Running the Single Action Army in a USPSA Style Fun Match (vid)

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Corpral_Agarn

Corpral_Agarn

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Many of you have put your input on my "Tips for running a SAA Clone in a Match" and I really appreciate it.
If you missed out, that thread is at: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=781153

So I ran the match! It was very fun and educational. I got a lot of props for bringing a cowboy gun to a USPSA style match. I will be honest and say that my times were down right atrocious, but hey, its a fun match! If you get the chance to run one in a match designed for DA's and Semi's, I would highly recommend you do it.

A close friend watched it and texted me: "Cool video! The reloads are boring!" :D
I thought about putting the speed on "keystone cops mode" but wanted to capture the time it took to actually reload.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy:

[YOUTUBE]PFD2UDXRZGA[/YOUTUBE]
 
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Good effort. I hope you bought your squad mates (and especially the SO) some beers for their patience. ;)
 
I wondered why the shift in reloading style. Then you mentioned about the heat. Shooting stout full power loads I suppose I'm not surprised. With lighter loads I'll bet the heat would be much less of an issue.

Well fitting thin deerskin gloves might also be an option for the left hand. And perhaps a fingerless version for the right hand. The deerskin would prevent a lot of the slickness in your grip from sweating and the fingerless style would make for better dexterity in handling the ammo for reloading.

From the video I'm guessing that you're right handed. Switching things around to allow handling the cartridges with the right hand would likely result in some speeding up thanks to using your most dexterous hand to do the critical task of handling the ammo.
 
What was interesting is that that squad also had some of the fastest shooter...the SO was one of them...so the contrast was pretty obvious.

Once you switched hands for reloading, I think it would have been a lot faster to have also gone to the shuck-one/load-one mode
 
9mmepiphany said:
What was interesting is that that squad also had some of the fastest shooter...the SO was one of them...so the contrast was pretty obvious.

Once you switched hands for reloading, I think it would have been a lot faster to have also gone to the shuck-one/load-one mode
Click to expand...
Yes that guy was VERY fast and accurate to boot.

Because I was bringing my left hand down to rotate the cylinder anyway, if I had had cartridges on the belt that were easy to grab then i could see it being faster than kicking them all out then putting them all in.

I am toying around with the idea of running both methods side by side to see which is actually faster (for me) and posting the results. This SAA stuff is intriguing to me!
 
That looks pretty fast to me. I am used to using a cap and ball revolver!

I admire you for the courage to be different and have fun your way.
 
Your first unload was a good one.

Your reloads are killing your times. Turning the cylinder/loading and running the ejector with the same hand is slowing you down. Need to use both, one for the ejector while the other turns the cylinder or loads. If the gun is hot, float your fingers over the cylinder between turns.

The dump pouch is a good idea but you're going into it too often. Get five or six rounds in one grab instead of just two. Just drop `em in the loading port, gravity will do the rest.

I would encourage spending more time with the pinky under hold, it will get easier.

You're dropping the gun after each shot. Keep your sights up, raise your hold with the support hand and keep that thumb up. Don't fold it all the way down over your strong thumb before your shot. You're having to reach too far to cock the hammer.

Cocking:
Weak%2002.jpg

Shooting position:
Weak%2001.jpg
 
Not bad at all, certainly better than I can manage with my Blackhawk.

HB
 
CraigC said:
Your first unload was a good one.

Your reloads are killing your times. Turning the cylinder/loading and running the ejector with the same hand is slowing you down. Need to use both, one for the ejector while the other turns the cylinder or loads. If the gun is hot, float your fingers over the cylinder between turns.

The dump pouch is a good idea but you're going into it too often. Get five or six rounds in one grab instead of just two. Just drop `em in the loading port, gravity will do the rest.

I would encourage spending more time with the pinky under hold, it will get easier.

You're dropping the gun after each shot. Keep your sights up, raise your hold with the support hand and keep that thumb up. Don't fold it all the way down over your strong thumb before your shot. You're having to reach too far to cock the hammer.

Cocking:
Weak%2002.jpg

Shooting position:
Weak%2001.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks CraigC.

