and he was shot with a shotgun! Long range gunfight make better TV shows though!
Good explanation, I have the first Blackhawk sold by Ruger after the 200 specials which were reserved for gifts to Ruger's business partners, writers and such. Elmer Keith bought it for utility use he passed it to his hunting partner who passed to my dad and now I have it. I was on the last Antelope hunt Elmer did my dad and mom were on his last Elk hunt. I met Elmer when Guns magazine put him up in a dry hotel my dad had corresponded with Elmer, so Elmer had our phone number. My dad and mom had been in a Bad car accident earlier that evening, so a friend went and pick Elmer up. Elmer used my bed for the week of the NSGA show. He stayed with us for every NSGA show in Chicago after that.
I have a Ruger Blackhawk 357 magnum manufactured in 1972 that I bought the same year. It had the "Old Model" action. In 1982 it was subject to safety conversion recall which involved a free factory-installed modification. You mailed the firearm to them, and they returned it with the transfer bar modification. The original parts were returned which I have kept.
Back in the mid-1990s I hired an engineer who was relocating back home after many years in Milwaukee His wife had worked for the Milwaukee P.D. in their personnel department. She processed medical leave and suspension paperwork for officers who had suffered negligent discharges with, frequently, leg injuries. Their duty gun? GLOCK! She processed, on average, one GSW - Negligent Discharge case per month. The best handgun safety is, as they say, between the ears. And sooner or later, everyone will suffer a negligent discharge. Then you better have followed the other safety “prime directive” and have the gun pointed in a safe direction.
KNOW your weapon inside out and how to use it in a panic situation,price of ammo has shortened the shooting times at ranges,NOT GOOD,if you carry one,IT SHOULD BE THE ONLY DAMN THING ON YOUR MIND,CONSTANTLY,till it laying of the dresser
I own several Ruger wheel guns in .44 Mag cal, all get carried to the range empty so no worries about dropping them. They are a bit much for concealed carry although I do have a shoulder rig for my 7.5" Super Blackhawk. Thanks for all your video's, I've learned a lot and had a great time watching you & John.
Learn something every day . Never seen one with that gate load system. I had a pistol( I think it was a Sam Walker) that had a notch on the cylinder to keep the hammer down on. So you could keep all 6 cylinders loaded (somewhat) safe.
I’ve got an old three screw single six. I’ve thought about sending it back for a retro fit on the trigger but the trigger pull is just so sweet I just can’t force myself to do it.
LEAVE IT in original design,load 5, with this much power,in a useful situation,you'll never need all 6 unless confronted with 900 lbs of grizzly or a wolf attack,yeah
About 15 - 20 years ago a friend of mine and I were out on his farm working, riding in his ATV. The 22 caliber revolver in his ATV (his varmint gun) slipped off the machine as we drove over some bumpy areas. The revolver hit the ground and fired. I don't know where the bullet went. but thankfully we were OK.
3:40 Percussion revolvers have notches between the chambers for that purpose. I've always wondered why manufacturers didn't retain that feature for their cartridge models.
My 82 year old father has a Ruger revolver in 44 magnum that he bought new in 1962. He told me he sent it in for the "recall" to get a safety added, and they sent the parts back to him with the "repaired" gun. He still has the bag of parts. What was it that they did , and why? He could not recall exactly.
I did the same thing as your father did on my old 3 screw Super Blackhawk .44 mag. What Ruger did was to modify the old models by adding the transfer bar system to them. Like your Dad I also have the bag of parts that they sent back. It’s my understanding that the old parts can be put back into the revolvers to put them back to original. Don’t know why anyone would do that unless it might slightly increase the value.
You are correct. The original Rugers were called the 3 screw models. They made them in several calibers such as .44 Mag, .357 Mag, & .41 Mag. Ruger came out with the transfer bar after that and offered to put the transfer in the older Rugers at no charge. Ruger did this to keep from being sued because the transfer bar kept the gun from firing except for pulling the trigger. Anyway, I suspect that a lot of old model Rugers still don't have the transfer bar as of today. The ones without the transfer bar are probably worth more because they are in their original configuration. Even though the firing pins between the Colt and the Ruger are different, those original Rugers without the transfer bar are basically just as "dangerous" as the original Colts. To be 100 percent safe, load 5 and let the hammer down on an empty chamber. Thanks for the video.
I was present when one guy shot himself in the calf because he loaded 6. He had a Ruger Single Action .22 in a holster and was shooting a rifle at the time. When he lowered the rifle, the stock hit the Ruger's hammer and a round went off. The slug went down and entered his leg in the top of the calf and exited several inches above his ankle. He didn't notice he was shot until a buddy behind him said "Hey Denny, your leg's bleeding". Only then did he feel the pain. He was treated and released same day. It did heal without complications but gimped around in pain for quite some time.
The “hot coffee at McDonald’s” was dangerously hot. McDonald’s has spent lots of money with PR firms to downplay and change the public perception of the incident.
I have a Ruger Blackhawk .44 Mag from the '60s. I never sent it in for the safety update, so it's in original condition. Somewhere I read (Elmer Keith? I like to think so) that you load a single-action revolver by this procedure: put the hammer on half-cock, open the loading gate, insert the first round, then rotate the cylinder and SKIP the second chamber, then load the remaining chambers as they are rotated around. Close the loading gate. Cock the hammer. Lower the hammer. You now the the EMPTY chamber under the hammer. Put it in the holster and drive on.
The Ruger 3-screw is one of the most iconic firearms in US history, and in 41 Mag it's one of the coolest! If you are lucky enough to own one, you should be smart enough to carry it correctly.
It is possible to load six and park. The firing pin between the rims of two shells with the hammer lowered to the down position. But I guess this would be a risky technique for some. The free transfer bar conversion works but they seem really rough not to mention eliminating about 1/3 of the revolver value.
On the 1860 Colt Army you can lower the hammer between chambers and the cylinder is still firmly locked since the hammer rests in a notch in the cylinder. Why didn't Colt keep this feature in the Colt SAA?
I learned the time-honored way of loading a Colt single-action years ago, goes like this: Load one, skip one, load four, then cock and lower the hammer SLOWLY. If you've done it right the hammer will come down on an empty chamber. It works. By the way, in the percussion revolver days Colts had a pin on the rear of the cylinder that would lock the hammer in place between chambers, Remingtons had a notch. Both pin and notch systems became unworkable when bored-through cylinders became common although on some top-break revolvers the hammer could be lowered between chambers and held in place by the cartridge rims. At any rate remember that any antique or antique-style firearm is only as safe as YOU make it. Kind of like any modern firearm for that matter or any piece of power machinery.
