5 rounds in a ruger?

[DCLXVI]

Hello everyone,

I just got my first single action, A "liberty"New model super Blackhawk. Its had the action slicked up, custom barrel porting, and a few other bells and whistles.

I just have one question, i have always read/heard to only carry 5 rounds in a single action and carry them hammer down on an empty chamber. Is this true with a ruger SBH? or just with older colts/clones? I read that theres some sort of safety on rugers? is this all rugers even the older NM's or just newer NM's? again this is my first ruger/SA so im trying to learn as much as i can.

Reason i ask is because this is my Woods gun and i would like to carry it with all 6 rounds, But just want to make sure its safe.

[gstewart44]

If you have a New Model Blackhawk, it has the transfer bar safety and can be safely carried with 6 rounds.   If you have an Old Model then you can safely carry only with the hammer over an empty chamber.   

[DCLXVI]

it has "New Model" stamped on the side, but was made in 1976. does this mean im ok?

Thanks

[DCLXVI]

also is the transfer bar safety the little bar thing that moves over the fireing pin when you pull the trigger?

[gstewart44]

You have a New Model with Transfer bar safety.  It is safe to carry with 6 rounds in the cylinder.   The hammer cannot strike the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled all the way back (via transfer bar).    This is a very safe set up.

[BlkHawk73]

  Call Ruger and get yourself a owners manual - they're free. 

[Dee]

The five in the chamber is a myth cooked up by Hollywood. Colonel Colt designed his single actions with six chambers, to hold six cartridges. The key back in the day was the knowledge that the single action was designed to rotate the cylinder a half turn, thereby resting the firing pin over the "cylinder" BETWEEN two chambers.
This FACT has been lost by Hollywood and newbies to the old single actions. Gun writers have done much to promote this myth, but THEIR real claim to fame is usually nothing more than a degree or talent for journalism. Accept it or not, that is the real truth on six chambers, and six cartridges. If the Colonel had meant it any other way, it would have been simpler to just omit one chamber. He didn't,;)

[Ken ONeill]

That is an extraordinarily dangerous and ill informed post. The cylinder is not locked in place when such a manipulation is attempted unless the cartridge revolver is one of very few custom built by talented gunsmiths like Sedgely for Harold Croft in the 1920's with 12 locking notches. When not locked in place by the bolt, the cylinder is thus able to rotate to the next locking notch and thereby expose the cartridge primer to the firing pin. This original post by DCLXVI inquired about CARTRIDGE revolvers, not percussion revolvers, many of  which had a resting place for the hammer between the chambers of the cylinder.
Trying to talk new single action cartridge revolver users into loading 6 rounds instead of 5 rounds is flat out dangerous.

DCLXVI, it is correct that the "200th year of American Liberty" Rugers are all New Models and are indeed safe to carry with 6 rounds, unlike the original pattern (i.e. 1873 Colt) single Actions.

As an aside, Samuel Colt didn't design the 1873 Model. He was dead.

[Racer X]

In new model Ruger revolvers, it is safe to carry 6. In the old models, or anything that does not have a transfer bar safety, DEFINITELY only carry 5.

However, for the purposes of gun reliability, in both New and Old Model Blackhawks, you SHOULD carry and fire the gun with 6 rounds (1 can be an empty case) in it.
The reason you need a cylinder full of cases is because unless the loading gate has a cartridge case in front of it, the gate is unsupported and during recoil can move forward and disable the gun. This is not a problem with Rugers that have custom cylinders with recessed case heads because there is less gap between the loading gate and breach end of the cylinder. When the gun recoils and tries to push the gate forward, it does not have to travel as far forward before it hits the rear of the cylinder.

[30WCF]

also is the transfer bar safety the little bar thing that moves over the fireing pin when you pull the trigger?

Yes

[Boxhead]

  Call Ruger and get yourself a owners manual - they're free. 

Agree. They are also available on-line from Ruger's website.

