[natedog]

I have read on these boards that flicking your wrist to close the cylinder closed can harm a revolver? How? Whenever I load my Colt Officer's Model, I hit the cylinder release and flick it open, fill it with shells, and then flick it closed with my wrist.

[WebHobbit]

:scrutiny:

Don't ever do that again! PLEASE. It's painful to think of you doing that....also painful to see it done in the movies.

This is more movie/TV BS...much like cops "shooting to wound". :rolleyes:

:banghead:

This WILL damage a revolver over time. I'd say it puts much stress on the crane/yoke and probably does NOTHING good for the timing either.


:uhoh:

Use your weak hand to guide the cylinder open and closed. Use BOTH hands.

[Whit]

I agree with WebHobbit, don't do it. Also I didn't know Colt made an Officers Model in a revolver, I thought it was only a semi. Would you happen to have a pic of it? That is one of the few guns I've never seen. I guess I did learn something today. ......Whit

[WebHobbit]

Yeah I sure thought Officer's Models were little .45 ACPs. :confused:

[Vern Humphrey]

Here's an Officer's Model Target, in .22. They were also made in .38 Special, among other calibers.

The Officer's Model name dates to at least 1930, and when Colt basically got out of the revolver business, they used it for automatics.

It grates on some of us old timers, who know what an Officer's Model REALLY is. :fire:

[WebHobbit]

Thanks for the education Vern Humphrey. Now tell natedog to stop battering that old Colt's cylinder around like that! ;)

[BigG]

The crane or yoke is the little piece that the cylinder swings out on. It is precisely fit to the frame. If you look at it from the business end it should be a mere hairline, almost invisible. The swinging open swinging shut will have its effect on the U-shaped piece over time making it bow out when viewed from the front. It's one of the few weak points in a typical swing out cylinder revolver.

[bpisler]

Iwas in a pawn shop and spied a nice model 19 snubby,it was priced right so i started filling out the 4473 when i heard a strange noise.I looked up and saw the clerk flicking the cylinder open and close.I told him to forget it because he could have damaged the gun by doing that.When i left the manager was all over him.

[Jim March]

If you ever need to open or close the cylinder one-handed, the proper method is to shove it against your thigh (while watching your muzzle direction). It's possible to both open and close the cylinder that way.

-----------------

The Officers Model revolver series were "ancestors" of the Python. The lockwork was similar. 38Spl variants eat out of the same speedloaders as a Python and they all can take Python grips.

The 22LR version is often considered the most accurate 22 DA revolver ever made, period, end of discussion.

[Standing Wolf]

Sooner or later, you'll bend the yoke and/or distort the extractor rod. Colt Officer's Model revolver parts are expensive—when you can find them.

[P95Carry]

Oh my ..... <cringe> ...... <shudder> ..... hate seeing that. The mass of even an empty cyl ''crashing'' into position is pain ... sheer pain! Plus when it is closed .... who is to say it is locked up ... probably not.

Damn you Hollywood .... damn you!!:p

[chaim]

I have banned a friend from ever shooting my guns again for doing just that. Very bad for the gun.

[SkunkApe]

Internet BS, I think. Has any man here actually experienced first-hand damage from flicking the cylinder open and closed? Or is it just something you heard from a gun mag or a friend and decided to pass along so you'd sound knowledgeable?

Flick away all you want.

P.S. I saw a shooter on OLN's American Shooter television program do this very thing just this past weekend.

[WebHobbit]

Well I've never actually had sand in my gas tank either but I'm pretty sure it'll screw up my motor.

[Old Fuff]

Skunk ....

Over the years, of which they're have been many, I have see a whole lot of Colt and S&W revolvers with "sprung cranes" (Colt's) or "sprung yokes" (Smith & Wesson's).

Pick up the revolver and make sure it is unloaded. Then close and latch the cylinder. Point the muzzle toward you (you did make sure the gun was unloaded, right?) and try to wiggle the cylinder side-to-side. You may notice as you press on the cylinder the crane or yoke wiggles, or springs away from the frame. If the condition is bad enought the revolver will be out of time and the cylinder won't revolve far enough to lock up. The most recent revolver I examined was a Colt .38 Special "Army Special" that was made about 1925. Someone had flipped the cylinder to the point where it was so loose it wouldn't lock up, and the breech end of the barrel was split because of being hit too may times with a misaligned bullet. I bought it for under $50.00 and it will be a "project" this summer. Yup, I can fix it, and will.

If you want to flip the cylinder in and out go right ahead, but someday you'll get a repair bill that will command your full attention.