Baldwin was the penny-pinching grinch lead producer and he willfully ignored movie industry standards and practices that were in place since shortly after a squib killed Brandon Lee when filming The Crow in 94'. In order to not spend money alex created his own "faster" way of using firearms on set like just using live-weapons and not having blank firing only versions which is the opposite of nearly every movie made after the mid-90s. Alex the actor also failed to check the firearm himself after someone else handled it between Alex and the armorer and that alone means he is responsible by negligence. Oddly the recreational shooting party the day before got swept under the rug within a couple days after Alex shot both of his victims. Honestly I had sympathy for Alex until he publicly declared that pistol went off by itself in his hands after that I just see him as a thief, liar and idiot with no remorse.
I own a Ruger. Chambered in .30 carbine. Depending on the time and place determines if I load 6 or 5. Most of the time it's next to my bed loaded with 6. It doesn't move but always within reach. Never had a problem. Now if I decide to carry it on me when I go hiking or hunting or whatever, I will unload it and reload it with 5. So only when I have it on me I load it with 5. But at home sitting next to my bed I'll load 6.
I was thinking the 30 Carbine models have the transfer bar, mine does. The hammer down on a 1911 with a loaded cartridge was/is a nono. I once worked an "accidental" shooting where the fellow dropped his holstered 1911 clone, holster and all, and got a 9mm hole through his calf. Fortunately only a flesh wound from an fmj, but it could have been much worse.
@@williamgaines9784 The 3 Screw Ruger Blackhawk 30 carbine caliber that I bought in early 1968 did not have the transfer bar. I think they started adding the transfer bars in 1973. Not sure of the exact year for that change.
In 1961 I bought a brand new Ruger Single Six (.22 LR and .22 WRM, came with two cylinders). I always carried it full cylinder ... when plinking in desert ... never knew about the risk.
@johnl.sillasen1780 Had you carefully read the factory provided owners manual from Ruger, you would have seen the recommendation to " load one skip a cylinder and then load five". They were cautioning that you only load five rounds like the practice of the owners of a Colt SA revolver.
I own a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in 44 Mag. It's a handful but manageable to most with 44 special. In fact my daughter loves to shoot it with specials so I always keep a box for her. One trip to the shooting range, my daughter brought a young friend that was a novice at shooting guns. After my usual safety lecture/instructions and supervising the safe handling & firing of .22 Lr rifes & pistol, this young lady sees my daughter shooting the big 44 and asked to try it. Getting new shooters used to the concept of "trigger finger discipline" is not easy especially with BIG guns in small hands. Add to that cocking the hammer on a single action revolver and it's not a safe situation. That said, this girl basically 'fanned' the hammer by trying to cock it while holding down the trigger.😧 That gun went CLICK!!!...CLICK!!!...😵💫 And both my daughter & myself stopped her with our hearts in our throats! That gun won't fire the way the gun fighters in the old West did. Thankfully!😅
I have one, a Ruger Super Blackhawk, handed down to me by my father, to where I was able to hand it down to one of my sons, we were always taught, never leave a live round under the hammer, for that reason, which I have several older western revolves the same way, better to be safe than sorry.
Bought my Ruger Super Blackhawk in 1976. In 1980 Ruger sent out notice that they would convert the three screw to the new gate open load, no half cock. Free of charge.
I recall a story about a gunslinger who kept a ten dollar bill rolled up in one chamber, so he could carry over an empty chamber, and if he got shot the ten would pay for his funeral.
I have an old Ruger Blackhawk (3 screw) 357 revolver, and am awair of the safety issue. Taking a que from the North American arms 5-shot revolvers, I load 6 rounds, rotate the cylinder to halfway between two rounds and gently drop the hammer. This exposes the firing pin between two cartridge rims and keep the cylinder from lining up a round with the barrel. The firearm is now fully loaded and safe. When I cock the hammer, the cylinder rotates to the next round and fires normally. This practice works with the larger caliber rimmed cartridges, but not with the 22 caliber revolvers (like my wife's Bearcat. That revolver has to be kept on an empty cylinder.
No issue. How many people still own various manufacturers of SAA and clones? How many old S&W with firing pin mounted on the hammer and were safe to tote with 6 rounds? I’m aware that in terrible circumstances it could be made to fire but what’s more dangerous a gun that itching to fire when you need it to or one that has extra stuff to break when you need it to fire?
@gb123-ej8wh The old S&W revolvers could fire accidentally if dropped while fully loaded. During WWII a sailor on duty on a ship accidentally dropped his S&W revolver and was either wounded or killed. Can't remember the exact details. Anyway this event "encouraged" S&W to add the transfer bar to their revolvers to avoid a reoccurrence of such an incident.
@@waynehajek839 The first revision of the S&W hammer block that was spring tensioned and tack welded to the side plate . With the hammer down a flat extension of the safety piece rested between the hammer and frame. When the hammer was cocked or the trigger was pulled the hand would come up to index the cylinder and push the block out of the way. When the hammer and trigger rebounded the spring tension pushed the block back into place. The gun involved in the Navy accident was a Victory model. From what I have read the revolver was dropped from a considerable height .I have also read that the lock work was gummed up with cosmoline which prevented the safety block from spring back into place. When the gun landed on its hammer spur there was nothing to prevent the hammer to move forward and detonate the primer. The other explanation is that the force of the impact was enough to break the safety block resulting in a discharge. Before the end of the Victory Model production S&W introduced the sliding hammer block which has some Similarly to the Colt design. The side plate, hammer , and safety block were redesigned. Smith and Wesson also upgraded existing guns with the new safety. An S was added the serial numbers of new and reworked Victories to indicate the change.
I have a three-screw .357 Blackhawk. I didn't know the significance. The price was great. It was never upgraded. Come to discover that many collectors place high value on these untouched actions. Apparently the hammer block affects the trigger feel. Like you, I am not inclined to get it fixed. I know what it is and load five unless I'm in a range situation where I want six.
@the_legend3185 You could call Ruger to see if they will replace the "free spin pawl" with a pawl that doesn't free spin or you could get in touch with Ron Powers Grand Master and they can fix you up with one.
@the_legend3185 You could always contact Ruger to see if they could change out the "free spin pawl" for a pawl that doesn't allow for free spin. Or see Ron Powers Grand Master.
Excellent, I had forgotten about the lawsuit. I got my dad one with a scope for deer hunting and always just carried five founds. Many years ago. I inherited the gun, and it is still in great condition.
I am 60 carried a gun since I was 21 to include three decades of military, civilian concealed carry 39 years carry and 7 1/2 years as a cop. I have never dropped a firearm even during the 6 times I was wounded in the military and 1 time as a civilian. I also used a gun since 8 yrs old hunting and plinking in the country side never abused the right to shot.
my wife had a 25 auto Saturday night special that her uncle bought her in the early 70s. She handed it to me one day cause she didn’t want it no more I pulled it down to clean it and started looking at the safety system and i turned it in on the police for there are no questions asked gun disposal, disposal. It just looked like that safety wouldn’t work at all with a round in the chamber. A bit of reading showed me the manufacturer was sued out of business over dropped guns and shot people.
