What style cylinder release do you prefer on your revolvers?

[Frandy]

edit: Last night I practiced with all three and realized that when leisurely reloading, I prefer the Colt pull but if I want to reload fast, the Smith push is the way to go. Very helpful thread. Always nice to learn something here on THR.


After posting this photo in a thread about Hogue rubbber grips, I recall someone here posting how they hated that with a Colt, you have to pull the release back away from the direction of the cylinder. That poster preferred the push toward the cylinder release of a Smith. And then there's the press-down method for the Ruger. So, which do you prefer and why? Me? I think the Colt pull-back just feels more natural to me.

 

[Biker]

I went with push. Just seems more natural to me. Same as swiping a safety down, ala 1911s as opposed to pushing up ala B 92s.
Biker

 

[JMusic]

I like the push of the S&W though I own Smiths and Colts. I can't say one is more of a hinderance than another, but as Biker said it seems more natural.
Jim

 

[P95Carry]

Smith push for sure - comes way more naturally. That said I grew up on Smiths too - so got used to it.

Second would be Ruger.

And a definte third - Colt. Only had one, a Trooper MkIII - always irked me that release!

 

[P. Plainsman]

The Ruger "press" style release has always struck me as the most functional. What's a more natural way to activate a mechanism than pressing a button?

There's nothing wrong with the S&W or Colt styles, though. The swept shape of the "push" latch on S&Ws (and Tauruses) looks nice. I would put the Colt style third.

PS: Nice sixguns, Frandy. An ecumenical pic.

 

[shermacman]

Frandy!
That is an awesome collection of wheelies!

 

[Phyphor]

Throwing that junky POS revolver away....

...and buying a Glock sounds more natural.
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(Pity we don't have a "running for my life" smiley. )

Seriously, though, for me it's pressing,. Pushing towards the cylinder/pulling feels...odd.

 

[massad ayoob]

A lot of it seems to be an individual's habituation. Over the years, I've competed with Colt, S&W, Ruger, and Dan Wesson DAs, and have seen all in the classes. When you give them all a chance and manipulate them efficiently, the Colt with its pull back actually seems very slightly faster.

The key is in the technique. Most people will cock their hand and take the time to turn their thumb so the tip of it is what contacts the latch and pulls it back. Instead, try just maintaining firing grip and coming up with the INSIDE EDGE of the thumb. The tip of the thumb is now pointed straight down, and the thumb has much more leverage with distinctly less movement. This is much faster, and is a virtually effortless release.

In the end, though, there isn't enough difference in opening speed to matter once the shooter is accustomed to the gun. Many other design factors will be more important to choice: caliber, size, controllability, trigger stroke, balance, etc.

 

[ulflyer]

Frandy, its gotta be Smith or Colt; that Ruger may be "functional" but its just plain ugly, sorta like that old '55 Buick I used to have.

 

[Frandy]

Hey flyer... I thought I saw you drivin' that rusty old bucket into town. Wasn't that you?

Colt pull for sure...

 

[Sport45]

My favorite isn't on the list. I prefer the release found on the Dan Wesson.

 

[Frandy]

Hey Sport, how does the Dan Wesson release work?

 

[Sport45]

The cylinder release is in front of the cylinder on the yoke. You pull it down with your left thumb while pushing on the cylinder from the back. Here's a picture of a DW from gunsamerica. You can see the latch.

 

[Frandy]

Thanks Sport. I've never seen a Dan Wesson revolver other than in photos. Perhaps my DW 1911 needs a sibling.

 

[MCgunner]

To me, the DW is the worst of all. I don't wanna have to use my off hand, would slow me down. The push ala S&W is the most natural, Ruger next, Colt next, DW is for games that don't involve reloadiing.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Thanks for posting, Mr. Ayoob.

Waaayyyy back, in the 1980's, I read your articles about the proper technique for speedloaders with revolvers.

In IPSC competition, I seem to recall that I was the only one to use a wheelgun, while everyone else was shooting double-stack 9mm's.

With practice, I was able to reload and resume shooting as fast as the other competitors.

An aside: thanks for appearing at the joint Senate/Assembly hearings here in WI on the CCW bill. You put Senator Lena Taylor in her place.

 

[IDriveB5]

push for the smith of course. does feel natural.

push the release with the right thumb, flip the cylinder out with the left middle finger, load seven more and we're good to go

 

[Boats]

For southpaws I have found the Smith release worst of all.

Lefty:
1. Ruger
2. Colt
3. Breaktop
4. S&W

 

[Snagglepuss]

The push just seems to be the natural way my thumb works in that situation. BTW, Nice guns

 

[Dollar An Hour]

I own S&W and Rugers, and have spent alot of time shooting my Dad's Dan Wesson with the weirdo front latch.

Definitely prefer the Ruger button over the S&W.

 

[pezo]

The ruger by far. HOw can their be a method any easier than pushing a button to release a cylinder

 

[MCgunner]

For southpaws I have found the Smith release worst of all.

Lefty:
1. Ruger
2. Colt
3. Breaktop
4. S&W

Never thought about it, but the Ruger would be better. The finger has to bend quite a bit left handed with the Smith. Ruger ain't bad, just that I'm used to the Smith anymore. I need another Ruger DA.

 

[GrantCunningham]

To me, the DW is the worst of all. I don't wanna have to use my off hand, would slow me down. The push ala S&W is the most natural, Ruger next, Colt next, DW is for games that don't involve reloadiing.

Since my regular, preferred reload technique (shhh, don't tell Mas it's not his) is completely neutral for all guns, I don't see any difference; the technique is the same, and the speed is identical. In fact, I've been in the middle of a qualification shoot, switched from a Dan Wesson to a Ruger, and didn't even think about it.

However, if you are right handed and are able to reload with your left, the Dan Wesson may be the fastest of all. When I was competing regularly, all of my fastest (sub-2 second) reloads were done with a DW and reloading with my left hand.

 

[homefront]

Having just acquired a Colt Detective Special, naturally I've been practicing reloading. I also own an S&W 36, and a GP100, and practice is the key. I guess that if I had to make a million dollar bet on a scientific measurement of "time to cylinder open" I'd rate them: S&W, Colt, Ruger. That's a GUESS.
In reality, I'd say the difference is so minute as to not matter. Grants reload method works well, too! Practice, practice, practice!

 

[MCgunner]

Since my regular, preferred reload technique (shhh, don't tell Mas it's not his) is completely neutral for all guns, I don't see any difference; the technique is the same, and the speed is identical. In fact, I've been in the middle of a qualification shoot, switched from a Dan Wesson to a Ruger, and didn't even think about it.

However, if you are right handed and are able to reload with your left, the Dan Wesson may be the fastest of all. When I was competing regularly, all of my fastest (sub-2 second) reloads were done with a DW and reloading with my left hand.

I've watched the better revolver shooters load with the left "off" had and I just can't coordinate it with HKS speed loaders. Maybe with moon clips I could do it. I've got five thumbs on that hand. I don't know if a 2 second reload is possible when NOT loading as you suggest. I've seen video of Mikulek doing it in way under a second doing it that way.

A little off topic, but I admire a guy that can handle a revolver well enough to reload that quick.