A single action dilemma

[Watertender]

A friend of mine is in his 80's and has a 1958 vintage Ruger Single-Six that is unconverted. He insists on loading all 6 chambers. I keep trying to convince him to only putting 5 in the cylinder by loading 1 chamber, skipping 1 chamber, loading 4 and cocking the hammer fully then lowering it on the empty chamber. Nothing I say can convince him to carry it with 5 rounds... Any ideas how I can convince him to load it safely?

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Being a carpenter , I would say use the hammer method.
The next time he puts it in his holster fully loaded , hit the hammer with a hammer.

If that doesn't work , I would think there are plenty of videos out there that would actually show him.

 

[Watertender]

I have actually thought about hitting the hammer with a soft face mallet to show him the results.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Couldn't hurt.
Point her down range , and give her a smack.
Beats the heck out of the alternative.

 

[nrobe50]

Don't hit the hammer unless it is all the way down. If it is on half cock (safety notch), you could either break the trigger or the hammer. With the hammer all the way down smack it with a piece of wood. It may surprise you how little force is needed.

 

[Watertender]

I would do it with the hammer fully down. He also has an Old Model Blackhawk convertible that he carries in the same condition. He knows about the conversion kit and wouldn't get them converted.

 

[JAYDAWG]

Man in his 80's.......good luck telling him ANYTHING.
Besides, a gunshot hole in his foot will give him something to tell the boys about at the coffee shop in the mornings. :cool:

 

[hittman]

At his age he’s earned the right to do it however he wants.
Now, if you think there’s a dementia or other issue …… thats a different story.

 

[Watertender]

At his age he's earned the right to do it however he wants.
Now, if you think there's a dementia or other issue …… thats a different story.

He is fully with it mentally.

 

[Threespears]

although You are correct on the loading process.
How long has he owned this revolver?

 

[Bob Wright]

I have actually thought about hitting the hammer with a soft face mallet to show him the results.

Skeeter Skelton used a hickory claw hammer handle fos such demonstrations.

Bob Wright

 

[Watertender]

although You are correct on the loading process.
How long has he owned this revolver?

Since it was new.

 

[nrobe50]

Just because you are old it doesn't make you smart. He can carry his revolver how he wants but I load one skip one and load four more hammer back and down on an empty chamber.

 

[Watertender]

Just because you are old it doesn't make you smart. He can carry his revolver how he wants but I load one skip one and load four more hammer back and down on an empty chamber.

That is what I am trying tell him

 

[gnappi]

I'm not about to advise someone who owned a three screw for 60 odd years how to carry it.

 

[deac45]

I'm not about to advise someone who owned a three screw for 60 odd years how to carry it.

I agree. However...I would ensure I was always to his left assuming he is right handed.

 

[thinckley]

When I hunt, I have a chest holster for my OM SBH or flapped LH holster for the .357. I load 6. That being said, sitting in the safe for emergencies? I load 1, skip 1, load 4. There is way more chance of the hammer getting struck falling out of the safe than in the woods the way I carry. Am I an idiot? Probably. Will I change? Probably not. For @Watertender remember 4 simple words: "I informed you thusly" or if in a hurry "I warned ya".

 

[Joey]

I saw a video on the net, a guy tapping an OM BH with all cylinders loaded with a 2x4. Not slamming it, hitting it lightly. The results were as expected. With all cylinders loaded you can see the firing pin rested against the primer. Some people just need it to happen to convince them. Hope nobody gets hurt, or worse when it does.

 

[Cholo]

I'm not sure, but I'd guess he's not carrying it with the firing pin resting on the primer.

Years ago we had a member who went shooting with his OM 30 Carbine that he kept loaded with six. He came home and bent over in the kitchen. The gun fell out of his holster and shot him below the right hip with the bullet exiting above his left hip. He said the scariest thing was that it missed his wife by about 2".

At the range I always load six.

 

[Joey]

I always load 5 at the range, just to stay with the practice. Would hate to drop it with a range full of folks. Unless he's carrying it on the 1st notch, but if it falls and lands on the hammer, it is likely to break the hammer notch and fire. There are always a lot of "IFS" in everything we do, but we can eliminate a lot of possibilities by following proper procedure.

 

[peachhead]

I have seen one or two OM cylinders that were notched for "in between" carry.

 

[Cholo]

↑ Bet they had one hell of a turn line LOL

 

[thinckley]

I have seen one or two OM cylinders that were notched for "in between" carry.

Interesting.. what would that look like?

 

[Johnnu2]

Back in the 70's, there was a guy who's father (IIRC) owned the biggest hardware and gin store in town. The son dropped his fully loaded (6) single action in the store; the bullet gut-shot him and he died even though the store was a mile from one of the largest medical facilities in the state/nation.
To this day, I load 5 (even in my DA revolvers)..... p.s. I've heard (undocumented) of people hunting with "6" and dropping their guns (from tree stands) when buck fever struck....
IMHO if you need more than 5 for any reason, I would rethink carefully.

J.

 

[peachhead]

Interesting.. what would that look like?

It's not really a notch, it's more like a center punch dot. You have to carefully put the hammer down in the right spot in between chambers.

I used to load all six and one day I was going up a tree in my climber and thought, you know, that's really not a good idea. What if I fell out or my holster broke or my belt broke or....etc, etc, etc.
Random but effective. Lol

 

[BIgMuddy]

All of my ammo boxes hold either 50 or 100 rounds. If I load 6 they don’t come out right . Yeah I’m a little OCD.

Dan

 

[vito]

Another good reason to carry a striker fired semi auto instead.

 

[Richard76]

6 or 7 years ago a friend called and said someone he knew was looking to sell a 357 and was I interested. I had a GP100 and was and still am very satisfied with that. so foolishly thought I didn't need another 357. But I knew my brother had been thinking of getting one so I told my friend I would buy it $200. Ruger Blackhawk he said. didn't even look at , just handed it off to my brother for same amount. went shooting with him saturday and finally looked at pistol. this is it

 

[southernbuck101]

All of my ammo boxes hold either 50 or 100 rounds. If I load 6 they don't come out right . Yeah I'm a little OCD.

Dan

This^^ But my J frames disagree. When I load 4 of course.l

 

[Uncle Howie]

A friend of mine is in his 80's and has a 1958 vintage Ruger Single-Six that is unconverted. He insists on loading all 6 chambers. I keep trying to convince him to only putting 5 in the cylinder by loading 1 chamber, skipping 1 chamber, loading 4 and cocking the hammer fully then lowering it on the empty chamber. Nothing I say can convince him to carry it with 5 rounds... Any ideas how I can convince him to load it safely?

Man in his 80's.......good luck telling him ANYTHING.
Besides, a gunshot hole in his foot will give him something to tell the boys about at the coffee shop in the mornings. :cool:

JAYDAWG has it pegged!

Maybe if you could find a historical description of the “load one, skip one, load four” routine, he might come to his senses. Still unlikely, IMHO.

The “nuclear option” would to just refuse to go to the range with him, if he’s going to continue doing unsafe things… and explain why.

This isn’t quite the same level of immediate danger, but not many of us would continue going to the range with someone who swept us with the muzzled every trip…

Sadly, “You can lead a jackass to water, but you can’t make him drink.”