Loading Lever Extension

I've just drilled a 3/8" hole into the rounded end of a hardwood dowel 3/4"-1" dia and 3-4" long to make a "cheater" that was easier on my hand when using a gun with a short barrel and rammer. Others have slipped a copper or heavy vinyl pipe/tubing over the rammer for more leverage.

Be careful with this as you can break the lever at the pivot point. The Colt 1851 Navy and pistols with similar loading arrangements are weak in that area, dismantle the lever and you will see there is very little metal around the screw hole.

I use a 6" piece of thick wall Tygon (aquarium) tubing on my short barreled revolvers to enhance leverage and on the long barreled ones to keep the loading lever latch from digging into the palm of my hand.

On my 5.5 inch revolvers I use an historically accurate piece of 1/2 inch plastic pvc pipe (!) wrapped with leather, and with one end of the leather strap strung down the center of pipe to cushion the end of the lever. I use nothing on the longer barrelled guns...don't want to inadvertently apply too much force. With pure lead balls, it is not necessary.

I just use an off the gun cylinder loader. No wear on the gun or me. YMMV.

Maybe your balls are too hard??

As others pointed out, there are several weak links in several loading lever designs.

If they thought they needed a cheater bar?

They would have made them more robust.

rc

Like Fingers and I have experienced the latch digging into my palm. I use a short piece of 1/2" PVC to cure that.

Just for a little bit different idea...

I found a wooden "goose egg" at a craft shop, while my bride was shopping, and I drilled a hole in the end of that. It's a large enough diameter that it's comfortable to hold, and like the other ideas above, it keeps the loading lever's latch from digging into my palm.

Tight groups!

Old No7

I found this post after I bent the loading lever on my short barrel 1858 last nite using a cheater.