The eternal question. How long to load for DA vs SA guns?

[BCRider]

Ivory tower comment that fails to reflect a sense of community here.

Not really. Craig may not use wishy washy modern day PC language but he's very much correct. There simply are not that many of us that actually practice rapid SAA style revolver reloading. But I've seen enough folks that do well at it while still seeing where some slight changes would help that I agree fully with his statement.

In fact I agree well enough that I would suggest that with a little more practice and without the stuck rounds that SHOULD have slipped in easily that I could cut the difference down from around 10 seconds to more like 4 to 6 seconds with a little practice and a clean half cock and no bullet catching.

I will add that this indexing the cylinder on a SA revolver is actually easier with the old Colt action than the new Ruger action. With the old original Colt style the hand indexes the cylinder if you advance past the little pawl click then pull it back into place. And with a clean revolver, especially one in .45Colt, the rounds really do simply fall into place once laid onto the gate ramp. The Ruger needs one to eyeball the chamber and center it with the thumb.

The one big stumbling block to reloading the SAA style gun using Craig's "6 in hand" would be picking up the 6 out of the box from having gun in hand and the last shot going out to the first after the reload. But if the loose rounds for both SAA and DA/SA revolvers were both loosely laid on the table instead of being in an ammo box this would certainly give some advantage to the SAA since the DA gun would likely suffer with the fumbling of having 6 in hand. Mind you once again that could be simply a matter of practice.

Keep in mind that the whole point of all this was to show that SAA style single actions are not the slow to load time wasters that some DA/SA swing out fans seem to believe. And I've seen that much too often in threads where the DA/SA S&W, Ruger and Colt fans dismiss the SAA style as slow and unwieldy. And yes they can't be loaded AS fast. But with even a minimal bit of training and practice the amount of time needed falls dramatically to where in a typical range session the one is realistically going to use up as much ammo as the other.

 

[silicosys4]

With a DA, the best you can hope for is to load two at a time but they have to be deliberately inserted into each chamber and typically, it's best to only handle two cartridges at a time. With an SA, you can have all five or six cartridges in your hand at once, simply dropping them into the loading port and allowing gravity to do the rest. Anyone who has spent much time with one knows this. Without moon clips or speedloaders, having all six chambers exposed is an imagined advantage.

If you "accidentally" skip a chamber, you probably don't know what you're doing.

You can use that technique with a DA too.
LOL, "don't know what you are doing"...That doesn't mean it can't happen. Something being "easier" to use means that someone that "doesn't know what they are doing" can still manipulate it easily. You have not explained how having all six chambers exposed is an "imagined" advantage, but you have explained how a SA's shortcomings can be partially mitigated by someone who is highly practiced.
Moonclips and speedloaders do in fact exist, it is not an "imagined" advantage, and the advantage in a swing out cylinder vs a loading gate is not limited to moonclips and speedloaders. Aside from loading, its far easier and safer to check empty/full chambers in a swing out cylinder, for example.
The swing out cylinder was also invented far before the moonclip or speedloader, so there must have been some advantage at the time real enough to....change the entire industry of firearms, lol...and antiquate SA's as a combat handgun.
I agree that if you practice alooooot with a SA you could probably at least equal the reloading time of someone who hasn't practiced a lot with a DA. This by no means suggests that they are on equal ground.

Your barely veiled ad hominem attack is disengenuous at best, intellectually lazy, and distracts from whatever real knowledge you have to share.

I find it ridiculous that you suggest that this



has no advantage over this for reloading unless you have moonclips or a speedloader.

 

[CraigC]

Thanks BCR, I appreciate that! I find the traditional action to be far easier to manipulate quickly than the Ruger New Model for the reasons you stated.

The one big stumbling block to reloading the SAA style gun using Craig's "6 in hand" would be picking up the 6 out of the box from having gun in hand and the last shot going out to the first after the reload.

I don't use a box.


Silicosys, if you actually read what I posted, you would see that I said the advantage a DA has, over a Colt or Remington-style SA with a loading gate (differentiated from top-breaks), is in unloading. So the DA has a distinct advantage that cannot be argued.

You have not explained how having all six chambers exposed is an "imagined" advantage...

I did, you just don't want to hear it.

"With a DA, the best you can hope for is to load two at a time but they have to be deliberately inserted into each chamber and typically, it's best to only handle two cartridges at a time. With an SA, you can have all five or six cartridges in your hand at once, simply dropping them into the loading port and allowing gravity to do the rest."

