Lucky Derby
Member
In response to a question on another forum, I typed this response. I know many shooters who do not employ this technique, but do things that envitably result in a slow reloaded, dropped ammo etc. This is the proper technique that has been developed over the last 110+ years of swing out cylinder revolvers. Any and all feedback is welcome. 
Ejecting the empys has to do with technique. I don't know how you are currently handling the revolver. I will attempt to describe how to do it, but it is easier to show than to explain. This will sound more complicated than it really is.
This is starting with an empty (meaning empty casings, you can practice with empty casings or with snap caps) revolver. I am also presuming you are a right handed shooter. If not, transfer the revolver to the right hand at the start and back to the left at the end.
1. While still holding the revolver in the shooting hand cradle the frame in your left hand. Left thumb should be on the left side of the cylinder. Fingers should be on the right side.
2. With your right thumb, activate the cylinder release. While doing this your left middle and ring fingers should push the cylinder out of the frame to the left side of the gun. Your left index finger should support the gun at the top, right side of the frame, near the barrel. your left pinky should support the right side of the frame under the hammer. Your left thumb should "catch the cylinder and hold it steady.
3. Remove your right hand from the grip. The gun is now supported entirely by the left hand.
4. Point the muzzle up, towards the sky. (remember to practice safe gun handling, making sure there is no one on the floor above you, or in a tree overhead etc.) Gravity will help with extraction, if not do it for you. Your left middle and index fingers are now through the frame window and are holding the revolver in place.
5. I was originally tought to use my left thumb to activate the ejector rod. and this works more than 95% of the time. It also allows you to be reaching for your spare ammo with your right hand while doing all this with your left. However if the gun is dirty or the cases are a bit sticky for whatever reason, smacking the ejector with the palm of your right hand, instead of using your left thumb, works 99%+ of the time. If the gun has a short ejector rod, this is the best method to use, no question. It is slightly slower on the reload, as you can't reach for your spare ammo until you have ejected your emptys.
6. Point the muzzle at the ground. (again observing safe gun handleing, no one in the basement etc.) You are still supporting the revolver with your left hand. Thumb should be around the cylinder, index finger should be on the right side of the frame, near the barrel. Middle and ring fingers should be through the frame window. Pinky finger on the right side of the frame under the hammer.
7. With your right hand bring your spare ammo into possition to reload.
A. If using a speedloader: hold the cylinder still with your left thumb and insert the rounds into the chambers, activate whatever release system the speeloader has. There are a few different ones. Drop the speedloader on the ground.
B. If using moonclips: insert the rounds into the chambers and drop the whole thing into the cylinder.
C. If using speed strips: line up and insert two of the rounds in the strip into the two chambers on the left side of the cylinder. Pull the strip off of the rounds. Rotate the cylinder counter clockwise using your left thumb until two empty chambers are again at the left side of the cylinder. Repeat as necessary until all chambers are loaded. Drop the speedstrip on the ground.
D. If using loose rounds: Insert one round into the top left most chamber. rotate cylinder with left thumb. Repeat as necessary until all chambers are loaded.
8. Close cylinder by pushing it into the frame window with your left thumb, and moving your middle and ring fingers out of the window to cradle the cylinder and frame.
9. Take hold of the grip with your right hand and return to a shooting position, or ready position as the circumstances dictate.
Ejecting the empys has to do with technique. I don't know how you are currently handling the revolver. I will attempt to describe how to do it, but it is easier to show than to explain. This will sound more complicated than it really is.
This is starting with an empty (meaning empty casings, you can practice with empty casings or with snap caps) revolver. I am also presuming you are a right handed shooter. If not, transfer the revolver to the right hand at the start and back to the left at the end.
1. While still holding the revolver in the shooting hand cradle the frame in your left hand. Left thumb should be on the left side of the cylinder. Fingers should be on the right side.
2. With your right thumb, activate the cylinder release. While doing this your left middle and ring fingers should push the cylinder out of the frame to the left side of the gun. Your left index finger should support the gun at the top, right side of the frame, near the barrel. your left pinky should support the right side of the frame under the hammer. Your left thumb should "catch the cylinder and hold it steady.
3. Remove your right hand from the grip. The gun is now supported entirely by the left hand.
4. Point the muzzle up, towards the sky. (remember to practice safe gun handling, making sure there is no one on the floor above you, or in a tree overhead etc.) Gravity will help with extraction, if not do it for you. Your left middle and index fingers are now through the frame window and are holding the revolver in place.
5. I was originally tought to use my left thumb to activate the ejector rod. and this works more than 95% of the time. It also allows you to be reaching for your spare ammo with your right hand while doing all this with your left. However if the gun is dirty or the cases are a bit sticky for whatever reason, smacking the ejector with the palm of your right hand, instead of using your left thumb, works 99%+ of the time. If the gun has a short ejector rod, this is the best method to use, no question. It is slightly slower on the reload, as you can't reach for your spare ammo until you have ejected your emptys.
6. Point the muzzle at the ground. (again observing safe gun handleing, no one in the basement etc.) You are still supporting the revolver with your left hand. Thumb should be around the cylinder, index finger should be on the right side of the frame, near the barrel. Middle and ring fingers should be through the frame window. Pinky finger on the right side of the frame under the hammer.
7. With your right hand bring your spare ammo into possition to reload.
A. If using a speedloader: hold the cylinder still with your left thumb and insert the rounds into the chambers, activate whatever release system the speeloader has. There are a few different ones. Drop the speedloader on the ground.
B. If using moonclips: insert the rounds into the chambers and drop the whole thing into the cylinder.
C. If using speed strips: line up and insert two of the rounds in the strip into the two chambers on the left side of the cylinder. Pull the strip off of the rounds. Rotate the cylinder counter clockwise using your left thumb until two empty chambers are again at the left side of the cylinder. Repeat as necessary until all chambers are loaded. Drop the speedstrip on the ground.
D. If using loose rounds: Insert one round into the top left most chamber. rotate cylinder with left thumb. Repeat as necessary until all chambers are loaded.
8. Close cylinder by pushing it into the frame window with your left thumb, and moving your middle and ring fingers out of the window to cradle the cylinder and frame.
9. Take hold of the grip with your right hand and return to a shooting position, or ready position as the circumstances dictate.