[Lloyd Smale]

I carry 5 in all my 6 guns. Its just a good habbit to get into. As to it being dangerous i know a guy that lost his son when he tripped and fell with a bearcat and shot himself. I NEVER would carry ANY single action with a round under the hammer. If a guy cant hit something with 5 shots its time to do some practicing anyway

[DCLXVI]

Yea your probally right, beter safe then sorry,

Is the method for loading, Load one round, skip a round, load 4 rounds, cock hammer and drop on empty chamber?

[Glanceblamm]

Is the method for loading, Load one round, skip a round, load 4 rounds, cock hammer and drop on empty chamber?

That would be correct.
Also if you would ever choose to de-cock your revolver with a live round under the hammer, simply hold the hammer with thumb and press and immediately release the trigger while easing the hammer forward just a hair. You can then lower the Hammer with your thumb and that transfer bar will drop down failing to make contact with the firing pin.
You may not need to do this at the range as much as when hunting where a potential shot can turn into a no shot situation.

[dakotashooter2]

The reason you need a cylinder full of cases is because unless the loading gate has a cartridge case in front of it, the gate is unsupported and during recoil can move forward and disable the gun.

The first I have ever heard of that in 30 years of shooting and reading about SA revolvers.

[Lloyd Smale]

its a very true statement. It usually wont raise its ugly head though unless your shooting very large calibers. I know my 500 linebaughs will do it about half the time you shoot it without a case under the gate. John linebaugh even puts a note in the paper work with his guns and tells you if your going to load less the 5 to leave emptys in the other holes

The reason you need a cylinder full of cases is because unless the loading gate has a cartridge case in front of it, the gate is unsupported and during recoil can move forward and disable the gun.

The first I have ever heard of that in 30 years of shooting and reading about SA revolvers.

[Steve P]

The reason you need a cylinder full of cases is because unless the loading gate has a cartridge case in front of it, the gate is unsupported and during recoil can move forward and disable the gun.

The first I have ever heard of that in 30 years of shooting and reading about SA revolvers.

I have to agree, I have never heard this either.  The spring that applies pressure to the loading gate in the blackhawks and SBHs is sturdy enough to hold that gate in place in my guns. 

I am one of those guys that only loads 5 rounds at a time.  My dad taught me that when I was small.  Gun was always carried on an empty or fired chamber.  Never a loaded round.  When you are loading from 99% of pistol ammo boxes you get 5 shots per row anyway! 

Now I learn something new about the loading gate being able to move forward on recoil.  I am sure this has probably occured as it does make sense.   If it happened with one of my guns you can be darn sure I would make sure it didn't happen again, even if it meant carrying around a fired brass in the cylinder.  Although, I would paint the head of that brass with a sharpie so I didn't mistake it for a loaded round.  I would hate to have to use the weapon only to find my first shot was the "dud".

Happy shooting to you!!

Steve 

[Ken ONeill]

As Lloyd points out, this is a phenomenon that occurs only with Rugers that have been rebuilt as .475 L's and .500 L's etc., because of the heavier recoil exhibited by those rounds in the Rugers.

[wncchester]

Just as a point of information, I think Ruger will still convert "old model" Black Hawks to use the transfer bar safety mechanism, for free.   And they return the original parts so the collector value will remain.

I'm sorry to hear that anyone was killed by accident with a revolver but it eludes me how it could happen due to "tripping" while carring a single action, no matter how many rounds were in the cylinder.  Suspect there is more to that story that hasn't been explained. 

I carry six in my transfer bar converted BH and feel quite safe with it.  Ditto my SW 29.  And carry my 1911 loaded, cocked and locked.  The only way I would feel any "safer" would be to carry a toy pistol, empty.

[petemi]

My New Model .357 Stainless blackhawk lives with six rounds loaded.  The thing I don't understand is that my Pietta .44 1858 Remington cap and ball revolver has grooves between the chambers to hold the hammer in a safe position.  What happened to that?