Ruger will upgrade your older models with new transfer bar innards and send the old parts back to you (to maintain the original value), all for free. (shipping on your dime, I believe)
You can send it to Ruger and have that changed. They will give your original parts back. I have seen that happen before. Luckily the roof of the camp trailer got the bad end of it.
I remember back when this first became an issue, and Ruger began producing their single action pistols with this new transfer bar safety. When that happened, Ruger offered to retrofit all the older pistols at no charge to the owner with the new transfer bar. I'm sure that at the time, there was no requirement that you be the original owner of the pistol. I know this offer existed for a very long time.But I don't know if it still does. But I would say that if you still own or acquire one of these older models that has not already been modified and are uncomfortable with it in its current condition, you might check with the factory and see if this free offer is still available. If you do have one of these , you might bear in mind that these unmodified older models are highly sought after. Consequently, having this modification done may affect the value of your pistol.
The first click when you pull back the hammer on an old 3-screw Ruger single action is the top (internal) part of the trigger falling into the safety notch in base of the hammer. It would take a great deal of force on the hammer -- like the gun being dropped from a substantial height on a hard surface -- to break that notch and allow the hammer to fall on the firing pin. I can't see how that could happen any other way...unless the the internal parts were damaged to begin with.
I hav the exact same 3screw Roger Black Hawk. NOW , no transfer bar . But with the hammer ON a the cylinder it is touching the firing pin . Pull the hammer back about one quarter inch and it will come off the firing pin and lock there. To fire the hammer must be pulled all the way back to the firing position. I actually have another older Ruger super black hawk 44mag . 3 screw . Does the same thing.
i like my 1858 Remington it shoots cap and ball and 45 l colt u can lock it between cylinders plus u can reload fast with extra cylinders plus mine have been worked over by a retired colt gunsmith/marksmen he took first place in state against modern guns i love the set by far my fav. handgun to shoot
At the shooting line, I load 6, because I am shooting, and not carrying the firearm around, in my hand, or in my holster. Otherwise, I load 5, and put the hammer down on an empty chamber, even with my new model, pre-warning Ruger, with the transfer bar. I do load 6, in my cap & ball revolvers, since I am able to lower the hammer down in the notch between the caps, and not directly over a loaded cylinder. So, with cartridge revolvers, I do load 6 at the shooting line, and 5 in all other occasions. In 75 years on the planet, I have never shot myself, or anyone else, doing it that way. Just use common sense, and remember Murphey's Law.
I have an early 60's three screw Single Six, one of my favorites to shoot. I've never had an accidental discharge. Just don't be stupid lol "load one,skip one,load four".
I had a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 magnum I purchased at the PX in 1968 for $91.00 (month's pay for a Lance Corporal). It was a 3 screw and I had it for 3 years and shot it regularly before I sold it to a friend of my dad. Never had a problem, near problem, or any issue with that pistol. Usually the problem with those older revolvers were the nuts holding them. I would imagine those that practice gun safety did not have an issue with it either.
If I'm remembering correctly the paper work from Ruger for the old models states to only load five when carrying, but that was a long time ago, and I sold that gun 40+ years ago It's really no different than the guns of the old west, they only loaded 6 when practicing, or in combat
My dad was a Palestine Policeman m/c division based in Jerusalem in WW2. They took away his semiautomatic pistol and he got issued an 1875 Remington revolver from a museum (Remington Model 1875 "Egyptian Contract" Revolver) and 5 rounds. They said - you sort it out with 5 rounds or you could be dead and we don’t want the attackers to get their hands on the ammunition. So he kept it in an oily rag underneath the petrol tank with the bolt missing, because the bandits would kill you just to get your gun.
I have a couple of old pistols, S&W and Colt and I never load 6 rounds and I always have the hammer down on an empty chamber. That has been the rule of thumb since the Colt revolver was introduced.
The Billy's dad's gun was a Ruger Blackhawk 22 long rifle and it was a sweet little shooter I wrapped up my foot and continued hunting didn't really worried about it it didn't hurt
You know somehow you need to add in "Life is good" at the end. I had this on in the background and I thought my phone was just buffering. I checked my connections, checked my router, and all that good stuff. This lasted about a half hour then I realized the video was just finished.
The little NAA pistols have a notch between the firing positions. You let the hammer down into it. Between the cartridges, it can't fire until you cock it. It would be a great feature on all revolvers. It's simple to make too.
The older single action revolvers actually had the firing pin on the hammer which was really dangerous and eventually to the transfer bar style and firing pin in the gun.
I always wonder why the Colt revolving rifle wasn’t revived for brass cartridges after the Civil War. I get the cap and ball version being marginal. But brass cartridges should have been a godsend for that design.
Apparently, although not particularly infamous for chain firing off multiple cylinders, could, in the advent of a serious malfunction it was still quite capable of disfiguring blow ups and the occasional finger modification. Or removal.....
Of the two SAA revolvers in my collection, neither have transfer bars so I always leave an empty chamber under the hammer out of habit. Feels more old west style that way in my opinion. When I was a child in the 70's my dad had two Ruger single sixes and I don't think they did either but can't remember for sure. I would love to get an older Ruger like the one you have there.
The person involved in the suit against Ruger was brought by a Kanawha County, West Virginia Deputy Sheriff. He and some of his friends were looking at the gun in the Court House and it was dropped consequently accidently discharging the pistol.
I just bought an 1872 open top Taylor and co and put a new primer in a spent shell and hit the hammer with a mallet and it dented the primer but did NOT go off. I then fired it like normal and it fired so it wasn’t a bad primer but idk what they did to keep that from happening.
I could imagine that back in the day that if you knew, or seriously suspected that you were going to be involved in a gun fight that you would possibly load that 6th chamber, otherwise hammer down on empty chamber was SOP for SAA.
If it were a problem the industry could put a safety on these things ; the first handgun I ever owned was a Taurus in 44 mag and it had a setscrew for a hammerlock .
Some reproduction 1873's have a transfer bar just like the New Model Blackhawk. Personally, I don't want one without a transfer bar. The transfer bar does add take up to the trigger pull, but I found that I quickly got used to it.
Completely off topic....but seen this as a recent video. My hands are old and worn out and it's hard not to notice the speed of your magazine reloads in the videos. What type loadet do you use and is it universal for 9mm and 45acp double-stacks? I watch, enjoy and look forward to all of your videos. You sir are a wealth of honest and welcome information. ...and very much appreciated by all. Thank you for your dedication and keep up the great work.
Werent there a recall on these? My dad didnt send his ( now mine ) in for that at the time. I also have a newmodel with the transfer bar., and it is safe to carry with 6, but the old model, Load 5. Like my colt and my smith and Wesson guns. Like u said, always been that way.
Recall was if you wanted to add the transfer bar safety. Ruger still accepts three screw models to be converted free of charge. Most people leave them original for the old west appeal and the action smoothness.