[Dot_mdb]

Flipping the cylinder shows disrespect for the weapon. Damn it, you just don't treat an old friend that way.

Bill

[Mike Irwin]

"Internet BS, I think. Has any man here actually experienced first-hand damage from flicking the cylinder open and closed? Or is it just something you heard from a gun mag or a friend and decided to pass along so you'd sound knowledgeable?

Flick away all you want.

P.S. I saw a shooter on OLN's American Shooter television program do this very thing just this past weekend."


Skunk,

Congratulations. You get the award for relaying some of the worst advice, and telling us about some of the worst gun handling by people who should know better.

Internet BS?

No.

I've seen several guns whose owners essentially destroyed them simply because they didn't have the common sense to listen to their shooting companions.

"Oh this won't hurt my gun! I've seen them do it on TV all the time! FLICK!"

"I don't know what you people are talking about, MY revolvers are fine! FLICK!"

"I don't understand why my revolver is getting: A) harder to open, B) harder to close, C) spitting lead out the sides, D) won't group worth crap (please pick one from the list) FLICK!"

"Hey Mike, why don't you ever let me shoot your guns? FLICK!"

The particular Adam Henrys about whom I'm talking have, between them, essentially destroyed a Colt Python, several Smith & Wessons, at least 1 Ruger, and a Charter Arms.

These people seldom get 5,000 rounds out of their revolvers before they start going to hell, while I have +- 20,000 rounds through several of my Smith revolvers with NONE of the same kind of damage that is showing up on their firearms.

It's NOT urban legend, or internet BS, Skunk. I've been shooting revolvers long enough, with enough people who have done this, and seen the damage that results.

It's like popping the clutch on your car.

Sure, it's fun.

Sure it doesn't show appreciable damage the first time, or even the 10th time, you do it.

But the effects are cumulative, and every time it's done does damage to the machine that is both needlessly AND stupidly inflicted and expensive to repair.

It's a :cuss: ing stupid, stupid practice born out of the moronic gun handling seen on TV and in the movies.

[bokchoi]

AIIEEE :what:

Open and close the cylinder gently, with your fingers. As stated, flicking the cylinder will eventually (read: in no time at all) bend the crane of the revolver, which, if it isn't bad enough, will lead to a myriad of other problems with the gun as well.

While I consider closing a slide on an empty chamber to be gray zone, I consider flicking the cylinder open or closed as abuse, and even if some insist it's safe, why risk it? Since you need both hands to reload anyways, there's little point in putting that extra stress on the gun for cinematic effect.

[dfariswheel]

Slamming the cylinder open and shut by flicking the wrist is commonly know as "Bogarting".the gun.

This can and WILL bend the crane, and batter the ejector ratchet,
the latch bolt, and the locking bolt on Colt revolvers.

I know. I've repaired a good many of them.

The guns damaged most by this were the pre-war Colt's. These older guns had rather surprisingly soft cranes and a good snap or a drop to the floor was enough to bend the crane.

This is inexcusable on any revolver, but down right criminal on a classic Colt target revolver.

However, it's your gun, and you can do as you will.

I've also seen people sharpen hyper-expensive custom knives with a file, a wealthy man THROWING, (not tossing) a highly engraved and inlaid hand made British double shotgun into a dirty car trunk, and a man using a $6000.00 engraved and ivory stocked Colt single action as a hammer, just to be "cool".

Some people don't know any better, having seen this on TV or in the movies.
Some people thing it's cool be be so casually destructive of expensive equipment. These people take pleasure in seeing others cringe as they abuse nice things.
The fun is doubled for them if the item being damaged is something the audience couldn't afford to buy, and would love to have.

[SkunkApe]

I stand corrected. Don't flick all you want.

[caz223]

An acquaintance visited my house once, and we were casually BSing, and talking guns.
I was paying attention to something else.
I heard him flick the gun closed.
I looked at him, and said "DON'T do that again"
Less than 30 seconds later I heard that same noise.
I raised my voice, reclaimed my gun, and watched as the hair stood up on the back of his neck.
Apparently, he had never heard me raise my voice before.
I don't believe he will do that again.
At very least, to one of my fold.