Yes, when I watched the video myself I noticed I was dropping the gun at each shot. Didn't even know I was doing it.

I will experiment with the grab a bunch from the dump pouch and drop em in. I was worried about dropping rounds, so I only went for two at a time.

I wills also try to figure out how to use both hands with the gun being so hot. I am not sure exactly what it will look like, but I will figure it out.

I did not know that other people advised using the pinky under grip. I thought I was missing something. I will continue to use it. It does work well for keeping the proper grip.

Thanks for the pics! it helps a lot.

This single action stuff is really giving me the bug. I can't wait to get back to the range!
 
Howdy

Good Job!

Don't you hate that really loud CLICK when you pull the trigger the 7th time? Surprised none of the officials stopped you, but what do they know about Single Action revolvers.

Regarding the pinky under the grip: I ALWAYS hold a single action revolver with my pinky curled under the grip. And I can assure you that my Black Powder loads are at least as stout as the factory loads you were shooting.

The trick to not allowing the gun to punish your pinky is to not hold it in a death grip. I actually hold my Colts very lightly, with my pinky curled under the grip. When the gun recoils, the grip rotates a bit in my hand, stopped by my pinky. At that point the recoil lifts my entire forearm a bit, rotating from the elbow. Don't hold the gun real tight, allow it to rotate slightly in your hand, and keep your wrist relaxed, so the gun rises by itself. Do not fight the recoil.

Of course I always shoot a Single Action revolver one handed, all that may be difficult to accomplish shooting with two hands.
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
Howdy

Good Job!

Don't you hate that really loud CLICK when you pull the trigger the 7th time? Surprised none of the officials stopped you, but what do they know about Single Action revolvers.
Click to expand...

Thanks! And Yes, I do hate that click. Lots of guys at the match told me to count my rounds, but I was having enough trouble remembering everything else, let alone, count. I can count with my Sig but it shoots faster and I don't loose count as easy.
Driftwood Johnson said:
Regarding the pinky under the grip: I ALWAYS hold a single action revolver with my pinky curled under the grip. And I can assure you that my Black Powder loads are at least as stout as the factory loads you were shooting.

The trick to not allowing the gun to punish your pinky is to not hold it in a death grip. I actually hold my Colts very lightly, with my pinky curled under the grip. When the gun recoils, the grip rotates a bit in my hand, stopped by my pinky. At that point the recoil lifts my entire forearm a bit, rotating from the elbow. Don't hold the gun real tight, allow it to rotate slightly in your hand, and keep your wrist relaxed, so the gun rises by itself. Do not fight the recoil.
Click to expand...

This is good info. I thought I was going to get flamed for putting my pinky where it don't belong, but lots of guys on the forums are say "yeah, we have been doing that for years." Who knew?

Driftwood Johnson said:
Of course I always shoot a Single Action revolver one handed, all that may be difficult to accomplish shooting with two hands.
Click to expand...

I think it is doable. Will experiment more.

Thanks for the info!
 
Great thread and posts. Thanks for the video!

Its fun to see you working with this rather than dismissing it out of hand. It will be interesting to see how it progresses for you.

Try some stages where reloading isnt an issue, they give a nice feeling of accomplishment.

I'm with Craig, not moving the cocking thumb as much helps. I dont put it the same place he does, but the principal is the same. Just sticking up waiting to cock the gun again isnt a bad place.
 
If you find that the butt edge of the grip scales digs into your pinky with heavier loads don't be shy about rounding off that area a little. It's amazing how a slight rounding over of the radius there will make your pinky thank you.

Craig, he mentioned about the heat from the gun making him change methods due to the pain. It's hard to focus on reloading when you're faced with curling smoke off searing flesh getting in your eyes.... :D

Corpral, I'd see if you can find a cartridge belt to use instead of the dump pouch. A belt that holds the rounds neatly means that you might be able to hold and maneuver three at a time. And if nothing else it'll speed up the loading by holding the rounds all in one orientation. Along with a glove that allows you to hold the gun in your left hand as suggested means that you can pick and load with your more dexterous. right hand.