@thereality700 thanks, that's what I thought. Didnt know that they were still accepting them all these years later though. I reckon I'll keep mine original either way . My ol man was a jerk, but at least this is one decision that didnt cause me extra bullshite-- like being forced to buy his guns TWICE and still losing several in the end. Well, my life. Thanks again for the info bud.
The only single action we've ever carried is our NAA, and we carry it hammer down on an empty chamber...yes, i know the gun has those safety notches between each chamber, no, not trusted 100%...in a heavier caliber single action one single round missing might be no big deal, in a .22lr it represents 20% of the gun's capacity, with the smaller bullet already a factor..,we think if the NAA ever needed we are deep in a bad situation, and one small round ain't going to matter...in worst circumstance just one round ever needed, either fired at distance to show we mean business (go ahead and laugh), or one round fired with snot or earwax on the muzzle (hmm, that might work)...heavier calibers don't operate with quite the same limitations, a single .357 or .44 magnum round will be effective at longer range...gotta know what you have on you, always...
Can you talk to.. old shotguns twist and Damascus barrels , chamber depth 2 5/8 vs 2 3/4 - 3, black powder vs smokeless Interested in your opinions , thank you.
Wait the new replicas have locking spaces between the rounds on the cylinder itself so you're getting the same lock up action when putting the hammer between the rounds that you rely on to time the rotation and lock the cylinder when you fire.
Hunters who carry this sidearm in addition to a rifle also need to be careful. While carrying the rifle under arm it's butt can easily engage the hammer. I once hit my hunting knife which forced the blade out the bottom of a leather sheath. Thanks for the video.
I met a one leged man in Orlando that put a .44 mag from his old model Ruger while hog hunting. He said a limb caught the hammer and pulled it back far enough to fire when it let go.
I've got a old Ruger a 44 mag that the company installed a transfer bar but sent back with the original parts so the gun can be put back to complete stock form...
@@johnhickok45 The wife has an old bearcat-alloy frame, no bar, we just load it the safe way, my feeling was that converting it would kill any value it might have.
When I was about 12 years old I had an 1851 Colt Navy revolver replica. One Winter day I was out shooting it in the woods and was shooting at large ice blocks along the creek bank. I slipped on the ice and the gun fell to the ground and landed Hammer side down and it went off next to my leg. The round ball grazed along my pant leg and knocked my hat off when it struck the bill. I had a powder burn on the pants, and a lead streak smeared along about a foot of my blue jeans, not to mention a big hole in my ball cap. I was extremely lucky as that 44 caliber ball past by my face less than an inch. I learned that having the hammer sitting on top of a percussion cap is not smart that day. Also, luck my mom never found out.
@@_Coffee4Closers BOSS!!
I am gonna tell her. You are going to be in so much trouble:)
@@ArtistBrianSheffield Too late I am in my 60's now and my dear Mother left us 2 years ago at 90 years old... I made a clean escape. 😁
What is really amazing is how you got a .44 caliber ball into a .36 caliber Colt 1851 Navy.
@jerry3890 come on man. We all know the cylinder will shrink or stretch to whatever caliber you imagine it to be. Use proper pronouns when addressing cylinder capability. Stop being so cylinder phobic and let them identify while they eat their soy cakes. Don't be a bully.
Like John Wayne's line in the movie "The Shootist,"...
"Load 6 if your insides tells ya."
That was one of my favorite movies. I totally agree with that too.😅😅
John Wayne’s last movie. 🙁🙁🙁
first thing i thought of
@@archcunningham5579bummer how the government murderd all of them
Believe me, you could weld the hammer down and the loading gate shut, remove the bolt and pawl, and fill the barrel with cement, and I guarantee there are those out there who could manage to hurt themselves with it. Like Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does.", and that's always just been a fact of life that'll persist until the end of time.
Some people can't be left alone with a bent penny and a burnt match
One standard reason for always checking for empty was "Even if you unloaded it 20 years ago before burying it in cement,you check for empty when you break it out again.Someone could have gone behind you to slip live ammunition into it & reburied it."
I will say with my memory lately that person that slipped one in could of been Me, it’s been over 50 years since it’s burial and at this point I wouldn’t bet my life thou. Lol
Open page of every first aid book reads ‘there is no cure for stupidity’
@@johnlord9568 "Your stupidity is my job security"
I own a Ruger. It was made in 1963. It’s a fine revolver. I never load six. I think that a lot of owners of single action revolvers are unaware of the importance of keeping the hammer over an empty chamber. Single action firearms have special rules. If these rules are followed the risk of accidental discharge certainly is lessened. Thank you for this video.
Right, the cowboys did, especially the lever guns. I hunted allot with a 32-20 hex,never a issue
The empty chamber thing is an actual myth. Those special rules do not exist. Nobody in the 1800s kept an empty chamber. It's an old wives tale, no historical basis of it has ever been found besides "He said, she said".
If ya can’t do it with 5 having a 6th may not matter!
@drcovell Right, hunted most my life with a single shot.
Great, forgotten information. Ah the old wheel gun. Thank you for memories
"Clutching their pearls." Priceless. Just bought a .357 three screw with a 6 1/2 barrel. Made in 1970. Shoots great, sounds great when you work the action. I bought the old model on purpose, for the reasons you mentioned here. Great video!
had a .45 ........sounded like a bank vault.......
I've had an old model .44 Blackhawk, prior to the Super-Blackhawk, for nearly 50 years now. Carried it in all sorts of conditions and it's never failed me. I've almost always carried 5 rounds, learned that growing up and just stuck with it.
I have a 357 Blackhawk that I bought in 69 and always have loaded 5 also. Back in 70's. Ruger wanted people to return them to the factory to be upgraded but I said no thanks. Never had any second thoughts.
You are fortunate friend! Is it the 7 1/2 in. bbl.? Read Skeeter Skeltons' praises of that version, waited too 5:33 long to buy one! WAY out of my price range now! Enjoy, Blsgs, gg🙏✝️❤️🇺🇸🙋☝️
@@Gerald-do9yg It's 6 1/2. I bought it at a swap meet in '75. Think I paid 125 for it.
@michaelstewart6200 Great score Mike! Remember when you could acquire guns at swap meets and even garage sales! I remember getting a Super Blackhawk at a gun show for an Alaska-bound friend in '77. Good guns and good memories! Thanks for responding, Blsgs, gg
Travel at your own risk-that’s life and life is good.
For years, Ruger offered to remove the original parts and put in a safety transfer bar and send all the original parts along with it back to you free of charge. Colt SAA still only carry 5 rounds in it.
I made the mold for Colt's first polymer gun. Isn't it amazing how differently things are made over the years?
Some or many of you may know CZ recently acquired Colt...
Was that the Md. 2000? Not happy either having another American Co. sold to a foreign corporation! Blsgs, gg🙏✝️❤️🇺🇸🙋☝️
My grandad was a gun toting cowboy out by Dodge City in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He said carrying 5 rounds in a 6 shooter was bull! They wanted every round in there they they could get! And you never carried "burying money in the 6th chamber! That would be a great way to cause a jam! Then you would get burried!
