What do you prefer: Smith & Wesson, Ruger, or Colt Revolver style cylinder release?

I like the Smith. Pushing just feel more natural than pulling.

S&W it's nice I don't have to move my hand like on the colt.

“Six of one way, half a dozen the other” to me.

I've owned Colt, Ruger and S&W revolvers.

I prefer the Ruger and S&W cylinder latch designs.

Ruger, if we are only discussing the latch. But its not a significant factor for me regardless. They all work just fine.

Wesson for sure.



Dan Wesson.


Really though, as asked, I dislike Colt's so much it's not even a fair question as to which I prefer.

Both Wessons; Smith and Dan operate in a way that most linearly complement my following actions when reloading. Colt is decidedly intrusive to me in how I operate a revolver.

Todd.

I like em all. Why? Cause they are the REAL guns which are wheelguns!!

As a lefty, I prefer the Ruger, and I actuate it with my middle left finger (the same finger with which I release the magazine on a typical autoloader.)

Ruger, Smith, Colt in order. Or, the other way. Wheelguns never disappoint.

Ruger, S&W, Colt. In order.

Howdy

I much prefer the way a S&W revolver's thumbpiece is pushed forward to unlatch it. I think it is a better ergonomic design. Just shove it forward, it does not require regripping. With a Colt, I have to regrip in order to hook my thumb over the latch to pull it back. Not as ergonomically well designed. Of course these mechanisms were designed long before the word ergonomic existed, but the principles were there all along.

I only have one Ruger Double Action revolver, an older 357 Mag GP100 so I really don't have a lot of experience with their system. Playing with it right now, ergonomically it is similar to the S&W thumbpiece. I don't have to regrip to push the button in.

Now let's not start the old hoopla about which way the cylinder should rotate.

As a self professed Colt hater I have to say that the Colt cylinder release will get you killed on the streets.

Been shooting a S&W revolvers in USPSA and IDPA competition for along time. There is a reason S&W dominates those sports and the cylinder release is very much part of that domination.

S&W style feels the most natural to me. Especially for a speedy reload.

Push on any make

Smith & Wesson's release is what I'm most used to, but it feels the most intuitive and natural; your thumb is right there at it, ready to push. On the Colt release, I use my right index finger and thumb, and sort of pinch it as I pull. Takes too much wasted motion and effort to open quickly. I can't remember the last time I shot a Ruger revolver (but I have four of their semiauto's)

Smith is what I'm used to and feels "normal" to me.

S&W, Ruger, any other push type, then Colt.
As others have said, it is just more intuitive to push the release, especially if you are right handed.

I hate to pile on here but push works better for my thumb whether it's a s&w or a ruger. I don't notice much difference there but the colt pull style never feels quite right, but they are nice enough that you might give it a rental and see how it works for you.

S&W with Ruger being a very close 2nd place.

The colt pull system is lightening fast FOR ME. I love it. And we have a prancing pony on our guns! Lol

I owned a Colt for over 20 years before buying my first Smith. Colt seems natural to me, but I can do either equally well when it comes to speedloading.

Out of the three, the Ruger is my least favorite.

The Dan Wesson way always seemed right to me, the S&W method is OK, the Colt is just odd.

mcb said:

As a self professed Colt hater I have to say that the Colt cylinder release will get you killed on the streets.

Click to expand...

Ah, yea-no. Not a helpful response. Clearly one cannot pose any type of a question regarding models of specific brands without the haters chiming in.

I don't have a preference between Colt and S&W -- I have enough experience with both types to easily manipulate their cylinder releases without having to think about it. The Rugers, not much as it just seems harder to find and push in if one came up exclusively on Smiths and Colts. Really, though, whatever I'm shooting at any given time, I'm cognizant of how to manipulate controls, either revolvers or semi-autos.

Just not a big deal to me. I love both Smiths and Colts. Vive la différence!