[Racer X]

As Lloyd points out, this is a phenomenon that occurs only with Rugers that have been rebuilt as .475 L's and .500 L's etc., because of the heavier recoil exhibited by those rounds in the Rugers.

I learned it from Hamilton Bowen's book. I too have always loaded 5 rounds in my sixguns with an empty chamber, up until I learned of this recently. Now I keep an empty in the cylinder.

A few years ago when I sent my practically brand new 45 Blackhawk to Clements, he replaced the loading gate spring because he said it was weak. The gun had only a few hundred rounds through it and none were heavier than 250 grain bullets loaded with 18.0 grains of 2400. In fact, most were light Unique loads.

Although disabling the gun due to an unsupported loading gate has never actually happended to me, Bowen states in his book that he has heard of it happening in calibers as small as 41 Mag.

[Lloyd Smale]

I guess i dont understand why some people feel the need for loading 6 in a single action. If you cant hit something with 5 shots when hunting or even in self defense your already in big trouble and better put some time on the range. When i go to the range i will usually  have more then one gun. Sometimes more then 5 guns and most times a FA or a non transfer bar ruger are in the mix. Its just easier to load them all with 5 the loading 6 in some. Im so used to shooting 5 shots then stopping that if i load six in a sixgun im stopping at 5 anyway just out of habbit. Your no doubt safe with a transfer bar ruger loading 6 and if its the only gun you have go for it. A double action is also safe with 6 and i do carry them in the field that way. the loading gate thing CAN happen its happened to me a number of times. Never with a gun other then a linebaugh but it sure could happen and if it does happen murfys law states that it will happen when you really dont want a gun to jam up. Please dont load a non transfer bar gun with 6 rounds or  5 in a FA 83 and please dont EVER trust a half cock to be your safety. Your family needs you and the guy next to you on the range has a family that needs him.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

  Call Ruger and get yourself a owners manual - they're free. 

You can also download one as well from Ruger's website.

FWIW, I carry my three single actions with all 6 cylinders full...All of my single actions have the transfer bar so there will be no confusion.

[greener]

I checked the Ruger Blackhawk manual.  The New Model Blackhawk was started in 1973.  These have a transfer bar which replaces the "notch" safety.  According to the manual the purpose of the transfer bar is to prevent a blow to the hammer from firing a round in the chamber.  The same applies to the New Bearcat (1973) and Single Six (1973 and after).  Ruger offers a free conversion of the old models and, supposedly, returns the parts changed to preserve collector value.  I believe the New Model revolvers are safe to carry with 6 rounds.  I'm taking my Blackhawk and Single Six to the range today.  I'll load 6 rounds because I think they are safe to load and carry with six rounds.  Don't think I'm going to beat on the hammer of either to find out for sure.

[greener]

My visit to the Ruger web site for my last post reminded me that Ruger discontinued the Rosewood grips.  I certainly like them better than the black plastic grips.  Looks like if (WHEN) I get another Blackhawk, I'll have to budget money for replacement grips.

[Greeenriver]

My visit to the Ruger web site for my last post reminded me that Ruger discontinued the Rosewood grips.  I certainly like them better than the black plastic grips.  Looks like if (WHEN) I get another Blackhawk, I'll have to budget money for replacement grips.

Might I recomend this place for grips, if and when you get another Blackhawk??

http://www.grashornsgunworks.com/

I just this week sent them the gripframes off two Rugers and two Colt Clones, and a set of Stag grips I hade on a Bearcat. Sent them all out on Monday and they sent my grips out, done and fitted to the frames, on Friday of this week. They matched the current set of Stag grips for the Bearcat so I can put them on the other Bearcat, and now I have stags on 6 of my SA pistols. Or, at least, will have them on Monday when they get here.  Great place to deal with and fine people to deal with, and I think the price of $130.00 a set for Elk Stag is very competative in todays world.

Greeenriver

PS: I normaly only load 5 in all my Single Actions as I have SA's with and without the traasfer bars.  If I feel that I'm going somewhere where I realy need 6, I don't go there.

GR