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

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I’ve got more experience with the S&W type but it really doesn’t matter to me at all. I don’t even try to speed load. The only shooting I do is at a bench, so it’s no big deal either way.
 
If I could choose from the top, I'd go for push with thumb to release, but with a top break instead of a flip out cylinder, like with the Anderson Wheeler. Yet paying over 10 grand for a revolver is a bit beyond my reach presently.
 
S&W a definite yes. Colt a definite no. I won't by a Colt because of it.
Ruger, I don't know, as mine has a loading gate.
 
Both Colt and S&W work fine. If they didn't then they they both would not have survived since the 1890s.
Anyway, for speed nothing beats a Webley.
One fast fluid motion rather that three separate ones in different directions.
 
Both Colt and S&W work fine. If they didn't then they they both would not have survived since the 1890s.
Anyway, for speed nothing beats a Webley.
One fast fluid motion rather that three separate ones in different directions.
And a Webley cut for moon-clipped .45 ACP or Auto-Rim.... Frikken LIGHTNING fast!

Todd.
 
And a Webley cut for moon-clipped .45 ACP or Auto-Rim.... Frikken LIGHTNING fast!

Yes, but there was nothing wrong with Dominion .455 Colt. A big dead soft 265 lead bullet at 770 FPS was easily the equal of a 230 grain bullet at 830 FPS. But half moon clips are faster to reload with.
 
As a self professed Colt hater I have to say that the Colt cylinder release will get you killed on the streets. :p

However if the release fails, the S&W cylinder will walk right out while the Colt will keep firing. So I don't understand your reasoning.
 
Howdy Again

Talking about creative use of being locked inside, I decided to take a few photos. This is a Smith and Wesson 44 Double Action. This is the only Top Break Double Acton revolver S&W built on the large #3 frame. This one happens to be a target model with a windage adjustable rear sight. The latch to break it open is the knurled piece right above the hammer.

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Here it is partially broken open. If I opened it more, the extractor star would rise up to eject the empty shells. In order to open a revolver like this, it definitely takes two hands. The way I usually do it is to grasp the barrel with my left hand like in this photo. While still holding the grip with my right hand I reach up with my thumb and shove the latch up. This frees the barrel to rotate down. Fooling around I was also able to open it by holding the grip with my right hand and grasping the cylinder and top strap with my left hand. Then I could flick the latch up with my left thumb. Still a two handed operation. Of course, ejection was automatic with these revolvers, and they were speed demons compared to the Colt Single Action Army. With the SAA you had to put the hammer at half cock, open the loading gate, and empty each chamber one at a time using the ejector rod under the barrel. Then to reload you had to reload one chamber at a time.

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The S&W Schofield was an answer to the two handed operation. Colonel Schofield patented a different system. With this one you could reach up and pull the serpentine latch backwards with the thumb of the right hand, and brush the barrel against your leg to pop it open. Schofield was a cavalry officer, and apparently a good rider could operate the revolver with one hand, emptying it and reloading, while still holding the horse's reins in the other hand. I don't know one end of a horse from the other, but I can do pretty much the same sitting in a chair. But it is much simpler to do it with two hands. As an aside, old Daniel Wesson set his designers to work trying to find a way around Schofield's patent, but they never did. The Schofield model was only produced from 1875 until 1877, after that S&W went back to the same type of latch as seen on my 44 Double Action.

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But the all time champion S&W revolver for being awkward to open for loading was the 38 Double Action Perfected Model. I don't know why S&W gave it that name, because it was anything but Perfect. The legend is that Daniel Wesson got a letter from somebody, perhaps a police officer, stating that it was possible for a miscreant being held at gunpoint to reach over the top of a conventional S&W Top Break and pull the latch up, disabling the revolver. So the design team went to work and came up with this 'belt and suspenders' solution. Notice that there is a thumbpiece, AND a barrel latch above the hammer. In order to open one of these up one has to push the thumbpiece forward and at the same time lift the barrel latch up. Do one and forget to do the other and it will not open. I usually have to remind myself of that every time I grab one.

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Most definitely a two hand operation. I had to push the shutter button with one hand, or I would show the two handed operation in all its glory. The weird thing is, S&W had already 'perfected' the idea of opening a swing out cylinder revolver the conventional way in 1899. The Perfected did not debut until 1909. It continued to be produced until 1920, the last Top Break revolver S&W manufactured.

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Shall we talk about Merwin Hulberts? Most definitely a two handed operation.

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However if the release fails, the S&W cylinder will walk right out while the Colt will keep firing. So I don't understand your reasoning.

Over the past nearly 15 years of competitive shooting I have had or seen a fair number of S&W revolvers crash and burn (stop working) and I have to say I have never seen one fail due to a cylinder release failing in the open position. I have seen it fall off but never fail in such a way as to leaving the revolver unlocked. Maybe it can happen but I have not seen it.

My reason really has nothing to do with a potential mechanical failure and more to do with ergonomics and reloading quickly. That rearward motion of a Colt cylinder release is simply not as ergonomic and efficient of a motion if your trying to reload a revolver quickly, such as is common in USPSA, IDPA, and the fiction Self-Defense scenarios rolling around in my well deluded head. These fantasies prompted the somewhat satirical comment that a Colt will get you killed on the streets. :)

As I alluded to in the second half of my earlier post there is a reason S&W dominates those sports and the cylinder release is very much part of that domination. The push forward motion of a S&W revolver is simply faster and more efficient whether you're a strong hand or weak-hand re-loader, especially if you're feeding your revolver moonclips. Since I started shooting USPSA in 2005 I have seen lot of S&W revolver in competition, a few Rugers, a Webley Mark VI and even a Dan Wesson but I have never seen Colt. If the Colt was faster the competitive shooters would be using it (despite the crazy Colt prices) and they are not.

-rambling
 
S&W then Ruger. But only because I've shot many more thousands of rounds through S&W revolvers than Ruger. The cylinder release is not a deal killer when looking at a Ruger revolver.

I've never fired a Colt so I cannot voice an opinion. I'm hoping that will change sometime soon.:)
 
Push on any make

Same

I started out with an H&R that you pulled the front of the crane to release IIRC. Then I got a Colt and was far more familiar with that than the others. Then I got a few Rugers and Smith's even a Taurus. For the latch I prefer them to push.
 
For me the Colt pulling is natural when I’m doing a strong hand reload. As the muzzle is going up in the air I’m simultaneously opening the cylinder. It feels natural to me. The push of my charter arms is fine as well. 6 on one 1/2 dozen on other kinda thing
 
I own products made by Horace, Dan, Samuel and Bill. For me, the push-style of the Horace system is the easiest and quickest to operate, as the sliding latch works better for me than Bills “toggle” type pushing motion. Both can be fine one-handed if needed.
Samuels pull latch isn’t tough to master, but since my only revolver is a new 2” Cobra I don’t have the experience with it that I do with the other three.
Dan’s system is very strong, but I have to use two hands; the right to hold the gun while the left thumb is used to pull the latch down. I can’t reach far enough to reach with a trigger finger since it’s not near the rear of the cylinder.
A fun debate for sure!

Stay safe.
 
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