He also said that very seldom did cowboys carry a 45 colt! Mainly because you couldn't afford the ammo for a 45 colt on a cowboy's pay! He said all that he knew carried a .22 rimfire or a .32 S&W. He had two revolvers, one was a blue Harrington Richardson 9 shot break top, and the other was a nickel plated Iver Johnson 9 shot,break top. Both were .22 rimfire!
When it came to gunfights, which didn't happen as often as in every episode of gunsmoke, there was never more than 10 or 15 feet between the shooters! He said in his lifetime he only saw one guy killed in a gunfight, and he was shot with a shotgun!
Long range gunfight make better TV shows though!
Good explanation, I have the first Blackhawk sold by Ruger after the 200 specials which were reserved for gifts to Ruger's business partners, writers and such. Elmer Keith bought it for utility use he passed it to his hunting partner who passed to my dad and now I have it. I was on the last Antelope hunt Elmer did my dad and mom were on his last Elk hunt. I met Elmer when Guns magazine put him up in a dry hotel my dad had corresponded with Elmer, so Elmer had our phone number. My dad and mom had been in a Bad car accident earlier that evening, so a friend went and pick Elmer up. Elmer used my bed for the week of the NSGA show. He stayed with us for every NSGA show in Chicago after that.
Load 1, skip one, load 4. I had a client that dropped his. Bullet went through his hand bones. Lots of surgery and therapy
Ouch
here is the Ruger Safety on the OMV and NMV? Open the gate, it won't fire.
I have a Ruger Blackhawk 357 magnum manufactured in 1972 that I bought the same year. It had the "Old Model" action. In 1982 it was subject to safety conversion recall which involved a free factory-installed modification. You mailed the firearm to them, and they returned it with the transfer bar modification. The original parts were returned which I have kept.
Back in the mid-1990s I hired an engineer who was relocating back home after many years in Milwaukee His wife had worked for the Milwaukee P.D. in their personnel department. She processed medical leave and suspension paperwork for officers who had suffered negligent discharges with, frequently, leg injuries.
Their duty gun? GLOCK!
She processed, on average, one GSW - Negligent Discharge case per month.
The best handgun safety is, as they say, between the ears. And sooner or later, everyone will suffer a negligent discharge. Then you better have followed the other safety “prime directive” and have the gun pointed in a safe direction.
KNOW your weapon inside out and how to use it in a panic situation,price of ammo has shortened the shooting times at ranges,NOT GOOD,if you carry one,IT SHOULD BE THE ONLY DAMN THING ON YOUR MIND,CONSTANTLY,till it laying of the dresser
Don’t lift it out of the holster by the trigger.
A negligent discharge is how I ended up with a daughter and 2 grandsons!
Lack of training
Not the weapon
Desk pop vs leg pop LoL
The only assumption people should always make is that all firearms are loaded.
Exactly 👍
Common sense ain’t all that common nowadays
@@ClaudeBohls
Yes sir. Common sense is as rare as hen’s teeth for the last few decades. Have a great weekend.
Rule 1
.
CORRECT
I own several Ruger wheel guns in .44 Mag cal, all get carried to the range empty so no worries about dropping them. They are a bit much for concealed carry although I do have a shoulder rig for my 7.5" Super Blackhawk. Thanks for all your video's, I've learned a lot and had a great time watching you & John.
Learn something every day . Never seen one with that gate load system. I had a pistol( I think it was a Sam Walker) that had a notch on the cylinder to keep the hammer down on. So you could keep all 6 cylinders loaded (somewhat) safe.
Load one, skip one, load four.
Stupid is, as stupid does. And you can't fix it. Traditional Forever!!! LOL Thanks for the video, Hickok45!! 👍
I’ve got an old three screw single six. I’ve thought about sending it back for a retro fit on the trigger but the trigger pull is just so sweet I just can’t force myself to do it.
LEAVE IT in original design,load 5, with this much power,in a useful situation,you'll never need all 6 unless confronted with 900 lbs of grizzly or a wolf attack,yeah
@strattuner "with this much power"? He's saying he had a 3 Screw Single Six,..a 22 LR or 22 Magnum. 😂
@@waynehajek839that's a lot of power when the tin cans start flying
Not dangerous for responsible gunowners.
About 15 - 20 years ago a friend of mine and I were out on his farm working, riding in his ATV. The 22 caliber revolver in his ATV (his varmint gun) slipped off the machine as we drove over some bumpy areas. The revolver hit the ground and fired. I don't know where the bullet went. but thankfully we were OK.
3:40 Percussion revolvers have notches between the chambers for that purpose. I've always wondered why manufacturers didn't retain that feature for their cartridge models.
My 82 year old father has a Ruger revolver in 44 magnum that he bought new in 1962. He told me he sent it in for the "recall" to get a safety added, and they sent the parts back to him with the "repaired" gun. He still has the bag of parts. What was it that they did , and why? He could not recall exactly.
I did the same thing as your father did on my old 3 screw Super Blackhawk .44 mag. What Ruger did was to modify the old models by adding the transfer bar system to them. Like your Dad I also have the bag of parts that they sent back. It’s my understanding that the old parts can be put back into the revolvers to put them back to original. Don’t know why anyone would do that unless it might slightly increase the value.
And we don't eat Tide Pods😂😂
Isn't one okay if I rinse afterwards with an equal amount of bleach and ammonia?
@@RF6Gun851 The human gut has too many exogenous chemicals to ensure a good and proper reaction. The good ol toaster in the bathtub is tried and true.
You are correct. The original Rugers were called the 3 screw models. They made them in several calibers such as .44 Mag, .357 Mag, & .41 Mag. Ruger came out with the transfer bar after that and offered to put the transfer in the older Rugers at no charge. Ruger did this to keep from being sued because the transfer bar kept the gun from firing except for pulling the trigger. Anyway, I suspect that a lot of old model Rugers still don't have the transfer bar as of today. The ones without the transfer bar are probably worth more because they are in their original configuration. Even though the firing pins between the Colt and the Ruger are different, those original Rugers without the transfer bar are basically just as "dangerous" as the original Colts. To be 100 percent safe, load 5 and let the hammer down on an empty chamber. Thanks for the video.
I was present when one guy shot himself in the calf because he loaded 6. He had a Ruger Single Action .22 in a holster and was shooting a rifle at the time. When he lowered the rifle, the stock hit the Ruger's hammer and a round went off. The slug went down and entered his leg in the top of the calf and exited several inches above his ankle. He didn't notice he was shot until a buddy behind him said "Hey Denny, your leg's bleeding". Only then did he feel the pain. He was treated and released same day. It did heal without complications but gimped around in pain for quite some time.
The “hot coffee at McDonald’s” was dangerously hot. McDonald’s has spent lots of money with PR firms to downplay and change the public perception of the incident.