[ruger357]

Yup, that's a no no.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

That is the quickest way for a newbie to **** me off;
by acting like a idiot when handling firearms, and in
particular handgun's. All that John Wayne mess
is best left to "the big screen"!:) :rolleyes:

I know a fellow who owns a really nice nickel Colt
Detective Special; and flicking his wrist to open or
close the cylinder is his way to showing his firearms
knowledge (or lack thereof)!:uhoh: It just makes me
sick to witness his actions.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[dude]

FLICK AWAY!!! (please)



....as today I have a few hours of work in my shop doing some finish assembly on 200 or so aftermarket Colt revolver replacment parts!! The 'need' for these cyl lock assys is just because of folks treating their revolvers this way.

[Skunkabilly]

Skunk, Congratulations. You get the award for relaying some of the worst advice

Made me look :o (you don't know how often I hear that)

So I take it this is the equivalent of slamming a slide down on an empty chamber?

[BigG]

Not you Skunk, the other Skunk. :D

The flipping open/closed of a DA revo is probably worse than slamming shut your ACP. :eek:

It is not bright to do it to your own and very bad manners to do it to somebody else's. :uhoh:

[Mike Irwin]

"So I take it this is the equivalent of slamming a slide down on an empty chamber?"

I'd have to say that it's a lot worse, actually, as the potential for serious damage in the short term is a LOT higher.

[JohnK]

Internet BS, I think. Has any man here actually experienced first-hand damage from flicking the cylinder open and closed? Or is it just something you heard from a gun mag or a friend and decided to pass along so you'd sound knowledgeable?

P.S. I saw a shooter on OLN's American Shooter television program do this very thing just this past weekend.

I know you've already said you stood corrected on this issue, but this question goes towards something else.

Why would you assume that something you saw on TV was more reliable than something you read online from a group of experienced shooters?

[Jim March]

Skunkabilly: it's a LOT worse. A revolver crane isn't meant to take a "twisting" motion and that's basically what snapping is.

In fact, if you're ever in a situation where some BG pointed a piece of junk revolver at you and one way or the other you take it away from him and want to disable it, an average adult guy can open the cylinder and grabbing that in one hand and the grip in the other, twist them apart :eek:. A few guns may survive that, like a Ruger Redhawk or something :) but many will bend the crane enough that the cylinder won't close and some will come completely apart.

[Labinnac]

I got yelled at once for talking about "bogarting". I didn't even have a revolver in my hand and we were at work and i got yelled at...

At least he didn't hit me with a stick too...

[Vern Humphrey]

Worse. When you slam a slide on an empty chamber, you risk breaking a cheap, easily replaceable part. A new crane has to be fitted, and that's an expensive part and an expensive job.

[9mmepiphany]

it would be like having a squib load in your pistol and trying to shoot the stuck slug out by pulling your trigger again.

i loaned a smith m-34 to a former brother in law to have fun on a camping trip once. it was throwing rounds the next time i took it out to shoot. i talked to him about it and he said he didn't drop it or anything. he asked to look at it to see if he could see what was wrong. the next thing i know, he's flicking the cylinder open and closed. he just could understand why i came flying across the room at him.

i actually had it repaired...now i know why gunsmiths have lead babbits and q-tips on their workbench...but it was never quite the same. i traded it off shortly thereafter

[MJRW]

Skunkabilly,

What are you doing reading the Revolver forum? Did someone make a revolver in matte black with carbon fiber grips?

[kalibear45]

Back in my "newbie" days and watching too many western and detective cop movies, used to own a GP100 and slammed the cylinder home with a quick flick of the wrist. Did it many times to it, ended up bending the yoke/extractor rod and I couldn't even pull the trigger anymore because the timing was so off and cylinder wouldn't turn right. Sure learned my lesson after that :rolleyes:

[Mikul]

I actually can't imagine a way to open or close the cylinder without imparting some kind of force on the crane. What is the proper way? Are we supposed to "catch" the cylinder with our other hand? Is this the idea behind using your thigh as was mentioned earlier: swing open onto your thigh and push it closed with the same?

[Old Fuff]

Simply support the cylinder with the fingers of the weak hand while you swing the cylinder out, and swing it back the same way. As it comes into the frame window PUSH it closed. What bends or "springs the crane (or yoke) is SLAMMING it open and closed. Common sense and good judgement will win every time.

[Beorn]

Okay, okay, okay. I'm certain that our THR friend has been thoroughly chastised for their non-revolver-friendly gun handling.

So, how many of you know the solution? It's easy to say "That is wrong, how dare you?!?" But how does one fix the problem?

That is to say, supposing you are in an IDPA or IPSC shoot with a revolver and you need to open the cylinder, empty the spent cartridges, insert either a moonclip or a speedloader, and close the cylinder again with speed. How does one do that?

Just curious...

