Left hand reload - left pointer or right thumb to push the button?

Skribs

Skribs

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This may be the stupidest "______ war" thread ever, or at the very least one of the most oddly specific.

I shoot lefty. I've found overall that the cigar grip on the cylinder works best for me to reload. What I'm still working out is whether I feel better using my left trigger finger to push the button, or my right thumb.

I find pushing with the thumb is easier (because my thumb is already in place to grip the frame), but I believe the trigger finger would be overall faster as it's less hand movement to open the cylinder. It's hard to tell. Any of you have a preference?
 
Thumb.

Using the trigger finger puts my dominant hand (and therefore reloading hand) in the wrong position.

I bring the gun in and downwards (to about sternum height) but rotate the muzzle up, and at the same time transition my right thumb to the right side of the cylinder, right index finger over the trigger guard and around the frame. As that happens my left hand loosens at the rear as the thumb comes around to the cylinder latch. Thumbs create opposing pressure (on a Ruger anyway) and the cylinder rolls out being pinched between the right thumb and index finger. As soon the the release begins, the left hand moves off the grip and frame, upwards and flattens out. I hit the ejector rod, and my left hand continues the downward motion to my reload. My right hand brings the gun down more and rotates the barrel down to about a 45 degree angle.

At least that's how I remember it.
 
As a southpaw myself I do things a little different. After opening the cylinder I flip the gun to where the bottom of the grips is facing forward or away from me and using my right hand to reload. Something similar to what the cavalry soldiers of yesteryear use to carry their pistols. This is the one of the main reasons I prefer a Smith and Wesson to a Colt. I can push the cylinder release forward with my trigger finger empty the cylinder and as I am bringing the gun down to reload in the same motion I turn the gun 180º with the barrel facing down to reload with my right. For me it is faster than switching hands and reloading or crossing my right hand over my left to access the cylinder.
 
WrongHanded said:
Thumb.

Using the trigger finger puts my dominant hand (and therefore reloading hand) in the wrong position.

I bring the gun in and downwards (to about sternum height) but rotate the muzzle up, and at the same time transition my right thumb to the right side of the cylinder, right index finger over the trigger guard and around the frame. As that happens my left hand loosens at the rear as the thumb comes around to the cylinder latch. Thumbs create opposing pressure (on a Ruger anyway) and the cylinder rolls out being pinched between the right thumb and index finger. As soon the the release begins, the left hand moves off the grip and frame, upwards and flattens out. I hit the ejector rod, and my left hand continues the downward motion to my reload. My right hand brings the gun down more and rotates the barrel down to about a 45 degree angle.

At least that's how I remember it.
Click to expand...

I've settled on the opposite. Using my trigger finger guarantees it's not going to block the cylinder from opening (if I leave it indexed).

I'm still holding on with 2 hands until the cylinder is out and I can get a solid grip with my right hand, so it doesn't change the next step at all.
 
I use my left thumb to push the cylinder release, place the revolver in my right hand, push the cylinder out with my right thumb, leave my thumb inside the frame, use my right index finger to engage the ejector rod, holding the barrel on an upward angle, on the range a catch the brass in my left hand. Reload with my left hand. Grab the grip with my left hand, close the cylinder with my right fingers, as l move my thumb out of the frame.

(I should have done a video ... maybe easier to explain)

We could all buy Charter Arms Southpaw revolvers :thumbup:
 
Here is the process I am using right now (also maybe should have done a video):
  1. Adjust my grip. Left thumb goes lower on the grip so my left pointer finger can push the button. Right middle finger moves to the front of the trigger guard, right index finger onto the cylinder.
  2. Push in with both index fingers, opening the cylinder. Follow through with the right hand, grip the cylinder between the pointer and middle finger, with my three bottom fingers wrapped around the trigger guard, and my thumb around the hammer. This grip means all of my fingers are out of the way of the ejector.
  3. Let go with the left hand, point the revolver vertical up.
  4. Eject with left palm.
  5. Point the revolver vertical down, grab the speedloader, load.
  6. Rotate my right hand so I am using the pad of my three longer fingers to pull on the cylinder. Use my left hand index finger to help push the cylinder closed in a firm, deliberate movement. This motion gets my right index finger out of the way of the cylinder, and gets my trigger finger indexed.
  7. Slight grip adjustment and present again.
 
push with my trigger finger

right hand slides forward and right thumb pushes out cylinder and remains on cylinder with pressure thru the window

muzzle-up the right index pushes in ejector rod with
a firm downwards shake while the left hand goes for the speed loader.

revolver is turned muzzle downward in right hand while i speed loader with my left.

thumb withdrawn from cylinder window and remaining four fingers of right hand from the bottom close the cylinder into the window.

gun transferred back to left hand.

it takes much longer to discuss it than doing it....been doing it this way for decades.

whatever method you choose.....repetition, repetition, repetition till you are doing it without thinking about it.
 