You can use that technique with a DA too.

No, you can't.

This by no means suggests that they are on equal ground, as you would say it does.

I never said that or even implied it. Don't create an argument where there is none. I said that without speedloaders, the DA does not load faster than an SA, given equal skill with each.

Your barely veiled ad hominem attack is disengenuous at best, intellectually lazy, and distracts from whatever real knowledge you have to share.

It wasn't veiled or an attack. Skipping a chamber is a sophomore mistake. If you're accustomed to manipulating the cylinder willy-nilly, then it would be easy to make. If you are practiced and turn the cylinder more deliberately with your thumb/forefinger it is nigh on impossible to make.

The rising tension in this thread can be easily mitigated by asking questions, rather than making assumptions. Had I the time or desire to do so, I would gladly post a video on YouTube showing my reloading techniques. Open your mind and ask questions, you and RealGun might learn something.

You goaded me about buying a shot timer until I finally did, then you clammed up. It's time for you to put your money where your mouth is.

 

[murf]

personal attacks don't belong on the high road, gentlemen. this is an important thread, imo, and would like to here a lot more from experienced single action shooters before the mods shut this down. so, please stop arguing. the sass guys still need to post.

most shooters have very little experience handling a single action sixgun. i'm sure most would be interested in improving their reloading skills.

loading and/or reloading a sa sixgun quickly is a learned skill. as with any skill, one has to learn the correct method and practice. so, let's hear the correct methods.

and if you want to have lightning fast reloads, stick with bottom feeders.

murf

 

[CraigC]

On the DA's "imagined" advantage to having all six chambers exposed. Unless you can load all six at once, with a speedloader or moon clip, the advantage is only perceived. You are limited to only however many you can manipulate into the chambers at once. For me, that is two, lest I risk dropping cartridges. Two at a time sounds faster than one at a time but you can only handle two cartridges at once. Which means three trips to the ammunition store. On a Colt-style single action, I grab all five or six cartridges at once. Do it enough times and you automatically grab five. It's all relative and we're talking seconds here but think about how much time that saves all by itself. You can handle six because you need not deliberately insert each cartridge into its chamber but only to drop them into the loading port. It can be done either way but I handle ammunition in my left hand and hold the sixgun while rotating the cylinder in my right. In a fluid movement I'm rotating the cylinder with the right thumb and forefinger while dropping cartridges into the loading port with the left. Gravity does most the work. This can be done very quickly and remember, you're only grabbing for cartridges once, versus three times. The FA pic above is a good illustration of the loading port. That groove cut in the frame acts as a funnel. All you need do is to drop the cartridges into the funnel. You can't do that on a DA.

Now I would like to be able to continue this discussion without the undue hostility.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Nice thread! After reading it though, it's become painfully obvious to me that reloading a DA revolver with a swing-out cylinder (with loose cartridges) is hardly faster than reloading a SA revolver with a loading gate. It's all about the technique and skill set, but to say either is faster than the other really is folly.

While it may be easier for the uninitiated to reload a DA revolver, I've seen SASS and Cowboy Action shooters reload there Colt Single Action Armys faster than I have seen anyone in person reload a modern DA revolver. The difference of course is practice, of all the SA revolver shooters I've know over the years one thing they all seem to have in common is dedication. From my experience, it's the SA guys at the range who hit the ten ring most, who can reload quickly and without fumbling, and who can draw the fastest. It might have something to do with wanting to be like Marshall Dillon or something, but I wouldn't feel bad AT ALL with a SA shooter at my side in a gunfight.

Now does that mean DA shooters are slower or less skilled? Absolutely not, but sometimes more "advanced" technology can be a detriment to learning proper shooting skills, and the SA guys know this. They work around the "limitations" of there gun and train hard, THEY are the weapon... not the gun.

And they often are the ones who prevail.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I'm definately not a wheelgun expert, especially having just purchased my first such just this year (a Colt SAA).

However, I've watched videos on this nad I HAVE shot revolvers before, so I have a basic working knowledge of the mechanics behind unloading and reloading. With this in mind, I find it pretty easy to close my eyes and picture the actual, mechanical processes involved in unloading and reloading in my mind's eye.

I agree with CraigC...without speedloaders, I don't see any real time advantage between loading a DA, with a swing out cylinder, and a SA, with a loading gate.