(I haven't shot a revolver in IDPA in nearly 6 months. Probably won't til I get a newer wheel-gun, but I'm just interested) B:confused:

[popeye]

I remember a 70's song "Don't Bogart that (Colt?) my friend." Poor Humphrey gets blamed for everything.

[P95Carry]

It's impossible to show or describe actual speed but .. just took these few shots to try and show something of what I practice and which .. when shooting practical revo long ago .... would work pretty quick ... and not give gun a hard time. These are quite well compressed but hopefully show enough .... a method I have long used without conscious thought, it is so automatic.

Daresay we all have our tried and tested ways .. certainly here not many ''cyl flickers''!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
here is let's say immediately after last shot gone ....... right thumb is engaging on cyl latch release as weak hand ''cradles'' cyl .. left fingers going to rear.

http://www.patriotnetwork.net/cb_gun/cyl_01.jpg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cyl now released and been helped outward by weak hand rear fingers ....... right thumb pad limiting travel and thumb itself ready to press on ejector rod.

http://www.patriotnetwork.net/cb_gun/cyl_02.jpg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From last pic ... a quick transition to inversion as left thumb ejects empties ..... fingers also turning cyl as inversion taken further.... to better let all cases drop clear. My right hand is actually ''cupping'' here as I would when no rush .. normally cases just dumped on ground.

http://www.patriotnetwork.net/cb_gun/cyl_03.jpg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Still ''cradling'' cyl within left hand ... and holding entire gun this way ..... right hand using speedloader ...... and once those rounds released speedloader dropped free. Gun actually would be pointing down a bit more than in this pic.

http://www.patriotnetwork.net/cb_gun/cyl_04.jpg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally - heel of left hand is closing cyl whilst coming back up to firing postion .... rear fingers control and damp this to minimize stresses .. also as cyl engages I find I automatically ''seek'' a lock position .... then resuming normal two hand hold.

http://www.patriotnetwork.net/cb_gun/cyl_05.jpg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is very much a quick synoptic . and no way do I say this is ''best'' .. purely a technique that has suited me with revo's over a great many years ...... and the gun does not get unduly punished. I only thow it in ... for what it's worth! No ego trip!




:p

[Z_Infidel]

But for minor differences, that's pretty much how I do it as well. One of the things I like about my GP100 is that lock-up is always almost immediate when I return the cylinder to the frame. Some of my other revos have a little more play.

[Mike Irwin]

I open my S&W revolvers quite differently, espeically when shooting with the right hand...

I operate the latch with my thumb and push open the cylinder with my trigger finger.

I then keep my finger through the frame window to hold the cylinder open and tilt the gun muzzle up.

My left hand has been obtaining the new speedloader.

While holding the speedloader, I bang the ejector rod with the heel of my left hand, rotate the muzzle downwards, drop in the new rounds, close the cylinder with my left hand, and reestablish my shooting grip.

Once you've practiced it awhile, it's a very natural and very fluid procedure that will allow you to develop some serious speed.

[P95Carry]

That Mike is I think almost ''the other way'' (other main way anways) ... I have tried it and used it .. and yeah it is pretty good for speed ....... I remember some of my buddies using same technique.

In the end, as ever .. I guess it's what works best for the individual ...... and in my case I finished up with what I described. I think one reason was I always found it more awkward using left hand for speedloader ...... altho arguably, your way keeps right hand grip more constant.

Your mention of ''fluidity'' is one I would make also .. tho different method .. whatever works eh?!!:)

[raveon59]

My father, the old machinest that he is, always 'stressed' that to get the most life out of a machine you have to learn how to properly use it, respect it, and maintain it. The more metal to metal contact =the less metal to metal contact=wear. So unless you're made of money, No Slamming Allowed-get your kicks on Route 66...machines are intricate and fragile, just like relationships and women. Treat your weapon like you would your woman.

[Ruger Redhawk]

Treat your revolver with respect. Flipping the cylinder open and closed is not doing it correctly. By now I'm sure you have heard this several times. Over 30 years ago when I got my first handgun (S&W M67),I went to a friends house who was very knowledgeable in guns.Not knowing I did the ole flip trick.He got all over me. Then he explained why not to do it and showed me the correct way to open and close it. That was the first and last time I ever did that.Guns are precision instruments and need to be treated as such..
Ruger Redhawk

[Ruger Redhawk]

P95Carry,You did a great job on your pictures.If anybody had doubts of the correct way to open and close the cylinder you took the doubt away.
Ruger Redhawk

[raveon59]

Ditto Ruger Redhawk-And if you're in a stress situation, forget about the empties...Any law enforcement training program that requires a recruit to pick up his/hers empty brass is signing that recruits future death warrent.

