Cledus Jones

what is the point of making the gun freespin is it just for looks, or does it have purpose remember I'm new to single actions

Aqualung

Well, it's for people like me who use this technique for loading their SA revolvers:

- Load one round
- Index to next chamber
- Try to load chamber and drop round on floor
- Curse while letting next chamber click past where the round can fit
- Swear
- Index to third chamber and load round
- Drop another round on floor
- Over-index the 4th chamber
- Comment using "King's English"
- Load the 5th round
- Be super-careful not to over index 6th chamber
- Bend over and pick up dropped rounds...and in doing so, click the 6th chamber past index
- (^&%^$&^&^^*(&^!!
- Rotate cylinder to first missed chamber and index past
- ^*%&^%&$^%^*%^^$&^&*()()*&!!!!!
- Index to next empty chamber and load round
- Index to next empty chamber and drop round on floor
- Load round
- Try to safely retrieve round on the floor since it rolled past the firing line and others are shooting
- Retrieve round using brass-sweeping broom handle
- Shrug at the other shooters who have stopped shooting to smirk at you
- Rotate cylinder to last empty chamber and finally get that round in
- Lay revolver on bench and consider it thoughtfully...You finally got the damn thing loaded, do you really want to shoot it? Because there's a whole series of similar steps to unload the fired cases out of the damn thing...



Actually, I love my Blackhawks. While I toyed with the idea of making my own free-spin pawls, I like the ratcheting action better.

Aqualung

Hammerdown

Hahahahahahaha

Cledus Jones

thanks aqualung I got the point

Dale53

The New Vaquero, .44 Lipsey Special Flattop, and the 50th Anniversary models have the VERY desirable (regarding handling) "stop pawl". After shooting these, I didn't want to go back to the Blackhawk's standard pawl where if you rotate slightly past the proper point you have to run the cylinder all the way around before you can proceed.

However, if your BlackHawk doesn't have the new "stop pawl" then altering the issue pawl so you have a free spin pawl is the next best thing. That's what I had done to my Ruger SS Bisley .45 Colt Convertible.

Dale53

Nico Malo

Greetings Sir,

If I may inquire. Do the NMBH have this "Stop Pawl"? If not Sir how is it altered?

Thank you Sir.

Nico

2C29955H5

Aqualung;
.
I think we went to different schools togeather.......

c.r.

Cledus,

If you're talking about true free spin where the cylinder will rotate clockwise and counter clockwise then here goes.

occasionally when shooting heavy loads, a person may experience a bullet jumping the crimp. What you are left with is a bullet that is partially protruding past the face of the cylinder. This protrusion will not allow the cylinder to rotate normally past the barrel tennon so that you can extract it through the loading gate. Your kind of stuck with a bullet poking out the end of the cylinder. Now realize the bullet just pulled crimp. so part of the bullet is still in the case, but the OAL of the cartridge has now grown and you have nose of the bullet sticking out the front of your cylinder.

But.......if you have the ability to rotate the cylinder counter clockwise, there is more room at the bottom of the cylinder window between the cylinder face and the frame. this extra space may allow you to rotate the cylinder all the way around and then eject the cartridge out of the loading gate.

not sure how clear that is, but hopefully it makes sense.

I still haven't figured out what the hell the "reverse indexing pawl" (or whatever they call it) on the new Rugers accomplishes other than just offer a detent that lines up the chambers with the loading gate.

~c.r.

Mapache

I never thought of that! Good tip.

I had both my Bisleys; a Blackhawk in .45 and a Lipsey's in .44 SPCL converted to free spin, simply because I prefer having the pawl not engage the cylinder when the gate is open. I really like them that way!

Iowegan

Ruger's mid-frame models have the reverse indexing pawls and here's how they work:

A hole is drilled and tapped in the lower part of the hammer channel. A spring loaded plunger is inserted in the hole from the rear then a small Allen set screw is installed to secure the spring and plunger. If you look at the recoil shield with the cylinder removed, you will see the tip of the plunger poking through the hole near the bottom

As the cylinder rotates normally from cocking the hammer, the ramp on the ratchet (rear of cylinder) will cam the spring loaded plunger back in its hole. When the cylinder passes a ratchet notch, the plunger will pop back out. When you load or unload with the loading gate open, you can roll the cylinder back until the spring loaded plunger catches the ratchet and stops rotation. At that point, the loading channel lines up perfect with a chamber and the ejector rod. This feature was added to make the Anniversary models more like an OM. It went over well so Ruger now uses the reverse indexing pawl on all mid-frame SAs.

Dale53

I have all three Ruger styles: OM Super Black Hawk, New Model SS Bisley .45 Colt/.45 ACP Convertible, and two new flattops (50th Anniversary .44 Magnum and the .44 Lipsey Special). I prefer the New Models as I want my six shooters to BE sixshooters. The indexing pawl is a GREAT addition to the Rugers. You can literally load and unload them in the dark (try THAT with the average New Model).

Of course, this wasn't a problem with the OM but it was necessary to load only five for safety (just like all of the Colt SAA and clones).

FWIW
Dale53

andyrping

I have the reverse indexing pawl on my two Bisley 44 Spl's and like it a lot. Very handy. However, I was looking at how it worked just a week or so ago and got to wondering... If the plunger is removed, will will it act the same as a free spin pawl?

Iowegan

andyrping, Yes, if you remove the set screw, spring, and plunger .... when the loading gate is open, the cylinder will rotate freely in either direction. Personally, I don't see why someone would do this .... with a free spin pawl, you still have to manually index the cylinder to load/unload. As Dale53 said about the reverse indexing pawl "You can literally load and unload them in the dark."

long shot

I havent installed this in any nms.The joy of single action is,to me ,being unhurried.Then again,I dont shoot cowboy matches.My idea of relaxing is just taking my good old sweet time while shooting.After enough time you start to get really familiar with the particular gun.I still prefer the old pre safety Rugers.But,then again like the ability of carrying loaded all the way around on the nms.I have a friend who carries his old Colt sa 38 40 loaded all the way around and rests the firing pin between two rounds.I would never trust this.It makes me real nervous.To each his own,but can you ever be too safe with firearms? I dont think so.Be safe!

andyrping

I was wondering more for curiosity's sake... Plus having an open hole would flare my anal retention (no pun intended...). But it's still interesting to know it could be done if desired.