This conclusion is after picturing each required step and range of mechanical motions that must be gone through, ease of loading for each type of action, and my somewhat limited experience with revolvers.

Yes, I believe loading speeds can be improved with practice, but I don't think actual loading times between experienced loaders of either style will differ significantly.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, I can definitely swap cylinders in my '58 faster than I can load one at a time or even perhaps my speed strips with my carry DAs. But, cylinder swaps are cheating the OP's premise I think, just like the use of moon clips or speed loaders is cheating. The OP is talking loading without the aid of such tools. Not really a concern of mine, but it's true, I think, for loading. Now, my .45 Blackhawk's chambers are smooth and the brass weighs enough that I can rotate it and each piece falls out on its own weight. My heavy 2400 loads are a little stickier. BUT, it's still slower to unload than my DA guns. This is intuitive as I haven't actually TIMED such things.

 

[45_auto]

On a Colt-style single action, I grab all five or six cartridges at once. Do it enough times and you automatically grab five. It's all relative and we're talking seconds here but think about how much time that saves all by itself. You can handle six because you need not deliberately insert each cartridge into its chamber but only to drop them into the loading port. It can be done either way but I handle ammunition in my left hand and hold the sixgun while rotating the cylinder in my right. In a fluid movement I'm rotating the cylinder with the right thumb and forefinger while dropping cartridges into the loading port with the left. Gravity does most the work. This can be done very quickly and remember, you're only grabbing for cartridges once, versus three times.

I said that without speedloaders, the DA does not load faster than an SA, given equal skill with each.

I have equal skill loading SA's and DA's without speedloaders, and the DA is faster for me, just like the OP's original post.

Have you ever timed your reloads? I know in the past that you didn't know exactly how fast your "fast" shooting was because you don't have a shot timer, but you don't need one to time your reloads. There's a stopwatch program you can access from your computer, smartphone, tablet, or whatever you're using to post here.

Doesn't seem like it would be hard to figure out how long it takes to reload a single action vs a double action swing-cylinder, although I tried to find an example of a fast single action reload on Youtube and couldn't do it. Searched for "fast single action reload", "fast cowboy reload", and every other combination I could think of. I'd appreciate a link to an example if anyone has one.

There's an online stopwatch here:

http://www.timeanddate.com/stopwatch/

I tried my times loading six .38 Special hollowpoints into an empty single action (Ruger 3-screw 357 Blackhawk) and a swing-cylinder double action (S&W Model 67). I started with the gun in shooting position in my right hand and 6 rounds lying loose in a pile on the table in front of me. My times were pretty much in line with what BCRider posted in his original post.

Hit the "minus" button on your computer to start, cock hammer to half-cock and open loading gate (or swing out cylinder) as you grab the 6 loose rounds, load them up, close the loading gate/cylinder then hit the "minus" button again to stop the clock.

I practiced a few times until I got familiar with the procedure and my times leveled out, then averaged 5 runs for each.

Average is just under 13 seconds with the single action grabbing one round at a time and dropping it in. Averaged 16 seconds grabbing all 6 at once then dropping them in. Turns out it took me longer with a single hand to manipulate them into a bullet-down configuration. When I grabbed them one-by-one I automatically grabbed them by the rim so they were ready to drop in.

Averaged just under 10 seconds with the double action grabbing one round at a time and dropping it in. Averaged right at 14 seconds grabbing the whole handful at once. Same thing happened as with the single action, it took me longer to manipulate them into the correct orientation one-handed.

I can try to post some videos, but I would imagine that there are some MUCH faster people than me reloading a revolver without a speedloader. Perhaps one of the gurus could post their times or even a video.

 

[CraigC]

Averaged 16 seconds grabbing all 6 at once then dropping them in.

I do have a shot timer and that's how long it takes me to fire five shots, reload and fire five more. With a SA.

You don't need to time it to know that you're not gaining any speed with a DA.

If grabbing all six rounds is slower for you than one at a time then you're obviously not doing it the way I described. Or you haven't done it enough. If you're taking the time to actually insert the cartridges into the chambers of a single action, you're wasting valuable time.

 

[45_auto]

I do have a shot timer and that's how long it takes me to fire five shots, reload and fire five more. With a SA.

We're finally getting somewhere with actual data! Great job, glad you finally broke down and bought one!

