closing cylinder properly

[stonebuster]

I'm rather anal about taking care of my guns. I know better than to slam the cylinder shut and always used my thumb on the cylinder to close it. I have seen a few videos where they say it's better to close the cylinder by pushing on the crane to snap it closed. Is there really any difference as long as you don't use excessive force? Pretty nit picky but I was curious.

 

[BobWright]

When shooting DA revolvers, my practice was, and is, to hold the latch in the opening position with the thumb of the shooting hand while I pushed the cylinder closed with the thumb of my other hand, pushing in against the cylinder. Never did I even contemplate pushing in on the crane/yoke of the gun. Nor have I any idea why anyone would even suggest that practice.

New guru, maybe?

Bob Wright

 

[GRIZ22]

I don't think it makes a difference.

I usually close the cylinder with my palm or thumb because that's what is in contact with the cylinder when reloading or unloading.

 

[Reloadron]

When shooting DA revolvers, my practice was, and is, to hold the latch in the opening position with the thumb of the shooting hand while I pushed the cylinder closed with the thumb of my other hand, pushing in against the cylinder. Never did I even contemplate pushing in on the crane/yoke of the gun. Nor have I any idea why anyone would even suggest that practice.

New guru, maybe?

Bob Wright

That would be how I do it and have for decades.

Ron

 

[Walkalong]

I have always just pushed the cylinder closed. Just be reasonably careful about it.

 

[chicharrones]

I have seen a few videos where they say it's better to close the cylinder by pushing on the crane to snap it closed.

I've only heard of this recently. The only thing that comes to mind is of revolvers that lock up at the front of the ejection rod and at the rear of the cylinder. So pushing on the crane/yoke centers the push force on closing?

However, I own Ruger and Taurus which lock up at the crane and at the rear of the cylinder. Which means that pushing on the cylinder centers the push force on closing.

 

[milemaker13]

Considering the cylinder pin locks in opposite the crane, I would not recommend closing it by pushing on the crane. Pushing on the cylinder itself gives relatively equal pressure to both locking points, both in front of and behind the cylinder.
By pushing only on the crane, you'd possibly be putting a twisting force on the mechanism. Probably doesn't matter... But that's just how I see it.

Ha! Chic beat me to it! Hey, love your avatar pic.

 

[Charliefrank]

As long as you don't flip it closed with a twist of the wrist that' holding the revolver ,like seen in so many movies, you should be ok. I've been closing revolvers with my thumb on one side of the cylinder and my remaining fingers on the opposite side for over thirty years now with no issues.

 

[Mn Fats]

I've always just used my thumb on the cylinder and pushed it closed with zero thought. Like another has said, as long as you dont flick it closed Hollywood style, you'll be fine.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I'm guessing if pushing on the cylinder was a bad thing, competitive revolver shooters would be replacing guns, or parts at least, a heck of a lot more often than they do now.

 

[Speedo66]

I think I remember being told decades ago Colts should have the cylinder release pulled out when closing, S&W's could just have the cylinder closed by itself.

 

[MrBorland]

I'm guessing if pushing on the cylinder was a bad thing, competitive revolver shooters would be replacing guns, or parts at least, a heck of a lot more often than they do now.

True dat. Competition's hard on revolvers, including the reloads. The cylinder doesn't get flicked shut Hollywood style, but it is pushed in with authority and celerity (and by the base of the weak thumb on the cylinder itself). After 70k+ rounds through my primary match gun and untold number of reloads, it still locks up fine.

 

[Sam1911]

I'll echo exactly what mr. Borland said.

I suppose there has to be an absolute best way to do absolutely everything. And you can come up with a theory to support the absolute superiority of that way of doing things. But I'm really not sure I see how it makes much difference. I don't have nearly as many rounds through my match revolver as he does but I have quite a few and mine's a .44 so are the parts are heavier, and I can't tell a difference from the first time I opened it.

I wouldn't flip one open and closed hollywood-style, but mostly out of respect to the opinions of whoever's gun it was. Stepping up to the firing line the very last thing on my mind is how to ease that cylinder open and closed gently.

 

[MedWheeler]

Pushing on the crane? Never heard that. Don't intend to try it.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I think this question came up because somebody recently posted someplace the business about pushing on the yoke (Smith and Wessons don't have a crane) rather than the cylinder. I remember seeing it somewhere recently, don't remember where.

I will add that I have been closing revolver cylinders by gently pushing on the cylinder for over 40 years. Smiths and Colts. I would think that if it were to cause a problem I would have noticied it by now.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also have always closed the cylinder buy gently pushing on the cylinder. I see no reason to do it any other way.

 

[MidRoad]

Wait!Your not supposed to flick it closed with your wrist than give it a finger twirl?!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Wait!Your not supposed to flick it closed with your wrist than give it a finger twirl?!

No. You do the finger twirl first, to hear the ratchet, then you slam it closed with a flick of the wrist.

 

[docbrown]

I have always used my thumb to close the cylinder. Makes it easier to index the cylinder. I doubt using the crane would make any difference, other then you would now need to take hold of the cylinder with your thumb and finger to index the cylinder. I guess you could use the palm of your hand, but that would not be my preference. YMMV

 

[mcb]

True dat. Competition's hard on revolvers, including the reloads. The cylinder doesn't get flicked shut Hollywood style, but it is pushed in with authority and celerity (and by the base of the weak thumb on the cylinder itself). After 70k+ rounds through my primary match gun and untold number of reloads, it still locks up fine.

Agreed. Don't have quiet that many rounds on my competition revolvers but well over 10k on my 610 and 625 and rapidly approaching that on my 627 and 10. They all get open and closed as fast as I can do it when on the clock. I don't abuse them but neither do a baby then. Pop'em open, slap that ejector. Drop in the reload and close'em up.

 

[Zendude]

The crane is near the hot and dirty side of the cylinder so I wouldn't use the crane to close it.

 

[Speedo66]

No. You do the finger twirl first, to hear the ratchet, then you slam it closed with a flick of the wrist.

Especially if you're only loading one round in it. Segue into the Christopher Walken scene in "The Deer Hunter".

 

[Bert W.]

Keep doing what you're doing, unless you are the Hulk. If so, don't push too hard. You aren't going to break the gun.

You guys have to admit the wrist flick is cool on TV though.

 

[Speedo66]

Keep doing what you're doing, unless you are the Hulk. If so, don't push too hard. You aren't going to break the gun.

You guys have to admit the wrist flick is cool on TV though.

I worked with many officers who knew very little about guns who also thought it was cool. Attempts to dissuade them from doing so were met with blank "does not compute" looks. They'd seen it done so many times on TV or in the movies they must have assumed it was the right way to do it.

Or maybe it was just the erroneous thought that doing so made them look like they knew more than they did.

 

[Rodentman]

I don't handle any firearm as they do on TV or movies. That is where you see the out of ammo Glock going "click, click, click" and the brass hitting the floor after being fired from a revolver!