Tips for running a SAA Clone in a match

[BCRider]

I can't imagine the amount of practice needed to shuck the empties one handed and not highly risk dropping the gun. I think we just learned of more examples of folks that have ascended and are no longer human....

This would sure not be the time to try such a thing. Even during a fun match there's at least SOME adrenaline going on. If there weren't we would likely find some other hobby. So the finer motor skills are going to be.... um..... not so fine. A firm hold in one hand and running the ejector with the other seems prudent.

Hey Corp', do you reload your own ammo? If so it's a cinch to make up some dummy rounds with real bullets but no primers to use for practice loading. that way they have the proper weight and balance too. Something you don't get with aluminium or plastic snap caps.

I make up my own in this manner. For revolvers I just crimp the bullets normally. For semi auto guns I load spacers of dowel so the bullets don't become set back with use and time. I also drill a couple or three small holes in the casings so they are instantly recognizable as being dummies.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

This is about how Clint Smith does it but I never load with my right hand so I'm not worth a damn doing it the other way. It's tough to get used to.

Thanks for the photos! I love those grips!

Loading one while shooting the other is WAY beyond any skill I will obtain in this lifetime, but I love watching those guys. Amazing.

No transfer bar on this one, I am pretty set on loading 5 at start. No chance for the NYR. It is a one gun per shooter event (using ICORE rules)

My fine motor skills are not bad, but it will for sure will be tested. I am thinking about using an empty chalk bag (used for rock climbing. no chalk in it) to hold loose rounds in the front of my belt. I should be able to grab two at a time. We will see.

I really like the idea of having to reload a few times with the SAA. One thing that kinda turned me off of CAS was that I had to have so many guns. I carry my SAA when I ride my horse up in the mountains have always wanted to try and reload under a little stress.
I get to pretend I am Chic Bowdrie from a Louis La'Amour novel. Shucking shells and reloading!

I do reload my shells but just moved into a new place and haven't setup the press yet, but I like the idea of making properly weighted dummy rounds.

I am stoked. Will take videos for the YouTube channel.

Thanks again all for your replies!

 

[Malamute]

It will be fun to see the videos. The match should be a fun time.

I'd be interested in shooting some more modern matches with an SA. Its been quite a long time since I did.

Here's how I normally unload. I open the gate, put the hammer on the half cock notch and shift the sixgun to my left hand, operating the ejector with my right thumb, collecting the empties in my left palm. They are then either tossed (.22LR) or dropped in a bucket (centerfire):


I then transfer it back to the right hand, grab all five cartridges in the left hand and load with it.

I'm thinking catching the empties in the hand, and loading with the left hand are both costing a lot of time in a reload.

I think of it as smart hand and dumb hand. Left hand is dumb hand. It does the simplest things (hold gun, rotate cylinder), while the smart hand does the harder things that require more dexterity (manipulate catridges, run ejector, shoot).

Try the side of the trigger finger at about the first joint to run the ejector rod.

The left hand, the thumb is over the top of the cylinder to turn it. The butt in the belly or solar plexus helps stabilize the gun and allows a good kick on the empties to get them way clear of the gun when they kick out. Empties goe out under the left arm, ending up several feet away at about 8:00.

The ejector rod is often getting pushed against the face of the cylinder as its turned, then slaps into the hole, helping kick the empties farther.

Reloading, the shells are often laying in the groove in the frame then fall into the chamber as it turn under it.

Just a few thoughts.

 

[CraigC]

For me, running the ejector with the thumb is fast and more natural. The ejector never stops moving.

Catching empties makes no difference whatsoever. Shooting rimfires, I just drop them. If I was on the clock, I'd just drop them. This way the technique is almost identical, whether I'm going for speed or just plinking. Same for reloading in general, I always reload like my life depends on it.

For me, when it comes to manipulating a single action, the left hand is not dumb at all. I can't shoot worth a damn with it but it does everything else. Look at this picture, the hands are in the perfect position to grasp the sixgun with the right hand and reload with the left, turning the cylinder with the right thumb. Doing it this way, I can fire five rounds, reload and fire five more in about 17secs.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

For me, running the ejector with the thumb is fast and more natural. The ejector never stops moving.