I can fire 5 shots from my SA in much less than 2 seconds, average is around .25 splits between shots (C zone hits on an IDPA target at 7 yards). So total time spent actually firing for 10 rounds is about 3 seconds. I figure that with your experience you're shooting at least as fast as I am. Take an actual firing time of 3 seconds away from your 16 second total, that means that you're taking at least 13 seconds to reload 5 rounds, or 2.60 seconds per round.

My SA reloading time of 16 seconds for 6 rounds means it takes me 2.67 seconds per round.

Seems to me that we're extremely close on SA reloading speed, or do you see it differently? That 7/100 of a second difference means that you can load 38 rounds in your SA in the time it takes me to load 37 in my SA. But I (and the OP) can single load a DA more than 25% faster than that.

You don't need to time it to know that you're not gaining any speed with a DA.

Interesting approach. Kind of like knowing that the world is flat and you'll sail off the edge if you go too far. No need to actually try it, you might be wrong!

 

[MCgunner]

Well, look at it this way. I carry a DA .357 magnum on my belt and a .38 DA revolver in my pocket. I'd be willing to bet, if I had anything to bet, that I can shoot five shots out of the .357, pocket it in a back pocket or drop it to the ground, grab my NY reload, and dump five in the center from IT faster than you SA fast guys can make a reload. Of course, mine are 5 shooters. And, of course, I don't have a shot timer, so I guess I'm out.

 

[MCgunner]

Oooh, I know, so long as we're comparing apples and oranges, I'll bet I can draw my Ruger P85 and fire 16 rounds on target faster than you can fire, reload, and fire 12 rounds with your revolvers. Do i really need a shot timer to prove it?

I think what it comes down to is that I don't figure I'll need a reload in a confrontation. If I do, I do have a NY reload. My .357 is 20 ounces unloaded. My .38 is a hefty 17 ounces. 37 ounces total is less than my 40+ ounce Blackhawks and about the same as my 4" DA six shooter. That's how I attack the problem, if it's reallyl a problem.

 

[CraigC]

...that means that you're taking at least 13 seconds to reload 5 rounds, or 2.60 seconds per round.

Did you forget that I'm also ejecting empties???

My SA reloading time of 16 seconds for 6 rounds means it takes me 2.67 seconds per round.

That's a lot of time to be loading one cartridge.

Kind of like knowing that the world is flat and you'll sail off the edge if you go too far. No need to actually try it, you might be wrong!

Man, what did we do before they invented shot timers??? Do you really think you need a shot timer to tell a difference??? We're not talking about timing two top level shooters with hundredths of a second separating them. If I did so little shooting that I couldn't tell the difference of a few seconds then maybe I wouldn't be participating in this discussion???

 

[BCRider]

You guys have got me all riled up to have another go at my SA. I'll post a little later after some practice....

I'm shooting .38's in my SAA's. And I find that they are enough lighter and chambers enough smaller that the rounds don't slip in quite as easily. Perhaps the gate is cut for the .45's on all the guns? If so that is going to hold me back as my rounds can't just be laid on the gate port and slide straight in. And the same shows up when ejecting the empties. They don't really fall right out like a nice clean .45LC

 

[CraigC]

Yep, they're all cut the same. That's the downside to the USFA 12/22 (and to a lesser extent .38 and .357 models) and why the Single Six loads so much quicker. Because you can't just drop the cartridges into the loading port like you can on the Single Six or a big bore SAA (or similar). Tapered cartridges like the .38-40 load like lightning! RNFP's work best as SWC's tend to hang on the bullet's shoulder.

 

[45_auto]

Did you forget that I'm also ejecting empties???

Actually I did.

Ejecting six empties added almost 3 seconds to my SA reloading time.

I figure if I can do 6 in 3 seconds, you can easily do 5 in 2 seconds, so your time actually dropping 5 cartridges in the chamber would be 11 seconds, not 13 as I posted previously.

That means it takes you 2.20 seconds per cartridge, not the 2.60 as I previously posted.

2.67 seconds per round.... That's a lot of time to be loading one cartridge.

So you believe that 2.67 seconds is a lot of time for one cartridge but 2.20 seconds is fast?

We're not talking about timing two top level shooters with hundredths of a second separating them.

It appears to me that we're talking about two mediocre at best SA shooters with 47 hundredths of a second separating them.

Do you really think you need a shot timer to tell a difference???