I have a Ruger Blackhawk .44 Mag from the '60s. I never sent it in for the safety update, so it's in original condition. Somewhere I read (Elmer Keith? I like to think so) that you load a single-action revolver by this procedure: put the hammer on half-cock, open the loading gate, insert the first round, then rotate the cylinder and SKIP the second chamber, then load the remaining chambers as they are rotated around. Close the loading gate. Cock the hammer. Lower the hammer. You now the the EMPTY chamber under the hammer. Put it in the holster and drive on.
The Ruger 3-screw is one of the most iconic firearms in US history, and in 41 Mag it's one of the coolest! If you are lucky enough to own one, you should be smart enough to carry it correctly.
It is possible to load six and park. The firing pin between the rims of two shells with the hammer lowered to the down position. But I guess this would be a risky technique for some.
The free transfer bar conversion works but they seem really rough not to mention eliminating about 1/3 of the revolver value.
On the 1860 Colt Army you can lower the hammer between chambers and the cylinder is still firmly locked since the hammer rests in a notch in the cylinder. Why didn't Colt keep this feature in the Colt SAA?
Question for the ages
Unfortunately alot of people got out of line when "God gave out common sense"
I have to agree with you there 👍👍
when he said brains they heard trains and said "no thanx already got a ride home"
I learned the time-honored way of loading a Colt single-action years ago, goes like this:
Load one, skip one, load four, then cock and lower the hammer SLOWLY. If you've done it right the hammer will come down on an empty chamber. It works.
By the way, in the percussion revolver days Colts had a pin on the rear of the cylinder that would lock the hammer in place between chambers, Remingtons had a notch. Both pin and notch systems became unworkable when bored-through cylinders became common although on some top-break revolvers the hammer could be lowered between chambers and held in place by the cartridge rims.
At any rate remember that any antique or antique-style firearm is only as safe as YOU make it. Kind of like any modern firearm for that matter or any piece of power machinery.
In your hands, safe to own. In Alec Baldwin’s hands, well…..
When the Safety Officer hands the idiot actor a gun loaded with live ammo...Baldwin aint in jail, she is...
Baldwin's a total idiot. Irresponsible to have ever handed him a weapon without his mommy and daddy being there.
Baldwin was the penny-pinching grinch lead producer and he willfully ignored movie industry standards and practices that were in place since shortly after a squib killed Brandon Lee when filming The Crow in 94'. In order to not spend money alex created his own "faster" way of using firearms on set like just using live-weapons and not having blank firing only versions which is the opposite of nearly every movie made after the mid-90s. Alex the actor also failed to check the firearm himself after someone else handled it between Alex and the armorer and that alone means he is responsible by negligence. Oddly the recreational shooting party the day before got swept under the rug within a couple days after Alex shot both of his victims.
Honestly I had sympathy for Alex until he publicly declared that pistol went off by itself in his hands after that I just see him as a thief, liar and idiot with no remorse.
I own a Ruger. Chambered in .30 carbine. Depending on the time and place determines if I load 6 or 5. Most of the time it's next to my bed loaded with 6. It doesn't move but always within reach. Never had a problem. Now if I decide to carry it on me when I go hiking or hunting or whatever, I will unload it and reload it with 5.
So only when I have it on me I load it with 5. But at home sitting next to my bed I'll load 6.
I was thinking the 30 Carbine models have the transfer bar, mine does.
The hammer down on a 1911 with a loaded cartridge was/is a nono. I once worked an "accidental" shooting where the fellow dropped his holstered 1911 clone, holster and all, and got a 9mm hole through his calf. Fortunately only a flesh wound from an fmj, but it could have been much worse.
@@williamgaines9784 The 3 Screw Ruger Blackhawk 30 carbine caliber that I bought in early 1968 did not have the transfer bar. I think they started adding the transfer bars in 1973. Not sure of the exact year for that change.
@waynehajek839 ✅
In 1961 I bought a brand new Ruger Single Six (.22 LR and .22 WRM, came with two cylinders). I always carried it full cylinder ... when plinking in desert ... never knew about the risk.
@johnl.sillasen1780 Had you carefully read the factory provided owners manual from Ruger, you would have seen the recommendation to " load one skip a cylinder and then load five". They were cautioning that you only load five rounds like the practice of the owners of a Colt SA revolver.
I own a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in 44 Mag. It's a handful but manageable to most with 44 special. In fact my daughter loves to shoot it with specials so I always keep a box for her.
One trip to the shooting range, my daughter brought a young friend that was a novice at shooting guns.
After my usual safety lecture/instructions and supervising the safe handling & firing of .22 Lr rifes & pistol, this young lady sees my daughter shooting the big 44 and asked to try it.
Getting new shooters used to the concept of "trigger finger discipline" is not easy especially with BIG guns in small hands. Add to that cocking the hammer on a single action revolver and it's not a safe situation.
That said, this girl basically 'fanned' the hammer by trying to cock it while holding down the trigger.😧
That gun went CLICK!!!...CLICK!!!...😵💫
And both my daughter & myself stopped her with our hearts in our throats!
That gun won't fire the way the gun fighters in the old West did. Thankfully!😅
I have one, a Ruger Super Blackhawk, handed down to me by my father, to where I was able to hand it down to one of my sons, we were always taught, never leave a live round under the hammer, for that reason, which I have several older western revolves the same way, better to be safe than sorry.
Bought my Ruger Super Blackhawk in 1976. In 1980 Ruger sent out notice that they would convert the three screw to the new gate open load, no half cock. Free of charge.
I'm a chicken and I don't want a hole in my leg I only carry five
I recall a story about a gunslinger who kept a ten dollar bill rolled up in one chamber, so he could carry over an empty chamber, and if he got shot the ten would pay for his funeral.
I wish I had one of the old ones! They're hard to find for sure! Thank you for sharing that bit of truth
I have an old Ruger Blackhawk (3 screw) 357 revolver, and am awair of the safety issue. Taking a que from the North American arms 5-shot revolvers, I load 6 rounds, rotate the cylinder to halfway between two rounds and gently drop the hammer. This exposes the firing pin between two cartridge rims and keep the cylinder from lining up a round with the barrel. The firearm is now fully loaded and safe. When I cock the hammer, the cylinder rotates to the next round and fires normally. This practice works with the larger caliber rimmed cartridges, but not with the 22 caliber revolvers (like my wife's Bearcat. That revolver has to be kept on an empty cylinder.
No issue. How many people still own various manufacturers of SAA and clones? How many old S&W with firing pin mounted on the hammer and were safe to tote with 6 rounds? I’m aware that in terrible circumstances it could be made to fire but what’s more dangerous a gun that itching to fire when you need it to or one that has extra stuff to break when you need it to fire?
@gb123-ej8wh The old S&W revolvers could fire accidentally if dropped while fully loaded. During WWII a sailor on duty on a ship accidentally dropped his S&W revolver and was either wounded or killed. Can't remember the exact details. Anyway this event "encouraged" S&W to add the transfer bar to their revolvers to avoid a reoccurrence of such an incident.