Catching empties makes no difference whatsoever. Shooting rimfires, I just drop them. If I was on the clock, I'd just drop them. This way the technique is almost identical, whether I'm going for speed or just plinking. Same for reloading in general, I always reload like my life depends on it.

For me, when it comes to manipulating a single action, the left hand is not dumb at all. I can't shoot worth a damn with it but it does everything else. Look at this picture, the hands are in the perfect position to grasp the sixgun with the right hand and reload with the left, turning the cylinder with the right thumb. Doing it this way, I can fire five rounds, reload and fire five more in about 17secs.

You might have something here. I am used to using my left for loading and this method maybe the way to go. It is perhaps more natural for the left wrist to load than the right.

I will have to keep an eye on the muzzle. Break the 180 and I am done for the day.
I will practice and see what I can come up with.

Thanks for explaining the method!

 

[9mmepiphany]

This is about how Clint Smith does it but I never load with my right hand so I'm not worth a damn doing it the other way. It's tough to get used to.

That's the way I was taught to do it.

I figured that with the popularity of Cowboy Action Shooting that they would have optimized the technique over the years

 

[CraigC]

I will have to keep an eye on the muzzle. Break the 180 and I am done for the day.

I normally point it more downrange. That was the best I could do taking pics for demonstration and only a 2sec delay on the camera.

 

[J-Bar]

I shot with a fellow at a cowboy action match who used only one revolver. He used a speed strip to reload. He was able to dump 5 empties and reload 5 more in about 10 seconds. Yes he practiced.

Here is a YouTube link to the type of speed strip he used, shown on a double action revolver. I could not find a movie with a single action revolver, but it is workable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96yCYHDAG24

Shooting a single action two-handed, using the off-hand thumb to cock it, and reloading with a speed strip...you might win the match!!

 

[J-Bar]

I prefer to hold the revolver with the muzzle directly downrange, with my thumb on top to rotate the cylinder, using my right hand to operate the ejector. Tip the muzzle up a bit to encourage the empties to fall out. Some guns have the chambers polished so the empties will all fall out on their own, without using the ejector.

(The Single-Six was handy, but it works just as well with a full size centerfire revolver.)

 

[Malamute]

Originally posted by Craig C

For me,...(words and stuff...)

Craig, it sounds like your methods works well for you. It feels funny to me, but I'm just used to doing it a different way. Its interesting how many ways there are that various guys have worked out to be pretty proficient.

The way J-bar shows is similar to how I do it (thumb over the top to rotate the cylinder), but with the gun at an angle to make the empties go out past my body.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

This is about how Clint Smith does it but I never load with my right hand so I'm not worth a damn doing it the other way. It's tough to get used to.

So I tried this method at home today and my hands are simply not big/long enough to do it this way.

I have been practicing a bit with running the eject rod with my right hand and loading shells with my left and am fairly pleased.

I picked up a chalk bag for rock climbing to put live shells in and I think that it should work out pretty well. I might look a little funny up there but whatever, I have all the shells I need.

Looking forward to this match! The wife actually wants to come see the show and volunteered to run the camera for me. She is great!

 

[9mmepiphany]

Looking forward to meeting you on Sunday.

Coming up with a crew of 5...we'll be on squad 3

 

[StrawHat]

I have read through the posts twice and could not find what cartridge your revolver is chambered to use. I have a couple of SAA clones that use the 45 ACP cartridge. For a speedloader, I use and old GI magazine stuffed with 5 rounds. I also handload and the empties come out of the chambers by themselves, with the muzzle pointed to the sky.

Lots of fun and you can post some good times and scores with practice.

Kevin

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I shot with a fellow at a cowboy action match who used only one revolver. He used a speed strip to reload. He was able to dump 5 empties and reload 5 more in about 10 seconds. Yes he practiced.

Here is a YouTube link to the type of speed strip he used, shown on a double action revolver. I could not find a movie with a single action revolver, but it is workable.

That sort of loading strip is not legal at a SASS sanctioned match.


*************


It's probably too late for this, but if I needed to carry a whole bunch of rounds for a single action revolver I would probably go with something like this.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_100_357&products_id=7924

 

[J-Bar]

That sort of loading strip is not legal at a SASS sanctioned match.