You really ought to try timing yourself with a DA, or maybe even just go to a range and watch some other people shoot DA's. It'll become obvious pretty quickly to anyone that you're absolutely right, you don't need a shot timer to tell that the DA's are significantly faster.

You don't need to time it to know that you're not gaining any speed with a DA.

That's where you'll be REALLY surprised if you ever actually try it.

Even single action enthusiasts like Jim Wilson talking about using SA's for self-defense are quick to point out their obvious weaknesses:

Single Action Revolvers for Self Defense:
http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/1729/single-action-self-defense/

Finally, the defensive single action shares two traits with the defensive shotgun: It just doesn’t hold very many cartridges and both are slow to reload.

I'll try to dig out the old .38-40 tonight and see how much difference a bottleneck cartridge vs a straight wall cartridge makes for me. I might be able to knock those 47/100 of a second off my time and be as fast as you!

If I did so little shooting that I couldn't tell the difference of a few seconds then maybe I wouldn't be participating in this discussion???

Sometimes the truth hurts.

 

[CraigC]

It appears to me that we're talking about two mediocre at best SA shooters with 47 hundredths of a second separating them.

In the time it takes you to load an empty single action, I can fire five shots, eject the empties, reload and fire five more, and you want to make statements like that? I'm no Bob Munden but I do not think that "mediocre" is the word I'd use either. Feel free to apply it to yourself. Maybe you should be listening and practicing instead of questioning???

So you believe that 2.67 seconds is a lot of time for one cartridge but 2.20 seconds is fast?

It's not taking me 2secs to load a cartridge. If it's taking you 13-16secs to load an empty single action but 10secs to load an empty double action, you're doing it wrong. Your skill between platforms is obviously not equal. Or you're sandbagging. It's probably not taking more than 4-5secs for me to load all five.

..or maybe even just go to a range and watch some other people shoot DA's.

I shoot on my own property but do you really think that I'm going to find a reasonably skilled DA shooter at the range? Not to mention one reloading for speed.

Sometimes the truth hurts.

I would almost take it as a personal insult that you imply I'm too dense or imperceptive to realize that I actually AM loading the DA faster. Pure, unadulterated nonsense. I understand from past experience that you need to win this argument, for whatever personal reasons but it's not going to happen. I was challenged before, by yourself and others, that my perception was not accurate. All were proven wrong by the timer.

Even single action enthusiasts like Jim Wilson talking about using SA's for self-defense are quick to point out their obvious weaknesses:

Pay attention, no one said that DA's were quicker to reload. I said that they are not quicker to load without speedloaders. I said they ARE quicker to unload and they ARE quicker to reload with speedloaders or moon clips.

 

[BCRider]

45, I tend to agree with Craig that DA's are ONLY really significantly faster if one is using speed loaders or moon clips.

If we're loading from typical ammo cases or factory trays much of the time is taken with simply getting the rounds out of the trays and over to the gun.

My own feeble attempts were marred by two things. I had a hiccup in finding the half cock position and I had two of the rounds fail to just fall into the chambers and they required me to use my finger or the next round to nudge them. If I hadn't fumbled like that I could have easily cut the time down to more like 15 to 17 seconds between hammer falls.

And working with a .45 would have sped things up as well. For starters as discussed in single actions it's a .45Colt world and the gates are cut for that size of round in most guns. So right off the bat my .38/.357 handling is going to be at a disadvantage for truly fast and fumble free reloads other than those times where I get a little lucky and they all politely fall in without any encouragement.

Then add on the fact that .45LC rounds are quite a lot heavier and typicaly chambers for .45LC are cut fairly open and we have set the stage for the rounds to simply fall into and out of the gun easily.

At the cowboy action unloading table more than once I've seen folks simply up-end their guns and rotate the cylinder and all 5 cases fall out like fresh caught fish sliding around on a wet cleaning board. I've yet to see anyone with a .357/.38 gun that can consistently do the same thing. So to some extent the hardware used sets the stage for faster or slower SAA style gun reloads.

And I'd also suggest that all this talk about split times on this and that phase are pretty much blowing smoke rings without a video. At some point in the next couple of days I'm going to clean my guns so the cylinders are as slick as they can be and do some reloading practice then video my best run and post it to YewToob. For all the reasons given I'm sure I won't match Craig's best since he's made SAA style guns and the handling of them his forte for far longer than I've even been shooting.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

No timer here...but I was amazed at how long is DOESN'T take to load my Colt SAA with six rounds of .45 Colt.