@@waynehajek839
The first revision of the S&W hammer block that was spring tensioned and tack welded to the side plate .
With the hammer down a flat extension of the safety piece rested between the hammer and frame.
When the hammer was cocked or the trigger was pulled the hand would come up to index the cylinder and push the block out of the way. When the hammer and trigger rebounded the spring tension pushed the block back into place. The gun involved in the Navy accident was a Victory model. From what I have read the revolver was dropped from a considerable height .I have also read that the lock work was gummed up with cosmoline which prevented the safety block from spring back into place. When the gun landed on its hammer spur there was nothing to prevent the hammer to move forward and detonate the primer. The other explanation is that the force of the impact was enough to break the safety block resulting in a discharge. Before the end of the Victory Model production S&W introduced the sliding hammer block which has some Similarly to the Colt design. The side plate, hammer , and safety block were redesigned. Smith and Wesson also upgraded existing guns with the new safety. An S was added the serial numbers of new and reworked Victories to indicate the change.
I have a three-screw .357 Blackhawk. I didn't know the significance. The price was great. It was never upgraded. Come to discover that many collectors place high value on these untouched actions. Apparently the hammer block affects the trigger feel. Like you, I am not inclined to get it fixed. I know what it is and load five unless I'm in a range situation where I want six.
Keep it original because it is basically the same as a colt action with coil springs. Simple is sometimes better and people like that.
I have an old "3-screw" Ruger Super Black Hawk and my dad bought it in the late 60s not early. Montgomery Wards, 44th st at Thomas Mall in Phoenix.
I have a single six and find it extremely annoying to load with the free spinning cylinder. I prefer my rough rider for this reason.
@the_legend3185 You could call Ruger to see if they will replace the "free spin pawl" with a pawl that doesn't free spin or you could get in touch with Ron Powers Grand Master and they can fix you up with one.
@the_legend3185 You could always contact Ruger to see if they could change out the "free spin pawl" for a pawl that doesn't allow for free spin. Or see Ron Powers Grand Master.
Excellent, I had forgotten about the lawsuit. I got my dad one with a scope for deer hunting and always just carried five founds. Many years ago. I inherited the gun, and it is still in great condition.
Living vicariously through you brotha two fine revolvers a truck seat is not a holster nuff said
I am 60 carried a gun since I was 21 to include three decades of military, civilian concealed carry 39 years carry and 7 1/2 years as a cop. I have never dropped a firearm even during the 6 times I was wounded in the military and 1 time as a civilian. I also used a gun since 8 yrs old hunting and plinking in the country side never abused the right to shot.
Love that Bisley Vaquero. I have the standard version and I want to do a Bisley conversion on it.
my wife had a 25 auto Saturday night special that her uncle bought her in the early 70s. She handed it to me one day cause she didn’t want it no more I pulled it down to clean it and started looking at the safety system and i turned it in on the police for there are no questions asked gun disposal, disposal. It just looked like that safety wouldn’t work at all with a round in the chamber. A bit of reading showed me the manufacturer was sued out of business over dropped guns and shot people.
Ruger will upgrade your older models with new transfer bar innards and send the old parts back to you (to maintain the original value), all for free. (shipping on your dime, I believe)
You can send it to Ruger and have that changed. They will give your original parts back. I have seen that happen before. Luckily the roof of the camp trailer got the bad end of it.
I remember back when this first became an issue, and Ruger began producing their single action pistols with this new transfer bar safety. When that happened, Ruger offered to retrofit all the older pistols at no charge to the owner with the new transfer bar. I'm sure that at the time, there was no requirement that you be the original owner of the pistol. I know this offer existed for a very long time.But I don't know if it still does. But I would say that if you still own or acquire one of these older models that has not already been modified and are uncomfortable with it in its current condition, you might check with the factory and see if this free offer is still available. If you do have one of these , you might bear in mind that these unmodified older models are highly sought after. Consequently, having this modification done may affect the value of your pistol.
The first click when you pull back the hammer on an old 3-screw Ruger single action is the top (internal) part of the trigger falling into the safety notch in base of the hammer. It would take a great deal of force on the hammer -- like the gun being dropped from a substantial height on a hard surface -- to break that notch and allow the hammer to fall on the firing pin. I can't see how that could happen any other way...unless the the internal parts were damaged to begin with.
Random question: How do you maintain ivory grips if you have a handgun that has ivory grips
The best reason to load 5 is that ammo is sold in boxes of 50, not 48 or 54
I hav the exact same 3screw Roger Black Hawk. NOW , no transfer bar . But with the hammer ON a the cylinder it is touching the firing pin . Pull the hammer back about one quarter inch and it will come off the firing pin and lock there. To fire the hammer must be pulled all the way back to the firing position. I actually have another older Ruger super black hawk 44mag . 3 screw . Does the same thing.
i like my 1858 Remington it shoots cap and ball and 45 l colt u can lock it between cylinders plus u can reload fast with extra cylinders plus mine have been worked over by a retired colt gunsmith/marksmen he took first place in state against modern guns i love the set by far my fav. handgun to shoot
I know with some Colt Conversion Cylinder has a notch in between Chambers !
Thanks For The Video And God Bless 😊
At the shooting line, I load 6, because I am shooting, and not carrying the firearm around, in my hand, or in my holster. Otherwise, I load 5, and put the hammer down on an empty chamber, even with my new model, pre-warning Ruger, with the transfer bar. I do load 6, in my cap & ball revolvers, since I am able to lower the hammer down in the notch between the caps, and not directly over a loaded cylinder. So, with cartridge revolvers, I do load 6 at the shooting line, and 5 in all other occasions. In 75 years on the planet, I have never shot myself, or anyone else, doing it that way. Just use common sense, and remember Murphey's Law.
Muscle Memory
I have an early 60's three screw Single Six, one of my favorites to shoot. I've never had an accidental discharge. Just don't be stupid lol "load one,skip one,load four".
I had a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 magnum I purchased at the PX in 1968 for $91.00 (month's pay for a Lance Corporal). It was a 3 screw and I had it for 3 years and shot it regularly before I sold it to a friend of my dad. Never had a problem, near problem, or any issue with that pistol. Usually the problem with those older revolvers were the nuts holding them. I would imagine those that practice gun safety did not have an issue with it either.
If I'm remembering correctly the paper work from Ruger for the old models states to only load five when carrying, but that was a long time ago, and I sold that gun 40+ years ago
It's really no different than the guns of the old west, they only loaded 6 when practicing, or in combat
We had a case like that in a town nearby in the early 70's that resulted in a fatality and huge jury award against Ruger.
My dad was a Palestine Policeman m/c division based in Jerusalem in WW2. They took away his semiautomatic pistol and he got issued an 1875 Remington revolver from a museum (Remington Model 1875 "Egyptian Contract" Revolver) and 5 rounds. They said - you sort it out with 5 rounds or you could be dead and we don’t want the attackers to get their hands on the ammunition.
