There was a time when the K Frames were well known for their light turning ability when moving their cylinder. The inertia of the trigger pull required was smooth and light due to the cylinder's small weight and size.

Jump to N frames. Almost the opposite here. However, I think I found why I have a bigger liking with the .45 Colt. It seems lighter and moves more easily, as compared to a thicker (heavier) .44 mag cylinder. Remember, I'm not talking about a slicker action at this point, only physics, and grams and/or ounces can make a big difference when pulling.

I bring this up, because I don't hear enough on this subject when calibers are compared, only overall gun weight. It's a subtle difference, but for the serious shooter, significant. Any comments appreciated.

Many double action shooters preferred the big "N" frame guns due to the heavy cylinder's inertia causing the cylinder to rotate to full lock on the next chamber once it was started turning.

This caused a slightly heavier trigger pull at the very start, but once the heavy cylinder rotated over to full lock on the next chamber, you were left with a light, smooth trigger pull.

Wouldnt that lighter empty .45 cylinder actually either be close to the same or heavier when loaded ?

Getting proficient with double action revolvers requires LOTS of trigger time. In addition to the actual practice provided, conditioning of the hand can be likened to weight training.

There is a tremendous difference between and unconditioned hand and a conditioned hand regarding actual performance at the target.

Dale53

It sounds to me like you're talking about staging the trigger, which is not speed shooting. When speed shooting, there are other considerations that are more important than cylinder mass, such as the strength of the rebound spring and how you position your finger on the trigger to apply leverage. But generally speaking, I think the elite shooters like McGivern and Miculek always shot the K Frames quicker. If you remove the shooter from the equation, I believe the K Frame has the shorter trigger travel and that should be the mechanical advantage.

Dave Sinko