The Universal Revolver Reload
The Universal Revolver Reload was developed so that owners of all revolver mechanisms - S&W, Taurus, Ruger, Colt, or Dan Wesson - could have one single technique that was a) fast, b) reliable, and c) worked on all these models with no change in procedure.
It's faster than some, and because of the way the cases are ejected is more reliable than the majority. Even if your gun has a short ejector rod, this technique will ensure that the cases are completely ejected, and virtually eliminates the chance of getting one caught under the extractor.
Remember: always practice with dummy ammunition, like the primer-less rounds shown here. DO NOT PRACTICE WITH LIVE AMMUNITION!
The Universal Revolver Reload was developed so that owners of all revolver mechanisms - S&W, Taurus, Ruger, Colt, or Dan Wesson - could have one single technique that was a) fast, b) reliable, and c) worked on all these models with no change in procedure.
It's faster than some, and because of the way the cases are ejected is more reliable than the majority. Even if your gun has a short ejector rod, this technique will ensure that the cases are completely ejected, and virtually eliminates the chance of getting one caught under the extractor.
Remember: always practice with dummy ammunition, like the primer-less rounds shown here. DO NOT PRACTICE WITH LIVE AMMUNITION!
The basis of
the technique is very simple - you've done it many times in your
life. Pretend you're holding a ball in your hands, left hand on the
bottom and right hand on the top. How do you reverse the position
of your hands without removing them from the ball??
Well, you
just rotate your wrists to the right...
...and allow
the ball to rotate in your hands. Remember this move, because it's
all there is to the Universal Revolver Reload!
Let's look at the technique in sequence.
Let's look at the technique in sequence.
You've just
fired your last round, and need to reload. First, take your finger
off of the trigger!
Move your
left (support) hand forward, so that your thumb is on the frame in
front of the cylinder, and your two middle fingers are touching the
cylinder on the opposite side.
Extend your
shooting hand thumb straight forward toward the muzzle. Don't worry
about what make of revolver you have, extend it
forward.
Remember the
ball exercise? Do the same thing - rotate your wrists to the right,
and let the revolver rotate in your hands.
Here's the
key to the technique: as the gun rotates, the release will be
brought into contact with your thumb. As the gun continues to
rotate, just allow the thumb to naturally operate the release.
Colt, S&W, Ruger, it doesn't matter - just let the gun rotate
the release button into your thumb! As the cylinder unlatches, the
movement of the gun against your left-hand fingers will result in
the cylinder opening.
As the muzzle
comes to the vertical position, just let the gun roll onto the
middle fingers of your left hand - pushing the cylinder fully
open.
Immobilize
the cylinder by grasping it, remove your right hand from the
grip....
...extend it
flat, and strike the ejector rod...
Bring the gun
to about waist level, and point the muzzle at the ground while your
right hand retrieves the speedloader.
...very
swiftly, driving the spent cases from the cylinder. Speed is more
important than force; don't worry about bending the ejector rod,
just slap it fully downward. This is done to make absolutely sure
that the brass fully clears the chambers, and eliminates the danger
of one being caught under the extractor. One slap only - if any
rounds fail to extract, additional ejection strokes only serve to
increase the risk of a case-under-extractor jam.
Grasp the
speedloader so that your fingers align with the bullet noses. As
you bring the speedloader to the cylinder, the tips of your fingers
help align the rounds with the chambers. As soon as you feel the
bullets entering the chambers, push the speedloader fully into the
cylinder.
When the
rounds are in their chambers, release them by whatever method your
speedloader brand requires. As the rounds drop into the chambers
pull the speedloader straight back just a bit to make sure all of
the rounds have cleared, then give your hand a little "flip" -
tossing the speedloader clear. This is important to prevent rounds
binding and preventing the cylinder from closing.
Re-establish
a firing grip with your right hand, and....
...roll the
palms toward each other, like closing a book.
Back to a
firing position!
It's a lot
less complicated than it looks. Just remember: let the gun do the
work by rotating into your waiting fingers on both hands. You don't
have to "go looking" for the release catch, or forcibly push the
cylinder open - the natural movement of the gun in your hands will
do that for you.
Give it a good chance; I've found that people who already "know" how to reload a revolver sometimes have trouble with this technique, as they try to reach the release before it's come under their thumb.
Of course, I'd really like to hear from you about the technique. Click here to email me!
Give it a good chance; I've found that people who already "know" how to reload a revolver sometimes have trouble with this technique, as they try to reach the release before it's come under their thumb.
Of course, I'd really like to hear from you about the technique. Click here to email me!