Stupid question about USFA Rodeo

[Rudy Kohn]

Hi,

I was reading a post on another forum about the SAA and clones, and someone said their gun would lock up if the hammer wasn't lowered all the way down before putting it in the safety notch.

This made me think a bit-- I have a USFA Rodeo, and the "Safe Loading Instructions" in the manual say I should lower the hammer all the way on an empty chamber, then pull back to the safety notch.

However, I've been lowering directly to the safety notch over an empty chamber, which seems to differ in no way from what happens if I lower it all the way, then pull it back.

I tried emailing USFA about it, and all I got was a quote from the manual (which was what I asked the question about), and I couldn't find good schematics online. Nor could I find an answer to this specific question.

So, long story short, is there any negative effect from lowering directly to the safety notch when decocking? Does anybody with a good knowledge of the internal workings of these guns have a reason? Are there exceptions for other guns? Why is lowering all the way recommended over lowering directly to the safety notch?

If the mechanism works the way I think it works, I can't see how lowering to the safety notch would cause mechanical problems.

It seems like, assuming no slip, lowering to the safety notch is safer--consider the case in which you make a mistake while loading such that a live round is under the hammer when you draw the hammer back. The cylinder is locked, and remains so until the hammer is lowered to the safety notch. Lowering the hammer onto the chamber would obviously be a really bad idea in that case. If the cylinder remains locked until the hammer goes all the way down, that would be bad, too.

Does anyone have any insights?

 

[rcmodel]

With any traditional SAA, which I believe the rodeo is, doing what you suggest is very bad for the gun.

First, unless you fully cock the gun and then lower the hammer, the cylinder bolt is not released from the hammer cam, and will cause a drag ring on the cylinder the next time you cock it.

Second, I would never suggest using the safety notch on a SAA at all, for any reason.
It is there to catch the hammer if you slip while cocking the gun.
It IS NOT a carry safety!

The reason I say that is this.
The trigger on a SAA is very thin and delicate.

At any of the three cock positions, the hammer is resting on the trigger tip/sear.
Even a slight blow to the hammer will or can damage the trigger, if not completely break it off.
It may also damage the hammer hook, or break it.

The only way to load a traditional SAA is this:

1. Load one round.
2. Skip one chamber.
3. Load four rounds.
4. Fully cock the hammer and let it down on the frame.

The firing pin will be down on the empty chamber, all the lock-work properly positioned, and the hammer supported against impact by the frame, not the tiny little trigger tip/sear.


rcmodel

 

[calaverasslim]

No such thing as a stupid question. I have to totally agree with rcmodel. After having carried and shot SAA's , for 60 years, starting with Colts all the way down to Uberti and Rugers, I have always carried on an empty chamber. That is the only safe way to carry a single action

 

[Rudy Kohn]

Thanks for the replies, rcmodel and calaverasslim.

So if I follow the incorrect procedure:
1) Load one, skip one, load four
2) Draw back hammer all the way
3) Lower to safety notch

Not only is the sear resting on the safety notch, but there's something still not completely released--that is, it strains the mechanism somehow. Therefore, I need to lower the hammer completely and leave it down in order to have the sear not be in a precarious position, and to make sure there's no strain on the mechanism.

USFA's manual says to lower the hammer and then pull back to the safety notch. I guess I'll disregard the safety notch part from now on.

Thanks a lot!

 

[rcmodel]

No. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
I thought you were asking about just lowering the hammer from the half-cock loading position back down to the safety notch.

As long as you fully finish cocking the hammer and letting it down, the locking bolt arm can clear the hammer cam and end up where it is supposed to be at rest.

I would still suggest you skip the part about using the safety notch for carry. If the hammer is over an empty chamber, it is just not helping anything at all, and may do actual damage to the gun if something smacks the hammer.

I suspect USFA is erring on the side of safety in the instruction book. If you somehow fail to lower the hammer on an empty chamber, the firing pin is resting on a live primer.
By saying to use the safety notch, they are at least getting the firing pin off the primer.
But it is still not safe, just very slightly more safer!


rcmodel

 

[Rudy Kohn]

Oh, okay. That, from a mechanical point of view, makes a little more sense. I'll follow your advice and avoid using the safety notch from now on. It makes sense to do that, too.

Thanks for the clarification!