If the empties would just fall out on their own, I could work up to a pretty impressive display of shooting, unloading, reloading, and shooting.

Thanks, CraigC!

 

[45_auto]

I was challenged before, by yourself and others, that my perception was not accurate. All were proven wrong by the timer.

I'm extremely confused by your convoluted statements. I've seen a BUNCH of claims by you, but ZERO actual times.

Are you saying that you've timed yourself reloading a double action and a single action and your times were faster with a single action?

If so, I haven't seen it, can you provide a link or reference to your post?

I shoot on my own property but do you really think that I'm going to find a reasonably skilled DA shooter at the range? Not to mention one reloading for speed.

Never been to west Tennessee, but not hard to do around here. Check out the matches every Saturday and Sunday on the local bulletin board calendar:

http://www.bayoushooter.com/forums/calendar.php
http://bayoubountyhunters.com/

Hopefully I'll make the steel plate match tomorrow, if so I'll try to send you some pics of reasonably skilled shooters.

I find it hard to believe that there's nothing similar around west Tennessee. Might be surprised at what you find if you actually go LOOKING for decent shooters.

I'm no Bob Munden but I do not think that "mediocre" is the word I'd use either. Feel free to apply it to yourself. Maybe you should be listening and practicing instead of questioning???

Sorry, I have an extremely hard time applying anything more than "mediocre" to 10 shots in 16 seconds with an SA, although if you have never compared yourself to a reasonably skilled shooter it's easy to see how you are a "Legend In Your Own Mind"!

I also shoot on my own property, but have found that the only real way to judge your relative skill level is to compare your performance to others. I'll try to do a few runs through some of the single actions and see if I can make it up to your skill level!

 

[BCRider]

As well as the compliments for the topic in thread I've even gotten a PM from a member saying thanks and how they are looking forward to more suggestions or videos on techniques. So let's not let this thread become bogged down by personal issues, OK? And it's rapidly on it's way towards that at this point. If some of you have issues with the claims of others then please take it to PM's.

I've been busy the last couple of days so there hasn't been a moment to work on my "speed SA" loading. Or at least none where I wasn't groaning and living on ibueprofin from the wear and tear on my body... And the weekend isn't looking any better. Hopefully one evening early next week. I want to see if I can work down into the mid 'teens. And this time I'll video it from in front so my methods are clear in the hopes of getting some pointers or possibly helping out those that fumble around with these guns a lot.

 

[CraigC]

I'm simply not going to get baited into a senseless argument and won't respond any further to such posts.

I'm not going to do a video, at least not at this time. However, I will try to describe as best I can 'how' I do what I do. I'll also note than when I'm shooting a single action, which constitutes probably 90% of my shooting, I always reload like there's money in it.

I am right handed.

The last shot is fired and the gun is empty.

1. Place hammer on half-cock and open loading gate.

2. Transition sixgun from right hand to left. I cup the sixgun in my left hand while running the ejector with the right. I turn the cylinder with the left thumb and forefinger. It's extremely important to properly index the cylinder so that the ejector goes into the chamber, rather than hitting the front of the cylinder. The bigger the chamber, the less this is an issue. A tapered or rounded ejector rod is a huge help.

3. I run the ejector as fast as I can and eject the cases into my left palm.

4. Transition the sixgun back to the right hand, cupping it at the barrel/frame junction and rotating the cylinder with the thumb and forefinger. Again, being careful about properly indexing the cylinder so the cartridges fall into the chambers unimpeded.

5. Grab five or six cartridges from a dump pouch. If you periodically give the pouch a good shake, gravity will orient most cartridges bullet down.

6. One at a time, drop them into the loading port and let gravity take them home. I do not insert them deliberately into each chamber.

7. Load one, skip one, load four.

8. Once loaded, transition back to a shooting grip, draw the hammer all the way back and drop it on the empty chamber.

 

[murf]

craigc,

what's a dump pouch? can you post a pic?

excellent procedure breakdown. i unload the same way, but leave the gun in my left hand for the reloading. i index the cylinder with my thumb.

murf

 

[Dr.Rob]

I never understood the dump pouch. I suspect a number of new trainees dumped rounds on the ground as well as in their hand. And a handful of rounds is harder to manipulate than one or two at a time--especially under stress.

It might be faster with a double action than a single action, but it doesn't seem very efficient.