[P95Carry]

Thx for the comment Frank ...... tho as I stated ... only my method .... I am not sure at all that any one method is ''best'' per se ... mostly what works for the individual ... and that works for me.

It's hard to show with just a few stills but ... glad it was .... sorta successful. :)

[Corelogik]

"I open my S&W revolvers quite differently, espeically when shooting with the right hand...

I operate the latch with my thumb and push open the cylinder with my trigger finger.

I then keep my finger through the frame window to hold the cylinder open and tilt the gun muzzle up.

My left hand has been obtaining the new speedloader.

While holding the speedloader, I bang the ejector rod with the heel of my left hand, rotate the muzzle downwards, drop in the new rounds, close the cylinder with my left hand, and reestablish my shooting grip. "

That's how I do it. Works just fine for me.

[winwun]

Broke the cylinder stop lock on my 19.

Dfaris, you are a "people watcher" aren't you ? Very insightful. Very observant.

[bad_dad_brad]

Never do that! Never!

Flicking that cylinder is just show - and it will damage your revolver.

Dumb gun movie moment - James Bond flicks a revolver cylinder closed - looks like a S&W medium or large frame - in the forgetable and muddy "Die Another Day."

Pierce looks tired, as does Halle. We need a new Bond and new Bond writers!

Close the cylinder by hand and then give it a little twist to make sure it locks. Gee whiz.

[foghornl]

Well, ya can't "flick" the cylinder closed on a Single-Action, but I
recently saw the SA equivalent of that....

Was at the range, blazing away with my Vaquero 357. Guy comes into the next lane, picks up his long-barrel Single-Six Ruger, loads up, spins the cylinder REAL fast, then slams the load gate shut while cylinder is still spinning......

:what:


Made me want to grab that gun away from him by the muzzle, [after he shot it empty, of course] and start "flicking" him about the head and shoulders....

:fire: :fire:

[gunsmith]

If you ever need to open or close the cylinder one-handed, the proper method is to shove it against your thigh (while watching your muzzle direction). It's possible to both open and close the cylinder that way. :D
If this is true Jim,how come hollywood doesn't do it...;)

[VictorLouis]

I just saw a re-run of American Shooter where they talked about Gen. Patton carrying around an original .357 Magnum(in addition to his SAA). They were promoting some company's issuance of a gawdy engraved, plated L-frame with fake ivory grips bearing GSP's initials. The 'shooter' shown blazing away clearly 'Bogarts' the cylinder closed on a 586 in close-up.:mad: Really poor form.

[Dave T]

VictorLouis,

I saw the same re-run of American Shooter and had the same reaction you did. His shooting stance was pure amature too. He was a right handed shooter and was standing with his right foot forward and his left foot to the rear (backwards from every stance I've seen or heard of). Where did they find such a bozo?
Of course there is the problem of selling an L-Frame as a GSP commerative when George carried a Model -27 (N-Frame). S&W isn't the company they used to be, even with the new ownership...

[alarmguy]

Regarding model names, doesn't "Officer's Model" refer to the early Colt target revolvers and "Officer's ACP" refer to the compact semi autos?

[firestar]

I was showing my .357 to a guy that was considering getting a revolver instead of his S&W 9mm semi-auto when he did this. I grabbed the gun from him and told him not to treat my guns like that anymore. It is rude and makes you look like a stupid cowboy. Don't do it.

If someone let you borrow a car, you wouldn't rev the engine and drop it into gear.

[rhedley]

If you ever want to remove all doubt about just how stuipd you are about guns, this would do it.. :rolleyes:

[goon]

I bought a beautiful S&W M-18 back before I knew anything about revolvers. I learned about sprung cranes. I looked mine over and sure enough, it was bent. You could squeeze the crane with the cylinder latched and see the crane spring toward the frame, then back again when you left go. I am pretty sure that I didn't do this because I never handled the gun roughly. It was probably that way when I bought it. Remember, I didn't know enough to look for such things.
This isn't just some urban legend that people circulate on the internet. It does happen.
As for the Smith, I sold it.
I now check the crane on every revolver I pick up two or three times. If anyone ever even thinks about flipping the cylinder shut on one of mine, I will take the gun off of him and beat him with it.
Please stop doing that to your Colt.
It is one thing to make a mistake when you don't know better. Now you do, so knock it off.