*************


It's probably too late for this, but if I needed to carry a whole bunch of rounds for a single action revolver I would probably go with something like this.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_100_357&products_id=7924

It was a small club monthly match and the shooter had the Match Director's permission to experiment in Outlaw Category. It was entertaining!

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Looking forward to meeting you on Sunday.

Coming up with a crew of 5...we'll be on squad 3

Same here. It is going to be a good time.

I am on Squad 1, I believe.

 

[J-Bar]

I hope you will tell us about your experience! Sounds like fun.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

All done

Hi All,

I just got home from the fun match! Tons of fun running the SAA.

The biggest take away for me was: DON'T BRING A SAA TO A MODERN GUNFIGHT.

Seriously. While my shooting was pretty good, my times were atrocious compared to a modern semi or even a DA revolver.

Second biggest takeaway: these guns get HOT. Like really hot. I was burning my hands for some reloads.

Still was tons of fun, though! Video(s) are coming.

9mmepiphany was there and it was nice to put a face to the name on the net!

ETA: Nevermind, taking the wife out for dinner and a movie. Will try to get the vid up Tuesday.

 

[Malamute]

Great! Glad it turned out to be fun. I had a blast when I shot modern shoots with an SA. I wasnt dealing with reloads in the ones I did though.

The biggest take away for me was: DON'T BRING A SAA TO A MODERN GUNFIGHT.

Thats probably good advice on many levels, though I'd suggest that the great number of targets and number of shots fired at modern "combat" shoot stages isnt much like a gunfight, even for LE.

 

[45_auto]

Thats probably good advice on many levels, though I'd suggest that the great number of targets and number of shots fired at modern "combat" shoot stages isnt much like a gunfight, even for LE.

What is a gunfight like in your experience?

 

[Malamute]

I hardly ever get in gunfights. Never actually.

So far I havent heard of any that had anything near as many opponents as any of the shoots I've seen and been to, or near the number of shots fired or reloads, unless, as the guy that was in the multi-round, one reload shooting (with one guy) he finally said "this isnt working" (shooting the guy in the body many times) and made a head shot which ended it. Seeing discussions of experienced LEO and trainers, they say they cant recall an OIS that required a reload. Even in revolver days, they say they are hard pressed to bring up OIS's that involved reloads. Not that it never happened, but it seems a prominent feature in most of the shoot scenarios, and lacking in what we want to simulate.


And my appolgies for sidetracking a fun discussion. It wasnt my intention to get off in a different direction.

 

[CraigC]

What is a gunfight like in your experience?

Please, it is the very rare gunfight that is ANYTHING like the average stage at ANY shooting competition.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Please, it is the very rare gunfight that is ANYTHING like the average stage at ANY shooting competition.

While I said not to bring a SAA to a modern gunfight, I was mostly referring to its functionality in comparison to modern semi autos. But in reality 5 rounds is probably enough. Based on what I learned running the SAA, I would not feel overly comfortable carrying a SAA for self defense against folks with modern Autos.


Stages are supposed to fun and interesting, not necessarily accurate reflections of real life. It is good to be reminded of this every so often.

I mean, come on! If even 1% of gunfights required having to do the hulu hoop before you can load you gun and engage targets, I would not go outside! (vid of this to come)

 

[9mmepiphany]

But in reality 5 rounds is probably enough. Based on what I learned running the SAA, I would not feel overly comfortable carrying a SAA for self defense against folks with modern Autos.

A question for clarification.

Are you saying that during the strings of fire, you were only loading 5 rounds into your cylinder rather than 6?

While the SAA, and it's clones, are properly carried with an empty chamber under the hammer, reloading with 6 in a continuation of shooting is completely appropriate and safe

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

A question for clarification.

Are you saying that during the strings of fire, you were only loading 5 rounds into your cylinder rather than 6?

While the SAA, and it's clones, are properly carried with an empty chamber under the hammer, reloading with 6 in a continuation of shooting is completely appropriate and safe

Sure no problem.

I started with 5 in the gun, hammer resting on an empty chamber. When I did the reload, I put 6 in.

I was told I could put 6 in at start, but went with 5 because it makes me feel better and that's how I carry it anyway.

ETA: I said 5 in my post because I figure that's about how many rounds you would have time to get off in a confrontation with a SAA.

I got hosed on the Par Time Stage because I could not put in another 6 rounds and discharge them in the allotted 24 seconds.