You're shooting .45Colt, right? That means a .410 shot shell belt would work if you can't get a proper one for the .45Colt. If the cartridges sit too low pack the holes with paper towel to hold the rounds at the right position.
 
I agree cartridge belts can be good for some aspects of reloading, though I wonder if the slightly larger bag may help. It looks like Evan cant quite get his whole hand comfortably into the bag, like as a fist with something in it. It may just be the perspective of the video, though it looks like hes picking them out more than being able to reach in and grab a small handful or few at a time.

I've found that having exactly 6 in a large front pocket works pretty well, for that one reload. You know youre going to use them all, no counting, fumbling with extras, etc.

I havent had as good results with the standard "dump puches", though someone that really applied themselves to using them may do better than I felt using them. It turns into a bit much at times, maniplulating 6 rounds at once. In the pocket, you dont have to grab all 6 at once, but know thats the total number in the pocket.

When using a cartridge belt, having the rounds in the front helps. I cant reliably deal with more than 2 rounds at a time from a belt. Its pretty quick when practiced though. I've come to the conclusion that a bag may be a little better overall if much shooting is going to be done. Belts are a very handy way to carry ammo when out tooling around.
 
Craig, he mentioned about the heat from the gun making him change methods due to the pain. It's hard to focus on reloading when you're faced with curling smoke off searing flesh getting in your eyes....
Click to expand...
I run mine until the grips melt off. ;)
 
CraigC said:
I run mine until the grips melt off. ;)
Click to expand...
I believe that.

Thanks for all the suggestions, Everyone.

I think that I want to go to an on-the-pants-belt method of carrying the SAA and that means cartridge slides.

I also go to thinking about a tube of some sort to hold 6 rounds that I could just dump into the gun while rotating the cylinder to load. I don't know if it would work but a couple of tubes loaded with 6 rounds on the belt might be kinda cool.

Also wouldn't be that hard to make handy.

Thoughts?
 
Malamute said:
Great thread and posts. Thanks for the video!

Its fun to see you working with this rather than dismissing it out of hand. It will be interesting to see how it progresses for you.

Try some stages where reloading isnt an issue, they give a nice feeling of accomplishment.

I'm with Craig, not moving the cocking thumb as much helps. I dont put it the same place he does, but the principal is the same. Just sticking up waiting to cock the gun again isnt a bad place.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video. I am hoping to make many more.

Old guns fascinate me. And SAA's fascinate me even more because of the whole cattle ranch/horseback riding thing.

I will keep the position of my left thumb in mind, but you might not see me do it right until I get a reloading method down pretty good.
 
I will keep the position of my left thumb in mind, but you might not see me do it right until I get a reloading method down pretty good.
Click to expand...

"Right" may just be whatever you figure out works best for you.

I've thought some on the tube loader idea in the past. If long enough for 6 rounds may be getting a little unweildly and not as easy to carry. A double set of 3 might work. I never came up with an acceptable method of making a door or gate for one.

A belt slide isnt too bad for a reload. Mernickles have loops a little wider (taller) than I like. When pushed up from below, they arent out of the loops quite as much as slightly narrower loops. Maybe not that big of a deal.

Once past about one belt slide, I've found a cartridge belt about as practical as anything unless its just carrying a reload in the pocket, which I've been doing more of lately. I carry one load of 6 in the front pocket and one load of 6 in the back pocket. Not comfortable to sit on, but if just walking it isnt a problem.

I carry a single action pretty regularly. The guns are very comfortable to shoot, even with relatively heavy loads, and make very good working guns. For the majority of things I'm going to do in a rural setting, they are fine, and better than many other things if talking being in bear country (which I am).
 
I'm with Craig, not moving the cocking thumb as much helps. I dont put it the same place he does, but the principal is the same. Just sticking up waiting to cock the gun again isnt a bad place.
Click to expand...
Holding the thumb up (just far enough away to not obscure the sights) is better when you're running fast at short range. The position pictured above would be better for finer work.
 
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