Why would you want to cross your hands in an awkward way and make a rather simple task much more complicated, like that guy in the video? Use your left hand index finger to push/pull on the cylinder latch - works for Ruger, works for S&W, works for Colt. Push the cylinder out with your right thumb, because it's strong and your other fingers support it while resting on the frame, then grab the opened cylinder with your right thumb and your index and middle fingers - it's a simple motor skill, it's fast and you have a full and solid control of the revolver and it's cylinder position. Rotate it muzzle up and slap on the ejector with the top part of your left hand palm, just where the base of your index finger is, using the muzzle as a "guide rod", then rotate it muzzle down and reload. While grabbing the gun with your left hand close the cylinder simultaneously with your middle and third fingers. And just remember that revolvers with right side loading, like Colt SAA, MLE 1892, Winchester 1876 and etc. were made not because the inventor was left handed (such stupid statements emerge from time to time), but to be easier to reload with the right hand - as any modern revolver with a swing out cylinder reloads on the left side now, use that to your advantage - don't think like a right handed man, because you are a "leftie"! ;)
 
I remember seeing a YouTube video a while back of an Action Pistol competitor who could reload his revolver in under 2 sec (IIRC it was 1.38 sec). He was a lefty and using moonclips...of course I can't find the video now; however I did find these two which are both very smooth techniques:



 
I am an oddity, I prefer to shoot a rifle left-handed but, can shoot a pistol right or left-handed comfortably and with accuracy. Finding anything for lefties is like hunting snipe. I like my Kimber micro 9mm as it has an ambidextrous safety and a 1911 trigger setup. I also have a Khar K40 black SST great gun carried it for years but totally righty. To my knowledge there no true left-handed pistols or rifles unless they are single shot or double barrel, especially where the cases eject on the left side. In my BFR .500 S&W revolver the cylinder does not flop out. It stays fixed but is loaded from the right and each shell is ejected manually. I kind of like it a little better than the cylinder flopping out.
 
That guy in the videos technique is too "busy" for me. I had a buddy who was showing me how he reloaded his revolvers a few years back and I was perplexed as to why and how he was doing it that way...Now I know why - he was watching this guy's video.

I am right handed. Whether I am shooting one handed or two handed my technique is: Push (I'm a S&W guy) cylinder release and come up and through the frame "window" with my left hand middle and ringer finger to open cylinder. I then rotate pistol so it's muzzle up and push ejector rod with thumb to discharge spent cases.I then roll it back over muzzle down, with a rotation of my wrist and recharge the cylinder. I use my offhand thumb (left hand) to snap cylinder shut and transfer pistol back to my shooting hand.

My method may "sound" busy and complicated, but it is super fast, repeatable and the way it was done for years of revolver duty carrying.
 
A guy I used to shoot with was left handed
He would shoot lefty but load righty.
On last shot he would transfer the grip to his right hand at the same time cupping the revolver in his left hand using his left index finger to press the cylinder out. He would tilt up and use his left hand to grip the frame and cylinder pushing ejector rod with left thumb. At the same time he would be reaching with his right for a speedloader, speed strip or individual rounds and load the gun. On last round close the cylinder with right thumb while transitioning the left to grab the grip then slide right hand back as support hand.

I hope my description is adequate. I was going by memory of his actions. He was a very quick revolver reloader with speed loaders.
 
Pat Riot said:
On last shot he would transfer the grip to his right hand at the same time cupping the revolver in his left hand using his left index finger to press the cylinder out. He would tilt up and use his left hand to grip the frame and cylinder pushing ejector rod with left thumb. At the same time he would be reaching with his right for a speedloader, speed strip or individual rounds and load the gun. On last round close the cylinder with right thumb while transitioning the left to grab the grip then slide right hand back as support hand.

I hope my description is adequate. I was going by memory of his actions. He was a very quick revolver reloader with speed loaders.
Click to expand...
That is the fastest way I've seen a left handed reload performed also.

Switching hands works better for vertical alignment between speedloader and open cylinder as opposed to going for the speedloader with the left hand and aligning horizontally
 
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