Proper cylinder closing procedure?

soicouldsee · Nov 21, 2012

Is there a correct way to close a revolver cylinder? I'm referring specifically to the S&W 642/442 J-Frames, although I'm sure any procedure would apply to most revolvers.

Mainly, should the cylinder pockets/grooves be lined up with the bolt to minimize or prevent turn line? Also, when the cylinder is latched closed, should it be manually rotated so that the bolt fits into the pocket?

Raider · Nov 21, 2012

Just shut the cylinder gently; don't slam it shut or you might spring the cylinder crane. It's okay to rotate the cylinder until the bolt falls into the cylinder slot.

Charlie

StatesRightist · Nov 21, 2012

Just wrist flip it shut like Hollywood (Sarcasm)

Raider covered it well.

Old cop · Nov 21, 2012

What Raider said, especially w/respect to slamming the cylinder closed like seen on TV. Eventually this will damage the gun, but beyond that no need to line anything up. This is the great thing about revolvers, they keep on running almost regardless of how they are treated.

quinn · Nov 21, 2012

Yes, I've always been told that limning up the cylinder as you close it minimizes the turn ring on the cylinder. I've been told that most of the cylinder ring wear comes from closing the cylinder mid stop. That said, I don't really worry about it on my "working" guns just my "safe queen retirement fund" guns. FWIW

Imaposer · Nov 21, 2012

I've never worried about it, other than what Raider already covered above above. I just close it with finger pressure. Sometimes I will rotate it to the next stop position, sometimes I don't, but I don't worry about the position as I close it. Then again, I've never worried about turn rings either. Every time a cylinder rotates it is dragging across the cylinder stop once it releases and pops back up. I dry fire my revolvers quite a bit so they all have nice healthy turn rings.

I have heard that polishing the top of the stop helps to minimize the turn ring but I've never bothered with it.

snubbyfan · Nov 21, 2012

Imaposer said:
I've never worried about it, other than what Raider already covered above above. I just close it with finger pressure. Sometimes I will rotate it to the next stop position, sometimes I don't, but I don't worry about the position as I close it. Then again, I've never worried about turn rings either. Every time a cylinder rotates it is dragging across the cylinder stop once it releases and pops back up. I dry fire my revolvers quite a bit so they all have nice healthy turn rings. I have heard that polishing the top of the stop helps to minimize the turn ring but I've never bothered with it.

I agree, sometimes I rotate to the stop. Since my guns are users they all have turn rings anyway.

Neumann · Nov 21, 2012

Smith & Wesson revolvers will always develop a turn ring in use. The cylinder stop drops immediately after the cylinder begins to rotate and rides on its circumference. Colt revolvers drop the stop later, inside the long ramp leading to the notch.

Flipping the cylinder shut with your wrist will bend the crane the first time you do it. Close the cylinder gently and turn it to the stop. That way you know which cylinder will fire first, and the hand engages the star more gently.

Clean Break · Nov 21, 2012

For God's sake they are made out of steel not glass for a reason. Just shut the damn thing. C.B.

Engine49guy · Nov 21, 2012

I gently squeeze the yoke until it snaps into place then slowly rotate the cylinder until it "Clicks" into place.
Also regarding the turn line there is a method of gently stoning the sharp leading edge of the cylinder stop so it wont cut into the cylinder but thats best done disassembled and left to a professional if you arent familiar with the internal workings of the S&W revolver.

Proper cylinder closing procedure?

soicouldsee

Member

Raider

SWCA Member, Absent Comrade

StatesRightist

Member

Old cop

US Veteran

quinn

Member

Imaposer

Member

snubbyfan

Member

Neumann

Member

Clean Break

Member

Engine49guy

Member

Similar threads

Latest posts