So he kept it in an oily rag underneath the petrol tank with the bolt missing, because the bandits would kill you just to get your gun.
I have a couple of old pistols, S&W and Colt and I never load 6 rounds and I always have the hammer down on an empty chamber. That has been the rule of thumb since the Colt revolver was introduced.
The Billy's dad's gun was a Ruger Blackhawk 22 long rifle and it was a sweet little shooter I wrapped up my foot and continued hunting didn't really worried about it it didn't hurt
The transfer bar is just objectively a better system. Hell iver Johnson figured that out with their safety automatic.
You know somehow you need to add in "Life is good" at the end. I had this on in the background and I thought my phone was just buffering. I checked my connections, checked my router, and all that good stuff. This lasted about a half hour then I realized the video was just finished.
The little NAA pistols have a notch between the firing positions. You let the hammer down into it. Between the cartridges, it can't fire until you cock it.
It would be a great feature on all revolvers. It's simple to make too.
The older single action revolvers actually had the firing pin on the hammer which was really dangerous and eventually to the transfer bar style and firing pin in the gun.
I always wonder why the Colt revolving rifle wasn’t revived for brass cartridges after the Civil War. I get the cap and ball version being marginal. But brass cartridges should have been a godsend for that design.
Still has a cylinder gap that lets hot gasses out to burn your support arm. Lever guns are just better in every way.
Apparently, although not particularly infamous for chain firing off multiple cylinders, could, in the advent of a serious malfunction it was still quite capable of disfiguring blow ups and the occasional finger modification. Or removal.....
Great video, you have to be careful with any firearm and know how it operates before shooting it.
Thank you so much for what you do. You are a gentleman.
Of the two SAA revolvers in my collection, neither have transfer bars so I always leave an empty chamber under the hammer out of habit. Feels more old west style that way in my opinion. When I was a child in the 70's my dad had two Ruger single sixes and I don't think they did either but can't remember for sure. I would love to get an older Ruger like the one you have there.
The person involved in the suit against Ruger was brought by a Kanawha County, West Virginia Deputy Sheriff. He and some of his friends were looking at the gun in the Court House and it was dropped consequently accidently discharging the pistol.
Life is good
My understanding is that the Ruger 3 screw guns are less common, (now), and more desirable and worth more than the transfer bar ones.
I just bought an 1872 open top Taylor and co and put a new primer in a spent shell and hit the hammer with a mallet and it dented the primer but did NOT go off. I then fired it like normal and it fired so it wasn’t a bad primer but idk what they did to keep that from happening.
Back in the day, the cowboys used to carry a rolled up twenty in that position under the hammer, to pay for a box to be buried in.
I could imagine that back in the day that if you knew, or seriously suspected that you were going to be involved in a gun fight that you would possibly load that 6th chamber, otherwise hammer down on empty chamber was SOP for SAA.
If it were a problem the industry could put a safety on these things ; the first handgun I ever owned was a Taurus in 44 mag and it had a setscrew for a hammerlock .
Some reproduction 1873's have a transfer bar just like the New Model Blackhawk. Personally, I don't want one without a transfer bar. The transfer bar does add take up to the trigger pull, but I found that I quickly got used to it.
Completely off topic....but seen this as a recent video. My hands are old and worn out and it's hard not to notice the speed of your magazine reloads in the videos. What type loadet do you use and is it universal for 9mm and 45acp double-stacks? I watch, enjoy and look forward to all of your videos. You sir are a wealth of honest and welcome information. ...and very much appreciated by all. Thank you for your dedication and keep up the great work.
Yes it is and you can get them at any gun shop.
Just tracked one down at Mag Shack for 28 bucks. Ordered it. Oughta save my fingers lol.
So , sue the saddlemaker for a faulty stirrup....Seems simple to me ...
The transfer bar can leave you wishing you had an old model, they do break, probably when you need the round to fire.
Def not too dangerous, and it remains true: "The primary safety on any firearm is the one between your ears."
Werent there a recall on these? My dad didnt send his ( now mine ) in for that at the time. I also have a newmodel with the transfer bar., and it is safe to carry with 6, but the old model, Load 5. Like my colt and my smith and Wesson guns. Like u said, always been that way.
Recall was if you wanted to add the transfer bar safety. Ruger still accepts three screw models to be converted free of charge. Most people leave them original for the old west appeal and the action smoothness.
@thereality700 thanks, that's what I thought. Didnt know that they were still accepting them all these years later though. I reckon I'll keep mine original either way . My ol man was a jerk, but at least this is one decision that didnt cause me extra bullshite-- like being forced to buy his guns TWICE and still losing several in the end. Well, my life. Thanks again for the info bud.
The only single action we've ever carried is our NAA, and we carry it hammer down on an empty chamber...yes, i know the gun has those safety notches between each chamber, no, not trusted 100%...in a heavier caliber single action one single round missing might be no big deal, in a .22lr it represents 20% of the gun's capacity, with the smaller bullet already a factor..,we think if the NAA ever needed we are deep in a bad situation, and one small round ain't going to matter...in worst circumstance just one round ever needed, either fired at distance to show we mean business (go ahead and laugh), or one round fired with snot or earwax on the muzzle (hmm, that might work)...heavier calibers don't operate with quite the same limitations, a single .357 or .44 magnum round will be effective at longer range...gotta know what you have on you, always...
Can you talk to.. old shotguns twist and Damascus barrels ,
chamber depth 2 5/8 vs 2 3/4 - 3,
black powder vs smokeless
Interested in your opinions , thank you.
Wait the new replicas have locking spaces between the rounds on the cylinder itself so you're getting the same lock up action when putting the hammer between the rounds that you rely on to time the rotation and lock the cylinder when you fire.
Will Ruger still redo those like they did in the past? If so would having that done wreak the value of a old and cool gun?
Hunters who carry this sidearm in addition to a rifle also need to be careful. While carrying the rifle under arm it's butt can easily engage the hammer. I once hit my hunting knife which forced the blade out the bottom of a leather sheath. Thanks for the video.
Sure love that Bisley. Thanks
Just like an owner of a vehicle. Need to know how to be responsible of it .
Hickcock
Your Ruger doesn’t have a spur hammer,
Did you have the transfer bar modified?
I met a one leged man in Orlando that put a .44 mag from his old model Ruger while hog hunting. He said a limb caught the hammer and pulled it back far enough to fire when it let go.
I believe that older Rugers c an be sent back to Ruger and they will convert to transfer bar if you want...
Pre transfer bar rugers are collectable now so that would be a bad idea. You could sell it and buy a new one with money left over.
I've got a old Ruger a 44 mag that the company installed a transfer bar but sent back with the original parts so the gun can be put back to complete stock form...
@@johnhickok45 The wife has an old bearcat-alloy frame, no bar, we just load it the safe way, my feeling was that converting it would kill any value it might have.