[BluRidgDav]

Considering how thin the cylinder walls are on some revolvers,
has anyone ever measured how deep the stop notches are?

Do they vary in depth between manufacturers: Colt, S&W, Ruger, etc.?
Between models: SAA, Python, 66, 629, Redhawk, Blackhawk, etc.?

I'm not trying to start the old "between VS over the chambers" debate,
just looking for the actual numbers from those of you who have calipers.

Thanx, Dave.

[P95Carry]

Dave .... hang on a bit ... I'll do some measurement samples and get back ......

[P95Carry]

Here we go .... this is not hyper accurate .. +/- a thou or so I'd say for now... just a sample selection..


Smith N Frame M-27 .38/357mag ......... Notch - 57 thou deep, cyl wall thinnest - 125 thou (diff= 68 thou!!)

Ruger Super Redhawk ...44 mag ......... Notch - 65 thou, chamber wall thinnest - 115 thou

Ruger Super Redhawk ... .454 Casull......... Notch - 65 thou, chamber wall thinnest - 115 thou (same as .44!!)

Ruger Super Blackhawk ...44 mag ......... Notch - average 46 thou deep, chamber wall thinnest - 95!

Ruger Single Six ....22lr ........... Notch - 40 thou

Taurus Raging Bull .. .454 Casull ...... Notch - 80 thou, chamber wall thinnest - 115 (see note *)



Points to note ...... The Smith notch is on center of chamber and so actual effective wall thickness at that point is - of course .. the difference between chamber wall max and the depth of notch.

Ruger cyls all have offset notches .. slightly to side of chamber center (point of min thickness) .. and so they are in a ''containment'' sense that much stronger.

The Raging Bull (*) ... which is a 5 shot only in .454 has quite thin chamber walls for the cal, but - the notches are placed exactly over the divide between each chamber .. where most material. same wall thickness minimum in fact as Blackhawk.

The Blackhark, again Ruger notch offset but you'll note quite thin chamber walls .... surprised me a bit!

The Single Six .... well, it's only .22lr! Hard to measure chamber walls in situ but notches average around 40 thou deep.


Hope this helps a bit .. I can take picks of each cyl if you wish ... to better show notch positions. Just say.

[BluRidgDav]

Thanx P95!

No need to post pics, your description is easy to understand.

What got me wondering was a .45 Colt SAA with walls reported as only .063" thick with notches cut top-dead-center on the chambers!

If Colt cuts their notches equal to the shallowest ones in your sample (.040"), that would leave only .023" of steel. That's less that 1/40th of an inch!

If they use the deep notches (.080"), they would also serve as loaded chamber indicators, UH-OH !!!

[P95Carry]

Hmmm .... sounds like we need someone to step in who has a .45LC SAA .. the figure you mention sounds more than ''fragile''!!:p

In fact right now I can't accept that figur at all to be honest ........

Waiting to be proved wrong!:)